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Mr. Peter Morrison : The table sets out expenditure on renewable sources of energy supported by public funds since 1979. Information on expenditure on offshore wind R and D is included in the totals for wind R and D. Total expenditure on offshore wind since 1979 is £1.07 million (Department of Energy and CEGB).
Column 127
Public sector R, D and D expenditure on renewable energy (£ million)
|1979-80|1980-81|1981-82|1982-83|1983-84|1984-85|1985-86|1986-87|1987-88|1988-89
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wind |1.1 |1.4 |2.1 |4.6 |4.5 |6.6 |7.5 |6.0 |7.3 |8.5
Wave |3.0 |3.3 |4.4 |3.1 |1.2 |0.4 |0.6 |0.2 |0.2 |0.1
Geothermal Aquifers |1.5 |1.9 |4.1 |2.3 |2.1 |1.3 |0.3 |0.1 |0.0 |0.1
Geothermal hot dry
rocks |0.0 |0.6 |5.6 |3.0 |2.9 |4.6 |3.5 |3.5 |3.7 |3.6
Solar |1.5 |1.2 |1.5 |1.7 |1.6 |0.8 |1.0 |1.0 |1.2 |1.5
Biomass<1> |0.3 |1.1 |1.0 |1.8 |0.9 |1.2 |0.9 |1.3 |2.3 |2.1
Tide |0.6 |1.4 |0.4 |0.0 |0.0 |0.3 |0.1 |0.1 |1.4 |1.2
Hydro/general studies |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |0.8 |0.8
Technology transfer and
promotion |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |0.7 |1.0
ETSU management |1.4 |2.2 |2.3 |2.0 |1.9 |2.1 |2.0 |2.3 |2.3 |2.5
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------
Total |9.4 |13.1 |21.4 |18.5 |15.1 |17.3 |15.9 |14.5 |19.9 |21.4
<1> Includes expenditure on "waste as a fuel" projects under the Energy Efficiency Office Demonstration Scheme.
Notes:
1. The table incorporates expenditure on renewable energy by Government Departments. Science Engineering
Research Council, Natural Environment Research Council and the CEGB.
2. Up to 1986-87 total for R and D also includes expenditure on low head hydro and general studies to 1986-87.
These are separately identified for 1987-88 and include work carried out by the Chief Scientist Group, ETSU.
3. The totals for solar energy incorporate work on passive solar design of buildings, active solar water
heating and photovoltaics.
4. The totals for wave incorporate work on ocean thermal energy conversion.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has to implement the Central Electricity Generating Board scientific report on energy produced by wind turbines based off-shore.
Mr. Peter Morrison : I am not aware of the report to which the hon. Member refers. My Department is continuing to investigate the technical and economic feasibility of offshore wind energy.
Energy Saving
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what research his Department is carrying out or sponsoring in order to improve energy saving techniques.
Mr. Peter Morrison : Research under the "energy efficiency best practice" programme is directed to four interrelated elements : compilation of "energy consumption guides" giving data on energy use so consumers can compare their performance with others in their sector ; provision of "good practice guides" promoting proven techniques which are already enabling the better energy users to be more efficient ; production of "new practice" case studies on first commercial applications of new energy efficiency techniques, to promote wider implementation ; support for "future practice" pre-competitive research and development work on a joint venture basis.
PRIME MINISTER
Official Visits
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Prime Minister if she will state for the period since 29 July (a) the countries she visited officially, (b) how many civil servants accompanied her, (c) the total cost involved, (d) the method of travel and (e) the number of journalists who used official transportation.
Sir Geoffrey Howe : I have been asked to reply.
Since 29 July, the Prime Minister has visited Japan and Moscow. She was accompanied by 12 civil servants, plus a further two for the Moscow leg. Transport was provided
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by an RAF VC10 and 18 representatives of the media travelled with her. Information on costs for the visit is not yet available.Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Prime Minister what action has been taken by her Department to recover outstanding moneys from media organisations arising from their representatives accompanying her on overseas visits.
