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Missile Technology Control Regime
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department has concerning the policy of (a) the Soviet Union and (b) the People's Republic of China towards the missile technology control regime ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Waldegrave : We are not aware of any policy statements by the Soviet Union or the People's Republic of China on the missile technology control regime. However, we believe that all potential supplier countries are increasingly concerned by the problem of missile proliferation. We have called on all states to tighten their policies in this area, and have said that we would welcome their adherence to the missile technology control regime guidelines in the interest of international peace and security.
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the imposition of sanctions upon countries and companies that transgress the terms and conditions of the missile technology control regime.
Mr. Waldegrave : Export controls in the United Kingdom are designed to ensure that companies do not act in contravention of our international commitments, including those under the missile technology control regime. Appropriate legal action is taken against any company which is found to infringe these controls. It is not our policy to seek to impose sanctions on any other countries or foreign companies which might be thought to have transgressed the terms and conditions of the regime. Controls under the regime remain the national responsibility of each participating country.
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the terms of the missile technology control regime have constrained any United Kingdom companies from exporting certain technologies or components.
Mr. Waldegrave : A number of export licence applications have been refused by the Department of Trade and Industry as a result of our commitments under the missile technology control regime.
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Government Departments are involved in ensuring the implementation of the terms of the missile technology control regime.
Mr. Waldegrave : The Department of Trade and Industry is responsible for the issuing of export licences
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under the Export of Goods (Control) Order, in consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Ministry of Defence and other Government Departments as appropriate.Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what means of control are exercised by his Department upon United Kingdom companies in reference to the implementation of the terms of the missile technology control regime.
Mr. Waldegrave : Such control is exercised by means of export licences under the Export of Goods (Control) Order, which are determined by the Department of Trade and Industry. Export licence applications for equipment and technology to which the missile technology control regime applies are referred to this Department by the Department of Trade and Industry before a decision is taken on whether to issue a licence.
Chemical Weapons
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government policy towards the retention, by any other country, of a minimum offensive chemical weapon capability in the aftermath of a chemical weapon convention being concluded.
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's assessment as to the implications for the chemical weapon convention talks of the United States' policy to retain a limited stockpile of chemical weapons after a chemical weapon convention has been signed.
Mr. Waldegrave : It is envisaged in the negotiations in Geneva for a chemical weapons convention that there will be a transition period following the entry into force of the treaty. During this period any chemical weapons stocks possessed by states parties will be destroyed. President Bush's proposal at the United Nations General Assembly for retention of a small stockpile until all CW-capable states are party to the convention is not inconsistent with this.
Middle East
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's assessment as to the implications for regional security of the deployment of (a) ballistic missiles and (b) anti-tactical ballistic missiles in the middle east ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Waldegrave : As a founder member of the missile technology control regime, we are naturally concerned about the proliferation of ballistic missiles in regions of tension. We also question the wisdom of deploying anti-tactical ballistic missiles in response to such proliferation.
Iraq
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's assessment as to whether Iraq has developed the capability to deliver an inter-continental ballistic missile ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Waldegrave : The Iraqi Government announced on 7 December that they had launched a rocket capable of carrying satellites into space. Reports have also suggested that Iraq is developing a military missile with a range of 2,000 km. There is no further information that I can give to the hon. Gentleman. However, we are concerned about the destabilising effect that such a programme, if it exists, could have on the middle east region.
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's latest assessment as to Iraq's anti-tactical ballistic missile capability ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Waldegrave : Iraq has claimed to be developing an anti-tactical ballistic missile. We have no reason to doubt this claim.
Romania
Mr. Atkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will propose to his European Community counterparts the lifting of regulations on the export of powdered milk and rice and other food aid to Romania on humanitarian grounds as a matter of urgency ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maude : Since the revolution in Romania, the European Community has responded speedily to requests for emergency food and medical aid. On 29 December the Commission announced and began deliveries of emergency food aid. So far £4.6 million has been allocated by the Commission for food and medical aid. The Commission is urgently considering a request by the Romanian Government for a large quantity of food aid and is expected to make a proposal after Vice-President Andriessen has visited Bucharest. There are no regulations which prevent the export of powdered milk, rice and other food supplies to Romania.
