| Previous Section | Home Page |
Namibia
77. Mr. Hunter : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria will determine (a) which organisations in Namibia may receive development aid and (b) the amount of development aid available to Namibia in the run-up to the independence of that country.
Mr. Chris Patten : From 1 April 1990 we expect to provide aid to Namibia on the same basis as to other independent countries. In the meantime, we plan to continue with the existing programme and to make preparations for future activities. In the financial year just ended disbursements on our Namibian programme amounted to about £1.5 million.
Sri Lanka
79. Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last visited Sri Lanka ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Chris Patten : I visited Sri Lanka in March 1988, when I signed a £20 million reconstruction grant for projects and programmes in the north and east of the island.
Amazonia
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support is being given to Dr. John Proctor and the forest regeneration team at Maraca on their work on management of regeneration where rain forests have been destroyed and abandoned and on why rain forests end abruptly and give way to natural savanna.
Mr. Chris Patten : Since 1987 the ODA has committed £80,500 in support of the forest regeneration team which forms part of the Maraca rain forest project organised by the Royal Geographical Society.
Column 344
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what studies he is financing in the Maraca project or elsewhere to help stem forest destruction by better understanding of the significance of different soil types.
Mr. Chris Patten : The soil studies of the Maraca project, which the ODA helps to fund, are directed to this end by, for example, helping to understand the relationships between the forest and the soil in the critical boundary zone between the rainforest and the savanna woodland. Examples of other ODA activities include the Overseas Development Natural Resources Institute's land use work in Belize, Cameroon, Indonesia and Sri Lanka and the ODA-supported land use studies being carried out by the World Wide Fund for Nature in Cameroon and Nigeria.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to monitor the work of the joint Brazil--United Kingdom research project on Maraca Island in the Amazon.
Mr. Chris Patten : The ODA's forestry and environment advisers have been monitoring the project on the basis of regular reports from the research team since April 1987. A review conference took place in Brazil from 3 to 5 April ; we expect a report from the Royal Geographical Society.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration he has given, pursuant to the statement on 13 March Official Report, column 170, to the report of Mr. Philip Morrice on fire-fighting and related equipment for saving the Amazon forest ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Chris Patten : Mr. Morrice reported that the Brazilian authorities needed aircraft, vehicles, patrol boats and telecommunications equipment for fire fighting. I understand that the Brazilian Government are formulating an environmental project, which would cover fire fighting equipment, for consideration by the World Bank. We are discussing with the Brazilians what technical cooperation we could offer in the area of rain forest management and protection.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on (a) multilateral and (b) bilateral research with Brazil on rainforest problems.
Mr. Chris Patten : Multilateral assistance for research in the Brazilian rain forest has been provided over a number of years through the FAO. Additional proposals are being considered by the International Tropical Timber Organisation and the World Bank. Bilaterally we are currently considering with the Brazilian authorities how and where we might provide further support for their programmes of research on rainforest problems.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the statement of 13 March, Official Report, column 172, to what debt-for-nature swop the Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Enfield, North (Mr. Eggar), was referring following his visit to Bolivia ; and what lessons have been learned.
Mr. Chris Patten : My hon. Friend was referring to the arrangement agreed between the United States charity,
Column 345
Conservation International, and the Bolivian Government in July 1987. I understand that Conservation International bought $650,000 of Bolivia's commercial bank debt at an 85 per cent. discount. In return for cancellation of the debt the Bolivian Government undertook to implement conservation measures in the Beni Biosphere reserve in northern Bolivia. Although it is too early to judge the outcome of the scheme, we believe that this type of market based debt reduction mechanism can play a modest but useful role in augmenting the resources available for conservation.Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what request he has received from the Brazilian Government for (a) further technical co-operation and (b) co-operation to understand the genetic potential of the Amazon ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Chris Patten : During his visit to London in March, the Secretary-General of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked us to suggest further work under the aid programme to help cope with problems of the rainforests. We shall be writing shortly offering assistance in one or more of several areas : genetic resources, social forestry and forestry management and further help for research projects like the Maraca project. The Secretary-General of the Brazilian Ministry of the Interior called on me on 6 April and undertook to send proposals for additional aid projects in this area. We offered help in training and institutional links. I hope to send out professional advisers shortly to discuss the details with the Brazilian authorities.