Sir Geoffrey Howe : I have been asked to reply.
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is satisfied that the arrangements used by her office for expediting the payment of overdue invoices are effective.
Policy Unit
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Prime Minister what was the total cost in 1988-89 of the Prime Minister's policy unit.
Sir Geoffrey Howe : I have been asked to reply.
The cost in 1988-89 of the Prime Minister's policy unit was £351, 832.
No. 10 Downing Street
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Prime Minister what was the total cost of (a) decoration and (b) furnishings in No. 10 Downing street during 1988- 89 ; and what are the estimated totals for 1989-90.
Sir Geoffrey Howe : I have been asked to reply.
The total cost in 1988-89 for decorations and furnishings for 10 Downing street was £391,125. The estimated cost of similar works over 1989-90 is £606,313.
The current works relate to the rooms used for state and public occasions ; and reflect the costs necessary to refurbish part of one of the country's historic buildings, which had not been refurbished for nearly 20 years.
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TRANSPORT
Eurotunnel
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a further statement on the arrangements for financing Eurotunnel insofar as they fall within his responsibility.
Mr. Portillo : Responsibility for Channel tunnel financing arrangements is entirely a matter for Eurotunnel.
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on measures to ensure security in the Eurotunnel, and arrangements to identify explosives in any vehicle.
Mr. Portillo : The Government take very seriously the need to protect the tunnel and those who will use it. A security check regime will be required. It would not be appropriate for me to make a statement on the details of the security arrangements.
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he anticipates that Eurotunnel will be open to traffic.
Mr. Portillo : I understand that Eurotunnel's projected opening date is 15 June 1993.
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Air Controls
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to improve the present controls system which the Association of European Airlines report found to be fragmented, costly and inefficient.
Mr. McLoughlin : Over the last year, the United Kingdom has successfully promoted a series of practical initiatives to improve co- operation and coordination between air traffic control authorities in Europe. The European Civil Aviation Conference recently established a task force to examine the scope for further integration of air traffic control systems. The task force's recommendation will be considered by European Transport Ministers early next year.
Merchant Fleet
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is for each year since 1979 (a) the tonnage capacity of the British merchant fleet and (b) the number of the British merchant ships.
Mr. McLoughlin : The number and tonnage of trading vessels registered in the United Kingdom, Crown dependencies and dependent territories at 1 July in each year since 1979 is as follow :
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Trading vessels registered in the United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies and the Dependent Territories: 1979-89
Registry Thousand tons
United Kingdom Crown Dependencies Dependent Territories (excluHong Kong Kong) Total Trading Fleet
[NL] |Year |No. |Grt |Dwt |No. |Grt |Dwt |No. |Grt |Dwt |No. |Grt |Dwt |No. |Grt
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979 |1,756 |26,905|44,296|0 |0 |0 |236 |1,902 |3,210 |87 |1,443 |2,231 |2,079 |30,250|49,737
1980 |1,698 |26,070|43,013|0 |0 |0 |266 |1,917 |3,237 |98 |1,691 |2,643 |2,062 |29,678|48,893
1981 |1,552 |24,417|40,473|0 |0 |0 |250 |757 |1,154 |132 |2,553 |4,060 |1,934 |27,728|45,688
1982 |1,374 |21,388|35,085|48 |59 |69 |256 |741 |1,159 |158 |3,469 |5,670 |1,836 |25,658|41,984
1983 |1,217 |18,103|29,000|43 |45 |47 |308 |1,345 |2,145 |183 |4,348 |7,237 |1,751 |23,841|38,429
1984 |1,096 |14,773|23,157|55 |87 |120 |312 |1,366 |2,247 |224 |5,748 |9,573 |1,687 |21,975|35,097
1985 |1,019 |13,236|20,805|55 |103 |138 |337 |1,905 |3,022 |265 |6,813 |11,314|1,676 |22,057|35,280
1986 |902 |10,285|15,593|59 |287 |442 |413 |4,135 |6,834 |285 |8,120 |13,642|1,659 |22,827|36,511
1987 |734 |5,578 |7,371 |112 |1,913 |3,468 |377 |5,358 |9,406 |281 |7,974 |13,446|1,504 |20,822|33,692
1988 |685 |5,091 |6,452 |116 |2,120 |3,806 |351 |7,142 |13,242|260 |7,266 |12,327|1,412 |21,619|35,826
1989 |573 |4,328 |5,351 |115 |2,084 |3,749 |280 |7,053 |13,227|286 |6,189 |10,470|1,254 |19,655|32,797
Notes:
1. Vessels registered in the Crown Dependencies during 1979, 1980 and 1981 are included in the United Kingdom
statistics for those years.