Ukraine
Sir Trevor Skeet : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the USSR about contravention of human rights pursuant to the Helsinki and Vienna accords in the Soviet Republic of Ukraine.
Mr. Waldegrave : We have regularly and frequently pressed the Soviet Union to comply fully with its CSCE obligations. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs raised our continuing concerns about human rights in the Soviet Union with Mr. Shevardnadze when he was in London on 19 December. A senior official, Mr. David Ratford, visited the Soviet Union from 8 to 11 January for a full exchange with the Soviet authorities on all aspects of human rights issues.
Kai Tak Refugee Camp
Mr. Mullin : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the conditions in which the 50 Vietnamese held in the special camp outside Kai Tak refugee camp are held ; how long they have been held in these conditions ; and what plans there are for their future.
Mr. Maude : The 52 Vietnamese held in the camp at Kai Tak are people who had left Vietnam to settle in China,
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but who had subsequently entered Hong Kong illegally. Such people are normally returned to China ; but in the case of this group, who are ethnic Vietnamese, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is exceptionally arranging for them to be resettled overseas. The conditions under which they are held is similar to those of other Vietnamese illegal immigrants from China. The group of 52 have been in Hong Kong for over three years.CHURCH COMMISSIONERS
Refugees
51. Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, what funds the Church Commissioners devote to helping (a) refugees and (b) other immigrants ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Alison : None, because the Commissioners' funds are not by law available for those purposes. Their primary duty is the support of the full -time parochial ministry of the Church of England and the bulk of their income is used for that purpose.
EMPLOYMENT
Wages Council Inspectors
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to increase the number of wages councils inspectors.
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Local Offices, Doncaster and Mexborough
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many claimants signed on each week of 1989 at (a) Doncaster and (b) Mexborough unemployment benefit offices ; what delays there were in interviewing them ; what requests have been received for additional staff ; and what has been his response.
Mr. Eggar : Information about the number of claimants who signed on at these offices each week during 1989 is not available.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current establishment at each grade at the unemployment benefit offices at (a) Doncaster and (b) Mexborough ; how many deal directly with interviewing of new claimants ; and what
representations he has received concerning the lack of staff to deal with claimants.
Mr. Nicholls : A graded breakdown of the staff employed at Doncaster and Mexborough unemployment benefit offices is given in table 1.
New claimants are normally interviewed by an executive officer (new client adviser). In each of the Doncaster unemployment benefit offices four executive officers are directly involved with interviewing and counselling new claimants. In Mexborough unemployment benefit office three executive officers interview and counsel new clients.
Additionally in each office two clerical staff provide support services for the new client advisers, which includes making appointments for unemployed people to make their claims.
No formal representations have been made to local management about staffing levels in these offices.
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Table 1
Graded breakdown of staff
employed at Doncaster and
Mexborough unemployment
benefit offices-January 1990
------------------------------
Permanent
HEO |1 |1 |1 |1
EO |9 |8 |7 |-
AO |25 |25 |26 |17
AA |4 |5 |4 |3
Messenger |- |1 |- |-
Casual
Casual AO |- |- |- |1
Casual AA |- |2 |1 |-
|---|---|---|---
Total |39 |42 |39 |26
Notes:
HEO=Higher Executive Officer.
EO=Executive Officer.
AO=Administrative Officer.
AA=Administrative Assistant.
Local Offices
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list (a) the jobcentres and (b) unemployment benefit offices that are (i) to be closed and (ii) transferred to agencies.
Mr. Eggar : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Boothferry (Mr. Davis) on 1 December 1989 ( Official Report, col. 461-62 ). It is the intention that the employment service (ES) should be
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launched as an executive agency in April 1990. It will establish a new network of offices, bringing together the full range of employment service activities in single locations wherever possible. Plans are being developed for this new network and when decisions have been taken the hon. Member for the constituency concerned will be informed.Column 61
Job Interview Guarantee Scheme
Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made on the job interview guarantee scheme ; how many claimants and employers have become involved ; how many claimants and employers have participated in the work trials on offer ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar : The job interview guarantee was formally launched in 20 pilot areas in November 1989. The latest available information is that 1,088 individuals and 258 employers have participated in the initiative. So far, two employers have signed agreements to participate in work trials, although many employers have indicated their interest in taking part, and two individuals are currently participating in them.
