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Mr. Moynihan [holding answer 10 January 1989] : The Football Spectators Bill, which will be introduced in the House of Lords shortly, will give statutory backing to a national membership scheme for football spectators. It will be for the Football Membership Authority (FMA), which, subject to the will of Parliament, will be appointed by the Secretary of State, to draw up the detailed scheme. We hope that the Football Association and the Football League will establish a joint body to form the FMA. A compliance cost assessment will be undertaken at the appropriate time.

Football Hooliganism

Mr. Pendry : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department has commissioned into the hooliganism linked with football from the Sir Norman Chester Centre for Football Research ; and what were its conclusions.

Mr. Moynihan [holding answer 10 January 1989] : My Department and the Football Trust funded an investigation into the measures used by seven Football League clubs to improve spectator behaviour. A summary of the research findings and recommendations was published last July. No further research has been commissioned.

Local Authorities (Economic Development)

Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Battersea (Mr. Bowis) on 21 December, what will be the form of, and time scale for, the consultation with local authorities and others on the subject of local authority economic development initiatives.

Mr. Gummer [holding answer 10 January 1989] : As I indicated in my reply of 21 December, at columns 266-67,


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there will be consultation at the appropriate time with the local authority associations and other interested bodies on the regulations relating to the new power for local authority economic development.

Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 21 December to the hon. Member for Battersea (Mr. Bowis), if he will make a statement on the boundaries between local authorities and the other organisations in the context of local authority economic development.

Mr. Gummer [holding answer 10 January 1989] : Local authorities, voluntary organisations and private enterprise all have a role to play in local economic development. The local authorities' role is primarily to stimulate the local economy by preparing the way for effective initiatives by voluntary bodies and the private sector.

Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Battersea (Mr. Bowis) of 21 December on local authority economic development initiatives, what is his policy on the provision of funds specifically designed to facilitate the work of organisations that have incurred a deficit in their initial operational activity where direct assistance or rent and rate free periods are designed to ensure their future commercial viability ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gummer [holding answer 10 January 1989] : We do not favour an open-ended commitment to pay grant where the size of the grant is related to a deficit which has not yet been determined. A grant of a specific amount of money towards an initial deficit may, depending on circumstances, be appropriate.

Thames Water Authority

Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will call for a report from the chairman of the Thames water authority listing all land currently held, and all land that has been bought and sold since 1979 and who the vendors and buyers were and at what price.

Mr. Moynihan [holding answer 10 January 1989] : Information on the land holdings of all the regional water


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authorities is being gathered as part of the preparations for flotation. Figures for receipts from sale of fixed assets are given in the published annual accounts of water authorities. I have no plans to seek additional information in respect of past transactions.

Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the water rates for the Thames water authority for each year since 1979 ; and what was the rate of return on capital.

Mr. Moynihan [holding answer 10 January 1989] : The information requested is presented in the following tables. The rate of return on capital represents the current cost operating profit as a percentage of the mean current cost net asset values for that year. The figures for the rate of return on capital for 1979-80 and 1980-81 are not available on this basis.


Thames Water Authority rate   

of return on capital          

          |Per cent.          

------------------------------

1979-80   |n/a                

1980-81   |n/a                

1981-82   |0.57               

1982-83   |0.88               

1983-84   |0.90               

1984-85   |1.13               

1985-86   |1.68               

1986-87   |1.80               

1987-88   |1.80               

1988-89   |<1>1.85            

<1> Target rate of return     

Source: Water authority       

accounts                      


Thames Water Authority rate   

of return on capital          

          |Per cent.          

------------------------------

1979-80   |n/a                

1980-81   |n/a                

1981-82   |0.57               

1982-83   |0.88               

1983-84   |0.90               

1984-85   |1.13               

1985-86   |1.68               

1986-87   |1.80               

1987-88   |1.80               

1988-89   |<1>1.85            

<1> Target rate of return     

Source: Water authority       

accounts                      

Planning Applications (Animal Welfare)

Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether animal welfare is a criterion relevant to the consideration of planning applications under article 18 of the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988 ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Chope : Whether the welfare of animals is a material consideration for planning decision will depend upon the circumstances of a particular development proposal.

