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WALES
General Surgery
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on the reasons for the rise in the number of people waiting for general surgery in Wales ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Grist : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the "Welsh Hospital Waiting List Bulletin 1990 ; No. 2" which illustrates a variable performance in the light of developing demand and activity levels. During 1989 generally surgery in-patient and day care throughput increased by 2.9 per cent., out-patient throughput rose by 0.1 per cent., with new out- patient attendances up by 4 per cent. In addition, at 31 March 1990 the number of urgent in-patients waiting fell by 9 per cent. over the previous year, the number of
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non-urgent in-patients rose by 7 per cent., and the number of out-patients rose by 3 per cent. Urgent cases waiting one month or more rose by 13 per cent. over the previous year ; non-urgent cases waiting one year or more fell by 6 per cent. and out-patient cases waiting three months or more fell by 2.5 per cent.Young People (Secure Accommodation)
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list, for each of the years 1975, 1980, 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1989 the names of those community homes and other facilities providing secure accommodation for young persons according to each local social services authority area in Wales.
Mr. Grist : The information is contained in the table.
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Local Authority |1976 |1980 |1985 |1987 |1988 |1989
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clwyd
In existence<1> |} |{ |Nil |Bersham Hall |Bersham Hall |Bersham Hall |Bersham Hall
Approved but not |} |{ |Bersham Hall; |Nil |Nil |Nil |Nil
in use<2> |} |{ |Bryn Estyn
|} |{
In use<3> |} |{ |Nil |Nil |Nil |Nil |Nil
Dyfed
In existence |}
Approved but not |}
in use |} |Nil |Nil |Nil |Nil |Nil |Nil
In use |}
Gwent
In existence |} |{ |Mill House |Nil |Nil |Nil |Nil
Approved but not |} |{
in use |} |{ |Nil |Crick House |Nil |Nil |Nil
In use |} |{ |Ty Mawr |Ty Mawr |Ty Mawr |Ty Mawr |Ty Mawr
Gwynedd
In existence |} |{ |Mill House |Nil |Nil |Nil |Nil
Approved but not |} |{
in use |} |Nil |{ |Nil |Nil |Nil |Nil |Nil
In use |} |{
Mid Glamorgan
In existence |} |{Nil |Nil |Nil |Nil |Nil
Approved but not |} |Nil |{ |Nil |Nil |Nil |Nil |Nil
in use |} |{
In use |} |{ |Maes-yr-Eglwys; |Silverbrook |Silverbrook |Silverbrook |Silverbrook
|Silverbrook
Powys
In existence |}
Approved but not |} |Nil |{ |Nil |Nil |Nil |Nil |Nil
in use |} |{
In use |}
South Glamorgan
In existence |} |{ |Nil |Nil |}
Approved but not |} |Nil |{ |}Nil |Nil |Nil
in use |} |{Sully |Sully<4> |}
In use |}
West Glamorgan
In existence |} |{ |Nil |Nil |Nil |Nil
Approved but not |} |Nil |{
in use |} |Nil |Nil |Nil |Nil |Nil
In use |} |} |Glamorgan Farm |Hillside<5>; |Llwyncelyn |Llwyncelyn |Llwyncelyn
| School; Llwyncelyn| Llwyncelyn
<1> "In existence" refers to homes containing secure accommodation which is not approved and is not in use.
<2> "Approved but not in use" refers to secure accommodation approved by the Secretary of State for use but not brought into operation.
<3> "In use" relates to approved, operative secure accommodation.
<4> Until 1 October 1985.
<5> Formerly Glamorgan Farm School.
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NORTHERN IRELAND
Fair Employment
Mr. McNamara : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the Local Government Staff Commission is taking to ensure that it conforms to the Fair Employment Acts 1976 and 1989 ; and what measures it is taking to advise local councils in relation to their responsibilities under the Acts.
Dr. Mawhinney : The Local Government Staff Commission has registered with the Fair Employment Commission, adopted a policy statement on development and training and, in accordance with the statutory requirements, monitors its staff in relation to their perceived religious composition.
