Written Answers of 12 May 1989

WALES

  Advertising
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been spent by his Department on advertisements on commercial television in each of the last live years, listed by each television company.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The Department's only spending on television advertising during this period was £20,000 on the Welsh element of the misuse of drugs campaign. Details of spending with individual television companies is commercially confidential.

  Farm and Conservation Grant Scheme
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends the Welsh Office agricultural department to make available to farmers throughout Wales application forms for grants under the farm and conservation grant scheme.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The appropriate forms are now available.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the figures for investment by the Welsh Development Agency since its inception.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  [holding answer 5 May 1989]: Capital investment on mainstream Welsh Development Agency programmes is as follows:

  £ million

  1976–77

  15

  1977–78

  26

  1978–79

  24

  1979–80

  22

  1980–81

  49

  1981–82

  48

  1982–83

  47

  1983–84

  44

  1984–85

  50

  1985–86

  43

  1986–87

  49

  1987–88

  71

  1988–89

  81

  The figures do not include the special provision of about £120 million which was made available to the WDA to tackle the needs of Wales arising from the steel closures in the late 1970s and early 1980s. For details of this provision, I refer to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Williams) on 18 January 1988 at column 612.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Soviet Union
  Mr Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise as a matter of urgency in the current CSCE information forum the recent arrests of dissident publishers in the Soviet Union, and the terms of the new articles of the Soviet penal code published on 11 April.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The two Russians recently arrested for distributing material in Moscow were subsequently released.

  We are deeply disappointed by the 8 April decree containing amendments to Soviet criminal legislation. We are making this clear to the Soviet authorities both in Moscow and at the London information forum. We hope that the new Supreme Soviet, when constituted, will have the opportunity to alter the decree radically, so as to bring it into line with Soviet public statements and their international commitments.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what policy initiatives he intends to take with regard to the 1990 fourth review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty; how many preparatory committee meetings are expected to take place; and where such meetings are to be held.

  Mrs. Chalker
  There are three preparatory committees prior to the NPT review conference. The first took place in New York from 1 to 5 May. The second will be held from 11 to 18 September 1989, and the third from 23 April to 4 May 1990, both in Geneva. As a depositary power, we attach great importance to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, and shall be working actively for a constructive and successful review conference.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what United Kingdom representation was present at the first preparatory committee meeting of the fourth review conference of the 1990 nuclear non-proliferation treaty review conference; and if he will make a statement on its outcome.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The United Kingdom delegation at the first preparatory committee, held in New York from 1 to 5 May, consisted of four officials and was led by an official from the science, energy and nuclear department in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The preparatory committee successfully resolved a number of administrative questions relating to the review conference.

TRANSPORT

  Railways (Investment)
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the volume of investment in railways in the United Kingdom, France and West Germany in 1987–88 and 1988–89; and what sum this investment represents per capita in each of these countries.

  Mr. Portillo
  My Department has no readily available information on railway investment in France and West
  545
  Germany. The figures for rail investment by British Rail, Northern Ireland Railways and London Regional Transport are as follows:

  1987–88 Cash

  1988–89 Prices

  1988–89

  BR (£ million)

  526

  563

  596

  NIR (£ million)

  5

  5

  4

  LRT (£ million)

  274

  291

  271

  Total investment (£ million)

  805

  859

  871

  Investment per capita (£)

  14·14

  15·09

  15·30

  Notes:

  1. Per capita figures for both years are based on the mid-3;1987 figure for United Kingdom population of 56,937,000.

  2. 1988–89 figures are forecast outturn.

  3. The BR figures include investment in freightliners, BRML and BREL but exclude the laying of continuous welded track, which BR do not classify as investment.

  Airport (Essex)
  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has been approached by any consortium seeking permission to build an airport on either Foulness Island or Maplin Sands; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  No. My right hon. Friend has seen only press reports suggesting airport development off the Essex coast.

  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his long-term policy for airports includes the building of a new international airport in Essex, or offshore from the Essex coast.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The 1985 White Paper "Airports Policy" (Cmnd. 9542) set out the strategy for airport development in the south east to meet demand to the mid-1990s. This strategy did not include a new airport off the Essex coast but foreshadowed a substantial role for Stansted airport. My right hon. Friend is currently awaiting formal advice from the Civil Aviation Authority on the adequacy of airport capacity to 2005.

  A1
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will announce his conclusions on the inspector's report into the alterations to the A1 between Wetherby and Dishforth; and when work will commence on these improvements.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Secretaries of State for Transport and the Environment hope to announce their decision in the summer.

  It is too early to give a reliable estimate of when works will commence. The date depends upon the time needed to complete the outstanding statutory procedures, which include publication of the compulsory purchase order.

  Toll Motorways
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies his Department has made of toll motorways on the European continent; and what are the conclusions in relation to their feasibility in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Department keeps in touch with developments and experience in the operation of toll 546
  motorways in Europe. We are keen to encourage the private sector to come forward with proposals for privately funded roads. It will be up to promoters to consider the feasibility of such schemes, including any proposals for motorways. The Government will shortly issue a consultation paper on private finance for roads.

  Package Holidays
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is prepared to take to secure passenger comfort and redress against protracted delays and inconvenience for those travelling on package holidays by air.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  At a conference held by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State last November to analyse air traffic congestion, airport authorities were asked to develop contingency plans to cope with delayed passengers. A number of important initiatives were proposed which were reported to a follow-up conference held by the Civil Aviation Authority in March. These included improved communications and passenger information within airports, additional accommodation and facilities, and the provision of entertainment. Plans are also being developed to provide passengers with advance information about delayed flights.

  Whether or not holidaymakers who suffer protracted delays are entitled to redress will depend on the terms of their contract with the tour operator and on any scales of compensation the tour operator may publish. It would ultimately be for the civil courts to resolve any disputed claim for compensation in respect of delays in the light of all the circumstances. It is possible for holidaymakers to take out insurance against protracted delays in certain circumstances.

  Birmingham Relief Road
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Mid-Staffordshire of 3 November,Official Report, column 765, if he has yet received his inspector's report on the public inquiry held in May 1988 on his Department's proposals for the Birmingham northern relief road; and if he is yet able to make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Yes. It arrived last month and is being considered.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  County Courts (Jurisdiction)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Attorney-General what changes he proposes in the use of rateable values as indications of jurisdiction in county court cases.

  The Attorney-General
  As part of the Government's programme for implementation of the civil justice review, announced on 6 April, the upper financial limit of the county courts' jurisdiction in actions for the recovery of land will be removed. Arrangements will be made for any transitional period there might be between the abolition of the domestic rating system and that of the county court limit, if this proves necessary.

  In some cases, however, it will still be necessary for the substance of a claim to be quantified, and various options are being considered by the Lord Chancellor.

  Domestic Violence
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will set up a study of the operation of the civil procedures related to domestic violence.

  The Attorney-General
  No. The Law Commission is carrying out a review of the courts' civil jurisdiction relating to domestic violence, other molestation and rights of occupation of the home. This review will examine both important areas of procedure and the remedies available. The commission hopes to issue a discussion paper later this year.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Institute for Japanese-European Technology Studies
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what contribution has been made to the Institute for Japanese-European Technology Studies; and over what period contributions will continue to be made.

