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Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 13 December 1988
SCOTLAND
Rating Reform
Mr. Allan Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland why the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre facilities in Wales were used to have poll tax forms for Scotland prepared for dispatch ; and what was the role of Bowie Systems.
Mr. Lang : The arrangements made by community charges registration officers are a matter for them.
Employment Training
Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) young males and (b) young females are unemployed in (i) Scotland, (ii) Strathclyde region, (iii) Glasgow district and (iv) Shettleston constituency ; and how many unfilled YTS places are available to (1) young males and (2) young females in each of these areas.
Mr. Lang : The number of male and female unemployed claimants under the age of 18 on 13 October 1988 (the latest date for which information is available) in each of the areas requested is shown in the table.
Unemployed claimants under 18 Area |Males |Females|Total ---------------------------------------------------------- Scotland |617 |444 |1,061 Strathclyde region |325 |227 |552 Glasgow district |130 |109 |239 Shettleston parliamentary constituency |15 |10 |25
On 5 December 1988 (the latest date for which an overall Scottish total is available) there were 13,000 unfilled YTS places. Separate details of unfilled YTS places for individual constituencies are not available and the latest date for which a detailed breakdown of the number of unfilled places is available is 4 November 1988. On that date, the numbers of unfilled YTS places were as follows :
|Number
----------------------------------------------------
Scotland |12,227
Strathclyde region |5,072
Glasgow (training agency area office) |2,000
Places on YTS are open to both male and female, as the training agency is fully committed to equal opportunities.
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many trainees are on employment training in Scotland.
Mr. Lang : There were 19,818 trainees participating in employment training in Scotland at 7 December 1988.
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Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many approved YTS places are available in Scotland ; and how many of those aged 16 and 17 years were on YTS on the latest date for which information is available.
Mr. Lang : At 31 October 1988, the latest date for which complete information is available, there were 63,463 YTS places in Scotland, of which 13,425 were unfilled. On the same date 50,038 young people were on YTS. A small number of 18-year-olds are included in this figure as it is not possible to exclude these without
disproportionate cost to the Department.
Orthotists
Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many orthotists there are in Scotland ; and how many orthotists there are in Scotland per 100,000 people.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : There were 25 orthotists employed by the NHS in Scotland at 30 September 1987, representing 0.5 per 100,000 population. Orthotists are also employed by private firms in Scotland, but their number is not collected centrally.
Prosthetists
Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prosthetists there are in Scotland ; and how many amputees there are in Scotland per prosthetist.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : There were 23 prosthetists employed by the NHS and private firms in Scotland at 30 November 1988 (excluding trainees and orbital prosthetists), equivalent to 296 amputees per prosthetist.
Assisted Places Scheme
Mr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all the schools which receive pupils paid for in whole or in part under the assisted places scheme, and the number of assisted place pupils each school had in 1987-88.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The information is as follows :
School |Number of assisted pupils
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Albyn School for Girls, Aberdeen |15
Belmont House School, Newton Mearns |17
Craigholme School for Girls, Glasgow |<1>30
Daniel Stewart's and Melville College, Edinburgh}
Mary Erskine School, Edinburgh} |560
George Watson's College, Edinburgh}
Dollar Academy |57
Edinburgh Academy |<1>37
Fernhill School, Glasgow |42
Fettes College, Edinburgh |28
Fort Augustus Abbey School |43
George Heriot's School, Edinburgh |<1>221
Glasgow Academy |42
Glenalmond College, Perthshire |<1>35
Gordonstoun School, Morayshire |22
The High School of Dundee |<1>170
High School of Glasgow |58
Hutchesons' Grammar School, Glasgow |<1>147
Keil School, Dumbarton |57
Kelvinside Academy, Glasgow |54
Kilgraston, (Convent of the Sacred Heart) |51
Kilquhanity House School, Castle Douglas |17
Laurel Bank School, Castle Douglas |<1>59
Lomond School, Helensburgh |43
Loretto School, Musselburgh |23
Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh |49
Morrisons Academy, Crieff |<1>155
The Park School, Glasgow |53
Rannoch School, Perthshire |25
Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen |<1>54
Rudolf Steiner School of Edinburgh |58
St. Aloysius' College, Glasgow |137
St. Columba's, Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire |<1>47
St. Denis and Cranley School, Edinburgh |18
St. George's School for Girls, Edinburgh |16
St. Leonard's School, St. Andrews |22
St. Margaret's School for Girls, Aberdeen |13
St. Margaret's School for Girls, Edinburgh |54
Strathallan School, Forgandenny, Perthshire |34
Wellington School, Ayr |<1>39
Westbourne School for Girls, Glasgow |<1>70
|------
Total |2,672
<1>Provisional figures which may be subject to adjustment following receipt of final audited claims
still to be submitted by the schools concerned.
