| Home Page |
Column 803
Written Answers to Questions
Friday 24 February 1989
EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
Pupil Records
Mr. Archy Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire of 17 March 1988, Official Report, column 635, (1) when he now intends to make regulations on the keeping and disclosure of pupil records ;
(2) when he now intends to issue a consultation document on the keeping and disclosure of records concerning students in further education establishments.
Mr. Jackson : As I indicated in my reply to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent South (Mr. Ashley) on 9 February, at column 607, my right hon. Friend hopes within the next few months to make the regulations on pupil records and at the same time to issue the consultative paper on further education student records.
Contact Time
Mr. Steinberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will specify the assumptions about the amount of non-class contact time for (a) primary teachers and (b) secondary teachers that are made for the purpose of the Department's desired number of teachers referred to in annex E(v) of the evidence submitted to the Select Committee on Education, Science and the Arts.
Mrs. Rumbold : The highly tentative demand projection set out in the Department's memorandum to the Education, Science and Arts Committee is based on the illustrative assumption that the overall pupil to teacher ratio will remain at its recent level of 17 : 1. This would be consistent with the contact ratios of about their present levels of 0.76 in secondary schools and 0.89 in primary schools.
Hendon School
Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to determine the application by Hendon school to opt out.
Mrs. Rumbold : Hendon school published proposals for
grant-maintained status on 12 January 1989. Following the statutory two- month period for objections, my right hon. Friend will determine the proposals as quickly as his consideration of all the relevant factors permits.
Open University
Mr. Andrew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total Government grant to the Open university in each of the last 10 years ; and if he will express each annual increase and the total increase since 1979, in real terms.
Column 804
Mr. Jackson : The table specifies the recurrent grant in the financial years 1979-80--1989-90.
Financial year |Recurrent grant in cash|Recurrent indexed terms
|terms £ million |100
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979-80 |36.71 |100
1980-81 |47.13 |108
1981-82 |51.27 |107
1982-83 |55.21 |108
1983-84 |56.42 |105
1984-85 |59.05 |105
1985-86 |60.93 |103
1986-87 |60.39 |99
1987-88 |64.25 |100
<1>1988-89 |66.39 |97
<2>1989-90 |72.27 |101
Note: Figures from 1979-80 to 1987-88 as given in the Appropriation Accounts.
<1>Estimated outturn.
<2>Public expenditure provision.
Further and Higher Education
Mr. Andrew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Oxford, East, 10 February, Official Report, column 844, if he will express the annual cash increases in recurrent and capital grants made to universities in real terms ; if he will give the same figures for grants to polytechnics ; and what was the total increase in recurrent and capital grants between 1979-80 and 1988-89 for (a) universities and (b) polytechnics.
Mr. Jackson : Total grants made to the universities on the advice of the University Grants Committee are set out and show a 13.3 per cent. increase over the period in question. For polytechnics, information on allocations from the advanced further education pool plus capital expenditure by local authorities is available for only the years shown. All figures are in 1987-88 real terms.
|c|Net institutional expenditure per FTE student at 1986-87 prices|c|
|1979-80 |1980-81 |1981-82 |1982-83 |1983-84 |1984-85 |1985-86 |1086-87 |Percentage change in
|expenditure between
|1979-80 and 1986-7
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Universities (Great Britain)
Cash terms |3,074 |3,929 |4,178 |4,599 |4,843 |5,035 |5,176 |5,276
Real terms |5,126 |5,533 |5,355 |5,502 |5,542 |5,484 |5,349 |5,276 |+3
Polytechnics (England)
Cash terms |2,506 |2,988 |3,121 |3,157 |2,990 |3,030 |3,150 |3,325
Real terms |4,179 |4,207 |4,001 |3,777 |3,421 |3,300 |3,255 |3,325 |-20
OMEs (FE) (England)
Cash terms |1,335 |1,644 |1,898 |1,924 |2,095 |2,190 |2,320 |2,430
Real terms |2,226 |2,315 |2,433 |2,302 |2,397 |2,385 |2,397 |2,430 |+9
OMEs (HE) (England)
Cash terms |2,069 |2,548 |2,725 |2,822 |3,010 |3,120 |3,020 |3,170
Real terms |3,451 |3,588 |3,493 |3,376 |3,444 |3,398 |3,121 |3,170 |-8
Mr. Andrew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Oxford, East, 10 February, Official Report, columns 843-44, if he will publish the net institutional expenditure per student table, expressing each annual increase in real terms ; and what was the real increase between 1978-79 and 1986-87 in net institutional expenditure per student for (i) universities, (ii) polytechnics, (iii) OMEs (FE) and (iv) OMEs (HE).
