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Gallipoli
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on parliamentary representation at official ceremonies to mark the anniversary of Gallipoli.
The Prime Minister : The Defence Secretary and I represented Her Majesty's Government at the ceremonies in Gallipoli on 25 April. As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said in a letter to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 5 March, he hoped that a cross party ANZAC group of Members of Parliament and Peers would be represented.
The ceremonies at the Cenotaph and Westminster abbey were attended by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary as well as by other Members of Parliament from a number of parties.
National Curriculum
Mr. Latham : To ask the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement on the introduction of the arrangements for the national curriculum under the Education Reform Act 1988 ; and what action is being taken to reduce the burden of form filling by teachers.
The Prime Minister : We need the national curriculum to raise standards in our schools. There is welcome evidence from Her Majesty's inspectorate that many schools are making satisfactory progress with implementing the national curriculum. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science is taking
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great care that the new requirements are introduced in a way that does not overburden teachers. He has been particularly concerned to limit the paperwork required of teachers and has taken a number of steps to this effect, including, for example, changes to the proposed requirements for statutory curriculum information.Privatisation
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the Government's privatisation programme since 1979, and what were (a) the net receipts from each sale, (b) the number of shareholders now registered for each privatised company, (c) the number of employee shareholders in each privatised company and (d) the profit or loss for each company in their final year in state ownership.
The Prime Minister : Privatisation is recognised worldwide as one of this Government's bold and far-reaching achievements. Twenty-nine major businesses have been privatised and almost 50 per cent. of the 1979 state sector and around 800,000 jobs have been transferred to the private sector. Receipts so far amount to some £27.5 billion, with future sales projected at a rate of about £5 billion a year. The information my hon. Friend requests is as follows. Figures for the number of shareholders are taken from the latest published reports and accounts of the companies, which do not provide the figures for employee shareholders.
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Company |Date of |Net proceeds |Number of |Profit (loss)
|privatisation|to HMG |shareholders |before
|privatisation
|£ million |£ million
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
British Petroleum (residue sale) |1979 |276
|1981 |8
|1983 |543
|1987 |5,322 |592,602 |n/a
British Aerospace |1981 |43 |97,600 |52.8
|1985 |347
Cable and Wireless |1981 |181 |170,146 |64.1
|1983 |263
|1985 |580
Amersham International |1982 |60 |5,854 |4.8
National Freight Consortium |1982 |53 |<1>45,000 |4.3
Britoil<2> |1982 |626 |165,200 |423.1
|1985 |426
Associated British Ports |1983 |46 |<1>12,000 |5.5
|1984 |51
Enterprise Oil |1984 |382 |10,207 |83.2
Sealink (trade sale) |1984 |<3>- |n/a |12.8
Jaguar |1984 |<3>- |<4>41,789 |50
British Telecom |1984 |3,681 |1,203,243 |990
British Shipbuilders Warship Yards (trade sale) |1984-85 |<3>- |n/a |18
British Gas |1986 |<5>7,731 |2,695,450 |782
British Airways |1987 |850 |38,350 |195
Royal Ordnance (trade sale) |1987 |185 |n/a |26
Rolls Royce |1987 |1,028 |738,659 |120
BAA |1987 |1,183 |889,067 |84
Rover (trade sale) |1988 |150 |n/a |28
British Steel |1988 |2,437 |419,726 |207
10 Water Companies |1989 |<6>3,480
Anglian Water |1989 |<7>274,167 |72.7
Northumbrian Water |1989 |255,476 |6.4
North West Water |1989 |244,491 |44.3
Severn Trent |1989 |317,673 |97.5
Southern Water |1989 |261,704 |65.1
South West Water |1989 |129,064 |38.1
Thames Water |1989 |680,816 |207.2
Welsh Water |1989 |143,099 |24.9
Wessex Water |1989 |188,541 |24.1
Yorkshire Water |1989 |210,091 |55.7
Notes:
n/a-Not available.
<1>Approximate.
<2>Part of BP since 1988. Shareholder figure given for 1987.
<3>Proceeds went to the nationalised industry as vendor as follows:
Sealink: £66 million to British Rail;
Jaguar: £297 million to British Leyland;
Warship Yards: £54 million to British Shipbuilders.
<4>Jaguar shares no longer listed-part of Ford. Figure as October 1989.
