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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 12 March 1990.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Teachers (Unfair Dismissal)
Mr. Kilfedder : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to ensure that teachers will be properly protected from unfair dismissal by boards of governors having regard to the additional new powers being conferred on such boards.
Dr. Mawhinney : The employment of teachers in schools in Northern Ireland will continue to be subject to the normal contracts of employment and the protection afforded by employment legislation. Where a board of governors has the power to require a teacher to cease work at a school the Education Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 lays down clear procedures which must be followed. These provide for the employing authority to give advice to the board of governors in each case and for
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the teacher concerned to have an opportunity to makerepresentations before a decision is taken, and a subsequent right of appeal.
I shall be taking steps to ensure that forthcoming guidance to employing authorities in relation to local management of schools will stress the need for appropriate advice, support and training to be given to boards of governors in relation to their new powers in this area.
The Department of Education (NI) will also, after consultation with interested parties, be making an order modifying present employment legislation relating to the employer-employee relationship in order to ensure that the powers of boards of governors are matched by corresponding obligations.
Suicides
Mr. McNamara : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many attempted suicides were recorded in Northern Ireland during 1989 at (a) prison establishments, (b) remand establishments and (c) young offenders centres ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Cope : The precise information requested is not available as it is not possible always to distinguish between an attempted suicide and self -inflicted injury perpetrated for other reasons.
The table records incidents of self-inflicted injury in Northern Ireland prison service establishments during 1989 :
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---------------------------------------------------------- Her Majesty's Prison Belfast |9 |28|37 Her Majesty's Prison Magilligan |3 |- |3 Her Majesty's Prison Maze |3 |- |3 Her Majesty's Prison Maghaberry |3 |2 |5 Her Majesty's Young Offenders Centre Hydebank |2 |1 |3
Pre-School Education
Mr. Rathbone : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will review the availability and quality of pre-school education in Northern Ireland ; and if he will make a statement.
Dr. Mawhinney [holding answer 9 March 1990] : Responsibility for services for pre-school children is shared between the Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Education for Northern Ireland.
As part of a broader review of health and social services boards' policy on child care, the social services inspectorate of the Department of Health and Social Services is currently undertaking an examination of the level of daycare provision available for young children. The results of this review will be available shortly. Day care facilities are required to be registered by the boards, and the quality of care provided in them is monitored by regular visits by social workers.
The availability of nursery education for children under compulsory school age in nursery schools and nursery classes in primary schools is kept under review by the Department of Education, but in recent years limited
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resources for school building have made it necessary to give priority to provision for children of compulsory school age. The Department of Education monitors the quality of nursery education being provided through its inspectorate's programme of school inspections and visits.ENERGY
Natural Gas
Mrs. Wise : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) at what pressure, in the pipeline used to distribute natural gas in the United Kingdom, the natural gas is contained in (a) the high pressure regional transmission line, (b) the national transmission line, (c) the medium pressure distribution line and (d) the low pressure distribution line ;
(2) how many kilometres of pipeline are used to distribute natural gas in the United Kingdom ;
(3) of the total number of kilometres of pipeline used to distribute natural gas in the United Kingdom, how many kilometres are (a) high pressure regional transmission line, (b) national transmission line, (c) medium pressure distribution line and (d) low pressure distribution line ;
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(4) what is the age of the pipeline used to distribute natural gas in the United Kingdom.Mr. Wakeham : These are matters for British Gas plc.
Gas Meters
Mrs. Wise : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give precise figures for the results of the sample study of 100 meters mentioned in the 1989 Office of Gas Supply annual report concerning the relative accuracy of synthetic diaphragm meters and leather diaphragm meters.
Mr. Wakeham : The study referred to was commissioned by the Office of Gas Supply. It is therefore a matter for Ofgas.
Privatisation
Mrs. Gorman : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the activities his Department will carry out after the privatisation of the electricity industry and British Coal.
Mr. Wakeham : My Department will carry out such activities as are appropriate to the achievement of its objectives as stated in chapter 5 (energy) of "Government's Expenditure Plans 1990-91 to 1992-93" (Cm. 1005).
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the total sum paid out in fees to outside organisations in the furtherance of privatisation by his Department in 1979-80 and in each subsequent year ; and what is his estimate for 1990-91.
