Written Answers of 28 June 1991

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  East Birmingham Task Force
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what visits or other official engagements were undertaken by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science during his visit to the East Birmingham task force area on 30 January.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The programme included a visit to Hodge Hill girls school, to open the access centre, and a meeting with the Birmingham city action team to discuss the CAT action plan for 1991–92. The afternoon was spent at Coventry polytechnic.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Home Helps
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what reasons were given for terminating contracts of employment belonging to home helps in each of the last six months in the Down and Lisburn unit of management;

  (2) how many home helps employed by the Down and Lisburn unit of management had had their contracts terminated in each of the last six months.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested is not held centrally. The hon. Gentleman may wish to contact Mr. Norman Ferguson, the chairman of the Eastern health and social services board.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many home helps arc currently employed in the Down and Lisburn unit of management.

  Mr. Hanley
  I am advised by the chairman of the Eastern health and social services board that the number of home helps working in the Down and Lisburn unit of management at 31 March 1991 was 894; the whole-time equivalent is 179.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many home helps are currently employed in the Banbridge and Newry and Mourne units of management.

  Mr. Hanley
  I am advised by the chairman of the Eastern health and social services board that the number of home helps working in the Craigavon/Banbridge community and Newry and Mourne units of management at 31 March 1991 was:

  Units of management

  Number working

  Whole-time equivalent

  Craigavon/Banbridge community

  834

  189

  Newry and Mournc

  834

  179

  564
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many home helps were employed in the Down unit of management from 1 April 1985 to 31 March 1990.

  Mr. Hanley
  I am advised by the chairman of the Eastern health and social services board that the number of home helps working in the Down unit of management from 31 March 1985 to 31 March 1990 were:

  Date

  Number working

  Whole time equivalent

  31 March 1985

  457

  107

  31 March 1986

  450

  100

  31 March 1987

  426

  89

  31 March 1988

  441

  88

  31 March 1989

  426

  81

  31 March 1990

  441

  79

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many home helps were employed in the Banbridge and Newry and Mourne units of management from 1 April 1985 to 31 March 1990.

  Mr. Hanley
  I am advised by the chairman of the Eastern health and social services board that the number of home helps working in the Banbridge/Craigavon and Newry and Mourne units of management from 31 March 1985 to 31 March 1990 were:—

  Unit: Banbridge/Craigavon

  Date

  Number working

  Whole Time Equivalent

  31 March 1985

  951

  239

  31 March 1986

  933

  224

  31 March 1987

  891

  224

  31 March 1988

  892

  219

  31 March 1989

  865

  209

  31 March 1990

  860

  204

  Unit: Newry and Mourne

  Date

  Number Working

  Whole Time Equivalent

  31 March 1985

  974

  230

  31 March 1986

  933

  224

  31 March 1987

  918

  216

  31 March 1988

  883

  203

  31 March 1989

  939

  210

  31 March 1990

  811

  177

  Fishery Law
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will now produce a consolidation of fishery law in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Government would like to consolidate this legislation. However, the volume of Northern Ireland legislation which is currently being drafted, and which must be accorded priority, is such that no firm timetable for a consolidation of fisheries legislation can be set at this stage.

  Police Authority
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements have been made for the appointment of a new police authority for Northern Ireland following the expiry of the term of office of the previous authority on 28 June; and if he will make a statement.
  565
  Mr. Brooke
  I have today appointed a new Police Authority for Northern Ireland for a term of three years from 29 June 1991. In making the appointments I have, as required by statute, consulted those organisations and persons who are representative of the community in Northern Ireland. I welcome the positive approach that was made by almost all those consulted. As a result, the membership widely represents the whole community and includes representatives from the local councils, voluntary organisations, agriculture, industry and commerce.

  The Police Authority has a vital task to perform in maintaining an adequate and efficient police force. It also has a very important role in enhancing the relationship between the police and the public it serves and I am confident that the new authority will continue the excellent work carried out by the outgoing authority, some of whose members are being reappointed.

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Services, Greenwich
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the reasons why the spread of parks, woods, sports grounds and undeveloped land in the borough of Greenwich, through the ward weighted density calculation, leads to reduced other services standard spending assessment.

  Mr. Key
  Ward weighted density is one of the indicators used to calculated the all other services element of standard spending assessments (SSAs). It is based on the number of persons per hectare in each ward in an authority, using information from the 1981 Census; and on the overall population change for that authority between 1981 and the most recent available estimate of population produced by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. A full definition of the indicator is provided in the Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England) which is in the Library. Any change in the area

  Table showing the proportion of children in care, perinatal and infant mortality rates for Greenwich, Wandsworth and Lewisham

  Authority

  Greenwich

  Wandsworth

  Lewisham

  Children in care as a proportion of all resident children—latest data (year shown in brackets)

  6·94 (1990)

  8·05 (1990)

  11·10 (1985)

  Perinatal mortality rate1 1990

  7·1

  7·2

  9·7

  Infant mortality rate 1 1990

  8·2

  7·8

  7·3

  1 Rate per 1,000 live births.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for Greenwich, Wandsworth and Lewisham(a) the numbers of children under five and under 18 years, (b) the SSA for social services-children, per child and (c) the social index element per child and the factors and the dates of base figures within the social index.

  Mr. Key
  The following table shows for each of the three specified authorities the number of resident children aged under 18 years and under five years of age at 30 June 1989; the amount of Children's Social Services SSA per 566
  of Greenwich's parks and woods since 1981 will only have affected its score for this indicator and hence its SSA if this resulted in a change in the borough's resident population.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the main services within other services part of standard spending assessment; what are the elements determining the allocation; and what are the characteristics of Greenwich in the all ages social index that lead to the per resident allocation being half the Lewisham figure and one-third the Wandsworth figure.

  Mr. Key
  A list of the main services covered by the all other services element of standard spending assessments and details of the elements determining its allocation are included in the Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England). Information on the five factors which comprise the all ages social index is given in the Standard Spending Assessment Handbook 1991–92. Both documents are in the Library.

  Children
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for Greenwich, Wandsworth and Lewisham the comparable rates of children in care, and perinatal and infant mortality, and other identifiable outcomes which are associated with or predicted by the elements of the social index used for social services allocations for children.

  Mr. Key
  The most recent available information on the proportion of children in care, the perinatal and the infant mortality rates for Greenwich, Wandsworth and Lewisham are shown in the table below. The Children's Social Index is one of the indicators used to calculate the children's social services standard spending assessment. By itself, it is not used to predict any outcomes. Both the perinatal and infant mortality rates are based on a very small number of cases.

  child aged under 18 years for 1991–92 and the amount distributed on the basis of the Social Index element; and the factor values which constitute the present Children's Social Index. These factors are based on information collected by the 1981 Census.

  Authority

  Children aged under five years

  Children aged under 18 years

  SSA per child

  Total (£)

  Social index only (£)

  Greenwich

  15,899

  51,746

  272

  36

  Wandsworth

  16,776

  52,326

  514

  204

  Lewisham

  16,566

  52,352

  437

  144

  567

  Authority

  Factor (i)

  Factor (ii)

  Factor (iii)

  Factor (iv)

  Factor (v)

  Greenwich

  0·1773

  0·0004

  0·0106

  0·1174

  53·7411

  Wandsworth

  0·2434

  0·0051

  0·0555

  0·2928

  82·7945

  Lewisham

  0·2273

  0·0059

  0·0307

  0·2357

  66·0626

  A detailed description of each of the five factors is given in section 2, annex A of the Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England) which is in the Library.

