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Mr. Eggar : There are at present four schools in the south-west holding ballots on whether to apply for grant-maintained status. Seven GM schools are already operating in the region. A further four schools have either published proposals or are committed to doing so.
Mr. Denzil Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science in the latest available year what percentage of all schoolchildren taking GCSE in England sat the examination in mathematics ; and of those who sat the examination in mathematics what percentage obtained grades C and above.
Mr. Eggar : In the academic year 1988-89, 91.6 per cent. of 16-year- old pupils attempting GCSE sat an examination in mathematics, and of these 39.9 per cent. gained grades C and above.
Mr. Denzil Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science in the latest available year, what percentage of all pupils taking the A-level examination in England took the examination in mathematics.
Mr. Eggar : In the academic year 1988-89, 37.2 per cent. of school leavers who had attempted at least one A-level had attempted mathematics.
King Edward VI College, Totnes
Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the ballot of parents of King Edward VI college, Totnes on grant-maintained status.
Mr. Eggar : The parental ballot is due to close on Friday 25 January. We would expect the Electoral Reform Society to publish the result on the following Monday.
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International Baccalaureate
Mr. Paice : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on the number of people who received higher education and training and gained qualifications in universities outside this country during the period 1987-90 and the proportion of them who had gained the international baccalaureate in this country before commencing their course.
Mr. Eggar : Information is not available centrally.
Mr. Paice : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will provide details of the availability of access to the international baccalaureate within the education system.
Mr. Eggar : It is for school and college authorities to decide whether to offer the international baccalaureate.
Mr. Paice : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students have been entered for the international baccalaureate ; and what proportion of those entered have been successful in passing the examination during each year from 1987-90.
Mr. Eggar : Information published by the International Baccalaureate Organisation shows that, in all countries taken together, there were 9,685, 11,286 and 12,217 candidates registered for the international baccalaureate as at May 1987, 1988 and 1989 respectively. Some 74 per cent. of candidates examined for the diploma achieved the qualification.
Mr. Paice : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools provide the opportunity for sixth formers to take the international baccalaureate.
Mr. Eggar : Information provided by the International Baccalaureate Organisation indicates that 13 maintained and independent schools currently offer this examination.
Bedfordshire Schools
Mr. Madel : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much was spent per pupil at secondary schools in Bedfordshire in the most recent year for which figures are available ; and what was the comparable figure in 1978-79 at constant prices.
Mr. Fallon : Bedfordshire spent £535 per secondary pupil in 1978-79 and £1,635 per secondary pupil in 1988-89, the latest year for which figures are available. At 1988-89 prices, those figures are £1,175 and £1,635 respectively.
Merit Awards
Mr. Terry Davis : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the largest merit award given to an individual member of staff of the Science and Engineering Research Council during 1989-90.
Mr. Alan Howarth : During the financial year 1989-90, the largest merit award paid to an individual member of staff of the Science and Engineering Research Council was £700.
Nursery Schools
Mr. Fatchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what financial support will be available for nursery provision in a primary school with grant-maintained status ; and if he will make a statement.
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Ms. Armstrong : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whose responsibility it will be to fund nursery classes attached to primary schools which opt for grant-maintained status.Mr. Eggar : Funding for nursery provision that forms an integral part of a grant-maintained primary school would be provided, as with other aspects of funding at that school, by the Secretary of State under the relevant Education (Grant-maintained schools) (Finance) Regulations. The financial support available would be related to LEA support for pupils of that age group.
City Technology College, Lincoln
Mr. Fatchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department has had any discussions with (a) possible sponsors and (b) Lincolnshire local education authority about the development of a city technology college in Lincoln ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar : My right hon. and learned Friend is aware that Lincolnshire LEA and a group of local industrialists are considering making proposals to him for the establishment of a school with many of the characteristics of a city technology college. The City Technology Colleges Trust has held discussions with those involved and an architect from the Department has visited the possible site of the school.
World Student Games
Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has given any consideration to the relationship between a successful outcome of the world student games in Sheffield and the prospects for the United Kingdom of hosting similar international sporting events in the future.
Mr. Atkins : I hope that the world student games, like the other major international events to be held in the United Kingdom, will proceed successfully. However, the prospects for hosting major events in the United Kingdom depend primarily upon the strengths of each individual case.
Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his policy towards the support from public funds of the world student games and similar international sporting events held in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Atkins : The policy for major international sports events in this country is to provide appropriate promotional and diplomatic support, if requested, but not direct funding. Funds specifically for sport are channelled through the Sports Council which has made available £3 million for the world student games.
City Technology Colleges
Mr. Fatchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out his Department's policy towards an individual local education authority using its own resources towards funding a city technology college ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar : My right hon. and learned Friend is delighted that a number of local education authorities are
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considering involving themselves in initiatives to make the benefits of the city technology colleges more widely available. This is further evidence of the success of the city technology colleges programme.TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Computer Software
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his Department's policy towards competition in computer software from functionally similar but non-infringing programmes.
Mr. Leigh : The Government wish to encourage competition in the market in computer programs and the move to open systems. At the same time, we wish to encourage innovation and investment in research and development in this field and this requires a proper level of intellectual property protection. The market in the United Kingdom is both innovative and competitive and is evidence that our law provides a balance, giving strong protection without stifling competition. This balance is also to be seen in the directive on the legal protection of computer programs.
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what representations he has received from British and European computer users over the purpose of his Department's late amendment to the EC draft directive on the subject of software copyright ;
(2) what representations he has received from computer manufacturers regarding the EC draft directive on software copyright ; and if he will make a statement ;
(3) what representations he has received from British and European computer users over his Department's position regarding the draft EC directive on the legal protection of computer programs ;
(4) what technical advice and consultation his Department has drawn on, particularly with regard to open systems and the views of computer users, prior to determining their position on the draft EC directive on software copyright ;
(5) what representations he has received from the United States concerning software copyright protection.
Mr. Leigh : Throughout the period leading up to the agreement on a common position on the draft directive on the legal protection of computer programs, my Department received numerous representations from hardware manufacturers, software producers, users and others. These were principally from the United Kingdom, but also from other Community countries and the United States, and covered legal, technical and economic aspects of the issue. Representations were also made by the United States Government. In addition to a large number of individual meetings with interest groups and organisations, my Department held regular consultation and information meetings to which all the various interests involved were invited.
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his policy on the extension of patent protection to software.
Mr. Leigh : Under the present law, the primary protection for computer software is copyright. The Patents Act 1977 excludes computer programs per se from
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patenting, but an invention concerning an apparatus or method in which a novel and non-obvious computer program is applied in the achievement of a new technical result is patentable. I have no plans to change the law, which accords with the European patent convention.Software Copyright
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how his Department categorises computer programmes with respect to copyright.
Mr. Leigh : Computer programs are specified as a category of literary work by section 3 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what procedures his Department intends to put in place to monitor and report on the effect of the EC draft directive on software copyright once it has been enacted ;
(2) what levels of increased annual costs his Department assesses as acceptable, as a result of the draft EC directive on software copyright, in the sectors of (a) central Government, (b) local government, (c) retail, (d) banking and insurance, (e) manufacturing and (f) services ;
(3) whether his Department has made any analysis of the potential costs to all public and private sector computer users of the draft EC directive on software copyright.
Mr. Leigh : A common position was agreed at the Internal Market Council in December on the draft directive on the legal protection of computer programs. We consider that the text as agreed will not result in substantial changes to existing United Kingdom copyright law and so will not impose any new costs on computer users or any need to introduce formal procedures to monitor the effects of any such changes.
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the EC draft directive on software copyright would permit users to engage in the analysis of programs as necessary in order to maintain them.
Mr. Leigh : The directive would allow users to engage in the analysis of programs and permit maintenance, although not upgrading, of computer programs, subject to certain conditions. The lawful acquirer of a program may do what is necessary for the use of the program, including error correction. He may also decompile the program to the extent necessary to achieve interoperability of an independently created program with other programs.
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent he has assessed the European Community draft directive on software copyright specifies that interfaces and access protocols, as distinct from their implementation in specific programs, are not themselves properly monopolised under contract.
Mr. Leigh : The text of the directive on which a common position was agreed in December specifies that
"ideas and principles which underlie any element of a computer program, including those which underlie its interfaces, are not protected by copyright under this directive".
