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The following police stations have opened or closed since 1979 :(i) In 1981, five police houses and offices were closed at Branton, Campsall, Clayton, Marr and Toll Bar and were not replaced ; (ii) In 1984, Doncaster market place police post was opened ; (iii) In 1985, Cusworth section station was closed and not replaced.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of South Yorkshire as to the number of police employed to cover the A division (Doncaster) of the South Yorkshire police area annually from 1979 to the latest date.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The information requested is as follows :
|c|Police strengths|c| |c|South Yorkshire police-Doncaster division|c| Year (as at 31 December) |Number of officers --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1979 |471 1980 |479 1981 |493 1982 |479 1983 |452 1984 |488 1985 |490 1986 |509 1987 |497 1988 |504
Juries
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to review the method of random selection of juries or to introduce legislation thereon.
Mr. John Patten : Provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 which came into effect on 5 January this year have abolished the right to challenge jurors without cause, and ensure that a person summoned for jury service may not have it deferred indefinitely. We expect to bring into effect in July provisions enabling people up to the age of 70 to serve as jurors, if they are willing to do so. We will keep the working of the jury system under review but we have no present plans for further changes in the law.
Cleveland Constabulary
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Cleveland as to what improvements have been made in the last five years to the effectiveness of the Cleveland constabulary.
Mr. Douglas Hurd : I understand that among the improvements made in the last five years by the chief constable and his police authority are the release of over 100 police officers for operational duty through the civilianisation of police posts ; the implementation of a comprehensive information technology strategy ; the amalgamation of two divisions ; and the enhancement of the police estate. The chief constable would be pleased to discuss with my hon. Friend these and other examples of the effectiveness of the Cleveland constabulary.
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Armley Prison
Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Howard League concerning conditions at Armley prison ; and what reply he has sent.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The director of the Howard League wrote to my right hon. Friend on 25 January to express concern about conditions at Leeds prison. I replied on 21 February acknowledging her concern and informing her that the deputy director-general of the prison service has been asked to report to the Home Secretary on the young offender wing at Leeds. My right hon. Friend announced the main recommendations of the report and our response in reply to a question from the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) on 7 March at columns 455-56.
Suicides in Custody
Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the ages of all those who have committed suicide in custody since 1979, together with the prisons and units in which they were held at the time of their deaths.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The information that follows relates to those inmates of prison department establishments found by coroners' inquests to have committed suicide, and gives the establishments at which they were held and their ages ; information as to the units within establishments where these inmates were held is not readily available. Information on those inmates who committed suicide after 1 January 1987 is contained in the reply given on 24 February to a question from the hon. Member for Huddersfield (Mr. Sheerman) at columns 834-39.
1979
Gartree, 36 ; Wormwood Scrubs, 33 ; Dartmoor, 39 ; Wandsworth, 37 ; Brixton, 32 ; Wandsworth, 25 ; Lincoln, 43 ; Wormwood Scrubs, 22 ; Brixton, 33 ; Lincoln, 43 ; Liverpool, 36 ; Shrewsbury, 62 ; Winchester, 22 ; Liverpool, 18 ; Leeds, 47 ; Pentonville, 34 ; Brixton, 26 ; Lewes, 20 ; Brixton, 52 ; Stafford, 24 ; Brixton, 32. 1980
Risley, 46 ; Wandsworth, 25 ; Brixton, 19 ; Liverpool, 35 ; Brixton, 33 ; Pentonville, 29 ; Risley,24 ; Wakefield, 31 ; Shrewsbury, 23 ; Brixton, 33 ; Brixton, 28 ; Leeds, 29 ; Leeds, 22 ; Canterbury, 28 ; Maidstone, 41 ; Featherstone, 23 ; Brixton, 39 ; Oxford, 46 ; Wormwood Scrubs, 25 ; Bristol, 38 ; Swinfen Hall, 19.
1981
Brixton, 42 ; Manchester, 37 ; Long Lartin, 22 ; Wakefield, 56 ; Winchester, 32 ; Wakefield, 58 ; Cardiff, 30 ; Birmingham, 53 ; Brixton, 39 ; Lincoln, 32 ; Long Lartin, 24 ; Winchester, 33 ; Dartmoor, 34 ; Exeter, 24 ; Brixton, 57 ; Rochester, 16.
1982
Canterbury, 18 ; Brixton, 29 ; Lancaster, 76 ; Wakefield, 34 ; Bristol, 56 ; Canterbury, 28 ; Durham, 46 ; Lewes, 22 ; Leeds, 28 ; Parkhurst, 47 ; Stoke Heath, 19 ; Parkhurst, 34 ; Nottingham, 24 ; Lewes, 18 ; Long Lartin, 42 ; Cardiff, 23 ; Cardiff, 35.
