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Written Answers to Questions
Friday 30 November 1990
HOME DEPARTMENT
Police Manpower
Mr. Raffan : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the latest figures for police manpower and expenditure in each police force in Wales.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I understand from the local authorities concerned that police strength and the expected current expenditure in 1990-91, excluding loan charges, are as set out in the table :
------------------------------------ Dyfed-Powys |935 |31,296 Gwent |1,000 |33,003 North Wales |1,335 |46,196 South Wales |3,124 |108,968 <1> As at 31 August 1990.
Registered Homes
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions and how many convictions there have been under the Registered Homes Act for each year since 1986 ; and if he will list the sentence for each conviction.
Mr. John Patten : The information requested is given in the table :
Number of prosecutions and convictions under the
Registered Homes Act 1984
England and Wales
Year Total Total Sentence
proceeded
|against |Absolute |Conditional
|discharge |discharge
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1986 |- |- |- |- |-
1987 |6 |4 |1 |- |3
1988 |9 |7 |- |1 |6
1989 |9 |5 |- |2 |3
Young Offenders
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the average period of time spent at Cardiff prison by young people aged (a) 15 years and (b) 16 years who were remanded in custody in each of the last three years ;
(2) what was the average period of time spent at Swansea prison by young people aged (a) 15 years and (b) 16 years who were remanded in custody in each of the last three years.
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Mrs. Rumbold : The information requested is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Coroners Court
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of coroners courts under his responsibility, with the list of vacancies at each court for members of staff.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Coroners courts are not one of the local authority -based services for which the Home Office provides specific grant contribution. Local authorities are responsible for appointing coroners, paying their salaries and meeting any expenses they incur in carrying out their duties, including staff costs. The information requested is not available centrally.
Ministerial Visit (Leicester)
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of the visit by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary to Leicester on 23 November.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : There was no cost to the Exchequer.
Immigration and Nationality Department
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the income received by the immigration and nationality department for (a) naturalisation and (b) registration for the last 10 years, including 1990.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Naturalisation fees and registration fees are recorded together. The readily available information, showing receipts net of refunds to unsuccessful applicants, relates to financial years and is as follows :
Financial |Receipts year |(£) --------------------------------- 1980-81 |1,184,000 1981-82 |1,981,000 1982-83 |10,854,000 1983-84 |4,795,000 1984-85 |2,845,000 1985-86 |3,269,000 1986-87 |4,241,000 1987-88 |14,437,000 1988-89 |5,987,000 1989-90 |2,573,000 <1>1990 |1,127,000 <1>April to October.
Crown Prosecution Service
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken, pursuant to the evidence given by the Director of Public Prosecutions to the Home Affairs Select Committee, concerning the number of police officers obstructing the work of the Crown prosecution service.
Mr. Kenneth Baker : The Government's response to the report of the Home Affairs Committee's inquiry into the Crown prosecution service, published on 17 July (Cmnd. No. 1145), suggested that the recently established working
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group on pre-trial issues would in due course make proposals for reducing the areas of friction between the police and the Crown prosecution service. The working party has just completed its report and I shall give priority to examining its recommendations, in conjunction with my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor and my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General.Hillsborough Disaster (Report)
Mr. Pendry : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what consideration was given to including in the Criminal Justice Bill the legislation implementing recommendations contained in Lord Justice Taylor's final report into the Hillsborough disaster, announced by him on 12 November, Official Report, column 355 ; (2) on what date the decision was taken to implement the recommendations contained in Lord Justice Taylor's final report into the Hillsborough disaster, announced by him on 12 November, Official Report, column 355.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The Criminal Justice Bill is concerned with the treatment of offenders and the administration of justice rather than the creation of new offences. We decided in October to legislate along the lines which Lord Justice Taylor recommended. We are now considering how the offences should be formulated and will introduce legislative proposals as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Sports Grounds (Safety)
Mr. Fishburn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to publish a revised edition of the "Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds."
Mr. Kenneth Baker : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have today published a revised edition of a "Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds" which reflects the recommendations of the Hillsborough inquiry.
I have arranged for copies of the guide, and the Home Office covering circular to local authorities, to be placed in the Library.
EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
School Governors
Sir Thomas Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has received about the responsibilities of governors under the local management of schools.
Mr. Fallon : My right hon. and learned Friend continues to receive representations from governing bodies, head teachers, parents and others about the responsibilities of governing bodies under the local management of schools. My right hon. and learned Friend and I are determined to ensure that more resources get down to the school level. It will then be for governors to decide how best to use them. I believe that governors will enjoy the freedom to make their own decisions.
