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Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Soon.
Dornoch Firth (Rail Crossing)
Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next anticipates discussing with the chairman of British Rail the construction of a rail crossing of the Dornoch firth.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to do so.
Forestry Policy
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress of negotiations on forestry policy in the European Community.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : A common forestry policy as such is not being negotiated in the European Community. However, negotiations on a proposed forestry action programme are approaching their final stages, and the main United Kingdom objectives are likely to be met.
Forestry Commission
Mrs. Gorman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, when appointing Raymond Johnston to the position of chairman of the Forestry Commission, consideration was given to the possibility of preparing the Forestry Commission for sale.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : No.
Rent-as-you-buy Scheme
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans to announce a rent-as-you-buy scheme for council tenants in Scotland.
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Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : No.
Electoral Register
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the percentage change in the numbers on local government electoral registers between 1987 and 1989 in (a) Edinburgh city and (b) Glasgow city ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : I refer the hon. Member to table 3 in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys "Monitor EL87/1" and to table 1 in the "Monitor EL89/1", from which the percentage changes may be derived. Copies of these publications are in the Library.
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the percentage change in the numbers on parliamentary electoral registers between 1987 and 1989 in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The change was 4.1 per cent. in Aberdeen, 2.2 per cent. in Dundee, 2.4 per cent. in Edinburgh and 4.4 per cent. in Glasgow.
Mr. Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Derbyshire North-East of 27 April, if he will list the estimated percentages of 16 and 17-year-olds missing from electoral registers as potential first-time voters in each constituency in Scotland in 1987, 1988 and 1989.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Information in the form requested is not available because population estimates are not calculated on a constituency basis. The estimated percentages for Scotland as a whole in 1987, 1988 and 1989 were 26, 27 and 26, respectively.
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East of 27 April, whether he has any plans to increase the percentage of 16 and 17- year-olds whose names are included as potential voters on electoral registers in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee ;
(2) what plans he has to improve electoral registration in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Lord James Douglas Hamilton : The preparation of electoral registers is the statutory duty of the electoral registration officers for the areas concerned. My right hon. and learned Friend is confident that their aim is to produce as comprehensive and accurate a register as possible, and proposes to support them as before with appropriate publicity campaigns.
Scottish Educational Trust for UN and International Affairs
Mr. Andrew Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the Government's policy towards the Scottish Educational Trust for United Nations and International Affairs ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) what contribution the Scottish Education Department has made to the 1989-90 publications list produced by the Scottish Educational Trust for United Nations and International Affairs ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Michael Forsyth : The Scottish Education Department has made no contribution to the 1989-90 publication list produced by the Scottish Educational Trust for United Nations and International Affairs. The trust's aims and activities do not come within current priorities for educational research-related funding.
PRIME MINISTER
Child Sexual Abuse
Q11. Mr. Allen : To ask the Prime Minister if she will establish an interdepartmental committee to examine the sexual abuse of children.
The Prime Minister : There is already in existence the inter- departmental group on child abuse, comprising senior officials in Departments with responsibilities for children. It was established to develop an inter-departmental approach to child abuse, including child sexual abuse.
Rain Forests
Q77. Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Prime Minister what further action Her Majesty's Government are taking to halt the destruction of the world's tropical rain forests.
The Prime Minister : As part of the forestry initiative the Overseas Development Administration has identified more than 20 countries where we are well placed to help. Discussions are already under way with, for example, the Government of Brazil and India ; we have just agreed £40 million of new aid for India largely for the local costs of forestry projects. In addition the Overseas Development Administration is increasing its funding for forestry research and is encouraging British charities to put forward more forestry projects for joint funding. We shall be encouraging multilateral and other bilateral donors to increase their support for the sector.
Monetary Union
Q106. Mr. John Browne : To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received regarding proposals for monetary union in the EEC.
Q156. Mr. Cash : To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received regarding proposals for monetary union in the European Economic Community.
Q157. Mr. Malins : To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received regarding proposals for monetary union in the European Economic Community.
The Prime Minister : I have received a number of representations on this subject.
Namibia
Q119. Mr. Hunter : To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a further statement on the process of independence in Namibia.
The Prime Minister : We remain fully committed to the implementation of the United Nations plan for Namibian independence. We are urging all those concerned to comply fully with the terms of the United Nations plan.
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EEC Commission President
Q123. Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Prime Minister when she next plans to meet the President of the European Economic Community Commission.
The Prime Minister : I expect to meet the President of the EC Commission at the meeting of the European Council on 26 and 27 June.
Low-Income Households
Q153. Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the number of low-income households in Mountain Ash.
The Prime Minister : This information is not available.
Engagements
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 4 May.
Mr. Stern : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 4 May.
Mr. Pike : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 4 May.
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 4 May.
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 4 May.
The Prime Minister : This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Female Legal Staff
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Attorney-General how many female (a) barristers, (b) magistrates, (c) solicitors, (d) judges, (e) recorders and (f) court clerks are (i) employed and (ii) qualified in the United Kingdom according to the latest available figures.