Severn-Trent Water Authority

Mr. Livsey : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he proposes to call in the planning application made by Severn-Trent water authority to convert its site at Dosthill, Tamworth, into a waste disposal landfill site.


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Mr. Chope : This application has not yet been referred to the Secretary of State, but, on the information currently before him, it does not appear to raise issues which warrant his intervention.

SOCIAL SECURITY

National Insurance Fund

Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the net surplus or deficit on the national insurance fund for each year since 1977 (a) including and (b) excluding Treasury contributions.

Mr. Peter Lloyd : The information is as follows :


(£ million)                                    

-----------------------------------------------

1977-78    |678     |1,537   |-859             

1978-79    |265     |1,976   |-1,711           

1979-80    |535     |2,343   |-1,808           

1980-81    |412     |2,848   |-2,436           

1981-82    |-991    |2,433   |-3,424           

1982-83    |-23     |2,591   |-2,614           

1983-84    |580     |2,807   |-2,227           

1984-85    |374     |2,597   |-2,223           

1985-86    |315     |2,163   |-1,848           

1986-87    |414     |2,412   |-1,998           

1987-88    |1,581   |2,135   |-554             

<1>1988-89 |2,646   |<1>1,623|1,023            

<1>1989-90 |519     |Nil     |519              

<1> Estimates published in the Government      

Actuary's Report on the Uprating and Rerating  

Orders Cm. 537.                                

Disability Alliance (Report)

Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consideration his Department has given to the report from the Disability Alliance entitled "Hard to Claim, Impossible to Live On", a copy of which has been sent to the Minister with responsibility for the disabled ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Scott : We shall consider carefully all comments we receive about benefits for people with disabilities, including the Disability Alliance's recent report about severe disablement allowance, when we are examining the findings of the surveys undertaken by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

Severe Disablement Allowance

Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what response is being made to the letter sent to the Minister with responsibility for the disabled on 20 December 1988 by the Disability Alliance in regard to the severe disablement allowance ; if he will place copies of the correspondence in the Library ; and if there is any action he will be taking.

Mr. Scott : I have replied to the Disability Alliance and have noted its comments on severe disablement allowance and its proposals for change. I have sent a copy of my reply to the right hon. Member. My response to the Disability Alliance makes it clear that we do not have any plans for major changes to the structure of severe disablement


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allowance or other benefits for the disabled pending our consideration of the reports on the surveys of the disabled undertaken by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

Mr. William Powell : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether dependants of Her Majesty's forces personnel can claim severe disablement allowance while they are overseas.

Mr. Scott : Her Majesty's forces dependants who have qualified for severe disablement allowance can normally continue to receive it when they go overseas. Unless helped by the EC regulations, however, they cannot make an initial claim for this benefit when abroad. We propose to introduce a provision to remove the bar on claiming overseas for this category of persons.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Members' Income and Allowances

Mr. Allen : To ask the Lord President of the Council how many hon. and right hon. Members have sources of income other than their parliamentary salaries.

Mr. Wakeham : I would refer the hon. Member to the Register of Members' Interests.

HEALTH

Environmental Controls

Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department has any plans to devolve funds for all types of environmental controls to the district and regional health authorities ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Freeman : Environmental controls are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

Cancer Screening

Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many family practitioners in England have facilities for breast screening for cancer.

Mr. Freeman : Responsibility for providing breast cancer screening services lies with regional health authorities in England. This service is being set up over the three years to 1990. At least one breast screening centre has been established in each region and plans for extending the service to cover all districts are well advanced.

Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many family practitioners in England have a computerised call/recall system for cervical cancer.

Mr. Freeman : All family practitioner committes have a computerised call and recall system which is used to offer a service to all eligible women between the ages of 20 and 64 inclusive.

White Paper (NHS)

Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has yet decided upon the date for the release of the White Paper on the future of the National Health Service ; and if he will give that date.


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Mr. Mellor : We shall be publishing a White Paper shortly.

Rehabilitation Hostels

Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been underclaimed by the city of Nottingham in grants and benefits from his Department for the occupants of its rehabilitation hostels since the enactment of the National Health Service Act 1977 ; how much of the arrears have so far been paid ; and how much more will be made available.

Mr. Peter Lloyd : I have been asked to reply.

We are not aware of any arrears owed in respect of these claimants.