  Footpaths
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has reached a conclusion on the deletion from the definitive map of footpath number 66, Parish of North Meols on appeal by Mr. and Mrs. Baybutt of The Coppins, Hundred End lane, Hesketh Bank, near Preston, against the decision by Lancashire county council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  No.

  The exchange of representations between the parties in this appeal is still underway. My right hon. Friend cannot take a decision until those exchanges are complete and he has had an opportunity to consider all the information put to him.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was raised by local authorities in England in 1990–91 using their discretionary powers to raise £5 per head of adult population, in areas where there is a single tier of principal local authority, and £2.50 per head of adult population, in areas where there are two administrative tiers; and if he has made any assumptions for the likely yield under this power for 1991–92.

  Mr. Key
  Information on the expenditure incurred under the provisions of section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended by section 36 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989) in respect of 1990–91 is not available. I have made no assumptions about the likely expenditure in respect of 1991–92.

  Rain Forests
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to respond to the report by the House of Commons Environment Committee on the climatological and environment effects of rain forest destruction; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  I have today laid before the House the Government's response to this report. I welcome the conclusions of the Committee's constructive report. which endorse the Government's approach to helping developing countries conserve their tropical forests. The report makes a well-informed contribution to the debate on rainforest protection. The Government, in line with the Committee's recommendations, are working with the Governments and peoples of the tropical countries in their efforts to conserve the forests and we are implementing a major increase in assistance to the forest sector in the developing countries.

  EC Environment and Transport Policies
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received since 1987 from Earth Resources Research (London) on environmental and transport policy developments in the European Community.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 27 June 1991]: Earth Resources Research (London) has produced a number of reports on behalf of environmental organisations. I am not aware of the department's having received representations from them on European Community matters.

TRANSPORT

  Driving Standards Agency
  Sir Alan Glyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the financial and service targets that he has set for the Driving Standards Agency for the current financial year.

  Mr. Chope
  I have today placed copies of the Driving Standards Agency's business plan for 1991 in the House Library. The plan sets a demanding target of £20.89 for the 'L' test unit cost and a reduction in the average waiting time for `L' tests from eight to six weeks.

  Airport Capacity
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what passenger air traffic he expects for the south-east in the late 1990s; and when he proposes to announce increased airport capacity in the south-east to meet it.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Department's air traffic forecasts distinguish between London and regional airports, and are predicted for five-yearly intervals. Passenger demand at the London airports in 2000 is currently forecast to be in the range 88.7–117·6 It is for airport operators to bring forward proposals for new capacity. BAA plc holds outline planning permission for the development of Stansted to handle 15 million passengers per year, although expansion beyond the 8 mppa capacity of its first phase will require Parliament's agreement to the relaxation of the present limit on aircraft movements at the airport. No decision has been taken on the timing of an approach to Parliament.

  Thurleigh Airfield
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, in view of the recent Civil Aviation Authority report, he will give an assurance that the airfield at Thurleigh will not be required as a passenger terminal.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  In the light of the Civil Aviation Authority's advice last year on the air traffic control and air space implications of developing additional capacity at
  569
  various airports in and near the south-east, to meet demand for air travel in the longer term, Thurleigh is not one of those being considered further by the working group we have established for the purpose. I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made on 9 May by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement, that on a preliminary assessment Thurleigh could have potential as a commercial non-passenger airfield.

  Disabled Rail Travellers
  Mr. John Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that British Rail provides toilets, easy access, hand rails and greater space for disabled travellers on the new 323 train.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I wrote to the hon. Member on 26 June.

  DVLA (Medical Reports)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will instruct the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to allow individuals access to medical reports which it obtains on them on the same terms as apply under the Access to Medical Records Act 1988 to reports obtained for employment or insurance purposes.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer Monday 24 June 1991]: Medical reports provided to the medical advisers at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency are provided on a strictly doctor to doctor basis, under provisions in the Road Traffic Act 1988, for the sole purpose of determining fitness to hold a driving licence. Although there is no legal requirement I have asked the DVLA to consider the operational and privacy implications of releasing medical reports and I shall write further to the hon. Member.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Shellfish
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what representations he has had from shellfish fishermen about the import of Canadian lobster;

  (2) what assessment he has made of whether Canadian lobsters are being dumped on the United Kingdom market.

  Mr. Curry
  I and my officials have received several representations about the import of Canadian lobster, including the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations and the Shellfish Association of Great Britain.

  Although imports of Canadian lobsters has increased, there is no evidence of dumping. However, my officials have asked the European Commission to look into the problem, and we shall continue to monitor developments.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to ensure the United Kingdom shellfish industry is not undermined by Government subsidised competition from other countries.

  Mr. Curry
  I am not aware that the United Kingdom shellfish industry is being undermined in this way, but if my hon. Friend has specific evidence I will be happy to investigate further.

  Farmers
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what total sum of money would be involved if the maximum sums permitted by EC regulations were paid to farmers and others qualified to receive them.

  Mr. Curry
  The total additional cost of making all payments under EC schemes at the maximum permitted rates cannot be assessed precisely.

  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the payments of any description which are being made to farmers, and those who qualify, at less than the maximum permitted by EC regulations.

  Mr. Curry
  The following payments under EC agricultural schemes are not being made at the maximum rates permitted in the relevant EC regulation:Set-aside
  Suckler cow premium (outside the less favoured areas only)
  Hill livestock compensatory allowances (HLCAs)
  Grants under the farm and conservation grant scheme for: Supply and installation of:

  (i) energy saving facilities;

  (ii) thermal insulation, vapour or gas sealing (excluding glasshouses)

  Fences
  Walls not constructed of traditional materials
  Flood protection
  Replacement drainage
  Reseeding and regeneration of gressland
  Preparation of improvement plans

EMPLOYMENT

  Employment Action
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give a detailed description of Employment Action, including how, apart from remuneration, it will differ from the old community programme; and what work it will undertake.

  Mr. Jackson
  Employment Action is a significant new initiative which will offer unemployed people the chance to keep their skills up to date by work experience on projects of value to the local community. It will provide work experience for 60,000 unemployed people in a full year. It will be targeted on people who have been unemployed for six months or more, including particularly those living in our inner cities.

  Employment Action will differ from the community programme in three very significant ways. Firstly, help for individuals in finding jobs will be an integral part of the programme. Secondly, the opportunities it provides will be full-time. Thirdly, TECs and local enterprise companies in Scotland, will take the lead in organising the programme locally and in determining which projects of genuine local benefit will be supported.

  The exact nature of the work carried out under Employment Action will be decided by the TECs and local enterprise companies with regard to the needs of the local community and of unemployed people.

