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Mr. Morton Hammer and Family
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is yet in a position to give a decision in the case of Mr. Morton Hammer and family, ref : H297787.
Mr. Renton [holding answer 28 April 1989] : Mr. Morton Hammer's case cannot be resolved until his solicitors supply information requested of them in February by the immigration department. As soon as that information is available the application will be considered and Mr. Hammer notified of the result direct. Mr. Hammer has been given two months leave to enter the United Kingdom to enable him or his representatives to submit the details required.
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Data Protection
Mr. McCrindle : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what information he has as to the number of alleged breaches of the Data Protection Act ; how many of these relate to breaches of confidentiality ; how many have been proved ; how many cases are still under investigation ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) what information he has as to the penalties which have been imposed on companies, and individual organisations for breaches of the Data Protection Act in cases concerning confidentiality ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Renton [holding answer 28 April 1989] : The Data Protection Registrar does not collect information in the form requested. Details of those cases in which enforcement action is taken are published in his annual report to Parliament.
Sporting Events (Fatalities)
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has regarding fatalities among spectators at sporting events during the past 10 years.
Mr. John Patten [holding answer 20 April 1989] : The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys has published statistics relating to fatal accidents in England and Wales occurring during sporting and leisure activities since 1982. The figures for fatalities amongst spectators are as follows :
Number of fatalities Year |Number --------------------- 1982 |2 1983 |1 1984 |3 1985 |56 1986 |1 1987 |4 Source: OPCS Monitor' reference DH4. Notes: The 1985 figure does not include one fatality at Birmingham City football ground. Figures for 1988 not yet available.
In addition, I understand that two people died in 1980 as a result of the collapse of a pillar at Ayresome Park football ground, Middlesbrough.
Mrs. Laurie Clare Marlborough
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Greater Manchester as to the authority under which police officers (a) arrested and (b) handed over to American military authorities Mrs. Laurie Clare Marlborough of Heaton Norris, Stockport, and as to whether the code of practice under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act was observed in relation to her arrest and detention ; (2) when Her Majesty's Government was informed under the terms of the 1951 Agreement regarding the status of forces of parties to the North Atlantic Treaty by the United States Government that Mrs. Laurie Clare Marlborough of Heaton Norris, Stockport, was a deserter from the United States Navy ; what requests were made by the United States Government ; what response was made ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Douglas Hogg [holding answer 7 April 1989] : I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and the chief constable of Greater Manchester police that the Metropolitan police were informed on 19 October 1988 that Mrs. Marlborough was a deserter from the United States Navy. After inquiries regarding her nationality status had been completed, Stockport police were requested on 29 March 1989 to arrest her. Mrs. Marlborough was arrested on the same day under section 13 of the Visiting Forces Act 1952 and handed over to the United States Navy authorities on the following day.
I further understand that the provisions of the codes of practice under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 were fully complied with ; and that the matter is now the subject of a complaint which is being investigated under the provisions of part IX of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
European Nuclear Disarmament
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received over the last 10 years from the organisation European Nuclear Disarmament ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Waldegrave : We do not have a record of representations received from the organisation European Nuclear Disarmament over the last 10 years. The information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Namibia
Mr. Mans : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will report on the progress being made towards a peaceful resolution in Namibia.
Mrs. Chalker : Agreements have been reached on a framework for the return of SWAPO forces to positions north of 16th parallel in Angola. It is important that these agreements are put into effect and that all parties abide by their undertakings in the UN plan.
Khatchaturian Family
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs why the British high commission in Calcutta has refused permission for Mrs. Jenny Khatchaturian, her husband Mr. Baron Max Khatchaturian and their child Arthranick Khatchaturian of 1A Susil Sen road, Bhowpamipore, Calcutta, to visit the United Kingdom, following the death of their close relative in Caernarfon ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar : In accordance with the recent guidelines on the handling of representations by Members of Parliament in immigration cases, issued to Members on 14 December 1988, I have referred the question to the correspondence unit of the migration and visa department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The hon. Member will receive a reply from the unit in due course.
