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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 16 July 1990
EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
National Curriculum
Mr. Straw : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table listing every document relating to the national curriculum published by his Department, whether on its own behalf or for others, the National Curriculum Council and the School Examinations and Assessment Council, since May 1987, with date and title of publication, its length in pages, and the numbers of copies printed, in every case.
Mr. MacGregor : It will take some time to prepare this, given that other organisations are involved. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as I am in a position to do so, and will place a copy of my letter in the Library.
Single-sex Schools
Mr. Gorst : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will indicate how many local authorities provide single-sex schooling at secondary level.
Mr. Alan Howarth : In January 1989, of the 97 local education authorities in England, 66 had maintained, single-sex secondary schools.
Mr. Gorst : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on the trend in the number of parents choosing to send their children to single-sex secondary schools in the public sector.
Mr. Alan Howarth : The information is not available centrally.
Mr. Gorst : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to ensure that local authorities provide sufficient single-sex schooling at secondary level to meet all parental preferences.
Mr. Alan Howarth : There are no plans of this nature, since it is not Government practice to impose particular organisational patterns for schools upon local authorities. My right hon. Friend always takes account of parental preference when considering proposals for change.
Science
Mrs. Peacock : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action is being taken to encourage girls and women to study science subjects.
Mrs. Rumbold : The national curriculum introduced into schools last September will ensure that all pupils will study a balanced science course from early years right up to GCSE level. Girls will not be able to drop physics and chemistry at age 14.
Introducing structured scientific study in primary schools will have a positive effect on the traditionally narrow view many girls and women have of school science.
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The Government are helping to sponsor the Engineering Council's "Women in Science and Engineering" project aimed at persuading girls and women of both the possibility and attractions of careers in science and engineering.Ministerial Speeches
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much it has cost to send secondary head teachers copies of his recent speeches.
Mrs. Rumbold : The cost of printing and distributing to secondary schools copies of the Secretary of State's two most recent speeches was £10,430.
Correspondence
Mr. Kaufman : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to reply to the letter sent on 11 June by the Reverend John L. Clegg of 77 Errwood road, Levenshulme, Manchester, to the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Mitcham and Morden (Mrs. Rumbold).
Mr. Alan Howarth : A reply was sent to the Reverend Clegg on 10 July.
University Lecturers (Pay)
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when his Department will ratify the pay settlement for university lecturers agreed between the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals and the Association of University Teachers.
Mr. Jackson : A decision will be taken on this proposed settlement as soon as possible.
Schools (Local Management)
Mr. Frank Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is now in a position to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Birkenhead dated 22 February about the local management of schools in Wirral.
Mrs. Rumbold : No. In my reply of 19 March to the hon. Member's letter of 22 February I promised to write again when the statutory approval of Wirral local education authority's scheme for the local management of schools had been completed ; at present, we are in consultation with the authority over proposed modifications to its scheme submission.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Rover
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Attorney-General what consideration he has given to the implications for any future advice which he will give to Government Departments of the ruling of the European Commission in respect of the British Aerospace purchase of Rover.
The Attorney-General : The legal implications of a decision of the European Commission are always carefully considered.
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Immigration
Mr. Darling : To ask the Attorney-General if he will provide a table of the number of appeals to the immigration appeal tribunal allowed and dismissed in 1989 and the first quarter of 1990.
The Attorney-General : The information requested is set out in the table :
\
|Allowed |Remitted for |Dismissed
| re-hearing be-
fore an
Immigration
Adjudicator
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appeals heard
1989 |194 |198 |291
Appeals heard January-March
1990 |62 |80 |102
Mr. Darling : To ask the Attorney-General if he will provide a table showing the number of appeals to immigration adjudicators allowed and dismissed in 1989 and the first quarter of 1990, broken down according to the nationality of the appellant and the type of decision appealed against.
The Attorney-General : The information is not readily available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate costs. The number of appeals to immigration adjudicators allowed and dismissed in 1989 and the first quarter of 1990 is given in the table.
|Allowed |Dismissed
-----------------------------------------------------------
Appeals heard by Immigration
Adjudicators 1989 |3,060 |8,149
Appeals heard by Immigration
Adjudicators January-March
1990 |794 |2,380
Social Security Appeals
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Attorney-General in what proportion of cases heard by social security commissioners in January to June, the claimant and the adjudication officer respectively were (a) represented by legally qualified persons, (b) represented by unqualified persons and (c) unrepresented.
