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Police (Misconduct)
Mr. Skinner : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inquiries instituted by his Department of a police force of one jurisdiction into the activities of a police force of another jurisdiction have found evidence of misconduct in the last 10 years.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The Home Office has no power to institute inquiries of one police force by another into allegations of misconduct. The investigation of such allegations is a matter for the chief officer of the force concerned, subject to the provisions of part IX of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 where a complaint is made by a member of the public.
Prior to the introduction of the 1984 Act, section 49 of the Police Act 1964 provided for the Secretary of State to direct a chief officer to request an officer from another force to conduct a complaints investigation. Figures relating to the number of occasions when this power was exercised, and the number of investigations which revealed evidence of misconduct, are not held centrally, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Broadcasting Directive
Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the recent discussions in the European Community Council of Ministers on the draft broadcasting directive.
Mr. Renton : Under the Spanish presidency, the Council of Ministers (Internal Market) has had a series of meetings in order to identify a satisfactory way forward on the European Commission's proposal for a directive on broadcasting. These enabled the Council, on 13 April, to adopt a common position on the draft directive.
The original proposal from the Commission gave rise to a number of difficulties for us and other member states. We were concerned in particular at the proposals for formal
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numerical quotas for European programme content, the provisions put forward on copyright and the potentially troubling extension of EC competence implicit in the proposals on protection of minors. More generally we argued that the Council of Europe was the right forum for the conclusion of a European regulatory instrument in relation to broadcasting, and we were therefore putting our weight behind efforts to conclude a European convention on transfrontier broadcasting under the aegis of the Council of Europe. These concerns were made clear when the House had the opportunity to debate the directive on 20 January 1987.Since then, we have played a full part in the negotiations on the draft convention, the text of which was finalised in March. The United Kingdom signed the convention when it was opened for signature on 5 May. The convention substantially meets all the points on which we had reservations in relation to the draft directive, and is in our judgment an acceptable basis for European regulation. We therefore welcomed the decision of the European Council in Rhodes last December that the future work of the Community in relation to broadcasting should be based on that of the Council of Europe and that the directive should accordingly be adapted in the light of the convention. This alignment of the two instruments has been undertaken by the Internal Market Council. As a result a new draft of the directive has been produced which follows closely the approach of the convention. This has enabled us to withdraw our earlier objections to the substance of the directive.
I submitted to the Select Committee on European Legislation on 30 March an explanatory memorandum discussing in detail the specific modifications made by the Internal Market Council to the Commission's original proposal. The Committee subsequently recommended that a further debate be held on the draft directive. I regret that given the timing of the recommendation it was not practicable to arrange a further debate before the meeting of the Internal Market Council at which the common position was adopted. I have written to the Chairman of the Committee to explain the Government's approach to this matter.
We believe that the Council's common position represents a satisfactory outcome. We have successfully resisted the arguments of some members states for protectionist measures which would have imposed greater rstrictions on European broadcasters and have instead achieved a substantially deregulatory text fully in line with that of the Council of Europe convention. Our recent White Paper on Broadcasting made clear that these international instruments, when concluded, would contribute to the maintenance of programme standards throughout Europe, while removing the barriers which have hitherto inhabited the free flow of broadcasting services. They are consistent with the approach of the Government towards domestic broadcasting services in establishing an enabling regulatory framework to allow increased opportunities for broadcasters and viewers while ensuring the maintenance of programme standards on taste and decency.
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Gaelic Broadcasting
Mrs. Ray Michie : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on his Department's plans for the development of Gaelic Broadcasting.
Mr. Renton : We are considering this subject in the light of responses to the Government's White Paper on broadcasting.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Shoe Industry
Mr. Tredinnick : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he last met representatives of the shoe industry ; what was discussed ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : My right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade met the hon. Members for Sedgefield (Mr. Blair) and for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) and representatives of the footwear industry in February 1988 to discuss footwear imports from the far east and south-east Asia. A number of other hon. Members have since made their concerns known. However, I can add nothing to previous answers to the House until the EC Commission reports the findings of its Communitywide investigation into imports of footwear from Taiwan and South Korea.
National Engineering Laboratory
Mr. Ted Garrett : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the future ownership of the national engineering laboratory.
Mr. Ingram : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he intends to announce his decision on the Touche Ross report on the future of the national engineering laboratory.