The progress of the pilots has been encouraging. So far, 473 people have been placed in jobs. Almost 60 per cent. of participants in job preparation courses have found employment.
Employment Training
Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether there are any restrictions on where trainees in employment training can take their holiday entitlement ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholls : There are no restrictions on where trainees in employment training can take their holiday entitlement.
Ex-Trainees
Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether the Training Agency has taken any action to recover payments made to ex- trainees who have,
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for whatever reason, failed to sign on at the end of their training and have continued to receive their benefit and training premium ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Nicholls : The Training Agency has in appropriate cases taken steps to recover payments of ET training allowances paid to people no longer entitled to them.
Health and Safety Executive
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 29 November, Official Report, column 271, in what ways a preventive inspection visit is different from a basic inspection visit.
Mr. Nicholls : The term "preventive" is synonymous with "basic" in describing inspection visits made to assess employers' compliance with the requirements of health and safety legislation and to provide advice about the various ways in which employers can monitor, maintain and improve health and safety standards.
Industrial Training
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the most recent available extracts of the average expenditure per employee on industrial training by each nation of the European Community, split by major industry group and by source of funds.
Mr. Nicholls : The table shows employers' expenditure on training for 1984, and is derived from the Eurostat publication "Labour Costs 1984, Volume 1 Principal Results", a copy of which is in the Library. These estimates are of limited value since they exclude the major costs of training, in particular wages and salaries of instructors and all but full- time trainees.
Average Expenditure by employers on vocational training ECU per employee per year ------------------------------------------------------- Denmark |390 |630 |840 |540 Germany |390 |490 |850 |540 France |330 |240 |580 |380 United Kingdom |260 |110 |140 |170 Portugal |90 |60 |70 |170 Luxembourg |90 |110 |120 |30 Netherlands |90 |20 |150 |100 Belgium |80 |80 |340 |380 Italy |60 |70 |70 |60
Employment Provision (Disabled)
Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to announce the conclusions of the ministerial review of employment provision for disabled people.
Mr. Eggar : I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 13 November ( Official Report, column 58 ). The review is at an advanced stage. The consultative document which will follow the review will be published as soon as possible.
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department's current review of
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services for people with disabilities will consider the need for legislation to outlaw unjustifiable discrimination on the grounds of disability.Mr. Eggar : Successive Governments have judged that education and persuasion of employers is the most effective approach to improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The role of legislation is being considered in the review of services to people with disabilities which this Department is currently undertaking. A consultative document covering the conclusions of the review will be published soon.
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Employees' Rights
Mr. Rooker : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has for compliance with the European social charter of fundamental rights of employees in respect of the aspects covered by his Department.
Mr. Eggar : My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made it quite clear at the European Council meeting in December in Strasbourg that the Government could not endorse the proposed charter of fundamental social rights of workers. The question of compliance does not, therefore, arise.
Action for Jobs
Mr. Terry Davis : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much of the total expenditure on the Action for Jobs campaign in 1985-86, 1986-87 and 1987-88 was attributed to printed material in each year ; how much was attributed to television advertising in each year ; and how much was attributed to other expenditure in each year.
Mr. Eggar : Expenditure on Action for Jobs television advertising in 1985-86 was nil ; in 1986-87, £9.3 million ; and 1987-88, £3 million. Expenditure on producing, printing and distributing the Action for Jobs booklet in 1985-86 was nil ; in 1986-87, £1.2 million ; and in 1987-88, £0.5 million. Other expenditure relating to the Action for Jobs campaign in 1985-86 was £40,000 ; in 1986-87, £3.4 million ; and in 1987-88, £4.5 million.
Employment Statistics
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current rate of employment in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the rest of the European Economic Community and (c) the countries covered by the European Free Trade Association.
