| Previous Section | Home Page |
Column 775
Family PractitionPractitioners born outside Great Britain<1>
Committee
1983 1984 1985 1986 1987
|Number |Per cent.|Number |Per cent.|Number |Per cent.|Number |Per cent.|Number |Per cent.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clwyd |48 |24.7 |46 |23.4 |45 |22.5 |47 |22.3 |49 |22.9
Dyfed |11 |6.0 |12 |6.4 |13 |6.7 |15 |7.6 |14 |6.8
Gwent |77 |34.7 |79 |35.0 |83 |35.0 |78 |33.1 |78 |32.5
Gwynedd |10 |7.3 |8 |5.8 |11 |7.9 |9 |6.5 |9 |6.3
Mid Glamorgan |123 |45.4 |126 |46.0 |125 |45.3 |133 |47.5 |138 |47.4
Powys |9 |12.9 |10 |13.9 |10 |13.9 |11 |14.5 |10 |13.3
South Glamorgan |21 |10.0 |21 |9.7 |25 |11.4 |25 |11.3 |25 |11.1
West Glamorgan |26 |14.6 |27 |15.0 |29 |15.6 |29 |15.4 |28 |14.4
Wales |325 |22.2 |329 |22.1 |341 |22.4 |347 |22.4 |351 |22.1
<1> Unrestricted principals as at 1 October.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many doctors whose training and basic medical qualification were received outside the United Kingdom are employed in hospitals in Wales in 1989 ; and what was the comparable figure for each of the past five years ;
(2) what percentage of hospital doctors in each health authority area in Wales received their basic medical training and qualification outside the United Kingdom ; and what was the comparable percentage for each of the past five years.
Mr. Grist : Information on where hospital doctors received basic medical training is not held centrally. However available information on country of birth is shown in the table :
Column 776
Hospital doctors born outside the United Kingdom<1> Year |Number |Per cent. ---------------------------------------- 1984<2> |833 |32.5 1985<2> |854 |32.6 1986<2> |863 |32.1 1987 |850 |31.2 1988 |841 |30.2 <1>Staff in post as at 30 September. <2>Excludes doctors born in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what assessment he has made of the hours worked by junior hospital doctors in Wales ;
(2) what assessment he has made of the level of morale among junior hospital doctors in Wales.
Mr. Grist : Information is not held centrally about hours worked by junior hospital doctors. Information held relates to the number of units of medical time (UMT) for
Column 777
which doctors are contracted. Earlier this year the Department undertook a review. The Department has since requested health authorities to submit proposals to reduce further the hours worked by junior doctors. No assessment of the level of morale among junior doctors as such has been undertaken.Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what assessment he has made of the number of individuals who have received their medical training and qualification outside the United Kingdom and who will have to be recruited by hospitals in Wales in each of the coming five years ;
(2) what assessment he has made of the problems of recruiting and retaining the services of junior hospital doctors to posts at hospitals in Wales.
Mr. Grist : It is not possible reliably to assess the demand for overseas qualified doctors in each of the next five years. Consideration is still being given to the distribution by specialty of those doctors eligible to pursue a career in the United Kingdom and those overseas doctors who are seeking to undertake training for a limited period in the United Kingdom. The implementation of the package of proposals in "Achieving a Balance" for the reform of the hospital medical staffing structure will alleviate recruitment problems and the Department, with the assistance of the recently established Welsh Council for Postgraduates in Medical and Dental Education, is developing plans for a training package specifically for overseas doctors employed in Wales. This scheme and other initiatives under consideration are designed to attract junior doctors to the National Health Service in Wales.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what examination he has undertaken of the effectiveness of induction and supplementary training given immediately on appointment to any doctor whose medical training and qualifications have been received outside the United Kingdom ;
(2) what examination he has undertaken of the effectiveness of inquiries made prior to the employment in any hospital in Wales of a doctor whose medical training and qualifications have been received outside the United Kingdom.
