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Multiple Births
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has as to the number of (a) twins, (b) triplets, (c) quadruplets, (d) quintuplets and (e) sextuplets born in England and Wales in 1989 ; and what was the total number of maternities in that year.
Mr. Freeman : Details of multiple births occurring in 1989 are not yet available ; it is hoped that the information will be ready in early May ; the information will be sent to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
Column 219
Broadmoor Special Hospital
Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he intends to take in the light of the report on the death of Joseph Watts in Broadmoor special hospital ; and whether he will publish the report of the special hospital service board.
Mr. Freeman : The report of the inquiry team has been the subject of detailed consideration within the Department and, in the light of the Department's initial comments, by the general manager of Broadmoor hospital. The report, with the hospital's interim response, has now been referred to the Special Hospitals Service Authority (since 1 October 1989, the body responsible for the management of the special hospitals). The authority has been asked to address the report's findings ; review follow- up action taken to date ; and consider the further handling of the report, including the arrangements for its wider distribution. We expect to receive the authority's proposals shortly, and then to make a further statement.
Hospital Travel Costs
Mr. Jacques Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to increase public awareness of the hospital travel costs scheme.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell) on 30 January at column 129. An announcement will be made as soon as possible.
AIDS
Mr. Ian Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional resources have been given to Dorset to help in the care of AIDS victims.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Wessex regional health authority has been allocated £5,027,000 in 1990-91 towards additional costs incurred in preventing the spread of HIV infection and in providing treatment and care for those who have the virus. It is for the RHA to decide allocations to district health authorities to cover the needs of people living in Dorset. We have separately given Dorset county council a grant of £13,897 this year towards the costs of its planned expenditure on social services for people with AIDS and HIV infection.
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Translators (Hospitals)
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that in all Health Service contracts placed with hospitals there is a requirement that translators are provided where any patients might need them.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Guidance to the NHS has made it clear that each district health authority will be required to place contracts which secure access to a comprehensive range of high-quality services for all members of its resident population. In doing so, they will need to take account of any particular linguistic or cultural needs. A number of interpreters and linkworkers are already employed in the NHS and the Department is encouraging the appointment of more. It must be for district health authorities themselves to negotiate the exact specifications of contracts in the light of local needs and circumstances. It would be too prescriptive to insist that all contracts required the provision of translators or interpreters.
Wheelchairs
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the report from the Disablement Services Authority regarding the provision of powered wheelchairs for outdoor use ; if he will publish the recommendations in the Official Report ; and if he intends to accept them.
Mr. Freeman : I understand that the Disablement Services Authority has now completed the indoor/outdoor electric wheelchair pilot study. A copy of the report on the study has been placed in the Library. The authority is in touch with the Department about the next steps to be taken and we shall make an announcement in due course.
HCHS Expenditure
Mr. Robin Cook : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the level of hospital and community health services expenditure on (a) staff now covered by pay review bodies, (b) other staff and (c) goods and services, in cash and constant prices in each year since 1974-75.
Mr. Freeman [holding answer 5 March 1990] : Information derived from annual accounts submitted to the Department is shown in the table.
Column 219
|c|Revenue expenditure on hospital and community health services (HCHS)|c|
Total salaries and wages expenditure
Review body staff All other staff Total Expenditure
|Non-pay
|£000 |£000 |£000 |£000 |£000 |£000
|(cash) |(at 1989-90|(cash) |(at 1989-90|(cash) |(at 1989-90
|prices) |prices) |prices)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1974-75 |953,859 |4,030,226 |838,841 |3,544,254 |558,428 |2,359,459
1975-76 |1,253,163 |4,210,941 |1,105,441 |3,714,558 |722,576 |2,428,036
1976-77 |1,437,313 |4,261,274 |1,254,433 |3,719,080 |820,606 |2,432,892
1977-78 |1,552,699 |4,044,067 |1,368,900 |3,565,355 |1,009,503 |2,629,291
1978-79 |1,745,353 |4,106,467 |1,533,099 |3,607,075 |1,143,039 |2,689,342
1979-80 |2,312,709 |4,659,068 |1,680,011 |3,384,466 |1,340,202 |2,699,904
1980-81 |3,161,777 |5,382,419 |2,081,018 |3,542,600 |1,642,636 |2,796,325
1981-82 |3,466,215 |5,374,505 |2,258,307 |3,501,595 |1,905,463 |2,954,497
1982-83 |3,746,024 |5,417,238 |2,333,346 |3,374,322 |2,061,859 |2,981,716
1983-84 |3,957,260 |5,467,390 |2,456,394 |3,393,779 |2,211,703 |3,055,711
1984-85 |4,227,113 |5,563,726 |2,551,322 |3,358,050 |2,356,419 |3,101,519
1985-86 |4,520,820 |5,647,047 |2,594,567 |3,240,926 |2,494,012 |3,115,320
1986-87 |4,949,899 |5,981,458 |2,735,157 |3,305,164 |2,632,110 |3,180,642
1987-88 |5,556,864 |6,376,946 |2,911,090 |3,340,709 |2,808,757 |3,223,273
1988-89 |6,454,412 |6,906,221 |3,107,182 |3,324,685 |2,993,451 |3,202,993
Source:
Annual accounts of regional and district health authorities in England and those of the special
health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals. (Predecessor authorities for
the years prior to 1982-83).
