| Previous Section | Home Page |
Column 542
Legal matters, including the Administration of Justice 14. A number of improvements have been made in the system of justice in Northern Ireland, which help improve the confidence of the minority community in that system. These include :Making all arrest powers exercisable only on the basis of reasonable suspicion--Northern Ireland Emergency Provisions Act (EPA) 1987
Reducing the maximum period that a suspect can be held without further ministerial authority from 72 to 48 hours (EPA 1987) Establishing a statutory right of access to a solicitor within 48 hours of arrest (EPA 1987)
Providing that suspects are entitled at the time of their arrest to inform a friend or relative of their arrest and whereabouts (EPA 1987)
Instituting annual independent reviews of the Emergency Provisions Acts, and establishing a fixed term of five years on those Acts (EPA 1987)
Statutory changes to the admissibility of confession evidence, to make clear that confessions obtained by the use or threat of violence are not admissible and that confessions can be excluded in the interests of justice (EPA 1987)
new powers for scheduled offences to be heard outside Belfast. (EPA 1987).
regular publication of statistics on the operation of the EPA. a number of measures have been taken in recent years to reduce the delay between first remand and trial, which for most cases has been significantly reduced since 1985.
under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978 (Amendment) Order 1986, a number of offences were added to those which the Attorney- General is capable of certifying out of the scheduled mode of trial.
And in the near future
the Police and Criminal Evidence (NI) Order will, subject to the approval of Parliament, provide the same safeguards for persons detained for police questioning under the ordinary criminal law as are provided in England and Wales in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.
a guide to the exercise of emergency powers will be publishd and made widely available.
15. There has been continuous discussion of extradition and related matters to ensure that fugitive offenders are brought to justice. The conference is concerned with policy aspects of extradition and extraterritorial jurisdiction as between north and south and its discussions have improved the understanding of the relevant authorities on these matters. This has helped to ensure that agreement on the need for fair and effective procedures for extradition and for the exercise of extraterritorial jurisdiction is matched by understanding of the procedural and other requirements. Significant developments have been the ratification by the Irish Government of the European convention on the suppression of terrorism, and the narrowing down of the political offence exception, initially by the Irish courts. The two Governments have also reaffirmed the importance of making use of the Criminal Law (Jurisdiction) Act 1976 and the Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1975 in appropriate cases. To try to ensure effective procedures for dealing with the problem of fugitive offenders, a wide range of issues concerning extradition law and procedure have been kept under review. These have included the provision for arrest and detention, the arrangements for the transfer of prisoners where extradition is ordered, and the procedural and other requirements which must be satisfied before extradition can be ordered.
Security Co-operation
16. The conference has provided the framework through which security co- operation has been developed and extended. Much of the detail must obviously remain confidential but progress has been made in each of the areas identified in the agreement including joint threat assessments, the exchange of information, liaison structures, technical co-operation, training and operational planning. As well as the provision for regular ministerial discussion of security matters at the conference, there is now a series of regular meetings between the two police forces at headquarters and
Column 543
operational levels under the direction of the Chief Constable of the RUC and the Commissioner of the Garda Siochana with whom the operational responsibility lies. These meetings are concerned with a wide range of operational, technical and communications matters to improve the day to day co-operation between the two forces. Among the procedures agreed is one for close co-operation in dealing with suspect terrorist devices located near the border. This procedure has been used on a number of occasions and has proved of great benefit to the bomb disposal experts on both sides. It is the firm intention of both police forces to achieve further improvements in co-operation using the new structures which have been established under the auspices of the conference.Cross-Border Co-operation on Economic, Social and Cultural Matters
17. The most significant achievement in the field of economic and social co -operation under article 10 has been the establishment of the International Fund for Ireland. This has already received contributions of more than $120 million from the United States, Canada and New Zealand. The fund has also received the bulk of the first instalment of the European Community contribution of 15 million ecu a year (about £10 million). By the end of February 1989 the fund had approved support of over UK £52 million to over 1,000 projects, which hold out the prospect of some 4,500 new permanent jobs, the preservation of 1,500 more, and the provision of 4,000 jobs in specific construction projects. The work of the fund has involved close, practical cross border co-operation at many levels. As it moves into its second phase the fund is devoting a greater proportion of its resources to the areas of greatest need, both in Northern Ireland (which receives 75 per cent. of the resources disbursed by the fund), and in the six border counties of the Republic : of the grants approved by end-February 1989, some two thirds are located in areas of greatest need. The fund has also established investment companies in both Northern Ireland and the Republic to provide venture capital, either through equity or loan, on the basis of structly commercial criteria.