Mr. Grist : The Department has issued firm guidance to health authorities in Wales on the procedures to be followed in employing overseas qualified doctors and in particular emphasised the importance of checking that doctors are properly registered for the work they are to do before taking up employment.
Overseas qualified doctors applying for registration must satisfy the General Medical Council about their professional experience, clinical knowledge/skills and their command and understanding of the English language. The Department is satisfied with the criteria employed by the General Medical Council to assess the suitability of overseas qualified doctors. All such doctors work under the direct supervision of a consultant who provides further training as appropriate.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what percentage of hospital doctors in Wales received their basic medical training and qualification outside the United Kingdom ; and what was the comparable percentage for each of the past five years ;
Column 778
(2) how many doctors whose training and basic medical qualifications were received outside the United Kingdom are employed in hospitals in each health authority in Wales ; and what were the comparable figures for each of the last five years.Mr. Grist : Information on where hospital doctors received basic medical training is not held centrally. However, information is available on place of birth and I will reply to the hon. Gentleman as soon as the information by health authority can be extracted.
ENERGY
Magnox Reactors
Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the long-term safety reviews of the Magnox reactors.
Mr. Michael Spicer : There is an ongoing programme of long-term safety reviews of Magnox stations. This will be continued by Nuclear Electric.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what assessment he has made of the maximum operating life of Magnox reactors ; if he will take steps to require the Central Electricity Generating Board to set a maximum operational period for the reactors ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Spicer : The maximum operating life of a Magnox station is a matter for the owner of the station subject to the requirements of the nuclear installations inspectorate.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of the decommissioning costs for the Magnox reactors pertains to (a) phase one, (b) phase two and (c) phase three.
Mr. Michael Spicer : This is a matter for the Magnox operators.
Flue Gas Desulphurisation
Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the progress being made to fit flue gas desulphurisation equipment to power stations.
Mr. Michael Spicer : The retrofitting of flue gas desulphurisation equipment to the 4,000 MW coal-fired power station at Drax in Yorkshire is proceeding satisfactorily. The electricity industry is identifying subsequent stations for retrofits.
CEGB (Safety Breaches)
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received over the amount of fines imposed on the Central Electricity Generating Board after pleading guilty to charges of nuclear safety breaches brought by the nuclear installations inspectorate whether this was the first such prosecution and conviction of the Central Electricity Generating Board ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Spicer : I have received no such representations. This is the first occasion on which the
Column 779
Central Electricity Generating Board has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive in respect of breaches of their licence conditions.Electricity Industry
Mr. Dewar : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list (1) the statutory requirements governing the publication of reports of the constituent bodies of the electricity supply industry in England and Wales (ii) the dates on which such reports have been published in each year since nationalisation, either for existing or predecessor corporations and (iii) indicate, where appropriate, when the reports for 1988-89 will be published.
Mr. Michael Spicer : The statutory requirement governing the publication of reports of the constituent bodies of the electricity supply industry in England and Wales are : the Electricity Act 1947, as amended by the Electricity Act 1957, section 46 ; and the Electricity Act 1957, sections 10 and 11. These reports have been published each year and have been placed in the Library of the House.
All area boards have published their reports and accounts for 1988-89 and I understand that the Central Electricity Generating Board and the Electricity Council intend to publish their reports and accounts before the end of December.
Electricity Privatisation
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy under the regulations for the forthcoming privatisation of electricity, what plans he has to give powers to a regulatory body to ensure that the electricity board must legally give customers every opportunity to pay according to their means.
Mr. Michael Spicer : Under their licences, public electricity suppliers will implement approved procedures for dealing with customers facing difficulties with their bills which will include taking particular account of the consumer's ability to pay. These procedures can be enforced by the director under section 25 of the Electricity Act 1989.
Offshore Installations
Mr. Doran : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what regulations are in force in relation to secondary means of evacuation from offshore oil and gas installations.
Mr. Peter Morrison : The Offshore Installations (Construction and Survey) Regulations 1974 (SI 1974/289), the Offshore Installations (Emergency Procedures) Regulations 1976 (SI 1976/1542) and the Offshore Installations (Life-saving Appliances) Regulations 1977 (SI 1977/486).
