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Poaching
Mr. Morley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions there were for poaching in 1988 and 1989 ; and how many of those convictions were associated with assault.
Mr. John Patten : In 1988, there were 980 convictions for the offence of poaching. The 1989 data will not be available until the autumn. It is not possible from the information held centrally to identify the number of poaching convictions which are also associated with offences of assault.
Immigration
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what action is being taken to trace the 33 Chinese student democracy activists who failed to meet a bus sent by the immigration service to take them for interview at Harmondsworth on 11 May ; (2) if he will reconsider his Department's decision that Panama affords sufficient protection to be considered a country of third settlement ;
(3) if it is the intention to return 33 Chinese nationals, formerly members of the student democracy movement, to Panama ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The 33, who have failed to comply with the terms of their temporary admission, are now in this country illegally, and no decision on any aspect of their applications can be made until they report to an immigration officer to regularise their position. Any representations then made on their behalf will be considered fully and carefully. Their representatives have been informed of the position.
Management Consultants
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the studies conducted inside his Department by management consultants over the last 10 years, naming the consultancy, the cost, the subject and the outcome in each instance.
Mr. Waddington : Information on management consultancy awarded before 1985, and the outcome of studies conducted over the last 10 years is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The cost of individual management consultancy contracts is a matter of commercial confidentiality which it would not be proper to disclose. For details of studies carried out in 1985 I refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my right hon. Friend the then Home Secretary to my hon. Friend the Member for Hampshire, East (Mr. Mates) on 14 July 1986 at column 333 and for 1986 to 1989 to the replies given to my hon. Friend the Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Smith) on 18 February 1987 at column 643, 26 April 1988 at column 86, 4 April 1989 at column 30, and 3 April 1990 at column 557. The following studies have been commissioned in the current year :
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Price WaterhouseFinancial Advice on the Privatisation of the IBA Transmission Network.
NERA
Advice on the economic regulation of the privatised IBA Transmission Network.
Norton Rose
Legal Advisers on the Privatisation of the IBA Transmission Network.
PA Consultants
Review of the Prison Service Management Information System Requirements.
Jones Lang Wooton
"City Search" for the proposed relocation of the Prison Service HQ.
Peat Marwick McLintock
Nottingham Crime Audit.
BBN Matching
Consultancy on Multi-ethnic name.
PPCR
Survey of Community Safety.
Talisman
Public Relations Consultancy (launch of Rochdale Safer Cities Project).
Reginald Watts
Consultancy Assistance to develop Marketing Plan.
Sudbury Consultants Ltd.
Study of Command, Leadership and Management.
Coopers Lybrand Deloitte
Study and Estimate of Costs of the setting up and running of a Magistrates Courts Agency.
Ernst and Young
Privatisation of the IBA Terrestrial Transmission System : Reporting Accountants.
Greaves and Co.
Accountancy Advice.
Vista Communications
Communication Audit for the Prison Service.
Touche Ross
Assistance with Passport Office Agency.
Police Cells
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give particulars of each escape from police cells in England and Wales since 11 June 1987, including the charges faced by each escaped prisoner ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The information is not held centrally.
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state his policy on the use of police cells to house remand prisoners.
Mr. Mellor : In present circumstances there is no practical alternative to the use of police cells where prisoners cannot be received into an appropriate prison. My right hon. and learned Friend and I very much regret the need to hold remand prisoners in police cells at all. The current level of use is a result largely of disruptive industrial action or lack of good will on the part of staff in some establishments and I can assure the hon. and learned
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Member that every effort is being made to resolve the difficulties. We are most grateful to the police for their assistance.Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many remand prisoners are held in police cells in Wales at the latest available date ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Mellor : By Tuesday 19 June the number of prisoners having to be held in police cells in south Wales as a direct result of industrial action by prison officers at Her Majesty's prison Swansea had been reduced to four. While the dispute has not been resolved, sufficient good will exists to have enabled this reduction to be brought about.
We very much regret the necessity to have recourse to police cells at all.
Summer Time
Mr. Robert G. Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the responses to the Green Paper "Summer Time--A Consultation Document," Cm. 722.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : A total of 30,867 responses have been received following publication of the Green Paper, of which 26,029 were in the form of signatories to petitions. Excluding signatories to petitions, 50 per cent. were in favour of moving into central European time--single "summer" time in the winter, double "summer" time in the summer until the beginning of October--46 per cent. were in favour of the status quo, and 4 per cent. were in favour of harmonising summer time along with other EC countries--in effect finishing summer time one month early. Of the signatories to the petitions, 22,684 were in support of central European time and 3,345 were against change. The response in England and Wales was very different from that in Scotland. A total of 59 per cent. of letters and 100 per cent. of signatories to petitions from England and Wales supported central European time ; 90 per cent. of letters and 80 per cent. of signatories to petitions from Scotland supported the status quo. Only 10 responses were received from Northern Ireland. A detailed breakdown of the responses is being placed in the Library.