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European Green Parties (Congress)
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if any member of the United Kingdom embassy staff in Paris was present as an observer at the fifth congress of the European green parties held in Paris between 7 to 9 April.
Mrs. Chalker : No member of the British embassy staff in Paris attended any of the congress sessions, nor was the embassy invited to participate. But one member of staff visited the accompanying exhibition and attended a congress press conference.
Council of Ministers
Mr. Mans : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of forthcoming business in the European Community Council of Ministers.
Mrs. Chalker : The usual forecast was deposited in the House earlier today. At present nine meetings of the Council of Ministers are planned for May.
The Internal Market Council on 3 May will discuss a number of measures relevant to the completion of the internal market. The Energy Council will meet on 11 May to consider a Commission paper on transparency of consumer energy prices, an initiative designed as a step towards completing the internal energy market. It will have a first look at THERMIE, a successor programme to the Community's research and development programme for the hydrocarbons sector and its demonstrations scheme, concerning the promotion of energy technology in Europe, and discuss the prospects for an internal market in integrated electrical energy systems. Ministers will attempt to agree a set of recommendations on the Community refining industry left over from the November Council, and also give further consideration to a proposal for improving the efficiency of electricity use. The Council will also discuss Directive 75/404 on the restriction of the use of natural gas in power stations, and complete the agenda by looking at a proposal for a Council directive concerning the procedures for the award of public works contracts in the water, energy and transport sectors.
The Health Council on 16 May will discuss : Europe against cancer programme, tobacco labelling, tar content in cigarettes, smoking in public places and advertising of tobacco products. It will also discuss cardio- vascular diseases, the prevention and control of AIDS, and drugs.
The Development Council meets on 16 May. It is expected to discuss the state of progress on the current negotiations of the Lome convention. It will also adopt conclusions on : evaluation of development co-operation ; how the Community might take account of the role of women in development ; and the need to avoid marginalising particular sections of the population when designing aid programmes. The Council is expected to agree conclusions between the Commission and member states in respect of their approaches to the support of structural adjustments in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) signatories of the Lome convention. It will also discuss the Commission's report on the review of financial and technical co-operation with Latin American and Asian developing countries.
The Culture Council on 18 May will include a discussion on specific actions relating to books :
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Ministerial resolution and Commission communication. Additionally, discussion is likely to be taken forward on audio-visual matters and in particular on a conference on the subject to be hosted by the French Government in Paris in September 1989. This initiative is aimed at strengthening the European internal market in this field. The Education Council on 22 May will consider the Commission's proposal for a Community programme to promote the learning of foreign languages (the LINGUA programme) and will review the basis for co-operation in education in the medium term. Discussions are expected also to cover a first response to the Commission's proposal for adaptation of the Erasmus decision and possible new activity relating to educational provision for gipsies and other travelling groups among the population.The Foreign Affairs Council, meeting on 22-23 May, will discuss progress in the current negotiation of the Lome convention, and the current state of play on the negotiations for a new international coffee agreement. It will also review progress by the high-level task force set up to resolve the EC- US dispute over hormones in meat. The Council may have a preliminary discussion of a draft mandate for negotiations with the USSR on a trade, commercial and economic co-operation agreement. It may also be asked to approve a mandate for negotiations with the USSR on a textiles agreement. An EC-Israel Co-operation Council will be held in the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council.
The Industry Council meets on 29 May. It will consider a draft decision establishing a four-year action programme for small and medium enterprises. It will also discuss : a new proposal for resolving the problems of restructuring the Italian public-sector steel industry ; a Commission paper on cross-border industrial collaboration in the Community ; proposals for a European mining policy ; and the Commission's mid-term review on the 6th directive on shipbuilding aid. There will also be a discussion on the automobile sector including EC-wide arrangements for Japanese imports after 1992, emission standards, the state aid framework for automobiles and local content rules.