Mr. Cartwright : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been under claimed by the London borough of Greenwich in grants and benefits from his Department for the occupants of its rehabilitation hostels since the enactment of the National Health Service Act 1977 ; how much of the arrears have so far been paid ; and how much more will be made available.

Mr. Peter Lloyd : [holding answer 13 December 1988] : I have been asked to reply.

Details of claims and payments of Supplementary Benefit and Income Support are kept in individual clerical records. The information requested concerning this group of claimants could not be obtained without disproportionate expense.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Irish Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act 1976

Mr. McNamara : To ask the Attorney-General in how many cases application has been made for the Irish Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act 1976 to be employed in the Republic of Ireland.

The Attorney-General : Prosecution under the provisions of the extraterritorial legislation depends upon evidence being available to the prosecuting authority in the jurisdiction where the alleged offender is found. It does not depend upon any application being made by the prosecuting authority of another jurisdiction. Evidence and information with regard to alleged or suspected offenders may be and is communicated either to the Commissioner of the Gardai in the Republic of Ireland or to the prosecuting authority in the Republic of Ireland for such action as the prosecuting authority in the Republic considers appropriate.

EMPLOYMENT

Employment Training

Mr. Andrew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of employment training managers have been approved (i) nationally and (ii) in Oxfordshire.

Mr. Nicholls [holding answer 22 December 1988] : None so far. The first awards of approved training manager status are expected to be made in mid-1990.

Mr. Andrew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether he has any plans to introduce


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procedures to ensure the quality control of training agents, with particular reference to initial action plans for trainees ; (2) what levels of performance are expected in determining whether an organisation qualifies as a training manager, under the Training Agency, in respect of (a) staff policies and practices, (b) premises and equipment, (c) equal opportunities policy, (d) financial viability, (e) managing action plans, (f) training, (g) effective programme review programmes, (h) assessment, recording of progress and achievement and use of vocational qualifications and (i) health and safety policy.

Mr. Nicholls [holding answer 22 December 1988] : Information on the levels of performance expected from training managers under the headings requested has been published by the Training Agency. Copies of the criteria for both training agents and training managers have been placed in the library.

The Training Agency is currently working with each training agent to agree proposals to help develop their performance, including work on action plans.

Mr. Andrew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to publish details of the type of training being provided by training managers and agents.

Mr. Nicholls [holding answer 22 December 1988] : Information on the numbers of trainees undergoing training on project-based places and on placements with employers should be available in January. Other than this information, my right hon. Friend has no plans at present to publish further details of the type of training being provided by training managers. Training agents do not provide training.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

Citizenship

Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Portugal or within the Council of Ministers regarding harmonisation of the citizenship and nationality arrangements for people in dependent territories of each member country of the European Community ; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Chalker : None.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Schools (Statistics)

10. Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will detail, at primary and secondary level, the number of (a) Church of England, (b) Roman Catholic, (c) non-denominational and (d) independent schools in the Province ; how many children attend them ; and if he will make a statement.

Dr. Mawhinney : These categories are not entirely applicable to Northern Ireland. However, some 46 per cent. of all schools in Northern Ireland, providing for approximately 48 per cent. of all pupils, are under Roman Catholic management. The great majority of the


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remaining schools are under the management of the education and library boards. Statutorily grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland are open to pupils of all religious denominations or none.

Health Service Staff (Regrading)

11. Rev. Martin Smyth : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the operation in Northern Ireland of the new grading structure for nurses, midwives and health visitors.

Mr. Needham : The clinical grading criteria recommended by the Nurses Pay Review Body and fully accepted by the Government have been implemented by health and social services boards.

Nurses have sought the introduction of clinical grading for some time and its implementation is a substantial achievement. Those groups with the highest levels of clinical skills and

responsibilities have, as was always intended, gone into the higher grades in largest numbers and have therefore received the highest average pay increases. But all staff groups have received a substantial pay rise.

Variable Beef Premium

12. Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has put forward to compensate farmers for their loss of income caused by the cessation of the variable beef premium on 31 December.

Mr. Viggers : This is a matter affecting beef farmers throughout the United Kingdom and negotiations with the European Community are handled by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on behalf of the United Kingdom as a whole. The Government are opposed to termination of the beef variable premium unless acceptable terms for the replacement premiums are available.