  Mr. Forth
  Neither the Department of Trade and Industry nor the Department of Education and Science has given specific financial support to the Institute for Japanese-European Technology Studies, but my Department welcomes this initiative and is represented on the institute's external advisory committee.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the current level of inward investment in the United Kingdom; and what was the comparable figure for 1978.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The latest available information on the level of inward investment in the United Kingdom is given in table 9·1 of "The United Kingdom Balance of Payments —1988" (the CSO pink book). A copy of this publication is available in the Library.

  Advertising
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much has been spent by his Department on advertisements on commercial television in each of the last five years, listed by each television company.

  Mr. Forth
  I am advised by the Central Office of Information, through which the Department buys such advertising, that the detailed information requested is commercially confidental. The Department's total expenditure on television advertising in the last five years was as follows:

  £

  1984–85

  32,000

  1985–86

  nil

  1986–87

  nil

  1987–88

  4·6 million

  1988–89

  13·2 million

  1provisional.

  Iraq
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list, in real terms, the size of United Kingdom exports to Iraq for each of the last 10 years.
  548
  Mr. Alan Clark
  The value of exports to Iraq for each of the last 10 years is given in the following table. The information is not available in real terms.

  United Kingdom exports to Iraq 1979–88

  Value in £ millions

  Year

  Value

  1979

  201·2

  1980

  322·1

  1981

  623·9

  1982

  873·7

  1983

  399·9

  1984

  343·1

  1985

  444·7

  1986

  443·8

  1987

  271·7

  1988

  412·1

  Source:

  Overseas Trade Statistics.

  Note:

  1988 figures are provisional.

  British Shipbuilders
  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has received the annual report and accounts of British Shipbuilders for 1987–88.

  Mr. Newton
  In accordance with sections 17(9) and 18(6) of the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act 1977, I am today laying before each House copies of British Shipbuilders' annual report and accounts for 1987–88.

  British Overseas Trade Board
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what criteria govern how the members of the British Overseas Trade Board, listed in the 1987–88 report from pages 32 to 38, treat their commercial interests when taking decisions as members of the British Overseas Trade Board; and whether a register of members interests is compiled and a financial declaration made where relevant.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding answer 11 May 1989]: The British Overseas Trade Board advises on overseas trade and the official export promotion programme. The board itself does not take decisions on the provision of services or other forms of assistance to individual businesses and conflicts of interest do not therefore arise. Of the bodies listed in pages 32–38 of the annual report, only the Overseas Project Board considers matters involving official assistance to individual businesses, and members are specifically excluded from advising on cases in which they have an interest. A full register of members' directorships and financial interests is maintained by the Department.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioners
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the percentage of total pensioners' income in 1988 represented by the state retirement pension; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 2 May 1989]: I regret that the information is not available in the form requested. The 1986 family expenditure survey shows that 59 per cent. of pensioners' average gross income was derived from all social security benefits.

HEALTH

  NHS Reform
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish(a) details of the monitoring he intends to instigate on his reform programmes for the National Health Service, (b) which organisations will be carrying out which pieces of monitoring and (c) the criteria used for measuring success.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Health authorities will be expected to monitor progress on the review locally, and the NHS management executive will monitor progress over the country as a whole. The test of success will be the extent to which reforms help the NHS to provide better quality services for patients.

  Domestic Violence
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the extent to which places in refuges for victims of domestic violence are below the level of one family place, namely for a woman and her children, per 10,000 of population.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not have any central records of the numbers of family places available in refuges. However, the national voluntary organisation, Women's Aid Federation (England), estimates that there are approximately 1,755 family places in women's refuges in the United Kingdom.

  This represents one family place per 25,844 of the population aged 16 and over.

  Mental Hospitals
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mental hospitals have been closed in the past year.

  Mr. Freeman
  [pursuant to his reply 22 March 1989 c. 671]; The information requested is now available and is in the table. It comprises the mental illness hospitals/units which we are aware were approved for total closure in 1988.

  Hospital

  District

  Clifton

  York

  High Wick

  Southern Derbyshire

  Whitecroft

  Isle of Wight

  Hungerford

  West Berkshire

  Crossley

  Halton

ENVIRONMENT

  Water Industry (Employment)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for(a) the Yorkshire water authority and (b) the Severn Trent water authority, how many people were employed in the water industry in 1979, 1985 and each subsequent year to date.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The information is published in "Waterfacts 1988," a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. Figures for 1989 are not yet available.

  Stack Emission Tests
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the results of stack emission tests carried out by HMIP on industrial plants.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The results of tests carried out by HMIP on emissions to the atmosphere are not generally published because many of them are of an investigative nature rather than routine tests for compliance with emission limit values. Test results are often summarised for individual premises in the district annual reports that are made available locally.

  Domestic Violence
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will discuss with local authorities ways of increasing the number of refuges for the victims of domestic violence and of providing them with more adequate and secure funding.

  Mr. Trippier
  It is for individual authorities to assess the local need for refuges and to make, or encourage others to make, appropriate provision. We give support to refuges through the urban programme and housing investment programmes, and the Housing Corporation also funds refuges provided by housing associations.

  Peak District National Park
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of whether the Peak District national park can remain in satisfactory condition within the financial provision currently available; and what further moneys will be made available in the current and succeeding financial years.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  In determining the amount of national parks supplementary grant in respect of each national park authority's expenditure, my right hon. Friend takes account of the authorities' detailed functional strategies and the recommendations of the Country-side Commission. NPSG for the Peak District national park for 1989–90 is £2,461,900, an increase of 10·3 per cent. over 1988–89 and 25 per cent. higher in real terms than the park's settlement in 1979. I cannot anticipate future years' settlements.

  Nuclear Plants (Sites)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the implications of the European Court decision of September 1988 over implementation of the Euratom treaty article 37 in regard to the Electricité de France nuclear plant at Cattenom for future United Kingdom nuclear plant siting.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There are no implications for the United Kingdom.

  Land Register
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for South Hams of 26 April,Official Report, column 937, if he will breakdown the 37,805 acres by ownership and region and if he will give details in each case as to how the land came to be placed on the register.
  551
  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 11 May 1989]: I have placed tables in the Library giving a breakdown by owner and region of land added to the register in 1984–88. There are separate tables for land subsequently removed from the register before the end for 1988 and for land still on the register at the end of 1988.

  The land was entered on the register because information supplied by the owners indicated that it satisfied the conditions set out in section 95(2) of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980.

