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Mr. Maude : The Treasury is a competent authority for the purposes of the relevant provisions of the Companies Act 1985, and therefore has access to information obtained under that Act. As regards the suitability of firms to act as privatisation advisers, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 13 November in column 112.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Missing People
Mr. Janner : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to how many (a) children and (b) adults are known to have gone missing in the Metropolitan police district in each month of the past two years for which records are available ; and
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how many were subsequently traced (i) within one week, (ii) within one month, (iii) within three months, (iv) within six months and (v) not for over six months of report.Mr. Peter Lloyd : It is not possible to give monthly figures in relation to persons reported missing in the Metropolitan police district, and statistical information is not kept regarding the periods of time within which missing persons are traced. However, the following annual figures are given in relation to persons reported missing in the Metropolitan police district in 1988 and 1989.
|1988 |1989
---------------------------------------
Males:
Under 14 years |486 |2,955
14 to 17 years |937 |5,661
18 years + |2,710 |4,566
Females:
Under 14 years |421 |1,587
14 to 17 years |1,091 |6,078
18 years + |2,500 |4,413
|-------|-------
Total |8,145 |25,260
Of the 8,145 persons reported missing during 1988, 1,075 were shown centrally as being still missing at the end of the year. Of the 25,260 persons reported missing during 1989, 315 were still missing at the end of the year.
The figures for 1989 are not comparable with those of previous years owing to new recording procedures having been introduced. Figures for 1990 are not yet available.
Mr. Janner : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to how many inquiries the Metropolitan police received from other forces in respect of missing persons during the last year for which records are available.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The total number of missing persons reports received by the Metropolitan police from other forces during 1989 was 6,913. Figures for 1990 are not yet available.
Neighbourhood Watch
Mr. Raffan : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current number of neighbourhood watch schemes in Wales.
Mr. John Patten : At the end of October 1990, there were estimated to be in the region of 3,450 schemes in Wales, covering over 83,000 households.
Court Psychiatric Schemes
Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many justices' clerks have implemented, or are in the process of implementing, the recommendations contained in HO circular 66/90 concerning the establishment, together with other local agencies, of court psychiatric assessment arrangements or schemes.
Mr. John Patten : This information is not available. We are, however, considering a number of ways in which implementation of the circular's recommendations might be monitored.
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Immigration
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will update his answer of 25 October, Official Report , columns 262-64 , to list the outstanding cases to October in each category of (a) naturalisation, (b) registration, (c) general immigration casework and (d) asylum and related casework.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The number of outstanding cases relates to casework in B1 and B4 divisions in the immigration and nationality department and is as follows :
Outstanding cases: October
|Number
-------------------------------------------------
Naturalisation<1> |63,553
Registration<1> |24,485
General immigration casework<1><2> |20,910
Asylum and related casework<1><3> |29,936
<1>Does not include applications received in the
Department but which await allocation to
caseworkers.
<2>Includes referred entry clearance
applications, and inquiries submitted by letter,
as well as variation of leave cases. Includes
both general and eastern European casework (the
latter was absorbed into general casework in
July 1990).
<3>These figures are a total of all work
outstanding in the refugee unit.
Local Government Finance
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider amending court regulations in order to broaden the range of people who can speak on behalf of defendants in community charge cases.
Mr. John Patten : Section 22 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 permits a party to any proceedings by a magistrates court to be represented by counsel or a solicitor. In addition, the courts have a discretion to allow someone else to act on behalf of a party. We have no plans to change the law.
House of Lords (Reform)
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward proposals to reform the House of Lords.
Constitution and Bill of Rights
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward proposals for (a) a written constitution and (b) a Bill of Rights.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward proposals to ensure a separation of powers within the British constitution.
Victim Support Schemes
Mr. Favell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the funding of victim support schemes in Greater Manchester, and Stockport in particular.
