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Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 13 February, what factors led him to change his policy in respect of the level of compensation payable in respect of bovine spongiform encephalopathy cattle.
Mr. Maclean : The effect of the disease on the farming industy is becoming greater. It was clearly appropriate to ask whether the compensation arrangements continued to be right when the number of cases will continue to rise and cannot be expected to decline until after 1993.
Meat Products (Blood Enzymes)
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps his Department takes to ensure that mechanically recovered meat contains no spinal tissue ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean : The Department brought into force the Bovine Offal (Prohibition) Regulations 1989 which prohibit, as an
ultra-precautionary measure, the use of specified bovine offal in food for sale for human consumption.
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he has discussed, or will discuss, the development of meat products incorporating a gel containing blood enzymes with his Dutch counterpart ; and if he will make a statement ;
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(2) if he has made an assessment of the benefits to the consumers from the introduction of meat products incorporating a gel containing blood enzymes ; and if he will make a statement ;(3) if he has made an assessment of the effects on profit levels within the meat trade, both wholesale and retail, from the introduction of meat products incorporating a gel containing blood enzymes ; and if he will make a statement ;
(4) if he has received any representations from the meat trade in respect of the description to be used on any labelling of meat products incorporating a gel containing blood enzymes ; and if he will make a statement ;
(5) if meat products incorporating a gel containing blood enzymes require specific clearance before being allowed to go on sale ; and if he will make a statement ;
(6) what form of words he deems acceptable to describe meat products incorporating a gel containing blood enzymes ; and if he will make a statement ;
(7) what information he has as to whether meat products incorporating a gel containing blood enzymes have been tested by British meat companies ; and if he will make a statement ; (8) what representations he has had from (a) the meat trade, (b) consumers' organisations and (c) other sources in connection with meat products incorporating a gel containing blood enzymes ; and if he will make a statement ;
(9) what research he is conducting into the safety of meat products incorporating a gel containing blood enzymes ; and if he will make a statement ;
(10) when his Department first learnt of the development of meat products incorporating a gel containing blood enzymes ;
(11) whether any meat products incorporating a gel containing blood enzymes are on sale in this country ; and if he will make a statement ;
(12) whether any research funded by his Department is taking place in respect of meat products incorporating a gel containining blood enzymes ; and if he will make a statement ;
(13) whether meat products incorporating a gel containg blood enzymes have been imported into Britain ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean : Should a company decide to use this technique for the preparation of meat products it would need to ensure that the product was safe and labelled in accordance with the Food Labelling Regulations 1984. This would apply equally to home-produced and imported products. In particular, those regulations require that food labels carry details of any process which the product has undergone where the omission of such detail would mislead the consumer, details of any ingredients used in the product which would include blood enzymes, and a name for the food which would distinguish it from any other foodstuff with which it might be confused.
Misleading labelling of food is an offence under the Food Act 1984. It is not for me to suggest particular forms of words for labels. A company would need to decide what description of this or any similar process would adequately explain to its intended customers the exact nature of the foodstuff. Trading standards officers are responsible for enforcing the law : I expect that they are already aware of the development of this process but I am drawing the matter to their attention.
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The labelling rules apply equally to catering supplies as they do to retail sales. As part of its current labelling review I have already asked the Food Advisory Committee to look at the difficult matter of information provided to customers in restaurants, cafes or other catering outlets.I was made aware only recently of the process that has been developed in the Netherlands but I have no indications that it produces a foodstuff which is unsafe. The process has been developed by a very reputable Dutch institute and the data available so far to my Department do not indicate any need for us to engage in our own research. There is no reason, therefore, for me to seek discussions with my Dutch counterpart. Furthermore, I have received no inquiries on the matter apart from those of the hon. Gentleman and his hon. and noble Friends.
It would be a commercial decision for a British company to choose to use this technique in the production of its meat products. I am not aware of any company that has so decided, nor is it my understanding that any such products are currently being marketed in the United Kingdom, or in the Netherlands.
However, my Department is monitoring developments closely and I will take any further action that seems appropriate in the interests of either food safety or consumer protection.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Immigration Appeals (Reports)
Mr. Madden : To ask the Attorney-General what action is being taken to increase the numbers of immigration appeal reports published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office ; how many such reports were sold in each of the last three years ; and what representations he has received about the supply of such reports not meeting the demand.
The Attorney-General : Immigration appeal reports are published quarterly by HMSO. This year HMSO will increase the number of reports printed each quarter from 500 to 550. The number of reports sold in each quarter of each of the last three years is shown in the table :
|1987 |1988 |1989
---------------------------------------
First Quarter |525 |522 |494
Second Quarter |504 |508 |518
Third Quarter |498 |521 |476
Fourth Quarter |513 |508 |452
|--- |--- |---
Total |2,040|2,059|1,940
HMSO printed 600 reports each quarter in 1987 and 1988 and 500 each quarter in 1989 (except the second quarter when an additional 100 were reprinted after stocks had sold out).