Mr. Newton : My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is currently considering a report on the national engineering laboratory prepared by management consultants Touche Ross and hopes to make an announcement shortly concerning the future of the laboratory, including ownership.
Vauxhall Motors
Mr. Bright : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he or his officials next expect to meet the management of Vauxhall Motors Ltd. to discuss changes in the pattern of purchasing of materials to the benefit of United Kingdom suppliers.
Mr. Atkins : My officials meet the company regularly to discuss a wide range of issues including component and material sourcing.
Mr. Bright : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what contribution was made from public funds to Vauxhall Motors Ltd's investment in 1988 in its Luton plant.
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Company Investigations
Mr. John Garrett : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which accountancy firms have been criticised in the Department of Trade and Industry's inspectors' reports on investigations into companies in each of the past five years.
Mr. Maude : Two of the reports of inspectors appointed under the Companies Act that have been published since 1984 have contained criticisms of accountants. These were the reports of the investigations into the affairs of Milbury plc and into the affairs of The Greenbank Trust plc, both published in 1987 and in both of which the auditors of the company under investigation were the subject of criticisms by the inspectors.
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Regional Selective Assistance
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was (a) the number of applications for regional selective assistance received between 1 April 1988 and 31 March 1989, (b) the number of applications that have been processed and (c) the total amount of money paid out in that period for each of his Department's regions.
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 8 May 1989] : The information requested in respect of regional selective assistance (RSA) industrial and training grants by region is as follows :
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|North East |North West |Yorkshire and Humberside |East Midlands |South West |West Midlands
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) |Number of applications received between 1 April 1988 and 31 March 1989 |294 |434 |238 |27 |106 |571
(b) |Number of applications processed between 1 April 1988 and 31 March 1989|273 |438 |240 |32 |97 |608
(c) |Total grant paid (£ million) between 1 April 1988 and 31 March 1989 |33.6 |22.0 |21.1 |1.0 |5.0 |24.1
Regional Development Grants
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was (a) the number of applications for regional development grants outstanding on 31 March 1988, (b) the number of applications processed, (c) the number of those applications that are still outstanding and
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(d) the total amount of money paid out since 31 March 1988 to those applicants for each of his Department's regions.Mr. Atkins [holding answer 8 May 1989] : The information requested in respect of the revised regional development grant scheme by region is as follows :
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|North-East |North-West |Yorkshire and Humberside|East Midlands |South-West
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of applications outstanding at 31 March 1988 |3,260 |2,740 |830 |240 |540
Number of these processed at end-April 1989 |3,256 |2,729 |828 |239 |540
Number still outstanding end-April 1989 |4 |11 |2 |1 |0
Grant paid (£ million) to date on applications outstanding
at 31 March 1988 |18.9 |17.0 |4.4 |1.8 |2.0
Grants
Mr. McLeish : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will give for each of his Department's regions (a) the total number of applications received for innovation grants from 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989, (b) the total number of applications approved, (c) the total amount of expenditure involved and (d) the total estimated expenditure planned for that period and the estimated expenditure for 1989-90, 1990-91 and 1991-92 ;
(2) if he will give for each of his Department's regions (a) the total number of applications received for investment grants from 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989, (b) the total number of applications approved, (c) the total amount of expenditure involved and (d) the total estimated expenditure planned for that period and the estimated expenditure for 1989-90, 1990-91 and 1991-92 ;
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 8 May 1989] : Regional enterprise grants (REGs) became available on 1 April 1988 in the development areas, and on 1 September 1988 in South Yorkshire. The information requested, for the English regions for which DTI is responsible, for the 12 months to 31 March 1989, is as follows :
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Regional Enterprise Grants
|Number of applications|Number of offers |Value of offers (£000)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment<1>
North East |424 |274 |1,517
North West |433 |254 |1,585
Yorkshire and Humberside |196 |118 |949
East Midlands |42 |34 |299
South West |146 |98 |432
|--- |--- |---
Total England |1,241 |778 |4,782
Innovation<2>
North East |136 |55 |1,021
North West |145 |43 |912
Yorkshire and Humberside |71 |28 |631
East Midlands |9 |5 |113
South West |35 |13 |218
|--- |--- |---
Total England |396 |144 |2,895
<1> Payments of £712,379 have been made under Investment up to end March.