<5>Includes £2,500 million debenture repayable to the Consolidated Fund.
<6>Includes £73 million debenture repayable to the Consolidated Fund.
<7>Shareholder figures for the water companies represent the number of original allocatees recorded on the interim
register for each company. This information was originally given by the Minister with responsibility for Water in a
Written Answer on 24 January 1989 (Vol. 165, col. 747.)
Upper Bann
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Prime Minister whether she proposes to visit the constituency of Upper Bann before 17 May.
The Prime Minister : I have at present no plans to do so.
Council of Europe
Mr. Hill : To ask the Prime Minister if she will announce the composition of the United Kingdom delegation for the 42nd session of the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe.
The Prime Minister : The 42nd session parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe will be opened in Strasbourg on 7 May 1990. The delegation from the United Kingdom for the session will consist of 11 members of the Conservative party, six members of the Labour party and one member of the Liberal Democrats. I have also appointed a number of substitute delegates.
The appointments of representatives and substitutes have been made on the basis of nominations by the leaders of those parties concerned.
The same delegation will be representing the United Kingdom Parliament at the assembly of the Western European Union, which next meets in Paris on 5 June.
Representatives from the Conservative Benches will be my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead and Highgate (Sir. G. Finsberg), who will act as leader of both delegations, and the hon. Members for Warwick and Leamington (Sir D. Smith), for Southampton, Test (Mr.
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Hill), for Twickenham (Mr. Jessel), for Northampton, South (Mr. Morris), for Halesowen and Stourbridge (Sir J. Stokes), for Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Wilkinson), for Ashford (Mr. Speed), for Streatham (Sir W. Shelton), for Medway (Dame P. Fenner) and the Earl of Kinnoull.Representatives from the Labour party will be the hon. Members for Neath (Mr. Coleman), for Wallsend (Mr. Garrett), for Wentworth (Mr. Hardy), for Tooting (Mr. Cox), for Liverpool, Riverside (Mr. Parry), and for Falkirk, East (Mr. Ewing).
Representatives from the Liberal Democrats will be the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber (Sir R. Johnston).
The following substitutes have been appointed to act as necessary on behalf of the delegates. From the Conservative Benches, the hon. Members for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson), for Broxbourne (Mrs. Roe), for Norfolk, North (Mr. Howell), for Poole (Mr. Ward, for Lewes (Mr. Rathbone), for Brighton, Kempton (Mr. Bowden), for Suffolk, Central (Mr. Lord), for Ravensbourne (Sir J. Hunt), Lord Newall and Lord Rodney.
From the Labour Party, the hon. Members for Wansbeck (Mr. Thompson), for Manchester, Central (Mr. Litherland), for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond), for Warley, East (Mr. Faulds), for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks), for Cunninghame, South (Mr. Lambie) and Lord Kirkhill. From the Liberal Democrats, Lord Mackie of Benshie.
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EMPLOYMENT
Nuclear Installations Inspectorate
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the recent publications by the Health and Safety Executive on the work of the nuclear installations inspectorate.
Mr. Nicholls : I welcome the publication by the Health and Safety Executive of the booklet and leaflet entitled "The Work of HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate" and "Nuclear Energy and the NII" respectively. These should assist public understanding of the important work carried out by the inspectorate to ensure a safe operating regime for civil nuclear installations.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many copies of the publication, "The work of HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate" have been printed since publication ; to which outlets the brochure has been distributed ; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the production and distribution of the publication.
Mr. Nicholls : Some 3,400 copies of the booklet entitled "The Work of HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate" have been printed for sale by Her Majesty's Stationery Office and its accredited agents. The booklet brings up to date the booklet of the same name published in 1982. Copies have been placed in the House of Commons Library.
Skills Training Agency
Mr. Murphy : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has obtained the agreement of the appropriate trade unions over safeguards with regard to the sale of the skills training agency ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar : There are requirements to inform and consult trade unions under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981. These have been and will continue to be met in full. There have been extensive consultations with union representatives throughout the sale process and I have met them on two occasions.
Hazardous Substances
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many organisations have been given authorisation to conduct full health and safety surveys under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988 ; and what information he has concerning the availability of computer databases to facilitate the standardisation of information collected in Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations audits.
