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Old Ships
Sir John Farr : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to remove the balancing charge under which a British ship owner when disposing of old ships pays to the Treasury one third of the proceeds ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norman Lamont : I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion. Balancing charges are made to recover tax relief for depreciation given in excess of the depreciation actually experienced. Whether such a charge needs to be made and, if so, the amount of the charge depends on the particular circumstances of each individual case.
Investment Statistics
Mr. Allen : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in tabular form the amounts invested (a) in United
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Kingdom shares and (b) in foreign shares by (i) pension funds, (ii) insurance companies and (iii) unit trusts for each month from January 1979 to date.Mr. Lilley : Information on the investment of financial institutions in United Kingdom and overseas company securities is published regularly in "Financial Statistics"--for pension funds in table 7.14, for insurance companies in table 7.13, and for unit trusts in table 7.11. The figures published show the market value of investments at the end of each calendar year, and the cash value of net acquisitions (purchases less sales) in each quarter. There is no monthly information.
Gilts
Mr. Allen : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the amount of Government gilt edged securities sold by unit trusts, pension funds and insurance companies in each quarter since October 1987 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lilley : The information requested is published in "Financial Statistics"--for unit trusts in table 7.11, for pension funds in table 7.14, and for insurance companies in table 7.13.
EC Banking Directive
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in the Council of Finance Ministers in considering the second banking directive ; if it is the general purpose of the draft directive that banks approved by their own state should be permitted to seek deposits, to offer loans and to engage in the full business of retail banking in another member state ; and if he will make a statement on the position of Her Majesty's Government on the directive.
Mr. Lilley : The draft second banking coordination directive, which the Government have welcomed in principle as an important step towards the creation of a single market in financial services. It will give credit institutions (broadly, banks and building societies) the right to establish a branch in, or provide cross-border services into, another member state on the basis of their home state authorisation. This right will extend to a wide range of banking services including those mentioned. The directive is currently under detailed consideration in a Council working group of representatives from the member states and the Commission. The Commission has recently made revised proposals for a reciprocity provision in the directive. The Council of Ministers had an initial discussion of these new proposals on 17 April, and they are being considered further.
Finance Bill
Mr. Neil Hamilton : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the notes on those clauses of the Finance Bill to be taken in Committee of the whole House will be made available to hon. Members.
Mr. Major : Yes. The appropriate notes on clauses were placed in the Vote Office earlier today.
Computers
Miss. Emma Nicholson : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many instances have been detected in the
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Inland Revenue computer system of computer (a) hacking, (b) viruses, (c) logic bombs, (d) Trojan horses or (e) other types of computer misuse, whether perpetuated by authorised or unauthorised users of computers ; and how many unsuccessful attempts have been recorded.Mr. Norman Lamont [holding answer 24 April 1989] : It is not the policy of this Department to make public details and circumstances of computer security incidents, their perpetrators and their success or failure, since such information would be of assistance to potential attackers.
Income Tax
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total income tax payment for (a) a single person on £40,000, (b) a married man with no children on £40,000 and (c) a married man with two children on £40,000 with no other allowances apart from the basic allowances ; and what would be the total payments in each category if the standard rate of income tax for those earning £40,000 were raised to 50 per cent.
Mr. Norman Lamont [holding answer 20 April 1989] : The information is as follows :
|c|Income tax liability<1> 1989-90 on income of £40,000|c|
Category |Assuming 1989 Budget |Assuming single rate of
|proposals |tax of 50 cent.
|£ p.a. |£ p.a.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Single person |11,781.00 |18,607.50
(b) Married man with no children |11,145.00 |17,812.50
(c) Married man with two children<2> |10,391.00 |17,058.50
<1> Assumes no other allowances apart from the basic personal allowances.
<2> Deducting child benefit of £7.25 per week per child.
Double Taxation (Ireland)
Mr. Hume : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement indicating whether there have been any reviews of, or amendments to, the Treasury or Inland Revenue's interpretation of functions of a governmental nature covered by article 18(1) of the double taxation agreement with the Republic of Ireland ; and if he will detail the date, content and status of any guidelines issued to Inland Revenue officials on such interpretation on and since the introduction of the double Taxation Agreement.
