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Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 18 October 1989
EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
Further and Higher Education
Mr. Andrew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the planned recurrent grant to be allocated to (a) the universities, (b) the polytechnics and (c) other colleges of further and higher education in each year from 1988-89 to 1991-92, expressing the figures in cash terms and real terms, indexed so that 1988-89=100 and assuming constant annual inflation of (i) 5 per cent., (ii) 6 per cent. and (iii) 7 per cent., respectively.
Mr. Jackson : Recurrent grant to universities in Great Britain and for higher education funded by the Polytechnic and Colleges Funding Council in England is as follows for the financial years 1988-89 and 1989-90 :
|UFC |PCFC
|£ million|£ million
-------------------------------------------------
1988-89 (outturn) |1,586 |n/a
1989-90 (estimate) |1,713 |1,035
The plans for 1990-91 and 1991-92, which were set out in Chapter 12 of "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1989-90 to 1991-92" (Cm. 612), are under review in the current public expenditure survey. The Government's assumptions about inflation in future years were set out in Chapter 21 "Supplementary Analysis and Index" (Cm. 621). It is not possible to estimate the amount of grant aid paid in support of Colleges of further and higher education maintained by local education authorities. Some of their higher education provision will now be funded by the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council. Other further and higher education is supported from local resources and through the block grant received from central Government. That block grant is not hypothecated to individual services and its application is a matter for decision by individual local authorities. The same consideration applies to the expenditure in 1988 89 of those polytechnics and colleges formerly funded by LEAs and now funded by the PCFC.
DEFENCE Eurogroup Working Groups
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Eurogroup working groups are currently in existence within NATO ; and which subjects they are considering.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : There are five sub-groups within Eurogroup dealing with co-operation in the fields of operational concepts, logistics, communications, military medicine, and training. The USA and Canada also participate in the training sub-group.
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Military Forces (Infrastructure)
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent in each of the past 10 years on infrastructure for military forces from NATO common funds ; and what proportion was spent in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The details are as follows :
Calendar year |Expenditure from NATO |Proportion spent in
|common funds £ millions|United Kingdom
|at 1988 prices
|Per cent.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979 |347 |9.8
1980 |374 |12.57
1981 |391 |21.99
1982 |538 |15.47
1983 |626 |23.95
1984 |515 |15.82
1985 |533 |17.17
1986 |718 |10.10
1987 |809 |13.98
1988 |746 |14.77
Gibraltar
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the revenue cost in a full year of the garrison in Gibraltar.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The estimated cost of maintaining a garrison in Gibraltar in 1989-90 is £82 million.
NATO (Expenditure)
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when were the most recent discussions between European members of NATO and the United States executive branch of Government over expressed United States concern about the proportionate burden of NATO expenditure borne by the United States of America ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : NATO's Defence Planning Committee published a report last December on "Enhancing Alliance Collective
Security--Shared Roles, Risks and Responsibilities in the Alliance". There was further consideration of burden-sharing at the June meeting of the Defence Planning Committee. Discussions within the Alliance are continuing.
Cyprus Bases
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots are employed at each of the sovereign bases in Cyprus.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Some 837 Greek Cypriots are currently employed at the eastern sovereign base area (Dhekelia), and some 1993 at the western sovereign base area (Akrotiri) ; 322 Turkish Cypriots are employed at Dhekelia.
Prime Minister (Transport)
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what charges were directed to the office of the Minister for the Civil Service in respect of providing transport for the Prime Minister in the financial year 1988-89.
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Mr. Archie Hamilton : The Ministry of Defence charges the Office of the Minister for the Civil Service for the use of defence facilities at rates which are calculated in accordance with the rules laid down by the Treasury. These rates are designed to ensure that no residual costs are carried on defence votes. During 1988-89, bills to the value of £519,000 were raised on OMCS.
Emergency Parking
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the final cost charged to the Department of Transport in respect of service assistance in providing emergency parking facilities during the recent transport strike.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The bill has not yet been presented to the Department of Transport. I will write to the hon. Member when the final costs have been assessed.
