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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 22 October 1990
EMPLOYMENT
Youth Training Scheme
Mr. John Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the accident and fatality figures for people on YTS (a) nationally and (b) in St. Helens, for the last 12 months.
Mr. Jackson : Information is not available in the precise form requested. YTS accident information is not held specifically for the St. Helens area. The tables provide quarterly YTS accident figures for the last 12 months nationally and for Merseyside, which includes St. Helens.
Table A: National
Accidents<1>
Period |Fatal |Major<2>|Minor
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1 October 1989-31 December 1989 |<3>1 |170 |721
1 January 1990-31 March 1990 |1 |133 |527
1 April 1990-30 June 1990 |163 |604
1 July 1990-30 September 1990 |- |87 |440
#TCW90102200B
D
Table B: Merseyside
Accidents<1>
Period |Fatal |Major<2>|Minor
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1 October 1989-31 December 1989 |- |7 |42
1 January 1990-31 March 1990 |- |3 |20
1 April 1990-30 June 1990 |- |4 |24
1 July 1990-30 September 1990 |- |3 |27
<1> Training Agency accident figures have been compiled on a
similar basis to those prepared by the Health and Safety Executive
on employed persons. However, the Training Agency's figures will
include a number of accidents to trainees in educational
establishments and road traffic accidents which may not have been
reportable to the Health and Safety Executive had the individuals
been employed.
<2> Major injuries classified according to the severity criteria
laid down in the Reorting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous
Occurences Regulations 1985.
<3> This was a road traffic accident on scheme time.
Table A: National
Accidents<1>
Period |Fatal |Major<2>|Minor
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1 October 1989-31 December 1989 |<3>1 |170 |721
1 January 1990-31 March 1990 |1 |133 |527
1 April 1990-30 June 1990 |163 |604
1 July 1990-30 September 1990 |- |87 |440
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D
Table B: Merseyside
Accidents<1>
Period |Fatal |Major<2>|Minor
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1 October 1989-31 December 1989 |- |7 |42
1 January 1990-31 March 1990 |- |3 |20
1 April 1990-30 June 1990 |- |4 |24
1 July 1990-30 September 1990 |- |3 |27
<1> Training Agency accident figures have been compiled on a
similar basis to those prepared by the Health and Safety Executive
on employed persons. However, the Training Agency's figures will
include a number of accidents to trainees in educational
establishments and road traffic accidents which may not have been
reportable to the Health and Safety Executive had the individuals
been employed.
<2> Major injuries classified according to the severity criteria
laid down in the Reorting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous
Occurences Regulations 1985.
<3> This was a road traffic accident on scheme time.
Duty-free Sales
Mr. Cash : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of how many jobs in the United Kingdom duty-free manufacturing and retailing industry, including jobs in airlines, ferry companies and airports, may be lost if duty-free sales are eliminated.
Mr. Jackson : My Department has not made estimates of the effect on United Kingdom unemployment of the abolition of duty-free sales.
Tourism
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much advertising the British Tourist Authority undertook in Japan in 1989.
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Mr. Forth : In the financial year 1989-90 the British Tourist Authority did not undertake any advertising in Japan. This decision was taken by the authority against a background of very high advertising costs in Japan. But the authority spent a total of £670, 000 on specific marketing activity in Japan in the same period.
Part-time and Temporary Work
Mr. Blair : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many responses from organisations were received in response to his Department's consultative document on the European Commission's proposals on part-time and temporary work and working time ; how many of those responding supported the proposals in full or in part ; and how many were against ; and if he will list those organisations broadly supportive of the Commission's proposals.
Mr. Forth : The consultation document covered four proposals for directives. A total of 207 organisations have responded to the document, many of which were organisations representing large numbers of employers. A significant number of responses were concerned with some rather than all of the proposals.
A total of 141 organisations expressed a clear opinion on the directives on part-time work. Of these, 27 were clearly or mainly in favour of the proposals, and 114 were against.