The Lord Chancellor received representations about the supply of these reports from the hon. Member on 15 February.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Violent Crime
Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what, in each of the past three years, has been the clear-up rate for reported offences involving violent crime.
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Mr. John Patten : The information requested is published in table 2.17 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1988", Cm 847, a copy of which is available in the Library.New Prisons
Mr. Heffer : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received (a) supporting and (b) opposing the building of the new prison at Fazakerly, Liverpool ; and if he will list them.
Mr. Mellor : In addition to those from the hon. Member representations opposing the proposal have been received from Liverpool city council, South Sefton (Merseyside) health authority, Aintree parish council, a delegation of local residents and six individual local residents. No representations of support have been received.
Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make it his policy that all victims of violence, rape and child abuse should be made aware of the financial assistance provided by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John Patten : It is already our policy that all victims of violence, rape and child abuse (and of other offences which might result in an award) should be aware of the possibility of compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. We have made available through the police service a leaflet entitled "Victims of Crime", which describes how compensation may be available from the offender by order of a criminal or civil court, or from the criminal injuries compensation scheme. Victim support schemes (which with Government encouragement and public money, have expanded to cover 94 per cent. of the population of England and Wales) also play a part in informing victims of their rights. The board itself has given detailed guidance to all social services departments and local victim support schemes about the availability of awards in child abuse cases, and this guidance has been made available to all citizens advice bureaux.
Homosexual Acts
Mr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in each of the years 1988 and 1989 how many men aged between 16 and 21 years were prosecuted for consenting homosexual acts with other males in the United Kingdom.
Mr. John Patten : Information is not available centrally on the number of males of 16 or over but under 21 who are prosecuted for the offences of buggery and attempted buggery with another male with his consent. In England and Wales in 1988, 71 males of 16 or over but under 21 were prosecuted for an act of gross indecency with another male.
Information for 1989 will not be available until autumn 1990. Similar information is not readily available for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
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Mrs. Jan Begum
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Bradford, West of 6 February, Official Report, column 543, concerning the application of Mrs. Jan Begum, ref. H 197247/4, for British citizenship, when and where Mrs. Jan Begum was invited to take the oath of allegiance ; and when he expects to issue her certificate.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : An invitation to Mrs. Jan Begum, ref. H 197247, to take an oath of allegiance was sent on 12 September 1989 to her son Mr. Khalil Hussain of 13 Tile street, Bradford 8, who has acted as her agent in connection with her application. As no reply had by then been received, a second invitation to take the oath was sent on 6 February 1990 to Hussain at the same address. As soon as Mrs. Jan Begum has taken the oath, a certificate of registration as a British citizen will be issued to her.
Police Precept (Newham)
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the amounts of the precepts made by the Metropolitan police on the London borough of Newham for each of the financial years 1987-88, 1988-89, 1989-90 and 1990-91, together with the related percentage in cash and real terms, respectively.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I will write to the hon. Member.
Under-age Drinking
Mr. O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to enable the police to take stronger measures to stop under-age drinking ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Minister of State gave to his question on 25 January at column 882.
Mr. O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the question of under-age drinking ; what further action he intends to take to stop the sale of alcohol to children ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : In 1989 we received some 40 letters specifically on the subject of under-age drinking. The Licensing Act 1988 strengthened the offence of selling alcohol to young people under 18 by placing a greater responsibility on licensees and their staff. The Act also increased the maximum penalty for this offence and made wholesalers' premises subject to this provision of licensing law. We have no present plans for any further changes to the law but we take a serious view of the problem of under-age drinking and it is kept under constant review.
Prison Population
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for reducing the prison population ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John Patten [holding answer 9 February 1990] : Our proposals were set out in the White Paper "Crime, Justice and Protecting the Public" (Cm. 965), published on 6 February. They have been widely welcomed.
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Information Storage
Mr. Rathbone : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will initiate an interdepartmental review of all present legislation regarding information storage and retrieval to identify any amendment required to enable financial institutions, including building societies, legally to take actions required under other legislation to check on and to stop criminal money laundering and other criminal financial activities.
Mr. Ryder : I have been asked to reply.
No. Section 24 of the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986 is drafted so as to allow financial institutions to disclose to the authorities transactions which they suspect of being linked to drugs trafficking without breaching legislation regarding data storage and retrieval. I am not aware that financial institutions have experienced difficulties in this respect, but the Government have made it clear that the 1986 Act is subject to review, and if particular problems arise the necessary action will be taken.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Private Security Firms
Mr. George : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the names of all the private security firms currently employed by his Department, the number of employees for each firm on the contract, the total value of each contract and the total value of all contracts for each financial year since 1984-85.