  Race Relations
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set up a special discrimination section within the industrial tribunal system in respect of cases involving race relations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  I have no plans to do so. Industrial tribunals hearing cases of racial discrimination have a special race member with knowledge or experience of relations between persons of different racial groups in the employment field and this system is working satisfactorily.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will bring forward proposals for legislation to make ethnic record-keeping and monitoring obligatory by employers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Government fully support the practice of ethnic monitoring in employment but believes that the voluntary approach is the best way forward in this area. Ethnic monitoring makes good business sense by helping employers to assess whether their personnel practices and procedures are providing equality of opportunity for all, irrespective of race.

  The Commission for Racial Equality's code of practice on employment which recommends ethnic monitoring by employers recognises that the need for detailed information, and the methods of collecting it, will vary according to the circumstances of individual establishments. It must therefore be for individual employers to adopt the method of monitoring that is best suited to their needs and circumstances.

  Management Charter Initiative
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employers have subscribed publicly to the principles expressed in the management charter initiative since the publication of the Government's White Paper "Employment for the 1990s"; and if he will list them.

  Mr. Jackson
  As at 25 June 1991, 943 employers had joined the management charter initiative, pledging commitment to its principles as expressed in the code of practice published in May 1989. A copy of the most current membership list will be lodged in the Library of the House.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many industry lead bodies there are; and if he will list them, stating how many staff each of them have.

  Mr. Jackson
  There are currently 157 industry lead bodies. A number of them are consortia. A listing of all organisations acting as industry lead bodies is contained in the regularly updated publication, the Standards Digest. A copy of the most recent edition has been placed in the House of Commons Library. It is not possible to state how many staff work on lead body activities as the majority of these bodies are also industry training organisations.

  Footwear and Textiles
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were employed in the footwear and textile industries for each month since February.

  Mr. Jackson
  The number of employees in employment in the footwear and textile industries in Great Britain were as follows:

  Unadjusted for seasonal variations

  Thousands

  Footwear SIC group 451

  Textiles SIC class 43

  1991

  February

  44·0

  186·4

  March

  43·4

  182·6

  April

  42·3

  183·5

HOME DEPARTMENT

  EC Convention on Frontiers
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of discussions between the member states of the European Community in respect of the draft convention on the crossing of external frontiers.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The scope and content of this draft convention, together with progess to date, were outlined in the answer that I gave on 20 June at columns 242–43 to a previous question by my hon. Friend following the meeting of EC Ministers concerned with immigration on 13–14 June. The draft convention, and the declarations to be attached to it, were further discussed at a special meeting of EC Ministers which I attended on 26 June. Agreement was reached on the substance, but the Spanish Government declined to agree to the provision which the draft Convention makes in respect of Gibraltar. I will inform my hon. Friend and the House of further developments as they occur.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he plans to increase the use of detention for asylum seekers;

  (2) if he plans to decrease the proportion of asylum seekers held in prisons in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Persons (including asylum seekers) who are liable to be detained under powers given in the Immigration Act 1971 are detained only if they cannot be relied on to comply with the terms of temporary admission or release. There are no present plans to change this policy. Detention may be in immigration service accommodation or in prisons, depending upon the degree of security required and the availability of places.

  Prison Discharge Grant
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward proposals to increase the prison discharge grant to the equivalent of two weeks' payment.
  573
  Mrs. Rumbold
  We are considering the representations which have been made to us about this matter.

  Crime Prevention Week
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his evaluation of the effect on the crime rate of Crime Prevention Week.

  Mr. John Patten
  Home Office research shows that the following were some of the new initiatives which were set up as a result of the week: 37 crime prevention panels, 73 neighbourhood watch schemes, 300 vehicle watch schemes and 54 other watch schemes. Moreover, business and media support for the week was worth over £11 million. In addition, 1.5 million copies of the crime prevention handbook were distributed. Taken together, we believe these activities and the many others that took place during the week, will have encourged the public to help to prevent crime, particularly crimes involving property, and that increased public participation in crime prevention can lead to a reduction in crime.

  Violence against Women
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress towards implementing the recommendations of the Women's National Commission report on violence against women.

  Mr. John Patten
  I will reply as soon as possible.

HEALTH

  Pensions
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the date on which the announcement was made of an error in the calculation of the retail prices index which led to an underpayment of public service pensions; and what was the total amount due to national health service pensioners as a result of the error at that date;

  (2) if he will give the (a) date on which the National Health Service Pensioners Trust was established; (b) the date on which the National Health Service Pensioners Trust deed was approved by the Charity Commissioners; (c) the amount of money which has currently been paid to the trust with approval of his Department; and (d) the date of those payments;

  (3) if the amount vested in the National Health Service Pensioners Trust was calculated at 1987 prices or current cash prices; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The announcement of an error in calculating the retail prices index between February 1986 and October 1987 was made on 11 December 1987 at column 283 by my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Employment and on 18 December 1987 at columns 1376–84 by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People. The underpayment on all retirement pensions and long-term benefits at that date was estimated at £109 million. The amount attributable to national health service pensioners was subsequently estimated as £1·13 million (England and Wales) and £180,000 (Scotland). This was based on an
  574
  estimate of the expenditure on national health service pensions in the years when the underpayments occurred. From April 1989 all pensions were adjusted to make good the effect of the error.

  On 3 May 1988 at column 400 my right hon. Friend the then Paymaster General announced to the House how public service pensioners would be able to benefit through a donation to public service charities. Following a feasibility study on how best to provide for national health service pensioners, the Charity Commissioners approved the trust deed for the National Health Service Pensioners' Trust on 26 November 1990. The trust was established on 4 January 1991 and a payment of £1·311 million was made to the Trust on 28 March 1991.

  Employment
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to improve the recruitment and retention of women in the national health service and to enable them to fulfil their potential in a changing labour market.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There are already many initiatives under way in the NHS. These include career breaks, flexible working arrangements, job sharing, flexi-hours, holiday play schemes and more flexible approaches to training.

  A seminar "Women in the NHS: Opening Minds Opening Doors" was held on Tuesday 25 June. This brought together representatives from health authorities and NHS trusts. It concluded very positively in the preparation of regional action plans to be implemented over the coming year. Earlier this year I invited regional chairmen to nominate a non-executive director in their region to take forward this work. Three regional conferences will be held in the autumn to build on this progress plus another national event next year. In the meantime, we are preparing a document to promote best practice in this field.

  All these steps will provide a spur to bring employment practices for women throughout the NHS up to the very high standards which we are working to attain.

  Form E111
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response he has received from the French authorities to his reminder about the unlimited validity of forms E111 issued in the United Kingdom to holders ordinarily resident here.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I regret that, despite two reminders, the French authorities have not so far responded. I am asking the British Embassy in Paris to assist in bringing this matter to a conclusion and I shall ensure that my right hon. Friend is kept informed.

  GP Fundholders
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what extra costs are envisaged for the employment of management staff and techniques in fund-holding general practices; and whether these will be met by extra payment;

  (2) what financial arrangements are being made to ease the transition of fund-holding general practices towards greater managerial responsibility.
  575
  Mr. Dorrell
  In recognition of their additional management responsibilities fund holders are eligible to claim up to £33,000 assistance with the relevant costs. An allowance of £16,500 is payable for this purpose in the preparatory year.