Mr. Nicholls : The latest available information is shown in the table :
Employment in the European Community and the European Free
Trade Association
Thousands
|a. Civilian |b. Civilian |Employment
|employment |workforce | rate (a/b)
|Labour force<3> |per cent.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
European Community
1987
United Kingdom |24,747 |27,739 |89
Belgium |3,660 |4,126 |89
Denmark |2,609 |2,765 |94
France |20,988 |23,519 |89
Germany |25,456 |27,864 |91
Greece<1> |3,598 |3,884 |93
Ireland |1,074 |1,306 |82
Italy |20,584 |23,416 |88
Luxembourg<2> |164 |167 |99
Netherlands |5,251 |5,830 |90
Portugal |4,226 |4,452 |95
Spain |11,383 |14,332 |79
European free trade association
1987
Austria<1> |3,300 |3,430 |96
Finland |2,413 |2,544 |95
Iceland |129 |129 |100
Norway |2,090 |2,135 |98
Sweden<1> |4,337 |4,421 |98
Switzerland<1> |3,273 |3,297 |99
Health and Safety Inspectorate
Mr. John Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many factory inspectors are currently employed by the health and safety inspectorate ; and how many were employed in the same month of 1979.
Mr. Nicholls : On 1 January 1990, 624.5 factory inspectors were in post in the Health and Safety Executive. On 1 January 1979 the total was 709.5.
Private Licensed Coal Mines
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the private licensed coal mines known to the mines and quarries inspectorate, giving the numbers employed below ground in each case.
Mr. Nicholls : Following is a list of private licensed mines held by Her Majesty's inspectorate. Figures for persons employed at individual mines are not readily available.
County and mines |Country
| code
--------------------------------------------------------------
Fife
Lassodie No. 2 mine
Strathclyde
Viaduct A' LM
Cumbria
Mainband mine
Central
Rashiehill mine |2
Fife
Harviestoun mine |4
Lassodie mine |4
Saline mine |4
Lothian
Blinkbonny mine |7
Strathclyde
Backshot mine |10
Craigman mine |10
Glenview mine |10
Polnessan LM |10
Viaduct B' LM |10
Clwyd
Coed Talon M2 |21
Tan Llan M2 |21
Lodge Drift LM |21
Dyfed
Brynglas mine |22
Blaengrennig No. 2 mine |22
Bodyst Uchaf mine |22
Bwlch mine |22
Dynant Fach No. 1 mine |22
Dynant Fach No. 2 mine |22
Graigddu No. 2 mine |22
Royal Oak |22
Tan-y-Garn mine |22
Waunhir No. 2 mine |22
Ystrad Anthracite mine |22
Penywaun No. 2 mine |22
Oak mine |22
Gwent
Blaencuffin mine |23
Cwm Glo mine |23
Little Cwm |23
Nant Merddog |23
Old Unemployed |23
Pantygasseg |23
Pantygasseg No. 3 |23
Rithan |23
Tai Level Lo mine |23
Upper-Rha-Bryn-Oer mine |23
Winstone mine |23
Blaentillery No. 2 mine |23
Blaentwina Drift mine |23
Mid Glamorgan
Caeglas level mine |25
Fforch-y-Garran mine |25
Ffynonau Duon No. 2 M |25
Ffynonau Duon No. 2 S |25
Ffynonau Duon No. 3 M |25
Ffynonau Duon No. 4 M |25
Garnwern mine |25
Glo Mynydd mine |25
High Street |25
Nantglas Newydd |25
Scranton mine |25
Mid Glamorgan
Wern Tarw No. 2 mine |25
Tyn Wern mine |25
Craig-y-Pant mine |25
West Glamorgan
Pentwyn No. 3 |28
Nant-y-Cafn |28
Lyn |28
Abbey mine |28
Blaenmerrig mine |28
Blaenpergwm mine |28
Brawds Level mine |28
Bryndulais No. 2 mine |28
Bryn-y-Garn mine |28
Byrnant Varteg mine |28
Crugau mine |28
Crugau No. 2 mine |28
Darrell mine |28
Elwyn mine |28
Evawill mine |28
Evans No. 4 mine |28
Forest No. 3 mine |28
Glanderi mine |28
Gleison mine |28
Glen mine |28
Graig-y-Llyn mine |28
Gwynfryn No. 2 mine |28