Notes to the table:
1. The figures have been expressed at 1989-90 prices by the use of the Gross Domestic Product
deflator.
2. Revenue expenditure on HCHS covers the total revenue expenditure by the health authorities
concerned including that on hospital, community health, patient transport (i.e. ambulance),
blood transfusion and other services. All capital expenditure and expenditure on family
practitioner services is excluded. However, the figures for the years prior to 1 April 1985
include small elements related to the administrative expenses of family practitioner committees
(FPCs) which before that date were included in the accounts of the health authorities with
which the FPCs were associated and are not separately identifiable.
3. The figures of salaries and wages expenditure are gross costs including employers
superannuation and national insurance contributions. Those for the "review body staff" for the
earliest years are slightly understated (with corresponding overstatement of those for "all
other staff") as the annual accounts did not provide for the separate identification of
salaries and wages costs currently attributed to "professions supplementary to medicine" until
1979-80. The costs of employing all non-National Health Service (agency, etc.) staff are
included with "all other staff".
4. The figures of total non-pay expenditure are essentially for the purchase of goods and
services but include some miscellaneous costs (e.g. staff travel and subsistence expenses,
student bursaries, patients allowances, etc.).
General Practitioners
Mr. Martlew : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he intends to alter the guidelines given to family practitioner committees on the drawing of general practitioners' practice boundaries.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley [holding answer 23 April 1990] : No. Subject to approval by the medical practices committee, a general practitioner may choose the area from which his patients are drawn provided he can fulfil his obligation to visit patients on his list. A general practitioner must, however, notify the family practitioner committee of his proposed practice area as a condition of acceptance on to the medical list. He may, at any time, change this area with the consent of the family practitioner committee or on appeal to the Secretary of State.
EMPLOYMENT
Child Care and Family Services
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what mechanisms his Department has to deal with services and policies on child care and family services.
Mr. Nicholls : I am a member of the interdepartmental ministerial group on women's issues which was established in 1986 to co-ordinate policy issues of special concern to women. The group meets regularly and has focused in particular on child care and domestic violence in the last 12 months.
I also chair the advisory committee on women's employment which meets regularly to discuss matters affecting women's employment. This committee includes the Equal Opportunities Commission's chair, my hon. Friend the Member for Broxbourne (Mrs. Roe), the hon. Member for Barking (Ms. Richardson), representatives of the CBI, TUC and the Women's National Commission.
My ministerial colleagues and I also meet interested groups and address meetings. In addition the Department
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maintains regular contact with the Equal Opportunities Commission, Women's National Commission and other women's organisations.Employment Training
Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when results will be available from the follow-up survey of employment training trainees, and if he will place a full copy of results in the Library.
Mr. Nicholls : When sufficient data are available to satisfy my right hon. and learned Friend of the reliability of more detailed analyses he will consider placing a report in the Library.
Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of accidents on employment training, fatal, major and minor, for each month since the start of the scheme to the latest available date.
Mr. Nicholls : ET accident figures are collected quarterly, as for YTS. The table gives the accident figures.
Accidents<1>
|Fatal |Major<2>|Minor
--------------------------------------------------------
5 September 1988 to
31 December 1988 |nil |24 |91
1 January 1989 to
31 March 1989 |nil |31 |161
1 April 1989 to
30 June 1989 |nil |53 |276
1 July 1989 to
30 September 1989 |nil |52 |286
1 October 1989 to
31 December 1989 |1<3> |67 |246
<1> Training Agency figures have been compiled on a
similar basis to those prepared by the Health and
Safety Executive on employed persons. However, the
Training Agency's figures will include a number of
accidents to trainees in educational establishments and
road traffic accidents which may not have been
reportable to the Health and Safety Executive had the
individuals been employed.