Nursery Education
Ms. Armstrong : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the figures for 1990 for the percentage of under- fives in nursery schools, nursery classes and infant classes by local education authority in England, in rank order.
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Mr. Eggar : The information for 1990 is not yet available.
TRANSPORT
Public Service Vehicles
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department holds on the number of public service vehicles that fail annual roadworthiness tests.
Mr. Freeman : The failure rates of PSVs at annual test have been placed in the Library.
The extract is from the vehicle inspectorate executive agency's annual report 1989-90 and shows that :
(a) The average initial failure rate over the last five years is 38.9 per cent.
(b) The average final failure rate over the last five years is 20.7 per cent.
Rayleigh Weir Underpass
Sir Bernard Braine : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the reasons for delay on the construction of the Rayleigh Weir underpass on the A127 ; when the work will now be completed ; what steps are being taken to minimise the inconvenience caused to local residents ; and what steps are being taken to inform in advance those most affected of any changes in arrangements for access to their homes.
Mr. Chope : Work on the new grade separated junction at Rayleigh Weir began on 4 December 1989 with an original proposed completion date of 1 December 1991. British Telecom underestimated the time it required to divert its cables which has led to a significant delay. The new completion date is 9 February 1992.
A liaison officer has been appointed to help co-ordinate the statutory undertakers' works and to deal with complaints. To keep residents informed, the contractor sends out advance notice of works and the liaison officer issues letters about statutory undertakers' works.
The situation for residents has been improved by the construction of a new service road, the closure of the entrance to the industrial estate, the laying of a new footpath for access to houses and the provision of a car parking area by the main contractor.
Vehicle Clamping
Mr. Hannam : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the steps he is taking to enforce section 105 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I have been asked to reply.
The responsibility for the enforcement of road traffic law is a matter for individual chief officers of police.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT
Angola
Mr. Snape : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further measures are planned by Her Majesty's Government to assist the United Nations special relief programme for Angola to help meet the basic survival needs of those most at risk from famine.
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Mr. Mills : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to increase aid to Angola ; and if he will make a statement.Mrs. Chalker : I refer the hon. Members to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Corbett) on 27 November at column 356.
French Guiana
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Directorate General VIII of the EC is planning to provide aid funds for building roads in French Guiana ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Chalker : As it is a French overseas department and not an ACP country French Guiana is not eligible for aid funds from Directorate General VIII.
Commonwealth Development Corporation
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what environmental guide-lines exist for the Commonwealth Development Corporation in deciding which projects to support.
Mrs. Chalker : The CDC operates in accordance with environmental policies and procedures which, among other things, require it to : a. encourage the efficient and sustainable use of environmental resources ;
b. seek investment opportunities where sound economic development is coupled with the protection and improvement of environmental resources ; and
c. seek ways of safeguarding the welfare of local communities affected by the development projects.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Court of Appeal
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Attorney-General what is the average length of time elapsing between reference of a case to the Court of Appeal and the hearing of that case ; and if he will make a statement.
The Attorney-General : Since sections 35 and 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 were brought into force on1 February 1989, I have sought leave to refer 32 cases to the Court of Appeal where I believed the original sentence to be unduly lenient, although I subsequently withdrew eight applications on receipt of further information. To date, 18 of the remaining 24 cases have been determined with an average waiting time of 12.2 weeks. In the same period, I have sought the opinion of the court on a point of law under section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1972 in one case which has yet to be determined. The reference was made on 12 September 1990.
Mr. Mullin : To ask the Attorney-General for what reason the appeal of Mr. Danny McNamee was postponed from 12 November to 18 December.
The Attorney-General : The listing of cases in the Court of Appeal criminal division is a matter entirely for the court. I understand, however, that Mr. McNamee's application for leave to appeal against conviction which was listed to be heard by the court on 12 November has been relisted for 17 December as the court was not satisfied
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that the parties would be fully prepared, following an extension of Mr. McNamee's legal aid to include solicitors, a change in junior counsel, and difficulties in gathering evidence to support the application. Subsequently, those representing Mr. McNamee requested that a further transcript from a related trial be ordered from the court reporting contractor concerned.Mr. Vaz : To ask the Attorney-General if he will ask the Director of Public Prosecutions to take over the case of Dr. Malde Modhwadia of Leicester recently referred to the Court of Appeal by the Secretary of State for the Home Department.