1983
Stafford, 45 ; Dartmoor, 52 ; Winchester, 36 ; Channings Wood, 28 ; Manchester, 16 ; Norwich, 58 ; Dartmoor, 40 ; Liverpool, 43 ; Maidstone, 46 ; Camp Hill, 26 ; Leeds, 20 ; Pentonville, 28 ; Liverpool, 25 ; Brixton, 42 ; Brixton, 33 ; Stafford, 43 ; Brixton, 25 ; Highpoint, 41 ; Winchester, 25 ; Brixton, 28 ; Gloucester, 45.
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1984Brixton, 44 ; Brixton, 31 ; Parkhurst, 33 ; Parkhurst, 37 ; Norwich, 27 ; Wormwood Scrubs, 53 ; Swansea, 17 ; Pentonville, 19 ; Brixton, 23 ; Durham, 47 ; Norwich, 26 ; Exeter, 22 ; Leeds, 37 ; Preston, 24 ; Kingston, 44 ; Exeter, 43 ; Leicester, 66 ; Brixton, 27 ; Shrewsbury, 37 ; Lewes, 26 ; Wakefield, 34 ; Wandsworth, 24 ; Brixton, 37.
1985
Pentonville, 31 ; Wormwood Scrubs, 40 ; Birmingham, 48 ; Leicester, 39 ; Pentonville, 24 ; Exeter, 33 ; Durham, 32 ; Manchester, 31 ; Wandsworth, 26 ; Preston, 79 ; Leeds, 35 ; Brixton, 46 ; Birmingham, 24 ; Leeds, 27 ; Lincoln, 31 ; Maidstone, 31 ; Brixton, 21 ; Durham, 21 ; Leicester, 29 ; Risley, 18 ; Wormwood Scrubs, 26 ; Gloucester, 48 ; Wandsworth, 34.
1986
Exeter, 19 ; Ashford, 19 ; Norwich, 32 ; Manchester, 71 ; Bedford, 37 ; Wymott, 24 ; Lincoln, 28 ; Cardiff, 23 ; Preston, 33 ; Preston, 25 ; Risley, 20 ; Brixton, 24 ; Wormwood Scrubs, 40 ; Brixton, 24 ; Wakefield, 28 ; Canterbury, 26 ; Manchester, 26.
Broadcasting Sales (South Africa)
Mr. Fisher : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the sales by (a) the British Broadcasting Corporation and (b) Independent Television companies to South Africa.
Prisoners' Pay
Dr. Goodson-Wickes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now announce the form and scope of the review of prisoners' pay ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hurd : In response to recommendations contained in reports last year by the then deputy director general of the prison service and by Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons, I have decided to put in hand a review of the arrangements for paying earnings to inmates of prison service establishments in England and Wales.
Inmates are paid at pocket money levels for work done, from which they may purchase items such as tobacco, sweets, stamps, soft drinks and additional toiletries from the canteen. Within approved limits, prison income may be supplemented by private cash. The present arrangements have been subjected to two main criticisms: first, that rates of pay are inadequate, particularly where inmates have access to pay-telephones; secondly, that the system of pay differentials, for different types of work and as between different establishments, does not provide the right incentives. The review will examine these points and a number of detailed aspects of the inmate pay system about which representations have been made from time to time. The vast majority of inmates employed at establishments are engaged in tasks for the prison service (including the manufacture of items for internal use, food production, cleaning, catering, building and grounds maintenance) and productivity is limited by the constraints of the prison routine, turnover of inmates and other factors. In the circumstances, I have decided that this review should not extend to the possibility of paying inmates full market rates of pay.
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The review, which is to be conducted by the prison service's management services unit, is scheduled to start in April and I would expect to be in a position to reach conclusions by early next year.TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Inner City Regeneration
Mr. Patnick : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent contacts he has had with private sector organisations involved in inner city regeneration.
Mr. Newton : I frequently see representatives of private sector organisations involved in inner city regeneration. Since the beginning of 1989 I have seen the Association of British Chambers of Commerce, Business in the Community, British Urban Development, the Leeds chamber of commerce, the Wearside Opportunity, the Teesside Tomorrow Team, the Building Employers Confederation and the Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors. I have also visited inner city areas of Leeds, Doncaster, Sheffield, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Preston, Rochdale and Hackney, where I have met many local people and private sector organisations active in the regeneration of their cities.
Business in the Community
Mr. Wilshire : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he last met representatives of Business in the Community ; and what matters were discussed.
Mr. Newton : I last met representatives of Business in the Community at their president's committee meeting on 7 March 1989. The committee discussed how companies can contribute to community regeneration through their mainstream business activities, and what action companies can take to improve opportunities on housing estates.
Estate Agents
Mr. Ron Brown : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress is being made in the regulation of estate agents.
