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Name
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Mr. M. T. Thomasin-Foster |Chairman (Vice-Chairman of the
| Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group)
|Representing:
Mr. R. J. Badcock |National Farmers' Union
Lady Bolitho |County Landowners' Association
Mr. C. P. Booty |Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
| to Animals
Mr. R. Ewbank |Universities Federation for Animal Welfare
Dr. D. Jefferies |Nature Conservancy Council
Professor H. E. M. Kay |Royal Society for Nature Conservation
Dr. D. W. MacDonald |Fauna and Flora Preservation Society
Dr. A. McDiarmid |Expert on Diseases in Wildlife
Mr. R. M. Meyer |National Federation of Badger Groups
Dr. E. Neal |Eminent Authority on Badgers
Mr. R. Neville |TGWU Agricultural and Allied Workers National
| Trade Group
Dr. J. L. Stanford |Microbiologist, Middlesex Hospital
Mr. J. Sterry |British Veterinary Association
Mr. E. R. Thomas |Dairy Farmer, Carmarthen
Mr. H. V. Thompson |Mammal Society
Possible alternative methods of badger control are being investigated. Research work to develop a reliable vaccine has been carried out at the Middlesex hospital. Further work will be necessary before field trials to determine the efficacy of such a vaccine can commence. Work is also under way on the development of a test in the live animal. If such a test can be developed it should enable control operations to be targeted more effectively.
The badger panel is responsible for keeping under review the evidence relating to bovine tuberculosis in badgers. This is an ongoing process designed to supplement the formal reviews undertaken by Lord Zuckerman and Professor Dunnet. In his 1986 report, Professor Dunnet recommended that the badger strategy should be considered either three or five years after its adoption if there was evidence of a significant increase in herd breakdowns. It is intended to follow this recommendation in considering future policy.
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The scheme has resulted in a significant reduction in the incidence of disease in cattle. Many areas of the country are now virtually free from the disease, although it is proving more difficult in the south-west because of infection in the local badger population.Sheep Dip
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what grants are available for farmers to re-site their sheep-dipping facilities away from the edge of water courses.
Mr. Ryder [holding answer 23 March 1989] : Under the farm and conservation grant scheme grant is not available for farm buildings and associated animal husbandry facilities, including those intended for use in the gathering and treatment of livestock. Thus, for example, sheep dips and associated gathering pens are not eligible for grant aid. Where a farmer has an existing plan approved under one
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of the earlier grant schemes, this may contain sheep dipping facilities. In these circumstances grant is still payable. The present capital grant scheme continues to aid facilities for the safe disposal of spent sheepdip.Abattoirs (Statistics)
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number and type of animals which were processed in the United Kingdom in
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(a) European Community approved abattoirs and (b) non-European Community approved abattoirs for each of the last eight years.Mr. Donald Thompson [holding answer 20 March 1989] : Figures are available only for the last four years and are based on abattoirs with EC export approval as at the end of 1988. Latest estimates are :
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(Million head)
Adult Cattle and Sheep Pigs Total
Calves
|EC Export Approved |Non EC Export Approved|EC Export Approved |Non EC Export Approved|EC Export Approved |Non EC Export Approved|EC Export Approved |Non EC Export Approved
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1985 |2.4 |1.9 |6.7 |9.2 |5.4 |9.9 |14.5 |21.0
1986 |2.1 |1.8 |6.6 |8.9 |5.7 |9.9 |14.4 |20.6
1987<1> |2.2 |1.9 |7.1 |8.7 |5.9 |10.0 |15.2 |20.6
1988 |1.8 |1.6 |8.2 |8.9 |6.2 |9.5 |16.2 |20.0
Figures of the numbers of horses and goats slaughtered at abattoirs are not collected.
<1> 53 weeks.
Meat Statistics
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much meat was consumed in the United Kingdom from the non-European Community approved abattoirs in 1988.
Mr. Donald Thompson [holding answer 20 March 1989] : It is provisionally estimated that just over 1.2 million tonnes of carcase meat (cattle, sheep, pigs) was produced in non-EC export-approved abattoirs in the United Kingdom in 1988. Most of this will have been consumed or processed in the United Kingdom.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much meat from European Community approved abattoirs in the United Kingdom was (a) exported and (b) consumed in the United Kingdom in 1988.