Degree Courses
Mrs. Ray Michie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many students are taking four-year degree courses at Scottish universities at present.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : In 1987-88 there were 30,600 undergraduate students on four-year full-time and sandwich courses at Scottish universities. This figure includes overseas and other students not in receipt of assistance under British student support arrangements. For those on sandwich courses the four-year period is inclusive of time spent working in industry as part of the course.
School Leavers
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated number of young people leaving school at Christmas.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The projected number of school leavers at Christmas 1988 is not available. The number of school leavers in the winter of session 1987-88 was 15,600.
YTS (Lothian)
Mr. Ron Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many young people, because of unsuitability or other reasons, have not so far been placed on YTS in Leith and other constituencies within Lothian region ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Ian Lang : Such information is not collected by the Government.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Official Secrets
Mr. Richard Shepherd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those international organisations from which the United
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Kingdom Government obtain information in confidence, as referred to in clause 3 of the Official Secrets Bill ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Eggar : It would not be practicable to compile a list as requested. Circumstances might arise in which Her Majesty's Government receive information of the kind specified in the Bill from a number of international organisations.
GCHQ Cheltenham
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what restrictions exist on former Government Communications Headquarters officers wishing to emigrate to the Soviet Union.
Mr. Waldegrave : Former GCHQ employees are not permitted to visit the Soviet Union for three years after the end of their service. Thereafter, they are free to visit or reside in the USSR.
Nuclear Reprocessing Plant
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any officials from his Department were present at the Lascar review committee meeting on nuclear safeguards applications at large scale reprocessing plants, held in Tokyo on 17-21 October.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what resource commitment has been made by his Department towards the Lascar group on technical information exchanges on safeguards applications at large scale reprocessing plants.
Mr. P. J. Haseldine
Mr. Campbell Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he intends to take in the case of Mr. P. J. Haseldine of the information department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office following publication of a letter from him in The Guardian of 7 December.
Mr. Eggar : The matter is being considered in accordance with procedures laid down in diplomatic service regulations. The action to be taken will depend on the outcome of this consideration.
NATO-Warsaw Pact Communications
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the present direct channels of communications between member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the Warsaw pact ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Waldegrave : The member countries of the two organisations maintain embassies in each other's capitals. In addition, their representatives meet in various forums discussing security issues, such as the conference on disarmament in Geneva and the conventional stability talks mandate negotiations in Vienna.
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EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
Student Loans
Mr. Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are his estimates of the effect of the introduction of a scheme for student loans upon the numbers of adult students entering full-time education who are (a) women, (b) ethnic minorities and (c) of working class background.
Mr. Jackson : Top-up loans mean extra resources for students. That will make higher education more attractive to students of all ages and from all backgrounds.
Mr. Straw : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, pursuant to his reply on 2 December to the hon. Member for Blackburn, Official Report columns 406-7, he will provide a full list of those organisations with whom he is discussing his proposals for student loans ; and whether all members of the banking and financial services sector are to be consulted.
Mr. Baker : I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member on 2 December.
Economic and Social Sciences
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on his policy towards the European Commission stimulation plan for economic and social sciences (com (88) 98 final/spes) 1989 to 1992 ; and how it will assist the development of new co-operation in Europe on economic and social scientific initiatives in universities and research institutes.
Mr. Jackson : The Government welcomes this proposal to promote European co-operation in economic science. It complements existing Government policies directed at enhancing appropriate international collaboration in research and development. It will assist co-operation by supporting training, communication, and mobility among European economists.
School Performances (Fees)
Mr. Latham : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the effect of the new statutory requirements on charging of fees on visiting drama groups, poetry readings or other artistic professionals coming into schools to perform for children ; and what representations he has received from head teachers in that regard.
Mr. Butcher : My right hon. Friend has no reason to believe that the level of visits by groups of performers to schools need change markedly as a result of the provisions of the Education Reform Act. The Act clarifies earlier legislation in establishing that schools may not charge for any provision offered during school hours, with the exception of individual music tuition. Charges may be made for activities provided outside school hours, unless these are required for a prescribed examination syllabus or for the national curriculum.
Restrictions on charging do not prevent local authorities or schools from seeking voluntary contributions in support of particular activities, and we are
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confident that parents will continue to support activities which they regard and have regarded in the past as educationally worth while. There has been a small number of representations from head teachers which mention this issue. A draft circular of advice to local authorities and schools was issued for consultation in September. The Department is now analysing the responses to consultation and plans to issue final guidance early in January 1989.Disabled Students Allowance
Mr. Hannam : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the payment of the disabled students allowance by local education authorities to registered disabled students in receipt of a mandatory award who incur additional expenditure arising from their attendance on the course and because of their disability, is discretionary or mandatory ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jackson : The allowance is payable as part of a mandatory award but decisions on whether and at what level it should be paid in individual cases are for local education authorities. Payments of up to £730 may be made where the authority is satisfied that a disabled student is obliged, by reason of his disability, to incur additional expenditure in respect of his attendance on his course.