Mr. Nicholls : There is no requirement under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988 for an organisiation to be authorised by the Health and Safety Executive or any other body to undertake health and safety assessment on behalf of an employer. Commercially produced computer database packages to assist employers in recording information relating to the
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Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988 are widely available and extensively publicised in the health and safety press.Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he received a copy of the European Commission proposal for a Council directive on the laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances (COM [89] 575 final-SYN 277, dated 9 January 1990) ; and what response he has made to the Council or Commission on the proposal.
Mr. Nicholls : The proposed directive was brought to my right hon. and learned Friend's notice on 9 March 1990. Since formal discussion of this proposal in EC Council has yet to start, no response has been made.
Radiation
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what new guidance has been issued in regard to the implementation by industries using radioactive materials of the provisions of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985.
Mr. Nicholls : On 7 February 1990, the Health and Safety Executive published a guidance note, "Respiratory protective equipment for use against airborne radioactivity".
Environmental Protection Training
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were employed in training schemes leading to qualifications in environmental protection or environmental improvement techniques for each of the last five years.
Mr. Nicholls : The information requested is not available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
HOME DEPARTMENT
NATO Civil Wartime Agencies
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether agreements have been drawn up to cover the legal aspects of the proposed employment of United Kingdom civil servants as staff of NATO civil wartime agencies ; and whether agreement has been reached on the status under international law of United Kingdom civil servants and representatives of private industry when they take up their proposed roles as NATO civil wartime agencies staff.
Unlawful Parking, Newham
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on how many police and traffic warden hours have been devoted in the current year to keeping Green street and Katherine road in the London borough of Newham clear of unlawful parking ; how many fixed penalty notices have been issued in those roads in the current year ; and what priority is given to keeping these streets clear of unlawful parking.
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Mr. Peter Lloyd : No specific records are kept of the number of hours worked by police officers and traffic wardens undertaking enforcement duties in Green street and Katherine road. Similarly, no specific records are kept of the number of fixed penalty notices issued at these locations.Both roads received substantial enforcement attention from traffic wardens, with Green street being patrolled on a daily basis. In addition, police traffic patrols also target the area on a rota basis to supplement the traffic warden effort.
Fire Stations (South Yorkshire)
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the fire stations that cover the Don Valley constituency area.
Mr. John Patten : I understand that the Don Valley constituency area is covered by three fire stations--Edlington, Mexborough and Rossington.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the fire stations in south Yorkshire that are under threat of closure.
Mr. John Patten : I understand that the chief fire officer of South Yorkshire fire and civil defence authority has completed a review of fire risk categorisation and that he is now reviewing the standards of fire cover throughout his area.
I understand that the chief fire officer has not yet submitted a report or recommendations to South Yorkshire fire and civil service defence authority concerning the provision of fire cover. It would, therefore, be inappropriate for my right hon. and learned Friend to comment on speculative statements about fire station closures. A fire authority which proposes to reduce the operational establishment of its brigade is required to seek the approval of my right hon. and learned Friend to the reductions under the terms of section 19 of the Fire Services Act 1947. My right hon. and learned Friend is committed to maintaining nationally recommended minimum standards of fire cover and to the maintenance of an effective fire service.
Crime Rates
Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what are the rates of burglary (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in other European Economic Community member states ;
(2) what are the most recent figures for (a) violent crime and (b) rape ; and what are the comparable rates of these crimes in other European Economic Community member states.
Mr. John Patten : The most recent comparative information on crime rates in different countries relates to 1988 and is published in "Experiences of Crime across the World" (Key findings of the 1989 International Crime Survey), for example in table E1. A copy of this publication is available in the Library.
Special Branch
Mr. Meale : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he received the special branch document ref. no. 10368/74 ; and what action he has taken.
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Mr. Waddington : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Newark (Mr. Alexander) on 30 March 1990 at columns 375-77.
Young Prisoners
Mr. Speller : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to provide for the incarceration of younger healthy prisoners in an outdoor working environment with the minimum possible time spent in cellular confinement.
Mr. Mellor : Inmates need to be kept in conditions of security appropriate to the nature of the individual prisoner and his offence. Establishments already seek, within available resources, to provide balanced and integrated regimes which keep inmates as fully occupied as possible. Programmes of activities include physical education, exercise and, where practicable, opportunities for outside work.