<2> Payments of £205,956 have been made under Innovation up to end March.
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The amount of expenditure paid out in any particular region depends on demand for the scheme and the appraisal of individual applications. The value of grants actually paid so far reflects the nature and time scale of the projects on which applicants have sought grants since scheme commencement in April.Total provision for expenditure on regional enterprise grants in England in 1988-89 as published in the Supply Estimates was £14 million. The provision for 1989-90 as published in the Supply Estimates are £22.2 million for investment grants and £5.9 million for innovation grants. Planned provision for regional enterprise grants in 1990-91 and 1991-92 is £45.2 million and £46.3 million respectively. The actual expenditure in future years will, of course depend on demand.
ENVIRONMENT
Accommodation Costs (Cambridgeshire)
Sir Eldon Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the cost per square foot of accommodation for civil servants in (a) the rural districts of Forest Heath, east Cambridgeshire and (b) the city of Cambridge.
Mr. Chope : There is limited office space available in the rural districts of Forest Heath and east Cambridgeshire. The annual rental cost is estimated at £4 per sq ft in Ely and £7 per sq ft in Newmarket depending on size, location and quality. For any new hirings in Cambridge the figure is estimated to be of the order of £15 per sq ft. The site at Brooklands is Crown freehold, but the market value is currently estimated at £7 per sq ft.
LDDC (Planning Permission)
Ms. Gordon : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all planning permissions given to the London docklands development corporation along the river Thames in the borough of Tower Hamlets which secure a public riverside walkway.
Mr. Trippier : A list of 45 permissions given by the LDDC since 1981, together with details of seven current cases, has been placed in the Library. These cases demonstrate the corporation's commitment to extensive riverside and dockside access.
Wartime Excavations
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to record those wartime sites which were evacuated for sand excavation and subsequently infilled with rubble and waste.
Mr. Chope : The Department is currently undertaking a jointly funded project with the British Geological Survey of the solid and drift geology of almost all the built-up area of Stoke on Trent and Newcastle under Lyme. The project started in January 1988 and is planned to be completed by July 1990. Part of the output of the project will be a series of maps, on a number of different themes relevant to planning and development, including the incidence of made ground, categorised where possible by the type of fill material used.
This project is one of a series of geological mapping projects being undertaken in various parts of the country
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as part of the Department's research programme. The project aims to concentrate on areas of development pressure and to identify among other things, areas where planners and developers may need to pay particular attention to ground conditions.Rents
Ms. Gordon : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements he is making to ensure that after April 1990 landlords will not be permitted to raise rents by continuing to charge tenants the amount which formerly covered rent and rates.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Protected tenants paying rents which include rates will have the normal protection of the Rent Act 1977 for tenancies entered into before 15 January 1989, and may register fair rents which are exclusive of rates. The Housing Act 1988 will apply to most tenancies entered into after that date, and any rents determined by the rent assessment committee under that Act will be exclusive of rates.
Nottingham City Council (Budget Returns)
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his reply on 25 April to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) Official Report, column 532, if he has received detailed budget returns from Nottingham city council.
Mr. Gummer : Yes, a return from Nottingham city council has been received. Returns from 21 authorities remain outstanding.
Toyota Plant
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will extend the borrowing facilities for Derbyshire county council to enable it to provide the infrastructure for the establishment of the Toyota plant.
Mr. Gummer : Under the terms of the block borrowing approval issued for 1989-90, it is open to Derbyshire county council to borrow to finance infrastructure works undertaken in 1989-90. But the authority's total borrowing for the year must be contained within the ceiling established by that approval.
Radioactivity Study
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take following the publication by his Department of the report on the study of radioactivity three years after Chernobyl carried out by the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology ; what part he intends aerial monitoring should play in future surveys ; what role he intends local authorities should play ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The Institute of Terrestrial Ecology report on the radio activity in the environment has suggested that the radioactive caesium in organic litter layers under grass, bracken, heather and woodland could be an explanation of the longevity of radio activity in pasture and in grazing animals. A further programme of research is being planned to investigate this possibility. Aerial monitoring is being considered as a means of rapid identification of areas of high radioactivity
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deposition in the event of any future overseas nuclear accident. The role of local authorities is set out in the booklet "The National Reponse Plan and Radioactive Incident Monitoring Network (RIMNET) Phase 1" published by HMSO. Copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.Fish Farming
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about fish farming in national parks ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley [holding answer 8 May 1989] : We have received representations from the chairman of the Exmoor national park committee and the chairman of the Association of County Councils' national parks committee. We are today issuing a consultation paper on permitted use rights in the countryside which includes an invitation for views on the adequacy of existing planning controls over fish farming in national parks.