The Attorney-General : Such figures as are available for England and Wales are as follows :
(a) Barristers
As at 1 October 1988 there were 940 women practising barristers. In addition, 309 women employed barristers are recorded as paying the Bar subscription, giving a total of 1,249 known active women barristers.
(b) Magistrates
As at 1 January 1989 there were 12,214 women lay magistrates. In addition, there are eight women full-time metropolitan stipendiary magistrates ; four women acting metropolitan stipendiary magistrates ; and three women acting provincial stipendiary magistrates. (c) Solicitors
In 1987-88 (the latest period for which figures are available), 10, 062 women solicitors held practising certifi-cates. In 1988, there were 13,046 women solicitors on the roll.
(d) Judges
There is one woman lord justice of appeal, one woman High Court judge, and there are 17 women Circuit judges.
(e) Recorders
There are 29 women recorders.
(f) Court Clerks
As at 31 December 1988 there were 12 women clerks to the justices. There are, in addition, 112 women chief clerks of Crown and County courts.
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TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Balance of Trade
114. Mr. Wareing : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the balance of manufactured trade in (a) 1978 and (b) 1988.
Mr. Allen Adams : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give the balance of manufactured trade in (a) 1978 and (b) 1988.
116. Mr. Strang : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the balance of manufactured trade in (a) 1978 and (b) 1988.
117. Mr. Pike : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the balance of manufactured trade in (a) 1978 and (b) 1988.
Mr. Alan Clark : Trade in manufactures on a balance of payments basis was in surplus by £5.1 billion in 1978 and in deficit by £14.4 billion in 1988.
Imports
118. Mr. Boyes : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will estimate the proportion of total manufacturing imports represented by production and investment goods in (a) 1984 and (b) 1988.
119. Mr. Darling : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will estimate the proportion of total manufacturing imports represented by production and investment goods in (a) 1984 and (b) 1988.
Mr. Bell : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will estimate the proportion of total manufacturing imports represented by production and investment goods in (a) 1984 and (b) 1988.
Mr. Alan Clark : The proportion of United Kingdom imports of manufactures on an Overseas Trade Statistics basis represented by production and investment goods was as follows :
|Per cent.
------------------------------
1984 |76
1988 |75
Notes:
(1) The figures exclude the
more erratic items-ships,
North sea oil installations,
aircraft, precious stones and
silver.
(2) Production and investment
goods are taken to be
semi-manufactures (SITC 5 and
6) plus intermediate finished
manufactures and investment
goods (part of SITC 7 and 8,
based on the United Nations
broad economic categories).
Poland (Investment)
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if the renewed legalisation of Solidarnosc in Poland will affect United Kingdom export credit guarantees for industrial investment in Poland.
Mr. Alan Clark [holding answer 27 April 1989] : The Government welcome many of the political and structural changes taking place in Poland. However, there will need to be a clear improvement in the economic situation too before any resumption of medium term export credit guarantees can be justified.
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It is hoped that Poland can reach agreement with the IMF on an adjustment programme that can lead to such economic improvements. The Government intend to play a constructive role in seeking to establish an agreement between Poland and the IMF.ECGD short-term credit guarantees, and investment insurance against war and expropriation risks, continue to be available.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Internal Market
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the total value to the latest available full year of public sector contracts in Northern Ireland of a character which will make them open to Communitywide bidding as part of the creation of the internal market.
Mr. Ian Stewart : The cost of assessing the value of public sector contracts in Northern Ireland to be opened to Community-wide bidding would not be justified. The EC is currently investigating the effects of applying procurement rules to contracts above various value thresholds in sectors excluded from existing Community directives.
Rates
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on measures to reduce the rate of increase in regional rates.
Mr. Ian Stewart : I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 20 April, at columns 447-48 to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East (Mr. Ross). Two exceptional factors, the change in Exchequer support and the one-off credit balance in 1988-89 together accounted for 6.6 per cent. out of the 12.6 per cent. increase in the 1989-90 regional rate. The remaining 6 per cent. reflected substantial increases in public expenditure programmes in Northern Ireland in areas such as education and roads maintenance. The level of the Government support for rate relevant expenditure in Northern Ireland is at a very high level, 82 per cent. compared with 43 per cent. in England. The Government endeavour to strike a reasonable balance between the need for expenditure on central Government rate-borne services in Northern Ireland and the burden placed on ratepayers. However, the only practical way to reduce the impact upon ratepayers would be to reduce relevant public expenditure programmes in Northern Ireland.
Mater Infirmorum Hospital, Belfast
Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) whether the Mater Infirmorum hospital, Belfast, will become the main centre for gynaecology in central Belfast if the proposals of the complementarity study of the Eastern health and social services board are implemented ;
(2) what assessment has been made of whether the Mater hospital can provide a full range of care ;
(3) what steps are being taken to ensure that the Mater hospital can provide a service with regard to artificial techniques of contraception, sterilisation, tubal ligation, and related areas ;
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(4) what steps are being taken to ensure equal provision for women seeking care on a non-denominational basis under the proposals of the complementarity study of the Eastern health board ;(5) what representations he has received suggesting that the proposals of the Eastern health board's complementarity study have not taken account of the special characteristics of the Mater hospital ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Needham : The proposals for changes in the provision of acute services by the three Belfast teaching hospitals stem from the recent complementarity study report. The Eastern health and social services board has yet to decide how it wishes to proceed with the study recommendations. When it does I will wish to discuss the conclusions very fully with the board chairman.