2. Grt' stands for Gross Registered Tonnage'.
3. Dwt' stands for Deadweight tonnage'.
4. The Crown Dependencies include the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
5. The main Dependent Territories' registers are Gibraltar, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands.
6. The figures exclude non-trading type vessels such as tugs, off-shore supply ships and fishing vessels.
Marchioness
Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of the Government's contribution to the disaster fund set up by the mayor of Southwark for the victims of the Marchioness disaster and their families.
Mr. McLoughlin : Following the Marchioness disaster, the Government made a contribution of £125,000 to the river boat disaster fund. Neither the fund nor the Government's contribution to it will affect any possible claims for compensation.
Parliamentary approval for this payment will be sought in a supplementary supply estimate for the administration and transport services vote. Pending that approval, the £125,000 donation has been met from a repayable advance
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from the Contingencies Fund. As savings have occurred in class VIII, 2, there will be no increase in the public expenditure planning total.Dock Workers (Redundancies)
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many former registered dock workers have been made redundant since the abolition of the dock labour scheme ; how much the Government have contributed towards the redundancy payments ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. McLoughlin : As at 13 October, 3,938 former registered dock workers had been made redundant out of 9,221 on the register when the Scheme was abolished on 3 July. In accordance with the provision of the Dock Work
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(Compensation Payments Scheme) Regulations 1989, the Department has contributed £78,760,050 towards the redundancy compensation payments. It is estimated that further payments will bring the total in 1989-90 to about £90 million.Provision of £10 million was made in the summer supplementary estimate on class VIII, vote 3, and I shall be seeking parliamentary approval of a winter supplementary estimate on that Vote of a further £80 million for the compensation scheme.
The number of redundancies is far higher than had been expected, but clearly demonstrates that the overmanning in ports under the dock labour scheme was greater than had been realised. A major improvement in the efficiency of working methods in the ports is now taking place.
Sir Keith Bright
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether discussions on the terms on which Sir Keith Bright departed from London Regional Transport have now been concluded.
Mr. Parkinson : Yes. After due consideration of a claim made by Sir Keith Bright, I have determined that London Regional Transport shall pay to him the sum of £34,000 in settlement of the matter.
Tunnel Services
Mr. Arbuthnot : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the users of the tunnel lids over the M25 at Bell Common, Epping and Holmesdale, Enfield and the A1(M) at Hatfield pay for the maintenance of the tunnel services in the form of a rent or lump sum up front.
Mr. Atkins : The Department of Transport bears the whole cost of maintaining and servicing all three tunnels. There are no commercial uses of the M25 tunnel lids.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Organic Farming
Mr. Wray : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has for each year since 1979 on the amount of organic food produced in (a) Canada, (b) Denmark, (c) France, (d) the Federal Republic of Germany, (e) Holland, (f) Sweden and (g) the United States of America.
Mr. Maclean : This information is not available.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is the amount of (a) private and (b) public funds spent on research about organic farming for each year since 1979.
Mr. Maclean : Information on the amount of public funds spent on research about organic farming for this year was given in the reply to the hon. Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon) on 18 May at col. 300. Information for earlier years can be produced only at
disproportionate cost. Information on the amount of private funds spent on organic farming is not available.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any plans to support and promote organic farming.
