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Property Services Agency
Mr. Livsey : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what savings the Government expect to make from the privatisation of the Property Services Agency and Crown Suppliers.
Mr. Chope : A reduction in annual Government expenditure as a result of increased efficiency within the Property Services Agency and the Crown Suppliers.
Oil Pollution
Mr. Morley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total number of reported cases of oil pollution in United Kingdom coastal and estuarial waters in (a) 1988, (b) 1989 and (c) 1990.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory [holding answer 5 February 1990] : The Department of Transport's marine pollution control unit funds a complete annual survey of oil pollution around the coasts of the United Kingdom. This is carried out by the advisory committee on pollution of the sea which draws its information from a number of sources including the Department of Transport and local authorities. A total of 559 incidents were reported during 1988. Survey results for 1989 are expected to be published in June.
The Department of Transport's own provisional figure for incidents at sea in 1989 is 246 with a further 14 incidents reported so far this year.
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Government Buildings (Clearing)
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much is spent annually in cleaning Government buildings ; and what is the major cause of environmental damage to them.
Mr. Chope [holding answer 6 February 1990] : It is not possible to say how much is spent annually in cleaning Government buildings. There is no single identifiable major cause of environmental damage to Government buildings. This can be incurred as a result of accident or by airborne or waterborne chemicals and pollutants or through weather conditions, particularly those involving extremes of heat, cold, wind, rain or tide. Records of such damage are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Water Charges
Mr. Knapman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he can now announce the charges limits for statutory water companies for the next 10 years.
Mr. Trippier : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has now determined the charges limits for six English companies and has made firm proposals to a further 20. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has determined the charges limits for the two companies based in Wales. I have placed in the Library of the House copies of a table showing the figures for each company. Proposals will be put to Mid Sussex shortly. Our proposals will allow charges to rise by 6.5 per cent. a year on average in real terms over the next five years and by less than 2 per cent. a year on average in the following five years. Over the 10 years as a whole this represents average increases each year of only 23p (in current prices) on the monthly bill. Where determinations have not yet been made, companies have 28 days within which to make further representations. Once determined charges limits may only be adjusted or reviewed by the Director General of Water Services.
In determining these limits we have considered with each company its future programmes, operating costs and financing needs to the end of this century. We have had particular regard to the improvements in drinking water quality required to secure or facilitate compliance with the requirements of the Drinking Water Quality Regulations (which incorporates the standards of the EC drinking water directive), and to the investment required to renew aging infrastructure assets and to augment water resources so as to overcome the kind of shortages experienced during recent droughts. The proposed limits provide for total investment by the 29 companies of £1.7 billion (in current prices) over the decade to the year 2000.
My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Wales have also determined the infrastructure charges limits for 27 of the statutory water companies and made revised proposals for one other. Copies of a table showing these have also been placed in the Library. The average charge will be £593, at 1990-91 prices.
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ENERGY
Computer Security
Mr. Colvin : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps his Department has and is taking to improve the security of its computer systems.
Mr. Wakeham : My Department has clear security policies and procedures for safeguarding its unclassified but sensitive computer systems but is currently tightening its procedures in consultation with the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency. Classified systems are already protected by more stringent controls.
Petroleum Licences
Mr. Caborn : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to the answer of 17 January to the hon. Member for Sheffield Central, Official Report, column 275, which two South African owned companies hold small interests in the United Kingdom offshore petroleum production licences.
Mr. Peter Morrison : The companies are Baytrust Oil Explorations Limited and Unilon Oil Explorations Limited.
Cross-Channel Electricity Interconnectors
Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if a new pricing contract for the exchange of electricity via the cross-Channel interconnectors will be completed before the end of the current financial year.
Mr. Baldry : Electricite de France has been invited to be a party to the pooling and settlement agreement. This will permit EdF to buy and sell electricity on a day-to-day basis. Negotiations are also taking place on longer-term contracts.
Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to facilitate the construction of additional cross-Channel electricity interconnectors.
