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Prisoners (AIDS)
Mr. Corbett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what social or medical studies are being made of prisoners identified as HIV positive, with or without symptoms, in Her Majesty's prisons.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Statistical monitoring of reported cases is undertaken by the directorate of prison medical services for management purposes.
Mr. Corbett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training and how frequently prison officers, other staff and prisoners at Her Majesty's prison, Winson Green receive on AIDS-related illnesses ; and by whom this is carried out.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Health care staff have received specialised training in the care and support of patients with AIDS and AIDS-related conditions, including in some cases practical experience in a National Health Service AIDS unit. External AIDS counselling courses have been attended by some staff including chaplains. A more general training programme, provided by the establishment's own training staff and intended for all operational
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staff, provides basic health and safety information and an understanding of the nature of AIDS and HIV infection at a level appropriate to their task of managing infected prisoners with no signs or symptons of illness. All operational staff have received some training of this kind and over 75 per cent. have seen a specially made prison service training film. This is a continuing programme. Prisoners have access to a wide range of educational material including videofilms and leaflets. A new educational package produced by the Department centrally for use throughout the prison service will be brought into use in the near future.Mr. Corbett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners at Her Majesty's prison Winson Green, identified as HIV positive (a) with symptoms and (b) without symptoms are being kept in prison hospital or other special accommodation.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : For reasons of medical confidentiality it is not our practice to disclose the number of current cases reported by individual establishments.
Computer Consultants
Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total amount spent by his Department in 1988 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases ; and if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded by his Department in 1988, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment.
Mr. Hurd : The Home Office spent approximately £3,572,000 on management and computer consultancies in 1988. The following contracts were awarded to management or computer consultancy firms by the Home Office in 1988 :
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Consultancy |Assignment
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Express Computer Consultancy |Software development for Financial Division
Grafton |Benchmark preparation for Police National Computer
Grafton |Software support for Police national computer
Captain Hannant, Captain Stubbs |Study on the application of cir legislation to police operations
Hunterskill |Programming support for Prison Service
ICL |Systems analysis for Immigration and Nationality Department
ICL |Bootle Computer Bureau Network Support
ICL |System sizing for Immigration and Nationality Department
IN2 |Post Administration programming support
JSB |Database support for computerisation of central records
Kerman Associates |IT Division technical support
Logica |Fire Department Brigade requirements study
Logica |Local Area Network study for Immigration and Nationality Department
Metier |Bootle Computer Bureau project management tool support
Oasis |Intelligency Knowledge Based Systems study
Oracle |Bootle Computer Bureau software support
PA Management Consultants |WARC project management
PA Consulting |Investment Appraisal support for Immigration and Nationality Department
PA Consulting |Police National Computer Office project management support
PA Technology |Proposal Evaluation: Automatic Fingerprint Recognition
P-E Computer Services |Bootle Computer Bureau programming support
Peat Marwick McClintock |Review of laundry service
Peat Marwick McClintock |IND Relocation Study
SIA |Fire Statistics Section hardware sizing trial
Software AG |Police National Computer Office software support (two contracts)
St. George's Medical School |Technical support from Forensic Science Service
Touche Ross |Management systems strategy for prison industries
TSC Ltd. |Police National Computer Office Operating System Support
Thornhill Computer Services |Bootle Computer Bureau programming support
Dr. R. L. Williams |Reviewing fingerprint evidence
Yale Data |IT Division technical support
Aberdeen University |Technical support for Scientific Research and Development Branch
Ampex |Videofile testing
Batalas |Police National Computer Office Quality Assurance support
BBN |Technical support for Scientific Research and Development Branch
BIS |Magistrates Court contingency study
BIS |Financial Systems support
Cooper and Lybrand |Assistance with training seminars in Prison Service
Computer Search and Selection |Immigration programming support
CCTA |IT Division Post Implementation Review
Data Logic |Local Area Networks study
Dataflex |Programming support for Prison Service
Deloitte Haskins and Sells |Improving Clerical Support Services to Her Majesty's Prison forms
Deloitte Haskins and Sells |Study of potential feasibility of private sector involvement in the remand system
Digitus |IT Division technical support
Eosys |Police Requirements Network study
Ewbank Preece |Microwave study
Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total amount spent by the Metropolitan police in 1988 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases ; and if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded by the Metropolitan police in 1988, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment.