Mr. Norman Lamont [holding answer 18 April 1989] : There have been no reviews. The article concerned is common in form to many of our double taxation agreements and guidelines on it have been available for many years to officials. Any matters of particular difficulty are handled centrally.
Mr. Hume : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement listing the functions of a governmental nature covered by article 18(1) of the double taxation agreement between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
Mr. Norman Lamont [holding answer 18 April 1989] : Where services are rendered directly to the Government or
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a local authority they are considered to involve the discharge of functions of a governmental nature. Where, however, services are rendered by employees to an agency, board or other statutory body, they are considered to render services to that agency, board or statutory body and not to the Government or a local authority.OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT
West Bank and Gaza Strip
Mr. Nellist : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East, Official Report, 20 April, columns 241-42, as to the aid over the last five years to the West Bank and Gaza Strip from (a) other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, (b) other European Economic Community countries and (c) other sources.
Mr. Chris Patten : Information on other donors' aid to the West Bank and Gaza is scarce. Our understanding is that France, Germany, Italy and Spain have programmes broadly comparable with that of the United Kingdom ; that the United States of America provides substantially more ; and that some other western donors maintain small programmes.
Outside the OECD and the European Community the eastern bloc and Arab donors provide some assistance, the former mainly through training awards. Among Arab donors Jordan was particularly active in the occupied territories until last year.
Among multilateral donors the European Community provided the equivalent of £5 million from 1981 to 1986 and some £2 million in each of 1987 and 1988. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees provided US$174.5 million in 1986, US$208.8 million in 1987 and US$216.4 million in 1988 ; these figures also include expenditure in Lebanon and refugee camps elsewhere in the region.
WALES
Siemens Printers
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Siemens ND3 printers are used by his Department, either in-house or through a private contract ; and what is the location of each.
Mr. Peter Walker : My Department does not have any Siemens ND3 printers. Contracts which my Department has with private companies do not specify that particular printers should or should not be used.
Welsh Language
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress he has made, in conjunction with the Welsh Language Board, in discussing the changes to legislation with regard to the Welsh language ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Wyn Roberts : My right hon. Friend has already taken action via the Local Government and Housing Bill to allow local authorities in Wales to adopt the Welsh
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version of their official title. The Welsh Language Board has made good progress in considering a number of other areas where difficulties have arisen with regard to the use of Welsh in the past and my right hon. Friend will consider its proposals as they emerge.ESA Payments
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether ESA payments to farmers in Wales are made to those who are farming the relevant land whether as tenants or owner occupiers or to the landowners.
Mr. Peter Walker : ESA payments are made to the applicant who will usually be an owner-occupier or tenant of the land. Joint applications can be accepted from landlord and tenant.
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has issued any guidelines on the effect on agricultural rents of ESA payments ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Walker : No. Agricultural rents are a matter for negotiation between landlord and tenant.
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Health Service
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each health authority the percentage of consultant hours in each specialty which are contracted to (a) the National Health Service and (b) private practice.
Mr. Grist : The information requested is not available centrally.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by health authority the average number of National Health Service operations done by consultants in each specialty in each of the past three years for which figures are available.
Mr. Grist : Information is not available in the form requested. The information shown in the following tables relates to the number of operative procedures performed in NHS hospitals, by specialty.