Correspondence
Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement in regard to the letter sent to him from Dr. Raine Roberts, the forensic physician and clinical director of the sexual assault referral centre in Manchester, by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe.
Mr. John Patten : Dr. Roberts' concern is that children giving evidence in criminal trials of alleged sexual abuse can be identified by members of the public in court, and could be subject to unwelcome attention from them.
The courts already have power, under section 37 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, to exclude from the court anyone not directly concerned with the case except a bona fide representative of the press, who may be prevented from publishing identifying details of a person under 17 who plays any part in the proceedings. In addition, if there is fear of interference with any witness, the witness's name and address may be given in writing instead of orally.
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Use of these powers would seem the appropriate way to deal with the problem.Naturalisation
Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the length of time currently being taken to process naturalisation cases and the expected time scale for new applications.
Mr. Peter Lloyd [holding answer 19 June 1990] : Present waiting times for naturalisation cases stem from the exceptional level of citizenship applications of all kinds received at the end of 1987. The increase in naturalisation applications seems to have resulted from a mistaken belief on the part of many applicants that the then ending of certain rights of registration applied also to naturalisation. Many applied after long previous residence in the United Kingdom without apparently experiencing either inconvenience over travelling or earlier desire to assume citizenship. All have been warned that their applications would be subject to considerable delay.
In May 1990, the average waiting time for all citizenship applications completed in that month was 26 months ; for naturalisation alone it was 29 months. These long waiting times result from the large number of applications--almost 300,000--submitted in 1987. The number of applications received from January 1988 was much smaller, and when the end-1987 cases are cleared the position will begin to improve.
My right hon. and learned Friend announced on 31 January, in answer to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Westminster, North (Sir J. Wheeler), that nationality work would be transferred to Liverpool by 1991. That transfer is proceeding. Earlier forecasts of performance are, however, having to be revised in the light of new information about intake of new applications, the disruption caused by the process of transfer, and lower levels of output on the more difficult naturalisation casework than on registration. It is now clear that we shall not be able to reduce waiting times as quickly as we had hoped, and although we continue to expect an improvement later in this financial year and next, they are likely to remain above 20 months until some time after April 1991.
We regret waiting times of this length and are giving urgent consideration to the priority that should be given to nationality work as against other functions of the immigration and nationality department. Close account will also be taken of the report of the Home Affairs Committee published today. It is, however, relevant to note that those awaiting the determination of citizenship applications are not prevented from continuing to enjoy residence rights or from travelling on the passports of their current nationality.
Prisoners (Disciplinary Offences)
Mr. Bermingham : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number and proportion of prisoners appearing before disciplinary hearings of boards of visitors who were legally represented in the most recent available year.
Mr. Mellor [holding answer 15 June 1990] : The centrally held data relate to the numbers of offences on which boards of visitors adjudicate. The latest data are for
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1988 when applications for legal representations were granted in respect of hearings for 33 offences, that is, 0.8 per cent. of the number of offences on which boards of visitors adjudicated.Mr. Bermingham : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were found guilty of disciplinary offences by boards of visitors in the most recent available year ; how many were deprived of remission ; and what was the breakdown of lengths of remission forfeited.
Mr. Mellor [holding answer 15 June 1990] : The centrally held data relate to the numbers of punishments awarded. From 1 April 1989 the maximum penalty available to boards of visitors was reduced to 120 days' forfeiture of remission. The most recent data were for 1988 when boards of visitors awarded 5,180 unsuspended punishments. A total of 3,108 of these were forfeiture of remission and were broken down as follows :
Number of |Number of days |punishments remission forfeited ------------------------------------ 1-7 |78 8-14 |65 15-28 |177 29-30 |141 31-60 |1,479 61-90 |928 91-120 |168 Over 120 |72
Football Licensing Authority
Mr. Ashton : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the reason for the delay in setting up the Football Licensing Authority.