Mr. Baldry : The construction of additional cross-Channel electricity interconnectors will be a wholly commercial matter for the parties concerned, subject to their obtaining the necessary planning permission.
THE ARTS
English National Ballet
Mr. Fisher : To ask the Minister for the Arts what discussions he had with the chairman of English National Ballet prior to the termination of the contracts of Mr. Peter Shanfriss and Mr. Steven Scott.
Mr. Luce : I have had no such discussions. This is entirely a matter for the board of governors of the English National Ballet.
UPSTART Theatre Company
Mr. Fisher : To ask the Minister for the Arts (1) what information he has on (a) the number of productions of, (b) the number of performances of, (c) the number of seats sold by, (d) the box office income of and (e) the size of the investment of the Arts Council in the UPSTART theatre company ;
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(2) what information he has on who the auditors approved to audit the accounts of the UPSTART theatre company are ; and whether any such accounts have been lodged with Companies House.Mr. Luce : The UPSTART theatre company was established in 1988 with the support of the Arts Council and others to generate new touring productions. I have asked the chairman of the Arts Council to write to the hon. Member with the information he requires.
Mummified Heads
Mr. Fisher : To ask the Minister for the Arts (1) what discussions he has had with the Governments of Australia and New Zealand about the future of mummified aboriginal and Maori heads in British museums ;
(2) what information he has on the (a) number and (b) location of mummified aboriginal and Maori heads and other human relics in British museums.
Mr. Luce [holding answer 5 February 1990] : I have received no representations from the Governments of Australia and New Zealand about the future of mummified aboriginal and Maori heads in British museums. I understand that of the national museums and galleries for which I am responsible, the British Museum's museum of mankind has seven Maori heads in its Oceanic collection, and the natural history museum has one mummified Maori head and one mummified aboriginal head in its keeping.
NATIONAL FINANCE
European Monetary Scheme
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the percentage of deviation quarter by quarter of the pound sterling from the central trend of the exchange rate mechanism of the EMS from 1985 to date.
Mr. Ryder : The sterling/ecu exchange rate is published in the Central Statistical Office's "Financial Statistics", table 13.1. Sterling's notional central rates against the European currency unit (ECU) up to and including 12 January 1987 are given in the Commission's booklet "The EMS : Ten Years of Progress in European Monetary Co-operation". Both publications are available in the Library of the House. Sterling's notional central rate following the reweighting of the ecu on 21 September 1989 was set at 0.728627. It was subsequently set at 0.728615 after the realignment of 8 January 1990.
Income Tax
Mr. Allen : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people pay income tax ; and how many fill in income tax returns.
Mr. Lilley : It is estimated that about 21.4 million single people and married couples (25 million individuals) will be liable to income tax in 1989-90. These estimates are based on a projection of the 1987-88 survey of personal incomes and are provisional. Approximately 8 million income tax returns were sent out for the most recent year.
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Local Government Finance
Mr. Allen : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much total revenue the poll tax is expected to raise in 1990-91 ; and what increase in income tax would raise an equivalent sum.
Mr. Norman Lamont : Total revenue from community charges in 1990-91 will depend on the level of charges set by individual charging authorities.
Money Supply
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was (a) the forecast and (b) the outturn for (i) M0 and (ii) M4 for 1988 and 1989 ; what was the cause of the differences between forecasts and outturns ; and what assessment he has made of the effects on inflation of both.
Mr. Ryder : Official forecasts for M0 and M4 are not published, but target ranges for M0 growth are set out each year in the medium-term financial strategy published in the Financial Statement and Budget Report. The target range for both 1988-89 and 1989-90 was 1 to 5 per cent. M0 growth has fallen gradually since September 1988 as a result of the progressive tightening of monetary policy. M0 is a reliable indicator of monetary conditions ; movements in broad money require careful interpretation but are also taken into account in assessing monetary conditions.
Interest Rates
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to announce a reduction in interest rates.
Mr. Ryder : There will be no early relaxation of monetary policy. Interest rates will remain high for some time to come.