The Agriculture Council will meet on 29 and 30 May to discuss plant health, marketing of compound feedingstuffs, pesticide residues, the forestry action programme, and possibly conversion of agricultural production and certain measures in the wine sector.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Malta
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what have been the main items he has discussed with representatives of the Government of Malta since the last general election there ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Chalker : Since the Nationalist party won the general elections in May 1987, we have discussed a wide range of bilateral and multilateral subjects with the Maltese Government. In the context of our excellent bilateral relations, the discussions have in particular covered the new technical co-operation programme, announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 15 September 1988, the co-operation agreement, signed
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when I visited Malta from 14 to 16 March, and the opening of the British Council English Language resource centre, in Valetta, due to take place this autumn.Britain's Voice in South Africa"
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many copies of the booklet "Britain's Voice in South Africa" have been printed ; at what cost ; what will be the main avenues for their distribution ; and what are the estimated costs of distribution.
Mrs. Chalker : The total number of copies of the booklet printed or planned is 17,000. The total cost is £21,840. More than 6,000 copies have already been despatched to 145 British diplomatic missions. Further supplies will be sent in response to demand. About 1,000 booklets have been distributed in Britain, including 650 to Members of Parliament. Booklets were distributed to British diplomatic missions with other routine information material. Distribution costs of individual items are not separately identifiable.
Departmental Policy
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out (a) those areas of policy successes and (b) those areas of policy failures within his Department's responsibilities since May 1979.
Mrs. Chalker : For the period to May 1988, I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 6 May 1988 at col. 638 to the question from my late hon. Friend the then Member for Epping Forest (Sir John Biggs-Davison). We have continued successfully to pursue policies aimed at safeguarding Britain's security through membership of NATO, developing Britain's prosperity within the European Community, and strengthening international stability and order through an active bilateral and multilateral diplomacy.
South Africa
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with South Africa.
Mrs. Chalker : Britain has full diplomatic relations with South Africa.
Iraq
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last had discussions on Iraqi Kurdistan with the authorities of Iraq ; and what was the substance of those discussions.
Mr. Waldegrave : We have regularly raised with the Iraqi authorities our concerns over their Kurdish population and human rights violations against the community.
Most recently I did so with the Iraqi ambassador on 19 April, and in particular made clear that we would view with grave concern any evidence of any mass deportations of Kurds. The Iraqi Government have admitted to some localised resettlement of Kurds for security reasons, but
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have denied mass relocation to the south of the country. We have urged the Iraqi Government to allow diplomats and journalists to visit the areas concerned to see for themselves.El Salvador
Mr. Andrew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 25 April to the hon. Member for Oxford, East, Official Report, column 463, if he will now make urgent representations to the El Salvadorean Government concerning the case of Senor Cordova Aguilar.
Mr. Eggar : We have on numerous occasions made very clear to the El Salvadorean authorities the importance that we attach to proper respect for human rights.
We are conveying to the authorities the concern which is felt over the case of Senor Cordova Aguilar's disappearance. We have also been in touch with Tutela Legal, the human rights office of the Catholic Church in El Salvador, who have informed us that there are no clues as to who was responsible for Senor Cordova Aguilar's disappearance in July last year.
EC Commission
Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the number of full-time staff employed at the office of the European Communities Commission in London.
Mrs. Chalker : There are 24 full-time staff.
Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the reasons for the information office located at the office of the European Communities Commission in London being unable to take telephone inquiries until after 2 pm on each working day.
Mrs. Chalker : This is a matter for the European Commission Office.
Child Slavery
Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will reveal any plans he has to make known Britain's abhorrence of the child slave trade that is currently operating in a wide variety of countries in the Third world.
Mr. Eggar : Britain has long abhorred the child slave trade and this position is already well-known throughout the world. We shall continue to make clear that we deplore the practice of slavery in all its forms wherever in the world it goes on.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Inquests
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Attorney-General what is his policy concerning requests for authorisation to make application to the High Court for a fresh inquest into a cause of death ; and if he will make a statement.