Mr. Doran : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what tests are undertaken by his Department, independent of the oil industry, in assessing the safety, quality and effectiveness of all means of evacuation from offshore oil and gas installations generally, and in relation to individual installations.
Mr. Peter Morrison : My Department utilises the experience of the marine surveyors of the Department of
Column 780
Transport to ensure that all life-saving appliances are of an approved type, are suitably located, properly maintained and in good working order. Certifying authorities also carry out independent surveys of offshore installations and their equipment, including escape routes. In addition, independent contractors undertake research and development projects sponsored by my Department.Mr. Doran : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has any proposals to introduce regulations or guidance in relation to the provision of smoke hoods on offshore oil and gas installations.
Mr. Peter Morrison : A research and development programme has been commissioned jointly by my Department and the oil and gas industry to establish performance specifications for smoke hoods to be used offshore and for a test procedure for assessment purposes. Subject to the outcome of this programme, consideration will be given to the introduction of a statutory requirement for the provision of smoke hoods or other devices capable of performing the same or a similar function.
Plutonium
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what were the sources of information underlying the figures in his departmental press release No. 180, issued on 5 December, on imports and exports to the nearest kilogramme of separated and unseparated plutonium.
Mr. Michael Spicer : The figures on imports and exports of plutonium were compiled from data supplied by British Nuclear Fuels plc and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy why, in note 4 to paragraph 1(A) of his departmental press release number 180 on plutonium figures the percentages cited have been rounded to the nearest 5 per cent. ; and whether his Department possesses data to a greater degree of accuracy than this.
Mr. Michael Spicer : The estimates of fissile content are shown to the same precision as in the estimates given by the electricity boards to my Department.
Nuclear Plants
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has had any recent communications from the chairman of British Nuclear Fuels plc concerning its plans to make a planning application for the construction of new commercial scale nuclear plants at its sites at Sellafield and Chapelcross.
Mr. Michael Spicer : My right hon. Friend met the chairman of British Nuclear Fuels plc on 16 November when their discussion touched upon the feasibility study that the company is carrying out into the options for replacing its stations at Calder Hall and Chapelcross.
British Nuclear Fuels plc
Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will take steps to require British Nuclear Fuels plc to inform customers what percentage of the price charged for services relates to the need to reduce environmental impact.
Column 781
Mr. Michael Spicer : No. This is a commercial matter between BNFL and its customers.Carbon Dioxide
Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what measures he is taking to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide from energy sources ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Wakeham : My Department's current policies include encouragement of cost-effective energy efficiency, the development of renewable energy resources and support for diversified and efficient electricity supply options provide a firm basis for any future action. The need for further measures will be considered in the light of the report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC), due in autumn 1990.
Onshore Licensing
Mr. Colin Shepherd : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will make an announcement on the results of the third onshore licensing round.
Mr. Peter Morrison : I have today announced the conditional award of 22 landward exploration licences for blocks in England, Scotland and Wales. The licences allow companies to search and drill for petroleum, subject to the procedures of the planning system and the technical approval of my Department. Where the licences extend into coastal waters stringent conditions will be set to ensure that local interests will be fully taken into account before operations are undertaken.
Details of the awards have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Offshore Installations
Mr. Doran : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) whether he has any proposals to introduce regulations or guidance relating to the installation of free-fall lifeboats on offshore oil and gas installations ;
Column 782
(2) whether he has any proposals to introduce regulations or guidance in relation to the provision of the secondary evacuation equipment known as skyscape on offshore oil and gas installations.Mr. Peter Morrison : In August 1989 my Department issued a statement of intent which included proposals to amend the Offshore Installations (Life-saving Appliances) Regulations 1976 to allow for the use of any approved method of launching lifeboats, including free-fall lifeboats.