Stamp Duty
Mr. Allen : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the yield and cost of collection of the stamp duty on (a) the sale of domestic housing and (b) any other categories where the information is available for the latest year for which figures are available.
Mr. Lilley : The latest available forecast of receipts from stamp duties in 1989-90, split between the major transactions from which it is derived, was given in the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley) on 30 November 1989, Official Report, columns 431- 32. About £950 million of the stamp duty on land and property is attributable to residential property. The cost of collection is expected to be around 0.3 per cent. of total stamp duties ; a separate figure for the cost of collecting duty on residential property is not available.
Mortgage Interest Rates
Mr. Allen : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the total savings for domestic mortgage payers from a 1 per cent. drop in mortgage interest rates.
Mr. Lilley : A reduction of one percentage point in the current level of mortgage interest rates would reduce total mortgage interest payments net of tax relief by about £170 million per month for the estimated 9.3 million domestic mortgage payers. This represents an average monthly saving of about £18 per mortgagor.
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Ambulance Workers (Notice Staff)
Mr. Rooker : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of production and distribution of the notice to the Treasury staff entitled, "Industrial Action in Support of Ambulance Workers" dated 23 January, Ref. : EO6L. AM/Allan/Ambulance issued by B.Fox (EOG).
Mr. Ryder : The estimated production and distribution costs were £13.
Building Societies Association
Mr. Parry : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to meet representatives from the Building Societies Association ; and what matters he proposes to discuss.
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to meet representatives from the Building Societies Association ; and what matters he proposes to discuss.
Mr. Ryder : My right hon. Friend the Chancellor does not expect to meet representatives from the Building Societies Association in the near future.
Skilball
Mr. Burns : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received concerning the revenue implications of the introduction of a spot-the-ball game to be called Skilball ; and if he will make a statement.
Japan (Trade)
Mr. Dunn : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report the extent in cash terms of export trade from the United Kingdom to the empire of Japan and the extent in cash terms of import trade from the empire of Japan to the United Kingdom ; and if he will publish figures for both for each year since 1979.
Mr. Norman Lamont : The information may be found in the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics" and its mid-year supplement, available from the Library of the House, or on the Central Statistical Office databank which may be accessed through the Library.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Animal Maltreatment
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation which will strengthen bans on ownership against persons who have maltreated dogs ; and if he will extend such bans to protect other animals.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The power already exists. As a result of section 1 of the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1988, where a person has been convicted under the Protection of Animals Act 1911 of an offence of cruelty to any animal, the court by which he is convicted may order him to be disqualified from having custody of any animal.
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Skilball
Mr. Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Gaming Board and others concerning the introduction of a gambling activity to be called Skilball ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : We understand that the promoters of "Skilball" intend it to be a prize competition in which success will depend to a substantial degree on the exercise of skill, so that it will not fall to be regulated or prohibited under the laws of gambling. Only a court could determine this question authoritatively.
The Gaming Board for Great Britain has expressed to us its concern that, in the event that "Skilball" is promoted or perceived as a form of gambling, it could have serious implications for policy on lotteries and for the general principle that demand for gambling should not be stimulated. We have also received letters from two hon. Members about "Skilball", one in his capacity as a consultant to its promoters, the other asking about its relationship to the law on lotteries.
We are at present considering the implications of the proposed competition. We have no current plan to amend the law on prize competitions such as "Skilball" is claimed to be. The position is being kept under review, and no assurance can be given that legislation may not at some stage be proposed which might affect the legality or viability of such competitions.
Hong Kong
Mr. Ashdown : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria for settlement in Britain will be required for the Asian spouses of British expatriates living in Hong Kong ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Paragraph 50 of the Immigration Rules (HC. 388) sets out the criteria for admission for settlement as the spouse of a British citizen or other person who is present and settled in the United Kingdom or who is at the same time being admitted for settlement.
Summer Time (Green Paper)
Mr. Thornton : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests have been received for a copy of the Government's Green Paper on summer time, consultative document Cm 722, since June 1989 ; and how many responses he has received as a result.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Her Majesty's Stationery Office has sold 1,082 copies. A total of 30,867 responses have been received.