On the directive concerning the health and safety of temporary workers, 14 organisations thought there is a need for this directive, while 47 took the opposite view. Ten organisations thought that temporary workers are at a greater risk than permanent workers, while 48 had an opposite view.
The proposed directive on working time was supported by 15 organisations, and was opposed by 100.
It is for the individual organisations concerned to decide whether to publicise their views.
EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
Global Warming
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if there are any plans to follow up the discovery by the RRS Charles Darwin that biological production of nitrous oxide in the oceans is contributing to global warming.
Mr. Alan Howarth : Following the discovery that the nutrient-rich waters of the Indian ocean produced significantly larger amounts of nitrous oxide than had previously been thought, NERC scientists are preparing plans for future work on nitrous oxide production in cooler waters in order to assess whether estimates of the total ocean production should be changed.
Education for Citizenship"
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the original publication date for curriculum guides paper No. 8 ; when he now expects it to be published ; and if he will give the reasons for the delay.
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Mr. Eggar : I understand that the National Curriculum Council intends to publish curriculum guidance 8 : "Education for Citizenship" next month. The timing of its publications is a matter for the NCC.Teachers' Pay
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many responses have been received by the Government to "School Teachers Pay--the Report of the Interim Advisory Committee" ; and, of these, how many are critical of the recommendations for supply teachers.
Mr. Eggar : My right hon. Friend received responses from eight statutory consultees to the Government's proposals stemming from the third report of the Interim Advisory Committee. In addition, comments were received from eight other organisations. Three of the latter were critical of the proposals concerning supply teachers.
Mr. Skinner : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent discussions he has had with teachers' unions' representatives regarding teachers' pay ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar : My right hon. Friend last met representatives of the six teacher unions in June to discuss his proposals for new pay determination machinery.
Foreign Languages
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list by local education authority in England and Wales the range of foreign languages available in (a) schools and (b) other establishments, and taught in the last academic year for which figures are available.
Mr. Eggar : The information is not available in the form requested. A copy of the 1988 secondary school staffing survey is available in the Library.
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for extending the choice of foreign languages available in schools and colleges after 1992 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar : We have specified 19 languages as eligible to be the modern foreign language foundation subject in the national curriculum. These include all the working languages of the European Community and 11 other languages which also have cultural and commercial importance. Within this framework, we are encouraging schools to offer a wider variety of languages, and in 1991-92 we are making grants available to local education authorities in England to support schemes for the diversification of first foreign language provision in their areas.
The responsibility for deciding academic policy such as the range of foreign language tuition in institutions of further and higher education rests primarily with the institutions themselves.
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the recruitment of teachers of foreign languages and the current position on vacancies in schools ; and what plans he has further to increase the number of foreign language teachers.
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Mr. Fallon : Following the extension of the teacher training bursary to modern foreign languages from September 1990, applications to modern foreign language courses beginning this autumn have increased by 16 per cent. over 1989. Recruitment figures for initial teacher training courses will be published shortly.
The January 1990 survey data show foreign language teacher vacancies of 2.3 per cent.
The Department is supporting a number of research projects both to ease the recruitment of foreign nationals and to enable a greater number of teachers here to become effective teachers of modern foreign languages. We are also the first country to implement the EC directive on the mutual recognition of qualifications, as it relates to teachers.
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his policy on the teaching of European languages to children of school age ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar : A modern foreign language is a foundation subject in the national curriculum for pupils aged 11 to 16. The languages specified as eligible to be taught as the national curriculum foundation subject include all the working languages of the European Community. Schools are required to offer pupils the opportunity to study at least one of these languages.
History
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on his policy for the teaching of history for age groups five to seven, seven to nine, nine to 11, 11 to 13, 13 to 16 and 16 plus years.
Mr. Eggar : My right hon. Friend published his proposals for attainment targets and programmes of study for history on 26 July. The National Curriculum Council is currently carrying out the required statutory consultation on those proposals. Its report is due by 17 December.