Mr. Forth : I am currently considering the views of estate agency bodies and other interested parties as to whether it might be appropriate to supplement the existing consumer protection provisions of the Estate Agents Act 1979, perhaps with an effective self-regulatory system incorporating a code of practice. I hope to be in a position to announce the conclusion of my review soon.
Teaching Company Scheme
Mr. David Evans : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many programmes are financed under his Department's teaching company scheme ; and what plans there are to increase the number of programmes.
Mr. Forth : The teaching company scheme is not a DTI scheme but is jointly funded by the DTI, the Science and Engineering Research Council, other public bodies and industry. Currently there are 350 programmes. The White Paper, "DTI--the department for Enterprise", (Cmd 278), states the Government's intention of substantially increasing the scheme's size by 1922 and of basing an increasing proportion of programmes in smaller and medium sized firms.
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Manufacturing Industry
Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the medium-term prospects for manufacturing industry.
Mr. Forth Manufacturing industry is performing well. Output was at a record level in 1988, over 7 per cent. higher than in 1987. And with productivity growing at 7.5 per cent. a year and investment at near record levels, there is every prospect of continued strong performance from manufacturing industry.
Tradeable Information.
Mr. Michael Marshall : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidelines are followed within the companies registration office with regard to tradeable information and collaboration with companies in the information services industry.
Mr. Maude : The guidelines within which the Companies House executive agency operates are set out in its policy and resources framework document, a copy of which is in the Library. The agency's chief executive tells me that there is close collaboration with his principal customers in the information services industry, both through the Companies House users' groups and discussions with individual companies. He would welcome an approach from my hon. Friend if he has any particular point in mind.
Mr. Michael Marshall : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if there have been any changes since 1986 in the description and guidelines concerning Government-held tradeable information, published by his Department in 1986 ;
(2) whether a review of policy on Government-held tradeable information has been completed since 1986 ;
(3) which Departments in accordance with the statement of policy contained in section 5 of "Government-held Tradeable Information--An Introduction," published by the Department of Trade and Industry in 1986, created a comprehensive list and description of departmental data and information holdings with a view to investigating the scope for commercial utilisation.
Mr. Forth : A review of the execution of the policy on Government- held tradeable information, whose description and guidelines are currently unchanged, is due to be completed by the summer. Departmental information surveys are a matter for individual Departments. Such a survey has been undertaken in my Department.
Consumers (Consultations)
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what arrangements there are for consulting consumers on the work and decisions of his Department.
Mr. Forth : The Office of Fair Trading, National Consumer Council, the nationalised industry consumer councils and consumer organisations such as the National Federation of Consumer Groups give advice to the Department on consumer matters. It is the Department's practice to consult bodies and organisations representing the consumer interest on any proposals for legislation or other action directly or indirectly affecting consumers.
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Tobacco Companies
Mr. Sims : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the financial assistance which has been given to tobacco companies under the various industry Acts in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales since 1979 ; if he will list other financial assistance that has been made to tobacco companies by the Government in the same period ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : Total payments to tobacco companies under the Industrial Development Act 1982 both on regional selective assistance and the revised regional development grant schemes are £6.5 million. These are the only schemes under parts II and III of the Act under which payments have been made to tobacco companies. It is not possible to provide a territorial breakdown for England, Scotland and Wales on the grouds of commercial confidentiality as such information would go beyond that which is published in British Business . It is also not possible to provide details of any payments under the original RDG scheme except at disproportionate cost.
So far as I am aware, no other Government financial assistance has been given to tobacco companies since 1979.
Cinema Film Distributors
Mr. Colvin : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to receive the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on cinema film distributors ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maude : The last report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the supply of cinema films was published on 11 May 1983. An order based on that report was laid before the House on 7 March.
Awareness Programme
Mr. Meale : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will set out in the Official Report the approximate expenditure planned in respect of his 1992 awareness programme, together with the sums spent on each component of the programme ; and what steps he has taken to acquaint each section of domectic industry or overseas visible or invisible trade interests with the final form of legislation of the European Economic Community relating to their activities.
Mr. Maude [holding answer 6 March 1989] : Expenditure to date on DTI's campaign to encourage firms to plan for the single European market has been over £12.5 million. Of this, some £8.75 million is represented by national advertising. The other £3.75 million has provided a detailed and comprehensive range of literature ; a major series of business conferences ; a national telephone inquiry service and mailing operation ; the Spearhead computer database ; video materials ; and research into business preparations. The campaign represents a major and sustained effort to help Britain's firms prepare for the single market. Resources will continue to be allocated accordingly.
Government Deprtments seek to keep all sections of business fully up-to- date on the progress of relevant EC legislation. In addition, the DTI's Spearhead database provides details of all single market measures and other measures (such as environment proposals) of interest to business, including access to the full texts of the relevant
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EC legislation. Where appropriate, spearhead gives details of how measures have been implemented in the United Kingdom. The DTI has also prepared a checklist showing in tabular form progress on the proposals in the Commission's 1985 White Paper on the single market.Elanco
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what discussions he or his officials have had with Elanco on the subject of a grant for a possible factory on Merseyside.