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Specialty |Clwyd |East Dyfed |Gwent |Gwynedd |Mid Glamorgan |Pembroke-shire |Powys |South Glamorgan|West Glamorgan
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of operations by specialty-1985<1>
General medicine |913 |870 |1,557 |251 |1,391 |379 |<2> |1,182 |2,794
Paediatrics |140 |<2> |231 |176 |522 |<2> |<2> |788 |213
Chest diseases |242 |267 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |380 |<2>
Dermatology |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |96 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2>
Neurology |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |75 |357
Cardiology |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |966 |<2>
Rheumatology |78 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2><2> |<2> |<2> |56
Geriatrics |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |98 |74 |<2> |<2> |64
General surgery |10,071 |5,039 |7,315 |5,652 |7,608 |2,177 |51 |7,276 |5,298
ENT |2,863 |1,478 |2,508 |899 |2,932 |<2> |<2> |3,193 |1,841
Trauma and orthopaedic |4,190 |1,593 |2,815 |1,749 |3,979 |968 |<2> |4,100 |2,906
Ophthalmology |1,520 |812 |852 |1,024 |1,443 |<2> |<2> |932 |692
Radiotherapy |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |2,637 |907
Urology |<2> |<2> |1,470 |<2> |1,609 |<2> |<2> |2,041 |1,296
Plastic surgery |<2> |<2> |3,402 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2>
Thoracic surgery |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |272 |<2>
Dental surgery |891 |208 |933 |367 |959 |<2> |<2> |1,797 |1,035
Neurosurgery |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |305 |689
Gynaecology |4,378 |1,895 |5,230 |2,551 |5,653 |1,212 |<2> |4,960 |5,793
Obstetrics |4,338 |1,895 |5,155 |2,200 |5,737 |1,363 |<2> |5,709 |5,161
Special care babies |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |75 |<2>
Cardiac surgery |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |393 |<2>
Burns |<2> |<2> |178 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2>
Neurology radiologist |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |193 |<2>
GP Maternity |<2> |<2> |798 |75 |120 |52 |516 |<2> |<2>
GP Medical |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |861 |<2> |<2>
GP Dental |140 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2>
Other specialist units |125 |<2> |179 |<2> |751 |<2> |<2> |111 |<2>
Orthodontics |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |94 |<2> |<2> |<2>
Intermittent haemodialysis |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |89
Acute geriatrics |266 |<2> |59 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |157 |280
Haematology |166 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |412 |372
Short stay units |341 |<2> |73 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2>
Other/not known |108 |124 |160 |52 |38 |37 |92 |146 |134
Number of operations by specialty-1986<1>
General medicine |1,417 |1,025 |1,749 |363 |2,172 |402 |<2> |1,288 |3,008
Paediatrics |178 |<2> |311 |191 |646 |<2> |<2> |1,152 |285
Chest diseases |207 |421 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |384 |<2>
Dermatology |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |133 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2>
Neurology |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |52 |435
Cardiology |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |788 |<2>
Rheumatology |55 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |95
Geriatrics |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |103 |<2> |<2> |330
General surgery |10,029 |6,550 |8,122 |5,646 |9,849 |2,857 |<2> |7,171 |4,719
ENT |2,753 |2,023 |2,436 |951 |3,016 |120 |<2> |3,573 |1,575
Trauma and orthopaedic |3,558 |2,074 |2,946 |1,908 |4,428 |1,492 |<2> |4,069 |2,890
Ophthalmology |1,576 |935 |1,233 |1,063 |2,020 |<2> |<2> |1,091 |835
Radiotherapy |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |2,927 |1,110
Urology |<2> |<2> |1,482 |<2> |1,637 |<2> |<2> |2,065 |1,722
Plastic surgery |<2> |<2> |3,466 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2>
Thoracic surgery |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |266 |<2>
Dental surgery |970 |207 |823 |304 |1,086 |<2> |<2> |3,027 |1,214
Neurosurgery |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |279 |876
Gynaecology |4,576 |2,212 |5,058 |2,673 |5,873 |1,667 |<2> |5,994 |5,810
Obstetrics |4,689 |1,851 |5,071 |2,263 |6,853 |1,356 |<2> |5,102 |5,356
Special care babies |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |55 |<2>
Cardiac surgery |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |317 |<2>
Burns |<2> |<2> |86 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2>
Neurology radiologist |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |411 |<2>
GP Maternity |<2> |<2> |632 |70 |81 |53 |504 |<2> |<2>
GP Medical |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |803 |<2> |<2>
GP Dental |89 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2>
Other specialist units |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |796 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2>
Orthodontics |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |248 |<2> |<2> |<2>
Intermittent haemodialysis |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |178
Acute geriatrics |299 |88 |173 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |173 |188