The staff commission has taken the lead role in ensuring that councils, as employers, fulfil their responsibilites under the Acts. It has, inter alia, established a computerised personnel record system in all 26 councils to ensure that they are properly equipped to provide the statutory monitoring returns on their work force ; prepared and issued to councils a comprehensive package of material on equality of opportunity practices and continues to revise and update this ; met, and maintains contact with, the Fair Employment Conmmission to discuss matters relating to fair employment and acts as an interface between councils and the Fair Employment Commission ; and established a working party representative of local government interests to review the employment and promotion procedures adopted by all councils to ensure that they fully accord with the principles of fair employment.
Public Interest Immunity Certificates
Mr. McNamara : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list in the Official Report the number of occasions in the past 10 years when public interest immunity certificates have been issued concerning matters before coroners and other courts preventing members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and others within the remit of his Department from attending such courts, and to prevent such courts from hearing details of operations, indicating which operations were involved and how many individuals were covered by such certificates.
Mr. Cope : There is no central record of all cases in which public interest immunity is claimed and it would not be possible to provide the information sought except at disproportionate cost.
Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council
Mr. McNamara : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many meetings of the Anglo-Irish Interministerial Council have taken place since its establishment ; and if he will list the Ministers present and the issues discussed.
Mr. Brooke : There have been 36 meetings of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference since 1985. These meetings are normally attended by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and by the Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office. It is recently been agreed that departmental Ministers should attend when necessary ; as
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a result of this, my hon. Friends the Members for Wiltshire, North (Mr. Needham) and for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley) attended the conference held on 17 July 1990.Details of the topics discussed can be found in the joint communique s published after each meeting, copies of which have been placed in the Library.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Trade Statistics
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for 1968, 1973, 1977, 1985 and 1989, on the basis of 1973=100, United Kingdom output of (a) textiles, clothing, leather and footwear, (b) motor vehicles, (c) mechanical engineering less groups 320 and 329 and (d) electronic and electrical engineering goods.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The available information covering broad industry groupings is shown in the table.
Index of Industrial Production 1973=100.0
|1968 |1973 |1977 |1985 |1989
-----------------------------------------------------------
Textiles, leather,
footwear and
clothing |92.2 |100.0|93.4 |79.1 |78.2
(SIC 43 44 45)
Motor vehicles and
parts |90.6 |100.0|91.1 |64.0 |80.2
(SIC 35)
Mechanical
engineering |93.3 |100.0|99.8 |79.6 |87.7
(SIC 32)
Electrical, electronic
and instrument
engineering, office
machinery and
data processing
equipment |75.4 |100.0|101.6|133.5|169.2
(SIC 34 37 33)
Source: Central Statistical Office.
SIC=Standard Industrial Classification (1980).
Iraq
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the value of (a) military, (b) other manufactured and (c) financial services exports to and imports from Iraq in each year since 1980.
Mr. Sainsbury : Trade with Iraq in manufactured goods since 1980 is given in the table. The other information requested is not available.
United Kingdom trade with Iraq Manufactured goods<1> |£ million Year |Exports |Imports ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1980 |285 |5 1981 |582 |16 1982 |809 |14 1983 |375 |12 1984 |290 |25 1985 |397 |38 1986 |420 |27 1987 |240 |30 1988 |353 |37 1989 |396 |33 Source: Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom. <1>Manufactured goods are defined as Sections 5 to 8 of the Standard International Trade Classification Revision 3.
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what levels of credit guarantees by the Export Credits Guarantee Department have been made available to British-based companies for trade with Iraq for each year since 1979.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 15 October 1990] : ECGD cover for exports to Iraq was available until earlier this year under both short- term and medium-term facilities. As a matter of general policy, ECGD's exposure on individual countries is not normally revealed publicly, but the amount of medium-term credit which was made available to Iraq sinces 1983 under a series of financial protocols is a matter of public knowledge, and was as follows :
|Year |Amount
|£ million
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1983 |250 |capital goods and projects
|25 |pharmaceuticals
1984 |250 |capital goods and projects
|50 |pharmaceuticals
1986 |50 |pharmaceuticals
1987 |100 |capital goods
|75 |pharmaceuticals
1988 |265 |capital goods and projects
|75 |pharmaceuticals
These protocols have not been fully taken up by the Iraqis, and the actual exposure is therefore less than the figures given above.