The Attorney-General : The Director of Public Prosecutions will be represented at the hearing in the Court of Appeal of Dr. Modhwadia's case. Counsel will be instructed to advise the Director concerning the prospects of the appeal succeeding.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Benefits System
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when each of the research projects mentioned in his answer to the hon. Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack), on 14 November, Official Report , column 180 , is due to be completed.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : The table sets out the expected completion date for each project :
Project |Expected
|completion
|date
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Effect of the "Actively Seeking Work"
provisions |End 1990
2. Survey of incomes in and out of work |End 1992<1>
3. The effect of severe hardship payments for
16 and 17-year-olds |Early 1991
4. Survey of retirement and retirement plans |Late 1991
5. Methods of payment of benefit |Spring 1991
6. The Operation of the Social Fund |Late 1991
<1>This project is partially completed. Results are published in:
Survey of Incomes In and Out of Work: Erens, B and Hedges, B (SCPR,
1990) and Garman, A and Redmond, G: The changing characteristics of
unemployed men, Employment Gazette, September 1990.
Income Support
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the percentage fall over the period since the end of April 1987 in the real value of the income of a person then receiving supplementary benefit and now receiving income support with a transitional addition of £1 per week, assuming no disregarded income and no changes in the transitional addition except those due to the annual benefit upratings.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : The level of income support in payment depends upon the individual's circumstances, changes in which may affect benefit entitlement though not the transitional addition. Any hypothetical calculation of
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the kind requested could not reflect the varying positions of the very small number of people who still have transitional protection. Such people remain better off than those in similar circumstances who have claimed income support since April 1988.Cancer and Leukaemia
Mr. Churchill : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many military personnel and civilians, respectively, have been acknowledged by his Department to have developed various forms of cancer or leukaemia as a consequence of their employment in (a) Britain's nuclear test programme, (b) Her Majesty's submarines, (c) the atomic energy research programme, (d) nuclear power generation and (e) any other field.
Mr. Scott : The benefit of reasonable doubt has to be given to ex- service men who participated in Britain's nuclear test programme and who have contracted leukaemia (other than chronic lymphatic leukaemia) or multiple myeloma. Sixteen war pensions have been awarded as a result. There has also been one award of war pension for myeloid leukaemia to an ex- service man who served on one of Her Majesty's submarines. The information relating to civilian employees is not available.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Grain Exports
Ms. Quin : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the availability of Export Credits Guarantee Department support for grain exports to the Soviet Union.
Mr. Sainsbury : Several applications for cover on sales of grain to the USSR are being considered at present by ECGD. Decisions will be reached as soon as possible.
TAURUS
Ms. Mowlam : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of delays by his Department in changing the Companies Act on companies that wish to register for TAURUS and that have a December year end ; and what estimate has been made of the costs involved for such companies ; (2) what are the reasons for the delay in publishing the necessary changes for the implementation of TAURUS ;
(3) when his Department first established that there would need to be a change in section 207 of the Companies Act to permit companies to register for TAURUS.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 23 November 1990] : No changes to section 207 of the Companies Act 1989 are proposed or necessary. The DTI was aware of plans for TAURUS when it drafted section 207 : it had to take a general power because TAURUS was not then fully defined. The DTI has been out to consultation on the current TAURUS scheme and is now considering the replies. Regulations using the section 207 power will be put, as planned, to the House for affirmation next year. The regulations will include provisions allowing companies to pass simply drafted resolutions in order to join TAURUS, making it easier, for those who are ready, to do so early in the two-year build-up planned by the international stock exchange. We are working closely with
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the stock exchange to ensure the regulations are in place in time for the new system. Recent press reports that DTI is causing delay have been inaccurate.NORTHERN IRELAND
Oil Imports
Mr. Hood : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the effect on the balance of payments of the import of foreign oil into Northern Ireland ; and if he will make a statement.
Dr. Mawhinney : The balance of payments relates to trade between the United Kingdom as a whole and the rest of the world. No information is available on the effect on the balance of payments of the import of foreign oil into Northern Ireland.
Nuclear Casualties
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all the hospitals in Northern Ireland that have been designated to accept nuclear-contaminated casualties ; and if he will show in his answer those hospitals that have expressed an interest in national health service trust status.
Dr. Mawhinney : In Northern Ireland the Royal Victoria hospital, Grosvenor road, Belfast is the only listed hospital designated for the reception of nuclear-contaminated casualties. The royal group of hospitals unit of management has expressed an interest in trust status of which the Royal Victoria hospital is a part.