<2> Major injuries are classified according to the
severity criteria laid down in the Reporting of
Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences
Regulations 1985.
<3>This was a road traffic accident.
Column 223
Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employer-based work placements and how many project-based work placements have either been rejected or closed on health and safety grounds since employment training was introduced.
Mr. Nicholls : Separate figures for closures and rejections for employer-based and project-based work placements are not kept. The table gives figures of closures and rejections on health and safety grounds from 5 September 1988 to the present date. The figures are provisional.
Closed |Rejected --------------------------- 15 |nil
Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the annual expenditure on ET from the start of the programme to the estimated outturn for 1990-91 ; how much of that budget in cash terms was used to pay (a) the trainees' training allowances, and (b) the trainees' training premium ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholls : The table shows the annual expenditure on employment training (ET) from the start of the programme to 1990-91.
(£ million)
|1988-89 |1989-90 |1990-91
|(from 5 |provisional|estimate
|September |outturn
|1988)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total Employment
Training
expenditure |425 |1,096 |1,156
Training
allowances |151 |527 |585
Training premium
(estimated) |34 |102 |108
Employment training is currently helping over 200,000 unemployed people to obtain the skills and experience they need to get jobs. The Government believe that the level of financial support for ET trainees is reasonable given the need to devote adequate resources to maintaining the quality of training.
Availability for Work
Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment in what circumstances will an unemployed claimant, following the changes in regulations under the
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Social Security Act 1989, have good cause for refusing to take a temporary or a short-term job offered by the employment service, and if he will make a statement.Mr. Eggar : The 1989 social security provision on refusal of employment makes no distinction between long-term, short-term or temporary work. If a job is offered to an unemployed person by the employment service which he or she can reasonably be expected to do, it is for the person to show good cause for refusal. The temporary or short-term nature of the job would be only a factor to be considered by the independent adjudicating authorities, in the event of refusal, with any other reasons put forward by the claimant.
Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what guidance is given to offices about the treatment of a legally separated unemployed person with access rights to children at weekends in respect of the availability for work effect on his or her entitlement to benefit.
Mr. Eggar : There is no specific guidance issued to offices about the treatment of unemployed persons who are legally separated and who have access rights to children at weekends. A person with domestic or other commitments who restricts himself or herself to working only on certain days of the week would need to show that the restriction is reasonable and that it would not limit his or her prospects of obtaining work. Benefit can be disallowed for those days that the claimant is clearly not available, and for other days claimed if, because of restrictions imposed, he or she has no reasonable prospects of obtaining work. Each case has to be considered individually.
Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many unemployed claimants in each month since 9 October 1989, for each region and for Great Britain as a whole, have been (a) issued with warning letters for not actively seeking work, (b) had their claims referred to an adjudication officer for not actively seeking work, (c) had their claims (i) allowed or (ii) disallowed, and (d) have been referred to an adjudication officer for refusing suitable employment ; and how many of those in (d) have had their benefit disqualified.
Mr. Eggar : The table shows the statistical information for the period 9 October 1989 to 23 February 1990 on questions of "actively seeking employment" and "refusal of employment".
Column 223
|c|Actively Seeking Work and Refusal of Employment Referrals and Disqualifications|c|
|c|Period 9 October 1989-23 February 1990|c|
Actively Seeking Employment Refusal of Employment
Regions |Claimants |Claims |Allowed |Disallowed |Claims |Not |Disqualified
|Issued |Referred to |Referred to |Disqualified
|Warning |Adjudication |Adjudication
|Letters |Officer |Officer
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |914 |156 |23 |57 |33 |6 |16
Yorkshire and Humberside |874 |142 |28 |46 |89 |15 |13
East Midlands and Eastern |1,131 |186 |37 |46 |190 |73 |55
London and South East |5,828 |930 |180 |191 |1,048 |117 |159
South West |826 |207 |39 |57 |73 |21 |10
Wales |1,186 |193 |37 |40 |91 |20 |21
West Midlands |1,438 |258 |71 |114 |193 |41 |35
North West |1,918 |225 |56 |75 |107 |20 |22
Scotland |2,291 |278 |80 |72 |78 |24 |10
National |16,406 |2,575 |551 |698 |1,895 |337 |345
Marchon Chemical Plant (Fire)
Dr. Cunningham : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will instruct the Health and Safety Executive to carry out an urgent independent investigation into the fire on Thursday 19 April at the Marchon chemical plant in Whitehaven and publish its findings ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholls : Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have already begun their investigation into the circumstances of the fire at the Marchon Chemical plant in Whitehaven on 19 April 1990. The HSE does not consider that the incident warrants any special report.