Haematology |103 |90 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |330 |358
Anaesthetics |60 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |208 |<2>
Short stay units |509 |<2> |262 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2>
Other/not known |143 |155 |193 |43 |160 |48 |97 |180 |55
Number of operations by specialty-1987<1>
General medicine |1,432 |1,353 |1,762 |684 |2,572 |349 |<2> |1,277 |3,260
Paediatrics |210 |<2> |206 |209 |292 |<2> |<2> |1,222 |265
Chest diseases |180 |618 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |339 |<2>
Dermatology |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |125 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2>
Neurology |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |386
Cardiology |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |903 |<2>
Rheumatology |<2> |<2> |91 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |99
Geriatrics |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |99 |<2> |<2> |752
General surgery |10,110 |6,930 |8,379 |5,617 |11,464 |2,883 |<2> |6,928 |5,266
ENT |2,635 |2,310 |2,256 |995 |2,975 |114 |<2> |3,457 |2,014
Trauma and orthopaedic |3,859 |2,209 |3,257 |1,923 |4,902 |1,409 |<2> |4,058 |3,421
Opthalmology |1,906 |1,045 |1,222 |1,232 |2,912 |<2> |<2> |957 |957
Radiotherapy |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |2,773 |1,537
Urology |378 |<2> |1,999 |<2> |1,707 |<2> |<2> |1,950 |1,622
Plastic surgery |<2> |<2> |3,371 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2>
Thoracic surgery |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |267 |<2>
Dental surgery |1,024 |245 |766 |240 |1,052 |<2> |<2> |3,045 |1,285
Neurosurgery |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |271 |1,001
Gynaecology |4,909 |2,323 |4,688 |2,671 |8,238 |1,675 |<2> |6,365 |6,180
Obstetrics |4,960 |2,011 |5,104 |2,293 |7,194 |1,424 |<2> |5,623 |5,693
Cardiac surgery |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |268 |<2>
Burns |<2> |<2> |197 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2>
Neurology radiologist |60 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |280 |<2>
GP Maternity |<2> |<2> |555 |112 |<2> |<2> |494 |<2> |<2>
GP Medical |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |811 |<2> |<2>
GP Dental |85 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2>
Other specialist units |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |260 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2>
Orthodontics |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |253 |<2> |<2> |<2>
Intermittent haemodialysis |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |78
Acute geriatrics |325 |172 |132 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |256 |<2>
Haematology |130 |131 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |125 |365
Anaesthetics |115 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |217 |<2>
Short stay units |572 |<2> |278 |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2> |<2>
Other/not known |143 |157 |218 |48 |217 |98 |31 |173 |227
<1> A number of non-operative procedures may also be included.
<2> denotes that fewer than 50 operative procedures were performed;
where applicable such figures are included in the specialty other/not known'.
Teachers
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish statistics for every local education authority in Wales showing the number of supply teachers registered for casual cover and showing what incremental point on the main professional grade for teachers' salaries a well-qualified and experienced supply teacher may progress to.
Mr. Wyn Roberts : Information about the numbers of supply teachers registered with local education authorities
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is not held centrally. However, the numbers of teachers employed in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools for periods of less than one month on an occasional or short notice basis as at January 1988 are shown in the following table :
|Number
------------------------------
Clwyd |173
Dyfed |90
Gwent |225
Gwynedd |74
Mid Glamorgan |139
Powys |68
South Glamorgan |191
West Glamorgan |54
These figures exclude supply teachers with contracted employment of one month or longer.
LES's have discretion to pay supply teachers up to the maximum of the main scale and may also award them incentive allowances, subject to the requirements contained in the school teachers pay and conditions document 1988.
Local Education Authorities (Finance)
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list (a) the capital allocation to each local education authority and (b) the capital allocation to each local education authority as a percentage of the bid of that local education authority, in each of the last six years.
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Mr. Wyn Roberts : The capital allocations (for all services) for the years 1984-85 to 1989-90 are shown in the following tables. Since 1985-86 capital allocations to Welsh local education authorities (counties) have not been hypothecated to individual services and have been based on formulae agreed with the local authority associations. Details of bids and capital allocations for education, together with allocations for 1984-85 as a percentage of bids that year are shown in the following tables.