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Mr. Maclean : The Government are already encouraging British farmers in various ways to respond to consumer demand for organic produce. My Department was instrumental in setting up the United Kingdom register of organic food standards to produce national organic standards and an independent certification and inspection scheme. UKROFS is now well advanced in its work. The fallow option of the set-aside scheme enables farmers to prepare their land for organic production without forgoing income entirely. Similar support is being considered under the forthcoming extensification scheme. The farm and conservation grant scheme, co- operative sector assistance and ADAS advice are all available to organic producers. My department's R & D activities are also relevant to organic farming as is the recently announced comprehensive economic survey of organic farming which we are funding.
Conservation Husbandry
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those grants now available to farmers practising low- input conservation husbandry.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 17 October 1989] : The full range of Government grants is available to those farmers pursuing less intensive husbandry systems with an emphasis on good conservation practice. Some are likely to match their more specific needs. For example, farmers who wish to convert to organic farming can take advantage of the fallow provisions of the set-aside scheme which enable them to prepare their land to meet organic standards without foregoing income entirely. Under the agricultural and horticultural co-operation schemes grant aid may be available towards formation and marketing costs of co-operatives formed to market organic produce or other foods produced under low input systems. Capital grants may also be available to established co-operatives towards the cost of buildings and equipment. In addition, incentives to protect and improve the environment exist under schemes such as the farm and conservation grant scheme, the environmentally sensitive areas scheme and the farm woodland scheme. Further assistance to less intensive farming under the options of the extensification scheme is under consideration.
Synthetic Chemicals
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Holland with Boston (Sir R. Body) of 27 July, Official Report, column 961, if he will make a statement on his detailed consultation with the United Kingdom Register of Organic Foodstuffs Board on synthetic chemicals.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 17 October 1989] : The reply of 27 July at column 961 referred to detailed consultations with the board of the United Kingdom register of organic food standards and other bodies representing the producers, processors, manufacturers and consumers of organic foods when the European Commission's proposals on organic agriculture are submitted to the Council of Agriculture Ministers. These proposals have not yet been submitted by the Commission.
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HOUSE OF COMMONS
Select Committee Reports
Mr. Amess : To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list those Select Committee reports which have been debated on the floor of the House in each Session since 1966.
Sir Geoffrey Howe : The information requested is as follows :
Select Committee reports debated in the House since 1966
I. Reports debated on substantive Motions<1>
|Date
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Session 1965-66
House of Commons (Services) Committee:
First Report (1965-66) |3 February 1966
Session 1966-67
Procedure Committee:
Fourth Report (1964-65), Report (1965-
66) and First Report (1966-67) |14 December 1966
Estimates Committee:
First Report and Fifth Special Report
(1966-67) |9 February 1967
Procedure Committee:
First, Second, Third and Fourth
Reports (1966-67) |19 April 1967
Estimates Committee:
Fourth Report and Ninth Special
Report (1966-67) |4 May 1967
Session 1967-68
Public Accounts Committee:
Fifth Report and First and Second
Report (1966-67) |13 November 1967
Procedure Committee:
First, Second, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth
Reports (1966-67) |14 November 1967