Overseas Voters
Mr. Skinner : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with Ministers from those countries that have residents applying for votes in future British elections ; and if he will make a statement.
Armley Gaol
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fine defaulters are currently imprisoned at Armley gaol, Leeds ; how many of these are serving sentences of six months or less ; and in each case, what percentage of the total current prisoner population of Armley these prisoners represent.
Mr. Mellor : According to records held centrally, which are approximate, 28 fine defaulters were held in Leeds prison on 28 February, 1990. They formed between 2 and 3 per cent. of the population of Leeds prison. All had been committed for periods of six months or less.
Somalian Refugees
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funds have been received from the United Nations or any other agency for the settlement of Somalian refugees ; and on what projects such funds have been spent.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : None. The United Nations does not make any formal contribution towards the resettlement of Somalian refugees in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom does, of course, contribute to the costs of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. In 1989 we gave £19,366,000 to UNHCR. Arrangements for the reception and resettlement of refugees in the United Kingdom assume that their basic needs are adequately met by existing services provided by both central and local government but, in addition, grant aid is made available to encourage community development through national and regional voluntary bodies.
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Risley Remand Centre
Mr. Hoyle : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place a copy of the Dunbar report into the 1989 riot at Risley remand centre in the House of Commons Library.
Mr. Mellor : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mr. Parry) on 25 January at column 890.
Wakefield Prison
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made by his Department of the security implications for Her Majesty's prison, Wakefield, of the recent temporary transfer of staff to Her Majesty's prison, Manchester.
Mr. Mellor : The operation of contingency arrangements for the deployment of staff on detached duty to assist at another establishment has full regard to the need not to compromise the security of the sending establishment.
Rural Violence
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to discuss with chief officers of police measures to deal with violent incidents involving groups of young people in or outside licensed premises in rural areas.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : In February 1989, an interdepart-mental circular provided advice on how local organisations in England and Wales might work together to tackle the problems associated with alcohol misuse. Local organisations including the police are encouraged to identify local needs and decide how best these might be met. In addition, in seven selected areas in England, the Home Office is monitoring experimental byelaws which provide the police with additional powers to control drinking in public places. I understand that a similar experimental byelaw is in operation in one area in Scotland and it is planned to extend the scheme to two further areas. The results of these experiments will be discussed with chief officers of police. I have no further plans, at present, for discussions with chief officers on this subject.
Neighbourhood Watch
Mr. Tredinnick : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many neighbourhood watch schemes are operating in Leicestershire ; how many were operating in 1988 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John Patten : I understand from the Leicestershire police that at the end of March 1990 there were 1,136 neighbourhood watch schemes in Leicestershire, covering approximately 70,000 households. This compares to 990 schemes at the end of 1988, an increase of 146 schemes over the last 15 months.
WALES
Local Government Finance
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales approximately how many letters have been received by his Department during the past four weeks relating to the
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community charge system of local taxation (a) from hon. Members and (b) from others ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Peter Walker : Between 26 March and 20 April inclusive, my Department received 82 letters from hon. Members and 130 letters from members of the public and other organisations about the community charge.
Planning Applications
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines are issued by his Department to local planning authorities in Wales as to the appositeness or otherwise of considering the financial viability of large scale development projects requiring planning permission prior to undertaking expensive consultation procedures in relation to the planning application.
Radioactive Substances Act
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many firms or organisations have been successfully prosecuted in each year since 1979 under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 ; and what penalty was incurred in each case.
Health Authorities (Voluntary Contributions)
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance he has given to health authorities in Wales on the extent to which voluntary and charitable contributions should be sought and to what classes of project they should be applied ; and if he will publish any letters or guidance documents on these issues issued by his Department.
Mr. Grist : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on Monday 23 April, at columns 38-39.
Waste Recycling
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will set a target for Welsh local authorities responsible for waste disposal, in respect of the recycling of paper, glass and cans in household refuse ;
(2) whether he will encourage all waste disposal authorities in Wales to provide a comprehensive service for collection from households of paper, glass and cans for recycling.
Mr. Grist : The Government have set a target of 50 per cent. of recyclable household waste to be recycled by the year 2000. Proposals in the Environmental Protection Bill will give district councils in Wales duties to prepare plans and to report on recycling, and powers to arrange for the provision of recycling facilities.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultation he has had with Welsh district councils on the resources required for providing an effective waste disposal service, including the provision of a collection service for recycling of paper, glass and cans.