1984-85
|Education capital |Education capital |Education allocation as a
|expenditure bids |allocation |percentage of bids
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clwyd |8,122 |3,797 |46.75
Dyfed |6,477 |3,054 |47.15
Gwent |9,571 |4,344 |45.39
Gwynedd |2,087 |1,628 |78.01
Mid Glamorgan |8,892 |5,513 |62.00
Powys |2,747 |1,682 |61.23
South Glamorgan |6,683 |3,646 |54.56
West Glamorgan |9,014 |3,398 |37.70
|c|Capital allocations|c|
£'000
|1984-85 |1985-86 |1986-87 |1987-88 |1988-89 |1989-90
|Total |Total |Total |Total |Total |provisional
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clwyd |12,014 |12,249 |14,092 |16,649 |16,797 |12,840
Dyfed |9,110 |11,396 |16,615 |16,594 |15,455 |16,948
Gwent |21,437 |13,000 |17,582 |21,466 |18,479 |24,019
Gwynedd |8,354 |11,528 |8,565 |9,197 |7,907 |7,903
Mid Glamorgan |19,985 |17,102 |22,708 |24,077 |23,126 |26,648
Powys |3,730 |3,904 |6,950 |7,111 |6,055 |6,110
South Glamorgan |14,068 |23,008 |26,764 |32,411 |31,357 |18,132
West Glamorgan |11,071 |14,389 |19,233 |20,124 |18,163 |22,247
SCOTLAND
Forestry Projects
68. Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of forestry projects currently taking place in Britain ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Between 1 April 1988 and 31 March 1989 the Forestry Commission has, under its grant schemes, approved 4,390 new applications for planting grants in Great Britain.
Electronic Companies
Mr. Jack : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what factors have contributed to the recent growth in Scottish-based electronic companies ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lang : A range of factors have contributed to the success of electronic companies in Scotland. These include the availability of a highly skilled labour force, backed by a strong higher education system, a diversity of established electronics companies and products which has led to the development of a supply infrastructure, low operational costs, good industrial relations, and the support and encouragement of the Scottish Office, the Scottish Development Agency and Locate in Scotland, the joint inward investment arm of the Scottish Office and the agency.
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NHS Reform
Mr. Steel : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many letters he has received from general practitioners, either direct or via hon. Members (a) supporting and (b) opposing the Government's proposals in the White Paper on new contracts.
Mr. Rifkind : It is not possible to supply the information in the form requested. About 1,000 letters have been received either from GPs or through hon. Members about the White Paper "Working for Patients" and the new contract for GPs. Many of these letters were written before the new contract proposals were issued in Scotland ; and many are based upon a misunderstanding of the proposals in both documents. Some items in both documents are supported ; others are queried or opposed.
Electoral Registers
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are his estimates of the numbers of potential first-time voters in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee who failed to submit their names and addresses for entry on current electoral registers.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The estimated numbers are approximately 2,200 in Glasgow, 1,800 in Edinburgh, 1,000 in Aberdeen and 1,000 in Dundee. These 6,000 represent 29 per cent. of the estimate of 16 and 17-year-olds eligible to be included in the registers for those cities. This is the same percentage as in both 1988 and 1987.
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Highland Health Board
Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will show for each of the members of the Highland health board their experience, expertise and background.
Column 608
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The information requested is as follows :
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|c|Highland health board|c|
Member |Background
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appointed to
31 March 1991
Mr. G. Bruce |Company Manager; Former Chairman Caithness Local
| Health Council; Chairman Caithness Chamber of Commerce
Mr. M. Cumming |Principal Teacher of Mathematics
Dr. R. S. C. Fergusson |General Medical Practitioner; Former
| Chairman, Highland Area Medical Committee
Mrs. C. B. Fraser |Retired Registered General Nurse; Director
| Red Cross (Ross and Cromarty Branch);
| Involvement with many voluntary organisations
Dr. C. A. S. Galloway |Consultant Paediatrician; Member or
| Executive Member of various medical
| organisations
Mr. W. G. Johnston, JP |Accountant/Managing Director of
| Transport Company; Former Regional
| and District Councillor
Mrs. V. MacIver |Member Highland Regional Council and Ross
| and Cromarty District Council;
| Former Member Ross and Cromarty
| Local Health Council
Mr. A. K. Robertson |General Dental Practitioner; Member and
| Former Chairman, Area Dental Committee
| of Highland Health Board
Mrs. C. Thomson |Former State Registered Nurse; Former Member
| Ross and Cromarty Local Health Council
Appointed to
31 March 1993
Mrs. H. E. Betts-Brown |Senior Physiotherapist; Founder member
|/Former Chairman Scottish Society for the
| Mentally Handicapped (Sutherland Branch);
| Chairman East Sutherland Council of Social Service
Mr. J. Forbes JP |Farmer; Member Highlands and Islands Development
| Consultative Council; Governor North
| of Scotland College of Agriculture