The Attorney-General : I regret that the information requested is not available.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Attorney-General why it has been decided not to make legal aid available for representation at social security commissioners' hearings.
The Attorney-General : As my right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Chancellor explained in another place on Tuesday 10 July, additional resources to extend the scope of legal aid cannot be provided at present and it may be possible to provide legal aid for matters such as hearings before social security commissioners only if savings can be made from elsewhere in the legal aid scheme.
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NORTHERN IRELAND
Secondary Education
Mr. Mallon : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his policy as to whether a representative of the board of governors of a grammar school which has not allocated a place to a student transferring from primary school should be available for questioning at any tribunal established to hear an appeal against the board's decision.
Dr. Mawhinney : The School Admissions (Appeal Tribunals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1990 afford a representative of the board of governors of a school whose decision is under appeal to appear at an appeal hearing and to make oral representations. The regulations do not require the representative to be available for questioning.
Mr. Mallon : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many secondary and grammar schools in Northern Ireland have specified in their selection criteria for children transferring from primary schools a priority for children (a) with a brother or sister who attended that school, (b) with a parent who attended that school and (c) who were the first born to their parents.
Dr. Mawhinney : The information is as follows :
(a) 208
(b) 38
(c) 6
Mr. Mallon : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether legal representation will be available to parents attending tribunals to appeal against the placement of their child in a secondary or grammar school.
Dr. Mawhinney : Legal representation will not be made available at appeals tribunals. It will be a matter for appeals tribunals, in conjunction with education and library boards, to decide if parents may be legally represented.
Illegal Dumping
Mr. Mallon : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions prosecutions were taken to court by public health authorities in Northern Ireland for instances of apparent illicit dumping ; and on how many occasions convictions were secured, in each year since 1980.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : In Northern Ireland, each district council is responsible for enforcing the legislation on the disposal of waste in its area. Records of prosecutions are not held centrally. The information is being sought from the various councils. I will write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.
Homelessness
Mr. Mallon : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the number of (a) single people and (b) families who have presented themselves as homeless to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in each district council area in each year since 1980.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The Northern Ireland Housing Executive was given responsibility for dealing with the accommodation needs of all homeless people under the
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Housing (NI) Order 1988 which came into effect on 1 April 1989. The information requested is therefore available only from that date. I am advised by the chairman of the Housing Executive that the number of single people and families who have presented themselves as homeless during the year 1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990 in each district council area is as follows :
District council |(a) Single people|(b) Families
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Antrim |18 |29
Ards |168 |167
Armagh |36 |37
Ballymena |69 |67
Ballymoney |54 |33
Banbridge |57 |66
Belfast |975 |1,164
Carrick |60 |36
Castlereagh |112 |120
Coleraine |37 |45
Cookstown |52 |52
Craigavon |136 |114
Derry City |189 |309
Down |138 |138
Dungannon |42 |35
Fermanagh |71 |59
Larne |126 |58
Limavady |47 |52
Lisburn |292 |249
Magherafelt |21 |30
Moyle |34 |36
Newry and Mourne |158 |155
Newtownabbey |85 |105
North Down |107 |121
Omagh |111 |70
Strabane |29 |47
|----- |-----
Total |3,225 |3,395
Sunday Trading
Mr. Mallon : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions prosecutions were taken to court by district councils in Northern Ireland for instances of apparent illegal Sunday trading ; and on how many occasions convictions were secured, in each year since 1980.
Mr. Needham : This information is not available centrally.