Mr. Sainsbury : The Foreign and Commonwealth Office currently employs :
(a) Group 4 Total Security Ltd. (on a call-out basis only), and (b) Security Express Guards Ltd. (cash in transit service only).
The value of the contracts is commercially confidential. Until 1987 we also employed Reliance Security. Detailed information on this, and earlier records for (a) and (b) , are not kept in a centralised form and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
A number of Her Majesty's overseas missions also employ private security firms. Again, detailed records are not kept centrally.
NATO
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom has made any special allocation of funds to the NATO advanced study institutes and advanced research workshops for 1990 ; and what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards support of these NATO initiatives in coming years.
Mr. Waldegrave : The United Kingdom has contributed to the funding of the NATO advanced study institutes and advanced research workshops through its share of the 1990 NATO science budget. We fully support the continuation of these programmes which are of benefit to scientists from both the United Kingdom and other NATO countries.
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Madrid Talks
Mr. Jacques Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent talks in Madrid.
Mr. Sainsbury : At the conclusion of talks between the British and Argentine delegations in Madrid, it was agreed that diplomatic relations between our two countries, which were broken off at the time of the Falklands conflict in 1982, should be restored. The exchange of ambassadors will follow in due course. A copy of the joint statement issued on 15 February with its annexes will be placed in the Library of the House.
We look forward to a new chapter in Anglo-Argentine relations : to the re- establishment of cultural relations, co-operation in fighting drugs and on environmental issues and an agreement to promote and protect investment. We have also undertaken to facilitate a visit by Argentine next-of-kin to their military cemetery on the Falklands under the supervision of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
We agreed to abolish the present visa regime in the near future and shall discuss the practical details involved. It will still be necessary for Argentine citizens to obtain visas before entering the Falkland Islands.
Both Governments have agreed on a series of measures to increase confidence in the region. These include : the establishment of a direct military communications link between the British forces in the Falkland Islands and Argentina ; the introduction of rules of reciprocal behaviour for naval and air units operating in proximity ; measures to facilitate air and maritime safety and navigation ; notification of military manoeuvres and exercises in a large area of the south Atlantic ; and mutual notification for military aircraft and naval vessels approaching the coasts of the Falklands or Argentina. Each Government retain the right, if they believe it necessary, to withhold agreement to movements which have been notified and which would come within 70 nautical miles (for aircraft) or 50 nautical miles (for ships) of their coasts.
As of 31 March these new arrangements will come into force and the Falkland Islands protection zone will be lifted.
The Governor has briefed Falkland Islands councillors on the results of these talks. We believe that the reduction in tension, the removal of obstacles to air and sea links between the islands and South America and the opportunity for talks on fish conservation will be welcome in the islands.
The normalisation of relations with Argentina has been achieved without discussion of sovereignty over the Falklands. The Government's determination to defend the islanders' right to determine their own future remains firm.
DEFENCE
Air-Sea Rescue (Republic of Ireland)
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the extent of involvement of Ministry of Defence personnel and equipment in air-sea rescue missions around the coast of the Republic of Ireland during the weekend 2 to 5 February ; what was the estimated cost of these operations ; what contribution to the cost is being made by the Republic of Ireland ; and
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what is the net cost to United Kingdom taxpayers to provide this air-sea rescue service in and around the Republic of Ireland that weekend.Mr. Archie Hamilton : Two RAF Nimrods from RAF St. Mawgan and three RAF Sea Kings from RAF Brawdy and associated aircrews were involved in operations on 5 February to assist the bulk carrier Tribulus when she got into difficulties some 270 miles south-west of Bantry bay in the Republic of Ireland, within the United Kingdom search and rescue region. The estimated cost of these military deployments was £275, 000. The Government of the Republic of Ireland were not requested to make a contribution to the cost of these operations since they were carried out in an area for which the United Kingdom is responsible. In general, the question of charging foreign Governments for civil search and rescue incidents is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport.
Polish Refugees
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance is to be made available to Polish refugees who settled in the United Kingdom under the Polish Resettlement Act 1947 and who now wish to return to Poland to assist the democratic process.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State for the Armed Forces will write to my hon. Friend.
Job Losses
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what projections of job losses in the defence industries have been made over each of the next five years ; and what measures he is proposing to compensate for potential job losses in the defence industries.
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Mr. Alan Clark : I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) on 6 February, Official Report, c. 594- 95.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many defence industry jobs have been lost in each of the last 10 years.
Mr. Alan Clark : I refer the hon. Member to the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989, volume 2, table 6.8.