Heol Hen mine |28
Hirfynydd mine |28
Ivyrock No. 2 |28
Llechart No. 2 |28
Meudwy |28
Nanthir |28
New Penrhiw |28
Parc Level |28
Rhaeadr No. 2 mine |28
Rheola |28
Sarn Helen |28
Tyn-y-Graig |28
Venallt mine |28
Nant-y-Glo mine |28
Carn Cornel No. 2 mine |28
Danygraig No. 3 mine |28
Ivy Rock No. 3 mine |28
March Hywel No. 2 mine |28
Nant-y-Mynydd No.2 |28
Ponty mine |28
New Parc mine |28
Nantmely No. 2 mine |28
Penhydd Newydd mine |28
Cumbria
Ladysmith M3 |39
Clrghyl Drift mine |39
Blenknsopp Castle M |39
Wrytree Farm Drift M |39
Barhaugh mine |39
Ayle East Drift mine |39
Blagill mine |39
Derbyshire
Amber Valley mine |40
Derbyshire
Doe Lea mine |40
Moorside mine |40
Strathfield mine |40
Durham
Lonnen drift mine |43
Greenland drift mine |43
Drovers drift mine |43
Middridge drift mine |43
Newfield No. 2 drift |43
Smithy Dene mine |43
Woodside drift mine |43
Barras Hill mine |43
Greenland drift mine |43
Woody Close drift mine |43
Eldon drift mine |43
Osmond Croft mine |43
Eldon drift mine |43
Gloucestershire
Addis Hill mine |46
Cannop drift mine |46
Cannop engine mine |46
Danby Lodge No. 2 mine |46
Favourite mine |46
Hayners Bailey mine |46
Hopewell in Wimberry |46
Morses level |46
New Road (Forest) level |46
Quidchurch No. 5 |46
Reddings level No. 2 |46
Stapledge No. 1 |46
Stapledge No. 2 |46
Wallsend mine |46
Addis Hill mine No. 2 |46
Beech drift mine |46
Old Park No. 2 mine |46
United Mining Parkhill |46
Hamblin Gale mine |46
Quidchurch No. 7 mine |46
Lancashire
Grime Bridge M7 |55
Dyneley M7 |55
Merrills Vale M7 |55
Royd Wood M7 |55
Thieveley M |55
Merseyside
Castle M7 |58
Quaker House M7 |58
Northumberland
Falstone mine |61
Shadfen Park drift mine |61
Tows Bank drift mine |61
Falstone No. 2 mine |61
Whittle mine |61
Staffordshire
Above Park M10 |68
Acres Nook M10 |68
Apedale 1 to 4 |68
Apedale 5 to 6 |68
Bank Top No. 2 M10 |68
Draycott Cross M10 |68
Haying Wood No. 2 M10 |68
Little Sheriff M10 |68
New High Carr No. 3 mine |68
Parklands No. 5 M10 |68
Podmore Hall M10 |68
Apedale 7 to 8 |68
Hulme mine |68
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the prosecutions mounted by the mines and quarries inspectorate against the owners of private mines in 1978-79 and each year since, giving the outcome in each case.
Mr. Nicholls : The information requested is as follows :
|Outcome |Fine (£)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1979 Ystrad Mine, Dyfed |Guilty |2,800
1980 Danygraid Mine, West Glamorgan |Guilty |7,400
1982 Nant Medlyn Mine, West Glamorgan |Guilty |1,500
1985 Darran Mine, West Glamorgan |Guilty |9,200
1987 Lassodie Mine, Fife |Guilty |1,500
1987 Saline Mine, Fife |Guilty |300
1988 Hall of Auchincross Mine, Ayrshire |Guilty |650
1989 Wrytree Drift Mine, Northumberland |Guilty |5,400
1989 Robin Rock Mine, Northumberland |Guilty |3,000
SCOTLAND
Shotts Prison
Mr. Hood : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had about his plans for Shotts prison.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : In October 1988 we published a discussion paper, "Assessment and Control", on the management of violent and disruptive prisoners, which included proposals for a new facility at Shotts prison. Responses were received from 34 organisations and individuals. My right hon. and learned Friend and I are still considering the responses received and last month I met a delegation from the Shotts local community to hear their views.