Health and Safety
Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many field inspectors there were within the Health and Safety Executive for each year from 1974 to 1989 inclusive ; how many workplaces they were responsible for in each year and what was the ratio of inspectors to workplaces in each year.
Mr. Nicholls [holding answer 24 April 1990] : The information available is given for those factory, agricultural, mines and quarries inspectors working from district or area offices and the number of registered workplaces for which they were responsible. Field inspectors do not include nuclear installations or specialist inspectors.
Year |Inspector |Workplaces |Ratio of
|numbers<1><2><3>|registered<4> |to work-
|places<5>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1 July) 1975 |615.0 |n.a. |-
(1 April) 1976 |670.5 |n.a. |-
1977 |878.0 |n.a. |-
(1 January)1978 |889.0 |280,716 |1:456
1979 |888.0 |309,757 |1:432
1980 |934.5 |318,936 |1:422
1981 |905.5 |318,050 |1:432
1982 |857.5 |<6>585,296 |1:843
1983 |803.5 |<6>477,409 |1:734
1984 |781.0 |668,037 |1:855
(1 April) 1985 |793.0 |724,227 |1:913
1986 |754.0 |720,243 |1:955
1987 |757.5 |719,738 |1:950
1988 |711.5 |707,474 |1:994
1989 |722.0 |692,078 |1:959
<1>HSE was established on 1 January 1975. Centrally maintained staffing figures
became available from July of that year.
<2>Agricultural inspectors joined HSE from MAFF from March 1976, with the field
force being in place by March 1977.
<3>The Industrial Air Pollution Inspectorate transferred to the Department of
Environment on 1 April 1987 and have been excluded from the figures.
<4>The total for 1978 is for fixed premises registered with Factory Inspectorate
only. Premises registered with Mines and Quarries Inspectorate are included from
1979, with those registered with Agricultural Inspectorate being included from 1984.
<5>For consistency, mines and quarries inspectors have been excluded from the
calculation of the ratio in 1978, and agricultural inspectors have been excluded
from 1978 to 1983 (see Note <4>).
<6>The 1982 figure was the first produced from a computerised database based on the
Department of Employment Census. The database initially included premises for which
HSE was not the enforcing authority: this accounts for the high figures for 1982 and
1983.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Command Papers
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will state the respective numbers of Command Papers, under selected types or subject headings of their main topics, of Command Papers Cm 1-1, 000.
Sir Geoffrey Howe : All recent Command Papers are indexed on the Library's POLIS system. If the hon. Member will give more specific details of his particular requirements to the Library then, from the POLIS data base, references could be produced to Command Papers for the period in question, either under specific subject headings ; or by issuing Department ; or by type, such as White Papers or the treaty or European Communities series.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Enterprise Allowance Scheme
Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what impact a spouse or domestic partner of an income support claimant joining an enterprise allowance scheme has on the benefit entitlement of the claimant ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : Income support is not normally payable to a couple when either member is participating in the enterprise allowance scheme because the participant is deemed to be in remunerative work. However, if their income is low they may continue to receive help from housing benefit and community charge benefit. In addition, family credit is available to those with a dependent child.
Disabled People
Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what response he has received to "The Way Ahead : Benefits for Disabled People" from the Disablement Income Group ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Scott : The Disablement Income Group has published a report, "Short Changed by Disability" in response to "The Way Ahead" proposals. The group is a member of the Disability Benefits Consortium, which I met on 5 April to discuss "The Way Ahead". We shall give careful consideration to all their comments in carrying forward the detailed work on our proposals.
Column 227
Local Government Finance
Sir John Stanley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has issued any guidance to local authorities as to what amounts of community charge can be demanded from applicants for community charge benefit before their entitlement to benefit has been determined ; and whether he will make a statement.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : The Community Charge (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations provide that local authorities should issue rebated or unrebated community charge bills as soon as practicable after setting the community charge level. The Community Charge Benefit (General) Regulations provide that entitlement to community charge benefit should be determined within 14 days--or as soon as practicable--of the claim being received, with sufficient information, by the local authority. The administration of the benefit scheme is a matter for local authorities who must decide what action to take if they are unable to meet this requirement.