Mr. Wakeham : Total expenditure on fees paid to outside organisations in relation to the privatisation of Amersham International, Britoil and Enterprise Oil could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost. Fees paid to outside organisations in the case of the privatisation of British Gas and in the preparation for the privatisation of the electricity supply industry in England and Wales are :
£ million
|British Gas|ESI
------------------------------------------------
1985-86 |1.4 |-
1986-87 |162.4 |-
1987-88 |10.5 |0.8
1988-89 |11.1 |5.5
<1>1989-90 |2.2 |16.0
<1> Estimated outturn.
Estimated expenditure for 1990-91 will be published as part of the supply estimates later this month.
Public Relations
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what are the latest figures for the number of staff presently employed, and the full complement of staff, including vacant posts, in the press and public relations office of his Department ; and what is the proposed complement for 1990-91.
Mr. Wakeham : The staffing of my Department's press office, including the speech-writing unit, is currently 13. There are no vacancies and no decisions have been made to change the complement for 1990-91.
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Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the total expenditure by his Department on press and public relations in 1979- 80 and in each following year ; and what is his latest estimate for the current year and budget for 1990-91.
Mr. Wakeham : The estimated expenditure in 1989-90 is £615,000. This figure includes :
(i) forecast expenditure by the Press Office.
(ii) staff costs (salaries, accommodation and common services) for all permanent information service and support staff currently in post in the press office (including the speech-writing unit).
The corresponding expenditure for previous years is as follows :
|£
------------------------
1988-89 |475,000
1987-88 |460,000
1986-87 |293,000
Expenditure for the years prior to 1986-87 is not available on a comparable basis. Currently proposed expenditure for 1990-91 is £655, 000.
Statistical Divisions
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what are the latest figures for the number of staff presently employed, and the full complement of staff, including vacant posts, by grade, in the statistical divisions in his Department ; if he will differentiate between staff in statistical posts and staff in administration posts ; and if he will give the staffing complements by grade, and differentiated between statistical and administrative posts, proposed for 1990-91.
Mr. Wakeham : The latest figures are given in the table. There is one vacancy at statistician level. Complements for 1990-91 are under review.
Grade |Staff numbers
Statistician grades
Chief statistician |1
Statistician |5
Assistant statistician |2
|-------
Sub-total |8
Economist grades
Senior economic advisor |3
Senior principal economic advisor |2
Economic advisor |9.5
Senior economic assistant |3
Economic assistant |1
|-------
Sub-total |18.5
Administrative and senior open structure grades
Grade 3 |1
Grade 7 |1
Senior executive officer |5
Higher executive officer |7
Executive officer |11
Administrative officer |10
Senior personal secretary |1
Personal secretary |4
|-------
Sub-total |40
|-------
Total |66.5
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Advertising Expenditure
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what were the figures for the spending by his Department on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c)
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newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979-80 and in each following year ; and what is his latest estimate for the current year and budget for 1990-91.Mr. Wakeham : The information requested is as follows :
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£'000
|Television |Newspaper |Radio |Other
|Advertising|Advertising|Advertising|Promotional
|Material
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1989-90<2> |0 |895 |0 |1,066
1988-89 |0 |2,378 |4 |1,313
1987-88 |0 |1,513 |0 |959
1986-87 |16,300 |11,830 |1,219 |1,125
1985-86 |2,212 |1,589 |0 |<1>-
1984-85 |1,302 |1,572 |27 |<1>-
1983-84 |682 |1,770 |50 |<1>-
1982-83 |292 |955 |0 |<1>-
1981-82 |2,550 |530 |0 |<1>-
1980-81 |1,500 |1,590 |0 |<1>-
1979-80 |20 |1,280 |0 |<1>-
Notes:
<1> Expenditure on Other Promotional Material prior to 1986-87 is not
available on a comparable basis.
<2> Latest forecast.
Detailed decisions on expenditure by media in 1990-91 have not yet been taken.
Management Consultants
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what were the total fees paid out by his Department to management consultants in 1979-80 and in each following year ; and what is his latest estimate for the current year and budget for 1990-91.
Mr. Wakeham : I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Parkinson) on 13 March 1989, Official Report, column 20.