Exmoor National Park
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the Government response to issues raised during the recent visit to the Exmoor national park by the Minister for Housing, Environment and Countryside.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley [holding answer 8 May 1989] : My noble Friend's visit to the Exmoor national park was informal and a wide range of issues were discussed. A "response" is not appropriate in the circumstances.
Football Supporters Association
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has held with the Football Supporters Association since the Hillsborough tragedy ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Moynihan [holding answer 4 May 1989] : I have not held any discussions with the Football Supporters Association since the Hillsborough tragedy, but I understand that Lord Justice Taylor has granted the association leave to be represented at the oral hearings which will form part of his inquiry into the tragedy.
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Sick Building Syndrome
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of Government employees have been diagnosed as suffering from sick building syndrome during the last 12 months ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Chope [holding answer 27 April 1989] : No Government employee has been diagnosed as having suffered from sick building syndrome because the nature of the conditions which are generally associated with this problem are such that they could originate from any number of different causes.
The cause of sick building syndrome is not known. The Government are participating in research which is currently being carried out.
Community Charge
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total cost to public funds of the Price Waterhouse report on the cost of administering and collecting the poll tax in England and Wales.
Mr. Gummer [holding answer 8 May 1989] : The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax. The cost of the report on the community charge to which the hon. Member presumably refers was £60, 000.
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from local authorities on the actual costs of introducing the community charge ; and if he will consider the provision of additional finance (a) in the current financial year and (b) in 1990-91.
Mr. Gummer : We have received a number of representations from charging authorities on the costs of introducing the community charge. We believe that sufficient resources, both capital and revenue, have been made available by the Government for 1989-90. Collection costs in 1990-91 will be taken into account in assessing charging authorities' need to spend. We shall be discussing authorities' need to spend with the local authority associations before making proposals for the 1990-91 settlement.
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HEALTH
AIDS
Mr. Butler : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he proposes to issue instructions to the Health Education Authority to bring to public attention evidence presented in the Journal of the American Medical Association 1989, 261(2), pp. 244-5, that passionate kissing favours the transmission of HIV.
Mr. Mellor : The article referred to in the Journal of the American Medical Association presents evidence to suggest that passionate kissing can produce microlesions in the mouth, which could, in theory, result in the transmission of HIV since any activity which could involve blood coming into contact with damaged tissue carries such a risk. However, there is no evidence, of anyone having become infected with HIV through passionate kissing. In developing AIDS educational material the HEA has regard to the latest medical and scientific knowledge, and is guided by the Government's expert advisory group on AIDS.
Mr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases there are of HIV being transmitted through mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
Mr. Mellor : I am advised that no such cases have been reported anywhere in the world.
Mr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether he will make a statement on the steps being taken in the National Health Service to reduce the risk of health workers contracting HIV from their patients ;
(2) how many health-care workers have caught HIV from their patients during the course of their National Health Service duties over the last 10 years.
Mr. Mellor : The risks of health care workers contracting HIV from patients are extremely low. One case has been reported in the United Kingdom. Nevertheless, in view of the serious consequences of HIV infection specific guidelines have been given to the health service on the steps which should be taken to minimise the risks of transmission of HIV. This guidance is currently under review by the expert advisory group on AIDS. In addition, much of the general control of infection guidance issued by the Department is relevant to the prevention of HIV transmission in the health care setting.
Osteoporosis
Mr. Frank Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what preventive action he is taking against osteoporosis.