18. There has also been discussion, under the auspices of the agreement, of further cross-border co-operation on tourism, roads, transport, water quality, fisheries, education and social welfare, as well as consideration of social and economic problems in the north-west. In the field of health, Ministers have introduced arrangemets for referrals for certain specialised treatments between Belfast and Dublin ; undertaken co-ordinated health promotion and immunisation campaigns ; and ensured exchange of contracts and plans to deal with major accidents. The possibilities of joint investment in specialised equipment and of co-operation in procurement of supplies are being pursued.
19. This paper concerns the main areas of activity of the conference. It shows that, under the agreement, there have been constructive and useful exchanges on a wide range of matters. The review of the working of the conference, now being completed, looks to the further development of co- operation within the framework of the agreement.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Payroll Giving
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much was raised for charity through the payroll giving scheme in (i) 1987-88 and (ii) 1988-89.
Mr. Scott : The amounts raised through the joint payroll giving schemes solely of the Departments of Health and of Social Security were as follows :
Year |Amount £ --------------------------- 1987-88 |<1>1,582 1988-89 |45,624 <1>The scheme became operational from 1 March 1988.
Column 544
Residential Care
Mr. Wolfson : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action is open to him to ensure that the necessary funds are available to provide residential care for the severely handicapped when top-up funding from the local authority is not available.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Income support is available to help people in private and voluntary residential care and nursing homes meet the fees they pay. The same help is available to temporary residents as to permanent ones.
Homelessness
Mr. Wolfson : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what studies have been done to monitor the effects of changes in social security benefits on the number of homeless living rough in London and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : We are not aware of any study specifically of this issue. The causes of living rough are complex and we believe it would be difficult to isolate the effects of any single factor.
Pensioners
Mr. Wolfson : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many men and women who have reached retirement age before 1 October will fall outside the scope of the abolition of the retirement pensions earnings rule.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The earnings rule only applies for the first five years after pension age (65 for a man and 60 for a woman). Individuals aged over 70 (men) and 65 (women) have always been able to earn as much as they wish, with no reduction in state retirement pension ; and they will continue to be able to do so after 1 October. There are approximately 7.7 million retirement pensioners aged over 70 (men) and 65 (women) who will not be affected by the abolition of the retirement pension earnings rule.
Community Care Grants
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will state the community care grants budget for each of the Liverpool Department of Social Security offices for each of the past two years.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Details of the social fund budget allocations for 1988-89 and 1989-90 are in the Library.
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will extend the scope of the community care grants ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) if he has any plans to allow persons on invalidity benefit who have been institutionalised to receive community care grants ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I refer the hon. Member to my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on 16 December at columns 750-51.
Social Fund
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if his Department has established any procedures for monitoring claimants who apply for social fund payments.
Column 545
Mr. Peter Lloyd : We have commissioned the social policy research unit at the university of York to carry out research into the operation of the social fund. This research will include studies of samples of social fund applicants.
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to start the social fund consolidation training courses for social fund officers ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Consideration is currently being given to deciding what further training might be required by social fund officers and what form such training might take. At present, social fund officers receive a comprehensive three week training course covering all aspects of the social fund.
Computers
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the current use and effectiveness of the microcomputer projects in his local offices.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The microcomputer projects have been in daily use in local offices for some time. The micros help calculate new income support claims, help process social fund applications, automate bulk payments of claimants' fuel bills, collate management information statistics and aid the speedy location of claimants' files. Since their introduction, significant enhancements have been added to improve performance.
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of occasions on which there has been a breakdown of micro-computers used in all his local offices since the inception of the social fund ; and if he will make a statement on the effects of such breakdowns on the efficiency of the service.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The information requested is as follows : A11 LOMP systems : The number of breakdown faults reported to the LOMP central help desk for the period 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989 was 2,161 for all LOMP systems. Contingency arrangements for ensuring the efficiency of the service exist for all systems and these were complemented when necessary.