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Mr. Douglas Hogg : I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the Metropolitan police spent an estimated £1,220,000 on management and computer consultancies in 1988-89.
The following contracts were awarded in 1988 :
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Firm |Contracts
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Geoff Ford |Consultancy on Mechanical and Electrical Branch Control Information Systems.
Digitus |Programming advice on Territorial Operations Systems.
Safe Computing |Setting up software for police payroll.
Chess Valley |Enhancement to G10 crime statistics input system.
Carnell |Consultancy on civil staff payroll.
ICL |Technical support on hardware and software including installation of new system and super-dualling of two ICL 2988 machines.
ICL |Software enhancement.
Gerard Systems |Artemis Consultancy.
Gresham Software Skills Ltd |Operating system conversion from DME to VME.
STS Nescourse |Consultancy advice on Querymaster software package.
Hoskyns |Technical advice on VMS operating system
Prolog |Programming work on cheque reconciliation suites.
Pergamon Infotech |Provision of documentation etc. for Cautions Index project.
Unisys |Software enhancement for police computers at outer London magistrates' courts.
CCTA |Crime Report Information System (CRIS) benefits evaluation.
Deloitte Haskins & Sells |Data modelling consultancy.
Intra Systems |Consultancy to review CRIS training programme.
Scicon Ltd |Production of simulation model of a CID office.
Ernst & Whinney |Data envelope. Study of MP divisions.
Unisys |Manpower services in connection with replacement command and control system.
Peat Marwick McLintock |Re-location of stores.
Peat Marwick McLintock |Review of options for direct supply of goods to users.
Wolff Olins |Corporate Identity consultancy.
D.W.J. Consultants |Procurement consultancy
Touche Ross |Catering consultancy.
Hay Management Consultants Ltd |Alternative civil staff pay arrangements.
Police National Computer (Report)
Mr. Corbett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make it his policy to
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publish the report of the review of the police national computer being carried out by County Nat West when it has been completed.Column 35
Mr. Douglas Hogg : This report has only just been received and we have yet to decide how best to carry out consultations on its conclusion.
Fatal Accidents (Police Vehicles)
Mr. Fry : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fatal accidents during 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988 involved motor vehicles driven by suspected criminals who were being chased by the police.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The information requested is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Data Protection Act 1987
Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Brent, East of 1 February, Official Report, column 254, what representations he has received concerning amendments to the terms of the Data Protection Act 1987.
Mr. Renton : I have received no other representations on those aspects of the Data Protection Act 1984 to which the hon. Member's earlier question referred.
British Citizens
Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning information supplied by Her Majesty's Government to the San Francisco immigration and naturalisation service about Mrs. Nina Hutchinson which formed the basis of the decision to refuse her entry into the United States of America in December 1988 ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) what representations he has received concerning exchanges of information under the proposed incorporation of the European treaty on mutual assistance into British law ; and if he will make a statement ;
(3) what information on British citizens is made available by Her Majesty's Government to other countries ;
(4) how many complaints have been received from British citizens who have travelled abroad concerning information about them supplied by Her Majesty's Government to other Governments.
Mr. Hurd : Two hon. Members have forwarded representations from the Troops Out movement claiming that one of its members was detained and removed from the United States of America on the basis of information provided by the Government. I am not prepared to comment on particular arrangements for exchanging information with other Governments or on individual cases. Apart from these representations, we are not aware of any other complaints about information supplied to other Governments.