Party Conferences (Security)
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost and the services provided by his Department for security at the 1989 (a) Labour party conference and (b) Conservative party conference.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : In response to requests from the chief constables of the Lancashire and Sussex constabularies, small numbers of military personnel were employed to assist the police in searching the respective conference areas for explosive devices and in potential bomb disposal tasks. No other service assistance was provided at either party conference. In line with normal arrangements, no charges were raised against the respective constabularies. The related costs fell to MOD votes.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Avian Influenza
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what precautions has he taken to control the spread of avian flu among hens in the Republic of Ireland into Northern Ireland ; if he is in consultation with the authorities in the Republic of Ireland ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Bottomley [holding answer 17 October 1989] : The Republic of Ireland authorities have taken precautions necessary to deal with the risk of spread from the two outbreaks of avian influenza in poultry in Co. Monaghan.
Poultry and their products may not be moved from the restricted area in the Republic of Ireland without a licence. They are not eligible for export to Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland has imposed movement restrictions in the Northern Ireland territory which falls within 10 km of the outbreaks in the Republic of Ireland. The necessary amendments have been made to Northern Ireland specific import licences for live poultry and hatching eggs to prevent the introduction of disease.
The Department of Agriculture, Dublin, has kept us fully informed of the nature and virulence of the outbreaks and the eradication measures taken.
Northern Ireland veterinary and animal health officials have remained in close contact.
The situation is being kept under continuous review.
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TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Alcohol Abuse
55. Mr. Hood : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met the Director of the Scottish Consumer Council ; and if he discussed the problem of alcohol abuse by youngsters under the age of 18.
Mr. Forth : I last met the director of the Scottish Consumer Council when I attended a meeting of the council on 19 May. This topic was not among those that were discussed.
Arms Sales (South Africa)
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has or is seeking regarding the involvement of Ferranti subsidiary ISC, or its shell companies, Darlow, Tool Techniques and Varitech in the selling of arms to South Africa ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood : It is not our practice to comment on specific arms sales ; however, Her Majesty's Government do abide by UN resolution 418 which prohibits the sale of arms to South Africa. Export licence applications under the Export of Goods (Control) Order for such exports would be refused.
THE ARTS
Arts Council (Report)
Mr. Jessel : To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he has yet received the report he commissioned from Mr. Richard Wilding about the role of the Arts Council and Regional Arts Association.
Mr. Luce : I have now received the report which I commissioned from Mr. Richard Wilding in December last year about the structure of support for the arts in England.
Mr. Wilding's report is the first major review of the structure and organisation of arts support for many years.
I commissioned the report at a time of major growth and development in the arts and a change in the nature of arts funding by central Government, the private sector and local authorities. I felt it was important that the structure for distributing these funds was still achieving its primary objectives : to create an environment in which the arts in England could flower ; and to sustain the confidence of the arts world and the public in the system of distribution of taxpayers' money to the arts.
The report was to examine areas of possible concern : accountability for the public money spent by regional arts associations ; lack of coherence between national funding bodies and the RAAs ; cumbersome structures for handling business ; and the cost of administering the whole system.
Mr. Wilding has now prepared his report, following extensive consultations with the Arts Council, the regional arts associations and other bodies and individuals with an interest in the subsidised arts sector.
I am keen to ensure that everyone who has an interest in the administration of the arts has the opportunity to comment on the proposals which have resulted from this
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process. That is why I have arranged for publication of the report, copies of which are available on request from my office. I have also arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Mr. Wilding has produced a detailed and carefully researched analysis of the current framework for policy making, administration and funding of arts in England. He had identified a number of areas where he thinks there are weaknesses and has proposed specific changes for improvement.In so doing he has produced a very challenging document which unquestionably provides an invaluable foundation for debate in the arts world. I want that debate to be thorough but I also want to avoid prolonged uncertainty. In view of this, and the extensiveness of Mr. Wilding's own consultations, I propose a limited consultation period and would welcome comments on his recommendations, in writing, before 31 December. I shall want to take these comments fully into account before reaching decisions about Mr. Wilding's
recommendations.
NATIONAL FINANCE
Eurotunnel
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any further proposals to assist in financing the Eurotunnel have been made to the European investment bank since 15 May 1987 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Ryder : Discussions between the EIB and its clients are commercially confidential and private.
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Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his reply of 6 November 1987, Official Report, column 899, if the syndicate of banks formed to co-ordinate the financing of Eurotunnel have now agreed to give a guarantee to the European investment bank in respect of the £1,000,000,000 loan given by the Euro bank to the Eurotunnel ; and if he will make a statement.
Budget Council
Mr. Couchman : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent meeting of the European Community's budget council.
Mr. Ryder : The Budget Council met in Brussels on 28 July. The Paymaster General represented the United Kingdom.