Column 576
Mr. John Patten [holding answer 18 June 1990] : It has been necessary to review the proposed role of the Football Licensing Authority in the light of Lord Justice Taylor's report on the Hillsborough stadium disaster, and the Government's subsequent decision not to proceed with the national football membership scheme and the Football Membership Authority. As a result of that review, responsibility for the authority was formally transferred to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department in May. It has been necessary to consider carefully how the authority's powers could best be used to bring about all-seated accommodation at football grounds, as proposed by Lord Justice Taylor, and the sort of qualities and experience which would be required among its members and staff to equip it for its revised role. This work has taken longer than had been hoped, but is now largely completed. I hope that an announcement about appointments to the authority can be made before the start of the next football season. In the meantime, my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State has already met the football authorities, and officials are in close touch with them, to ensure that there is no avoidable delay in implementing the important safety measures recommended in Lord Justice Taylor's report.
WALES
Management Consultants
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the studies conducted inside his Department by management consultants over the last 10 years, naming the consultancy, the cost, the subject and the outcome in each instance.
Mr. David Hunt : The information requested for the years 1988-89 and 1989-90 is given in the table :
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Consultant and cost |Subject |Outcome
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1988-89 (£39,187)
Coopers and Lybrand |Monitoring payment arrange-
|ments for Urban |and where appropriate
|Development Grants. |recommendations were
|implemented.
Coopers and Lybrand |Evalution of Regional Selective |As at 1 above.
|Assistance.
Pieda |An impact study of the |Modifications suggested were ad-
(Planning and economic development |development of rural initia- |opted in relaunched scheme.
consultants) |tive venture and enterprise
|(DRIVE).
Leslie Hays and Asscs. |Evaluation of Regional |As at 1 above.
|Enterprise Grant Scheme.
Frank Griffiths |Purchasing in the Welsh Office. |Recommendations implemented.
HMSO |Review of the organisation of |Recommendations implemented.
|Welsh Office Print Room.
1989-90 (£44,725)
Leslie Hays Consultancies Ltd. |Evaluation of Regional |As at 1 above.
|Enterprise Grant.
Price Waterhouse |Training needs Analysis. |Report received in April 1990
|Recommendations are under
|consideration.
Touche Ross |Management Review of NHS |All the key recommendations
|Directorate. |have been implemented.
It would be disproportionately costly to provide the information required for the earlier years.
Training and Enterprise Councils
Mr. Rowlands : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will list for each area covered by TECs in Wales the payments granted by the Training Agency in Wales for 1990-91 per trainee for each of the courses ; and whether such payments included the travelling costs of trainees.
Sir Wyn Roberts : Details of unit costs are confidential to the Training Agency and individual course managers. Payments under YT and ET include trainees' travelling costs in excess of £3 and £4 per week respectively.
Eye Tests
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people with glaucoma and diabetes received free eye tests in each district health authority area in Wales (a) in each quarter in 1988-89 and (b) in each quarter in 1989-90.
Mr. Grist : Estimates of numbers of sight tests for different types of patient are based on a 2 per cent. sample. This sample is not sufficient to make robust estimates by patient type within district health authority areas.
Ferry Services, Fishguard
Mr. Geraint Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met both chairman and chief executive of Sealink to discuss passenger ferry services at Fishguard ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Wyn Roberts : There has been no meeting between my right hon. Friend and Sealink to discuss services from Fishguard. No such meeting has been requested.
Mid-Wales Development Board
Mr. Geraint Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much capital was invested by the mid-Wales development board in Ceredigion in 1989 ; what were the corresponding figures for the last 10 years : and if he will make a statement.
Mr. David Hunt : Expenditure by the Development Board for Rural Wales in Ceredigion in the financial year 1989-90 was £1.3 million. The corresponding figures for the previous 10 years are as follows :
|£ million
------------------------------
1979-80 |0.75
1980-81 |0.61
1981-82 |0.73
1982-83 |0.78
1983-84 |1.25
1984-85 |1.50
1985-86 |1.74
1986-87 |0.98
1987-88 |0.70
1988-89 |0.98
The figures confirm the continuing commitment by the DBRW to sustaining social and economic development within the district of Ceredigion.
Column 578
Youth Training
Mr. Rowlands : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) whether he will list the managing organisations currently operating youth training schemes in each area covered by the TECs ; and whether he will list the courses each organisation was running prior to the issuing of new training contracts indicating (a) how many places each organisation had contracted for under each course, (b) how many places had actually been filled in 1989 and (c) what was the total contribution to each managing organisation for the Training Agency in 1988-89 and 1989-90 ;
(2) whether he will list in each area covered by the TECs in Wales the managing organisations operating youth training schemes under the new contracts issued by the Training Agency indicating (1) how many places have been allocated to each organisation and each course under the new contracts and (2) the percentage increase or decrease in places and financial contribution to each managing organisation estimated by the Training Agency under the new contracts.