Young Offenders
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, in respect of each young offender institution and remand centre, the
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numbers of (a) convicted and (b) unconvicted prisoners under the age of 16 years who are receiving fewer than 15 hours of education each week.Mr. Mellor : During the most recent week for which figures are available, all inmates under 16 years of age in young offender institutions received at least 15 hours education. The number of inmates under 16 years in remand centres who did not receive 15 hours education was as follows :
Inmates under 16 years Remand centre |Convicted |Unconvicted -------------------------------------------------------- Brockhill |2 |4 Cardiff |1 Feltham |18 |7 Glen Parva |1 Manchester |1
Sentenced Prisoners
Mr. Bermingham : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many of those persons sentenced to a gaol by a Crown court in England and Wales during 1988 had committed an offence involving (a) violence, (b) sex, (c) robbery and (d) supply of drugs ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) what proportion of (a) 17 to 20-year-olds and (b) adults were sentenced to immediate custody for (i) violence against the person, (ii) burglary, (iii) theft and handling, (iv) fraud and forgery, (v) criminal damage and (vi) drug offences in each of the Crown court centres in England and Wales during 1988 ; and if he will make a statement ;
(3) what was the average sentence length in England and Wales for (a) Crown courts, (b) magistrates courts and (c) all courts during 1988 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John Patten [holding answer 25 January 1990] : Information on the average sentence lengths by the Crown court and magistrates courts in England and Wales is given in "Criminal Statistics England and Wales 1988" (Tables 7.16 to 7.20), a copy of which is in the Library.
Information that relates to the number of persons sentenced to immediate custody by the Crown court for certain offences ; and the proportion of persons aged 17 to 20 and 21 and over who were sentenced to immediate custody by certain offences in each Crown court centre in England and Wales in 1988 is given in the tables :
Table 1 Persons sentenced to immediate custody by
the Crown Court 1988
England and Wales
Offence |Total
|immediate
|custody
--------------------------------------------------
Violence against the person |7,697
Sexual offences |2,262
Robbery |3,092
Supplying drugs (Trafficking) |2,594
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Table 2: Proportion of persons aged 17 and under 21 and 21 and over sentenced to immediate custody
for certain offences by each Crown Court centre
England and Wales 1988 Percentages