Estimates Committee:
Ninth Report (1966-67) and Second
Special Report (1967-68) |6 February 1967
Public Accounts Committee:
Third Special Report (1967-68) |25 April 1967
Agriculture Committee:
Report (1966-67) |14 May 1967
Science and Technology Committee:
Report (1966-67) |23 May 1967
Session 1968-69
Estimates Committee:
Eleventh Report (1966-67) and
Fifth Special Report (1967-68) |14 November 1968
Public Accounts Committee:
First, Second and Third Reports
(1967-68) |5 December 1968
Estimates Committee:
Sixth Report (1967-68) |12 June 1969
Committee on Parliamentary Privilege:
Report (1967-68)<2> |4 July 1969
Session 1969-70
Public Accounts Committee:
First, Second and Third Reports
(1968-69) |20 November 1969
Estimates Committee:
Eighth Report (1967-68) |5 February 1970
Session 1970-71
Public Accounts Committee:
First, Second and Third Reports
(1969-70) |10 November 1970
House of Commons (Services) Committee:
First Report (1970-71) |23 November 1970
Estimates Committee:
Fifth Report (1968-69) |7 December 1970
Scottish Affairs Committee:
Report (1969) |3 February 1971
Committee on Standing Orders (Revision):
Report (1970-71) |8 March 1971
Procedure Committee:
Second Report (1969-70)<3> |7 April 1971
House of Commons (Services) Committee:
Fifth Report (1970-71) |7 April 1971
Science and Technology Committee:
Second Report (1969-70) |27 May 1971
Committee on Parliamentary Privilege:
Report (1967-68) |16 July 1971
House of Commons (Services) Committee:
Sixth Report (1970-71)<4> |30 July 1971
Session 1971-72
Expenditure Committee:
First Report (1970-71), Special Report
(1971-72) and First Report (1971-72) |9 February 1972
House of Commons (Services) Committee:
Fourth Report |9 and 13 June 1972
Procedure Committee:
Fourth Report (1971-72) |28 June 1972
Expenditure Committee:
Second Report and Fifth Special Report
(1971-72) |7 August 1972
Session 1972-73
Public Accounts Committee:
First, Second and Third Reports (1971-72) |7 December 1972
Committee on Parliamentary Questions:
Report (1972-73) |18 December 1972
Procedure Committee:
Second and Third Reports (1972-73) |18 December 1972
Joint Committee on Delegated Legislation:
Report (1972-73) |18 December 1972
Science and Technology Committee:
First, Second, Third and Fourth
Reports (1972-73) |22 January 1973
European Secondary Legislation Committee:
First Report (1972-73) |18 April 1973
Nationalised Industries Committee:
Second Report (1971-72) |3 May 1973
Expenditure Committee:
First and Second Reports (1972-73) |9 July 1973
Session 1973-74
Procedure Committee:
Fifth Report (1972-73) |20 November 1973
Public Accounts Committee:
First to Eighth Reports (1972-73) |3 December 1973
House of Commons (Services) Committee:
Sixth Report (1972-73) |10 December 1973
Expenditure Committee:
Fourth, Sixth and Seventh Reports
(1972-73), Second Special Report
(1970-71), Sixth Special Report
(1971-72) and Second and Fourth
Special Reports (1972-73) |15 January 1974
Session 1974
House of Commons (Services) Committee:
First, Second and Third Reports (1974) |27 June 1974
Session 1974-75
Public Accounts Committee:
First to Fourth Reports (1974) |13 January 1975
Expenditure Committee:
First Report (1974) |1 May 1975
Expenditure Committee:
Third Report (1973-74), Third Report
(1974) and Seventh Report (1974) |10 July 1975
Procedure Committee:
First Report (1974-75) |3 November 1975
Session 1975-76
Committee of Privileges:
First Report (1975-76) |16 December 1975
Public Accounts Committee:
First to Fifth Reports (1974-75) |22 January 1975
House of Commons (Services) Committee: |8 March and 16
First Report (1975-76) |March 1976
Expenditure Committee:
Eleventh Report (1974-75) |13 April 1976
Joint Committee on Sound Broadcasting:
First Report (1975-76) |3 August 1976
Session 1976-77
Public Accounts Committee:
First to Sixth Reports (1975-76) |9 December 1976
House of Commons (Services) Committee:
Sixth Report (1975-76) and First Report
(1976-77) |18 January 1977
Expenditure Committee:
Fifth Report (1974-75) and Eighth
Report (1975-76) |14 March 1977
House of Commons (Services) Committee:
First Report (1976-77) (resumed debate) |15 March 1977
House of Commons (Services) Committee:
Fourth Report (1976-77) |5 May 1977
Overseas Development Committee:
Second Report (1975-76), First Special