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Mr. John Patten : We have received one letter from the Greater Manchester Federation of Victim Support expressing concern about the proposed withdrawal by local authorities of funding for victim support schemes in Greater Manchester. Home Office grant, which is administered by the funding panel of the national charity Victim Support, stands at £4.5 million this year and will rise by 20 per cent. to £5.4 million next year, subject to parliamentary approval. Local schemes may apply to the funding panel for new or extra grant under criteria reviewed annually, which are designed to ensure that the grant is distributed fairly and to best effect throughout England and Wales.Helicopters
Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he gives to chief constables and to the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis about the circumstances under which it is reasonable to use a helicopter in residential areas (a) during the day and (b) at night.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Police air operations are subject to safety rules and regulations made under the Civil Aviation Act 1982 and enforced by the Civil Aviation Authority. These specify minimum heights and closeness to high objects or buildings at which helicopters may fly over congested areas during the day and at night. Responsibility for the safe operation of police helicopters rests with chief police officers or the companies they employ to provide air services.
Special Constables
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has reached a decision on the introduction of a bounty for special constables.
Mr. Kenneth Baker : I have decided to authorise pilot projects allowing the payment of a bounty for special constables. This will be subject to amending the Special Constabulary Regulations 1965. Payment of the bounty on an experimental basis will take place in the Metropolitan police district and perhaps two provincial forces to test different types of scheme. The experiment will run for two years initially and its effect on recruitment and retention will be assessed before decisions are taken on the longer-term future of the bounty.
Young Offenders
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) further to paragraph 822 of the White Paper, "Crime, Justice and Protecting the Public", if he will set out his policies with respect to abolition of certification of unruly behaviour ;
(2) further to paragraph 822 of the White Paper, "Crime, Justice and Protecting the Public", if he will place a copy of his consultative document in the Library ;
(3) what new proposals he has in respect of young people aged 15 and 16 years in regard to remand and to the provisions of the Bail Act ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John Patten [holding answers 29 and 30 November 1990] : It remains our intention to publish a consultation paper setting out detailed proposals for reforming the arrangements for the remand of alleged juvenile offenders,
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including the abolition of the unruliness certification procedure. I shall arrange for a copy of the consultation paper to be placed in the Library.Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will make it his policy to create a clear separation at the age of 16 years so that young people aged 16 and 17 years are dealt with by the new youth court but children aged 10 to 16 years are dealt with either by a separate juvenile court or by separate sittings of a youth court ;
(2) what is his latest policy for setting the lower age limit in respect of young people being brought before the proposed youth courts ;
(3) whether he will make it his policy that magistrates courts should so structure their operations as to deal separately with children aged under 14 years and those who are aged 14-plus.
Mr. John Patten [holding answer 29 and 30 November 1990] : The jurisdiction of the proposed youth court, to be introduced by the Criminal Justice Bill, will include young people aged 10 to 17 inclusive who are charged with criminal offences. Within each youth court listing arrangements will be a matter for the justices' clerk to determine.
Democratic Accountability
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals Her Majesty's Government have (a) to increase democratic accountability to Parliament and (b) to improve the facilities available to hon. Members better to carry out their duties.
Mr. Kenneth Baker : If the hon. Gentleman has any specific points or proposals for improvement in mind, the Government will, as always, be happy to consider them.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Farm Conservation Grants
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much has been allocated for the farm conservation grant scheme for (a) 1989-90, (b) 1990-91 and (c) 1991-92 ; how much has been taken up in 1989-90 and 1990-91 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gummer : In England for the 1989-90 financial year, £9 million was allocated for the farm and conservation grant scheme and £6,029, 000 was spent. For the 1990-91 financial year, £23,230,000 was allocated and expenditure to the end of October was £10,821,000. Expenditure in the latter half of the financial year is traditionally higher than in the first half and we do not expect a significant underspend this year. The planned allocation for 1991-92 is £22,926, 000.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether grant aid is available under the farm conservation grant scheme to cover the costs incurred as a result of reinforcement of the electricity supply due to the installation of new pollution control equipment ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gummer : No, these grants are targeted on equipment to treat, handle and store waste. The very
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generous 50 per cent. grant is higher than the EC norm and was only approved by the EC Commission because it did not cover ancillary items. A widening of the grant would therefore have to be offset by a cut in grant rates or withdrawal of grant from other farm waste investments.Coast Protection Act
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now make it his policy to undertake a review into the workings of the Coast Protection Act 1949.
Mr. Curry : I have no plans to undertake a review into the workings of the Coast Protection Act 1949.
Food Irradiation
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to lay the regulations which will allow the introduction of food irradiation ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gummer : I intend to lay the Food (Control of Irradiation) Regulations 1990 before Parliament later this month. The regulations will lift the current general prohibition on the sale of irradiated foods in Great Britain and introduce a licensing system for food treatment facilities.