  Books and equipment (separate figures for hooks and equipment not available)

  Primary schools

  Secondary schools

  Special schools

  Year

  Cash £

  Real terms £

  Index

  Cash £

  Real terms £

  Index

  Cash £

  Real terms £

  Index

  1978–79

  10·40

  21·22

  100

  22·88

  46·69

  100

  24·32

  49·63

  100

  1979–80

  12·05

  21·04

  99

  25·24

  44·08

  94

  26·65

  46·55

  94

  1980–81

  12·34

  18·18

  86

  25·73

  37·91

  81

  30·96

  45·62

  92

  1981–82

  14·37

  19·27

  91

  29·22

  39·20

  84

  38·34

  51·43

  104

  1982–83

  14·63

  18·32

  86

  30·62

  38·34

  82

  38·11

  47·72

  96

  1983–84

  15·08

  18·07

  85

  31·74

  38·03

  81

  41·83

  50·12

  101

  1984–85

  16·37

  18·77

  88

  34·26

  39·29

  84

  46·38

  53·19

  107

  1985–86

  17·14

  18·54

  87

  36·40

  39·38

  84

  46·13

  49·91

  101

  1986–87

  18·30

  19·21

  90

  42·14

  44·24

  95

  67·77

  71·15

  129

  1987–88

  19·94

  19·94

  94

  47·92

  47·92

  103

  84·78

  84·78

  171

  Queen's University
  Mr. McCusker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the total number of applications for post-graduate certificate of education courses received by Queens' university, Belfast for courses commencing 1986, 1987 and 1988 were for physics, chemistry and mathematics; and what level of qualifications they had already obtained.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Numbers of applications were as follows:

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Physics

  38

  40

  34

  Chemistry

  50

  59

  62

  Mathematics

  56

  63

  59

  Information about the level of qualifications of applicants is not available.

  Youth Training Programme
  Mr. McCusker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the 1989–90 financial allocations to Northern Ireland's education and library boards for YTP schemes; and how much of this has been allocated by each board for special needs provision.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The board's estimates of YTP expenditure for 1989–90 have only recently been received by the Department of Education and are now under consideration. I hope to be able to advise the hon. Gentleman of the allocations approved and the amounts included for special needs provision later this month.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  School Expenditure
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table showing the latest figure for expenditure per pupil on(a) books and (b) equipment and comparable figures for each year since 1978–79 in (i) primary schools, (ii) secondary schools and (iii) special schools in cash and real terms using an index of 100 for 1978–79.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is as follows:

PRIME MINISTER

  Domestic Violence
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will co-ordinate ministerial action to ensure that victims of domestic violence receive full information regarding the legal, counselling and housing help that is available for them.

  The Prime Minister
  Information about the help available to victims of domestic violence is best provided locally. Some statutory and voluntary organisations already issue leaflets. The ministerial group on women's issues is co-ordinating Government action and will consider outstanding needs when it meets on 15 June to discuss the recently published Home Office research on this subject.

  British Intelligence (History)
  Mr. Wheeler
  To ask the Prime Minister when publication of the official history of British intelligence in the second world war will be completed.

  The Prime Minister
  Volumes I, II and III of the official history of British intelligence in the second world war by Professor Sir Harry Hinsley and others have been published; part 2 of volume III was published in February 1988. Volume IV (security and counter-intelligence) by Sir Harry Hinsley and Mr. C. A. G. Simkins and Volume V (strategic deception) by Professor Sir Michael Howard are being prepared for publication towards the end of this year or early next year.

  Efficiency Unit (Scrutiny)
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Prime Minister what topics have been covered in the efficiency unit's scrutiny programme in the last financial year.
  553
  The Prime Minister
  The 1988–89 programme of scrutinies carried out in association with the efficiency adviser and the efficiency unit are:

  Cabinet Office

  Government economic statistics

  Her Majesty's Customs and Excise

  Administration of the integrated tariff

  Running cost implications of information technology

  British Council

  Inward visits

  Ministry of Defence

  MOD support for military associated functions at schools and universities

  Defence accommodation stores

  Department of Employment

  Inspection rating system (HSE)

  Fraud investigation (with DSS)

  Department of the Environment

  Control of administrative expenditure in non-Departmental public bodies

  Home Office

  Grants made under Section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966

  Magistrates' courts

  Inland Revenue

  Schedule D procedures

  Internal post

  Northern Ireland Office

  Land Registry

  Overseas Development Administration

  Administration of aid-tying rules (with DTI)

  Scottish Office

  Prison buildings

  Department of Social Security

  Fraud investigation (with DE)

  (Under Franchise Programme) Overseas branch (Newcastle central office)

  Department of Trade and Industry

  Administration of aid-tying rules (with ODA)

  DTI economic statistics

  Further topics for scrutinies are being discussed with Departments.

  A number of other scrutinies are also being conducted according to full scrutiny disciplines and with guidance from the efficiency unit:

  Metropolitan Police

  Civil staff recruitment and retention

  Police abstractions from duty

  Provincial Police Forces

  Scenes of crime function

  Driver training

  Communications

  Sick absence

  Transport management

  Community relations

  Attendance at court

  Stores and printing

DEFENCE

  Japanese Companies (Collaboration)
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide details of any projects worked in collaboration with Japanese companies.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Ministry of Defence is involved in no such projects.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Taxation and National Insurance
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will specify the distribution of gains in the 554
  Budget from each item where (a) tax or (b) national insurance changes were made other than normal indexation, according to income bands as follows: less than £5,000 per year, £5,000 to £7,500, £7,500 to £10,000, £10,000 to £12,500, £12,500 to £15,000, £15,000 to £20,000, £20,000 to £30,000, £30,000 to £50,000 and above £50,000; and if he will indicate the percentage of total (a) tax and (b) national insurance changes accruing to each group and the percentage of the total numbers of (a) taxpayers and (b) national insurance that each group comprises.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 2 May 1989]: The changes in income tax rates and allowances other than those for indexation are the changes to age allowances and withdrawal rate. They will cost about £15 million in 1989–90. About 15 per cent. of this cost will go to taxpayers with income less than £5,000; about half to those with incomes between £5,000 and £10,000 and the rest to those with incomes between £10,000 and £14,000. The total number of taxpayers who will benefit is about half a million; about 2 per cent. of all taxpayers. Further information is not available.

  The required information for national insurance contribution in the year 1990–91 (the first full year of the proposed NICs structure) is estimated to be as follows:

  Distribution of NICs gains and gainers in 1990–91

  Earnings1 £000s

  Gains £ billion

  Gains per cent.

  Numbers2per cent.

  <5·0

  0·15

  5

  13

  5– 7·5

  0·30

  11

  14

  7·5–10·0

  0·55

  20

  17

  10·0–12·5

  0·50

  18

  16

  12·5·15·0

  0·40

  15

  13

  15·0–20·0

  0·50

  18

  15

  20·0–30·0

  0·30

  10

  9

  30–0·40·0

  0·05

  1·5

  1·5

  40·0+

  0·05

  1·5

  1·5

  Total

  2·80

  100

  100

  1 Earners with weekly earners below the weekly lower earnings limit assumed for 1990–91 are ignored. Insufficient information is available on those earning £50,000 and above and so the table shows figures for £40,000 and above.

  2 Numbers are of national insurance class 1 standard rate contributors earning in excess of the lower earnings limit.

  Government Debt
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer further to his answer to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North, of 25 April,Official Report, column 470, if he will list any rules relating to the holding of Government debt by insurance companies and pension funds.

  Mr. Lilley
  I still do not know which rules the hon. Gentleman has in mind. If he would care to write to me about this matter, I would be happy to respond.