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 7 March 1989] : Neither I nor my officials have had any discussions with Elanco on the subject of a grant for a possible factory on Merseyside.
Rattan
Mr. Latham : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will institute discussions with the Secretary for Commerce of the United States of America to bring about joint action under the general agreement on tariffs and trade to remove the ban by Indonesia on the export of rattan ; and if he will make a statement
Mr. Maude [holding answer 6 March 1989] : It is for the Community to pursue this issue with Indonesia and if appropriate in the GATT in the light of the impact of the Indonesian action on Community interests. I would hope to have the support of other GATT members, including the United States, for any action initiated in GATT.
Mr. Latham : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what action has been taken since 19 December 1988 by his Department to bring about the removal of the ban by Indonesia on the export of rattan ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maude [holding answer 6 March 1989] : The European Commission, which has competence in external trade matters, discussed this issue with a delegation led by the Indonesian Vice-Minister for Agriculture in Brussels recently. I regret that no progress was made. Further high- level consultations between the Commission and the Government of Indonesia are expected shortly, and my officials will be monitoring developments closely. The Community has also requested consultations with Indonesia under GATT dispute settlement procedures. The Indonesians have yet to agree a date for the consultations.
ENERGY
Fast Reactors
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the recent agreement on fast reactors between the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and their counterparts in France and the Federal Republic of Germany ; for what time period the agreement will last ; and if he has made any financial commitment to the agreement.
Mr. Michael Spicer : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Mr. Maclennan) on 27 February at column 85. The United Kingdom organisations concerned signed these agreements on the basis of the Secretary of State for Energy's statement of 21 July 1988.
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Sellafield
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy, Official Report, 9 February, columns 756-57, on safeguards application at Sellafield, what period elapsed between 15 December 1986 and the resumption of reprocessing in separate campaigns.
Mr. Michael Spicer : The next reprocessing campaign after 15 December 1986 was for unsafeguarded fuel from Calderhall and Chapel Cross reactors. It is not in the national interest to reveal the precise timing and operational details of such campaigns.
Domestic Energy Resources
Sir Dudley Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what current estimate he has of the number of households in England and Wales which are unable to obtain an electricity supply.
Mr. Michael Spicer : This is a matter for the industry and I have asked the chairman of the Electricity Council to write to my hon. Friend.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Chile
17. Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of the United States of America about encouraging the transition to democracy in Chile.
25. Miss Lestor : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of the United States of America about encouraging the transition to democracy in Chile.
42. Mr. Harry Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of the United States of America about encouraging the transition to democracy in Chile.
72. Mr. Ingram : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of the United States of America about encouraging the transition to democracy in Chile.
Mr. Eggar : We have regular discussions on developments in Chile with the United States Administration, as we do with our European partners. All of us continue to encourage an orderly and peaceful transition to democracy in that country.
Middle East
18. Sir Dennis Walters : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards peace in the middle east.
24. Mr. Dykes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent visit by the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Waldegrave), to Israel.
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Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the visit by the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Waldegrave), to Israel.
Mr. Waldegrave : My visit to Israel, the occupied territories and Jordan included a constructive discussion of the peace process with my various hosts, and underlined the enduring strength of both Anglo-Israeli and Anglo-Jordanian relations.
28. Mr. Wilshire : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Anglo-Israeli relations.
44. Mr. Charles Wardle : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the middle east peace process.
51. Mr. Andrew MacKay : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Anglo-Israeli relations.
52. Mr. Fishburn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent visit by the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Waldegrave), to Israel.
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63. Mr. Ernie Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the middle east peace process.
80. Mr. Latham : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on any recent progress towards a middle east peace settlement.
Mr. Waldegrave : I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Ross) to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mrs. Dunwoody).
EC (Foreign Policies)
19. Mr. Knox : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next proposes to have discussions with his European Community partners concerning the development of common European foreign policies.
Mrs. Chalker : My right hon. and learned Friend last met EC colleagues in the framework of European political co-operation in Madrid on 14 February. He will do so next at an informal weekend meeting in Granada on 15 and 16 April.
Political co-operation matters were also discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council on 20 and 21 February, which I attended with my right hon. and learned Friend.
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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
International Terrorism
20. Mr. Patnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in achieving international co-operation to combat hijacking and other forms of international terrorism.
Mr. Waldegrave : In the last year major international agreements against terrorism have been adopted by the International Maritime Organisation and the International Civil Aviation Organisation. The United Kingdom has been instrumental in initiating work in ICAO on new international measures to combat hijacking and aircraft sabotage.
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