Fish Farms
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the studies which have associated the growth of each blue/green algae with nutrient-rich waters resulting from fish farm wastes.
Mr. Curry : This Department is aware of no studies which link the growth of blue-green algae with nutrient-rich waters resulting specifically from fish farm wastes.
Foxes
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has received the copy of the research undertaken at the university of Aberdeen into lamb predation by foxes which has been sent to him ; and if he intends to respond to this report.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : I have been asked to reply.
My right hon. Friend is considering the report with a view to deciding how he might respond to it.
EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
Nursery Education
Hilary Armstrong : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the average cost of a place in (a) a nursery school, (b) a nursery class and (c) a reception class for four-year -olds.
Mr. Eggar : The information requested is not collected centrally. Local authority expenditure returns to the Department of the Environment do not identify separate figures for the education of under-fives. A single set of figures is returned covering all nursery and primary provision.
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Supercomputing
Mr. Andrew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to ensure that there will be no reduction in the number of supercomputing centres now available for British academic research, when responsibilities for these facilities are transferred to the Advisory Body for the Research Councils in April 1991.
Mr. Alan Howarth : Our general policy is at least to maintain the current overall level of national supercomputing services. The number of centres to provide these services will, in the normal way, remain a matter for review from time to time.
Mr. Andrew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether the Government are planning to expand supercomputing facilities available to British academic research to the levels available to researchers in France and Italy ; (2) what plans he has for supercomputing expansion programmes similar to those being pursued in (a) West Germany, (b) the United States of America and (c) Japan, respectively.
Mr. Alan Howarth : From 1 April 1991, responsibility for national supercomputing facilities for research council and HEI research will transfer to the research council system. My right hon. and learned Friend is awaiting the advice of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils on the allocation of the science budget, which was announced on 8 November.
Teachers
Mrs. Heal : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what machinery is to be put in place to ensure that differentials are maintained between head teachers and deputies and other teaching staff.
Mr. Eggar : The School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Bill, which is currently before the House, envisages the establishment of a separate sub- committee to consider the pay and other conditions of service of head teachers and deputy head teachers.
Battersea Park CTC
Miss Hoey : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much (a) Government money, (b) money from sponsors and (c) capital from Wandsworth council will be put into the Battersea Park voluntary-aided city technology college.
Mr. Eggar : My right hon. and learned Friend is aware of the very interesting proposal from Wandsworth for a voluntary-aided school with the characteristics of a city technology college. If confirmed by the council, this would come to him for decision under sections 12 and 13 of the 1980 Education Act, and would be considered on its merits. He would also need to consider any application for Government funding which might come from the LEA and the promoters of the proposal.
ADT City Technology College
Miss Hoey : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what direction he gave the London residuary body as to disposal of the site for the ADT city technology
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college in Wandsworth ; what was the valuation of the site ; and what provision has been made to compensate inner London boroughs for the loss of their proportion of the capital value of the site that has been transferred to the ADT city technology college.Mr. Eggar : My right hon. and learned Friend has given no direction to the LRB as to the disposal of this site. The LRB valued the site for educational purposes, and on that basis leased it to ADT. The valuation is confidential commercial information. The receipts from the lease will be used for the benefit of all the inner London councils.
Wandsworth Boys School
Miss Hoey : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what direction he proposes to give the London residuary body as to release of the site of the former Wandsworth boys' school in Sutherland grove, Wandsworth ; and what provision will be made to compensate inner London boroughs for the loss of their proportion of the capital value of the site.
Mr. Eggar : My right hon. and learned Friend has directed the LRB to hold Sutherland grove pending proposals to establish a new Church of England school under section 13 of the Education Act 1980. These proposals would require the approval of my right hon. and learned Friend. If the proposals were approved the site would be sold at educational value by the LRB to the governors of the school. If the proposals were not approved, or if proposals were not brought forward, the site would be sold by the LRB at full commercial value. In either case, the receipts would be used to benefit all the inner London councils.
Pensions Branch, Darlington
Ms. Armstrong : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make it his policy that any arrangements considered regarding agency status for the pensions branch in Darlington will preclude moving the facility from Darlington.