Crown Court centres Violence againBurglary Theft and Fraud and Criminal Drug offences
the person handling forgery damage
|17-20 |21+ |17-20 |21+ |17-20 |21+ |17-20 |21+ |17-20 |21+ |17-20 |21+
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Midland and Oxford Circuit
Birmingham |54 |53 |50 |58 |43 |41 |<1>15 |37 |54 |44 |<1>7 |51
Coventry |61 |54 |72 |70 |52 |56 |<1>- |57 |<1>55 |<1>50 |<1>- |<1>73
Derby |47 |44 |59 |74 |45 |45 |<1>42 |53 |<1>65 |42 |<1>- |70
Dudley |69 |52 |54 |67 |46 |44 |<1>17 |48 |<1>75 |<1>18 |<1>67 |53
Great Grimsby |<1>40 |60 |58 |47 |21 |28 |<1>50 |<1>23 |<1>40 |- |- |<1>36
Hereford |<1>70 |53 |46 |66 |<1>30 |59 |<1>33 |<1>50 |<1>100|<1>57 |- |<1>43
Leicester |48 |45 |59 |66 |45 |43 |<1>30 |46 |<1>42 |58 |<1>- |55
Lincoln |44 |39 |51 |62 |38 |44 |<1>69 |44 |<1>57 |<1>35 |<1>50 |<1>65
Northampton |58 |57 |69 |67 |31 |41 |<1>14 |46 |<1>38 |33 |- |69
Nottingham |51 |42 |70 |70 |41 |39 |<1>21 |32 |68 |41 |<1>50 |51
Oxford |66 |71 |59 |62 |38 |48 |<1>25 |56 |<1>50 |<1>47 |<1>33 |67
Peterborough |<1>45 |62 |65 |65 |<1>41 |46 |<1>- |58 |<1>100|<1>69 |<1>100|<1>60
Shrewsbury |47 |42 |71 |59 |32 |46 |<1>100|36 |<1>22 |<1>36 |<1>67 |<1>47
Stafford |53 |55 |64 |66 |43 |32 |<1>29 |43 |<1>55 |33 |<1>60 |<1>55
Stoke-on-Trent |39 |39 |42 |54 |36 |38 |<1>27 |<1>43 |<1>33 |<1>35 |<1>- |<1>47
Walsall |- |<1>- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Warwick |57 |52 |74 |70 |54 |41 |<1>- |43 |<1>69 |<1>30 |<1>50 |75
Worcester |65 |51 |64 |75 |47 |43 |<1>- |39 |<1>67 |<1>50 |<1>25 |40
Wolverhampton |57 |56 |62 |58 |45 |42 |<1>50 |51 |<1>30 |<1>53 |<1>- |<1>67
North Eastern Circuit
Beverley |42 |38 |63 |60 |34 |33 |<1>- |43 |<1>100|<1>20 |<1>100|70
Doncaster |43 |40 |56 |48 |33 |31 |<1>33 |44 |<1>38 |<1>33 |<1>- |<1>38
Durham |52 |42 |57 |52 |29 |28 |<1>- |42 |<1>25 |<1>20 |- |<1>41
Huddersfield |53 |45 |60 |55 |17 |36 |<1>- |<1>32 |- |<1>75 |- |<1>50
Kingston-upon-Hull |- |- |- |- |<1>- |<1>100|- |- |- |- |- |-
Leeds |49 |43 |54 |55 |33 |31 |<1>36 |35 |32 |35 |<1>43 |53
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |45 |50 |55 |58 |25 |33 |<1>20 |25 |<1>33 |32 |<1>25 |52
Sheffield |41 |41 |48 |54 |31 |30 |<1>17 |35 |48 |26 |<1>33 |61
Teesside |48 |39 |64 |61 |34 |30 |<1>33 |41 |<1>61 |44 |<1>67 |54
Wakefield |76 |34 |59 |52 |34 |27 |<1>- |52 |<1>100|<1>43 |- |<1>75
York |51 |40 |66 |59 |28 |33 |<1>17 |44 |<1>- |45 |- |<1>40
Northern Circuit
Barrow-in-Furness |<1>75 |<1>23 |<1>67 |<1>74 |<1>40 |<1>36 |- |<1>100|<1>100|- |<1>- |<1>50
Bolton |37 |48 |63 |51 |32 |40 |<1>10 |36 |<1>53 |<1>36 |<1>- |46
Burnley |<1>47 |52 |72 |52 |<1>38 |25 |<1>- |32 |<1>50 |<1>67 |<1>100|<1>33
Carlisle |60 |63 |63 |68 |<1>22 |39 |<1>33 |<1>50 |<1>100|<1>40 |<1>- |<1>65
Kendal |- |<1>- |<1>50 |<1>100|<1>33 |<1>20 |- |<1>- |- |- |- |-