Social Fund System : The number of breakdown faults reported to the LOMP central help desk for the period 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989 was 992 for the social fund system. Contingency arrangements for ensuring the efficiency of the service exist for social fund and these were implemented when necessary.
Disability
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to receive and publish the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys reports to his Department relating to the potential demand from persons with disabilities ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Scott : In the period up to July 1989 the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys is publishing a series of reports on the findings of the surveys of disability in Great Britain carried out between 1985 and 1988. Three reports have already been published covering the prevalance of
Column 546
disability among adults, the financial circumstances of disabled adults in private households and the prevalence of disability among children. The remaining reports will cover further aspects of the circumstances of disabled adults, including use of services, transport and employment ; the financial circumstances of families with a disabled child living in private households and further aspects of the circumstances of disabled children, including use of services, transport and education. Taken together, the six reports will provide the most comprehensive and detailed information ever collected about disabled people in this country.Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to review the disability benefit system ; and what plans he has to consult on this.
Mr. Scott : I refer the hon. Member to my replies to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 17 April 1988 at columns 10-11 and 22 May 1988 at column 428.
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many complaints have been received by his Department concerning doctors' conduct in examining claimants for disability benefits ; how many have been removed from approved Department of Social Security lists ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Scott : Doctors working on behalf of the Department conduct almost 700,000 medical examinations each year on claimants for disability benefits. Although a central register is not kept on the number of complaints received concerning the conduct of doctors in examining claimants, those which are received are all thoroughly investigated and represent but a very small fraction of the total numbers of medical examinations undertaken. Very occasionally it has proved necessary to cease using a doctor whose conduct continues to provoke complaints, but, again, no central register is kept of the numbers.
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will tabulate the number of successful applications for the review of attendance allowance and break down these figures into those who sought review because they were dissatisfied with the original decision and those who did so because their condition had deteriorated ; and if he will give the figures for 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988.
Mr. Scott : The information requested is in the table.
Number of decisions reviewed and revised by the Attendance
Allowance Board and its delegates by reason for review 1985-88
Reason for review
Year |Number of decisions |Dissatisfaction |Relevant change of
|reviewed and revised |circumstances
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1985 |30,101 |12,737 |17,364
1986<1> |30,248 |13,644 |16,604
1987<2> |43,123 |19,190 |23,933
1988<3> |39,513 |17,473 |22,040
<1> To 14 November 1986.
<2> From 15 November 1986 to 8 January 1988.
<3> From 9 January 1988.
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the average cost per claim for attendance allowance per year for each year since 1985 for
Column 547
those claims that were (a) granted, (b) granted on review and (c) refused on review ; and if he will break this down into the costs of arbitration and of fees ;(2) what is the average cost per claim for mobility allowance per year for each year since 1985 for those claims that were (a) granted, (b) granted on review, (c) granted on appeal and (d) refused on review ; and if he will break this down into the cost of administration and doctors' fees.
Mr. Scott : I regret that the information requested is not available.
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by what methods doctors are recruited to examine claimants for attendance and mobility allowances ; how their performance is monitored ; if he has any plans to recruit other suitably qualified persons to perform this role ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Scott : Claimants for the attendance allowance and mobility allowance are examined by doctors selected and trained by the regional office senior medical officer (ROSMO) from registered medical practitioners who will have either made an application to be considered for this role or been nominated by their peers for this task.
The doctors selected are usually recruited from among general practitioners within the locality who will have demonstrable knowledge of local socio- economic conditions, established experience in general medical practice and evident expertise in conducting medical examinations. Before a doctor undertakes examinations on claimants for the attendance and mobility allowance guidance is given by the ROSMO, or regional office medical officer (ROMO), on the background of, and requirements for, that particular benefit. This instruction is supplemented by written guidance notes for reference. Initially, the performance of the examining doctor is closely monitored by the ROSMO who will institute further training sessions as appropriate ; thereafter, there is some monitoring of reports by the ROSMO to identify any further need for guidance. The form, nature and pattern of such monitoring may vary and are dictated by the individual ROSMO.