Negotiations on reform of the EC beef support arrangements are continuing. It has been decided to extend the existing support arrangements, including the beef variable premium, until 5 March 1989.

Anglo-Irish Agreement

13. Mr. McCusker : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made in the review of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

Mr. Tom King : Work on the review of the workings of the Intergovernmental Conference is continuing. I invited interested parties and individuals to submit their views on the workings of the conference by the end of 1988. A number of contributions have been received and these are being considered. As my right hon. Friend the Minister of State has confirmed, the House will also have an opportunity to express its views.

20. Mr. Hunter : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a further statement on the working of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

Mr. Tom King : The most recent meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference took place in Belfast on 14 December 1988. A copy of the joint statement issued after the meeting, which lists the subjects discussed, has been placed in the Library. As I told the House earlier this


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afternoon, a review of the workings of the Intergovernmental Conference is currently in progress as provided under article 11 of the agreement. The House will have an opportunity to express its views before the review is completed.

15. Mr. Mallon : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the last meeting of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference took place ; and what matters were discussed.

Mr. Tom King : The last meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference took place on 14 December 1988. A copy of the joint statement issued after the meeting, which lists the subjects discussed, has been placed in the Library.

Security

16. Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total number of deaths caused by terrorist action in the current year ; and if he will make a statement.

23. Rev. Ian Paisley : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Tom King : I refer my hon. Friend and the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone (Mr. Maginnis).

Short Brothers

17. Mr. Colvin : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the chairman of Short Brothers ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Viggers : My right hon. Friend and I have met the chairman of Shorts on a number of occasions. I last met him this morning.

Privatisation

18. Mr. George Howarth : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the Government's plans for the sale of Harland and Wolf and Shorts plc.

Mr. Viggers : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Cryer).

US Government (Financial Aid)

19. Mr. Holt : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions the United States Government have paid money over to Her Majesty's Government to be spent in Northern Ireland in the past 10 years.

Dr. Mawhinney : None, However, the United States Government have made three contributions, totalling £120 million, to the International Fund for Ireland. The fund is independent of the Government.

Unemployment

21. Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about unemployment in Northern Ireland.


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Mr. Viggers : The past two years have seen a significant reduction in unemployment in Northern Ireland. By November 1988, the latest date for which unemployment figures are available, seasonally adjusted unemployment had fallen in 21 of the last 25 months. The Government welcome the improvements that have occurred and continue to give a high priority to reducing the level of unemployment.

Planning Appeals

22. Mr. Kilfedder : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will introduce legislation to give objectors a right of appeal against the granting of planning permission.

Mr. Needham : No.

Harland and Wolff

70. Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will next meet trade union representatives from Harland and Wolff ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Viggers : I have no immediate plans for a further meeting with trade union representatives from Harland and Wolff. I last met representatives of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions on 31 October 1988, when we exchanged views on the future of the company, and I have since written to the confederation in response to a paper which the representatives left with me. A copy of this response has been placed in the Library.

71. Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to secure new orders for Harland and Wolff ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Viggers : The Government believe that the best prospects for Harland and Wolff lie in its return to the private sector and they are not willing to permit the company to enter into new contracts until future arrangements for the yard are resolved.

Extradition

Mr. Dykes : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he plans to hold further discussions with his Republic of Ireland counterparts within the framework of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, on questions affecting extradition, in-country prosecutions and related matters.

Mr. Tom King : All matters which affect Anglo-Irish relations, including extradition and extraterritorial prosecutions, are discussed, as appropriate, under the auspices of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

Life Sentence Review Boards

Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to review the procedures of the life sentence review boards for prisoners in Northern Ireland who are serving indeterminate sentences.

Mr. Tom King [holding answer 22 December 1988] : The procedures for reviewing life sentences are kept under continuous review, but there are no immediate plans to make changes of major significance in a system which has resulted in release dates for over 100 prisoners.


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RUC (Caution)

Mr. McNamara : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the caution to be issued to suspects arrested by the Royal Ulster Constabulary under the terms of the Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1988.

Mr. Tom King [holding answer 10 January 1989] : On 30 November I issued to the Chief Constable of the Royal


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