Lancaster |<1>40 |38 |69 |72 |<1>50 |56 |<1>- |<1>67 |<1>100|<1>40 |<1>100|<1>40
Liverpool |40 |46 |63 |71 |34 |42 |<1>38 |46 |26 |41 |63 |68
Manchester |59 |50 |62 |62 |44 |42 |<1>24 |53 |31 |35 |42 |65
Preston |48 |41 |66 |65 |50 |36 |<1>20 |38 |<1>67 |42 |<1>33 |41
South Eastern Circuit
Acton |44 |41 |55 |58 |21 |29 |<1>11 |37 |<1>43 |33 |<1>33 |62
Aylesbury |69 |61 |<1>52 |67 |30 |45 |<1>20 |49 |<1>33 |<1>43 |<1>60 |73
Bury St. Edmunds |<1>53 |56 |69 |<1>81 |<1>42 |30 |<1>- |<1>45 |<1>50 |<1>40 |<1>- |<1>60
Cambridge |65 |61 |60 |59 |47 |51 |<1>100|<1>65 |<1>50 |<1>22 |<1>100|<1>64
Chelmsford |57 |47 |74 |82 |46 |49 |<1>33 |48 |<1>53 |32 |<1>50 |65
Chichester |<1>53 |38 |35 |46 |31 |33 |<1>25 |29 |<1>33 |<1>13 |- |<1>100
Croydon |21 |40 |68 |67 |22 |30 |<1>15 |36 |<1>22 |26 |<1>43 |81
Guildford |35 |33 |47 |66 |34 |37 |<1>25 |41 |<1>36 |25 |<1>20 |50
Ipswich |<1>58 |59 |55 |68 |36 |46 |<1>25 |32 |<1>100|<1>17 |<1>75 |<1>69
Isleworth |46 |50 |66 |61 |33 |40 |<1>33 |55 |<1>22 |<1>19 |58 |88
Kings Lynn |<1>50 |<1>100|<1>80 |<1>68 |<1>71 |41 |- |<1>80 |<1>50 |- |- |<1>75
Kingston Upon Thames |40 |41 |56 |62 |25 |33 |<1>- |33 |<1>13 |13 |<1>50 |44
Knightsbridge |54 |44 |51 |62 |24 |38 |<1>11 |51 |<1>9 |23 |<1>50 |51
Lewes |46 |56 |51 |60 |36 |40 |<1>50 |42 |<1>67 |40 |<1>- |46
Maidstone |55 |45 |58 |65 |32 |35 |<1>40 |41 |<1>42 |38 |<1>25 |64
Middlesex Guildhall |<1>- |<1>39 |<1>100|<1>50 |<1>25 |32 |- |<1>40 |<1>- |<1>20 |- |<1>50
Newington Causeway |60 |42 |59 |62 |38 |41 |<1>26 |51 |<1>26 |13 |48 |56
Norwich |72 |69 |67 |62 |45 |48 |<1>33 |31 |<1>50 |<1>58 |<1>60 |52
Old Bailey |55 |67 |63 |84 |39 |52 |<1>50 |63 |<1>33 |38 |<1>67 |89
Reading |58 |47 |60 |66 |34 |31 |<1>33 |26 |<1>25 |<1>46 |<1>50 |72
St. Albans |46 |46 |72 |68 |38 |34 |<1>35 |45 |<1>33 |26 |<1>33 |55
Snaresbrook |36 |38 |55 |56 |34 |38 |<1>25 |42 |<1>29 |25 |<1>50 |54
Southend |64 |50 |77 |88 |51 |35 |<1>50 |<1>55 |<1>100|<1>33 |- |<1>75
Southwark |45 |52 |49 |58 |32 |48 |<1>13 |50 |<1>55 |43 |31 |62
Wood Green |40 |38 |47 |53 |32 |33 |<1>30 |17 |<1>33 |<1>17 |<1>27 |42
Wales and Chester Circuit
Caernarvon |<1>33 |56 |65 |85 |<1>33 |53 |<1>100|<1>50 |<1>100|<1>25 |<1>- |<1>67
Cardiff |46 |46 |60 |75 |44 |40 |<1>46 |42 |<1>73 |48 |<1>75 |49
Carmarthen |<1>33 |25 |<1>100|<1>53 |<1>50 |42 |- |<1>46 |<1>- |<1>- |- |<1>29
Chester |81 |59 |64 |81 |40 |54 |<1>30 |46 |<1>45 |<1>39 |<1>- |<1>65
Dolgelau |<1>100|<1>50 |<1>50 |<1>100|<1>50 |<1>60 |- |- |<1>100|<1>- |- |-
Haverfordwest |<1>- |<1>17 |<1>100|<1>25 |<1>- |<1>- |- |<1>25 |<1>- |<1>- |<1>- |<1>-
Knutsford |50 |55 |83 |90 |27 |38 |<1>- |<1>71 |<1>100|<1>88 |<1>100|<1>75
Merthyr Tydfil |<1>52 |35 |57 |56 |<1>28 |48 |<1>40 |<1>- |<1>- |- |<1>63
Mold |74 |71 |77 |79 |60 |56 |<1>67 |39 |<1>78 |<1>50 |<1>50 |<1>70