A-levels
Mr. Dykes : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish an analysis of the breakdown of 1990 A-level results in secondary schools, with comparable figures of grades and percentages for both the maintained schools and the independent sector ; and if he will make a statement on indications of changes in overall A-level standards, both for pass levels and for the higher mark grade categories.
Mr. Eggar : The table shows, for school leavers in England in 1988- 89, the percentage of those attempting A-level or AS examinations who achieve UCCA points scores of 1 to 8 and 9 to 15.
School Leavers in England, 1988-89
|Maintained |Independent|All Schools
------------------------------------------------------------------
Attempting 1 or
more A/AS-
levels (000's) |106.46 |33.00 |139.49
Percentage of above who gain
UCCA<1> points
score 1-8 |59.1 |43.4 |55.4
UCCA<1> points
score 9-15 |31.2 |52.9 |36.3
<1> The UCCA points score is calculated using the 3 best A-level,
or paired AS examination, results. Each grade is given a score,
from 5 points for a Grade A to 1 point for a grade E, and the
best 3 added together. The maximum points score is therefore 15.
CIVIL SERVICE
Executive Officers
142. Dr. Marek : To ask the Minister for the Civil Service, pursuant to his written answer of 15 October relating to salaries of executive officer recruits to the civil service, if he will answer those parts of the original question that would not involve a disproportionate cost.
Mr. Mellor [holding answer 18 October 1990] : No part of the original question could be answered without disproportionate cost.
THE ARTS
Regional Arts Associations
152. Mr. Butler : To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will report on progress with the devolution of responsibilities to the regional arts associations.
Mr. Mellor : The Arts Council published a consultative list setting out the allocation of future funding responsibilities between itself and the regional arts boards at the end of September. This is based on the principles endorsed by my predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Shoreham (Mr. Luce), which I have since further confirmed. The period of consultation expires at the end of November. Final decisions will be taken as soon as possible thereafter.
NATIONAL FINANCE
Trade Statistics
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the increase in (a) gross domestic product, (b) manufacturing output, (c) unemployment, (d) unit labour costs in manufacturing, (e) real wages, (f) inflation and (g) the balance of trade in manufactures between (1) 1979 and 1989 and (2) 1985 and 1989 in (i) Germany, (ii) France, (iii) Italy and (iv) the United Kingdom.
Mr. Norman Lamont : Information in respect of 1979 and 1985 can be obtained from the following publications :
(a) Gross Domestic Product
"National Accounts Main Aggregates Volume I 1960-1988" published by OECD
Part 6 table 4 gives GDP at current prices and 1985 exchange rates and table 13 GDP at current prices and current exchange rates both expressed in billions of US dollars for all the countries in question.
(b) manufacturing output
Information for 1979 can be found in "Short Term Industrial Trends" and for 1985 in "Industrial Trends" published by Eurostat. (c) unemployment
Separate tables are given for each country in "Main Economic Indicators Historical Statistics 1969-1988" published by OECD. (d) unit labour costs costs in manufacturing
Separate tables are given for Germany and the United Kingdom in "Main Economic Indicators Historical Statistics
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1969-1988" published by OECD. Data are not available for France and Italy.(e) real wages
Information on compensation of employees which includes all payments in cash and in kind made by employers in remuneration for the work done by their employees is given in Table J in "National Accounts ESA Aggregates 1970-1988 Theme 2 Series C" published by Eurostat.
(f) inflation
Separate tables showing consumer price indices are given for each country in "Main Economic Indicators Historical Statistics 1969-1988" published by OECD.
(g) balance of trade in manufactures
This can be calculated from data in "External Trade Statistics Year Book 1988 edition Theme 6 Series A" published by Eurostat. Information in respect of 1989 can be obtained from the following publications :
(a) gross domestic product
Part III (Appendix) in "Main Economic Indicators" published monthly by OECD gives GDP at current prices and 1985 exchange rates and GDP at current prices and current exchange rates both expressed in billions of US dollars for all the countries in question. (b) manufacturing output
"Industrial Trends" published by Eurostat.