Sir Wyn Roberts [holding answer 8 June 1990] : The training agencies have now provided the details requested. However, due to the volume and format of this information I shall write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy of the reply in the Library of the House.
Bathing Beaches
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 13 June on bathing waters, if he will make it his policy to encourage the display of information on water quality on beaches which do not currently have European Community designation.
Mr. Grist : As I said in my answer of 13 June, we will be encouraging local authorities to make this information more readily available but it is for them to decide where in their areas such notices should be placed.
Flexi-ownership
Mr. French : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received concerning the flexi-ownership scheme ; how many were (a) in favour and (b) against the scheme ; how many of these representations are from (i) individuals, (ii) organisations and (iii) local authorities ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Grist : No representations have been received against flexi- ownership. Seventeen individuals and one local authority have written expressing interest.
The Development Board for Rural Wales, which administers the scheme, has received 116 inquiries from tenants.
Employment Training
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide the latest available figures for spending and the number of participants on each of his Department's training and employment measures in Wales in (a) the last three years, (b) the current year and (c) projections for the next three years.
Column 579
Mr. David Hunt [holding answer 13 June 1990] : The information requested for 1987-88, 1988-89 and 1989-90 is shown in the table. Actual figures for 1990-91 and projections for the next three years are not available.Column 579
Training agency and employment 1987-88 1988-89 1989-90
services programmes
|Volume<3> |Spend |Volume<3> |Spend |Volume<3> |Spend
|£ million |£ million |£ million
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Voluntary Project Programme |6,024 |0.91 |<4>None |0.86
New Job Training Scheme |4,535 |1.1 |<4>None |1.1
Access to Information Technology |1,244 |0.05 |- |-
Job Training Scheme |3,959 |8.6 |1,570 |4.43
Training for Enterprise |6,816 |1.03 |4,869 |0.66
Local Grants to Employers |8,141 |1.79 |8,253 |1.86
Enterprise Allowance Scheme |7,062 |n.a. |6,865 |n.a.
Wider Opportunities Programme |5,485 |1.78 |3,767 |1.25
Community Programme |<1>19,865 |75.35 |<4>None |40.67
Residual Adult Training |- |- |- |-
Business Growth Training (Option 2) |- |- |- |-
YTS/YT |19,079 |51.77 |18,758 |52.66
Employment Training |- |- |17,564 |13.67
Non-ET Business Enterprise |- |- |- |-
RESTART} |2,866} |2,602 |0.314
Job Clubs} |4,768} |4,621 |1,219
Travel to Interview Scheme} Data not available 2,168} 1,777 0.036
Jobstart} due to changes in 1,015} <2>2.2 1,313 0.444
Programme Development Fund} budget procedures } 286 0.019
Job Interview Guarantee} |} |191 |0.003
<1> In training at 31 March 1988.
<2> Total expenditure only available.
<3> Key to Employment Service Volume Data:
Restart=numbers completing courses.
Job clubs=number of job entries.
Jobstart=applications accepted.
Programme Development Fund=numbers involved in projects.
Job Interview Guarantee=numbers placed in employment.
For Training Agency Programmes Volume=starts.
<4> There were no starts on VPP, NJTS and CP in 1988-89 as these programmes were replaced by ET. Expenditure relates to residual costs for trainees who had commenced training in the
previous year.
n.a.-Not available.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Japan
14. Mr. Watson : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current balance of trade in manufactured goods with Japan.
100. Mr. Turner : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current balance of trade in manufactured goods with Japan.
107. Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current balance of trade in manufactured goods with Japan.
Mr. Ridley : In the four months to the end of April 1990, the United Kingdom trade deficit in manufactured goods with Japan was £1.4 billion, a decrease of 9 per cent. compared with the same period last year.
Environmental Proposals
15. Mr. Bell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any new proposals to encourage British industry to be environmentally friendly.
62. Mr. Bidwell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any new proposals to encourage British industry to be environmentally friendly.
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88. Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any new proposals to encourage British industry to be environmentally friendly.
Mr. Forth : I shall continue to encourage British industry to respond positively to the challenges and opportunities presented by environmental isssues. A new environment unit has been established in my Department to focus on the impact of environmental issues on business efficiency and competitiveness and in particular to encourage and advise on the development of improved environmental technology, waste management and recycling.
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