Teacher Recruitment
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his policy on providing resources to local education authorities to support the recruitment, retention and motivation of school teachers, especially in inner London, after April 1990.
Mrs. Rumbold : The school teachers' pay and conditions document 1988 gives LEAs flexibility to take account of the problems of recruiting and retaining teachers in urban areas. The teaching as a career unit, financed by the Department, is already in discussion with LEAs about best practice on recruitment policy. These discussions encompass the inner London boroughs, which will need to liaise with ILEA over the arrangements for teacher recruitment up to April 1990.
Foreign Language Teachers
Mr. Fatchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has made any projections about the potential supply of foreign language teachers once the proposed directive on national reorganisation of higher education diplomas comes into force in 1991 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Butcher : The supply projections included in my Department's memorandum to the Education, Science and Arts Committee on teacher supply assume a very limited increase in the number of teachers recruited from overseas. That assumption is highly tentative. We shall be considering further the scope for increased recruitment from this source.
Inner London Staff Commission
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to announce the
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full membership of the Inner London staff commission which he is required to establish under section 170 of the Education Reform Act 1988.Mrs. Rumbold : My right hon. Friend appointed Mr. J. J. Warren, former chief executive of the London borough of Newham, to be chairman of the commission in October. I am pleased to say that Mr. Arthur Capelin, previously secretary of the Greater London staff association, and Mr. Trevan Hingston, former head of personnel relations for the Royal Dutch Shell Group, have agreed to serve as the other two members of the Commission. The secretary to the Commissioners is Mr. M. J. Rabarts. The chairman has already held preliminary meetings with a number of those concerned with the staffing implications of the abolition of ILEA, and the full commission is expected to hold its first meeting before Christmas.
WALES
National Museum of Wales
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether a work of art, accepted by the Government in lieu of capital transfer tax, it to be allocated to the National Museum of Wales.
Mr. Wyn Roberts : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has accepted the recommendation of the Museums and Galleries Commission and agreed that two paintings by William Hogarth entitled "The House of Cards" and "A Children's Party", should be allocated to the National Museum of Wales. Seventeen institutions applied to house these important paintings, and both I and my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Arts welcome their allocation to a gallery outside London. The level of interest shown by so many institutions shows that the acceptance in lieu scheme is well thought of in the museum world and ensures the preservation of important works of art throughout this country.
PRIME MINISTER
European Commission (Vice-President)
Q92. Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister what qualities she looks for in making an appointment to the vice-presidency of the European Economic Community Commission.
The Prime Minister : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 1 December 1988, at column 345.
Enterprise and Employment
Q153. Mr. Devlin : To ask the Prime Minister what proposals Her Majesty's Government have to foster enterprise and create employment in the north of England.
The Prime Minister : The Government will continue to operate policies which will reinforce the successes already achieved in the northern region, not least the fall in unemployment of nearly 22 per cent. in the period since December 1986.
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Mr. P. J. Haseldine
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister when she expects to receive the report from Sir Robin Butler on the case of Mr. P. J. Hasleldine and his letter to The Guardian ; and if she will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : I do not expect to receive such a report. This case is being considered in accordance with procedures laid down in diplomatic service regulations. These regulations are made under the powers vested in the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary by the Diplomatic Service Order in Council 1964 which established the diplomatic service as a separate service under the Crown.
Civil Servants (Meetings)
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Prime Minister what instructions have been given to members of the Civil Service about attending meetings, in their personal capacity as trade unionists, with hon. Members of Parliament from Opposition parties.
Griffiths Report
Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Prime Minister if she will publish in the Official Report her reply to the hon. Member for Monklands, West, dated 8 December, on the Griffiths report and the letter dated 23 November to which it refers.
The Prime Minister : No. It is not my usual practice to publish exchanges of this kind.
Engagements
Mr. Cran : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.
Mr. Andrew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.
Mr. Pike : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.
Mr. Jack : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.
Mr. Stern : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.
The Prime Minister : This morning I went to St. George's hospital in Tooting to visit some of those who had been injured in yesterday's terrible train crash, and to thank the hospital staff.
In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having meetings with ministerial colleagues and others later today. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty The Queen.
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TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Warren Springs Laboratory
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many items of correspondence he has received from hon. Members about the work of the Warren Springs laboratory since 1 July.
Mr. Forth : No such correspondence has been received.