Column 548
By their very nature the medical examinations required for the purpose of determining eligibility for these allowances need the expertise and experience possessed by general medical practitioners who are able to provide a consistency of advice across a wide range of disabilities and age groups. In the small number of cases where a specialist opinion is required to determine diagnosis, or assist in resolving complex cases, an independent report is solicited from a consultant clinician who would possess the necessary specialist knowledge applicable to the individual case. Moreover, the Attendance Allowance Board or its delegate in the case of attendance allowance, or an independent adjudicating officer in the matter of mobility allowance, has access not only to the examining doctor's report but other evidence considered necessary, such as psychological, head teacher's and hospital's reports and so on. The present arrangements thus allow for suitably qualified persons to be approached, as necessary, in an individual case.Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total number of registered disabled persons for the latest date available.
Mr. Scott : The total number of physically disabled persons registered with local authorities in England at 31 March 1987 was 1, 230,632.
Loans and Grants
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total number and percentage of (a) budgetary loans and (b) community care grants awarded to the 15 client groups defined by his Department for (i) Great Britain, (ii) the northern Department of Social Security region and (iii) each of the departments of Social Security serving the Tyne and Wear area for the financial year 1988-89.
Mr. Peter Lloyd [holding answer 15 May 1989] : Provisional estimates for the year 1988-89 based on data for the period June 1988 to March 1989 are as follows :
Column 547
Budgeting Loans and Community Care Grants: Numbers and percentage awards by client groups for year 1988-89
Client Groups (see
||16Key)
|00 |01 |02 |03 |04 |05 |06 |07 |08 |09 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |Total awards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budgeting Loans
Great Britain |0.5 |0.3 |0.6 |3.9 |0.4 |3.6 |3.6 |43.9 |0.7 |2.1 |16.7 |18.8 |1.0 |3.8 |0.0 |n/a |504,629
North East Region |0.3 |0.3 |0.7 |4.1 |0.4 |2.7 |3.0 |42.8 |0.8 |2.2 |20.9 |17.6 |0.9 |3.3 |0.0 |n/a |101,558
Gateshead |0.3 |0.2 |0.9 |4.3 |0.1 |2.2 |3.1 |43.4 |0.4 |2.3 |23.6 |15.8 |0.7 |2.4 |0.0 |n/a |2,705
Newcastle St. James |0.4 |0.1 |0.6 |4.2 |0.5 |2.5 |4.1 |39.7 |0.6 |2.6 |16.7 |22.9 |0.8 |4.4 |0.0 |n/a |2,266
Newcastle East |0.3 |0.1 |1.0 |4.0 |0.5 |3.0 |3.5 |45.7 |0.7 |2.0 |16.1 |20.1 |0.7 |2.4 |0.0 |n/a |1,953
Newcastle West |0.5 |0.2 |0.5 |3.7 |0.3 |3.4 |3.4 |49.9 |0.7 |1.7 |22.0 |11.3 |0.5 |2.0 |0.0 |n/a |2,134
Wallsend |0.3 |0.6 |0.6 |4.8 |0.4 |2.8 |4.2 |45.3 |0.4 |2.0 |22.3 |12.8 |0.6 |3.0 |0.0 |n/a |1,326
Houghton le Spring |0.1 |0.6 |0.5 |3.6 |0.6 |1.6 |3.4 |44.6 |0.3 |1.5 |28.7 |11.3 |1.4 |1.7 |0.0 |n/a |949
Jarrow |0.7 |0.3 |0.8 |4.2 |0.3 |2.2 |4.0 |45.6 |0.5 |2.8 |20.4 |14.7 |1.0 |2.4 |0.0 |n/a |1,231