Mr. Freeman : In conjunction with the Health Education authority we take every opportunity to encourage women to take regular exercise and to avoid smoking and excessive alcohol intake, all of which help to prevent osteoporosis. Hormone replacement therapy, which is available on the NHS, can be effective in preventing osteoporosis. Since there may be risks as well as benefits of such treatment for some people, the individual patient's suitability for HRT should be a matter for the clinical judgment of their doctor. The Medical Research Council has set up a specialist group to look at the further
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research required into osteoporosis and HRT. The National Osteoporosis Society has been awarded a grant of £20,000 a year for three years under the Department's grant aid programme and provides information and literature for the general public and for doctors on osteoporosis.Working For Patients"
Mr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what effect paragraph 4.9 of "Working For Patients" (Cm. 555) will have on the manner in which regions can charge one another for cross-boundary flows in genito- urinary medicine without breaching patient confidentiality ; and how paragraph 4.9 will affect health authorities in controlling their cross- boundary costs in direct access services such as GUM medicinal and family planning.
Mr. Mellor : We are currently considering with health service representatives the scope and operation of cross-charging arrangements and will have regard to the position of direct access services and the confidentiality requirements of genito-urinary medicine services.
Mr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether he will make a statement as to the maintenance of genito-urinary medicine and venereal disease clinics as a core service in the light of paragraph 4.15 of "Working For Patients" (Cm. 555) ;
(2) if he will make a statement on the effect paragraph 4.15 of "Working For Patients" (Cm. 555) will have on the designation of health care for drug misusers as a core service.
Mr. Mellor : I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. and learned Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms. Harman) on 7 February at column 640.
AIDS-HIV Patient Treatment
Mr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what effect paragraph 6.9 of "Working For Patients" (Cm. 555) will have on people with HIV infection seeking primary care from other Health Service sources such as GUM clinics, while remaining registered with a general practitioner ;
(2) if he will make a statement on how paragraph 4.25 of "Working For Patients" (Cm. 555) will affect the application by person with AIDS for a referral to a centre other than the one with which the district health authority has a contract ;
(3) if he will make a statement on how paragraph 7.15 of "Working For Patients" (Cm. 555) will affect the ability of general practitioners to use their drug budgets to pay for patients with HIV-related diseases ;
(4) how paragraph 4.8 of "Working For Patients" will affect the additional costs of treating AIDS patients ;
(5) if he will make a statement on the effect paragraph 6.5 of "Working For Patients" (Cm. 555) will have on the budgeting of practice staff costs for HIV and AIDS counselling services ; (6) if he will make a statement on the effect paragraph 6.4 of "Working For Patients" (Cm. 555) will have on general practitioners dealing with people with AIDS ;
(7) if he will make a statement on the effect paragraph 4.15 of "Working For Patients" will have on the designation of AIDS care as a core service ;
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(8) if he will make a statement as to the application of paragraph 4.17 of "Working For Patients" (Cm. 555) to the care of AIDS patients ;(9) if he will make a statement as to the effect of paragraph 2.13 of "Working For Patients" (Cm. 555) on the training of receptionists in relation to people with HIV and AIDS ;
(10) how paragraph 4.30 of "Working For Patients" (Cm. 555) will affect staff training and improved methods of care for people with AIDS where general hospital services are provided through National Health Service hospital trusts or private hospitals outside the control of health authorities ;
(11) whether he will make a statement as to the effect of paragraph 2.8 of "Working For Patients" (Cm. 555) on key HIV and AIDS care services ;
(12) if he will make a statement as to the effect the renegotiating of services outlined in paragraph 4.13 of "Working For Patients" (Cm. 555) will have on the ability of people with AIDS to develop a relationship of trust and understanding with a particular centre.
Mr. Mellor : The aims of the proposals in "Working for Patients" are to improve services for patients, to extend patient choice, to delegate responsibility to where the services are provided, and to secure the best value for money. The aim of the implementation work now in hand is to ensure that the arrangements introduced meet the needs of all patients, including people with AIDS and HIV infection. That work includes detailed consideration of the account needing to be taken of HIV morbidity in deciding resource allocations ; contractual arrangements to cover services which hospitals provide for people who have not been referred by their GPs ; the account needing to be taken of the health needs of people with AIDS and other chronic illnesses in determining GPs' practice and prescribing budgets ; and arrangements for the education and training of NHS staff and general practitioners in HIV-related matters.
Dental Treatment
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the maximum cost of dental treatment has risen in cash and real terms between April 1979 and April 1989.
Mr. Freeman : The information requested is set out in the table :
"
Maximum charge for a course of
treatment in the general dental
service
|£
----------------------------------
April 1979 |30.00
April 1989 (current
prices) |150.00
April 1989 (1979-80
prices) |75.69
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