The Troops Out movement also expressed concern about the effect, as regards the exchange of information, of the United Kingdom's ratifying the European convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters. Legislation would be required before the United Kingdom could accede to this convention, the purpose of which is to enable one state to assist another in the investigation and prosecution of criminal offences. It is a precondition of
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such assistance that criminal proceedings should be pending in the requesting state, or that initial investigations should have begun with a reasonable expectation that such proceedings will ensue.Category A Committee
Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the role and composition of the category A committee.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The role of the committee is twofold : (
(i) to consider whether prisoners recently convicted of very serious crimes should be placed in security category A, which is reserved for those inmates whose escape from prison custody would be highly dangerous to the public or to the police or to the security of the State ;
(ii) to review, at least annually, the cases of all those who have been made category A ;
and to make recommendations to the Director General of the Prison Service.
The committee comprises senior officials of prison service headquarters, governors of prisons normally holding category A prisoners, and a senior police officer.
Mr. Albert Baker
Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received since 1979 concerning the case of Mr. Albert Baker, currently prisoner No. 241254 in Her Majesty's prison Long Lartin.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Numerous inquiries and letters from hon. Members and noble Lords and members of the public have been received in support of Mr. Baker's requests to be transferred to Northern Ireland, but a detailed enumeration could only be provided at
disproportionate cost.
Metropolitan Police (Public Relations)
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost to the Metropolitan police of the public relations budget for each year since 1979.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that expenditure by the Metropolitan police on all forms of recruitment and other advertising, and other promotional literature, in each financial year since 1979-80 is as follows :
|£
-------------------------------
1979-80 |759,000
1980-81 |967,000
1981-82 |1,062,000
1982-83 |1,028,000
1983-84 |1,675,000
1984-85 |1,747,000
1985-86 |1,868,000
1986-87 |2,269,000
1987-88 |2,836,000
<1>1988-89 |3,397,000
<1> Estimate.
Foleshill Information and Advice Centre, Coventry
Mr. Nellist : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of thecompatibility of that part of his Department's letter of 20
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January, reference RDI 88 622/56/5, to Mr. Christopher Farmer, director of education at Coventry city council, which rejected section 11 funding for posts at the Foleshill information and advice centre, on the grounds that they would be assisting all sections of the community, with that part of the letter which rejected section 11 funding for a development work for the Asian sheltered residential accommodation on the grounds that the postholder would be working just for Asian clients ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. John Patten [holding answer 16 March 1989] : I am satisfied that the extracts from this Department's letter, which have been taken out of context, as can be seen from the full text which I have placed in the Library, are in no way incompatible. Coventry city council's applications for the posts in question did not identify what special need, particular to the relevant Commonwealth community, the proposed posts would address. Identification of such need is an essential pre-requisite for approval of section 11 grant. If Coventry city council requires further clarification, officials at the Home Office will be pleased to explain the reasons for refusal in greater detail.
EMPLOYMENT
Employment Training
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of those referred by the employment service to ET complete their assessment with a training agent ; what percentage of those who complete their assessment stay six days with a training manager ; and what percentage of those originally referred by the employment service stay six days with a training manager.
Mr. Nicholls : It is estimated that to the end of January 1989 about 55 per cent. of those referred from the Employment Service to training agents agreed action plans. The number of people staying at least six days with a training manager is estimated to be about 80 per cent. of the total number of those who agree action plans. The number of trainees who stay at least six days with training managers is about 45 per cent. of the total of those referred from the Employment Service to training agents.
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what have been the numbers and percentages of those who started on ET who did not complete their course.
Mr. Nicholls : It is estimated that of the 153,300 unemployed people who had started on employment training between 5 September 1988 and the end of January, about 23,000 or 15 per cent. had left the programme early without completing their planned programme of training. People leave the programme for a number of reasons including starting work.
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the qualifications gained by trainees in the ET programme.