Trident Submarines
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the expected savings on the cancellation at this stage of the fourth Trident submarine.
Mr. Alan Clark : It is difficult to quantify accurately the savings that would result because a contract has yet to be placed. It is estimated that savings in the order of £500 million would result if it were decided at this stage not to proceed with the planned order for the fourth Vanguard class submarine.
Forces (Homosexuality)
Mr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in each of the years 1987, 1988 and 1989, how many service men and women were dismissed from the Army, Navy and Air Force as a result of their homosexuality or homosexual behaviour ; prior to their dismissal, how many of these served custodial sentences as a result of their involvement in homosexual acts ; and what were the longest and average sentences served by them.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The information on those dismissed following conviction by court martial or summary trial is as follows :
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|Number dismissed |Number who served |Longest |Average
|custodial sentences|sentence |sentence
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Royal Navy
1987 |5 |5 |75 days |51 days
1988 |2 |2 |90 days |75 days
1989 |2 |0 |- |-
Army
1987 |4 |4 |9 months |5 months
1988 |7 |7 |2 years |1 year
1989 |4 |4 |9 months |5 months
Royal Air Force
1987 |6 |3 |98 days |70 days
1988 |1 |0 |- |-
1989 |1 |1 |18 months |18 months
It should be noted that figures for custodial sentences do not always relate purely to homosexual behaviour. Cases relating to homosexuality can also involve other offences against service discipline or criminal law and therefore the accused could be answering more than one charge. If found guilty, the sentence passed will take all relevant factors into account, hence the diversity of custodial sentences shown in the table.
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Captain Fred Holroyd
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Linlithgow of 1 February, Official Report, column 340, on the book "War Without Honour", what steps he has taken to ascertain on what authority Captain Fred Holroyd was assigned to (a) the military wing of Musgrave Park hospital and (b) Netley hospital ; and if he will cause an investigation to be undertaken as to whether the proper procedures under the Mental Health Act 1959 were followed.
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Mr. Archie Hamilton : The procedures followed in the case of Captain Holroyd were consistent with the Army Act 1955, as amended by the Mental Health Act 1959, and the regulations for the Army medical services.No other investigations are considered necessary.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he made, pursuant to his answer to the Adjournment debate of 12 February, Official Report, column 115, of the implications for his policy of his reading of "War Without Honour" about the exploits of Captain Holroyd.
MOD Establishments
Mr. Rogers : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many Ministry of Defence establishments there are in Wales ; how many service men are stationed in them ; and how many civilians are employed ;
(2) if he will list the Army establishments in Wales with their functions and the number of (a) service men and (b) civilians employed in each of them ;
(3) if he will list the munitions bases and factories in Wales and their functions and the number of (a) service men and (b) civilians employed in each of them ;
(4) if he will list the royal aircraft establishments in Wales with their functions and the number of (a) service men and (b) civilians employed in each of them ;
(5) if he will list the Royal Air Force establishments in Wales with their functions and the number of (a) service men and (b) civilians employed in each of them ;
(6) if he will list the Royal Navy establishments in Wales with their functions and the number of (a) service men and (b) civilians employed in each of them ;
(7) if he will list the United States bases in Wales with their functions and the number of (a) service men and (b) civilians employed in each of them.
Mr. Archie Hamilton [holding answer 8 February 1990] : It would not be in the public interest to make available information on the numbers of personnel in United Kingdom military bases and facilities at the level of detail requested. However, I can give the following information.
There are 14 major Ministry of Defence establishments in Wales. These are shown with their functions in the table. As at 31 December 1989 the total number of service personnel and civilians employed in these establishments and at other locations in the Principality was 5,809 and 5,470 respectively. Of the former, 44 were Royal Navy, 417 Army, 4,942 Royal Air Force and 406 United States forces.
Establishment |Main function
|Brecon |HQ Wales and NCO Tactical Wing
Castlemartin |Armoured Corps Training Area
Sennybridge |Principal Army Training Area
Bridgend |Army Vehicle Workshop
RNAD Milford Haven |Royal Naval Armament Depot
RNAD Trecwn |Royal Naval Armament Depot
AWE Llanishen |Atomic Weapons Establishment
RAF Brawdy |RAF Tactical Weapons Training and United States Oceanographic Research Unit
RAF St. Athan |Maintenance and repair of aircraft and technical training
RAF Sealand |Specialist repair service for avionic equipment
RAF Valley |Advanced Flying Training
RAF Caerwent |United States Army Ammunition Storage Facility
RAE Aberporth |Royal Aerospace Establishment
MSD Pembroke Dock |Marine and Salvage Depot
HEALTH
Health Authority Deficits
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the deficit of each health authority for (a) 1988-89 and (b) the latest available month.
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