  Tax Returns
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the numbers of Inland Revenue tax returns issued and received in each year from 1979 to the latest year available.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 8 May 1989]: The approximate numbers of personal tax returns issued at the start of every tax year from 1979–80 onwards are as follows:
  555

  (millions)

  1979–80

  9·79

  1980–81

  9·11

  1981–82

  8·35

  1982–83

  7·88

  1983–84

  8·00

  1984–85

  7·92

  1985–86

  7·64

  1986–87

  7·35

  1987–88

  7·30

  1988–89

  7·31

  1989–90

  7·97

  No central record is available of the number of returns received.

  Tax Fraud
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for 1979 and 1987–88 the number of cases of tax fraud detected for which the amount recovered exceeded(a) £100,000, (b) £500,000 and (c) £1,000,000.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 8 May 1989]: The numbers of settlements in cases of tax fraud, categorised by the amounts recovered, including appropriate interest and penalties, were:

  1988–89

  £

  100,000 – 500,000

  517

  500,001 – 1,000,000

  32

  over 1,000,000

  18

  Figures for earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report the total number of Inland Revenue staff currently employed in investigating tax fraud, and the number employed in 1979.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 8 May 1989]: Inland Revenue resources, expressed as units of full-time staff, employed in investigating tax fraud are:

  Number

  Year to 31 October 19801

  1,265

  Year to 31 March 1989

  2,752

  1 The earliest year for which figures are available.

  Estimated Number of Tax Units1 (millions)

  Not liable to income tax

  Liable to income tax at reduced rate only

  Liable to income tax at basic rate (excluding higher rate taxpayers)

  Liable to income tax at higher rate

  All tax units

  Aged2 units

  1978–79

  4·4

  1·0

  1·4

  0·1

  6·9

  1988–89

  5·0

  —

  2·4

  0·2

  7·6

  1989–90

  4·9

  —

  2·4

  0·2

  7·5

  All tax units

  1978–79

  7·7

  3·1

  17·6

  0·7

  29·1

  1988–89

  110

  —

  19·9

  1·3

  32·2

  1989–90

  11·0

  —

  19·8

  1·5

  32·3

  Tax Investigations
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the number of Inland Revenue tax investigations settled(a) with and (b) without prosecution for tax recovered between (i) £0·1 million and £0·5 million, (ii) £0·5 million and £1·0 million and (c) over £1·0 million from 1979 to the most recent year available.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 8 May 19891: (a). No records are kept of the total amounts of tax recovered from investigations which result in prosecution. However, the numbers of prosecutions categorised by the amounts of tax in respect of the matters brought before the court, were:

  1979

  1988–89

  100,000–500,000

  3

  6

  500,001–1,000,000

  —

  1

  over 1,000,000

  —

  —

  Figures for intervening years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  (b). The Inland Revenue keeps records of total settlements only (that is, tax plus interest penalties where appropriate). Details of settlements categorised by amounts of tax alone could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report the numbers of staff currently in post in the Inland Revenue division dealing with schedule D evasion.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 8 May 1989]: The number of Inland Revenue staff, expressed as full-time units, employed in dealing with Schedule D evasion for the year ended 31 March 1989 is 2,135.

  Tax Statistics
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will give the number of tax units(a) not liable to income tax, (b) liable to income tax at the basic rate and (c) liable to tax at rates higher than the basic rate in (i) 1978–79, (ii) 1988–89 and 1989–90;

  (2) if he will give the number of tax units over pensionable age (a) not liable to income tax, (b) liable to income tax at the basic rate and (c) liable to tax at rates higher than the basic rate in 1978–79, 1988–89 and 1989–90.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answers 8 May 1989]: Estimates are given in the tables.
  557

  1 Single people and married couples.

  2 Single people aged 65 and over and married couples in which one or both members are aged 65 or over.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report the amount and share of pre-tax income accruing to (a) the top one per cent., (b) the top five per cent., (c) the top ten per cent., (d) the top 25 per cent., (e) the bottom 70 per cent., (f) the bottom five per cent. and (g) all taxpayers in each year 1978–79 to 1988–89 and the amount and share of tax liability for each of these groups.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 8 May 1989]: Estimates are given in the tables for 1978–79 and 1983–84 to 1988–89. Information for other years could be provided

  Group of taxpayers

  Top 1 per cent.

  Top 5 per cent.

  Top 10 per cent.

  Top 25 per cent.

  Bottom 70 per cent.

  All taxpayers

  Year

  Amount £ billion

  Share per cent.

  Amount £ billion

  Share per cent.

  Amount £ billion

  Share per cent.

  Amount £ billion

  Share per cent.

  Amount £ billion

  Share per cent.

  Amount £ billion

  Gross incomes before tax

  1978–79

  5·1

  5

  15·0

  15

  24·3

  24

  45·9

  45

  51·0

  50

  102·8

  1983–84

  9·7

  6

  28·3

  16

  45·0

  26

  81·7

  47

  82·0

  47

  173·7

  1984–85

  10·9

  6

  31·4

  17

  49·6

  26

  89·3

  47

  88·8

  47

  188·8

  1985–86

  12·9

  6

  35·7

  17

  55·9

  26

  100·5

  47

  100·0

  47

  212·6

  1986–87

  15·1

  7

  40·8

  17

  63·2

  27

  112·5

  48

  107·3

  46

  232·9

  1987–881

  16·7

  7

  45·2

  18

  70·1

  27

  124·5

  49

  116·7

  46

  255·8

  1988–891

  19·0

  7

  51·3

  18

  79·4

  28

  140·4

  49

  129·8

  45

  286·5

  Income tax liabilities

  1978–79

  2·3

  11

  4·9

  24

  7·0

  34

  11·5

  57

  7·7

  38

  20·2

  1983–84

  3·8

  11

  8·5

  26

  12·2

  36

  19·5

  58

  12·5

  38

  33·4

  1984–85

  4·2

  12

  9·3

  26

  13·3

  38

  21·1

  60

  12·4

  35

  35·4

  1985–86

  5·0

  13

  10·6

  27

  14·8

  38

  23·2

  60

  13·6

  35

  38·8

  1986–87

  6·2

  14

  12·7

  29

  17·3

  40

  26·5

  61

  14·5

  34

  43·3

  1987–881

  6·9

  15

  14·0

  31

  18·8

  41

  28·4

  62

  14·8

  32

  45·6

  1988–891

  6·0

  13

  13·5

  29

  18·6

  40

  28·6

  62

  15·2

  33

  46·4

  1 Provisional; Includes estimates of occupational pension contributions and Investment Income not reported to tax offices.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report the total amount of tax recovered from tax investigations in each of the individual cases where the recovered amount exceeded £1 million.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 8 May 1989]: The total amount of tax recovered from the 43 investigation cases settled in 1988–89 where in each case the amount recovered exceeded £1 million was £132 million.