  Operation Waiting Lists
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of Slate for Health how many people had been waiting for more than a year for an operation in East Birmingham district on(a) 30 September 1989 and (b) 30 June 1990.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There were 456 people waiting over a year for in-patient operations in East Birmingham district at 30 September 1989 and 268 at 30 June 1990.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioners
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to bring forward a consultative document on equalisation of the state pension age.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made to the House by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State on 26 June at column 997–1006.

  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of Slate for Social Security what his latest estimate is of the number of pensioners who both pay income tax and receive housing benefit.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The number of those aged 60 or over in Great Britain who pay income tax and recieve housing benefit is estimated to be 110,000 during 1991–92.Source: Modelled using data drawn from the 1986, 1987 and 1988 Family Expenditure Surveys.
  Note: Married and unmarried couples count as one unit.

  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the number of pensioners who received housing benefit and paid income tax if the income tax age allowances were increased by(a) £500 and (b) £1,000 at current benefit levels.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The number of those aged 60 or over in Great Britain who would receive housing benefit and pay income tax in 1991–92 if the income tax age allowances were increased is estimated as follows:

  £

  Income tax allowance increased by

  500—80,000

  Income tax allowance increased by

  1,000—70,000

  Source: Modelled using data drawn from the 1986, 1987 and 1988 Family Expenditure Surveys.

  Note: Married and unmarried couples count as one unit.

  Payment Delays
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants are still waiting to receive their April increase in benefits; and if he will also supply totals for each standard region.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The uprating exercise for all social security benefits has been completed. There will be 576
  individual cases where for various reasons it has not been possible to pay the April increase, but information on these cases is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Terry Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for review by a social fund inspector were considered by social fund inspectors during January, February, March, April and May.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Number

  January 1991

  817

  February 1991

  748

  March 1991

  755

  April 1991

  760

  May 1991

  915

  Benefit Regulations
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has now received an opinion from the Social Security Advisory Committee concerning his Department's proposal to abrogate regulation 72 of the Social Security Benefit (Adjudication) Regulations 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I can confirm that the Social Security Advisory Committee has submitted its report on the proposal to amend regulation 72. We are carefully considering the contents of that report before proceeding further.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Parliamentary Pensions
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Lord President of the Council when the Top Salaries Review Body report on parliamentary pensions is to be published; when the Government Actuary's valuation report on the parliamentary contributory pension fund will be laid before the House; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  In my letter of 4 February to the chairman of the Top Salaries Review Body, I invited the TSRB to review a number of aspects of the parliamentary pension scheme, including the balance between the Exchequer and Member contributions, the role of the Government Actuary and the rate of accrual. The TSRB has in consequence conducted a wide ranging review of the financing of the scheme. Its report has been published today and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House. Copies are also available in the Vote Office. I would like to thank the review body most warmly for the speed and thoroughness with which they have produced their report.

  The TSRB have recommended that

  (a) there should not be a switch to a fixed ratio between the Exchequer and Member contributions to the parliamentary contributory pension fund and the balance of cost method should be retained for determining the level of the Exchequer contribution;

  577

  (b) the Government Actuary should continue to be responsible for reviewing the financial position of the fund every three years and, as provided in the Parliamentary and Other Pensions Act 1987, for recommending the balance of cost contribution required from the Exchequer;

  (c) because there is at present no adequate system for reviewing the parliamentary pension scheme and the Trustees' role is essentially fiduciary, the TSRB should review the pension scheme on a regular basis at the time of the Government Actuary's triennial valuations;

  (d) in line with their finding that only 4 per cent. of occupational pension schemes have an employee contribution in excess of 7 per cent., which demonstrates that the Members' contribution has been seriously out of line with practice elsewhere in the public and private sectors, the Members' contribution rate should be reduced from the existing rate of 9 per cent. to 6 per cent. of salary;

  (e) the accrual rate introduced in 1983 should remain at a fiftieth of final salary for each year of service;

  (f) this accrual rate of fiftieths should be applied to all —ie including pre-1983—service for currently sitting MPs in respect of their future pension entitlement, with appropriate augmentation for those who have been making up the shortfall voluntarily;

  (g) pensions for surviving spouses should not be improved further from the present level of five-eighths of the Member's pension;

  (h) the existing complex enhancement rules should be replaced by the grant of full years of potential pensionable employment to age 65 for the calculation of ill-health retirement pensions and of spouses' pensions when MPs die in service;

  (i) in respect of former MPs who die during the first five years of retirement, a Member's pension should continue to be paid to the surviving spouse for the remainder of the five years after retirement, followed thereafter by the dependant's entitlement;

  (j) these changes should apply also to the supplementary scheme for Ministers and other paid office holders.

  The Government propose to accept all these recommendations except the backdating of the faster rate of accrual introduced in 1983—recommendation (f). Given that Members have already had an opportunity to purchase added years at the higher rate of accrual—and that many Members have taken this opportunity—we do not believe that a retrospective change of this kind is justified.

  The Government Actuary's valuation report on the parliamentary contribution pension fund is today being laid before the House, in accordance with section 3 of the Parliamentary and other Pensions Act 1987.

  The valuation (as at April 1990) estimates that the long run total cost of the scheme—leaving aside surpluses and deficits—is 23 per cent. of salary. This compares with the valuation at April 1987 when the total cost of the scheme was estimated at 20 per cent. The higher total cost of the scheme reflects the substantial benefit improvements—principally the increased widows' pension—made by Regulations laid in March.

  Under existing legislation, the Exchequer contribution is determined by the balance of cost after taking account of the Member contribution. As I have explained, the TSRB have recommended, and the Government accept, that this system should continue unchanged. Accordingly, if the Member contribution remained at its present level of 9 per cent., the Exchequer contribution following the latest valuation would be 14 per cent., as against 11 per cent. at present. But as the House is aware, the actual Exchequer contribution since April 1989 has been lower, because the
  578
  previous valuation (as at April 1989) showed a surplus in the Fund: as a result the actual contribution paid by the Exchequer since April 1989 has been 4·4 per cent.

  There continues to be a surplus in the fund and the Actuary has therefore recommended that the actual Exchequer contribution should fall to 2.8 per cent. until 2000, when it would need to rise to the long run standard rate of 14 per cent. Under the 1987 Act, this recommendation would not come into effect until April 1992. However the TSRB's recommendations, which the Government propose to accept, will significantly alter the position.

  The Government propose that the reduction in the Member contribution from 9 per cent. to 6 per cent. should also take effect from next April: this correspondingly increases the Exchequer contribution by 3 per cent. The recommended improvements in the death and ill-health benefits, which we also propose to accept, will increase the long run total cost of the scheme by I per cent., to 24 per cent. of salary. Since these improvements are being accepted by the Government without changing the Member contribution, the Exchequer contribution will also rise by a further 1 per cent. As a result, the long term cost payable by the Exchequer—leaving aside surpluses or deficits—will be 18 per cent., against a Member contribution of 6 per cent., and the actual Exchequer contribution, taking the present surplus into account, will be 6·8 per cent.

  As required by section 2 of the Parliamentary and Other Pensions Act 1987, I will be consulting about these changes with the Trustees of the scheme and other interested parties. I then intend to allow the House to debate both the GAD and TSRB reports before the summer recess.