Mr. Nicholls : The information requested is available only at disproportionate cost.
Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what funds his Department has allocated for
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paying training bonuses to employment training trainees ; how much has been paid out to date ; and if he will give a breakdown showing how much of that money has been paid out in each of the local areas administered by the Training Agency.Mr. Nicholls : These arrangements are funded from the overall resources available for employment training and there are no separate area budgets for this purpose. Up to end of February 1989 £84,518 has been paid.
Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much has been paid out through the underpinning arrangements to ET managers and agents since the start of employment training ; and if he will give a breakdown showing how much of that money was paid out in each of the local areas administered by the Training Agency.
Mr. Nicholls : The underpinning arrangements are funded from the overall resource available for employment training and there are no separate area budgets for this purpose. Up to the end of February 1989 a total of £9,159,751 has been paid out to training managers, and £422,613 to training agents.
Vocational Training
Mr. Paice : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the total numbers of (a) adult employees receiving vocational training, (b) young persons 18 years and under receiving vocational training and (c) all persons of employment age receiving vocational training in each year since 1970 or in those years for which figures are available.
Mr. Cope : Estimates from labour force surveys of persons receiving job-related training, are shown in the table. The labour force survey did not include questions on training which can be used to produce comparable estimates prior to 1984.
|c|Job-related training<1>-Great Britain, spring estimates|c|
thousands
Year |Employee of working |Persons aged 16 to 18 |Persons of working age<2>
|age<2> |years
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1984 |1,806 |461 |2,518
1985 |2,088 |574 |2,897
1986 |2,176 |530 |3,003
1987 |2,380 |530 |3,313
<3>1988 |2,776 |589 |3,806
<1>Persons who said that in the four week period prior to interview, they had taken part in any education or training connected
with either their current job or a job they might be able to do in the future.
<2>Men aged 16 to 64, women aged 16 to 59.
<3>Preliminary estimates.
Repetitive Strain Injury
Mr. Andrew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to fund research into the causes and effects of repetitive strain injury, and into preventive measures for it.
Mr. Nicholls : The Health and Safety Executive is currently supporting two projects investigating repetitive strain injury through its extramural biomedical research programme, at the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Edinburgh and the university of Birmingham.
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Computer Consultants
Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total amount spent by his Department in 1988 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases ; and if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded by his Department in 1988, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment.
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Mr. Cope : The total amount spent by my Department (excluding the Training Commission/Agency) in 1988 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases, was £2.3 million.
The following firms were awarded consultancy contracts by the Department of Employment group, excluding the Training
Commission/Agency, during 1988 :
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Firm |Subject of assignment
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIMS Systems |Quality Assurance review for major system
AMP |Software support for small firms centres system
Arthur Andersen |Benefit related payments system
Arthur Young |Consultancy for review of anti-fraud measures in selected systems
|Consultancy for management information systems
|Work on ES payments manual and testing of market
|National unemployment benefit system terminal study
|Glasgow Jobseeker
|Central processing in London and the South-East (SUPERVACS project)
Colin Minton and Associates |PER privatisation
Coopers and Lybrand |Consultancy and advice on major system
D. E. Barnard Systems |SUPERVACS-Technical assurance co-ordination
|SUPERVACS-Risk analysis for disaster site
Falkman Communications |Advice on ES internal communications
Datasolve |Computer-based training for the national unemployment benefit system
Ferrari Software |Consultancy for local area network specification
Hoskyns |Management of computer systems
|Software enhancements to major systems
HUSAT |National unemployment benefit system
ICL |Use of new techniques on major systems
|IDMS X consultancy
|Resolution of mainframe loading problems
|Quickbuild and data specification requirements
ITM Ltd. |Restart
Kennedy Robinson Business Development Ltd. |ES executive board workshop
Learmouth and Burchett Management Systems |PROMPT study
Lloyd Northover |Work on ES corporate identity
Makrotest |A study of the small firms service
Michael Wesley Associates |Production of careers service publicity guide
PA Consultants |A review of Government support for the tourism industry
|IT strategy for ES
|SEPACS study
|Feasibility study on SUPERVACS enhancements
Pannell Kerr Foster Associates |A review of the statistical needs of the tourism sector
Peter Seal |Quantity surveyor for structural surveys
Professor Colin Gallagher (Newcastle University) |Research into the role of small firms in job generation in the United Kingdom
Sphinx Ltd. |Adjudication office automation
Thurrock Computing Services |RESTART study
Yale Data |SSADM consultancy for major personnel project
|Advice on standards for testing critical systems
|Adjudication office automation
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Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total amount spent by the Training Commission in 1988 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases ; and if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded by the Training Commission in 1988, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment.
