HC Deb 05 June 1980 vol 985 cc812-3W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the level of deaths of children aged 1 to 14 years in Northern Ireland in the period 1945 to 1979 for the following categories: diphtheria immunisation, pneumonia, meningococcal infections, measles, diphtheria, acute poliomyelitis, tuberculosis, and poliomyelitis immunisation.

Mr. Alison

The number of deaths from meningococcal infections and acute poliomyelitis in the years before 1950 and the number of deaths due to immunisations are not known. Figures for 1979 are not yet available. The information which is available is as follows:

African workers less than the poverty datum line; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Parkinson

I do not think it right to publish, under protection of parliamentary privilege, a list of names which is necessarily based partly on subjective judgment and which may therefore be misleading. All the information supplied by companies is contained in their reports under the code of conduct; these are available for inspection by the public.

Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if, in view of the large number of British companies operating in South Africa which have refused to cooperate by providing information on African working conditions as recommended by the EEC code of conduct, he will now legislate to make reporting under this code mandatory.

Mr. Parkinson

Of the over 200 British companies believed to be liable to report under the code only 19 have failed to publish reports for the year ended 30 June 1979; this compares with 36 companies for the previous reporting period. The case for mandatory reporting is thus weaker now than it was under the previous Government of which the hon. Gentleman was a member.

Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will indicate the number and names of British companies operating in South Africa which have failed to provide reports on African working conditions as recommended under the EEC code of conduct; and if he will provide the number and names of companies which have provided such information in incomplete form.

Mr. Parkinson

Companies that have failed to publish reports are listed in annex D to my Department's summary of reports—[Vol. 982, c. 653–4.] The reports that have been published by companies are available for public inspection.