Mr. Donald Thompson [holding answer 20 March 1989] : It is provisionally estimated that just over 1.1 million tonnes of carcase meat (cattle, pigs and sheep) was produced in EC export-approved abattoirs in the United Kingdom in 1988. Of this about 23 per cent. will have been exported and 3 per cent. sold into intervention. The remainder will have been sold for consumption or processing in the United Kingdom.
PRIME MINISTER
Labour Statistics
Q40. Mr. Ian Bruce : To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received regarding the current level of employment.
Q46. Mr. William Powell : To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received regarding the current level of employment.
Q50. Mr. Alexander : To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received regarding the current level of employment.
The Prime Minister : I have received a number of representations about the level of employment. The
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workforce in employment has been on a rising trend for more than five years and now stands at the highest level ever seen at 25,807, 000.President Gorbachev
Q57. Mr. Marland : To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received regarding the visit of President Gorbachev.
Q140. Mr. Malins : To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received regarding the visit of President Gorbachev.
Q152. Mr. Cash : To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received regarding the visit of President Gorbachev.
The Prime Minister : I have received representations about a wide range of issues, in particular human rights in the Soviet Union. I shall of course be taking up this question with Mr. Gorbachev.
NATO
Q102. Mr. Neil Thorne : To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received regarding the United Kingdom relationship with its allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
Q126. Mr. Iain Mills : To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received regarding the United Kingdom relationship with its allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
Q142. Sir Anthony Grant : To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received regarding the United Kingdom relationship with its allies in NATO.
The Prime Minister : I have not received any recent representations, although I am regularly involved in a range of matters regarding the United Kingdom's relationship with the Allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Today, of course, marks the 40th anniversary of NATO's foundation. During that time, the Alliance has been uniquely successful in preserving peace in Europe and in providing the basis for the prosperity and stability that we all enjoy.
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Rain Forests
Q105. Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on thearrangements known as debt-for-nature swap, in relation to helping Governments with substantial areas of rain forest at risk.
The Prime Minister : We welcome debt for nature swaps agreed voluntarily between commercial banks and debtors. Arrangements whereby conservation organisations can benefit from the secondary market discount on commercial bank debt can provide valuable additional resources for the environment. But their role is likely to remain limited.
Kington Magna
Q138. Mr. Nicholas Baker : To ask the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Kington Magna.
The Prime Minister : I have at present no plans to do so.
Willoughby
Q143. Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to make an official visit to Willoughby near Ruby.
The Prime Minister : I have at present no plans to do so.
Select Committee Reports
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Prime Minister what is the average length of time it has taken each Government Department respectively, to reply to Select Committee reports ; what is the shortest time taken to respond ; and what is the longest, since May 1979.
The Prime Minister : On the basis of material readily available, the departmental estimates of information requested are as follows :
Time in days
Department |Average |Shortest |Longest
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agriculture |94 |77 |120
Defence |98 |23 |323
Education |153 |15 |450
Employment |97 |5 |209
Energy |65 |11 |147
Environment |139 |12 |397
Foreign and Commonwealth
Office (including ODA) |87 |11 |272
Health and Social Security<1> |148 |14 |365
Home Office |140 |26 |365
Office of the Minister for the
Civil Service |82 |63 |105
Scottish Office |128 |33 |392
Trade and Industry |78 |14 |224
Transport |155 |31 |351
Treasury |69 |28 |232
Welsh Office |156 |36 |360
<1> Became two separate departments in July 1988.
Homelessness
Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Prime Minister whether she intends to take any initiatives to reduce the level of homelessness amongst young people under 21 years of age.
The Prime Minister : The Government are currently reviewing the homelessness legislation. It is too early to comment on any specific initiatives which may follow.
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Economy (Press Notice)
Mr. Gordon Brown : To ask the Prime Minister if she will give fixed capital expenditure of the economy at current and 1985 prices for division 0 to 9, both in total and individually for each year 1986, 1987 and 1988 consistent with the figures published by the CSO in the 17 March 1989 press notice (89) 28, "Gross Domestic Product Fourth Quarter and Year 1988".