Mr. Alan Howarth : In keeping with Government policy on relocation, and our policy that the Departments' main offices should be located only in London or Darlington, it is our expectation that, if a pensions agency were to be established, it would remain in Darlington. Location is one of a range of matters that would fall to be addressed in the development of any framework document for an agency.
Higher Education
Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what number and percentage of the total of students in higher education attended private schools.
Mr. Alan Howarth : The Department's survey of leavers from English schools in academic year 1988-89 indicates that approximately one quarter of pupils whose intended destination on leaving school was full-time higher education were attending independent schools. Evidence from the youth cohort study also indicated that some 25 per cent. of 18-year-olds in higher education had attended independent schools.
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Information published by UCCA shows that there were nearly 16 thousand students accepted for entry at United Kingdom universities in autumn 1989 from independent schools in England and Wales.Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average cost of a place in higher education.
Mr. Alan Howarth : Available recurrent public funding per full-time equivalent home student in the Universities Funding Council and Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council sectors is planned at £5, 320 for the 1991-92 financial year.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
British Technology Group
Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give outline approval to the exhibition in the Upper Waiting Corridor on the work and achievements of the British technology group as requested in a letter to the hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) from the hon. Member for South Hams.
Mr. Leigh : My noble Friend the Minister for Industry has written to the hon. Member for South Hams (Mr. Steen) indicating his agreement to balloting for this purpose.
Economic League
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will prosecute the Economic League for failing to file an up-to-date set of annual reports and accounts as required by sections 242 and 244 of the Companies Act 1985.
Mr. Redwood : Economic League Ltd. is currently filed up-to-date. The last accounts filed cover the period ended 31 December 1989. Accounts for the period ending 31 December 1990 will become due on 1 November 1991.
Rigidized Metals
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will prosecute the directors of Rigidized Metals for failure to file up- to-date accounts as required by sections 242 and 244 of the Companies Act 1985.
Mr. Redwood : Rigidized Metals Ltd. has failed to submit accounts for the period ended 31 August 1989. The registrar has confirmed that the company has been notified of the default and appropriate action is being taken to secure compliance.
Foreign Currency
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has for consultation with the Institute of Chartered Accountants about SSAP 20 on foreign currency transactions.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 30 November 1990] : None. The requirements of SSAP 20 are a matter for the Accounting Standards Board.
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Polly Peck
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from Mr. Gottfried Hofmann or the English Institute of Chartered Accountants on the operation of SSAP 20 and its effects on Polly Peck's reporting of overseas transactions.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 30 November 1990] : None, so far as I am aware.
Company Accounts
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what check is made on the accounts and positions of companies which lodge their accounts late at Companies house.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 30 November 1990] : Companies house carries out certain basic checks on all accounts lodged with it, but the contents are not scrutinised in detail except in response to specific complaints. Companies house takes various steps to pursue companies which have failed to submit accounts on time.
Fiveoaks Investments
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans to investigate the latest published accounts of Fiveoaks Investments for failure to comply with SSAP 6.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 30 November 1990] : No. Compliance with accounting standards is a matter for the accountancy profession pending the establishment of the review panel under the aegis of the Financial Reporting Council.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Republic of Ireland
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the views expressed concerning Northern Ireland's relationship with the Republic of Ireland by Mr. Serrard Cowper-Coles, the first secretary at the British embassy in Washington, at the Boston Investor Responsibility Research Centre, represents Government policy ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hurd : I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the right hon. Member for Lagan Valley (Mr. Molyneaux) on 29 November 1990 at column 456.
El Salvador
Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what continuing interest is maintained by Her Majesty's Government into the investigation by the authorities in El Salvador into the murder of Jesuit priests ; whether he anticipates any further direct assistance by representatives of Her Majesty's Government ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Garel-Jones : We have repeatedly made clear to the Salvadorean Government the need to bring the
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investigation to a successful conclusion and the murderers to justice. We hope that New Scotland Yard's report, which has now been handed over, will help them to do so. We and our EC partners re-emphasised our concern in a joint statement on the anniversary of the murders on 16 November.Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Salvadorean authorities have given any commitment to make available the results of the investigation of the murder of Jesuit priests ; and when he expects that the inquiry will report.
Mr. Garel-Jones : The investigation is being conducted by a judge according to the Salvadorean legal process. It is not yet clear when the case will come to trial.
Council of Ministers
Mr. Andrew MacKay : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement of forthcoming business in the European Community's Council of Ministers.
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