  Married man with non-earning wife and two children

  Multiples of average male earnings

  Proportion of gross earnings:

  ½

  1

  l½

  2

  3

  5

  10

  1978–79

  Income tax

  -4·1

  14·4

  20·6

  23·6

  32·0

  47·1

  64·7

  NICs

  6·5

  6·5

  5·6

  4·2

  2·8

  1·7

  0·8

  VAT

  —

  2·7

  2·7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1989–90

  Income tax

  -1·0

  12·0

  16·4

  18·4

  20·6

  22·4

  23·7

  NICs

  7·9

  8·4

  6·8

  5·1

  3·4

  2·0

  1·0

  VAT

  —

  5·0

  5·7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1978–79

  Income tax

  -11·l

  6·4

  15·2

  19·7

  25·9

  32·9

  50·6

  NICs

  6·5

  6·5

  6·5

  6·5

  5·4

  3·4

  1·7

  VAT

  —

  3·4

  3·4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1989–90

  Income tax

  -10·6

  7·1

  13·1

  16·0

  19·0

  21·4

  23·2

  NICs

  5·4

  7·5

  8·3

  8·4

  6·8

  4·1

  2·0

  VAT

  —

  5·9

  6·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  558
  only at disproportionate cost. All estimates of income are based on information reported to tax offices and collected through the annual surveys of personal incomes. For years before 1985–86, estimates exclude employees' contributions to occupational pension schemes and some investment income on which tax is deducted at source. Estimates are based on the surveys of personal incomes for years up to 1986–87 and projections of the 1986–87 survey for subsequent years; the latter are, therefore, provisional.

  I regret that information on the bottom five per cent. of taxpayers is not available.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the proportion of gross income paid in income tax, national insurance contributions and value added tax by(a) a married man with a non-earning wife and two children and (b) a married man with an earning wife and two children at one half one and half, two, three, five and 10 times national average earnings in 1989–90; and what were the comparable figures in 1978–79.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 8 May 1989]: The information requested is in the table.
  559
  Notes:

  (1) Average male earnings in 1989–90 are assumed to be £273–10 per week, 7½ per cent. higher than in 1988–89. This represents a real increase of over 30 per cent. since 1978–79.

  (2) Child benefit is treated as a negative income tax.

  (3) Earners, including working wives, are assumed to pay Class 1 NI contributions at the contracted in rate. The figures for NI contributions are financial year averages.

  (4) The two earner couple is assumed to have joint earnings equal to the various multiples of average earnings, split between husband and wife in the ratio 60:40.

  (5) The estimates of VAT are derived from the 1985 Family Expenditure Survey and are based on the illustrative assumption that 10 per cent. of disposable income is saved. Estimates cannot reliably be made outside the range of 75 per cent. to 150 per cent. of average male earnings.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing tax and national insurance contributions less child benefit, where appropriate, for 1989–90, and comparable figures for 1988–89 and 1978–79, with the multiples of average earnings as half, two-thirds, one, five and 10 times for (a) a married couple with part-time working spouse, (b) a married couple plus two children with part-time working spouse and (c) a single person.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 8 May 1989]: The information requested for a single person is given in the table. Figures for married couples with part-time working spouse have not been given, as they will depend on how much the part-time worker earns.

  Payments of income tax and national insurance contributions by a single person (£ per week) in current prices

  Multiples of average male earnings1

  ½

  ¾

  1

  5

  10

  1978–79

  10·93

  17·04

  29·25

  242·17

  625·97

  1988–89

  30·67

  45·10

  73·87

  459·94

  968·14

  21989–90

  31·53

  47·03

  77·96

  492·81

  1,039·01

  1 Full time males on adult rates (all occupations), using illustrative assumption of 7·5 per cent. growth in earnings between 1988–89 and 1989–90.

  2 Financial year average of pre- and post-October regimes for employees National Insurance Contributions.

  Tax Allowances
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost to the Exchequer at the 1989–90 tax rates announced in the Budget of the married man's tax allowance in excess of the corresponding single person's allowance; how much of this cost is attributable to taxpayers aged below 65 years; and what is the weekly value of this extra relief to the married man paying income tax at the standard rate.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 8 May 1989]: The direct revenue cost, at 1989–90 levels of income, of the married man's allowance in excess of the single person's allowance is estimated at £4·9 billion, of which £4·1 billion is attributable to those aged under 65. The extra relief is worth £7·64 per week to a basic rate taxpayer not entitled to aged allowance.

  Budget Gainers
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the gain per individual arising from each relevant component of the 1989 Budget, both at current prices and net of indexation for those at one half and three-quarters of average earnings, average earnings, and one and a half, two, five and 10 times average earnings; and if he will provide comparable figures for each budget since 1979.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 8 May 1989]: Individuals will benefit directly or indirectly from many
  560
  Budget measures. These gains will vary according to their specific circumstances, as well as their level of earnings, and it would be impracticable to attempt to estimate the effects of all the measures listed in table 4·1 of the 1989 Financial Statement and Budget Report, let alone for each Budget since 1979. Information on the effects of specific measures may be found in the press notices issued each Budget day by Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Medical Officers
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that any officers who have applied for medical officer training and are subject to disciplinary action are released as a matter of urgency.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The existence of disciplinary charges against prison officers awaiting transfer to hospital duties does not in itself preclude their posting. If the hon. Member has a specific case in mind, perhaps he could let me know.

  Police Arrests
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were arrested by the police in the United Kingdom in 1988; how many of those arrested were cautioned and how many were charged, and if he will provide a breakdown by police force area.

  Mr. John Patten
  The available information on arrests is given in the table. Numbers of persons who were cautioned and numbers prosecuted in each police force area for indictable offences are published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales", supplementary tables: latest figures are for 1987 (table S3.7(a) for cautions and table S3.3(a) for prosecutions). The coverage of figures on arrests is wider than that of indictable offences, so arrests are not directly related to cautions or prosecutions. An arrest may not result in the arrested person being cautioned or prosecuted.

  England and Wales 1987

  Police force area

  Arrests1

  Avon and Somerset

  36,290

  Bedfordshire

  15,694

  Cambridgeshire

  17,239

  Cheshire

  23,310

  Cleveland

  24,670

  Cumbria

  14,591

  Derbyshire

  20,126

  Devon and Cornwall

  27,704

  Dorset

  13,478

  Durham

  21,762

  Essex

  35,140

  Gloucestershire

  12,428

  Greater Manchester

  109,963

  561

  Police force area

  Arrests1

  Hampshire

  52,052

  Hertfordshire

  20,538

  Humberside

  35,106

  Kent

  46,808

  Lancashire

  47,881

  Leicestershire

  20,945

  Lincolnshire

  17,282

  London City of

  3,702

  Merseyside

  54,088

  Metropolitan Police

  n.a.

  Norfolk

  17,232

  Northamptonshire

  14,193

  Northumbria

  60,206

  North Yorkshire

  16,656

  Nottinghamshire

  37,423

  South Yorkshire

  35,859

  Staffordshire

  34,585

  Suffolk

  12,010

  Surrey

  18,582

  Sussex

  32,448

  Thames Valley

  48,199

  Warwickshire

  10,625

  West Mercia

  25,027

  West Midlands

  93,562

  West Yorkshire

  70,640

  Wiltshire

  9,846

  Dyfed-powys

  8,803

  Gwent

  16,338

  North Wales

  18,092

  South Wales

  46,901

  England and Wales

  1,298,024

  1 Covers notifiable offences and some summary offences.

  n.a. Not available.

  Prison Officers Association
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he last met the chairman of the Prison Officers Association; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend last invited the chairman of the Prison Officers Association (POA) to meet him on 29 September 1988. Discussion centred on the urgent need for prison officers to end industrial action which was contributing significantly to the unacceptably high number of prisoners—around 1,700—then being held in police cells. A number of more general points were also discussed.