Mr. J. G. Ligertwood |Retired Bank Manager; Treasurer of many
| charitable organisations at various times
Mr. B. A. Merchant |Solicitor; Former member Inverness Local
| Health Council
Mrs. S. M. C. South |Housewife; Former Chairman Badenoch and
| Strathspey Local Health Council;
| Secretary Local Branch Age Concern
Mr. R. R. W. Stewart |Health Board General Manager
Mrs. S. G. H. Stone |Managing Director of Highland Fine Cheeses
| Ltd.; Founder, Ross-shire Health Protection Trust
Miss I. Urquhart |Registered General Nurse; Member Management
| Committee of Crossroads (Ross and Cromarty);
| Member Highland Nursing Advisory Committee
Flood Damage
Mr. Bill Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether special Government assistance to local authorities will be made available in the light of the floods and storms of February ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Rifkind : I indicated to the House on 14 February that I had invited local authorities and others to provide details of the damage which had occurred and of the remedial costs. I made it clear that in considering whether special Government help was needed, particularly to local authorities, the same principles would be applied as in the past. Highland regional council, the worst affected, Inverness district council and 43 housing authorities have responded. I have also received a number of representations from hon. Members, the National Farmers Union of Scotland, Scottish Landowners Federation and from individuals.
Having reviewed the information now available to me, I am pleased to announce that the financial scheme to
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assist local authorities in emergencies--the Bellwin scheme--will be made available on this occasion on the same basis as it operated in England and Wales in 1987. This will ensure that special financial assistance goes to those local authorities which, as a consequence of the emergency, would otherwise incur an undue financial burden in providing relief and carrying out immediate works to safeguard life or property. Prudent authorities have long provided in their budgets for contingencies and emergencies and the scheme therefore requires authorities to meet the first tranche of expenditure on emergency work up to a threshold. I am setting the threshold at a level equivalent to that used in 1987 which is 0.32 or a penny rate product. Eligible expenditure above that will attract 75 per cent. Government grant. My Department is writing today to all Scottish local authorities explaining how the scheme operates and it will be up to any authority that considers itself eligible to apply to the Department. The scheme does not cover losses that are insurable.Column 609
On housing, 33 out of the 43 authorities which replied have estimated some additional housing revenue expenditure but only in one case (Lochaber) above the Bellwin threshold. Local authority capital expenditure is not covered by the Bellwin scheme. However, five authorities also reported a compelling need for increased housing capital expenditure and in the final housing capital allocations for 1989-90 I announced on 29 March I included extra capital allocations totalling £1.7 million for these authorities. Concerning other capital expenditure it would appear that authorities can manage within the capital allocations for 1989-90 which I increased by 16 per cent. over the previous year, but any unmanageable items can, if necessary, be included in their financial plans they will be submitting later this year and which will be carefully considered. On the flooding of land and agricultural damage, grant-aid is available under the farm and conservation grant scheme. for those farmers who already have plans under the agriculture improvement scheme (EC) or agriculture and horticulture development scheme my officials will consider as sympathetically as possible any applications to vary the plans in order to remedy damage caused by the floods. It is clear that the main problem caused by the flooding and high winds has been the breaching of agricultural floodbanks. Grant for these works is already available at 50 per cent. in the less favoured areas and 40 per cent. elsewhere. Given the seriousness of the problems caused I am satisfied that additional aid is justified and am therefore proposing to increase these grants by 50 per cent., i.e. to 75 per cent. and 60 per cent., for a six months period from today in order to encourage riparian owners and fish farmers to carry out the necessary work. In making available this enhanced assistance, I am particularly conscious of the problems of those in the Conon area. I have consequently called for a more detailed report covering not only the agricultural interest of the area but the public safety aspects associated with the A832 and Conon village. In the light of that report I will review whether any government assistance is necessary.On forestry, I have received advice from the Forestry Commission from which I have concluded that while a number of individual estates have suffered significant wind blow the scale of damage is not beyond existing harvesting resources and that there is likely to be little overall effect on the timber market. Almost 4 million cu m of timber were lost in the south in 1987 and timber prices were badly affected. The February storms damaged 0.3 million cu m and there has not been the same effect on timber prices. Planting grants are already available. There does not seem, therefore, to be a need for any special measures in this sector.