North Shields |0.1 |0.6 |0.7 |5.0 |0.7 |1.6 |4.2 |49.6 |1.1 |1.8 |19.6 |12.2 |0.9 |2.0 |0.0 |n/a |1,213
South Shields |0.2 |0.2 |0.6 |4.7 |0.3 |3.6 |5.7 |42.8 |1.0 |1.5 |16.9 |18.9 |0.5 |3.3 |0.0 |n/a |1,731
Sunderland North |0.3 |0.3 |0.7 |4.1 |0.2 |3.5 |2.9 |40.3 |1.2 |2.2 |21.9 |17.8 |0.8 |3.8 |0.0 |n/a |3,811
Sunderland South |0.3 |0.1 |0.9 |4.0 |0.2 |2.9 |3.3 |38.3 |1.1 |2.5 |20.5 |20.1 |0.7 |5.1 |0.0 |n/a |2,388
Community Care Grants
Great Britain |0.4 |4.5 |3.7 |14.3 |0.9 |3.4 |10.0 |25.2 |0.7 |1.5 |9.5 |16.4 |2.0 |6.3 |0.0 |1.1 |152,574
North East Region |0.4 |3.7 |3.7 |14.5 |1.0 |3.2 |9.3 |26.2 |0.7 |1.3 |11.7 |16.3 |1.8 |5.9 |0.0 |0.8 |27,824
Gateshead |0.5 |3.0 |7.9 |14.2 |0.0 |3.7 |11.6 |28.5 |0.2 |2.0 |9.1 |12.8 |1.4 |4.3 |0.0 |0.8 |522
Newcastle St. James |0.9 |4.3 |3.0 |18.0 |0.9 |3.3 |7.2 |18.2 |1.1 |1.3 |6.3 |27.3 |2.2 |6.1 |0.0 |0.0 |475
Newcastle East |0.7 |9.3 |5.0 |20.5 |1.7 |1.2 |7.9 |23.3 |0.0 |0.7 |3.8 |16.9 |1.2 |6.9 |0.0 |1.0 |440
Newcastle West |0.4 |4.6 |3.6 |21.8 |0.6 |1.5 |10.1 |20.1 |0.8 |1.1 |10.3 |16.1 |1.9 |5.9 |0.0 |1.1 |539
Wallsend |0.0 |1.7 |4.7 |16.7 |0.9 |1.3 |9.8 |28.2 |0.0 |0.4 |8.1 |20.9 |2.1 |3.4 |0.0 |1.7 |250
Houghton le Spring |0.5 |5.5 |4.1 |4.1 |0.5 |3.2 |14.5 |21.8 |0.5 |1.8 |30.9 |10.0 |0.9 |1.8 |0.0 |0.0 |237
Jarrow |0.0 |5.1 |6.8 |19.5 |0.6 |4.5 |9.9 |25.7 |0.3 |0.8 |9.0 |10.7 |1.7 |4.8 |0.0 |0.6 |365
North Shields |0.3 |4.9 |3.9 |11.2 |0.6 |2.1 |11.2 |27.3 |0.0 |0.0 |12.1 |17.9 |0.3 |7.3 |0.0 |0.9 |341
South Shields |0.2 |2.9 |3.6 |17.1 |1.0 |1.7 |10.3 |26.7 |0.2 |1.0 |7.8 |18.4 |2.1 |6.8 |0.0 |0.8 |546
Sunderland North |0.2 |1.9 |2.9 |12.7 |0.8 |1.5 |9.2 |24.2 |1.0 |2.1 |15.2 |21.9 |1.3 |4.6 |0.0 |0.6 |543
Sunderland South |0.3 |3.7 |4.0 |14.4 |0.8 |3.2 |11.2 |20.5 |1.1 |1.3 |8.3 |18.9 |4.5 |6.9 |0.0 |0.8 |386
n/a=Not applicable.
Key
Code Meaning
00 Unallocated or unidentified (by default)
Applicant or partner aged 60 or over
01 Over 80-with Income Support higher pensioner premium
02 Aged 60-79-disabled with higher pensioner premium
03 Aged 60-79-with ordinary pensioner premium, or over 60 without pensioner premium
Applicant and partner aged under 60
04 Lone parent with Income Support disability premium
05 Family with disability premium
06 Other with disability premium
07 Lone parent without disability premium
08 Signs at UBO quarterly with Income Support family premium
09 Signs at UBO quarterly without family premium
10 Signing unemployed or with training allowance with family premium
11 Signing unemployed or with training allowance without family premium
12 Others with family premium
13 Others without family premium
14 Involved in trade dispute
15 Applicant not in receipt of Income Support
National Insurance Contributions
Mrs. Beckett : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the most recent estimate of the cost to the national insurance fund of the 2 per cent. inducement under sections 1 and 7 of the Social Security Act 1986 in 1989-90 and subsequent years ; and how much of the cost in 1989 -90 relates to contributions in respect of 1987-88 and 1988-89, respectively.