The Attorney-General : In each instance in which a request is made to me I consider whether an application to
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the High Court under section 13 of the Coroners Act 1988 would have a reasonable prospect of establishing that it is necessary or desirable in the interests of justice for a fresh inquest to be held.Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Attorney-General how many requests he has received in the last year for which figures are available, for him to issue authorisations to make application to the High Court for fresh inquests ; and how many of these requests were successful.
The Attorney-General : In the 12-month period ending 31 March 1989, 14 requests were received. Of these requests six were granted, five were refused, two were withdrawn and one is still being considered.
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Attorney-General in what circumstances, when he refuses leave to apply to the High Court for a fresh inquest, he supplies reasons for his decision ; and if he will make a statement.
The Attorney-General : If I decline to give my authority for an application to the High Court under section 13 of the Coroners Act 1988 I do so because I consider that the application would have no reasonable prospect of establishing that it is necessary or desirable in the interests of justice for a fresh inquest to be held. In such circumstances it is not my practice to give a more particular reason.
Public Record Office (Files Embargo)
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Attorney-General if he will give the reasons for the embargo of 75 years that was placed on the following files in the Public Record Office : MH55 reference numbers 1749, 1760 and 1761 ; and if the Lord Chancellor will now remove the embargo.
The Attorney-General : The first file referred to, MH55/1749, has been closed for 75 years in accordance with the established criteria set out in paragraphs 24 to 27 of the White Paper "Modern Public Records, Cmnd. 8531, March 1982." There are no plans to reduce the file's closure period. MH55/1760 has been open to public inspection since 1986. MH55/1761 is not available for public inspection because its contents are not yet 30 years old .
Courts (Notices)
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Attorney-General on how many occasions during the past 12 months courts in Wales have received complaints that they have been sending out English only notices to Welsh speaking people ; and if he will take steps to review the procedures in courts in Wales to ensure that all initial notifications of court proceedings are bilingual and that any subsequent correspondence is either bilingual or in the desired language of the individual concerned.
The Attorney-General : During the last 12 months none of the courts in Wales, for which the Lord Chancellor is responsible, have received any formal complaints that English only notices have been sent out from them. The question of the use of bilingual forms in courts in Wales has been reviewed many times and the Lord Chancellor's Department will continue to keep all procedures under review.
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EMPLOYMENT
Speech Therapists
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if there are any speech therapists registered as unemployed in Glasgow.
Mr. Lee : The information is not available since there is no analysis of the unemployment count by occupation.
YTS
Mr. Patchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people in South Yorkshire are in receipt of YTS allowances ; and if he has any plans to increase them in line with (a) the retail prices index, (b) the yearly rate of inflation and (c) average earnings.
Mr. Cope : On 31 March 1989, 14,600 young people in South Yorkshire were undertaking training on YTS and in receipt of YTS allowances. A further 3,700 young people in South Yorkshire were employed and undertaking YTS training, but these young people are paid a wage by their employer instead of a trainee allowance. There are no plans to increase the value of the YTS allowance.
Training Agencies
Mr. Loyden : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will call for a report from the training agencies at Merseyside and Manchester on the reasons for the one-day strike by training agency staff ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Cope : Forty nine training agency staff in Merseyside and 36 in Manchester took "industrial action" on 26 April. This constituted a very small minority of training agency staff in these two areas. The action was organised by the Civil and Public Servants Association in protest against the privatisation of the skills training agency, reductions in staffing and the establishment of training and enterprise councils. The action was misguided and the vast majority of training agency staff did not take part.
Publicity
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will place in the Library details of each major publicity campaign mounted by his Department in 1985-86 and each successive year, including in each case the objectives of the campaign, the intended audience and the outcome of the monitoring of the achievement of the intended objectives, and national research conducted for him by the Central Office of Information together with a note of the intended objectives in the campaigns in 1989-90 ;
(2) if he will place in the Library details of each major publicity campaign mounted by the Manpower Services Commission and the Training Agency in 1985-86 and each successive year, including in each case the objectives of the campaign, the intended audience and the outcome of the monitoring of the achievement of the intended objectives, and national research conducted for him by the Central Office of Information together with a note of the intended objectives in the campaigns in 1989-90.