Newport |37 |38 |60 |61 |35 |32 |<1>33 |43 |<1>67 |<1>35 |<1>100|62
Swansea |44 |36 |56 |52 |34 |35 |<1>57 |30 |<1>67 |<1>63 |<1>- |<1>62
Warrington |<1>60 |48 |73 |68 |30 |42 |- |<1>73 |- |<1>50 |<1>- |<1>57
Welshpool |- |<1>- |<1>- |<1>100|<1>33 |<1>14 |<1>- |<1>- |- |- |- |<1>100
Western Circuit
Barnstaple |<1>14 |<1>38 |<1>86 |<1>53 |<1>70 |26 |<1>50 |<1>13 |<1>100|<1>50 |- |<1>-
Bodmin |<1>57 |22 |68 |74 |36 |26 |<1>25 |31 |<1>50 |<1>100|<1>- |<1>38
Bournemouth |54 |34 |53 |63 |42 |35 |<1>50 |43 |<1>20 |<1>33 |<1>- |<1>47
Bristol |59 |44 |71 |58 |29 |34 |<1>- |35 |<1>- |18 |<1>45 |50
Dorchester |<1>67 |<1>54 |<1>43 |<1>64 |<1>67 |<1>25 |- |<1>50 |<1>100|<1>- |- |<1>45
Exeter |44 |50 |66 |58 |26 |40 |<1>100|53 |<1>33 |<1>47 |<1>100|40
Gloucester |<1>48 |34 |63 |40 |29 |36 |<1>40 |40 |<1>9 |<1>25 |<1>- |<1>55
Newport (Isle of Wight) |<1>33 |<1>26 |<1>67 |<1>44 |<1>- |<1>4 |- |<1>38 |- |<1>33 |<1>33 |8
Plymouth |<1>69 |54 |56 |55 |24 |31 |<1>- |49 |<1>- |<1>50 |<1>100|69
Portsmouth |47 |40 |38 |47 |21 |17 |<1>- |25 |<1>- |<1>- |<1>- |69
Salisbury |<1>13 |<1>17 |<1>67 |<1>78 |<1>40 |<1>30 |- |<1>75 |- |- |- |-
Southampton |33 |39 |27 |48 |29 |25 |<1>25 |22 |<1>50 |<1>20 |<1>50 |<1>75
Swindon |50 |40 |71 |64 |32 |22 |<1>- |<1>43 |<1>100|<1>30 |- |<1>40
Taunton |61 |42 |63 |54 |29 |28 |<1>50 |<1>37 |<1>- |<1>33 |<1>- |<1>22
Winchester |<1>82 |60 |55 |73 |31 |36 |<1>- |39 |<1>25 |32 |<1>50 |<1>44
England and Wales |50 |46 |60 |62 |35 |37 |27 |42 |44 |35 |44 |60
<1>denotes fewer than 25 persons sentenced in each age group.
Mr. Messam Ali Khan
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he asked the post in Islamabad to issue entry clearance to Messam Ali Khan (References : TH/28527/87 ; K223746 ; IMM/31449) ; when Mr. Khan will be issued with entry clearance ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd [holding answer 23 January 1990] : After the appeal of Messam Ali Khan against refusal of entry clearance was allowed by an adjudicator on 11 October 1989, an application for leave to appeal to the immigration appeal tribunal was made on behalf of the entry clearance officer. That application has now been withdrawn and the entry clearance officer was notified on 1 February that entry clearance should be issued.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Live Births
Mr. Doran : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the latest information he has on live births and survival at low gestational age, and on live births with estimated gestation less than 28 weeks, in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Needham [holding answer 1 February 1990] : In 1986 there were 106 live births with an estimated gestational age of less than 28 weeks. The remaining information is not available.