The skyscape system has been accepted by the Department of Transport as a suitable means of escape to the sea and is being considered by a number of operators for use on new installations. The statement of intent proposes that there should be more specific guidance on means and location of descent to the sea.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Immigration
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what restrictions there are on the award of (a) entry visas and (b) residence permits for citizens of the German Democratic Republic wishing to settle in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : All citizens of the German Democratic Republic require visas to enter the United Kingdom for any purpose. Visas are issued in accordance with the immigration rules set out in House of Commons paper 388.
Tobacco and Alcohol
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply on 4 December to the hon. Member for Davyhulme (Mr. Churchill), if he will give a regional breakdown of the figures for prosecutions for illegal sales of tobacco and alcohol, respectively, to children.
Mr. John Patten : Information held centrally on the number of prosecutions against the illegal sale of tobacco and alcohol to children by police force area in England and Wales for 1984 to 1988 is given in the table.
Column 781
Defendants proceeded against at magistrates' court for illegal sales of tobacco
and alcohol to children by police force area from 1984-88
England and Wales
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pornography
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 5 December, Official Report, column 192 , what are (a) the terms of reference of the review, (b) the names of those he will charge with conducting the review, (c) the expected commencement and finishing dates of the review into the possible link between pornography and sexual violence towards women and children ; and whether he will allow public representations to be made to the review.
Mr. Mellor : The Home Office research and planning unit is at present drawing up the specification for a review of research reports on possible links between pornography and sexual violence. Broadly, the terms of reference will be to review the available research in this country, the United States of America and in other European countries on the effects of pornography, including any link with violence or sexual aggression, and effects on attitudes to women. We are considering who is best qualified to carry out the review. We plan that it should begin in January and be completed in April. The report would be published in the usual way.
It would not be right to ask the researchers to accept public representations, which would fall outside their terms of reference. We are always ready to consider representations ourselves.
Contracts
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many contracts over £92,500 have been let by his Department in the 1988-89 financial year and in the present financial year to date ; and how many of these were automatically renewed or advertised throughout the European Economic Community.
Mr. Waddington : This information is readily available only by calendar year. The number of contracts awarded by my Department covered by the provisions of the EC supplies directive, for which the current threshold is £92,000 was 71 in 1988 and 56 to date in 1989. Of these,
Column 784
112 were awarded following advertisement in the EC Journal and 15 were considered to be exempt from advertising and may have been awarded to the previous supplier.Immigration Service (Vacancies)
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many employee vacancies there are currently at (a) Lunar house, Croydon and (b) the nationality department at Liverpool.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : At 7 December there was an overall total of 85 vacancies in the immigration and nationality department in Croydon, and four in the Immigration and Nationality Department's Liverpool nationality office.
Ambulance Dispute
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will initiate an inquiry into levels of stress on police now engaged in ambulance work and its effects on their future efficiency as police officers.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : We have no plans to do so.
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the cost in police time and resources, for each police authority area, of the ambulance dispute since September.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The readily available information is that up to 8 December police forces had provided about the number of man hours shown in the table in assisting the ambulance service in their areas.
Approximate number of man
hours
|Number
------------------------------
West Midlands |8,200
Bedfordshire |5,900
Lincolnshire |1,500
Dorset |650
Derbyshire |6,800
Hampshire |3,500
Hertfordshire |12,200
South Yorkshire |4,400
West Yorkshire |570
Warwickshire |460
Surrey |450
For the Metropolitan police district I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given him today in reply to another question.
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of police, per day, by Metropolitan police division, employed on ambulance duties since September.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I understand that in the Metropolitan police district from 8 November to 12 December the approximate number of police officers by area employed on duties assisting the ambulance service in each 24-hour period has been as follows :
Approximate number of
officers
Area |Number
------------------------
1 |72
2 |44
3 |64
4 |40
5 |60
6 |72
7 |74
8 |34
|-------
Total |460
On each of 23 and 24 October the total was about 670 and on 7 November the total was about 830.
IRA Prisoners
Mr. Mullin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many convicted members of the Irish Republican Army currently held in British prisons enjoy category B status apart from the six men convicted after the Birmingham pub bombings ;
(2) how many Irish Republican Army members currently serving sentences of life imprisonment enjoy category B status apart from the six men convicted after the Birmingham pub bombings.