Report (1976-77), Second Report (1976-
77) and Second Special Report (1976-77) |13 June 1977
Committee on the Conduct of Members:
Report (1976-77) |26 July 1977
Joint Committee on Sound Broadcasting:
Second Report (1976-77) |26 July 1977
Session 1977-78
Public Accounts Committee:
First to Tenth Reports (1976-77) |9 January 1978
House of Commons (Services) Committee:
Fourth and Fifth Reports (1976-77) |26 January 1978
Committee of Privileges:
Third Report (1976-77) |6 February 1978
House of Commons (Services) Committee:
Seventh Report (1976-77) |21 February 1978
Nationalised Industries Committee:
First, Second and Fifth Reports (1977-78) 9 March 1978
Expenditure Committee:
First Report (1976-77) |12 June 1978
Committee on Violence in Marriage:
Report (1974-75) |16 June 1978
Committee on Violence in the Family:
First Report (1975-76), First and Second
Report (1976-77) |16 June 1978
House of Commons (Services) Committee:
Fourth Report (1977-78) |29 June 1978
House of Commons (Services) Committee:
Fifth Report (1977-78) |28 July 1978
Session 1978-79
Committee on the Parliamentary Commissioner
for Administration:
First and Fourth Reports (1977-78) |1 December 1978
Public Accounts Committee:
First to Tenth Reports and First and
Second Special Reports (1977-78) |4 December 1978
Expenditure Committee:
Eleventh Report (1976-77)
and Twelfth Report (1977-78) |15 January 1979
Session 1979-80
Procedure Committee:
First Report (1977-78) |31 October 1979
Home Affairs Committee:
Second Report (1979-80) |5 June 1980
Public Accounts Committee:
First to Seventh and Tenth Reports
(1979-80) |1 May 1980
Procedure Committee Report (1977-78) and
(1976-77) |30 October 1980
Session 1980-81
Social Services Committee:
Second Report (1979-80) |5 December 1980
Public Accounts Committee:
Fifth to Thirty-fifth Reports (1979-80) |29 January 1981
Procedure Committee Report (1977-78) |31 January 1981
Session 1981-82
Education, Science and Arts Committee
(1980-81) |22 February 1982
Public Accounts Committee:
First to Seventeenth Reports (1980-81) |19 April 1982
Committee on Members' Salaries (1981-82) |10 June 1982
Session 1982-83
Committee on Standing Orders (Revision)
Report (1982-83) |30 March 1983
Session 1983-84
House of Commons (Services) Committee:
Report (1982-83) |22 November 1983
Public Accounts Committee:
First Special and First to Eleventh
Reports (1982-83) |20 March 1984
Public Accounts Committee:
First to Ninth Reports (1983-84) |20 March 1984
House of Commons (Services) Committee:
First Report (1983-84) |2 May 1984
Procedure Committee:
First Report (1983-84) |31 October 1984
House of Commons (Services) Committee:
Second Report (1983-84) |31 October 1984
Session 1984-85
Public Accounts Committee:
Twenty-Fifth Report (1983-84) |1 May 1985
Public Accounts Committee:
Tenth to Twenty-Fourth Reports and
Twenty-Sixth to Thirty-Fifth Report
(1983-84), and First to Twenty-Fifth
Reports (1984-85) |24 October 1985
Session 1985-86
Committee on Members' Interests:
Second Report (1984-85) |17 December 1985
House of Commons (Services) Committee:
Second Report (1984-85) |29 January 1986
Procedure Committee:
Second, Third and Fourth Reports
(1984-85) and First Report (1985-86) |27 February 1986
European Legislation Committee:
First Special Report (1985-86) |5 March 1986
Environment Committee:
Second Report (1985-86) |13 May 1986
Privileges Committee:
Report (1985-86) |20 May 1986
Public Accounts Committee:
Twenty-Sixth to Thirty-Eighth Reports
(1984-85) and First to Fourteenth and
Sixteenth to Eighth Reports (1985-86) |3 July 1986
Second Report and Fifth Special Report (1985-86) |7 July 1986
Session 1986-87
Nil
Session 1987-88
Public Accounts Committee:
Fifteenth and Nineteenth to Fifty-
Second Reports (1985-86), and First to
Nineteenth Reports (1986-87) |3 December 1987
Public Accounts Committee:
First to Thirty-Sixth Reports, Forty-
First Report and First Special Report
(1987-88) |3 November 1988
Session 1988-89 (to 17 October 1989)
House of Commons (Services) Committee:
Second Report (1987-88) |30 January 1989
Committee on Televising of Proceedings of the House:
First Report (1988-89) |12 June 1989
<1> Includes Reports debated on Supply Days, but not Reports debated on motions for the Adjournment (for which
see table II).