  Prisons (Disturbances)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the prisons in England and Wales where inmates have gone on to the prison roof during a disturbance within the prison during the last three years;

  (2) if he will list each prison in England and Wales where there has been a disturbance among inmates for each of the last three years.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  In the three years up to 9 May, incidents involving a substantial number of inmates acting in concert and leading to significant damage occurred at the following prisons and remand centres:
  562
  10 May 1986 to 9 May 1987

  Her Majest's Prison, Wymott.

  10 May 1987 to 9 May 1988

  Her Majesty's Prison, Bedford.

  10 May 1988 to 9 May 1989

  Her Majesty's Prison, Ashwell.

  Her Majesty's Prison, Canterbury.

  Her Majesty's Prison, Haverigg.

  Her Majesty's Youth Custody Centre and Remand Centre, Hindley.

  Her Majesty's Prison, Lindholme.

  Her Majesty's Prison, Northeye.

  Her Majesty's Remand Centre, Risley.

  Her Majesty's Prison, Rollestone.

  Her Majesty's Prison, Swansea.

  Inmates climbed on to the roof during two of these incidents—at Risley and at Canterbury (where one inmate climbed on to the roof).

  Domestic Violence
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will consult police chief constables about the value of appointing domestic violence liaison officers in every division;

  (2) if he will request police forces to have available an information leaflet on sources of help for victims of domestic violence and to offer it when appropriate.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We shall be exploring with chief officers the scope for fresh guidance to the police about these and other issues identified in the recent Home Office research study on domestic violence.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what protection is available to victims of domestic violence if the case goes to court and the assailant is released before the court hearing; and if he has any plans to increase protection.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  A defendant may be released on bail subject to any conditions which are considered necessary to prevent his interfering with witnesses or committing offences. If he breaches the conditions of bail, he may be re-arrested. The police also have discretion to provide suitable protection to the victims or witnesses of alleged offences where they consider it necessary. We have no plans to increase the existing protection provided by the police and courts.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many areas the police are involved in a multi-agency approach to the problem of domestic violence; and if he will take steps to encourage such development.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Comprehensive information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, but I understand that the majority of police forces have arrangements which include helping victims of domestic violence to contact other agencies which can provide help and support. We shall be considering with the police whether anything more needs to be done.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will request police chief constables to record domestic violence incidents separately and to ensure that a note is taken of whether violence is used or threatened;
  563
  (2) if he will take steps to improve the police system of recording statistics on domestic disputes and domestic violence: and if he will ensure that a record is kept of the number and nature of calls for assistance coming from individual households where there have been allegations of domestic violence.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We shall include the collection and use of records of domestic violence in discussions with chief officers.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up a comprehensive national survey, backed up by local surveys, of domestic violence so as to provide improved information on its prevalence, nature, causes, handling by the authorities, and effect on the victim and enable the identification of more effective preventative measures.

  Mr. John Patten
  The ministerial group on women's issues will consider the need for further research when it meets next month.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria he has given to the police to use when assessing which cases of domestic violence are passed to the Crown prosecution service for its decision on prosecution.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  None. The criteria to be applied when considering whether charges should be brought in cases involving domestic violence are the same as for any other offence.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up a research study to investigate whether there is any difference in the likelihood of a police arrest when violence is domestic rather than non-domestic.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend will consider the possibility of research in the context of discussions with chief officers about domestic violence.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any information on the proportion of requests for assistance from the police that are due to a domestic dispute.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No. Home Office records relate only to recorded crime, and not to all incidents to which the police are called.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is planning to reduce the escalation of domestic violence in the light of the finding in his Department's research study, "Domestic Violence", that domestic violence escalates over time.

  Mr. John Patten
  I would refer the right hon. Member to the reply given yesterday to a question from the hon. Member for Huddersfield (Mr. Sheerman).

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has regarding the percentage of cases of spousal homicide in which there had been earlier requests to the police for assistance.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  None. The information routinely collected on homicide cases does not enable us to establish whether the homicide was preceded by previous calls for police help.
  564
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the police force has received training in the handling of domestic violence; who has the responsibility for providing the training; who advises on its content; and who monitors how successful it is.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  All new entrants to the police service in England and Wales receive a basic training in dealing with offences of domestic violence as part of their initial training at district training centres. For more senior ranks, there is a session on domestic violence in the inspectors' management development course. These courses will be monitored by the central planning and training unit and the forces themselves.

  The provision of further training in forces is a matter for chief officers to decide. They will devise and update any training on the basis of their analysis of operational and training needs in their force area. Chief officers may invite other agencies—such as victim support schemes—to participate in in-force training if they consider that this would make a constructive contribution to the quality of training provided.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek information from the Tottenham police force regarding the effectiveness of its multi-agency approach to tackling domestic violence.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Evaluating the effectiveness of the Tottenham unit is primarily a matter for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. We shall, however, be seeking further information about the specialist units set up by the Metropolitan police, and about initiatives in other force areas, as part of our review of procedures to deal with domestic violence.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ask the Metropolitan police for a report on the effects of their 1987 guidelines which called for domestic violence to be treated as seriously as assaults occurring in the street.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Implementation of force orders within the Metropolitan police district is the responsibility of the Commissioner. I understand from the Commissioner that the force order relating to domestic violence is currently the subject of a full evaluation which is due to be completed by the autumn. My right hon. Friend is asking to be advised of the outcome.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if there have been any police deaths when police have been called to assist with alleged domestic violence.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Records for the years 1977 to 1987 show that 24 police officers were victims of homicide and that none of them died as a result of being called to incidents of alleged domestic violence. Records for 1988 and 1989 are not yet available.

  Information about earlier homicides could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in the last year for which figures are available, what percentage of incidents involving non-domestic violence are eventually recorded as(a) crime reports and (b) incident reports; and what are the corresponding figures for domestic violence.
  565
  Mr. John Patten
  I regret the information requested is not available. Some information about the incidence, reporting and recording of domestic violence is published in Home Office research study 107, "Domestic Violence: an overview of the literature".

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in the last period for which figures are available, in how many homicides was there(a) a female

  Homicides currently recorded1 in England and Wales in which the victim was the partner2 of the principal suspect

  Year

  Male victims

  Female victims

  Killed by partner2

  Killed by partner2

  Total (= 100 per cent.)

  Number

  Percentage

  Total (= 100 per cent.)

  Number

  Percentage

  1982

  299

  15

  5

  258

  120

  47

  1983

  255

  18

  7

  227

  96

  42

  1984

  296

  17

  6

  241

  102

  42

  1985

  281

  16

  6

  256

  116

  45

  1986

  322

  17

  5

  254

  123

  49

  1987

  395

  23

  6

  240

  92

  38

  1 As at 1 June 1988; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available.

  2 Spouse, former spouse, cohabitant, former cohabitant, lover, or former lover.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in the last year for which figures are available, how many court orders were made under the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates' Courts Act 1978 to protect wives and children from violence; in what proportion of the cases a power of arrest was granted; and how many arrests were subsequently made.