Mr. Jackson : The data requested are listed. The real terms figures are compared between 1979-80 and 1986-87 as comparable figures are not available for 1978-79 in polytechnics and other maintained establishments (OMEs) in either further education (FE) or higher education (HE).
Column 805
|c|Net institutional expenditure per FTE student at 1986-87 prices|c|
|1979-80 |1980-81 |1981-82 |1982-83 |1983-84 |1984-85 |1985-86 |1086-87 |Percentage change in
|expenditure between
|1979-80 and 1986-7
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Universities (Great Britain)
Cash terms |3,074 |3,929 |4,178 |4,599 |4,843 |5,035 |5,176 |5,276
Real terms |5,126 |5,533 |5,355 |5,502 |5,542 |5,484 |5,349 |5,276 |+3
Polytechnics (England)
Cash terms |2,506 |2,988 |3,121 |3,157 |2,990 |3,030 |3,150 |3,325
Real terms |4,179 |4,207 |4,001 |3,777 |3,421 |3,300 |3,255 |3,325 |-20
OMEs (FE) (England)
Cash terms |1,335 |1,644 |1,898 |1,924 |2,095 |2,190 |2,320 |2,430
Real terms |2,226 |2,315 |2,433 |2,302 |2,397 |2,385 |2,397 |2,430 |+9
OMEs (HE) (England)
Cash terms |2,069 |2,548 |2,725 |2,822 |3,010 |3,120 |3,020 |3,170
Real terms |3,451 |3,588 |3,493 |3,376 |3,444 |3,398 |3,121 |3,170 |-8
I regret that in my earlier reply the figures for universities were in real terms while those for polytechnics and OMEs were in cash terms.
Expenditure (Liverpool)
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the average net institutional expenditure in Liverpool education authority per pupil in secondary schools for the year 1987-88.
Mrs. Rumbold : According to the latest returns received from Liverpool, the average net institutional expenditure per pupil in maintained secondary schools in 1987-88 was £1,730.
Science Teachers
Mr. Straw : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimates he has made of the number of science teachers (a) which would have been required to implement the recommendations in full of the science working party, and (b) which will be required to implement the proposal on science of the National Curriculum Council, for each year between 1990 and 1995.
Mrs. Rumbold : My Department's recent memorandum to the Education, Science and Arts Committee includes tentative projections of the numbers of science teachers who will be needed in schools in 1995 when statutory requirements relating to science will be implemented in full. These are broadly in line with numbers needed to implement the science working group's recommendation that all pupils should spend one sixth of their curriculum time in secondary years 1 to 5 on science.
Teacher Conversion Courses
Mr. Fatchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in cash terms the amount of his Department's money allocated to teacher conversion courses in 1986-87, 1987-88 and 1989-90.
Mrs. Rumbold : I assume that the hon. Member refers to courses designed for teachers converting to teach in shortage subject areas. The local education training grants scheme has supported some £200 million per year of expenditure on in-service training since it was introduced on 1 April 1987. A proportion of these funds will have been directed by LEAs at training involving the
Column 806
conversion, updating and development of teachers' skills in these areas. More specifically, the Government are making available in 1988-89, under the scheme, an earmarked total of £4 million to LEAs to send teachers on one-year retraining courses in mathematics, science and craft, design and technology. The courses in question were set up in response to new teacher supply initiatives by the University Grants Committee and the National Advisory Body for Public Sector Education which were introduced in 1987-88 and which have been supported by the Government at a cost of £4.16 million.HOUSE OF COMMONS
Access to the House
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the implementation of the recommendations of the House of Commons Services Committee report approved by the House on 30 January.
Mr. Wakeham : The second report from the Services Committee of Session 1987-88, on access to the precincts of the House (HC 580), was approved by the House on Monday 30 January 1989 by a majority of 168. An amendment to permit the issue of photo-identity passes for the Palace of Westminster to United Kingdom Members of the European Parliament was also approved, by a majority of 106.