On private property the same principles that have applied in the past will apply on this occasion, namely that the Government cannot meet damage to private property which is normally insurable, otherwise few would take out insurance.
I have also considered assessments of damage and cost from other public services and utilities for which I am responsible. The physical damage and other repair costs will be found from within my resources.
The measures that I have announced will, I hope, be welcomed as providing both short-term assistance to those local authorities who undertook emergency work as well as assistance with repair in the longer term.
Column 610
Business Rate
Mr. Andrew Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all the organisations and individuals who have responded to the 1989 consultation document on the transitional arrangements for non- domestic rating ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 26 April 1989] : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment issued a consultation paper on 15 February setting out the Government's proposals for transitional arrangements to introduce gradually in England and Wales the changes resulting from the revaluation and introduction of the uniform business rate in 1990. We have made it clear that although the magnitude of the changes will be less in Scotland in 1990, Scottish business ratepayers will benefit from the same level of protection against any significant increases in rates bills. The detailed arrangements for implementing this phasing will be the subject of consultations later this year.
Community Charge
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest cost estimate for the collection of community charge as a proportion of the costs of collection of the rates.
Mr. Lang : Based on the latest estimates provided by regional and islands councils, the cost of collection of the community charge as a proportion of the cost of rates collection is 1.9 : 1.
Clyde Port Authority
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland upon what statutory basis the Clyde port authority is founded ; what is the productive acreage held by it ; and what acreage of property it has available for development.
Mr. Portillo : The Clyde port authority is a trust established by the Clyde Port Authority Order Confirmation act 1965. Questions about the authority's land holdings are for it to answer ; the Department does not have this information.
PRIME MINISTER
Departmental Accounts
Q38. Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister if she will introduce legislation to require private secretaries to Cabinet Ministers, and chief departmental press officers who have lodged their accounts of departmental business for safe keeping in bank vaults to transfer such accounts after a three-year period to departmental records.
STUC
Q62. Mr. Ron Brown : To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to meet the Scottish Trades Union Congress.
The Prime Minister : I have at present no plans to do so.
Environment
Q100. Sir Hugh Rossi : To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received regarding the quality of the environment.
Column 611
Q186. Sir Anthony Grant : To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received regarding the quality of the environment.
Q208. Mr. Cash : To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received regarding the quality of the environment.
The Prime Minister : I have received a number of representations, many of which echo this Government's concern to maintain and improve environmental standards.
Training Schemes
Q119. Mr. Fishburn : To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received regarding the operating of training schemes for those seeking employment.
Q128. Mr. Leigh : To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received regarding the quality of training schemes for those seeking employment.
Q144. Mr. Bowis : To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received regarding the operating of training schemes for those seeking employment.
The Prime Minister : I receive many comments about YTS and employment training, both of which are successful in training people for jobs.
Bournemouth
Q129. Mr. Atkinson : To ask the Prime Minister if she will make an official visit to Bournemouth.
The Prime Minister : I have at present no plans to do so.
Settle-Carlisle Railway
Q151. Mr. Adley : To ask the Prime Minister if she will now visit the Settle to Carlisle railway.
The Prime Minister : I have at present no plans to do so.
MV Perintis
Q160. Dr. Godman : To ask the Prime Minister if, following the foundering of the MV Perintis, in the channel on or about 13 March, with its cargo of the pesticides Permethrin, Cypermethrin and the organochlorine Lindane, Her Majesty's Government have any proposals to put to the international community concerning the implementation of a hazardous and noxious substances convention ; and if she will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : The United Kingdom is one of four states developing alternative approaches for a future hazardous and noxious substances convention. These alternatives will be considered by the Internation Maritime Organisation's legal committee at its meeting in 1990. The Department of Transport is to host a meeting to discuss the common elements of the four alternatives in May.
European Community
Mr. Soames : To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the objectives of Her Majesty's Government's policy on the European Community.
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The Prime Minister : The United Kingdom is an active and committed member of the European Community. We want a prosperous, competitive and united Europe, open to enterprise and so creating more wealth, more jobs and more consumer choice. That is why we strongly support the 1992 programme, and believe it will benefit Britain, the Community, and the world trading system.
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