  Mr. John Patten
  The available information relates to the number of orders made under sections 16(2), 16(3), 16(6)and 18 of the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates' Courts Act 1978 in England and Wales. The latest figures are for 1987 and can be found in "Home Office Statistical Bulletin 20/88", a copy of which is in the Library. Information is not collected centrally on the number of subsequent arrests.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is his estimate of the prevalence of assault arising from domestic dispute;

  (2) what is his estimate, for the last year for which figures are available, of the proportion of the four types of assault, namely common assault, actual bodily harm, malicious wounding and grievous bodily harm, which arose from domestic disputes;

  (3) if he will seek to improve the statistics about the prevalence of domestic violence by requesting a sample of chief constables to provide information on the total of all reports of domestic violence in a set period using all forms of police records;

  (4) if he will take steps to enable the amount of violence that is domestic to be separately identified in the publication "Criminal Statistics".

  Mr John Patten
  An estimate of the national prevalence of domestic violence is not available. An ad hoc survey of offences of violence recorded by the police, identifying those offences which were domestic, was carried out in 1988 and it is hoped to publish estimates based on it later in the year.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statistics he has on the number and percentage of times that allegedly assaulted women subsequently withdrew their complaints.
  566
  victim and (b) a male victim; and in what proportion, in each case, the murderer was a spouse, co-habitee or lover of the victim.

  Mr. John Patten
  Information on victims of homicide and their relationship to the subject is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales" (Chapter 4 of the latest issue, Cm. 498), a copy of which is in the Library. The table gives the figures requested for the years 1982–87.

  Mr John Patten
  The information requested is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of domestic violence have been pursued by the Crown prosecution service since the service started operating; and what were the comparable figures of prosecutions by the police over the period immediately before the Crown prosecution service came into operation.

  Mr. John Patten
  It is not possible from the information held centrally by the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Home Office to identify prosecutions in this category.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will recommend to chief constables that unless there are exceptional circumstances there should be an arrest in all cases of life-threatening domestic violence.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend is confident that the police make full use of their powers of arrest where people's lives are at stake. It will, however, be one of the issues covered in discussions with chief officers about domestic violence.

  War Crimes
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the Hetherington/Chalmers report on war crimes; when he expects to publish the report; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  I refer the hon. and learned Member to the replies given to questions from the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) on 11 May 1989 and my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, North (Mr. Gorst) on 18 April 1989 at column 92.

  Antanas Geicas
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that Antanas Geicas does not leave the juridiction of United Kingdom courts; and if he will make a statement.
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  Mr. John Patten
  My right hon. Friend has no powers to do so.

  Hillsborough Disaster
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Mr. Beaumont Dark) of 28 April,Official Report, column 702, what steps he is taking to reimburse the South Yorkshire police authority for the costs arising from the public inquiry into the Hillsborough disaster.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  A meeting is to be held between Home Office officials and officers of the South Yorkshire police authority shortly to discuss the representations made by the authority over the costs of the inquiries being undertaken by the West Midlands police.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Aujeszky's Disease
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his reasons for retaining Aujeszky's disease in category 3 rather than moving it to category 1.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 2 May to my hon. Friend the Member for Harborough (Sir J. Farr) at column 81.

  London Food Commission (Research)
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much the European Commission has subsidised the London Food Commission's research into European consumers' demand for quality food; whether the questionnaire on 1992, "Consumers and Food Policy" is part of that research; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  The Commission of the European Communities has awarded the London Food Commission a contract to study and report on product differentiation in the European Community which involves issues of food standards, food quality and consumer choice. Although the EC Commission has also awarded a grant to meet the costs of this project, I have no precise information regarding its value. The 1992 questionnaire to which my hon. Friend refers is not part of this study and was circulated independently by the London Food Commission before the contract was awarded.

  Pollution (Advice)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list by year, how many farms in the three counties of Yorkshire were visited by his staff and advised about methods of controlling agricultural pollution in each of the last five years; and what percentage of farms this represents for these counties.

  Mr. Ryder
  Information is not available in the form requested. ADAS advisers have provided farmers with advice on control of agricultural pollution in response to specific requests, and in the course of advising on other matters.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action has been taken by his Department to give farmers information about bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle; and how many animals on average per week are being identified as having it.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Information about BSE is available from the Ministry's animal health offices and is also provided by the veterinary officers who inspect each suspected case. In addition, information is disseminated through the farming and general press and media and to the farming unions and other farming organisations. On average, 140 to 150 cases are confirmed by post mortem examination each week.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what are the procedures for determining whether cattle submitted for compensation under the bovine spongiform encephalopathy notification scheme are genuine suspected cases;

  (2) what information he has concerning the number of cattle submitted as bovine spongiform encephalopathy suspect by their owners but not subsequently accepted as suspect for compensation purposes by ante-mortem veterinary inspection;

  (3) what is the total number of bovine spongiform encephalopathy compensation claims submitted to his Department to date; what proportion of claims submitted have been met at (a) 100 per cent. and (b) 50 per cent. of the value of the animal; and what veterinary ante-mortem inspection takes place of cattle that are submitted under the notification procedure for bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  It is a legal requirement for any owner or person in charge of an animal he suspects may have bovine spongiform encephalopathy to notify the divisional veterinary officer. The case is investigated and if BSE is suspected a restriction notice served confining the animal to the farm. A number of inspections may be necessary before the Ministry veterinary officer is able to decide whether the cause is BSE. If he is able to eliminate BSE as the cause restrictions are lifted. However if he is convinced that the animal is affected with BSE it is compulsorily slaughtered, the head removed so that the brain can be examined for definitive diagnosis and the carcase either incinerated or buried. Once slaughtered an automatic payment of 50 per cent. (up to a ceiling) of the valuation, undertaken when the animal was first put under restriction, is made. If BSE is not confirmed following examination of the brain the remaining 50 per cent. is paid.

  The numbers of cattle put under restriction in the period 8 August 1988 (when the slaughter policy was introduced) to 5 May 1989 are as follows:

  Number

  Restrictions imposed on suspect cases

  4,794

  Restrictions lifted because of alternative diagnosis

  214

  Suspect cases slaughtered

  4,101

  Suspect cases still under restriction

  479

  Of suspect cases slaughtered:

  positive cases

  3,351

  negative cases

  329

  Results pending

  421

  569
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) pursuant to his answer of 14 April,Official Report, column 748, on what dates and in respect of which period of time these cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle were reported to him;

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 14 April, Official Report, column 748, what information his Department presented concerning the incidence and location of confirmation of bovine spongiform encephalopathy infection in cattle at slaughterhouses or fatstock markets.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The period of time concerned was provided in the answer given to the hon. Member on 14 April, at column 748. The additional information requested is not held centrally.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is now taking and whether he intends in the near future to take any steps to monitor cattle at non-EEC export approved slaughterhouses for bovine spongiform encephalopathy infection.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The law requires any person who suspects bovine spongiform encephalopathy in an animal under his charge to notify the Ministry. This includes suspect BSE cases identified at slaughterhouses, details of which are being monitored.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all species of animals known by his Department to have been infected by transmittable spongiform encephalopathy.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 9 March at column 621. BSE has also been transmitted into mice experimentally.