Ethiopia and Sudan (Aid)
Mr. Baldry : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on United Kingdom aid to Ethiopia and the Sudan.
Mr. Chris Patten : We maintain a small technical co-operation programme for Ethiopia, but the bulk of our aid has been in the form of emergency and relief assistance (more than £21 million in 1988 through bilateral and European Community channels).
In the case of Sudan, we have a substantial development aid programme, totalling about £18 million in 1988. We also gave an additional £14.4 million last year, through bilateral and European Community channels, in emergency and relief aid.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Legal Reform
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Attorney-General how many local prosecutors have issued instructions to their staff not to comment on the Lord Chancellor's Green Papers on legal reform ; and whether he has issued such an instruction.
The Attorney-General : The Director of Public Prosecutions has reminded all members of the Crown prosecution service that, in accordance with standard Civil Service practice, they should not comment publicly on matters of current political controversy. The director has expressed the view that if members of staff wish to make comments on issues raised in the Green Paper, the most appropriate course is to send them to the working party
Column 346
which has been set up under the chairmanship of the deputy director-chief executive to consider the Department's response to the Lord Chancellor's proposals.All chief crown prosecutors have taken steps to ensure that their staff are aware of the director's views. In addition, one chief Crown prosecutor has informed staff that he will forward their views to the Director of Public Prosecutions, but that they are not otherwise to comment, and one chief Crown prosecutor has issued instructions that his staff should consult him before commenting.
I have not issued any such instruction.
68. Mr. Favell : To ask the Attorney-General what assessment he has made of the savings to clients in the cost of provision of legal services which would arise from the Lord Chancellor's proposals for the legal profession.
The Attorney-General : The purpose of the Government's provisional proposals is to ensure that the public are provided with the most efficient and effective network of legal services at the most economical price. No assessment has yet been made of the potential savings to clients.
Mr. Baldry : To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received on the Green Paper proposals on reforming the legal system with respect to their effect on the constitutional relationship between the Government and the judiciary.
The Attorney-General : As at 31 March 1989 a total of 72 such responses had been received.
Land Registry
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Attorney-General when he expects the Land Registry to become an agency.
The Attorney-General : The Land Registry's candidacy as an agency has been announced, but no date has yet been fixed for it to assume agency status.
Crown Prosecution Service
Mr. Austin Michell : To ask the Attorney-General how many qualified lawyers are employed by the Crown prosecution service ; and how many of these are also qualified as barristers.
The Attorney-General : The latest figures available were given to the hon. Gentleman in my written answer of 16 March 1989. On 31 December 1988 the Crown prosecution service had 1,539 qualified lawyers in its employment, of whom 549 were barristers.
Appeals
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Attorney-General what is his estimate of the costs to the Crown prosecution service of employing barristers in Crown court appeals againt sentence or conviction and committals for sentence in (a) Greater London and (b) Manchester at the latest available year.
The Attorney-General : Barristers employed by the Crown prosecution service do not have rights of audience in the Crown court. The average fees paid to counsel instructed to appear on behalf of the CPS in such cases for the period 1 April to 31 December 1988, the only period for which such information is available were :
Column 347
|£
-----------------------------------
Appeals against sentence |72
Appeals against conviction |121
Committals for sentence |74
The information given is for the three London Crown prosecution service areas, whose boundaries extend beyond Greater London. Separate figures for Greater London are not available.
The equivalent figures for Greater Manchester are :
Appeals against sentence 81
Appeals against conviction 132
Committals for sentence 84
Public Defender System
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Attorney-General if he will arrange for an experiment with a public defender service as recommended by the Hughes royal commission.
The Attorney-General : The experiment recommended by the Royal Commission on legal services in Scotland (Cmnd. 7846) was limited to the Scottish jurisdiction. There are no plans to examine the case for a public defender service in England and Wales.
Serious Fraud Office
64. Mr. Rooker : To ask the Attorney-General when he last met the director of the serious fraud office ; and what matters were discussed.
The Attorney-General : On Monday 3 April. We discussed matters of departmental interest.
Legal Profession (Complaints)
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received on the case for renewing the procedure for making complaints against members of the legal profession, and for dealing with such complaints more effectively.
The Attorney-General : As at 31 March a total of 56 such responses had been received.
Director of Public Prosecutions
66. Mr. Bowis : To ask the Attorney-General when he last met the Director of Public Prosecutions ; and what matters were discussed.