Euro Week (Essex)
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when his Department was invited to provide financial assistance to the county of Essex for its Euro Week ; what decision he has made ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Sainsbury : My Department had initial discussions in March with Essex county council about its proposed Euro Week. Various ways in which we might be able to assist were considered. No request has yet been made for financial assistance.
Internal Market Councils
Mr. Sumberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Internal Market Councils held on 17 September and 9 October.
Mr. Redwood : I represented the United Kingdom at the Internal Market Councils on 17 September and 9 October.
On 17 September the Council adopted the utilities directive, which sets rules to prevent restrictive purchasing policies by utilities, and a regulation on Community transit, which will facilitate trade across borders after 1992. Three amendments were adopted to technical directives on electrically operated lifts, electrical equipment for use in explosive atmospheres, and simple pressure vessels. The Council also took note of a progress report on the infrastructure networks needed for the completion of the single market, and held preliminary discussions on data protection, and on a framework directive to provide a single authorisation to do non-life insurance business in
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the Community. On food labelling, the Council adopted a directive on optional food labelling, and held a discussion on the prospects for compulsory food labelling.On 9 October the Council agreed two amendments on dangerous substances, one on the classification, packaging and labelling of dichloromethane, the other on the marketing and use of
pentachlorophenol. Vice-President Bangemann presented to the Council the Commission's green paper on European standards. The Council also discussed trade in works of art, the handling of company law directives, and the Commission's latest figures on the implementation of single market measures.
Companies Inspection Handbook
Mr. Riddick : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when publication of the revised edition of the companies inspection handbook, as recommended by the Select Committee on Trade and Industry, will occur.
Mr. Redwood : In our White Paper responding to the report of the Select Committee we undertook to publish a revised edition in the early autumn. The new edition, now called the "Investigation Handbook", to reflect its extended coverage, was published this morning and replaces the earlier publication last revised in 1986. It takes account of recent legislative developments including the Companies Act 1989, the Financial Services Act 1986 and the Insolvency Act 1986 as well as incorporating points made by the Government in their response to the Select Committee.
The handbook describes the powers of investigation of the Secretary of State and includes procedural guidance for inspectors under the Companies Acts and under section 177 of the Financial Services Act 1986--inquiries into possible insider dealing. I expect that the handbook, like its predecessor, will be extensively used by my Department, inspectors, regulatory authorities, witnesses at inquiries and their legal advisers, academic staff and the public generally.
The Secretary of State's powers of investigation play an important part in the Department's objective of increasing confidence in the working of markets by achieving a fair level of protection for the individual consumer and investor.
NATIONAL FINANCE
Mortgages
Mr. Allen : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average increase in repayments per week on the average mortgage in each region between 1 June 1988 and the present time.
Mr. Maples : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar question by him on 20 June 1990 at column 558 as mortgage rates have not changed for most existing mortgage borrowers.
Personal Equity Plans
Mr. Andrew Mitchell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he proposes any changes to the PEP regulations.
Mr. Maude : I have three changes to personal equity plans to propose.
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First, I recognise that many people, particularly PEP managers, want to know how interest on cash deposited prior to investment will be dealt with when composite rate tax is abolished. I have decided that from 6 April 1991 such interest will not be liable to withholding tax under the new rules for the taxation of bank and building society interest. This interest will also be exempt from income tax at both basic and higher rates in the hands of investors, but only if it is eventually re-invested in the PEP. If it is withdrawn, it will be taxable in full. I hope that this news will be welcomed by plan managers who, I know, wish to start re-programming their systems in time for the change.Secondly, shares may be described as "paired" where a United Kingdom and a foreign company have both agreed that no share in either company may be acquired other than as part of a unit comprising one share in each of the two companies, and units are offered for sale to the public in both companies at a broadly equivalent price. At present the PEP regulations do not allow such "paired shares" to be held within a PEP. I propose to bring paired shares within the definition of qualifying investments by analogy with the PEP rules for unit and investment trusts. The same maximum annual subscription of £3,000 will apply. Until the regulations can be amended, the Inland Revenue will operate the new rule by extra-statutory concession.