<2> See also 16 July 1971.
<3> Named in a Motion but not debated.
<4> Named in a Motion but not debated.
Table file CW891018.015 not available
Security Passes
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Lord President of the Council how many Commons pass applications have been received during the summer recess in respect of overseas students working for Members ; how many are still awaiting security clearance ; what is the average time taken to process such applications.
Column 141
Sir Geoffrey Howe : I understand that 42 pass applications were received during the summer recess in respect of Members' temporary research assistants from overseas, 33 of which are still awaiting clearance. In response to the comments made by the Services Committee in paragraph 11 of its second report, 1987-88, and the House's approval of that report on 30 January this year, new procedures have been introduced for the clearance of all overseas nationals applying for Palace of Westminster photo-identity passes. All the sponsoring organisations were warned in writing by the authorities of the House on 20 June that ample time should in future be allowed for the clearance of such applications. They were also told that it was not possible to be precise on how long the procedures would take but that, at least initially, two months should be allowed for the applications to be processed.
I regret that right hon. and hon. Members may be inconvenienced because the clearances have not yet been received, but the sponsoring organisations failed in the main to heed the warnings they were given. The Pass Office did not receive some of the completed application forms until September. I can assure the House that everything possible is being done to expedite clearance procedures ; but timely submission of applications will remain essential if similar inconvenience is to be avoided in future.
Norman Shaw Buildings
Sir Eldon Griffiths : To ask the Lord President of the Council if, in view of the new security requirement that visitors to the Norman Shaw parliamentary office buildings shall use the Derby gate entrance rather than that from the Embankment, he will arrange with Westminster council, the Metropolitan police and the contractors working on the building adjoining Whitehall, to have this area cleaned and tidied and made more presentable for the reception of visitors.
Sir Geoffrey Howe [holding answer 17 October 1989] : The area outside Derby gate is not a matter directly for me. However, I have asked the relevant House authorities to take up the question of its cleanliness and tidyness with Westminister city council and the contractors working on the phase 1 site of the new parliamentary buildings.
EMPLOYMENT
Employment Training
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the present health and safety standards in the employment training programme.
Mr. Nicholls : Health and safety statistics on employment training do not yet enable a close analysis to be undertaken. They will be kept under close review, and adjustments on employment training health and safety arrangements will be made as necessary in the light of emerging experience.
Column 142
HEALTH
Rats and Cockroaches
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what urgent measures he is taking to combat dangers to public health posed by rats and cockroaches.
Mr. Freeman : Local authorities rather than health authorities are responsible under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 for ensuring, as far as is practicable, that their areas are kept free of rats and mice.
In respect of food premises, the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations 1970 which are enforced by local authorities, require the prevention, so far as is reasonable practicable, of any risk of infestation by rats, mice or insects.
Private Health Care
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking to protect the public from expensive and unreliable private health check-ups.
Mr. Freeman : The General Medical Council is responsible for the maintenance of ethical standards in the medical profession.
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the present regulations regarding (a) the establishment and implications of private clinics and (b) controls to ensure that the staff of those clinics are properly qualified for the functions they are called upon to perform.