Mr. Peter Lloyd [holding answer 15 May 1989] : Precise information is not yet available on the number of persons who will be eligible for incentive payments in 1989-90. The latest estimate is that incentive payments paid in 1989-90 will be £850 million, of which £350 million relates to 1987-88 and £500 million to 1988-89. Source : Government Actuary's Department.
Column 550
Unemployment Insurance
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what reviews are planned within the next five years to consider unemployment insurance being handled by the private sector.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : No such reviews are planned.
Social Fund
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of (a) budgeting loans and (b) community care grants were awarded to each of the 15 client groups defined by his Department for (i) Great Britain as a whole, (ii) the north-east region and (iii) each of the four offices serving the Bradford metropolitan area, for the financial year 1988-89.
Mr. Peter Lloyd [pursuant to his reply, 25 April 1989,c. 496-98] : I regret that the reply given has been found to contain an error. The information requested with the amended figures is as follows.
Column 549
Social fund budgeting loans and community care grants:
Estimated percentage awards by client groups for year 1988-89
Client Group (see
||16key)
|00 |01 |02 |03 |04 |05 |06 |07 |08 |09 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budgeting Loans
Great Britain |0.5 |0.3 |0.6 |3.9 |0.4 |3.6 |3.6 |43.9 |0.7 |2.1 |16.7 |18.8 |1.0 |3.8 |0.0 |n/a
North East Region |0.3 |0.3 |0.7 |4.1 |0.4 |2.7 |3.0 |42.8 |0.8 |2.2 |20.0 |17.6 |0.9 |3.3 |0.0 |n/a
Bradford East |0.3 |0.3 |0.2 |3.3 |0.4 |2.4 |2.5 |45.3 |0.3 |1.9 |19.5 |18.5 |1.9 |3.1 |0.0 |n/a
Bradford South |0.2 |0.3 |0.5 |2.9 |0.2 |2.1 |2.3 |51.8 |0.7 |3.0 |14.3 |17.6 |0.8 |3.3 |0.0 |n/a
Bradford West |0.4 |0.5 |0.3 |5.0 |0.2 |2.6 |3.5 |38.0 |1.7 |5.6 |10.7 |25.1 |1.2 |5.1 |0.0 |n/a
Keighley |0.7 |0.3 |0.6 |5.7 |0.5 |4.1 |4.1 |42.5 |1.3 |2.3 |15.3 |18.1 |0.4 |4.3 |0.0 |n/a
Community Care Grants
Great Britain |0.4 |4.5 |3.7 |14.3 |0.9 |3.4 |10.0 |25.2 |0.7 |1.5 |9.5 |16.4 |2.0 |6.3 |0.0 |1.1
North East Region |0.4 |3.7 |3.7 |14.5 |1.0 |3.2 |9.3 |26.2 |0.7 |1.3 |11.6 |16.3 |1.9 |5.3 |0.0 |1.0
Bradford East |0.0 |1.3 |1.5 |10.2 |0.6 |1.9 |6.2 |32.6 |0.2 |0.6 |8.7 |28.7 |0.4 |4.0 |0.0 |3.2
Bradford South |0.3 |0.3 |2.0 |8.1 |2.0 |2.3 |8.3 |32.8 |1.0 |0.8 |8.3 |24.0 |2.0 |6.3 |0.0 |1.5
Bradford West |0.9 |3.1 |2.6 |9.7 |1.2 |0.9 |7.3 |21.4 |0.5 |3.8 |4.9 |27.9 |3.3 |9.6 |0.0 |2.6
Keighley |0.0 |1.6 |1.2 |5.6 |0.0 |2.4 |4.0 |39.2 |0.4 |0.4 |9.2 |20.8 |2.4 |8.0 |0.0 |4.8
DEFENCE
Military Accidents
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the key statisics for military aircraft accidents over the last 10 years.