The Council established a first reading draft budget for 1990 totalling 48.19 becu (£30.7 billion) in commitment appropriations and 46.14 becu (£29.4 billion) in payment appropriations, respectively 708.3 mecu (£451.4 million) and 653.3 mecu (£416.4 million) below the figures proposed by the Commission in the preliminary draft budget (PDB).
The 1990 budget is the second to be subject to the arrangements for budgetary discipline arising from the 1988 European Council and the inter- institutional agreement between the Council, the Commission and the European Parliament which incorporates expenditure ceilings for 1988-92. The following table shows that the first reading draft budget is some way within those ceilings :
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|Financial |Perspective|Draft |Budget
|mecu |£ million |mecu |£ million
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commitment appropriation
1. FEOGA guarantee |30,700 |19,567 |26,522 |16,904
2. Structural Funds |11,555 |7,365 |11,527 |7,347
3. R & D and Integrated |2,071 |1,320 |1,957 |1,248
Mediterranean programmes
4. Other policies |2,729 |1,739 |2,500 |1,593
5. Reimbursements and administration |4,930 |3,142 |4,688 |2,988
6. Monetary reserve |1,000 |637 |1,000 |637
|----- |----- |----- |-----
Total |52,985 |33,770 |48,194 |30,717
Total Payment appropriations<1> |50,791 |32,372 |46,139 |29,407
<1> There is only a global ceiling for payments.
Provision for agricultural guarantee expenditure is about 4,000 mecu (£2,549 million) below the financial guideline calculated in accordance with the Budget Discipline Decision of June 1988. The draft budget also includes provision of 1,470 mecu (£940 million) for the cost of depreciating existing agricultural stocks ; and of 1,000 mecu (£637 million) for a monetary reserve which can be drawn up only to cover part of any additional agricultural expenditure arising from change in the $/ecu exchange rate.
Non-obligatory expenditure (DNO) in the draft budget totals 16.3 becu (£10.4 billion) in commitments and 14.2 becu (£9.1 billion) in payments. In accordance with the conclusions of the 1988 February European Council, the Budget Council distinguished between so-called "privileged" and "non-privileged" expenditure. In the first category, the draft budget provides for the substantial
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increase in appropriations for the structural funds agreed at the February 1988 Council and for research and development appropriations at a level consistent with the framework programme adopted in September 1987. As regards non-privileged DNO, the Budget Council reduced the proposed provision in the PDB by an amount sufficient to ensure that, for this category of expenditure, the growth of both payments and commitments was contained within half the maximum rate of 6.1 per cent. communicated by the Commission.On 9 October, the ECOFIN Council established an amending letter to the PDB providing for economic restructuring aid to Poland and Hungary totalling 200 mecu. This expenditure is in excess of the relevant ceiling in the financial perspective (line 4 in the table) and, as a
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temporary device pending the necessary revision of the perspective, the Council agreed to a corresponding negative reserve.The European Parliament will consider the draft budget at its plenary session in the week beginning 24 October. The Parliament's amendments and modifications will be considered by the Budget Council on 14 November.
VAT Rebates (Farmers)
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received concerning applications for value added tax rebates for expenditure not eligible for grants made available to farmers practising low-impact conservation husbandry ; and if he will consider varying such eligibility.
Mr. Ryder [holding answer 17 October 1989] : None.
Advertising Agencies
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library the standing arrangements made by her Majesty's Government for the employment of, or making contracts with, advertising agencies ; and what advice, instructions and directions have been given to (a) regional water authorities and (b) the Central Electricity Generating Board in respect of similar activities.
Mr. Lilley [holding answer 17 October 1989] : At all times the Government aim to obtain best value for money when selecting advisers and contractors. Contracts with advertising agencies for Government advertising campaigns are handled and placed by the Central Office of Information, which is advised by the Advisory Committee on Advertising. The advertising arrangements of the water authorities and the CEGB are matters for the industries themselves.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Football Hooliganism (Neo-Nazi Groups)
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many incidents of football hooliganism investigated for each year since 1979 involved direct or indirect organised and planned activities by racist or neo-Nazi groups ;
(2) how many police forces in England, Scotland and Wales are at present investigating the racial and neo-Nazi connotations of football hooliganism ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : This information is not recorded centrally.
Metropolitan Police (Suspensions)
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many metropolitan police officers have been suspended from duty pending investigation of alleged misconduct to date in 1989.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that 64 officers from that force have been suspended from duty so far this year.