Unfit Dwellings
Mr. Mallon : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of unfit dwellings in Northern Ireland, by district council area, in each year since 1980.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The Housing Executive carried out a full house condition survey in 1984. The information for that year is as follows :
Number of unfit dwellings District |Number ----------------------------------- Antrim |821 Ards |1,703 Armagh |1,515 Ballymena |1,682 Ballymoney |870 Banbridge |1,925 Belfast |12,885 Carrickfergus |2,166 Castlereagh |290 Coleraine |1,785 Cookstown |1,323 Craigavon |2,120 Derry |1,697 Down |1,838 Dungannon |1,932 Fermanagh |4,209 Larne |1,682 Limavady |961 Lisburn |1,921 Magherafelt |1,475 Moyle |862 Newry and Mourne |2,675 Newtownabbey |561 North Down |762 Omagh |2,168 Strabane |1,201
Arthur Anderson and Company
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he is pursuing his action against Arthur Anderson and Company in the American courts ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Needham : The Department of Economic Development is continuing to pursue its legal action against Arthur Anderson and Company, former auditors of De Lorean Motor Cars Ltd., in the United States Federal Court.
Chief Electoral Officer (Report)
Mr. Stern : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the report of the chief electoral officer for Northern Ireland for 1989-90 will be published.
Mr. Brooke : The chief electoral officer's report was laid before the House today and is published as House of Commons paper No. 526. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.
PRIME MINISTER
Court Decisions (European Treaties)
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Prime Minister if she will take steps to ensure that her Ministers issue guidelines to the general public and enforcement authorities in cases where United Kingdom laws are suspended or substantially amended in practice by court decisions related to the European treaties ; and if she will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : Where a court holds that national law conflicts with Community law its order will tell the parties before it what they are to do or not to do. If any question of interpretation of the decision were to arise it would be for the courts to determine, not the Government.
Sterling in Danger"
Mr. Allen : To ask the Prime Minister if she will obtain a copy of Sir Alan Walters' book "Sterling in Danger" for her Office's library.
The Prime Minister : We are doing so.
Political Donations
Mr. Allen : To ask the Prime Minister what changes the Government have introduced since 1979 affecting the way companies may make political donations.
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The Prime Minister : Companies legislation has since 1967 contained a requirement that a company's directors should disclose in their report, which forms part of the accounts, any gifts of money for political purposes if the amount exceeds a specified sum. The specified sum was increased from £50 to £200 in 1980.Right Hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury
Mr. Sedgemore : To ask the Prime Minister if, in the light of his remarks on Germany and Germans on 12 July, she will dismiss the right hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley) from his office as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
The Prime Minister : My right hon. Friend tendered his resignation on Saturday 14 July.
Nuclear Treaties (China)
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister if, during her meeting with the Chinese ambassador on 3 July, she discussed the prospects of China joining (a) the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and (b) the partial nuclear test ban treaty before their forthcoming review conferences, respectively, in August and September and January 1991.
The Prime Minister : The discussion was confidential.
Rent-to-mortgage Schemes
Mr. George Howarth : To ask the Prime Minister, further to her oral reply to the hon. Member for Basildon (Mr. Amess) on 12 July, if she will give details of the success of the Scottish and Welsh experiments with rent -to-mortgage schemes ; and if she will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : The trial rent-to-mortgage and flexi-ownership schemes in Scotland and Wales are making encouraging progress. The Scottish Homes rent-to-mortgage scheme, from its introduction in October 1989 until the end of June this year, has attracted more than 1,000 inquiries from eligible tenants, with 169 applications in process. Since its introduction in December 1989, the Welsh flexi-ownership scheme has attracted over 100 inquiries from the 800 tenants eligible to participate in the scheme with some 50 applications in process. The schemes are being monitored and any modifications which seem desirable will be introduced whenever appropriate. The evidence so far is that both schemes are enabling tenants who would not otherwise become owner-occupiers to do so.
Cabinet Ministers (Statements)
Mr. Bell : To ask the Prime Minister what directions are given to the Cabinet Office to review the statements of Cabinet Ministers prior to publication ; and if she will make a statement.
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TRADE AND INDUSTRY
ECGD
Mr. Colvin : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has yet completed his review of the policy towards Export Credits Guarantee Department cover for exporters to India and Indonesia ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood : I am not able to comment on ECGD's future policy towards cover for India and Indonesia as the review of the markets has not yet been completed.