Many of the recommendations in the Committee's report relate to the procedures for controlling access and the checking of passholders and are of a mainly advisory character. I expect the appropriate authorities to give careful and early consideration to these recommendations and to take action as they think appropriate. As recommended in the Committee's report, the restriction on the number of Members' personal staff who may hold photo -identity passes for the Palace of Westminster will come into effect at the beginning of the 1989-90 financial year. I understand that the restriction on access to the Table Office by Members' staff has been in effect since 6 February ; and the restriction on access by Members' temporary secretaries to the Members' Library and the Library research division will be enforced with the House returns after the Easter adjournment. In accordance with paragraphs 57 to 59 of the Committee's report, the Serjeant at Arms will be carrying out a detailed
Column 807
examination of the number of passes held by officials of the political parties, Government Departments, the BBC and other agencies, and will report to the Accommodation and Administration Sub -Committee as soon as possible. The remaining recommendations of the Committee, and the decision of the House concerning the provision of photo- identity passes for Members of the European Parliament, are already in force.Passes
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will publish both the criteria and procedures to be followed by hon. Members who want to apply for House of Commons passes for more than three members of staff.
Mr. Wakeham : In accordance with paragraph 54 of the report from the Select Committee on House of Commons (Services) on access to the precincts of the House (HC 580, Session 1987-88), which was approved by the House on Monday 30 January 1989, the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee is empowered to recommend to the Services Committee an increase in the limit on the number of staff passes for which an individual Member may apply
"where they are satisfied that exceptional circumstances apply". The Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee recently agreed that right hon. or hon. Members who wish to retain more than three passes for members of their personal staff should, in the first instance, apply in writing to the Serjeant at Arms. The Serjeant at Arms will refer individual cases to the Chairman of the Sub-Committee, who will seek the advice of the full Sub -Committee where necessary. No formal criteria have been laid down by the Sub-Committee, and I expect it to consider each case on its merits. As I indicated in the debate, however at column 110, I envisage that the right hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Orme) and his Sub-Committee will look sympathetically at the claims of Members with particular responsibilities, including Front Bench spokesmen, some senior Members, and minority party leaders.
I understand that the Serjeant at Arms will be writing next week to all Members with passes in excess of three to draw their attention to the new limit to be introduced at the beginning of the new financial year, and to the procedure to be followed.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Lord President of the Council whether he has any information showing the issue of House passes to overseas students by hon. Members of the respective political parties represented in the House.
Mr. Wakeham : The latest Pass Office figures show a total of 41 students from overseas attached to or employed by Members. The detailed breakdown by party is as follows :
|Numbers
---------------------------------------------
Labour |22
Conservative |13
Social and Liberal Democrats |4
Social Democrats |2
Column 808
Table Office
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Lord President of the Council whether any exceptions are made to the provision that access to the Table Office be restricted to hon. Members after 2 pm.
Mr. Wakeham : In paragraph 33 of its report on access to the precincts of the House (Session 1987-88, HC 580) the Select Committee on House of Commons (Services) recommended that Members' research assistants should in future not be permitted to use the Table Office after 2 pm on Mondays to Thursdays. I understand that Mr. Speaker subsequently accepted the view of the Table Office that it would be impracticable to distinguish between Members' research assistants and their other staff, and accordingly ruled that the restriction should apply to all Members' personal staff.
The restriction on access to the Table Office came into effect on Monday 6 February. It does not apply to the permanent staff of the House or to civil servants who possess photo-identity passes for the Palace of Westminster, which in practice means those civil servants employed in the Whips' Offices of the Government and the Official Opposition. I understand that Mr. Speaker has agreed that an exception should be made in respect of a strictly limited number of persons nominated by each of the minority parties, for the purpose of transacting party business in the Table Office during the restricted hours, even though such persons may hold photo- identity passes as Members' secretaries or research assistants.
PRIME MINISTER
Falkland Islands
Sir Dudley Smith : To ask the Prime Minister if she will give her current assessment of the Falkland Islands' position, in view of the continued instability of the Argentinian Administration ; and if she will reiterate Her Majesty's Government's commitment to preserving the integrity of the islands and the freedom of their population.
The Prime Minister : The outlook for the Falkland Islands continues to be stable and secure and is increasingly prosperous. Our determination to defend the islanders' right to decide their own future, and live their own lives in peace, remains as firm as ever. I have no hesitation in reiterating the Government's commitment to the integrity and freedom of the Islands. We shall not negotiate on sovereignty.
Consultative Committee on Food Safety (Co-ordinator)
Mr. Speller : To ask the Prime Minister when she will announce the name of the co-ordinator of the Consultative Committee on Food Safety ; and what members she has appointed to date.
The Prime Minister : My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Health announced on 21 February that Professor Sir Mark Richmond has agreed to take the chairmanship of the committee. The appointment of further members and of the secretariat is under consideration.