Mr. Grist : The resources required by local government are discussed with local authorities at meetings of the
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Welsh consultative council on local government finance and its various sub-groups. Representatives of the Welsh Office and Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution also attend meetings of the regional waste management groups where all waste management matters, including recycling, are discussed.Dumping at Sea
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action is being taken to assist coastal local authorities with the removal of debris on beaches dumped by ships at sea.
Mr. Grist [holding answer 24 April 1990] : I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Under- Secretary of State for the Environment on 25 April 1990 at columns 261-62.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Security
Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Lord President of the Council who is responsible for maintaining and updating security provisions in the Palace of Westminster.
Sir Geoffrey Howe : Final responsibility for security policy in the House of Commons rests with Mr. Speaker and, in the House of Lords, with the Lord Chairman of Committees, acting on behalf of the House of Lords' Administration Committee. Day-to-day executive responsibility for security policy is delegated to the Serjeant at
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Arms and Black Rod in their respective areas of the building. Operational responsibility for security throughout the Palace of Westminster rests with the head of security, who works in support of these authorities and is answerable to them.Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Lord President of the Council what matters relating to the security of the Palace of Westminster he makes it his practice to answer questions on.
Sir Geoffrey Howe : Within the limitations of my own role as Leader of the House, I endeavour to be as helpful as possible in answering parliamentary questions on security matters, but for reasons which the hon. Member will appreciate, it has not been the practice of my predecessors, nor is my practice, to answer questions relating to security policy or to cases affecting individual Members or staff.
SCOTLAND
Crofter Housing
Mr. Bill Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on assistance to crofter housing.
Mr. Rifkind : With effect from 16 May 1990 the maximum rates of assistance available under the crofters building grants and loans scheme (CBGLS) will be increased as indicated in the table.
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Present levels Revised levels
|Grant |Loan |Total |Grant |Loan |Total
|£ |£ |£ |£ |£ |£
-------------------------------------------------------------------
New House |8,700 |13,500|22,200|11,500|17,500|29,000
House Improvement |1,500 |8,000 |9,500 |2,000 |10,500|12,500
Grant is at 50 per cent. Loans are at 7 per cent. rate of
interest.
The new levels of assistance will be available to new applicants and applicants whose applications are currently under consideration. They will also be available to those that have had applications approved but who have not yet started work, provided that they re-apply and accept the revised conditions set out in the Crofters etc. Building Grants (Scotland) Regulations 1990.
These regulations and the related guidelines have been modified to emphasise that assistance under the crofters building grants and loans scheme is provided for those who live on and cultivate their crofts and is designed to benefit the crofting community at least as much as the individual crofter.
The period to which grant conditions apply to new houses has been extended from 10 to 20 years. Disposal of an assisted croft house to someone other than a member of the family or a crofter working a croft in the area and in certain circumstances the disposal of the croft land other than the house, to someone other than a member of the family, may result in recovery of a proportion of grant. These changes should provide a disincentive to disposal of croft houses to those who do not work a local croft.
I have reviewed the circumstances in which housing assistance might be made available where a house or house site has been detached from the croft and assistance for a house on the bareland croft is sought.
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Each case will be taken on its merits ; but applications will be considered in two sets of circumstances. These are :(a) where a crofter has acquired a house or house site pertaining to the croft and the tenancy of the remainder of the croft has passed by assignation or otherwise to a member of the crofter's family, or, where the former crofter was aged or infirm, to any named individual who requires a house to enable him to cultivate the croft ; (b) where the croft could not be satisfactorily cultivated without the provision of a new house and it would benefit the township if a new house were provided to enable the crofter to reside on the croft.
Assistance will not generally be provided where the detached house might reasonably have been made available to the incoming crofter, where the crofter is already adequately housed within reasonable working distance of the croft, and where the price paid for an assignation and any associated permanent improvements or other circumstances suggest that the main object of an assignation is to make an incoming crofter eligible for assistance under the scheme. Where a house has been provided with grant assistance, assistance for a new house pertaining to the same croft will not be made available for 20 years unless the Secretary of State considers that there are special circumstances which would justify it.
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