(c) unemployment
Information can be found in the various country tables published in "Main Economic Indicators" published monthly by OECD.
(d) unit labour costs in manufacturing
Information can be found in the various country tables published in "Main Economic Indicators" published monthly by OECD.
(e) real wages
Not yet available.
(f) inflation
Information on Consumer price indices appears in Part I (Indicators by subject) in "Main Economic Indicators" published monthly by OECD. (g) balance of trade in manufactures
This can be calculated from data in "External Trade Monthly Statistics Theme 6 Series B" published by Eurostat.
Copies of all these publications are available in the Library.
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the time lag between changes in the International Monetary Fund index of the trade-weighted relative price of United Kingdom exports of manufacturers and changes in the United Kingdom balance of trade in manufactures in terms of value ; what index figure is reflected in the latest trade figures ; and by how much the index has since increased as a result of (a) the higher rate of inflation in the United Kingdom and (b) the increase in the nominal rate of exchange.
Mr. Norman Lamont : Changes in the IMF index of the trade-weighted relative price of United Kingdom exports of manufactures can to some extent have a contemporaneous effect on the value of United Kingdom exports and, hence, the balance of trade. The full effect, of course, takes longer to work through and estimates are subject to considerable uncertainty. The balance of trade is also influenced by the growth of home and overseas demand, and by non-price competitiveness which has improved markedly in the 1980s as a result of the Government's supply side measures. The IMF will publish the level of the index of trade-weighted United Kingdom relative prices relating to recent months in due course.
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Financial Statistics
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Budget surplus or deficit he anticipates for 1990-91 ; what he expects the inflation rate to be at the turn of the year ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maples : It is clear that policy is now reducing inflationary pressures in the economy. The prospect is for a substantial reduction in inflation over the coming year. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will publish revised forecasts of inflation and of the public finances in the autumn statement.
Mortgage Repossessions
Mr. Allen : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the number of repossessions by building societies for each of the years since 1979 in (a) Nottingham, (b) the east midlands region and (c) nationally.
Mr. Maples : Statistics are not available in respect of Nottingham and the east midlands region. The figures published by the Council of Mortgage Lenders for the number of repossessions nationally by building societies and the Abbey National are as follows :
Year |Number ---------------------- 1979 |2,530 1980 |3,020 1981 |4,240 1982 |5,950 1983 |7,320 1984 |10,870 1985 |16,770 1986 |20,930 1987 |22,930 1988 |16,090 1989 |13,740 <1>1990 |14,390 <1> first half.
Duty-free Sales
Mr. Cash To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy on the elimination of duty-free sales under the EC treaty or the Single European Act ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Ryder : The European Commission has made it clear that as a consequence of the completion of the single market, duty-free shopping for intra-Community travellers should cease. However, the Commission has not yet come forward with firm proposals for this. The Government understand the Commission's view that it makes no sense to grant a tax concession for crossing a frontier when fiscal frontiers have been removed. Equally, the Government are aware of the economic significance of the duty-free trade and will examine all the arguments carefully before a decision is reached.
Tax Fraud
Mr. Nellist To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in relation to tax fraud, he will list (a) the number of investigators in the Inland Revenue, (b) the number of investigations in 1989-90, (c) the number of prosecutions in 1989-90, (d) the cost of these operations in 1989-90, (e) his estimate of the net tax collected and (f) (e) divided by (d) , expressed as £s collected for every £ of cost.
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Mr. Francis Maude : During 1989-90 a total of 3,200 Inland Revenue staff units completed 110,000 investigations into possible or actual tax fraud. These investigations cost £89 million and yielded £941 million : a yield of approximately £10.50 for every £1 spent. There were 235 prosecutions for offences related to tax fraud in the year.
Iraq
Mr. Flynn To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, during recent meetings of the European Council of Finance Ministers, he raised with his Italian counterpart the role of the Italian state-owned Banca Nazionale del Lavoro (BNL) in providing investment capital to Iraq.