The Attorney-General : On 3 April. We discussed matters relating to the Department.
Mr. Skinner : To ask the Attorney-General when he next intends to meet the Director of Public Prosecutions ; and what matters will be discussed.
The Attorney-General : On 27 April. We intend to discuss a variety of matters of departmental interest.
Column 348
Incitement to Murder
67. Mr. Winnick : To ask the Attorney-General what
representations he has received regarding the range of penalties available to the court for incitement to murder.
Fighting on Two Fronts"
Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received concerning the legal implications of the forthcoming publication of the book entitled, "Fighting on Two Fronts", by Fred Holroyd.
Immigration
Mr. Madden : To ask the Attorney-General when the appeal on behalf of Mr. Shaukat Ali (Ref : IMM/82875) into the refusal to grant him entry clearance into the United Kingdom for marriage is expected to be heard in the United Kingdom.
The Attorney-General : The appeal papers were received at the immigration appellate authorities headquarters on 25 January 1989. There has been a delay in processing the papers, but they have now been sent to the IAA's office in Leeds. They will be forwarded to the appellant's representatives in the United Kingdom and to the respondent within the next few days. Thereafter, when both parties indicate their readiness to proceed, the appeal will be listed for hearing in Leeds within six weeks.
NATIONAL FINANCE
Relief Agencies
82. Mr. Bowis : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to encourage voluntary giving to relief agencies.
Mr. Lilley : I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to charitable relief agencies. If so, I refer him to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Smith) on 16 March at columns 300- 1.
Income Tax
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for single persons, one-earner married couples and two-earner married couples above and below pension age the number of tax units in each revenue band of £1,000 to £15,000, £2,500 to £25,000 and in available bands thereafter, together with the forecast revenue from income tax in each case.
Mr. Norman Lamont : Provisional estimates for the 1989-90 tax regime, based on a projection of the 1986-87 survey of personal incomes, are given in the table.
Column 349
|c|Number of tax units and tax liability by range of total income 1989-90|c|
Single Married couple with Married couple without
wife's earnings wife's earnings
Total income (lower |Number of units paying|Tax yield (£ millions)|Number of units paying|Tax yield (£ millions)|Number of units paying|Tax yield (£ millions)
limit) (£ pa) |tax ('000s) |tax ('000s) |tax ('000s)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tax units under 65
2,000 |140 |<1>- |- |- |- |-
3,000 |790 |150 |- |- |- |-
4,000 |740 |300 |- |- |60 |10
5,000 |790 |500 |10 |<1> |150 |40
6,000 |900 |760 |20 |10 |230 |90
7,000 |910 |880 |40 |10 |230 |140
8,000 |810 |950 |90 |40 |210 |130
9,000 |580 |790 |80 |40 |270 |230
10,000 |1,080 |1,910 |290 |240 |590 |690
12,000 |1.070 |2,460 |740 |970 |880 |1,540
15,000 |700 |2,060 |1,460 |3,130 |860 |2,240
20,000 |350 |1,520 |1,690 |6,200 |560 |2,310
30,000 |90 |760 |700 |5,020 |230 |2,030
50,000 |30 |850 |180 |3,920 |100 |2,650
Tax units aged 65 and over
2,000 |- |- |- |- |- |-
3,000 |120 |10 |- |- |- |-
4,000 |220 |50 |- |- |- |-
5,000 |200 |100 |10 |<1> |40 |<1>
6,000 |170 |130 |20 |<1> |80 |20
7,000 |100 |100 |20 |10 |120 |60
8,000 |90 |110 |30 |10 |100 |70
9,000 |50 |70 |50 |30 |80 |80
10,000 |90 |160 |90 |90 |90 |120
12,000 |70 |190 |90 |160 |90 |190
15,000 |70 |250 |100 |260 |80 |240
20,000 |50 |250 |130 |570 |50 |250
30,000 |20 |210 |60 |520 |30 |300
50,000 |20 |430 |20 |490 |20 |500
<1>Less than £5 million or 5,000.
Schedule E Taxation
Mr. Gordon Brown : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals in salary bands of £20,000 to £30,000, £30,000 to £40,000, £40,000 to £50,000, £50,000 to £6,000, £60,000 to £70,000 and £70, 000 upwards are assessed on an accounts basis rather than an accruals basis for schedule E purposes.
Mr. Norman Lamont : I regret that the information is not collected centrally.