SCOTLAND
Whimbrel
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those areas of land which support more than 1 per cent. of the British population of breeding whimbrel and in each case indicate those which have been notified and confirmed as sites of special scientific interest under section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The Nature Conservancy Council advises that the majority of breeding whimbrel in Great Britain are to be found in Shetland. I refer the hon. Member to the NCC report "Shetland Moorland Bird Surveys 1986", a copy of which has been placed in the Library. Sites of special scientific interest are
Column 228
selected according to the guidelines published by the NCC in 1989. The assessment of individual sites is based upon the range and quality of the habitat required to sustain populations of protected species such as whimbrel. Other factors are also taken into account in the process of site notification in Shetland and elsewhere. As a result sites are not generally attributed to a single species but usually represent the best example of the habitat available in a particular area.Hedgerows
Mr. Colvin : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many miles of hedgerows have been removed, and how many miles planted (a) since 1 January 1960 and (b) since 1979.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The information requested is not available.
Local Government Finance
Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report in relation to each local authority in Scotland and the average for all local authorities in Scotland for the financial year 1990-91 (a) the level of net expenditure per head of population, (b) the level of net expenditure per head of population as set out in the Government's assessment of expenditure need, (c) the level of income per head of population from personal, standard and collective community charges, (d) the income from revenue support grant per head of population, (e) the income from non-domestic rates per head of population and (f) the income from the other sources per head of population all excluding reference to the water community charge.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 23 April 1990] : The information is in the table :
Column 227
|c|Expenditure (£s) per head of population|c|
|(a) |(b) |(c) |(d) |(e) |(f)
|Total Net |Grant Aided|Community |Revenue |Non- |Specific
|Expenditure|Expenditure|Charge |Support |Domestic |Grant
|Income |Grant |Rate Income
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Borders |851 |770 |131 |559 |97 |50
Central |775 |686 |158 |384 |177 |44
Dumfries |817 |754 |140 |511 |123 |43
Fife |819 |693 |183 |374 |202 |40
Grampian |764 |695 |124 |437 |163 |40
Highland |1,017 |859 |143 |613 |180 |53
Lothian |834 |651 |234 |316 |208 |57
Strathclyde |853 |741 |159 |450 |176 |59
Tayside |817 |717 |161 |444 |151 |50
Regions |838 |721 |166 |430 |176 |53
Orkney |1,242 |1,094 |98 |761 |346 |38
Shetland |2,457 |1,219 |65 |1,371 |931 |47
Western Isles |1,596 |1,170 |107 |1,267 |160 |60
Islands |1,766 |1,165 |92 |1,164 |447 |50
Berwickshire |99 |79 |23 |48 |17 |1
Ettrick and Lauderdale |104 |84 |29 |40 |28 |1
Roxburgh |118 |87 |32 |56 |22 |1
Tweeddale |99 |85 |31 |48 |20 |1
Clackmannan |163 |117 |76 |35 |51 |1
Falkirk |123 |101 |32 |27 |57 |1
Stirling |193 |133 |79 |35 |74 |7
Annandale and Eskdale |109 |83 |42 |33 |28 |0
Nithsdale |108 |89 |36 |31 |35 |1
Stewartry |96 |83 |31 |36 |19 |0
Wigtown |115 |91 |30 |50 |20 |1
Dunfermline |128 |112 |44 |25 |53 |0
Kirkcaldy |134 |110 |49 |18 |56 |1
North East Fife |140 |106 |60 |50 |29 |1
Aberdeen |183 |117 |68 |35 |74 |3
Banff and Buchan |120 |106 |42 |37 |40 |1
Gordon |120 |103 |30 |51 |17 |2
Kincardine and Deeside |90 |99 |19 |50 |20 |0
Moray |104 |111 |29 |44 |31 |1