The Prime Minister : The latest estimates of fixed capital expenditure by the industries classified to divisions 0 to 9 are given in total in the table. An industrial analysis of these figures is not yet available. Some industrial detail will be published, as usual, in the regular "National Income and Expenditure" article in the CSO's Economic Trends for April 1989.
Firm |Assignment --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Training Development Approaches Ltd. |Design of a manual in support of the young people programme Industrial Training Service Ltd. |Production of a guide on conducting training needs analyses Erwin Scheider |Feasibility study for a computerised management information system WRM Ltd. |Training information and communications study Arthur Young Management Consultants |Evaluation of future information technology requirements PA Personnel Services |Analysis of executive officer and fast stream recruitments Questel Qualitative Studies Ltd<1> |Audit of recruitment publicity Anne Hughes Hallett<1> |Research into career attitudes University of London Institute of Education |Analysis of recruitment competition data Human Assets Ltd. |Study of information officers recruitment procedures Equalities Associates |Guidelines for trainers on equal opportunities issues Fact Index Ltd. |Enhancement to computer network system Ashbridge Management College |Study of Women's National Commission Central Legal Systems Ltd.<1>; Yale Data Computer Consultants<1> |User requirement and business case for statute law database Costs for these studies were shared with other Government Departments.
Mr. Gordon Brown : To ask the Prime Minister if she will give a source, date and reference specifying to which set of earlier figures the upward adjustments given on page 7 of the CSO press notice of 17 March 1989 (89) 28 "Gross Domestic Product Fourth Quarter and Year 1988" refer.
The Prime Minister : The adjustments attach to the latest estimates of gross domestic fixed capital formation derived from CSO's quarterly data collection system, not to previously published estimates. They are designed to anticipate better the final figures when full information is available from annual inquiries.
Mr. Gordon Brown : To ask the Prime Minister when she anticipates the full information of a fixed investment and its sectoral and industrial composition mentioned on page 7 of the LSO press notice of 17 March 1989 will be available.
The Prime Minister : More detailed estimates than those currently available will be published in "UK National Accounts" 1989 edition in September. Estimates for 1988 will as usual still be provisional at that stage. Such additional information as is available before then will be incorporated in the figures in the regular quarterly articles on "national income and expenditure" in the CSO's Economic Trends, April and July 1989 issues.
Computer Consultants
Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the Prime Minister what was the total amount spent by the Cabinet Office in 1988 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases ; and if she will list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded by the Cabinet Office in 1988, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment.
The Prime Minister : The following is the information.
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Firm |Assignment --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Training Development Approaches Ltd. |Design of a manual in support of the young people programme Industrial Training Service Ltd. |Production of a guide on conducting training needs analyses Erwin Scheider |Feasibility study for a computerised management information system WRM Ltd. |Training information and communications study Arthur Young Management Consultants |Evaluation of future information technology requirements PA Personnel Services |Analysis of executive officer and fast stream recruitments Questel Qualitative Studies Ltd<1> |Audit of recruitment publicity Anne Hughes Hallett<1> |Research into career attitudes University of London Institute of Education |Analysis of recruitment competition data Human Assets Ltd. |Study of information officers recruitment procedures Equalities Associates |Guidelines for trainers on equal opportunities issues Fact Index Ltd. |Enhancement to computer network system Ashbridge Management College |Study of Women's National Commission Central Legal Systems Ltd.<1>; Yale Data Computer Consultants<1> |User requirement and business case for statute law database Costs for these studies were shared with other Government Departments.
Security
Mr. Ken Livingstone : To ask the Prime Minister, if she will make a statement on the progress in implementing each of the recommendations contained in the statement on the recommendations of the Security Commission ; Cmnd. 8540, May 1982.
The Prime Minister : All the recommendations have been implemented.
Mr. Colin Wallace
Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Prime Minister, if she will publish in the Official Report the text of the letter from her to the hon. Member for Brent, East on 13 February about Mr. Colin Wallace and related matters.
The Prime Minister : No. It is not my usual practice to publish exchanges of this kind.
Security Vetting (Indecency)
Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Prime Minister if she will make it her policy that a conviction for indecency shall be grounds for refusing vetting clearance.