Mr. Gordon Brown : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number of higher rate taxpayers on Schedule E and their average income.
Mr. Norman Lamont : In 1989-90, about 1.2 million tax units (single people and married couples) whose main source of income is schedule E are liable to higher rate income tax. Their average income is just under £45,000 per annum. This estimate is based on a projection of the 1986- 87 survey of personal incomes and is provisional.
London Tax Districts
Mr. Trotter : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many London tax districts are being moved from London under the exit London programme ; to which locations they are being moved ; and how many staff are involved in each case.
Mr. Norman Lamont : Under the exit London programme, nine London tax districts have already moved
Column 350
and a further 12 are planned to be moved in the next two years. The receiving locations are Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Bristol and Solihull and the approximate numbers of posts involved are 16, 35, 23, 33, 26 and 33 respectively.Computer Consultants
Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount spent by the Inland Revenue 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 Inland Revenue in 1988, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment.
Mr. Norman Lamont [holding answer 4 April 1989] : The amount spent by the Inland Revenue in 1988 on management and computer consultancy contracts excluding hardware and software purchases was £14.6 million.
The Inland Revenue awarded the following consultancy contracts in 1988 :
Arthur Young--Financial Systems
Panacea--Projects Support
ICS (Sales) Ltd--Development of local systems
Compass Ltd--Capacity planning
Coopers & Lybrand--Review of Payroll System
BIS Applied Systems--Contingency Planning
Industrial Society--Assistance with "Team Briefing"
Inforam--BROCS Project Office consultancy
Expertech--Expert System development in Information Centre
Column 351
F1 Group--Leeds Underwriters unit developmentNicol, Jones & Lomax--Matheson House Planning
Oasis--Customer support activities
The Plan--Matheson House planning
Humphrey & Associates--Review of cost control package
NRPB--VDU radiation survey
Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, (1) 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 ;
(2) what was the total amount spent by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency in 1988 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases ; and if he will
Column 352
list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency in 1988, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment.Mr Peter Brooke [holding answers 4 April 1989] : Total Treasury expenditure in 1988 was some £6.0 million (including some £5.6 million by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency). Figures given include the cost of development studies, which in turn included the cost of associated hardware and software ; the latter items are not separately identifiable.
The following management or computer consultancy contracts were awarded by Her Majesty's Treasury in 1988. With the exception of the first 15, all were placed by the Central Computer and
Telecommunications Agency.
Column 351
Firm |Subject of assignment
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Motivation Strategy Limited |Non-cash incentives.
Moody International Developments |Materials handling.
Peat Marwick McLintock |Assistance with GAD Management Review.
ICL |Computer Software Modification.
Scicon |Computer Software Modification.
B Toyn |Preparation of CUP guidance on planning and progress monitoring
| in relation to capital expenditure contracts.
M N Pickett |Advice on contracts and contract conditions and preparation of CUP
| guidance on de-briefing.
M W King |Preparation of CUP guidance on contracting out of departmental
| purchasing activities.
F Griffiths |Preparation of CUP guidance on the appointment of consultants,
| engineers and architects.
P A Gee |Preparation of CUP guidance on stock management and computer
| systems for purchasing and supply.
A N Fegent |Preparation of CUP guidance on stock control.
R Davidson |Production of CUP guidances on quality assurance-principles and
| terminology; quality systems; project sponsorship-planning and
| progress monitoring; and project sponsorship-role of project
| sponsor and relationship with PSA.
D S Collins |Advice on CUP guidance on good buying practice and model
| conditions of contract.
I Billson |Production of CUP guidance on Performance Measurement.
C D Boylan |Advice on issues relating to the introduction of project sponsorship
| and "untying" of services from PSA.
Treehouse International Ltd. |Production of Standards and Quality Assurance Procedures.
Treehouse International Ltd. |Infrastructure Library Presentation Design Study.
Treehouse International Ltd. |Information Systems Strategy Guidelines.
Computer System Architects |Provision of a Systems Consultant.
Castel Computers and Systems |Verification of Electronically Reproduced Data in Court
Telecommunication Ltd. |(VERDICT).
R M O'Connor |IT Standards Catalogue updates and enhancements.
PA Consulting Services Ltd. |Consultancy for Information Systems Evaluation Guides.
Praxis System Plc |Technical Writing and Production of Information Systems Guides.