Column 809
Statutory Instruments
Mr. Robert G. Hughes : To ask the Prime Minister (1) how many statutory instruments have been issued in total by all Government Departments since May 1979 ;
(2) how many statutory instruments subject to affirmative resolution have been issued by all Government Departments since May 1979 ;
(3) how many statutory instruments subject to negative resolution have been issued by all Government Departments since May 1979 ; (4) how many statutory instruments have been issued under powers contained in existing instruments by all Government Departments since May 1979.
The Prime Minister : This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Africa (Visit)
Mr. Mullin To ask the Prime Minister if she will list the allocation of seats to the media on her aeroplane for her forthcoming trip to Africa.
TRANSPORT
Lake Lothing (Crossing)
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what role he expects Waveney district council and Suffolk county council to adopt in respect of (a) the line of route for the new crossing of Lake Lothing at Lowestoft following his decision to engage more consultants and (b) planning applications arising in the envelope of potential development over the next six months.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : My right hon. Friend will decide the line of the route for a second trunk road crossing of the harbour at Lowestoft when the necessary statutory procedures have been completed. Both Waveney district council and Suffolk county council will be consulted when we have identified specific options. The district council and the county council, as the local planning authorities for the area, will continue to carry out their proper functions of deciding whether or not to grant permission for any planning applications they receive.
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why he is ordering a further consultants' report to recommend a route for the new crossing of Lake Lothing at Lowestoft.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The consultants are being asked to extend their current study to the identification of specific options for the second trunk road crossing of the harbour at Lowestoft. Proposals will be presented for public consultation at the earliest opportunity. The preferred route will be selected in the light of the results of that consultation.
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why, at a meeting with representatives of Waveney district council and Suffolk county council on 20 February, officials from his Department gave no hint as to
Column 810
the likely recommendations of the line of route for the new crossing of Lake Lothing at Lowestoft contained in the Maunsell 2 report ; and if he will make a statement as to why he commissioned the report.Mr. Peter Bottomley : The second study by consulting engineers G. Maunsell and Partners was necessary to update their original report which was carried out in 1986. A preferred route for a second trunk road crossing of the harbour at Lowestoft has not yet been identified. Any indication of the likely line of that route would be premature until specific options have been put to public consultations and a preferred route selected by my right hon. Friend in the light of the results of that consultation.
Clapham Rail Accident
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the report just completed by Mr. Maurice Holmes, British Rail's director of safety, into the work of signalling and telecommunications technicians prior to the Clapham accident.
Mr. Portillo : The report of British Rail's internal inquiry has been made available to Mr. Anthony Hidden QC and to all represented parties at the formal investigation into Clapham junction accident. When the report is presented in evidence to the court, I understand that it will be made public.
Air Miss
Mr. Dicks : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the report of the Department of Transport's air accidents investigation branch on the air miss between a British Airways Tristar and a Balkan Bulgarian Airlines Tupolev 154 near Lydd on 6 February 1988.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The inspector's report was pubished earlier today. Copies have been placed in the Library.
The report makes 13 safety recommendations. Six concern operational matters, five recommend equipment changes, and two deal with the investigation of air misses and losses of separation, and the collection and use of statistics. I have discussed the report with the chairman of the CAA. I understand from him that eight of the recommendations have either been implemented or are in the process of implementation as far as practicable, two have been investigated but no changes have been made to the present arrangements, and three are receiving further study.
As with every report by the air accidents investigation branch, the purpose is to determine the circumstances and causes of the incident with a view to the preservation of life and avoidance of similar occurrences in the future. I welcome the prompt action which the Civil Aviation Authority and the National Air Traffic Services have taken on most of the report's recommendations. I look to the chairman of the authority to follow up the remaining recommendations vigorously and to implement further changes as necessary.
Western Environmental Improvement Route
Mr. Robert G. Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the cost of WEIR is justified on economic grounds.
Column 811
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The data available so far indicates that the quantifiable benefits would cover its cost. In addition, there would be significant environmental benefits in the Earls Court corridor.
Mr. Robert G. Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles use the Earls Court one-way system ; how many use other parallel routes in the area ; and what estimates he has prepared of what these figures would be if the western environmental improvement route were complete.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : Some 45,000 vehicles use the Earls Court one- way system in an average 18-hour day, and 60,000 use parallel routes. If WEIR is completed, it is estimated that these figures would be reduced to 20,000 and 45,000 respectively.