Mr. Freeman : In England and Wales part II of the Registered Homes Act 1984 and its associated regulations require that relevant premises are registered and inspected at least twice a year, that the person in charge is appropriately qualified and that adequate professional, technical, ancillary and other staff are provided. In Scotland the corresponding legislation is the Nursing Homes Registration (Scotland) Act 1938 and the associated regulations. Neither Act contains powers to control health screening clinics.
Ambulance Staff
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is for each year since 1974 the number of National Health Service ambulance staff.
Mr. Mellor : The information is given in the table. Most of the increase shown for ambulance men and women represent qualified staff.
National Health Service staff in post in England-at 30 September
each year Whole-time equivalent<1>
Year |Ambulance officers and|Ambulancemen/Women |Total
|Control assistants
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1974<2> |2,722 |13,310 |16,032
1975 |3,008 |14,489 |17,497
1976 |3,046 |14,138 |17,184
1977 |3,130 |14,272 |17,402
1978 |3,221 |14,301 |17,522
1979 |3,156 |13,979 |17,129
1980 |3,214 |14,554 |17,768
1981 |3,293 |14,928 |18,221
1982 |3,265 |15,059 |18,324
1983 |3,249 |15,148 |18,397
1984 |3,174 |14,930 |18,103
1985 |3,139 |15,049 |18,188
1986 |3,124 |15,841 |18,966
1987 |3,037 |15,973 |19,010
1988 |2,980 |15,781 |18,761
Source: Department of Health (SHI3) annual census of NHS non-medical manpower.
<1> Figures independently rounded to nearest whole time equivalent.
<2> Due to the effects of the 1974 NHS reorganisation figures for 1974 are not consistent with those for later
years.
NHS (Pay)
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is for each year since 1979 the average pay increase for National Health Service (a) ambulance staff, (b) nurses, (c) doctors and (d) health board managers.
Mr. Mellor : Average pay settlements are given in the table.
Column 143
Percentage pay
settlement
Year (1 August to 31 |Ambulance staff<1> |Nurses and midwives |Doctors and dentists|General managers<2>
July)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979-80 |39.0 |37.9 |31.4 |-
1980-81 |7.3 |6.0 |6.0
1981-82 |6.0 |- |6.2 |-
1982-83 |4.5 |<3>12.3 |9.7 |-
1983-84 |4.5 |7.5 |6.9 |-
1984-85 |<4>7.8 |<5>8.6 |6.3 |-
1985-86 |6.0 |7.8 |7.6 |-
1986-87 |5.0 |9.5 |7.7 |5.9
1987-88 |<6>5.4 |17.9 |7.9 |5.0
1988-89 |- |6.8 |8.2 |5.5
<1> Figures exclude ambulance officers and control assistants.
<2> Permanent arrangements for the newly created general manager posts were introduced during 1985-86.
<3> Two-year award paid wholly in 1982-83.
<4> Assumes all productivity allowances achieved; move to salaried pay structure 1 March.
<5> Staged award; final part paid with effect from 1 February 1986.
<6> In addition the standard working week was reduced by one hour.
Under-fives Provision
Mr. Andrew Bowden : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) at what intervals the inter-departmental consultative group on provision for under-fives meets ;
(2) if he will list the membership of the inter-departmental group on provision for under-fives.
Mr. Mellor : The inter-departmental consultative group meets once a year or more frequently if appropriate.
The following Government Departments and outside organisations are represented on the group :
Department of Health
Department of Education and Science
Department of Social Security
Department of Employment
Department of the Environment
Ministry of Defence
Home Office
Cabinet Office
Welsh Office
Scottish Office
Association of County Councils
Association of Metropolitan Authorities
National Council for Voluntary Child Care Organisations Voluntary Organisations Liaisons Council for Under Fives Under Fives Unit of the National Children's Bureau
Commission for Racial Equality
Representatives of other organisations may be invited if there are relevant agenda items.
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