  Ice Cream
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Lord President of the Council why supplies of Loseley ice cream for the Members Dining Room have been cancelled in favour of another product; and if he will resume orders for Loseley ice cream forthwith.

  Mr. MacGregor
  [holding answer 26 June 1991]: I understand that the Assistant Manager of the Refreshment Department wrote to the right hon. Member on this matter on 21 June. Loseley ice cream is still being supplied.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Building Societies
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when counsel for the Inland Revenue conceded in court in the Woolwich case that there had been double or additional taxation.

  Mr. Maples
  Counsel for the Inland Revenue did not concede in the Woolwich case that there had been double or additional taxation.

  Sterling M3
  Mr. Lawson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the annualised rate of growth of sterling M3 for the eight months from mid-June 1979 to mid-April 1980, and for each subsequent financial year from 1980–81.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Sterling M3 is no longer published. For M4, the nearest current measure of money stock, the information requested is shown in the table:

  12-month growth rates of M4

  Financial year

  Percentage change

  June 1979 to March 1980

  111·9

  1980–81

  17·4

  1981–82

  13·9

  1982–83

  14·4

  1983–84

  11·7

  1984–85

  13·8

  1985–86

  14·5

  1986–87

  14·1

  1987–88

  16·8

  1988–89

  18·1

  1989–90

  17·9

  1990–91

  9·8

  1 Change between June 1979 and March 1980 at an annual rate.

  Labour Party Policy
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of civil service staff hours which have been spent producing information used in the production of the document on Labour's public expenditure plans, published on 20 June, and the total cost to the Exchequer thereof.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate(a) the total cost, (b) the total number of man hours and (c) the number of officials in each grade involved in the costings of Labour party proposals included in the letter from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, which was deposited in the Library on 20 June.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 27 June 1991]: It is not the normal practice to give details of the time spent by civil servants in carrying out particular tasks for Ministers. This work was undertaken in accordance with guidelines on the role of officials in costing Opposition policies drawn up by the head of the home civil service and published in the Fifth Report of the Treasury and Civil Service Committee for the 1989–90 session.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Piracy
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what help and assistance his Department has given to merchant shipping to counter the problem of piracy at sea.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We recognise the importance of combating piracy. Together with other countries the United Kingdom participated in a recent meeting sponsored by the International Maritime Organisation which discussed piracy. We will play a full part in further deliberations in the International Maritime Organisation in October.

  Oleg Tsarev
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will reconsider the non-granting of a visa to Oleg Tsarev to visit the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No.

  Expo 92
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer on 24 June,Official Report, column 351, whether any Gibraltarian expertise is being provided or whether any exhibit will come from Gibraltar.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The detailed content of exhibits for the British pavilion has yet to be decided, but any exhibit will need to fit in with the overall exhibition theme.

SCOTLAND

  Employment Training
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of employment training placements in 1990–91 were in workplaces with employers; and what percentage were in project-based schemes.

  Mr. Alan Stewart
  The information requested is set out on the table.

  April 1990 to March 1991

  Estimated percentage of employment training placements in workplaces with employers

  20

  Estimated percentage of employment training placements in project based schemes

  40

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what evidence he has on the level of employer contributions to the finance of ET schemes since ET started.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  We do not have any evidence. Employer contributions are a matter for negotiation between training providers and employers providing placements.

  Offenders
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the latest available figures for the total number and percentage of convicted offenders broken down by(a) sex, (b) age and (c) type of offence; and what are the average and median ages for known offenders in terms of (i) males and (ii) females, respectively.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is set out in the following table:

  Persons with a charge proved 1989

  (a)Sex

  Number

  Per cent.

  Mean age

  Median age

  Males

  146,165

  86

  28·5

  24·9

  Females

  22,795

  13

  30·8

  28·1

  TOTAL1

  169,599

  99

  581

  1 Includes sex/age not known.

  Persons with a charge proved 1989

  (b) Age1

  Number

  Per cent.

  8–15

  321

  0

  16–20

  44,175

  26

  21–25

  38,894

  23

  26–30

  25,486

  15

  31–40

  29,027

  17

  Over 40

  26,389

  16

  TOTAL2

  169,599

  100

  1 Most children alleged to have committed crimes or offences are dealt with under the children's hearing system.

  2 Includes sex/age not known.

  Persons with a charged proved 1989

  (c) Type of offence

  Number

  Per cent.

  Non-sexual crimes of violence

  3,232

  2

  Crimes of indencency

  1,188

  1

  Crimes of dishonesty

  34,618

  20

  Fire-raising, vandalism, etc.

  6,202

  4

  Other crimes

  7,872

  5

  Miscellaneous offences

  54,380

  32

  Motor vehicle offences

  62,107

  37

  TOTAL

  169,599

  100

  Note:Companies are excluded throughout.

  Prisoners
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what are the latest available figures and percentages for the total number of people receiving custodial sentences broken down by(a) type of sentence and (b) sex;

  (2) what are the latest available figures and percentages for the total number of people receiving non-custodial sentences broken down by (a) type of sentence and (b) sex.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  Persons with a charge proved, 1989

  Number

  Main penalty

  Males

  Females

  Total1

  Absolute discharge

  424

  135

  567

  Admonition or caution

  11,610

  3,335

  15,069

  Probation

  2,827

  769

  3,610

  Remit to children's hearing

  59

  7

  66

  Community service order

  3,728

  251

  3,990

  Fine

  113,372

  17,316

  131,143

  Compensation order

  1,490

  292

  1,797

  Prison

  8,630

  549

  9,189

  Young offenders institution

  3,906

  112

  4,020

  Detention of child

  3

  0

  3

  Hospital, guardianship order

  116

  29

  145

  Total

  146,165

  22,795

  169,599

  Per cent.

  Main penalty

  Males

  Females

  Total1

  Absolute discharge

  75

  24

  99

  Admonition or caution

  77

  22

  99

  Probation

  78

  21

  99

  Remit to children's hearing

  89

  11

  100

  582

  Main penalty

  Males

  Females

  Total1

  Community service order

  93

  6

  99

  Fine

  86

  13

  99

  Compensation order

  83

  16

  99

  Prison

  94

  6

  100

  Young offenders institution

  97

  3

  100

  Detention of child

  100

  0

  100

  Hospital, guardianship order

  80

  20

  100

  Total

  86

  13

  99

  1 Includes sex not known.

  Note: Companies are excluded throughout.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide statistics on the total number of prisoners between the years 1979 to 1990 broken down by(a) sex and (b) type of offence; and of these how many had (i) no previous convictions, (ii) one conviction and (iii) two or more convictions.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The available information is given in the table. Statistics are only held in relation to the number of sentenced prisoner receptions over the period in question and on whether a prisoner has previous convictions rather than how many.

  Number of sentenced receptions to Scottish penal establishments between 1979 and 1990 inclusive.

  Sex/previous conviction

  No previous convictions

  One or more previous convictions

  Total

  Male

  13,150

  210,486

  223,636

  Female

  1,743

  9,393

  11,136

  Total

  14,893

  219,879

  234,772

  Type of offence/previous conviction

  No previous convictions

  One or more previous convictions

  Total

  Crimes of violence

  1,721

  17,444

  19,165

  Crimes of indecency

  598

  2,714

  3,312

  Crimes of dishonesty

  5,964

  101,391

  107,355

  Fireraising, vandalism etc.