Shares subscribed for in a new issue may be transferred into a PEP up to 30 days from their allocation. Experience of this rule in practice has shown that it allows very little time for the necessary action to be taken. I therefore propose to increase the period to six weeks. Again, until the regulations can be amended, the Inland Revenue will apply the new rule by concession.
European Community Finance
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the net sum contributed by the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community in 1989 ; and what is the latest estimate for the comparable sum in (a) 1990 and (b) 1991.
Mr. Maude : The statement on the 1990 Community Budget (Cm 1095), published on 26 April 1990, included the outturn figure of £2,315 million for the United Kingdom's net contribution to the European Community in 1989, and an estimate of £2,175 million for 1990. An estimate for 1991 is not yet available.
Exports (EC)
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the exports to the European Economic Community and imports from the European Economic Community in each year since 1973 ; and what was the percentage of Britain's exports to and imports from the European Economic Community in each year.
Mr. Maude : Data from which the information requested can be derived is to be found on the Central Statistical Office database which may be accessed through the Library of the House.
Energy Efficiency
Mr. Colvin : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what tax incentives he will consider introducing to encourage energy efficiency.
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Mr. Maude [holding answer 15 October 1990] : My right hon. Friend has no present plans to introduce such tax incentives. The White Paper on the Environment outlines a number of measures designed to encourage energy efficiency.
SCOTLAND
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
10. Mr. Doran : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of staff employed by Grampian health board at the Aberdeen royal infirmary.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Last year there were 2,340 whole-time equivalent staff at Aberdeen royal infirmary.
Scottish Assembly
11. Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received about a Scottish assembly.
Mr. Lang : My Department has received nine letters in support of an assembly in the past six months.
28. Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the fiscal implications of a directly elected Scottish assembly.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : In the past six months, three letters referring to the fiscal implications have been received.
Council of Ministers
12. Mr. Andrew Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last led a United Kingdom delegation to the Council of Ministers ; and on which other occasions he has attended the Council in the past 12 months.
17. Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last led a United Kingdom delegation to the Council of Ministers ; and on which other occasions he has attended the Council in the past 12 months.
18. Mr. Salmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last led a United Kingdom delegation to the Council of Ministers ; and on which other occasions he has attended the Council in the past 12 months.
21. Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last led a United Kingdom delegation to the Council of Ministers ; and on which other occasions he has attended the Council in the past 12 months.
Mr. Rifkind : I attended the Fisheries Council on 18-19 December 1989 with my noble Friend the then Minister of State.
Community Care
13. Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next expects to meet the care in the community Scottish work group to discuss the implementation of community care aspects of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990.
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Mr. Michael Forsyth : My right hon. and learned Friend has received no request for such a meeting.49. Sir Russell Johnston : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what additional funds he will make available to local authorities to house those discharged from long-stay care in hospital under the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 does not of itself require or promote hospital discharges. Decisions on the rate of discharge are taken in accordance with clinical judgment having regard to the availability of accommodation and necessary support in the home area. Rates of discharge have increased substantially in recent years and voluntary bodies as well as the statutory agencies have played an important part in making this possible.
Provisional allocations to local authorities for housing capital expenditure in 1991-92 will be made in December on the basis of their relative housing needs and with reference to their capital programmes and housing plans. Local authorities should include any capital requirements for housing arising from the need to house those discharged from hospital in their capital programmes, which are due to be submitted to the Scottish Development Department in November.
Disabled People
14. Mr. Ron Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many registered disabled people are currently employed by his Department in Scotland ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lang : The Scottish Office and its associated Departments currently employ 91 registered disabled staff. In common with other Government Departments they accept the same responsibilities for employment of the disabled as other employers.
Hospice, Linlithgow
15. Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his oral reply of 4 July, Official Report , column 979, what response he has had from Lothian health board in relation to its examination of the legal position on the feu disposition in respect of the hospice at Linlithgow.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Lothian health board has been instructed to examine carefully the legal position on the feu disposition in respect of Linlithgow hospital before taking any final decisions about the future of this hospital.