Badenoch and Strathspey |101 |91 |26 |40 |29 |1
Caithness |103 |87 |19 |43 |31 |0
Inverness |97 |91 |19 |30 |45 |1
Lochaber |138 |94 |36 |38 |57 |2
Nairn |101 |86 |20 |57 |14 |1
Ross and Cromarty |142 |97 |35 |62 |40 |1
Skye and Lochalsh |135 |95 |21 |73 |27 |1
Sutherland |141 |107 |13 |104 |16 |1
East Lothian |176 |116 |57 |23 |62 |1
Edinburgh |198 |121 |83 |42 |69 |5
Midlothian |144 |110 |45 |55 |29 |1
West Lothian |119 |108 |40 |41 |35 |2
Argyll and Bute |179 |118 |58 |59 |51 |1
Bearsden |125 |100 |53 |57 |20 |0
Clydebank |229 |107 |68 |94 |48 |6
Clydesdale |155 |105 |57 |47 |35 |1
Cumbernauld |124 |106 |40 |37 |41 |0
Cumnock |141 |106 |44 |57 |29 |1
Cunninghame |156 |113 |50 |12 |85 |3
Dumbarton |163 |104 |73 |34 |54 |2
East Kilbride |143 |101 |76 |19 |46 |0
Eastwood |96 |101 |31 |47 |13 |0
Glasgow |286 |165 |64 |76 |108 |9
Hamilton |142 |107 |54 |44 |43 |2
Inverclyde |159 |110 |50 |70 |35 |2
Kilmarnock |131 |101 |40 |42 |41 |1
Kyle and Carrick |148 |116 |64 |38 |49 |1
Monklands |178 |114 |62 |63 |40 |7
Motherwell |156 |110 |47 |56 |40 |3
Renfrew |167 |121 |64 |42 |51 |2
Strathkelvin |142 |107 |59 |65 |25 |2
Angus |114 |108 |39 |43 |30 |1
Dundee |180 |123 |63 |47 |64 |6
Perth and Kinross |129 |106 |39 |45 |41 |1
Districts |168 |117 |55 |47 |56 |3
Scotland |1,017 |843 |219 |487 |235 |56
Notes:
1. Population as estimated by the Registrar General for Scotland at 30 June 1988 has been used in
calculating "per head" figures.
2. Total net expenditure is based on local authority budget estimates.
3. Grant Aided Expenditure (formerly assessed needs) excludes loan charges against which Revenue Support
Grant is also paid.
4. Community Charge income from personal, collective and standard charges is as estimated by local
authorities.
5. Revenue Support Grant for 1990-91 is payment made by the Scottish Office.
6. Non-Domestic Rate Income as estimated by the Scottish Office.
7. Specific Grant as estimated by local authorities.
8. No allowance is made for use of balances to finance expenditure.
Mr. Bill Walker To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details for each region of Scotland showing how the non-domestic rates are affected by revaluation and the Government's scheme to reduce the actual cash required to be paid by businesses with rateable values above and below £10,000 for the years 1990-91.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 24 April 1990] : The table sets out the non-domestic rate for each region, islands and district council for 1989-90, and for 1990-91 following revaluation. The effect of revaluation is to reduce the levels of non-domestic rate in real terms in inverse proportion to the average increase in rateable values (column 2). The rates for 1990-91 have been further
Column 230
reduced by 6.25 per cent. as the first step towards the introduction of a national non-domestic rate in Scotland (column 3). Rateable values have increased by an average of 34.4 per cent. as a result of revaluation. Only those ratepayers facing an increase in rateable value in excess of the average will see their non-domestic rate bills increase in real terms. In order to protect ratepayers from any significant increases in rate bills resulting from revaluation we are limiting annual increases in rateable value. In 1990-91 no ratepayer will be required to pay non-domestic rates on more than 1.613 times his 1989-90 rateable value and where the rateable value on 1 April 1990 is less thanColumn 231
£10,000 the limit will be reduced to 1.546 times the 1989-90 rateable value. In order to maintain the level of rate income limits have also been placed on the amount by which rateable values may be reduced following revaluation so that these arrangements have no effect on the level of rate poundages.