Health Education
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the budget for health education in Northern Ireland for each year from 1978-79 to 1987-88, expressed as actual expenditure and as a percentage of total National Health Service spending in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Needham : The information is not available in the form requested as many of the services provided by health and social services boards include an element of health education which is not funded separately.
Details of the Department of Health and Social Services budget spent directly on centrally financed health education are given in the table. This consists of the Northern Ireland pro rata contribution to the former Health Education Council and an additional £200,000 in 1987-88 to fund the launch of the "Northern Ireland Change of Heart" coronary prevention programme.
|£
------------------------
1978-79 |51,000
1979-80 |106,000
1980-81 |152,000
1981-82 |200,000
1982-83 |249,000
1983-84 |257,000
1984-85 |265,000
1985-86 |270,000
1986-87 |278,000
1987-88 |491,000
Pre-School Education
Ms. Mowlam : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the percentage of children of pre-school age currently enrolled in state -run pre-school education in Northern Ireland.
Dr. Mawhinney : The information is as follows :
|All grant-aided
|schools<1>
|per cent.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre school age pupils in nursery education<2> |13.3
Three and four-year-olds in Education<3> |45.4
<1> Both figures are expressed as a percentage of the three and four-year-old
population at January 1988.
<2> Includes nursery schools and nursery classes in primary schools.
<3> Covers all three and four-year-olds in education, including those in
nursery schools and nursery classes but excluding those in special schools.
Social Fund
Mr. Hume : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information is available, for each social security office, on the highest and lowest month for social fund applications and allocations, indicating the relevant respective figures.
Mr. Needham [holding answer 24 April 1989] : Information about the number of applications processed and the amounts awarded in each month is available in the Library.
Information about the highest and lowest month for social fund applications for the period 11 April 1988 to 31 March 1989 (the latest date for which information is available) is as follows :
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Highest and Lowest Number of Social Fund Applications:
11 April 1988-31 March 1989
Social Security OffiLowest Highest
|Month |Total |Month |Total
----------------------------------------------------------------
Andersonstown |May |112 |February|1,959
Antrim |July |346 |November|653
Armagh |May |95 |March |334
Ballymena |May |293 |February|526
Ballymoney |May |81 |March |246
Ballynahinch |May |26 |March |78
Banbridge |May |55 |March |249
Bangor |May |124 |March |263
Carrickfergus |May |117 |February|267
Coleraine |May |196 |November|463
Cookstown |May |95 |March |317
Corporation Street |July |305 |March |1,851
Downpatrick |May |105 |November|266
Dungannon |May |88 |November|436
Enniskillen |May |93 |March |445
Falls |December|437 |February|1,210
Holywood Road |May |257 |March |842
Kilkeel |May |22 |March |70
Knockbreda |May |153 |March |472
Larne |June |151 |November|295
Limavady |May |131 |November|264
Lisburn |December|348 |March |485
Londonderry |May |298 |March |2,284
Lurgan |May |148 |March |785
Magherafelt |May |82 |March |375
Newcastle |May |37 |March |124
Newry |May |229 |November|555
Newtonabbey |May |277 |March |513
Newtownards |May |75 |January |246
Omagh |May |124 |March |333
Portadown |May |111 |February|325
Shaftesbury Square |May |267 |March |856
Shankill |May |362 |March |781
Strabane |May |106 |March |550
Mr. Hume : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information is available on the proportion of the social fund budget allocated in each social security office by the end of each quarter in the year April 1988-89, indicating the total monetary value involved.
Mr. Needham [holding answer 24 April 1989] : Information about the amounts of awards made each month and the outstanding balance of the loans and grants budget for each social security office is available in the Library.
Mr. Hume : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what figures are available for the year April 1988-89 on the total numbers of social fund applications and payments and the total value of payments in each social security office for maternity payments, funeral expenses, community care grants, budgeting loans and crisis loans.
Mr. Needham [holding answer 24 April 1989] : Information about the number of community care grants, budgeting and crisis loan applications processed and the amounts awarded for each month since April 1988 is available in the Library.
The information requested about the number and value of maternity payments and funeral expenses is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Income Support
Ms. Mowlam : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will provide figures showing the estimated take-up rate for claims for income support payments under the severe hardship provision for 16 and 17-year-olds actively pursuing a place on the youth training programme ;
(2) if he will provide figures showing the estimated take-up rate for claims for income support payments under the severe hardship provision.
Mr. Needham [holding answers 28 April 1989] : The information requested is not available.
Arms (Terrorists)
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information his Department has of countries supplying (a) arms, and (b) finance for arms to be used by terrorist groups connected with the so- called Loyalist Group in Northern Ireland ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Ian Stewart [holding answer 2 May 1989] : I am not in a position to comment on the possibility that any country may have supplied arms or finance to such groups.
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