Industrial Development, Bo'ness
16. Mr. Harry Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to visit Bo'ness to discuss industrial development.
Mr. Lang : My right hon. and learned Friend has no current plans to visit Bo'ness to discuss industrial development.
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Housing Survey
19. Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the report of the Scottish housing conditions survey to be published ; and if he will arrange for all data collected during the survey to be made publicly available.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : I refer to my answer today to the hon. Member for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth (Mr. Hogg).
The remit for the survey agreed by the Scottish Development Department and Scottish Homes provides that, following publication of the report, survey data in a form to be agreed will be made available to bona fide research institutes and other bodies including local authorities.
Substandard Houses
20. Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to make additional resources available to tackle the problems of damp and substandard houses.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The final allocations to local authorities announced last March for housing capital expenditure in 1990-91 include increased net allocations of £15.5 million compared with 1989- 90. It is for local authorities to determine their own priorities for use of these allocations in the light of local circumstances, including the need to tackle dampness and substandard houses if this is seen as a priority in their area.
Speedlink
22. Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the occasions on which he has met directors of Railfreight to discuss the future of Speedlink services in Scotland.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : British Rail is currently studying the options for Speedlink and is consulting its customers. My right hon. and learned Friend will be fully involved in the consideration of any proposals which BR puts to the Government in due course.
Steel Industry
23. Mr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive the full report from the Scottish Development Agency on the Scottish steel industry ; and if he will ask the agency to prepare an interim report on the implications of the proposed closure of the hot strip mill at Ravenscraig by the British Steel Corporation.
Mr. Lang : The emerging findings of the SDA study should be available by Christmas and my right hon. and learned Friend expects to receive the full report by the end of March. British Steel should be in a position to consider any opportunities identified before the date announced for final closure of the hot strip mill.
Economic Growth
24. Mr. Oppenheim : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the level of economic growth in Scotland in the latest year for which figures are available.
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Mr. Lang : The Scottish Office estimates that the Scottish gross domestic product grew by 5 per cent. in 1988, the latest date for which estimates are available. This is the highest rate of growth experienced by Scotland for 15 years.Farming
25. Sir Hector Monro : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next expects to have discussions with the National Farmers Union of Scotland about farming in Scotland.
Mr. Rifkind : My noble Friend the Minister responsible for agriculture and fisheries and I regularly meet representatives of the Scottish National Farmers Union. Discussions have recently concentrated on the state of the livestock sector.
NHS Hospitals, Lothian
26. Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to visit national health service hospitals in Lothian.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : I regularly visit hospitals throughout the country. I visited Roodlands and East Fortune hospital (and other Lothian hospitals) on 22 June.
Caledonian MacBrayne
27. Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the chairman of Caledonian MacBrayne ; and what subjects were discussed.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My right hon. and learned Friend has not met the chairman of Caledonian MacBrayne since he took the company into his direct ownership on 2 April 1990. However, my noble Friend the then Minister of State and I met the chairman on 19 February shortly after his appointment. I also met the full board of the company on 25 June when we discussed a number of matters relating to Caledonian MacBrayne's current and future operations. As indicated in my reply of 8 June to the hon. Gentleman, regular and frequent discussions take place between officials of the Scottish Development Department and Caledonian MacBrayne.
Education
29. Mr. McFall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of teaching unions to discuss the future of Scottish education.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : I have invited representatives of the teaching unions and of the two head teacher associations to meet me on Friday 26 October to discuss a range of educational issues.
Local Government Finance
30. Mr. Douglas : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the numbers paying the poll tax in Scotland since 1 April.
Mr. Lang : The information requested is not held centrally. Most levying authorities, however, expect 90 per cent. or more of the total community charge due in 1989-90 to be paid.
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Mr. Lambie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he is next going to meet the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to discuss poll tax arrears.
Mr. Lang : I offered to meet the convention at an early date to discuss community charge collection issues following a recent request from its president, and as part of the normal consultation on local government finance matters, my right hon. and learned Friend and I will be meeting the convention on 26 November.
Constitutional Change
31. Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for constitutional change in Scotland.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : None. The Government believe that the present arrangements provide for full and fair representation of Scotland's interests.
Fishing Industry
32. Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet representatives of the west coast fishing industry.
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