|Column 1 |Column 2 |Column 3
|1989-90 |1990-91 |1990-91
|Rate |Rate |Rate
|poundage |poundage |poundage
|Pre-NNDR |Post-
|Reduction|NNDR
|Reduction
|p |p |p
----------------------------------------------------------------
Borders |48.5 |38.4 |36.0
Central |56.1 |44.5 |41.7
Dumfries and Galloway |51.6 |40.9 |38.3
Fife |62.1 |49.2 |46.1
Grampian |46.0 |36.5 |34.2
Highland |55.6 |44.1 |41.3
Lothian |63.9 |50.6 |47.5
Strathclyde |61.9 |49.1 |46.0
Tayside |57.9 |45.9 |43.0
Orkney |52.9 |41.9 |39.3
Shetland |50.0 |39.6 |37.1
Western Isles |77.6 |61.5 |57.6
Berwickshire |10.1 |8.0 |7.5
Ettrick and Lauderdale |11.5 |9.1 |8.5
Roxburgh |12.7 |10.1 |9.4
Tweeddale |9.7 |7.7 |7.2
Clackmannan |20.1 |15.9 |14.9
Falkirk |16.4 |13.0 |12.2
Stirling |24.3 |19.3 |18.1
Annandale and Eskdale |12.2 |9.7 |9.1
Nithsdale |12.2 |9.7 |9.1
Stewartry |10.6 |8.4 |7.9
Wigtown |10.0 |7.9 |7.4
Dunfermline |13.6 |10.8 |10.1
Kirkcaldy |16.9 |13.4 |12.6
North East Fife |15.2 |12.0 |11.3
Aberdeen City |14.8 |11.7 |11.0
Banff and Buchan |13.2 |10.5 |9.8
Gordon |10.6 |8.4 |7.9
Kincardine and Deeside |8.7 |6.9 |6.5
Moray |11.1 |8.8 |8.2
Badenoch and Strathspey |8.5 |6.7 |6.3
Caithness |13.2 |10.5 |9.8
Inverness |10.1 |8.0 |7.5
Lochaber |15.3 |12.1 |11.4
Nairn |8.5 |6.7 |6.3
Ross and Cromarty |13.2 |10.5 |9.8
Skye and Lochalsh |12.7 |10.1 |9.4
Sutherland |9.5 |7.5 |7.1
East Lothian |18.0 |14.3 |13.4
Edinburgh City |17.7 |14.0 |13.1
Midlothian |18.0 |14.3 |13.4
West Lothian |15.9 |12.6 |11.8
Argyll and Bute |20.1 |15.9 |14.9
Bearsden and Milngavie |13.8 |10.9 |10.3
Clydebank |20.6 |16.3 |15.3
Clydesdale |17.8 |14.1 |16.2
Cumbernauld and
Kilsyth |17.5 |13.0 |13.0
Cumnock and Doon
Valley |18.0 |14.3 |13.4
Cunninghame |21.7 |17.2 |16.1
Dumbarton |20.1 |15.9 |14.9
East Kilbride |15.1 |12.0 |11.2
Eastwood |10.6 |8.4 |7.9
Glasgow City |28.1 |22.3 |20.9
Hamilton |19.1 |15.1 |14.2
Inverclyde |16.9 |13.4 |12.6
Kilmarnock and
Loudoun |17.5 |13.9 |13.0
Kyle and Carrick |18.0 |14.3 |13.4
Monklands |19.1 |15.1 |14.2
Motherwell |17.3 |13.7 |12.9
Renfrew |19.1 |15.1 |14.2
Strathkelvin |16.9 |13.4 |12.6
Angus |14.3 |11.3 |10.6
Dundee City |22.8 |18.1 |16.9
Perth and Kinross |14.8 |11.7 |11.0
Notes
1. Column 2 shows rate poundages which would have been required
in 1990-91 following revaluation were it not for the
Government's national non-domestic rate policy.
2. Column 3 shows the actual rate poundages for 1990-91 which
the Secretary of State prescribed following the £80 million
reduction in the burden on ratepayers in Scotland as the first
move towards the introduction of a national non-domestic rate.
European Community Housing Ministers
Mr. Salmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has held concerning the meeting of European Community Housing Ministers in Lille in December 1989.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 23 April 1990] : My right hon. and learned Friend has held no such discussions.
Mr. Salmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he or the Under-Secretary of State has to attend future meetings of European Community Housing Ministers.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 23 April 1990] : My right hon. and learned Friend will consider attendance at future meetings of European Community Housing Ministers in the light of the agenda for any such meetings.
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of farms by region in Scotland, on which cattle were found to have bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also had sheep on them.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 23 April 1990] : The percentage of farms from which cattle have been confirmed as suffering from bovine spongiform encephalopathy on which sheep were also present is as follows :
|per cent.