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The principle that copyright does not protect ideas, but only the expression of ideas, is inherent in our law and so this statement, which was included for avoidance of doubt, will not require implementation when the directive is finally adopted.Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure the European Community Draft directive on software copyright gives adequate protection to United Kingdom companies which develop and market IBM-compatible PCs.
Mr. Leigh : The directive will require member states to give a proper level of copyright protection to computer programs produced by United Kingdom companies. Those engaged in producing IBM compatible PCs will receive protection for their software on exactly the same basis as any other United Kingdom software producer. Moreover, article 6 of the directive will ensure that interoperability between computer programs can always be achieved, so that compatibility and the move to open systems is not obstructed.
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the protection offered under the draft EC directive on software copyright to the computer suppliers proprietary architectures and on his assessment of the consequences in respect of impeding the development of open standards.
Mr. Leigh : The directive will require member states to give copyright protection to computer programs as literary works. This is already the case in the United Kingdom. When the directive is implemented, the protection afforded will not change to any significant degree and so there is no reason to fear that the move to open systems will be impeded.
Oral Questions
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the average length of time taken and the average cost involved of officials' time in his Department preparing ministerial briefs for oral parliamentary questions.
Mr. Leigh : The time taken in preparing ministerial briefs for oral parliamentary questions is not routinely recorded in the Department of Trade and Industry. Estimates are however made when there is a likelihood of exceeding the disproportionate cost threshold--currently £250. However following an interdepartmental exercise in 1972, in which the DTI participated, an assessment was made of the average cost throughout all Departments of answering an oral question. This assessment was based on staff time, using average rates of pay and associated costs for the grades concerned, together with a share of the cost of parliamentary sections and any substantial non-staff cost as computer usage. This assessed figure is regularly updated and currently stands at £99.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what savings his Department would make were no notice given of oral questions to Ministers and they were answered without civil service time being used on briefings.
Mr. Leigh : No savings would be made and costs would almost certainly increase significantly. If the oral question
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is known in advance briefing can be tightly focused, thus avoiding the cost of producing a detailed brief, covering all subjects that could possibly arise.Israeli Investment
Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has of the level of Israeli investment in Britain and of British investment in Israel.
Mr. Mellor : I have been asked to reply.
The net book value of United Kingdom direct investment--in branches and subsidiary and associated companies--in Israel as at end 1987, the latest available information, was £24 million. Information on the net book value of direct investment by Israel in the United Kingdom is not available. Information on the level of United Kingdom portfolio investment in Israel or on Israeli portfolio investment in the United Kingdom is also not available.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Crawfordsburn Hospital
Mr. Kilfedder : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the district valuer placed a valuation on the land and buildings at Crawfordsburn hospital ; what was this value ; to whom it was communicated ; and when.
Dr. Mawhinney : The district valuer was asked by the DHSS on 5 November 1990 to provide a valuation of the premises and also advise on a disposal strategy, should the premises be declared surplus. The district valuer replied on 15 November 1990 to the DHSS advising that, if declared surplus, the premises should be marketed widely throughout the United Kingdom. I am advised that it could be prejudicial to any future sale if the DV's valuation, which may become an effective reserve price, were made known at this time.
Mr. Colin Wallace
Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his Department received any requests for information on Mr. Colin Wallace from the Defence Select Committee.
Acute Beds
Rev. Ian Paisley : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many acute beds were available on a daily basis in hospitals in each of the health and social services board areas in 1979 ; and how many were available in 1990.
Mr. Hanley [holding answer 16 January 1991] : The information requested is as follows :
Health andAverage availableboard acute beds |1979 |1989-90 ---------------------------------Eastern |4,199 |3,288 Northern |1,159 |999 Southern |1,023 |859 Western |928 |703
Over the period the number of patients treated rose from 189,678 in 1979 to 218,313 in 1989-90.
Government Appointees
Rev. Ian Paisley : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the names of all government-appointed nominees to the General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland since its formation, giving the year of appointment and the length of service in each case.