  424

  4,686

  5,110

  Other crimes

  869

  8,718

  9,587

  Miscellaneous offences

  3,598

  64,201

  67,799

  Motor vehicle offences

  1,719

  20,725

  22,444

  Total

  14,893

  219,879

  234,772

  Notes:

  1. Data included for 1990 is provisional.

  2. One reception is counted if one or more warrants arrive for the same person from the same court on the same day.

  3. The information provided on previous convictions is obtained directly from prisoners on reception.

  Employment Laws
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Lord Advocate has issued any guidance in the last 10 years to procurators fiscal in respect of prosecutions under the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act 1920 and part III of the Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937 as amended and associated local byelaws; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate has not issued any guidance in the last 10 years to procurators fiscal in respect of contraventions of the Acts or byelaws specified. Any
  583
  reports received by procurators fiscal alleging such contraventions are considered according to the individual circumstances of each case.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) prosecutions have been brought and (b) convictions obtained in respect of alleged offences under (i) the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act 1920, (ii) part III of the Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937 as amended and (iii) local byelaws made under section 28 of the Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937, in each year since 1980.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is not separately identifiable in the Scottish Office classification of crimes and offences.

  Criminal Justice
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of persons convicted for offences in relation to the provisions of the Debtors (Scotland) Act 1880 or the Civil Imprisonment (Scotland) Act 1882 in each of the past 20 years in terms of(a) type of offence, (b) sex of convicted miscreant and (c) type of sentence imposed by the court; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information in the form requested is not available, but the prison population of civil prisoners averaged 1 in the years 1985 to 19879, while the average number of receptions of such prisoners over this period was 15. These figures relate to all types of civil imprisonment.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest available figures and percentages for people sentenced by the courts for indictable offences broken down by(a) sex and (b) age.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The tables give information on all persons who were proceeded against on indictment and who had a charge proved against them in 1989. It is not possible to provide information on persons who had a charge proved under summary procedure whose cases could have been heard on indictment.

  Persons with a charge proved under solemn procedure, 1989

  Sex

  Number

  Per cent

  Males

  2,965

  95

  Females

  147

  5

  Total1

  3,129

  100

  1 Includes sex not known.

  Age

  Number

  Per cent

  8–15

  12

  0

  16–20

  741

  24

  21–25

  912

  29

  26–30

  598

  19

  31–40

  503

  16

  Over 40

  306

  10

  Age not known

  57

  2

  Total

  3,129

  100

  Note: Companies have been excluded throughout.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest available figures and percentages for the total number of people cautioned for summary and indictable offences broken down by(a) sex, (b) age and (c) type of offence.
  584
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information on the number of persons warned by the police is not collected centrally.

  Prison Service
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest available figures for the total number of people employed in the prison service broken down by(a) occupation and grade and (b) sex.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is as follows:

  Grade

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Governor 1

  6

  0

  6

  Governor 2

  8

  0

  8

  Governor 3

  20

  2

  22

  Governor 4

  24

  2

  26

  Governor 5

  48

  13

  61

  Senior medical officer

  2

  0

  2

  Medical officer

  5

  0

  5

  Catering adviser

  1

  0

  1

  Steward 1

  1

  0

  1

  Steward II

  1

  0

  1

  Senior professional and technical officer

  4

  0

  4

  Higher professional and technical officer

  4

  0

  4

  Professional and technical officer

  7

  0

  7

  Discipline

  Principal officer

  190

  10

  200

  Senior officer

  261

  20

  281

  Officer

  2,152

  105

  2,257

  Physical education instructors

  Principal officer

  3

  0

  3

  Senior officer

  7

  0

  7

  Officer

  31

  1

  32

  Staff training officers/tutors

  32

  2

  34

  Caterers

  Governor 5

  1

  0

  1

  Principal officer

  7

  0

  7

  Senior officer

  17

  1

  18

  Officer

  54

  3

  57

  Nurses

  Governor 5

  1

  0

  1

  Principal officer

  10

  1

  11

  Senior officer

  20

  2

  22

  Officer

  102

  14

  116

  Instructors industries

  Principal officer

  28

  0

  28

  Senior officer

  46

  1

  47

  Officer

  145

  11

  156

  Officer vocational training

  26

  1

  27

  Works officers

  Governor 4

  3

  0

  3

  Governor 5

  5

  0

  5

  Principal officer

  28

  0

  28

  Senior officer

  40

  0

  40

  Officer

  190

  0

  190

  Office staff

  Chief clerk officer

  14

  0

  14

  Principal clerk officer

  64

  7

  71

  Clerk officer

  44

  13

  57

  Civilian instructors industries

  Instructional officer

  15

  1

  16

  Instructional officer vocational training

  6

  0

  6

  585

  Grade

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Other staff

  Stores supervisor

  4

  1

  5

  Stores staff

  12

  2

  14

  Typists

  0

  45

  45

  Telephonists

  1

  7

  8

  Messengers

  3

  0

  3

  Bricklayer

  1

  0

  1

  Driver

  14

  0

  14

  Electrician

  2

  0

  2

  Industrial ganger

  1

  0

  1

  Joiner

  2

  0

  2

  Mechanical fitter

  1

  0

  1

  Nightwatchman

  1

  0

  1

  Painter

  8

  0

  8

  Plasterer

  2

  0

  2

  Plumber

  5

  0

  5

  Sewage plant attendant

  3

  0

  3

  Slater

  5

  0

  5

  Stockman

  1

  0

  1

  Stoker/boilerman

  13

  0

  13

  Stonemason

  1

  0

  1

  Total full-time staff

  3,753

  265

  4,018

  Part-time staff

  Medical Officers

  24

  1

  25

  Chaplains

  65

  3

  68

  Temporary female assistants

  0

  16

  16

  Typists

  0

  7

  7

  Organists

  8

  9

  17

  Weekend watchmen

  2

  0

  2

  Others

  10

  1

  11

  Total part-time staff

  109

  37

  146

  Casual staff

  Drivers

  1

  0

  1

  Painters

  2

  0

  2

  Stoker/boilerman

  1

  0

  1

  Total casual staff

  4

  0

  4

  Overall total staff

  3,866

  302

  4,168

  Sheriff Ewen Stewart
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had about the conduct of Sheriff Ewen Stewart; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  Following representations, including representations from Members of this House, and in the light of the observations of Sheriff Principal R. A. Bennett QC in a recent case, I have concluded that it would be appropriate for an investigation to be undertaken of the fitness for office of Sheriff Ewen Stewart. I have therefore asked the Lord President and Lord Justice Clerk to carry out such an investigation under the provisions of section 12 of the Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1971.

  Foreign Languages
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to strengthen support for foreign language study in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Government attach great importance to the study of modern foreign languages within the school curriculum and beyond. Guidance is that all secondary pupils should pursue the study of a modern European foreign language throughout the four years of 586
  compulsory secondary education and that increasing numbers should continue their study beyond that. At the same time pilot studies are being undertaken on the teaching of modern languages in the primary school. Employers are increasingly aware of the need for language training to ensure that their staff have the requisite capabilities to trade successfully within the single European market.