Mr. Hood : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of inmates presently in Shotts prison ; and if he will make a statement on the numbers planned for the next 10 years.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : At the end of December 1989, there were 455 places available at Shotts prison and
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442 prisoners. A further 12 places will become available in a new unit to be opened in April 1990. Plans for a new maximum security complex, providing a further 60 places, were discussed in the consultation paper "Assessment and Control", published in October 1988. My right hon. and learned Friend and I are still considering the responses to the discussion paper,and no decision has yet been reached on further developments at Shotts.Native Pinewood
Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is his most recent estimate of the area of genuinely native pinewood in Scotland that is owned by the Forestry Commission ; and how this has changed since the definitive survey by Steven and Carlisle, published in 1959 ;
(2) what is his most recent estimate of the area of genuinely native pinewood in Scotland ; how this has changed since the definitive survey by Steven and Carlisle, published in 1959 ; and what were the principal causes of these changes.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : There are some 12,500 hectares of native pinewood in Scotland, of which the Forestry Commission manages about 2,500 hectares. It is not possible to say how this has changed since 1959 as the survey by Steven and Carlisle was not undertaken in a way which enabled areas to be measured.
Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when the Forestry Commission expects to complete its first register of native pinewoods ;
(2) what plans the Forestry Commission has to monitor the extent and nature of changes to the native pinewoods in Scotland following the announcement of the new grants arrangements ; and what plans it has to monitor the progress of this part of the woodland grant scheme.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The Forestry Commission's register of native pinewoods will be an open one to which qualifying pinewoods will be added as further evidence becomes available. The commission anticipates that the main areas of native pinewoods will be registered in the next six months.
Entries on the register will be reviewed periodically which will enable the extent and nature of any changes to be determined. The commission collects detailed information on all proposals made under the woodland grant scheme, and this includes any applications for grants for native pinewoods.
Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans the Forestry Commission has to restore and regenerate native pinewoods in its ownership ; whether the commission has set an area target and timescale for this work ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The Forestry Commission will follow its recently published "Guidelines for the Management of Native Pinewoods" in managing its own native pinewoods. Management is a continuous process and the commission has not therefore considered it appropriate to commit itself to target areas or timescales.
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Forestry Commission
Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of every piece of land and buildings, owned by the Forestry Commission in Scotland, which has been sold in the last 10 years ; and if he will give such details by district location.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) on 6 November 1989 at columns 486-87 and on 3 February 1989 at column 415, to the hon. Member for Falkirk, West (Mr. Canavan) on 5 December 1984 at columns 139-50 and to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 25 July 1984 at columns 665-83. These gave lists of all the forest areas sold between 27 July 1981, the date the Forestry Act 1981 came into force, and 31 March 1989.
A list of all the other areas of land and buildings sold by the Forestry Commission over the last 10 years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Blind Persons' Privilege Tickets
Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in securing the continuation of blind persons' privilege tickets from those companies which will succeed the Scottish Bus Group following privatisation.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : This matter is currently under consideration but I hope that it will be possible to reach a conclusion shortly.
Redundant Mineworkers Payments Scheme
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the numbers and percentages of unemployed persons removed from unemployment registers as a result of changes that took effect in August 1989 in the redundant mineworkers payments scheme, by region.
Mr. Lang : The latest estimates, which are subject to revision as later data become available, suggest that the unemployment figures for Scotland have been reduced by some 1,200 as a result of mineworkers taking advantage of changes in the redundant mineworkers payments scheme. This is equivalent to 0.5 per cent. of those unemployed in Scotland at August 1989.
Figures for local authority regions within Scotland are not available.
Local Government Finance
Sir David Steel : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what information he has on the cost of the collection of debts arising out of the non-payment of rates in the 12-month period prior to the introduction of the community charge ;
(2) what are the (a) current and (b) projected costs for the collection of poll tax debts.
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