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Metropolitan Police Helicopters
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis as to for what purpose the Metropolitan police helicopter was deployed in Forest Gate at around 7.30 pm on 2 August ; and on how many occasions in the last 12 months helicopters have been used by the police in Newham ;
(2) if he will provide a breakdown by (a) London borough and (b) number of occasions on which the Metropolitan police have summoned the assistance of a helicopter in the last 12 months.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that at approximately 7.30 pm on 2 August the helicopter was deployed on two occasions. The first was to locate suspects in the grounds of the Gateway store and the second was to assist police who were in pursuit of a suspect car.
Between 1 October 1988 and 30 September 1989, the helicopter was used on 4,277 occasions. Information about its use by police in individual London boroughs could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Animal Experiments
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what form information is kept in his Department regarding experiments on animals carried out by contractors working on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The Home Office collects information about all licensees and their work, but not about funding bodies which may be supporting this work.
Metropolitan Police (Traffic Strategy)
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has regarding the overall force traffic strategy prepared by the Metropolitan police.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I understand that the Metropolitan police have for some time now, been working towards the formulation of a new strategic approach to traffic. I understand that this work is nearing completion.
Party Conferences (Security)
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the total costs to public funds arising out of security measures provided by the various police forces at the 1989 (a) Labour party conference, (b) Conservative party conference, (c) SLD conference, (d) SDP conference and (e) Green party conference.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I understand from the chief officers of the forces concerned that the additional cost of policing the 1989 party conferences were estimated as follows :
Conference |Force |Additional cost
|£
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Labour |Sussex |4,000
Conservative |Lancashire |1,080,000
Social and Liberal Democrats |Sussex |600
Social Democratic Party North Yorkshire None
Green Party |West Midlands |None
The level of resources provided for the policing of party conferences is an operational matter for the chief officer of police in the light of all circumstances, including an assessment of the threat of terrorist attack.
Television Violence
Mr. Boswell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether ethnic groups have contacted him about levels of violence on television.
Mr. Renton : We receive a number of letters about violence portrayed on television, but have not received any specifically from ethnic groups.
Independent Television (Scotland)
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met representatives of independent television companies in Scotland ; and what subjects were discussed.
Mr. Renton : I visited the Scottish independent television companies on 27 and 28 February, when a wide range of broadcasting issues was discussed. I have also met their representatives on other occasions during discussions on the future of broadcasting.
Arrests (Football Grounds)
Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to how many of those arrested at football grounds during the 1987-88 season were subsequently (a) tried and (b) convicted.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Information about the outcome of the 6,106 arrests made at Football League matches during the 1987-88 season is not recorded centrally.
Serious Crimes Squad (West Midlands)
Mr. Mullin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands as to how many officers were serving with the serious crimes squad at the time it was disbanded.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I understand from the chief constable that there were 29 officers serving with the squad at the time that it was disbanded in August 1989.
Dispersal Prisons (Costs)
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the current cost per inmate per week in each dispersal prison.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The average cost per inmate per week in each dispersal prison in 1988-89 (the most recent year for which information is available) was :
|£
--------------------
Albany |586
Frankland |533
Full Sutton |742
Gartree |555
Long Lartin |505
Parkhurst |829
Wakefield |365
Police Manpower
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the increase in police manpower since 1979.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : At the end of July this year, police manpower stood at a record level of 169,022, made up of 125,808 police officers and 43,214 civilian staff. These figures represent a gain of 14,315 police officers and 8,584 civilians under this government since May 1979.
My right hon. Friend will be able to approve a further 1,100 police posts for 1990-91 so that police numbers will continue to grow.
Random Breath Testing
Mr. Jack : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many replies he has received to his request for opinions from the public on the introduction of random breath testing ; and how many responses were in favour of this proposal.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for East Lothian (Mr. Home Robertson) on 8 May 1989 at column 284 .
ENERGY
Plutonium
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last discussed the issue of plutonium-contaminated waste with the chairman of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee.
Mr. Michael Spicer : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not met the chairman of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee. RWMAC advises my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment, Scotland and Wales, with whom policy responsibility for radioactive waste management matters lies.
Alternative Energy
Mr. Wray To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is for each year since 1979 the amount of public funds spent on research on energy produced by (a) off-shore wind turbines, (b) wave and tidal power, (c) solar technology and (d) other kinds of alternatives to coal, oil and nuclear energy.
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