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Mr. Cope : The Training Agency spent a total of £1.1 million during the calendar year 1988 on mangement and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases. No management consultancy contracts were awarded during 1988. The list of computer consultancy contracts awarded during 1988 is as follows :
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Consultants |Subject of Assignment
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
J. Ackroyd |A consultant to enhance the existing database for the YTS expenditure
| forecasting model
Bacie |A consultant to look after a database of "LCP" information
Butler Cox |A consultancy to assist the Training Commission in evaluating the office
| technology project
Camtec |To provide assistance with the development of the MSC network
CCTA |To put a business case together (including investment appraisal aspects) for a
| local area network for the Training Commission at Moorfoot
|To undertake a scoping study of funding, charging, and management aspects of
| the MSC network
Codd & Date |To advise the Training Commission on the definition of a relational database
Compact Business Computers LTD |A consultant to develop a database for the employment training
| underpinning system
Compsoft |A consultant to provide guidance on the most efficient way to design and
| implement an accident database
Coopers and Lybrand Associates |A consultant to review the commission's corporate financial management
| strategy
|Consultant to provide project management support
CMG Information Services |System analysts to assist FSR with their development work
EOYSYS |A consultant to carry out a strategic review of the video conferencing requirements
| within the DE Group
GTC Project Ltd. |Creation of a database for the employment training initiative monitoring system
Harwell Computer Power |Consultancy advice on the use of "STATUS"
Hunterskill |A consultant to provide SSADM support on the PDP project
I-NET |A consultant to review the Training Commission's network
The Instruction Set |To provide the Training Agency with advice and guidance on the selection of
| a software environment
The Instruction Set |A consultant to assist in the evaluation of the software environment
National Council for Education |To provide TAP with consultancy in the areas of strategy, planning,
| R and D projects
The Networking Centre |A consultant to produce a business analysis for the Moorfoot site
Omicron |A consultant to write a purchase order management system, and train staff in its
| use
PA Computers and Telecommunications |To provide advice and assistance in deciding where, and how, MSC's
| "MASCOT" system should be replicated in MSC HO
|A study to look into the office technology input to the infrastructure project
PE Consulting Services |System analyst to assist FSR with their development work
Presenting with Style |A consultant to provide training in the use of "Wordperfect" software for senior
| officers' secretaries
Sherington Software |A study to evaluate packages for transferring data from "ALL" to micros
| Programmers to assist the Training Agency on the maintenance and development
| of the TOPS MINIS System
Chrissie Strickland |A consultant to look after a database of "LCP" information
R. H. Wilmott |A study into the Training Agency's X.400 profile and messaging requirements
| taking into account "COSIP" message handling system
M. Wilson |A consultant to carry out changes to the "Supercalc" system for the staff
| deployment survey
Xentec |Contract programmers for spectrum development work
Yale Data |Systems analyst to assist FSR with their development work
|Consultant to support in-house technical assurance coordinator
Arthur Young |A study into the information needs of senior management
Training Premiums
Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to increase the level of ET premiums in 1989 or 1990.