--------------------------------
Borders |90.9
Central |91.6
Dumfries |88.2
Fife |80.0
Grampian |79.0
Highland |93.3
Lothian |100.0
Orkney |60.0
Shetland |100.0
Strathclyde |86.4
Tayside |80.0
Column 233
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cattle have been confirmed as having bovine spongiform encephalopathy in each region of Scotland for each year since the disease was discovered.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 23 April 1990] : The numbers are as follows :
Region |1987 |1988 |1989 ------------------------------------------ Borders |1 |1 |9 Central |- |3 |8 Dumfries |4 |13 |32 Fife |- |- |11 Grampian |- |12 |43 Highland |- |5 |14 Lothian |1 |2 |7 Orkney |- |2 |2 Shetland |1 |- |1 Strathclyde |- |11 |64 Tayside |- |5 |17 Western Isles |- |- |-
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the incidence in percentage terms of bovine spongiform encephalopathy affected herds in each region of Scotland at 31 December 1989.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 23 April 1990] : The incidence in relation to BSE-affected dairy herds in Scotland is as follows :
|per cent.
--------------------------------
Borders |5.19
Central |6.09
Dumfries |2.16
Fife |3.88
Grampian |7.35
Highland |3.66
Lothian |4.26
Orkney |-
Shetland |3.70
Strathclyde |2.62
Tayside |6.06
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by age the cattle confirmed as having bovine spongiform encephalopathy in 1989.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 23 April 1990] : The answers are as follows :
Age |Number ---------------------- 2 years |1 3 years |14 4 years |48 5 years |43 6 years |19 7 years |3 8 years |1
Dogs
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the organisations and bodies which have responded to the consultation document "Action on Dogs."
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 23 April 1990] : One hundred and six organisations responded to the consultation paper. I am writing to the hon. Member with the details.
Column 234
Radiation
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department contributed towards the funding of the aerial survey of radioactive contamination in Galloway and Upper Nithsdale which was carried out by the Scottish Universities Research and Reactor Centre in February 1988 ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 23 April 1990] : The Scottish Office supported the survey by making available, on a shared cost basis, an inshore fisheries patrol aircraft. This contribution was equivalent to £700.
Birds of Prey
Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to eliminate illegal poisoning of birds of prey ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 23 April 1990] : Birds of prey are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The Nature Conservancy Council is presently reviewing the effectiveness of the legislation and expects to report this year. We shall consider its report and any recommendations for change most carefully.
Bed-and-Breakfast Businesses
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on the liability of
bed-and-breakfast businesses for non-domestic rates ; and if he intends to give any guidance to local authorities on the collection of rates on those bed-and-breakfast businesses which have been assessed for non-domestic rates for 1989-90.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 23 April 1990] : We have made clear our intention to clarify in legislation the boundary between domestic and non-domestic in the case of bed-and-breakfast establishments. We have recently consulted interested parties on our proposals in this respect and we are currently considering the responses to that consultation exercise before bringing forward appropriate regulations. These regulations cannot apply retrospectively and any bed-and-breakfast operator faced with an assessment for rates in respect of 1989-90 which he considers not to be justified should appeal through the normal channels. We see no need to provide guidance to local authorities on the collection of rates from bed-and-breakfast businesses.
THE ARTS
Arts (Devon)
Mr. Speller : To ask the Minister for the Arts what assistance he is giving to the promotion of the arts in Devon.
Mr. Luce : Promotion of the arts is a matter for the Arts Council and the regional arts associations. In 1990-91 it is estimated that direct spending on the arts in Devon by South West Arts and the Arts Council will be in excess of £1.25 million.
Column 235
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Sulphadimidine
Sir Richard Body : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has received any information from the United States Food and Drugs Administration about the safety of sulphadimidine.
Mr. Curry : The Department has received no new information from the Food and Drugs Administration or any other source which would affect the conclusion of the Veterinary Products Committee and the committee on toxicity that sulphadimidine can be used safely.
Caseons Lymphademitis
Mr. Robert Hicks : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number of outbreaks of caseons lymphademitis reported to his Department ; what is the number of restriction orders placed on farms ; what action he intends taking ; whether compensation will be paid to affected farmers ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean : Caseons lymphademitis has been confirmed on two premises and movement restrictions placed on a further 10 premises to date. Material taken from suspect goats and sheep is still being examined and tracing of animals connected with the source of infection is continuing. More information on the extent and nature of the infection is needed before decisions are taken on what further action is required.
Departmental Research
Mr. Cartwright : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he has estimated the effect on sales of home grown potatoes in United Kingdom supermarkets if retailers' views were taken into consideration in assessing the research priorities of his Department ;
(2) whether the views of (a) retailers and (b) growers are considered when assessing his Department's research priorities for apples and pears ;
(3) whether the views of (a) retailers and (b) growers are taken into consideration when assessing his Department's research priorities for potatoes.
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