The Prime Minister : Each case is considered on its merits.
Life Sentences
Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Prime Minister what is the average length of a life sentence served in (a) England and (b) Northern Ireland.
The Prime Minister : The average time served under sentence in prison service establishments in England and Wales by those first released on licence from a life sentence in the three years 1985 to 1987 was about 10 years. A comparable figure for Northern Ireland is not readily available. The average time spent in custody, including on remand, by those first released from prison service establishments in Northern Ireland from a life sentence in the same three years was just over 11 years. These average figures do not take account of the longest periods being served by some of those given life sentences following abolition of capital punishment who have not yet been released.
Engagements
Mr. Michael : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 4 April.
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Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 4 April.
Mr. Stern : To ask the Prime Minister, if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 4 April.
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 4 April.
The Prime Minister : This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.
TRANSPORT
Cambridge-King's Lynn Line
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library the basis and calculations used to determine the discounted rate of return on the £20 million expenditure in the electrification of the Cambridge-King's Lynn railway line.
Mr. Portillo : The scheme was appraised in the normal way, as described in paragraphs 61 and 62 of the Department of Transport's memorandum to the Select Committee on Transport's examination of the financing of rail services. The board evaluated many options including bus substitution, a DMU shuttle service between Cambridge and King's Lynn, and full electrification. The additional cost of electrification was shown to earn a financial return, at a 7 per cent. discount rate, when compared with all other options, and the project was approved on that basis.
Computer Consultants
Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. Peter Bottomley : The total amount spent by the Department in 1988 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases, was £1.89 million.
Comprehensive records of all contracts with consultancy firms are not at present held centrally. It would be
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disproportionately expensive to collect all the information required. The following list identifies those management and computing consultancies which began in 1988 and are valued at 10,000 or more.Column 65
Firm |Subject of Assignment --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AIMS |Structured systems analysis design and methodology B. T. Marketing Services |Sale of vehicle registration marks CACI |Data administrator CACI |Land/property management CACI |NIS Stage 1+ development CCTA |H & T security review Computer Search & Selection |Fishing vessels system developments Coopers & Lybrand |Advice on the Department's IT strategy Coopers & Lybrand |Executive Agency (DVL) D. E. Barnard Systems |QA/technical review Dunsmore Data & Info |NIS works data site application EASAMS |NIS works data application EASAMS |NIS database administration FORVUS |Advice to statistics on access to DVLC data Halcrow Fox Association |QUADRO development Howard Humphries |Bridges database merge KPMG |NIS design configuration KPMG |RMMS support/testing Logsys |RCPI database Logsys |Highways inquiries system Logsys |Severn bridge tolls database Mott Hay & Anderson |HRM enhancement/maintenance Mott Hay & Anderson |STRAND/GRIDS maintenance Mott Hay & Anderson |ARCADY/PICADY maintanence MVA Systematica |COBA10 development MVA Systematica |CIDEL maintenance MVA Systematica |OSCADY maintenance Peat Marwick McLintock |Design of IFCOS accounting system Peat Marwick McLintock |Vehicle inspectorate accounting system-project control Perth Crest |Winter fleet stock control Price Waterhouse |H & T IT strategy development RTI |INGRES database review SCICON |Enhancement to chemical and oil spill system S. G. Bisson |Geotechnical database S. G. Bisson |NaRIS enhancement S. G. Bisson |Consultants' performance database SIA |NISL CHART interface Stage II Software AG |Drivers 90's harmonisation project Transport Planning Association |ROADWAY maintenance Transport Planning Association |ROADWAY enhancement W. S. Atkins |SCRIM project definition Wootton Jeffreys |URECA enhancement Wootton Jeffreys |COBA/QUADRO maintenance
Dangerous Loads
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce regulations to provide training for drivers of motor vehicles carrying dangerous, inflammable and explosive substances, and compulsory notices of the contents of motor vehicles listing the contents with criminal sanctions for failure to comply ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The Dangerous Substances (Conveyance by Road in Road Tankers and Tank Containers) Regulations 1981 and the Road Traffic (Carriage of Dangerous Substances in Packages etc.) Regulations 1986 require drivers to be trained so that they understand both the nature of the dangers to which the substance(s) being carried may give rise and any emergency action which should be taken as well as their duties under the regulations.