  To support schools and others in the substantial demands made on them by these developments the Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research (CILT) and the university of Stirling, with the support of the Scottish Office Education Department, are to establish a Scottish Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research.

  The centre will be based in the university of Stirling and will commence operations in December this year. Its work will be evaluated after three years. The centre will provide support and material for language teachers in their work and will also aim to supply information and advice to firms about language policy, recruitment and training. The centre will draw on the experience and resources of CILT built up over many years and will also benefit from Stirling University's particular facilities for modern language provision and associated pre-service teacher training.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Government will respond to the Report of the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology on innovation in manufacturing industry—1st report, 1990–91, HL Paper 18–1.

  Mr. Lilley
  Yesterday the Government published their reply, "Innovation in Manufacturing Industry: Government Response to the First Report of the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology, 1990–91 Session." Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Steel
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the output of the steel industries of each EC member state in 1980 and in 1990.

  Mr. Leigh
  The information requested is shown in the table. Output is given in terms of crude steel production; this is the basic output measure for which EC-wide statistics are available.

  Crude steel production in current EC countries, 1980 and 1990

  (million tonnes)

  1980

  1990

  Germany

  43·8

  41·8

  Italy

  26·5

  25·5

  France

  23·2

  19·0

  United Kingdom

  11l·3

  17·9

  Spain

  12·6

  12·7

  Belgium

  12·3

  11·5

  Netherlands

  5·3

  5·4

  Luxembourg

  4·6

  3·6

  Greece

  0·9

  1·0

  Portugal

  0·7

  0·7

  Denmark

  0·7

  0·6

  Ireland

  0·0

  0·3

  587

  1980

  1990

  Total

  141·9

  140·0

  1 1980 was an exceptional year for crude steel production in the United Kingdom because of strike action. Production in 1979 was 21·5 million tonnes and in 1981 was 15·3 million.

  Source: Eurostat, with additional information for 1980 for Spain, Portugal and Greece from the International Iron and Steel Institute.

  Timeshares
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations his Department has received about misleading advertising techniques practised by promoters selling timeshares; whether he has any evidence that such complaints are increasing in number; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  I receive a steady stream of complaints about the marketing practices of some timeshare companies and associated high pressure selling. There has been an increase over the last month but this may reflect publicity given to these practices in a recent television programme.

  I have already told the House that we intend to amend the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 to tighten the controls on statements about services and to bring timeshare award schemes within the Act's powers.

  European Community
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of "European Economy December 1990", published by the European Commission.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  A copy of the publication is already held by the Library.

  Mr. Grylls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the single market laws have been implemented by each EEC member to date.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer to the response that I gave to the hon. Member for Warrington, South (Mr. Butler) on 25 June at columns.438–40, which gives the full implementa-tion records of all member states.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give details of the proposals not yet adopted necessary for the completion of the single market.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Annex 2 of the Commission's reports to the Council and the European Parliament give the proposals submitted by the Commission which still require Council adoption. These reports are deposited in the House Library when my Department receives them from the Commission. A copy of the fifth report is already held. A copy of the sixth report is expected shortly.

  Mr. Grylls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the single market laws each EC country has refused to implement; and which countries have been brought before the European Court of Justice by the European Commission for persistently refusing to implement the single market laws.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Warrington, South (Mr. Butler) on 25 June at columns 438–40.
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  Our understanding is that it is not a question of member states refusing to implement single market measures, but of legislative and administrative delays.

  The Commission's latest report on the completion of the internal market notes that implementation of court judgments has itself considerably improved; 26 judgments by the court are currently the subject of actions brought for failure to act. These failures to act involve only four member states: Greece (3), Germany (4), Belgium (4) and Italy (15). It should be noted that these cases include measures which fall into the general single market area, but go considerably wider than the White Paper programme, on which the figures for implementation provided on 25 June are based.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the departmental on-line data base Spearhead, in providing public and commercial information on the European single market; how many users have accessed the data base in each month since it was established; and at what cost to his Department and the consumer of the service Spearhead is operated.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 27 June 1991]: My Department's Spearhead detabase provides comprehensive information on current and prospective EC legislation affecting business. It provides a brief synopsis of measures which have been adopted (and where appropriate how they have been implemented in this country), proposals currently under discussion in Brussels, and others which the Commission intend to submit. A Government contact point is given for each measure who can provide more detailed advice.

  In addition Spearhead provides information on shared-cost EC research and development programmes and gives details of draft national legislation proposed in other member states and EFTA countries notified to the European Commission under the procedure laid down in Directive 83/189/EEC.

  Spearhead is published commercially through private sector data providers. The Department provides the information free of charge to the hosts. However, in return the Exchequer receives royalties based on actual usage by customers. It was originally launched in April 1988 exclusively on Profile Information (now FT Profile). The database is now also hosted on the Justis on-line service provided by Context Limited and by Data-Star. All subscribers to these services can access the database directly. It is also available through a range of distributors (including Telecom Gold) who offer gateways to these hosts. Because hosts bill distributors as if they were a single customer the actual number of users who have accessed the database each month is not available. My officials therefore monitor the performance indirectly through the royalties received from the hosts which is related to the use made of the database.

  The table gives combined royalty payments received on a half yearly basis since Spearhead was launched.

  The costs to consumers of accessing the Spearhead database are the standard charges for accessing the various data files carried by the individual hosts. This is approximately £1·80 per minute plus VAT. Distributors set their own pricing arrangements. The estimated marginal cost to my Department of making this service available to business (excluding royalties) is some £10,000 per annum.
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  Period

  Royalties (£ thousand)

  April to June 1988

  1

  July to December 1988

  1

  January to June 1989

  9·5

  July to December 1989

  6·9

  January to June 1990

  5·7

  July to December 1990

  5·6

  January to May 1991

  5·0

  1 For the first eight months the Department waived royalty payments as part of the launch campaign. Had they not have been waived royalties would have been some £8 thousand.

  Enterprise Initiative
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent on the enterprise initiative since its inception, broken down into(a) administration, (b) publicity, (c) grants to business and (i) by region and (ii) in total.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 20 June 1991]: Total expenditure on the consultancy initiatives in the period from launch of the initiatives in January 1988 up to the end of March 1991 was 171·2 million, of which £43·2 million was on administration, including enterprise counsellor and scheme contractor activities, £36·2 million on publicity and £91·8 million on consultancy and support for businesses. A breakdown of expenditure on consultancy support for businesses for each DTI region and for Scotland and Wales is as follows. It is not possible to give a breakdown by region of expenditure on administration and publicity.

  D.T.I. Expenditure on assisted consultancies January 1988—March 1991

  £ million

  North East

  7·1

  North West

  14·9

  Yorkshire/Humberside

  9·7

  West Midlands

  10·6

  East Midlands

  5·5

  South West

  6·4

  East

  4·9

  South East

  18·4

  Scotland

  8·0

  Wales

  6·3

  sub·total

  91·8

  Administration

  43·2

  Publicity

  36·2

  Total

  171·2

  Bass, Preston Brook
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list all the regional and job creation grants and incentives given to Bass at Preston Brook; and what were the numbers of jobs expected to be created.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 27 June 1991]: All applications for assistance by companies from my Department are treated in strictest confidence. However, Preston Brook is not in an assisted area and no companies there can qualify for DTI regional assistance.