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library details of each major publicity campaign mounted by his Department in 1985–86 and each successive year, including in each case the objectives of the campaign, the intended audience and the outcome of the monitoring of the achievement of the intended objectives, and national research conducted for him by the Central Office of Information together with a note of the intended objectives in the campaigns in 1989—90.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 2 May 1989]: I have today placed the detailed information requested by the hon. Member in the Library. The information supplied covers all MAFF inspired publicity campaigns not just those which may be considered as "major".

SCOTLAND

  European Regional Development Fund
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many projects in Scotland have been in receipt of European regional development fund aid in the period May 1979 to May 1989; and if he will list these in the Official Report.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 9 May 1989]: Over 2,100 projects in Scotland have received European regional development fund assistance since May 1979. Awards in the same period have totalled over £736 million.
  570
  While it would not be practical to list every project in the Official Report, examples of major projects which have received funding are the awards of £18·6 million for the Western Isles Cable; £11·2 million for the Scottish exhibition centre in Glasgow; £6·4 million for the Edinburgh city bypass; £5·2 million for the Lochmaddy/ Tarbert/Uig ferry and terminals; £2 million for the Carron valley reservoir, Stirling; and £1·7 million for the Windygates bypass, Kirkcaldy.

  Also included in the overall project total are projects under the national programmes of community interest for Glasgow (£68·2 million award), Tayside (£20·7 million) and West Lothian (£26·7 million). In addition the `non-quota' steel, shipbuilding and textile programmes attracted a total of £20 million in assistance.

  Assessment of Achievement Programme (Report)
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to publish the 1984 assessment of achievement programme English report.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 11 May 1989]: The report will be published in May 1989, along with the reports on home economics and technical education.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the 1983 P4 sample used by Northern college researchers in the assessment of achievement programme—second round mathematics—changes in performance at P4 and P7 between 1983 and 1988, was numerically representative of all the divisions in Strathclyde and the remaining 11 regions and island education authority areas.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 11 May 1989]: The sample was not a simple random sample of all Scottish P4 pupils in state supported schools. The sampling proceeded in two stages: first, a sample of primary schools was drawn; and second, from within these schools, samples of P4 pupils were drawn. The numbers of pupils, on which the statistical results of the survey have been reported, were properly representative of Scottish education authorities.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for both the 1983 and 1988 sample used in the assessment of achievement programme—second round mathematics—changes in performance at P4 and P7 between 1983 and 1988, the proportions of schools in each of the 11 regions and islands education authority areas and for each education division of Strathclyde.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 11 May 1989]: The assessment of achievement programme is not designed to provide comparisons between education authorities or between schools. The sample sizes used give reliable feedback on performance at national level only. Information relating to identified schools or education authorities is not released under the terms of an agreement with the Association of Directors of Education of Scotland (ADES).

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether similar numbers of children with special needs were included in both the 1983 and 1988 samples used by Northern college in the research work carried out on the assesment of achievement programme—second round mathematics—changes in performance at P4 and P7 between 1983 and 1988.
  571
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 11 May 1989]: The sampling procedures used in 1983 and 1988 were designed to provide a nationally representative sample of pupils in mainstream state-supported schools.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total amount of money being spent annually on the assessment of achievement programme through which the Scottish Education Department monitors standards in Scottish schools.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 11 May 1989]: Planned expenditure in 1989–90 is £170,000.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will publish details of the 1988 sampling used by Northern college in the research on assessment of achievement programme—second round mathematics—changes in performance at P4 and P7 between 1983 and 1988;

  (2) if information on the social background of pupils was collected in 1988 as part of the research carried out by Northern college on the assessment of achievement programme—second round mathematics—changes in performance at P4 and P7 between 1983 and 1988.

  Mr. Michael Forstyth
  [holding answer 11 May 1989]: Details of the sampling procedures will be included in the final report of the 1988 assessment of achievement programme second round mathematics project.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will give details of the brief given to Northern college for the preparation of the interim report on changes in performance at P4 and P7 between 1983 and 1988;

  (2) if he will give the date when the steering committee responsible for the research programme carried out by the Northern college on the assessment of achievement programme—second round mathematics—changes in performance at P4 and P7 between 1983 and 1988, agreed to ask for an interim report;

  (3) if he will give the date on which the Northern college was asked to prepare the interim report on the assessment of achievement programme—second round mathematics —changes in performance at P4 and P7 between 1983 and 1988.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 11 May 1989]: Preliminary analysis to provide a comparison of performance on common items used in 1983 and 1988 was carried out by the assessment of achievement programme central support unit, Scottish Council for Research in Education. This analysis was discussed at the assessment of achievement programme mathematics project steering committee meeting on 24 October 1988. The committee agreed to give this matter priority and the researchers were asked to prepare a paper which subsequently formed the basis of the interim report.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if Northern college was asked to prepare an interim report on the internal research brief given to them on the assessment of achievement programme—second round mathematics—change in performance at P4 and P7 between 1983 and 1988.
  572
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 11 May 1989]: An interim report was produced as a result of concerns arising from a preliminary analysis of the survey results.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if any discussions took place between the Scottish Office and Northern college regarding the contents of the interim report changes in performance at P4 and P7 between 1983 and 1988 before the report was published.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 11 May 1989]: Yes.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the names of the steering committee responsible for the research programme carried out by the Northern college on the assessment of achievement programme—second round mathematics—changes in performance at P4 and P7 between 1983 and 1988.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 11 May 1989]: The members of the 1988 assessment of achievement Programme mathematics project steering committee are:

  Position held

  Mr. D. Dunn

  Assistant Headteacher, Banff Academy, Grampian Regional Council

  Mr. N. Henderson

  Principal Adviser Primary Education, Lothian Regional Council

  Mrs. S. Livingstone

  Principal Teacher of Learning Support, Wallace High School, Central Regional Council

  Mr. D. Macdonald

  Mathematics Adviser, Highland Regional Council

  Mrs. C. McWhirter

  Headteacher, Gilburn Primary School, Tayside Regional Council

  Mr. W. Mein

  Her Majesty's Inspector of Schools (Chairman)

  Mr. G. Thorpe

  Scottish Council for Research in Education

  Mr. B. Semple

  Principal Research Officer, SED.

  Local Authority Services
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide capital allocations to regional authorities in order for them to improve services in areas which do not benefit from the full range of local authority services at present.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 11 May 1989]: Yes. On 27 February my right hon. and learned Friend announced capital allocations to regional councils for the year 1989–90 which were 16 per cent. above those for the previous financial year. This generous level of increase will enable regional councils to carry out capital works of well over £400 million in 1989–90. It is for authorities to distribute these resources in their areas, in the light of the needs of each region.

  Community Charge
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek to amend the law so that a lower
  573
  rate of community charge is paid by residents of areas which do not benefit from a full range of local authority services.
  574
  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 11 May 1989]: No. Local authorities that set the personal community charge payable in their areas at too high a level in relation to the level of services they provide will be accountable to their electorates. That is one of the main advantages of the community charge over the old domestic rating system.

  WATER: NEW CONNECTION CHARGES
  WATER: NEW CONNECTION CHARGES
  NATO RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
  NATO RULES OF ENGAGEMENT