The new Carriage of Explosives by Road Regulations will contain a similar provision.
The national (dangerous substances) driver training scheme, sponsored by industry, provides a network of
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training centres throughout the United Kingdom which offer courses for drivers on different types of dangerous loads. This system works well.The road tanker regulations require tank vehicles to display placards indicating by means of known code numbers the substances carried and the appropriate emergency response action. Vehicles carrying more than 500kg of packaged dangerous goods must display the blank orange plate to alert the emergency services, but listing such dangerous goods would not be practicable. As I told the House on 23 March, the new carriage of explosives regulations will require the display of the orange plate, as well as descriptive placards for the most dangerous explosives.
Failure to comply with any United Kingdom legislation in this field is an offence. It is a matter for the courts to decide upon the level of appropriate fines, which can be unlimited upon indictment.
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to prohibit the transportation of detonators, fuses and explosives together ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Peter Bottomley : The new regulations to be laid before the House, governing the carriage of explosives by road, are based on the internationally recognised UN system of classification of danger in transport. So are the other United Kingdom road regulations in this field.
Under the UN system, explosives are assigned to compatibility groups by either the Health and Safety Executive or the Ministry of Defence. This allocation into groups depends upon, for example, the sensitivity of the explosive, whether or not it contains its own means of ignition and whether or not it has any independent safety feature.
During drafting of the new regulations careful consideration was given to the question of ensuring safety when mixed loads are carried on the same vehicle. The requirement will be that where detonators, fuses and other explosives are carried together, effective measures must be taken to ensure that such carriage is as safe as if only one type of explosive were being carried.
Sir John Farr : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what new steps he is taking to ensure that in future local fire chiefs receive advance warning of explosive or dangerous loads travelling through an area by road or rail.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : It would not be practicable for fire or police services to be notified prior to every movement of a dangerous substance.
The new Carriage of Explosives by Road Regulations, which should be laid before the House next week, will contain a requirement for the route to be followed to be agreed with the relevant chief officers of police when a large load of the most dangerous types of explosive is being carried.
Cleaning (Stoke-on-Trent)
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much extra money will be paid to highway authorities in Stoke-on-Trent, north ; and which sites will be covered under his clean-up.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : A £1 million litter clearing campaign on motorways and trunk roads was launched by the Department on 17 March. The A50O and A34/A50 trunk roads in Stoke-on-Trent, north will be cleaned during the next few weeks by Staffordshire county council, acting as our agent. Detailed costs are not available.
Mrs. Edwina Crantham (Heavy Goods Licence)
Mr. Jessel : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when he intends to reissue a heavy goods vehicle licence to replace licence 14/N/A 008 618 for Mrs. Edwina Crantham ;
(2) if he will call for a report from the Metropolitan traffic commissioners as to when they intend to replace heavy goods vehicle licence No. 14/N/A 008 618, class 3 and 3A for Mrs. Edwina Crantham.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The licence was renewed for three years on 14 March 1989.
Headcorn Aerodrome
Miss Widdecombe : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he has made in deciding whether to designate Headcorn aerodrome for consultative purposes.
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Mr. Peter Bottomley : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport is considering the designation of several new aerodromes including Headcorn for consultation purposes. He hopes to make an order shortly.
Mr. Fry : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many motor vehicles involved in fatal accidents during 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988 were driven by disqualified drivers ;
(2) how many motor vehicles involved in fatal accidents during 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988 have been stolen or taken illegally without the owner's consent ;
(3) how many motor vehicles involved in fatal accidents during 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988 were driven by uninsured drivers.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The information requested is not collected on the STATS19 road accident report form.
Mr. Fry : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many motor vehicles involved in fatal accidents in 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988 were driven by drivers who were under legal age to drive on public roads or who were otherwise driving without legal authority.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : In fatal road accidents in 1985 there were 42 motor vehicles whose driver or rider was under the legal age to drive that vehicle ; in 1986 there were 38 such vehicles and in 1987 there were 40. Figures for 1988 are not yet available.
It is not possible to obtain figures for those drivers who were otherwise driving without legal authority.
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