  Overseas Trade Fairs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether there is any difference in policy in awarding grants, travel and exhibitions to British firms exhibiting at overseas trade fairs between military companies and non-military companies.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 27 June 1991]: Of the 292 fairs selected for DTI support during 1990–91, only four were specifically military fairs.

  The Department of Trade and Industry does not differentiate between civil and military companies when providing assistance at overseas trade fairs.

  Environmental Education
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to meet the United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce to discuss the outcome of the meeting co-ordinated by the Association of British Chambers of Commerce on environmental education in business schools, universities and polytechnics, held on 22 May.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 27 June 1991]: My Department has no knowledge of this organisation nor the meeting referred to. However, if the hon. Gentleman can provide further details I shall be glad to consider his question again.

  Braille Books
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to allow reproduction of books in Braille without any copyright fee being required; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 27 June 1991]: I understand that many authors and publishers grant Braille reproduction rights free of charge. I do not think it would be appropriate to compel them to do so.

  Shipbuilding
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what formula was used to calculate the extent to which Britain would have to reduce shipbuilding capacity in return for levels of state aid authorised to the industry in the agreement between the United Kingdom Government and the European Commission which resulted in the closure of North East Shipbuilders Ltd, Sunderland.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 25 June 1991]: The level of state aid to British Shipbuilders authorised by the European Commission in December 1988 was not conditional on a particular reduction in United Kingdom merchant shipbuilding capacity calculated by reference to any formula.

  In the absence of acceptable bids for the remaining North East Shipbuilders Ltd. shipyards during the eight and a half months in which they had been up for sale, the Government decided in early December 1988 to close the yards. The proposed closure aid at North East Shipbuilders Ltd. to cover such matters as redundancies and the provision of remedial assistance had to be taken into account in determining the overall level of subsidy

  591
  permissible to British Shipbuilders within the relevant Community shipbuilding aid ceilings. Accordingly these costs were included in the wider package of subsidy measures notified to, and approved by, the European Commission in December 1988.

DEFENCE

  Operation Granby
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British personnel died during Operation Granby; and how many of those were killed in action.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Forty-seven British personnel died during Operation Granby. It is now known that 24 of these were killed in action.

  Injured Grenadiers
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will ask Guardsmen Hicks, Povey and Ray to make a further statement on the events in July 1989 in Suffield, Canada;

  (2) if he will now arrange for Guardsmen Povey and Hicks to be interviewed over the accident in July 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We have no plans at present to interview or take further statements from Guardsmen Hicks, Ray and Povey in connection with the accident at Batus in July 1989.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken by his Department to trace the origin of the munition that exploded in July 1989 in Suffield, Canada, causing the injuries suffered by Guardsmen Hicks, Povey and Ray.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The munition was identified in the report of the board of inquiry into this tragic incident as being of Canadian manufacture.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the proceedings of the board of inquiry into the accident during a training exercise in July 1989 at Suffield, Canada, are classified as restricted; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  MOD regulations require the originator of any document to give it security classification appropriate to its contents. The restricted classification of the board of inquiry's report is therefore a result of the judgment of the members of the board exercised at the time.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether guardsmen on the training exercise in July 1989 at Suffield, Canada, were properly briefed on the possibility of unexploded munitions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The board of inquiry into this incident concluded that the men were properly briefed.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of the 25 June to the hon. Member for Walsall, North,Official Report, column 453, if he will state the name and rank of the senior officer in the Grenadier Guards who has made representations to him over Guardsmen Povey, Hicks and Ray.
  592
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Major General (Ret'd) B. C. Gordon Lennox CB MBE, the regimental lieutenant-colonel of the Grenadier Guards.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what insurance policies are taken out by his Department on soldiers involved in non-combat or non anti-terrorist activities.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None. Service men killed or injured are eligible for benefits under the armed forces pension scheme. Where death or injury is attributable to service they are also eligible for benefits under the Department of Social Security's war pensions scheme. Both these schemes are funded by the Exchequer. The Department has, however, arranged for service men to have access to various commercial insurance policies at advantageous premium rates; participation is a matter for the individuals concerned.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to assure himself that the board of inquiry held in Canada after the accident in July 1989 at Suffield, examined all the relevant facts pertaining to his Department's responsibility for the safety of their employees.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Winchester (Mr. Browne) on 21 June at columns 347–48.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of 25 June to the hon. Member for Walsall, North,Official Report, column 453, if he will place in the Library a copy of the transcript of the interview with Lance Corporal Ray at Medicine Hat City hospital, Canada.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No. The transcript in question forms part of the proceedings of the board of inquiry which investigated the accident at Batus in July 1989. Board of inquiry reports are confidential to the Ministry of Defence, and it is not the Ministry's practice to release them to outside parties.

  Holy Loch
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it is planned to retain X-berth facilities at Holy Loch following the departure of the United States navy.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No. Following the departure of the United States Navy, Holy Loch will be designated as a Z berth, which will allow occasional visits by nuclear-powered warships. This designation will not require any facilities to be retained ashore or afloat at Holy Loch.

  Naval Vessels
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's conclusions regarding the capability of Soviet neutron and gamma ray detector equipment to verify the presence of nuclear weapons aboard naval vessles.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In 1989 a Soviet agency conducted experiments with the National Resources Defence Council—a United States non-governmental
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  body—in which it was demonstrated that under favourable circumstances the Soviet Union has the capability to detect some types of nuclear weapons at short range using neutron and gamma ray detection equipment.

  Nuclear Safety
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if any member of the United States Congress's Drell Commission on nuclear warhead safety was provided with facilities or visits to British nuclear weapon system establishments during the course of the Commission's inquiry.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  We received no requests for such facilities or visits.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information on British nuclear weapon system safety arrangements was provided by his Department to the Drell Commission of the United States Congress; and what security restrictions were applied to any such information.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  We received no requests to provide such information to the Drell panel.

  Submarines (Women Crew)
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration is being given to opening up afloat postings in the submarine service to women.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  When sea service for women was announced on 5 February 1990 it was made clear that current plans did not include extending mixed manning to the submarine flotilla. The reason for this was not one of principle but simply that conditions in existing RN submarines are such that major problems would be encountered in ensuring a proper degree of privacy for both men and women. Now that sea service for women in surface ships is well established, the feasibility of their serving in submarines in the future is being addressed.

  Navy (Training)
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide figures showing the level of training activity by naval forces from the Portland naval base in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information requested is as follows:

  Year

  Total number of ships undertaking training

  Total ship weeks

  1979

  61

  253

  1980

  49

  181

  1981

  61

  285

  1982

  87

  348

  1983

  105

  363

  1984

  99

  352

  1985

  99

  347

  1986

  81

  294

  1987

  84

  302

  1988

  74

  237

  1989

  92

  332

  1990

  70

  213

  1 1991

  52

  166

  1 To date.

  These figures include the training of foreign warships.

  East Timor
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, at his recent meeting with Indonesia's Minister for Research, the question of the use of United Kingdom supplied arms in East Timor was discussed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Such discussions are a confidential matter between Governments.