Mr. Robert G. Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether WEIR is designed to cater for additional traffic in the Earls Court corridor and its surroundings.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The forecasts shown at the recent exhibition held in conjunction with the public consultation exercise show how traffic flows would change if WEIR were completed now. They assume there would be no overall increase in traffic. There are increases on some roads and decreases in others, some of which are outside the study area. The increases occur in the main on roads better able to carry extra traffic including WEIR itself.
Mr. Robert G. Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many personal injury accidents occurred in the Earls Court corridor on average, over the last three years ; and what estimates he has prepared of how many would be expected to occur if WEIR were completed.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : It is estimated that construction of WEIR should reduce the annual average number of accidents in the corridor from 350 to 300.
Mr. Robert G. Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many properties would be expected to experience a noise increase of more than five decibels if WEIR were built ; and how many would experience an equivalent reduction.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The figures : increase about 1,000 ; decrease about 3,000.
Motorways (Private Vehicular Access)
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a list of all sites of private vehicular access to each motorway not being motorway junctions ; and if he will provide a map to make such sites easily identifiable.
Mr. Peter Bottomley [pursuant to his reply, 17 January 1989, c. 121] : I have today placed in the Library the details and map requested.
ENVIRONMENT
Water Companies
Sir David Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to referring
Column 812
the activities and pricing policies and charges of existing private sector water companies to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.Mr. Moynihan : My hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Water and Planning is currently discussing the proposed increases in water charges with the companies. Further action, including the option of a reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, will be considered in the light of the outcome of these discussions.
Planning
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies his Department has done on the relative merits and de-merits of plan-making, development control and implementation of plans in the United Kingdom and other European Economic Community countries.
Mr. Chope : A comparative study of the development control systems in Denmark, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Netherlands and England and Wales has been commissioned from the university of Reading, and Her Majesty's Stationery Office will publish the report shortly. Contributions are made to comparative work on this subject undertaken by intergovernmental organisations, notably the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe under whose auspices a seminar will be held in London, later this year, on the effectiveness of land use planning.
Rating Reference
Mr. Simon Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money is being made available by him to Chelmsford borough council for the introduction of the community charge.
Mr. Gummer [holding answer 23 February 1989] : The Government are providing £110 million in 1989-90 for the current costs of preparing for the community charge. Half of this provision is being distributed through specific grants to charging authorities, and the remainder through rate support grant. Chelmsford borough council's specific grant is £157,000.
In addition, we have made available specific allocations of £25 million for 1988-89 and £135 million for 1989-90 for the capital costs of preparing for the community charge. Chelmsford borough council's share of these allocations is £498,012.
HAT (Leeds)
Mr. Fatchett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce a decision on the proposed housing action trust for Leeds ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Trippier [holding answer 23 February 1989] : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 15 February to the hon. Member for Hammersmith (Mr. Soley) at column 280.
Salmonella
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to how many
Column 813
investigations of reported cases of salmonella have been carried out by environmental health officers ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Kenneth Clarke [holding answer 13 February 1989] : I have been asked to reply.
We do not hold this information centrally because this is not a central Government responsibility.
Environmental Health Officers
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the need for increased food inspection work by environmental health officers.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke [holding answer 13 February 1989] : I have been asked to reply.
It is for local authorities to decide on the level of inspection work by environmental health officers, having regard to local circumstances.
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the staffing implications for environmental health officers of a change to the temperature control requirements for food regulations.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke [holding answer 13 February 1989] : I have been asked to reply.
Consultation on proposed changes in the temperature control regulations will take place shortly and will include the question of resource implications, if any, for local authorities.
WALES
Welsh Water Authority (Grants)
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what grants were authorised to be paid by his Department to the Welsh water authority for capital works carried out under the Civil Defence (Water Supplies) Regulations 1949 in each of the financial years 1985-86 to 1987- 88 inclusive and for what purposes they were paid ; (2) what grants were authorised to be paid by his Department to the Welsh water authority for capital works carried out under the Civil Defence (Sewerage) Regulations 1949 in each of the financial years 1985-86 to 1987-88 inclusive ; and for what purposes they were paid.
Mr. Grist : Payments made by the Department to the Welsh water authority between 1985-86 and 1987-88 inclusive are tabulated in the following table :--
|c|Amount of Grant paid|c| Financial Year |£ --------------------------------------------- 1985-86 |74,457 1986-87 |148,611 1987-88 |335,022
The grant payments comprise contributions towards the costs of providing buildings, emergency plant, communications equipment and staff costs associated with civil defence work.
Column 814
| Next Section
| Home Page |