Mr. Hanley [holding answer 16 January 1991] : The information requested is as follows :
Name ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mrs. M. Donaghy |1 January 1985 to 31 December 1987 Mr. R. E. Gaw |1 January 1985 to 31 December 1987 Mrs. N. Douglass |1 January 1985 to 31 December 1987 Mr. V. McGahie |1 January 1985 to 31 December 1987 Miss C. Macmahon |1 January 1985 to 31 December 1987 Mrs. O. Marshall |1 January 1985 to 31 December 1987 Mrs. M. P. E. O'Hara |1 January 1985 to 31 December 1987 Mrs. B. M. H. Shiel |1 January 1985 to 31 December 1987 Mr. J. H. Allen |1 January 1985 to 31 December 1990 Mr. B. St. J. Collins |1 January 1985 to 31 December 1990 Mrs. A. L. Dickson |1 January 1985 to 31 December 1990 Mr. P. McCoy |1 January 1985 to 31 December 1990 Mr. E. O'Brien |1 January 1985 to 31 December 1990 Mr. J. L. Courtney-Thompson |1 January 1985 to 31 December 1990 Mrs. P. Walker |1 January 1985 to 31 December 1990 Mrs. J. Whiteside |1 January 1985 to 31 December 1990 Mrs. B. Hanna<1> |1 January 1985 Mr. R. J. Hanna<1> |1 January 1985 Mrs. G. H. J. Beveridge<1> |1 January 1988 Mr. W. D. Clements<1> |1 January 1988 Mrs. I. A. Colvin<1> |1 January 1988 Mr. M. F. L. Joyce<1> |1 January 1988 Mrs. L. M. Leonard<1> |1 January 1988 Lady McCollum<1> |1 January 1988 Mrs. J. C. Hopkirk |1 January 1988 to 31 December 1990 Mr. P. Dolan |1 January 1988 to February 1990<2> Mr. J. A. Gallagher<1> |27 July 1990 Mr. G. A. Mills<1> |1 January 1991 Mrs. B. McErlane<1> |1 January 1991 Mr. N. J. McLaughlin<1> |1 January 1991 Miss M. J. McGrane<1> |1 January 1991 Mr. D. J. McGuinness<1> |1 January 1991 Mrs. J. McVitty<1> |1 January 1991 Mrs. N. P. O'Loan<1> |1 January 1991 Mrs. J. M. Trewsdale<1> |1 January 1991 <1> Still serving. <2> Resigned.
Rev. Ian Paisley : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the names of all Government appointed nominees to the Drainage Council for Northern Ireland since its formation, giving the year of appointment and the length of service in each case.
Mr. Hanley [holding answer 16 January 1991 : All members of the Drainage Council for Northern Ireland are appointed by Government. The following is a list of all those who are or have been members of the Drainage Council as constituted under the Drainage (Northern Ireland) Order 1973.
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Name |Year of |Length of |Appointment |Service |(Years) ---------------------------------------------------------------------Mr. F. Hamilton |1974 |3 Mr. J. Hadden |1974 |7 Mr. J. Bamford |1974 |7 Mr. T. J. McCaughey |1974 |3 Mr. J. Stewart |1974 |3 Mr. H. McKeag |1974 |11 Mr. W. McCombe |1974 |3 Mr. J. Murphy |1974 |3 Mr. D. Magee |1974 |3 Lieutenant Colonel J. Sleator |1974 |3 Mr. P. F. McGovern |1974 |15 Mr. R. A. Brown |1974 |3 Mr. S. O. Hicks |1974 |7 Professor P. J. Newbould |1974 |11 Mr. J. Scott |1974 |3 Mr. W. P. Richardson |1974 |7 Mr. A. E. McKelvie |1974 |3 Mr. J. McMahon |1974 |3 Mr. S. Rogers |1977 |4 Mr. R. J. White |1977 |4 Mr. A. McDonnell |1977 |4 Mr. W. Brown |1977 |4 Mr. P. J. McMahon |1977 |4 Mr. J. Higgins |1977 |4 Mr. T. A. Daly |1977 |4 Mr. D. Robinson |1977 |Expires 1993 Mr. G. L. Auret |1977 |4 Mr. E. Whiteside |1977 |4 Mr. E. Mayne |1977 |4 Mr. R. Allen |1981 |8 Mr. M. S. Bailey |1981 |4 Mr. J. Gaston |1981 |8 Mr. S. Gault |1981 |8 Mr. W. H. King |1981 |4 |1990 |Expires 1993 Mr. A. P. McConaghy |1981 |8 Mr. A. C. McFarland |1981 |4 Mr. C. Noble |1981 |4 Mr. J. Savage |1981 |8 Dr. S. Cochrane |1981 |Expires 1993 Mr. J. Brennan |1981 |4 Mr. S. D. Rahilly |1981 |4 Mr. C. C. Fox |1981 |4 Mr. J. S. D. Gilmore |1986 |3 Mr. J. S. Hamilton |1986 |3 Mr. D. C. G. Irwin |1986 |Expires 1993 Mr. L. McQuaid |1986 |Expires 1993 Mr. W. F. O'Connell |1986 |3 Mr. R. E. Parker |1986 |Expires 1993 Mr. S. Rusk |1986 |Expires 1993 Dr. J. Parsons |1986 |Expires 1993 Mr. C. E. Ronaldson |1986 |Expires 1993 Mr. I. C. Henderson |1986 |1 Mr. N. E. Morrison |1987 |Expires 1993 Mrs. M. Clarke |1990 |Expires 1993 Mr. M. Curran |1990 |Expires 1993 Mr. E. Hetherington |1990 |Expires 1993 Mrs. A. Kelly |1990 |Expires 1993 Mr. S. McCartney |1990 |Expires 1993 Mr. J. McNickle |1990 |Expires 1993 Mr. H. Nicholl |1990 |Expires 1993 Mr. M. McCaldin |1990 |Expires 1993