Mr. Mellor : There are at present in prisons in England and Wales 37 prisoners convicted of terrorist offences believed to have been carried out by the IRA. Twenty-four are serving life sentences, one (excluding the Birmingham Six) not being in category A.
Remission
Mr. Bermingham : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the effect on the prison population for (a) those with prison sentences and (b) those on parole in England and Wales, as a result of his proposals for the removal of remission in (i) 1990, (ii) 1991 and (iii) 1992 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John Patten : The removal of remission is one of a number of changes which we have in mind. Any estimates of the effect on the prison population should take account of all the proposed changes and will be announced in due course.
Column 786
Emergency Services (Pay)
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list at 1989 prices the pay of (a) a leading fireman and (b) a police constable for each year since 1974.
Mr. John Patten : The information is not held in the form requested. The annual rates of pay at historic prices are as follows :
------------------------------------------------
Leading Firemen/Women
7 November 1974 |2,913
1 February 1975 |3,123
7 November 1975 |3,435
7 November 1976 |3,606
7 November 1977 |4,040
7 November 1978 |4,935
7 November 1979 |5,943
7 November 1980 |6,715
1 April 1981 |7,060
7 November 1981 |7,773
7 November 1982 |8,355
7 November 1983 |9,006
7 November 1984 |9,654
7 November 1985 |10,350
7 November 1986 |11,106
7 November 1987 |11,916
7 November 1988 |12,942
7 November 1989 |14,055
Police Constables
1 September 1974 |1,632- 2,636
1 September 1975 |2,400- 3,476
1 September 1976 |2,609- 3,685
1 September 1977 |2,775- 3,918
1 September 1978 |3,189- 4,809
1 September 1979 |4,086- 6,471
1 September 1980 |4,956- 7,848
1 September 1981 |5,610- 8,883
1 September 1982 |6,189- 9,798
1 September 1983 |6,708-10,620
1 September 1984 |6,809-11,193
1 September 1985 |7,212-12,033
1 September 1986 |7,752-12,936
1 September 1987 |8,352-13,938
1 September 1988 |8,352-15,123
1 September 1989 |9,900-16,521
Between October 1974 and October 1989 the retail prices index increased by 309.4 per cent.
Emergency Centres
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will identify those home defence sub-regions currently without a Government wartime emergency centre.
Mr. John Patten : Such centres are not available in regions 8.1 and 10.1.
Nuclear Blast Simulation
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will identify those nuclear blast simulations in the United States of America since 1980 with which his Department's scientific research and development branch has been associated ; and what was the cost in each case and what arrangements are being made for future collaboration.
Mr. Waddington : The information requested is as follows :
Column 787
Year and Name of trial |Kingdom involvement |Staff costs
|(excluding staff)
|£ |£
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1981 Mill Race |20,000 |<1>-
1983 Direct Course |176,648 |57,021
1985 Minor Scale |421,152 |63,069
1987 Misty Picture |470,510 |68,649
1989 Misers Gold |<2>390,000 |78,780
<1> Staff costs not separately available.
<2> Estimate.
No decision has been taken on participation in further such simulations.
Emergency Communications Network
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about (a) the susceptibility to nuclear electromagnetic pulse and (b) any softwear problems of the solid- state message switch devices currently being introduced into the wartime Government emergency communications network.
Mr. John Patten : The equipment underwent satisfactory susceptibility tests prior to purchase. The need for software improvements was identified following initial operational experience of the equipment, and revisions were introduced in 1988. Consideration is being given to the need for any additional refinements in the light of further experience.
Civil Defence
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the proposed criteria for suitability of civil defence volunteers drawn up by the London fire and civil defence authority.
Mr. John Patten : This is entirely a matter for the London fire and civil defence authority.
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the all-hazards approach to planning will involve civil defence community volunteers in civil emergencies.
| Next Section
| Home Page |