Mr. Flynn To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has had any discussions with the Governor of the Bank of England concerning the underwriting of contracts signed by United Kingdom companies with Iraq prior to 2 August, for the construction of facilities contracted by the Iraqi Ministry of Planning.
Charities (VAT)
Mr. Robert Hughes : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the annual savings in total to registered charities as a result of being zero-rated for value added tax purposes for each of the past five years ; and what was the estimated total for the current financial year.
Mr. Ryder : Charities as such are not zero-rated, but they benefit from various VAT reliefs on certain supplies they make and on certain goods and services they buy in, which are zero-rated by virtue of their intended use. They also benefit from the more general zero-rating of some everyday items, such as food. No precise information is available, but it is estimated that these zero-ratings save charities this year some £300 million in tax : a total roughly the same in today's terms for each of the last five years.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what options are currently under consideration in respect to harmonisation of value added tax rules by 1992 or any other target date ; what discussions he has undertaken with the EEC or other Governments on this topic ; and if he will make a statement on his policy in respect to the protection of charitable bodies in the United Kingdom from any adverse effects.
Mr. Ryder : The EC Commission now envisages more flexibility in the setting of VAT rates than was apparent in its original proposals for the single market. The Government have welcomed the revised thinking but have made it clear that they still do not consider centrally determined tax approximation to be appropriate or necessary. They have also resisted the suggestion that zero rates after 1992 should be restricted in scope and subject to certain conditions. The United Kingdom position remains that our zero rates as a whole, and not just those of particular interest to charities, are not a pertinent issue for the completion of the single market.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact on the work of voluntary organisations in Wales of any harmonisation of
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value added tax which might end the zero-rated concessions currently in force ; how much money would be involved ; and what action he intends to take to protect the whole of voluntary and charitable organisations in Wales.Mr. Ryder : The Government have no reliable figures on the extent to which voluntary bodies in Wales benefit from VAT reliefs, but are opposing any tax approximation proposals for the single market which would further restrict our ability to use zero rates. EC decisions in tax matters require the unanimous agreement of all member states, and there is no question of any unwelcome proposals being forced upon us.
North Sea Oil
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total tax on North sea oil production, including royalties, paid by oil companies in August and September 1990 and the equivalent in 1989.
Mr. Maples : Total receipts from tax on North sea oil production, including royalties, were £595 million in August and September 1990 and £523 million in August and September 1989.
Debt Relief
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much official debt is owed by Tanzania and Uganda ; how much debt relief each has received under the Toronto terms ; and what calculation the Treasury has made of the likely level of debt relief under Trinidad terms.
Mr. Maples [holding answer 19 October 1990] : At end 1988, the total official long-term debt owed by Tanzania and Uganda was $4 billion, and $1.6 billion respectively. Tanzania has received two reschedulings on Toronto terms, consolidating a total of $576 million. Uganda has received one rescheduling on Toronto terms which consolidated $89 million. The cash flow saving from these Toronto terms reschedulings compared with the effect of non-concessional rescheduling is therefore about $20 million each year for Tanzania and about $3 million each year for Uganda. If all official bilateral creditors, including the non-OECD creditors, were to implement Trinidad terms the stock of debt would be reduced by a total of about $1.6 billion for Tanzania, and $0.3 billion for Uganda.
Exchange Rate
Mr. Shore : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what conditions for the entry of sterling into the ERM, other than the DM2.95 central rate and the 6 per cent. margins, were sought by Her Majesty's Government and agreed to by the other European Community countries.
Mr. Major [holding answer 19 October 1990] : The central rates and fluctuation margins, which we proposed in exercising our right to take sterling into the exchange rate mechanism, were determined by mutual agreement. No conditions for entry were sought or agreed to.
Mr. Shore : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer now that the pound is in the ERM, what assistance, through the very short-term fund facility from the other central banks, is available to the Bank of England for the purpose of holding the rate within its agreed margins.
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