Proteo Software Inc. |Study on User System Interaction Tools and Techniques.
Rede Group Consultancy and Training |Audit Procedures for Quality Assurance.
Batalas Ltd. |Quality Review
Rede Group Consultancy and Training |Development of Government Quality Management Systems.
Rede Group Consultancy and Training |Development of Audit Procedures for Quality Manual (Phase 2).
Rede Group Consultancy and Training |Study on Quality Standards.
Rede Group Consultancy and Training |ISO 9001 Certification work.
Logica UK Ltd. |Study of the Feasibility of developing a Computer Based Tool to aid
| the development and exposition of Methods.
Lloyds Register Quality Assurance Ltd. |Comparison of Quality Standards.
Digitex Ltd. |Production of Infrastructure Management Guides.
Logica UK Ltd. |Production of Honeywell Bull Profile.
Logica UK Ltd. |Production of Digital Equipment Company Profile.
SIA Ltd. |Provision of a Systems Consultant.
British Telecom plc |Structured Systems Analysis and Design Method (SSADM) version 4.
Babelease Ltd. |Study of the role of Standards within the Architecture of
| Infrastructure Management Tools.
Babelease Ltd. |Information Model for Infrastructure Management Support Tools.
Protocol International Ltd. |Technical and Quality Assurance Consultancy.
Yale Data Management Consultants Ltd. |Provision of a Systems Consultant.
Deloitte Haskins & Sells |Assistance with Government IT Infrastructure Management
| Methodology (GITTIMM) Network Management Module.
Arthur Andersen & Co. |Government IT Infrastructure Management Methodology
| (GITTIMM) Development Study-Quality Assurance Module.
PA Consulting Services Ltd. |Government IT Infrastructure Management Methodology
| (GITTIMM) Development Study-Software Control and
| Distribution Module.
Computer Sciences Co. Ltd. |Development of Government IT Infrastructure Management
| Methodology (GITTIMM) Modules.
BIS Applied System Ltd. |IT organisation and Change Management.
PA Consulting Services Ltd. |Government Data Network (GDN) Evaluation Contract.
Amtec Consulting Ltd. |Consultancy for providing a Catalogue of Standard.
EOSYS Ltd. |Consultancy support for the Network Management System (NMS)
| Project.
BIS Applied Systems Ltd. |SSADM/CRAMM Compatibility Study.
Deuce Computer Systems Ltd. |Support and Production of CRAMM User Guide.
Deuce Computer Systems Ltd. |Production of PEIPS Documents.
Touche Ross |Provision of a System Consultant.
PE Computer Services Ltd. |Provision of a Systems Consultant.
Sergent Baker |Production of Information Systems Guide A4.
Insight International Ltd. |Adaptation and extension of Plexus Software for
| incorporation into IMSE Demonstrator.
Logica Consultancy Ltd. |Consultant for Documentation of draft Requirements for
| Infrastructure Management Support Tools.
System Designers Scientific |Public Domain Expert Systems Methodology.
The Instruction Set Ltd. |Common Applications Environment for Government Study.
Electronic Facilities Design Ltd. |Consultancy for the Revision of MEVIOTS-Method for
| Evaluating the Impact of Office Systems.
Logica Communications and Electronic |Development Study into Network Service Access Point (NSAP)-
Systems Ltd. |address allocation requirement in Government.
Kermon Associates Ltd. |Government Data Network (GDN) Strategic Planning.
Ultracomp Ltd. |Development of a Service Level Agreement Manager.
Metron Technology Ltd. |Development of a Computer-Based Link between GITTIMM
| support tool and SSADM support tool.
Martin Ashley Design Associates |Symbol Design for the Advanced Technology Group.
Birmingham Polytechnic |Development Contract for SSADM Conformance Scheme.
CAP Industry Ltd. |Study into the practicalities of harmonising SSADM and MERISE.
Babelease Ltd. |Development Study to produce a generic Model of Expert System
| Tools.
British Telecom plc |CBX System Design Study.
Stage 3 Solutions Ltd. |Completion of Must 3.
Software Sciences Ltd. |Development of ECLIPSE Software.
International Computers Ltd (ICL) |Computer Aide Support Environment (CASE) phase 2 and Phase 3.
Interest Rates
Mr. Cox : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what have been the effects on British industry of increased interest rates over the last six months.
| Next Section
| Home Page |