The actual expenditure in 1988-89 and the estimated expenditure in the following two years is as follows :
Financial |£ year ------------------------------ 1988-89 |27,496 1989-90 |6,000 1990-91 |12,000
Electricity Privatisation
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, further to his answer of 5 February, Official Report, columns 455-58 , whether Dewe Rogerson submitted the lowest tender for the contract it obtained in February.
Mr. Wakeham : In appointing advisers, the Department considers all the relevant factors including price, experience, capability and value for money. The relative merits of candidates, on any of these factors, is commercially sensitive and it is the Government's established practice not to reveal information on performance of candidates in tender competitions.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, further to his answer of 5 February, Official Report, columns 455-58, how many companies were invited to tender for the contracts awarded to each of the advisers listed in his reply with the exception of the UKAEA,
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Nuclear Services Group and Dewe Rogerson ; what were the names of the unsuccessful tenderers ; and whether the tender accepted was the lowest.Mr. Wakeham : It is my Department's policy to award contracts whenever possible by competitive tender, thus securing competitive rates for work. This procedure has been followed for the majority of the contracts awarded to the companies listed in my earlier reply. Details of individual cases are commercially confidential.
Kleinwort Benson
Mr. Alan Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy on how many occasions and for what purpose his Department has commissioned work from Kleinwort Benson since July 1988.
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the role of Messrs Kleinwort Benson in the planned privatisation of electricity ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy has commissioned work from Kleinwort Benson on a continuing basis since its appointment as our financial adviser to the flotation of the electricity industry.
Waste Heat
Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has made an assessment of the waste heat generated by radio and television transmission stations ; what investigations are taking place on how to enable the use of this waste heat ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Wakeham : Equipment for such purposes is available from equipment suppliers, and I understand that following discussions with my Energy Efficiency Office some four years ago the BBC now makes use of such waste heat where it is practical to do so and has initiated a plan to improve energy efficiency in all its operations.
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Oil Dumping
Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what quantity of oil is dumped each year into the North sea from drilling ; what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of such dumping ; and if he has any plans to prohibit this practice.
Mr. Wakeham : The annual report published by the Department of Energy on "Development of the Oil and Gas Resources of the United Kingdom" lists the quantity of oil discharged with drill cuttings into the sea since 1981. In 1988 the amount, from 265 wells, was 19, 480 tonnes (73.5 te/well). For 1989 the figure is in the region of 12,260 tonnes from 257 wells (47.7 te/well).
The reduction from 1988 to 1989 is due to the requirement that, as from 1 January 1989, the maximum oil on cuttings permitted to be discharged to the sea was 150 grammes oil/kilogramme cuttings. All operators who wish to use oil-based drilling muds on production and development wells must undertake a programme of defined seabed surveys. The decision to restrict the level of oil on cuttings to 150 grammes/kilogramme was based on the results of these environmental surveys.
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The North sea conference this week adopted the following provisions :(i) Each North Sea country will develop National plans by 1991 aimed at prohibiting the discharges of oil contaminated cuttings ; these plans are to be presented to the Paris Commission in 1991. (
(ii) All discharges of oil contaminated cuttings from exploration and appraisal wells will be prohibited by 1994.
(iii) The Paris Commission is to decide not later than 1992, based upon work to be carried out by the Commission, on a practical and achievable date for prohibiting the discharge of all oil contaminated cuttings.
THE ARTS
Science Museum
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will give the attendance figures at (a) the South Kensington site, (b) the Bradford site and (c) the York site of the science museum for each of the last five years ; and if he will indicate at what date charges were introduced at each site.
Mr. Luce : I am advised that the number of admissions at the science museum and the following outstations for the years 1985 to 1989 are as follows :
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Admissions 1985-89
Year |Science museum |National railway |National museum of
|(South Kensington) |museum (York) |photography, film and
|television(Bradford)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1985 |2,738,900 |1,113,700 |549,900
1986 |2,994,500 |932,900 |677,300
1987 |3,116,300 |649,800 |702,700
1988 |2,261,000 |565,600 |824,800
1989 |1,121,100 |542,700 |736,400
Figures for the years before charges were introduced are estimated attendances. I understand that admission charges were introduced at the national railway museum, York in April 1987 and at the science museum in October 1988. There are no admission charges to the national museum of photography, film and television, Bradford.