Portfolio Management System
Mr. Thurnham : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on the implementation of the portfolio management system ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood : I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Gateshead, East (Ms. Quin) on 19 June, at column 490.
CBI
Mr. Riddick : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met representatives of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss matters relating to the European Economic Community.
Mr. Redwood : In the last year my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has met senior representatives of the Confederation of British Industry on five occasions to discuss a range of issues including the European Community.
Dunsdale Securities
Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will review the operations of the Financial Intermediaries, Managers and Brokers Regulatory Association, in the light of the failure of Dunsdale Securities.
Mr. Redwood : The Securities and Investments Board is responsible for ensuring that the self-regulating organisations such as FIMBRA carry out their duties effectively.
Limited Companies (Boards)
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what European Community proposals exist for two-tier boards for limited companies ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood : The draft fifth directive on company law contains proposals for the harmonisation of laws relating to the structure of the boards of public companies. It would enable national legislation to prescribe the use of a one-tier or a two-tier board system, or to provide for both. The proposal for a European company statute contains provisions that would enable a European company to choose between the two structures.
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Auditors
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has to bring forward legislation to extend to company auditors duty of disclosure of confidential complaints and concerns to the regulatory authorities.
Mr. Redwood : I must ask the hon. Member to await the Government's response, which my right hon. Friend hopes to announce soon, to a recommendation on this topic made by the Select Committee on Trade and Industry in its report on company investigations.
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is reviewing his powers to take action against auditors criticised in Companies Act inspectors' reports ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood : No review is being undertaken. Under part II of the Companies Act 1989--the key provisions of which we expect to bring into force in early 1991--a recognised supervisory body must appear to the Secretary of State to have both adequate rules and practices designed to ensure that company auditors are fit and proper persons ; and adequate arrangements and resources for the effective monitoring and enforcement of compliance with its rules.
Gaseous Fuels
Mr. Speller : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he proposes to make appointments of notified bodies under the terms of the European Community directive on the approximation of the laws of member states relating to appliances burning gaseous fuels.
Mr. Forth : I intend to make appointments of notified certification bodies under the gas appliance directive at the earliest possible date consistent with providing the appropriate legal safeguards for those seeking certification for their products. These are necessary given the mandatory nature of the certification requirements introduced by that directive.
Subsidiaries' Transactions
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on identifying the price base of transactions between company subsidiaries.
Mr. Redwood : None that I know of.
Insurance Companies
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list all reports published following investigations under the Insurance Companies Acts ; and how many unpublished investigations have been completed.
Mr. Redwood : It is not departmental policy to publish such reports.
EC Investment Services Directive
Mr. Irvine : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations he is holding in relation to the European Community investment services directive.
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Mr. Redwood : I am publishing today a consultative document on the investment services directive which seeks views on this important single market measure. I have arranged for copies of the document to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
In the negotiations to date on the directive, the Department has sought the views of regulatory bodies, organisations representing the United Kingdom investment services industry and of consumer groups.
Office Searches (EC Inspectors)
Mr. Warren : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what powers exist under European Economic Community related legislation for officials of the European Commission to enter and search the premises of United Kingdom companies.
Mr. Douglas Hogg [holding answer 4 July 1990] : Article 213 of the EEC treaty permits the Commission to collect any information and carry out any checks required for the performance of its tasks within the limits laid down by the Council. In practice this provision is never used.
The following Community instruments covering matters within the Secretary of State's areas of responsibility grant the Commission powers to conduct investigations on the premises of United Kingdom companies for certain specified purposes :
Council Regulation No. 17 (1962) implementing articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty.
Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1017/68 applying rules of competition to transport by rail, road and inland waterway.
Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4056/86 laying down detailed rules for the application of Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty to maritime transport.
Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3975/87 laying down the procedure for the application of the rules of competition of undertakings in the air transport sector.
Council Regulation (EEC) 4253/88 concerning the co-ordination of the activities of the Structural Funds.
Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4064/89 on the control of concentrations between undertakings. [Enters into effect on 21 September 1990].
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement setting out the powers which European Community inspectors have to enter business premises and to seize or study papers ; and if he will publish a note of guidance on these to issue to British- based companies.
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