Coal Imports
Mr. Hood : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the present level of coal imports into Northern Ireland ; and if he will make a statement.
Dr. Mawhinney : In 1989 2,081,000 tonnes were imported.
Beta-agonists
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any information relating to adverse effects on human health resulting from the illegal use of beta-agonists.
Dr. Mawhinney : I am not aware of any adverse effects on human health in this country resulting from the illegal use of beta-agonists. However, I understand that the national epidemiology centre, Madrid has investigated a possible link between outbreaks of food poisoning in Spain and the illicit use of clenbuterol in cattle feed.
Speech Therapy
Mr. Beggs : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what provision exists or is planned to provide and equip a school for special speech therapy for children living in Northern Ireland who are unable to speak.
Dr. Mawhinney : The following special school and units attached to ordinary schools specifically cater for the needs of children with speech and language problems :
Thornfield Special School--Newtownabbey
Enniskillen Model Primary School--Unit
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Gibson Primary School, Omagh--UnitKillard House Special School, Newtownards--Unit
St. Joseph's Primary School, Bessbrook--Unit
However, any child with such difficulties, placed in any special school or unit because other problems are predominant, will also receive speech therapy.
Provision for pupils with special educational needs is a matter for education and library boards in the first instance. I am not aware of any proposals for further provision.
Bovine Tuberculosis
Mr. Mallon : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of bovine tuberculosis have been notified in the last 12 months in each agricultural office in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Brooke : The number of cattle found to be infected with bovine TB during the period 1 November 1989 to 31 October 1990 are as set out in the table for each divisional veterinary office area.
------------------------
Armagh |408
Ballymena |269
Coleraine |94
Dungannon |139
Enniskillen |191
Larne |466
Londonderry |59
Newry |1,282
Newtownards |221
Omagh |120
|----
Total |3,249
Glor na Gael
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will reinstate the grant to the Irish language group, Glor na Gael ; and if he will make a statement on his reasons for terminating the grant.
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Mr. Cope : This matter is now before the courts on an application for judicial review which must be allowed to take its course.
Structural Funds
Mr. McNamara : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has received from the European Commission that the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Fair Employment Commission should be represented on the committee monitoring the bids for structural funds in Northern Ireland ; and what reply he has sent.
Dr. Mawhinney [holding answer 28 November 1990] : Recognising that it is for the member state to decide, the European Commission had suggested that the Fair Employment Commission (FEC) and the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) could be represented on committees which monitor the administration of the structural funds in Northern Ireland. We explained that, since monitoring committees are concerned with operational considerations, rather than wider policies such as fair employment, it would not be appropriate for these bodies to be represented. The Commission has accepted this explanation and we have now arranged that it should receive the annual reports of the FEC and EOC.
Irish Language
Mr. Mallon : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the total Government expenditure on the promotion and development of the Irish language in each year since 1985.
Mr. Cope [holding answer 29 November 1990] : Total Government spending on the Irish language in each of those years was as follows :
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|1985-86|1986-87|1987-88|1988-89|1989-90
|£ |£ |£ |£ |£
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prison Education |22,294 |34,618 |29,400 |31,582 |37,044
Action for Community Employment Programme |64,002 |140,830|187,274|290,855|315,175
Belfast Action Team Initiative |- |- |1,000 |2,219 |89,204
Arts Council for Northern Ireland |2,000 |4,000 |5,000 |5,000 |19,000
Central Community Relations Unit |- |- |- |- |88,065
Origin of Placenames Project |- |- |47,230 |100,000|121,000
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------
Total |88,296 |179,448|269,904|429,656|669,488
It is not possible to disaggregate the cost of provision for the teaching of Irish in schools and colleges of further education in Northern Ireland. Irish-medium education is provided in Bunscoil Phobal Feirste in Belfast and Steelstown primary school in Londonderry. In 1989-90 the running costs for such Irish-medium education were approximately £367,000. Figures for earlier years are not readily available. Capital grants have also been made in the past to the Bunscoil amounting to £443,000. A further allocation of £20, 000 has been made available to Bunscoil Phobal Feirste to assist in the development and production of curriculum materials in the Irish language.
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Historic Buildings
Mr. Mallon : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the total Government expenditure on the upkeep, care and protection of historic buildings and monuments in Northern Ireland in each year since 1985.
Dr. Mawhinney [holding answer 29 November 1990] : The information requested is as follows :
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