Mr. Nicholls : My right hon. Friend has no plans to increase the training premium part of trainees' allowances. However trainee allowances on employment training (ET) will increase from April 1989 when benefits are uprated.
Training (Health and Safety)
Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he will take following the judgement in the Cain case, to ensure that the establishment of training and enterprise councils will not diminish his final responsibility for the health and safety of both YTS and ET trainees ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Cope : The contract between the Training Agency and training and enterprise councils (TECs) will require each TEC to meet the Government's requirements for the health, safety and welfare of trainees. The TECs will also be required to include conditions and acceptable standards relating to the health, safety and welfare of trainees in their contracts with providers of training. The Department has worked to ensure a high level of health and safety on all its programmes. The TECs will be required through their contract to continue this commitment.
Redundancy Payments
Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much money has been reimbursed to (a) community programme agents and sponsors ; (b) new job training scheme providers ; and (c) ET training managers and agents, for redundancy payments during the period from 1 September 1988, up to the most recently available date.
Mr. Nicholls : The amounts reimbursed for redundancy payments from 1 September 1988 up to and including February 1989, are as follows : (a) -- £1,683,495 ;
(b) -- Nil ; and
(c) -- £37,250
Political Vetting
Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Brent, East of 1 February, Official Report, column 261, what representations he has received concerning amendments to the terms of the Employment Protection Act 1975 in relation to the political vetting of employees.
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Mr. Nicholls : My right hon. Friend has received five such representations in the last 12 months.
Youth Training
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of deaths and reportable injuries incurred by young workers on YTS schemes for each year of the scheme since inception ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Cope : The YTS accident statistics cannot be broken down into employed and non-employed status. Studies of YTS accidents by independent researchers have, however, shown that YTS trainees are not more at risk than young people of equivalent age in employment outside the programme.
Ms. Mowlam : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people aged 16 and 17 years have been unable to obtain, or to take advantage of, an offer of a youth training scheme ; and how many of these have been left without benefits.
Mr. Cope : The guarantee of an offer of a YTS place to all 16 and 17 -year-olds not in full-time education or employment means that there is now no need for young people to be unemployed. I am satisfied that the Training Agency has more than sufficient YTS places available in all parts of the country for those who apply for one.
Labour Statistics
Mr. Gordon Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish forecasts of (a) the numbers unemployed and (b) unemployment rates for 1989-90 to 1991-92 for Scotland, Wales and by region in England.
Mr. Lee : The information is not available. The Department does not forecast future levels or rates of unemployment.
Mr. Gordon Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish forecasts of the numbers in employment for 1989-90 to 1991- 92 for Scotland, Wales and by region in England.
Mr. Lee : The information is not available. The Department does not produce forecasts of employment, either in total or by region.
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AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Food Colours
Mr. Gordon Brown : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department will provide an estimate of how many food colours at present in use in Britain are not listed in United Kingdom regulations.
Mr. Ryder : No food sold may contain any colouring matter other than a colouring matter permitted by the Colouring Matter in Food Regulations 1973, as amended. Enforcement of the regulations is a matter for local authorities. I am not aware of any reports of non-permitted colouring matter being used in food.
Set-aside
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total estimated cost of set-aside.
Mr. Ryder : Payments on land in the United Kingdom set aside in the current crop year will total about £11 million. The cost in future years will depend on the extent of further uptake of the scheme.
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to increase the amount of set-aside for United Kingdom farmers.
Mr. Ryder : I shall be inviting further applications under the scheme later this spring. I have no plans to increase the levels of payment.
Hedgerows
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to introduce any legislation in the next parliamentary session which will provide statutory protection for hedgerows in England and Wales.
Mr. Ryder : I have no plans to do so.
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish, Official Report 16 February, column 370, whether he has seen the research paper entitled, "Hedgerows : Still a cause for concern," published in the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds conservation review, a copy of which has been sent to him ; and if he will make a statement on the conclusions contained in that paper.
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