Statistical Divisions
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Minister for the Arts what are the latest figures for the number of staff presently employed, and the full complement of staff, including vacant posts, by grade, in the statistical divisions in his Department ; if he will differentiate between staff in statistical posts and staff in administration posts ; and if he will give the staffing complements by grade, and differentiated between statistical and administrative posts, proposed for 1990-91.
Mr. Luce : The Office of Arts and Libraries has no statistical divisions or posts.
Public Relations
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Minister for the Arts (1) what are the latest figures for the number of staff presently employed, and the full complement of staff, including vacant posts, in the press and public relations office of his Department ; and what is the proposed complement for 1990-91 ;
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(2) what was the total expenditure by his office on press and public relations in 1979-80 and in each following year ; and what is his latest estimate for the current year and budget for 1990- 91.Mr. Luce : The Office of Arts and Libraries is serviced by the press office of the Cabinet Office. I therefore refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to his corresponding questions in respect of the Cabinet Office.
Privatisation
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Minister for the Arts what was the total sum paid out in fees to outside organisations in the furtherance of privatisation by his Department in 1979-80 and in each subsequent year ; and what is his estimate for 1990-91.
Advertising Expenditure
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Minister for the Arts what were the figures for the spending by his office on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979-80 and in each following year ; and what is his latest estimate for the current year and budget for 1990-91.
Mr. Luce : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to his corresponding question in respect of the Cabinet Office.
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Management Consultants
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Minister for the Arts what were the total fees paid out by his office to management consultants in 1979-80 and in each following year ; and what is his latest estimate for the current year and budget for 1990-91.
Mr. Luce : The Office of Arts and Libraries was established in July 1983. No management consultants have been employed.
Arts Council
Mr. Fisher : To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he will publish a list of all Arts Council clients that have a current deficit.
Mr. Luce [holding answer 8 March 1990] : The Arts Council advises me that precise information cannot be provided until final end-year figures are available, as the financial position of arts organisations is constantly changing. In the latest survey, 43 of the Arts Council's 140 clients were projecting a deficit. Many of these were small, and most of the arts organisations concerned have put in hand action to remedy them.
NATIONAL FINANCE
Developing Countries (Debt)
82. Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has made representations to encourage British commercial banks to write down debts owed by developing countries in line with their increased provisions set aside to cover those debts.
Mr. Ryder : My right hon. Friend has made no such representations. It is for commercial banks to decide whether to write down debts owed by developing countries, in line with their own commercial judgments.
Invisible Trade
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the annual total United Kingdom trade surplus in invisibles in each year since 1985.
Mr. Norman Lamont : Estimates are available as series AIMB on the Central Statistical Office databases which is accessible via the Library.
Family Expenditure
Mr. Skinner : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of how much in combination the increases in electricity, gas, water charges, mortgage repayments and the poll tax will cost in 1990-91 as against 1989-90, for a family on average earnings with two children.
Mr. Norman Lamont : I regret that I am unable to provide this calculation.
Contingency Reserve
Mr. John Hughes : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current level of the contingency reserve.
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Mr. Norman Lamont : The reserve for 1990-91 has been set at £3 billion, as announced in the 1989 Autumn Statement.
Private Medical Insurance
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the private medical insurance industry concerning the extension of the present tax reliefs on private medical insurance.
Mr. Lilley : My right hon. Friend the Chancellor has received a number of representations.
Works of Art
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how works of art donated to the nation in lieu of Inland Revenue debts are accounted for in the budget for arts and libraries and the public expenditure planning system.
Mr. Norman Lamont : When a work of art is accepted in lieu of tax, the Inland Revenue is reimbursed for the tax forgone. Both the Office of Arts and Libraries and the Department of the Environment have vote provision to make such payments : in 1989-90 this amounted to £1 million for each of them. This provision forms part of their respective public expenditure programmes.
Also, as announced on 26 July 1985, this provision may be supplemented by access to the reserve for up to £10 million in any one year for large and important offers. When such offers are accepted, parliamentary approval for the extra provision is obtained by a supplementary estimate. This access to the reserve does not add to the planned total of public expenditure. No compensating reductions are sought from the Office of Arts and Libraries or the Department of the Environment when such access is granted.
National Income
Mr. Denzil Davies : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage, in the latest available year, of the national income of the United Kingdom was made up of wages and salaries.
Mr. Major : During 1988, the latest available year, wages and salaries made up 63.5 per cent. of national income.
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