Wool and Knitted Garments (Turkey)
Mr. Steel : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he intends to pursue in the European Community Turkey's breach of Ankara agreement in levying duties of up to 78 per cent. on wool cloth and 122 per cent. on knitted garments ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Robert Atkins : The Government are very concerned about the high level of taxation on Community goods of all kinds entering Turkey.
Following representations from the United Kingdom and other member states, the Commission has established a working group of experts with Turkey to seek to resolve outstanding trade issues between the Community and Turkey. My Department supplied a statement of the United Kingdom's concerns to the Commission in advance of the first meeting of the working group and we shall continue to give full support to the Commission's efforts to improve conditions for competition within the framework of the EC-Turkey association agreement.
Private Investment
Mr. Butterfill : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the level of private investment in industry in the United Kingdom for the last year figures are available ; and what is the European Community average since 1981.
Mr. Robert Atkins : Figures of private investment in industry in the United Kingdom for 1987 are given in the table "Gross domestic fixed capital formation 1987 : Analysis by industry and sector" on page 133 of the 1988 edition of "United Kingdom National Accounts", a copy of which is held in the Library. Comparable figures for the European Community are not available. Some relevant information is contained in the publication "National Accounts ESA-Detailed tables by sector 1970-1984".
Further Education Programme
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the sums paid and institutions and courses assisted in each standard region under his support for further education programme.
Mr. Forth : My Department has for several years supported further education under a number of schemes. Details have not been maintained in the manner which would enable provision of the information requested, and to supply it would therefore involve disproportionate cost.
Hearing Aids (High Pressure Sales)
Mr. Shersby : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has concerning the practice
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of some dispensers in the private sector in exploiting the unsolicited home visit to conduct high pressure sales on vulnerable consumers ; what measures are being taken to control misleading hearing aid advertising which encourages unrealistically high expectations by the users ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Forth : I understand that since January 1987 the Hearing Aid Council has received some 70 complaints following unsolicited home visits by hearing aid dispensers, although not usually about the fact that the visit was unsolicited. My Department has received two such complaints during the same period.
The Hearing Aid Council, with which all private dispensers must be registered, has a binding code of practice, which inter alia lays down the circumstances in which a home visit may be made. The Consumer Protection (Cancellation of Contracts Concluded away from Business Premises) Regulations 1987 provide additional protection. The advertising of hearing aids is governed by specific provisions in the Advertising Standards Authority's code of practice. The Director General of Fair Trading also has powers to take action under the Misleading Advertising Regulations 1988 against persistent abusers of the authority's code.
Steel
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much of the non-allotted funds for steel areas under EEC and ESCS schemes remains unspent ; what plans there are for finalising further projects under these schemes ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Robert Atkins : The "non-quota" measure of steel closure areas is for grants from the EEC European regional development fund. In England, approximately £2.5 million of the £22.5 million allocation is uncommitted. It is expected that offers of assistance will take up the bulk of this by the closing date of 31 March 1989.
North Peckham Task Force
Ms. Harman : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will specify (a) the businesses started or supported by the north Peckham task force and (b) the number of new jobs created in each.
Mr. Forth [holding answer 12 December 1988] : Task forces do not directly support businesses. However, the information which follows relates to businesses which have been grant aided, or provided with a loan facility, through the task force development fund. The development fund was set up jointly by the north Peckham task force and Lloyds bank.
Business name |Jobs created
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ARA Security Strap |1
Pecan Limited |1
Rapid Cleaning Supplies |2
Crack'n The Flags |3
El Vergel |4
Good As New |2
Beauty At Its Best |1
Paper Box |3
J & K Hunt Transport Services |4
The Pie & Mash Shop |3
Rip It Up |2
Ruby Robinson |1
Screening Now |3
Eleanor Williams |1
Doggone |1
Danielle |1
David Games Limited |1
Chris Johnson |1
Mauritius News |2
Fabric Ideas |1
The Patchwork Kids |1
Super Clean Mobile Valeting |1
Mr. Lam Chinese Restaurant |4
Parker Street |1
R & M Contractors |2
FFMI Anthony Oye |1
Thuy Vi's Cleaners |2
Naturally First Limited |2
Viet Hing Restaurant |6
Radford's Interior Metalwork |1
We Paint To Please |2
Corks Cleaning Services |2
Govella |3
L B's Secretarial Services |1
Tojac |1
Felicia |1
Bugas |2
Mode 7 |3
Pennie Ray |1
Foto-Mobile |1
Greg & Lyn Staunton |2
|---
41 |Total |79
Recycled Paper
Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has any information as to who is the major supplier of waste paper to the United Kingdom newsprint industry at present, and as to the total tonnage output of that company.
Mr. Forth [holding answer 12 December 1988] : Information on suppliers of waste paper to newsprint producers in the United Kingdom is limited, but I have no reason to believe that there is any one major supplier.
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