Mr. Cope : I shall write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
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Public Expenditure
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will reproduce table 7.29 of the public expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 607) using the most recent revised figures available.
Mr. Cope : In respect of table 7.29 of the public expenditure White Paper, figures for the financial years 1989-90, 1990-91 and 1991-92 remain unchanged. Only the estimated outturn figures for 1988-89 are subject to change at present. However, the final outturn figures for 1988-89 are not yet available. These will be published in the Department's appropriation accounts later this year.
Wages
Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take immediate steps to restore the minimum wage levels for young persons aged between 16 and 21.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Single Market
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of the speech by Mr. Giovanni Falcone of the Sicilian magistrates about the consequences of the single market for the Mafia ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maude : Mr. Falcone's remarks were part of a round table discussion on the Mafia and business in Sicily. the meeting was organised by the newspaper II Sole 24 Ore which carried an extensive report, including a transcript of the discussion. My Department has a copy of this report. Mr. Falcone said, in the context of the Mafia, that it was important to be aware of the possibilities that might arise for exporting criminal activities once the frontiers were abolished within the single European market. I am reassured, however, to note that Mr. Falcone also says that the Italian authorities are taking strong measures to combat Mafia business activities and that he is optimistic about the growing effectiveness of these measures.
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement outlining the changes made recently in defining reciprocity for the purposes of the banking provisions of the single market.
Mr. Lilley : I have been asked to reply.
The Commission recently presented revised proposals for a reciprocity provision in the second banking co-ordination directive. As explained by the Commission, the revised proposals would set the Community's maximum negotiating objective as the achievement of effective market access and competitive opportunities for European Community credit institutions in a third country comparable to those accorded by the Community to credit institutions from that third country. The proposals include a procedure for suspension of new authorisations where credit institutions of the Community did not enjoy national treatment, effective market access and the same competitive opportunities as domestic institutions in a third country. The Council of Ministers had an initial discussion on these proposals on 17 April, and they are being considered further.
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Right to Buy (Publicans)
Mr. Allen : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will introduce legislation to provide for a right to buy for publicans.
Mr. Maude : The Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the supply of beer recommended that a new brewers code of practice should be negotiated by the Director General of Fair Trading. This would require the brewers to incorporate a number of provisions into tenancy agreements and leases which contained any form of tie in respect of beer. One such provision would be that before the brewer/landlord disposes of any public house which has a licensee/tenant to a purchaser which is not itself a brewery company the brewer/landlord should give the tenant/licensee a reasonable opportunity of acquiring the premises at market value. My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State has said he is minded to accept the recommendations of the MMC report.
Securities and Investments Board
Mr. Neil Hamilton : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he next intends to meet the chairman of the Securities and Investments Board.
Mr. Maude : I meet the chairman of the Securities and Investments Board as frequently as is necessary.
Mr. Neil Hamilton : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he last met the chairman of the Securities and Investments Board ; and what was discussed.
Mr. Maude : My right hon. and noble Friend and I met the chairman of the Securities and Investments Board on 15 February. The discussion ranged widely over the area of the regulation of financial services.
Mr. Neil Hamilton : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has had regarding independent financial advisers' responses to the Green Paper from the Securities and Investments Board.
Mr. Maude : I have received a number of representations regarding the proposals in the Securities and Investments Board's consultation paper "Life Assurance and Unit Trusts Disclosure--the regime for 1990" published last December. Most raise the respective disclosure requirements for tied agents and independent financial advisers.
Self-regulatory Organisations
Mr. Neil Hamilton : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the performance of self-regulatory organisations ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maude : It is for the Securities and Investment's Board to oversee the performance of the self-regulating organisations.
Leisure Circle
Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many complaints he has received about the trading practices and selling methods of the Leisure Circle mail order company.
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Mr. Forth : I have not received any complaints about this company.
Leisure Circle is a member of the Association of Mail Order Publishers. The Mail Order Publishers' Authority administers the association's code of practice and as such considers and seeks to resolve individual complaints.
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