Column 648
Child Benefit
Mr. Squire : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on behalf of how many children are parents receiving child benefit and what is the cost of paying it.
Mr. Needham [holding answer 1 February 1990] : The number of children for whom child benefit is currently being paid in Northern Ireland is 456,000. The total amount of benefit paid for the year ended 31 March 1989 was £172,969,000. The administrative cost of paying the benefit in that year was £3,456,000.
TRANSPORT
London Assessment Studies
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy, after selecting the preferred option in stage 2B of the London assessment studies, to provide the resources necessary to implement all components of the proposals, including the public transport and traffic calming and management elements.
Mr. Atkins : I cannot anticipate decisions on what schemes will be taken forward or what priority they will have.
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department will undertake a programme of publicity and public meetings on the proposals contained in stage 2B of the London assessment studies and its document, "Traffic in London" ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : A full public consultation programme is already under way. Some 2,900 copies of the London
Column 649
assessment studies reports, and 180,000 copies of summaries of the consultants work, with leaflets giving the Department's initial views, have been printed ; 4,500 copies of the "Traffic in London" discussion document have been issued.Displays of the assessment studies options have been mounted in public libraries and at other locations throughout the study areas. Arrangements have been made for Department of Transport officials to attend over 20 public meetings arranged by boroughs to explain the study options and the Department's initial views. The officials will answer questions about the "Traffic in London" initiatives.
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department took to ensure consistency in the level and detail of information its consultants have released on the proposals contained in stage 2B of the London assessment studies.
Mr. Atkins : The Department has sought to ensure consistency by arranging for discussions between the consultants.
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make it his policy that, before reaching a final decision on stage 2B of the London assessment studies and the introduction of the priority route network proposals, their combined impact on traffic and movement in the capital will be assessed using the LTS model and that the results will be published.
Mr. Atkins : We are proposing a pilot scheme which will assess the effectiveness of priority routes. We are also consulting local authorities and others on the composition of the network. It will not be possible to estimate the overall effects of the network until this work is completed. Any schemes adopted following the assessment studies will be subject to further detailed appraisal.
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether he will undertake and publish a detailed analysis of the environmental impact of the proposals contained in stage 2B of the London assessment studies and his Department's document "Traffic in London" ;
(2) whether, before reaching a final decision on stage 2B of the London assessment studies, and the introduction of the priority route network proposals outlined in "Traffic in London", they will be assessed in the context of the Pearce report on sustainable development.
Mr. Atkins : A full and detailed analysis of the environmental impact of the assessment study options is contained in the consultants' stage 2 reports published on 14 December. The Pearce report findings will be taken into account along with all relevant factors when decisions are taken on what proposals, if any, should be taken forward.
Rail Electrification
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has now had with the chairman of British Rail on the time scale of the electrification of the
Edinburgh-Linlithgow-Falkirk-Glasgow and Edinburgh-Dundee-Aberdeen lines.
Mr. Portillo : It is for British Rail to bring forward any worthwhile proposals for electrification.
Column 650
Airmiss (Tranent)
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passengers and crew were on the BAC1-11 flight which was involved in an airmiss with a Tornado aircraft over Tranent on 2 August 1989 ; what airline it belonged to ; what was its flight number ; and from which airport it was flying.
Mr. McLoughlin : Anonymity in airmiss investigation is preserved in the interest of full and frank reporting of incidents. This does not inhibit thorough investigation or follow-up action to remedy any failings which are uncovered. There is no reason to change this practice over the incident at Tranent on 2 August 1989.
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will amend the air traffic regulations to establish the responsibility of an air traffic controller for vectoring aircraft in controlled or special rules airspace in respect of both the vertical and horizontal planes, in line with the recommendation of the joint airmiss working group following the incident over Tranent on 2 August 1989.
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