Mr. Neubert : I refer the hon. Member to tables 5.8 and 5.9 of the recent Statement on the Defence Estimates (Cm. 675-II) and to successive Statements since 1980, in which are to be found the relevant information about military aircraft accidents.
Land (Wales)
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has any plans to acquire more land for the use of the armed forces in Wales.
Mr. Neubert : We are determined that the defence estate should be no larger than necessary. But we continue to seek to acquire additional land particularly on the periphery of existing training areas to meet the increased needs of the armed forces, and to accommodate the large safety areas which modern weapons demand.
Radiation (Compensation)
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce new compensation arrangements for British ex-service men who have suffered radiation ailments arising from their duties.
Mr. Sainsbury : I will write to the hon. Member.
Night Flying
Mr. Sayeed : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the outcome of the six-month trial of the revised military night-flying system introduced in October 1988.
Mr. Neubert : A revised military night low level flying system was introduced last year on a six-month trial basis.
Column 552
The trial period has now ended and the operation of the revised system has been reviewed. The review concluded that the revised arrangements were successful in increasing the co- ordination of activity at night and improving deconfliction procedures and that, with some refinements to improve utilisation, the revised system should therefore be retained. It is planned that the further refinements, which include centralising the co-ordination of the system and the responsibility for deconfliction at the tactical booking centre at RAF West Drayton, will be introduced from 1 June this year.European Fighter Aircraft
Mr. Hayward : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what further progress is being made in developing the European fighter aircraft.
Mr. Sainsbury : I will write to the hon. Member.
SCOTLAND
New Business
Mr. Jack : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his Department is planning to spend in the next financial year to encourage new business development in Scotland ; and what was the comparable level of planning five years ago.
Mr. Lang : Comprehensive figures in the form requested are not available. A wide range of programmes operated by my Department are designed, either in whole or in part, to promote business development in Scotland. However, planned provision for regional assistance schemes, which are directly linked to industrial development and wealth creation among businesses, for 1990-91 is £120 million. The Government's public expenditure plans published each year include provision for three forward years. The level of provision planned three years ago for regional assistance schemes in 1990-91 was £110 million.
Column 553
Erskine Bridge
Mr. Roy Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the outstanding debt on the Erskine bridge to be finally paid off.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : It is not possible to specify a date.
Mr. Roy Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current toll charge on the Erskine bridge ; when it was last increased ; and to what figure.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Current toll charges, which have been in operation since November 1981, are as follows :
|Pence
------------------------------------------------------
Motor cycles |10
Cars and light goods vehicles |30
Heavy goods vehicles |80
Heavy goods vehicles (concessionary rate) |50
159. Mr. Roy Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total debt on the Erskine bridge for the year 1979-80 ; and what it was for each succeeding year.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Total outstanding debt for 1979-80 and succeeding years is as follows :
|£ million
------------------------------
1979-80 |15.49
1980-81 |19.90
1981-82 |24.92
1982-83 |30.50
1983-84 |37.04
1984-85 |44.93
1985-86 |53.68
1986-87 |63.26
1987-88 |73.68
1988-89 |n/a
n/a not available.
Community Charge (Advertising)
Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the total budget allocated to the Scottish Information Office for the production, broadcasting and publishing of adverts relating to eligibility for community charge rebates ; and how much has been spent on (a) TV advertisements and (b) press advertisements to the latest available date.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 22 May 1989] : Expenditure on television public information campaigns on the community charge rebate scheme was £308,000. The rebate scheme was also featured in press advertisment campaigns on the community charge, particularly in the autumn 1988 and the spring 1989 campaigns, the cost of which totalled £181,000.
WALES
Middle Schools
Mrs. Ann Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a list showing the numbers of middle schools by size (a) in relation to pupil numbers and (b) in relation to the group size defined in the school teachers' pay and conditions document.
Column 554
Mr. Wyn Roberts : There was one middle school in Wales in January 1988. It had 78 pupils and was group 4 under the school teachers' pay and conditions document criterion.
Secondary Schools
Mrs. Ann Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a list showing the numbers of secondary schools by size (a) in relation to pupil numbers and (b) in relation to the group size defined in the school teachers' pay and conditions document.
Mr. Wyn Roberts : The information in respect of January 1988 is as follows :
| Next Section
| Home Page |