Kincora Boys' Home
Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his policy towards reopening an inquiry into the Kincora boys' home.
Dr. Mawhinney : This matter has been investigated first by the RUC, then by Sir George Terry and finally by his honour Judge Hughes. I can see no benefit in holding a further inquiry.
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Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the inquiries concerning events at the Kincora boys' home.
Dr. Mawhinney [holding answer 18 January 1991] : This matter has been investigated first by the RUC, then by Sir George Terry and finally by his honour Judge Hughes.
Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the individual identified as James in a television programme referred to in his answer to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) of 11 June 1990, Official Report, column. 29 was interviewed about any role of the security and intelligence services concerning inquiries into the Kincora boys' home ; and if he will make a statement.
Dr. Mawhinney [holding answer 18 January 1991] : I have nothing to add to the reply that my right hon. Friend, the Member for Northavon (Mr. Cope) gave to the Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) on 11 June 1990, Official Report, column 29.
Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received concerning the Kincora boys' home from January 1990 to current date.
Dr. Mawhinney [holding answer 18 January 1991] : I have received 16 letters related to this subject during the period.
Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) whether he will re-examine all papers on the Kincora boys' home to ascertain the role of the security and intelligence services in decisions relating to an inquiry into Kincora in 1976 ; (2) if he will place copies of all correspondence received from January 1990 to the present date concerning the Kincora boys' home, and his replies, in the Library.
Dr. Mawhinney [holding answer 18 January 1991] : No.
TRANSPORT
Maritime Security
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to make directions under the provisions of the Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990 requiring the maritime industries to take security measures.
Mr. McLoughlin : My right hon. and learned Friend today made directions which will require the industry to take specified measures to improve its counter-terrorist protective security precautions. These directions will be served on the industry as soon as can be arranged. Copies of the directions have been placed in the Library of the House.
Roads, Cheshire
Mrs. Ann Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the level of the transport supplementary grant allocated to the Cheshire county council for 1991-92 ; and what was the comparable figure in cash and percentage terms for each of the preceding three years ;
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(2) what provision was made in the announcement of the transport supplementary grant for 1991-92 for the Cheshire county council to commence work on the Wheelock bypass.Mr. Chope : The net level of transport supplementary grant allocated to Cheshire county council and the percentage change on the preceding years are :
|Transport |supplementary|change from |grant |previous year |£ million --------------------------------------------------------1988-89 |1.364 |-28.4 1989-90 |2.766 |103.5 1990-91 |4.154 |49.6 1991-92 |5.501 |32.4
No provision has been made for the Wheelock bypass in Cheshire county council's transport supplementary grant for 1991-92. The main works for this scheme are scheduled to start in 1993-94 and it will therefore be considered for support in that and subsequent years.
North Sea Standby Vessels
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the use of former fishing vessels as standby vessels in the North sea.
Mr. McLoughlin : Most fishing vessels have good sea-keeping qualities and when properly converted have had no difficulty meeting the requirements of the Department's code for the assessment of the suitability of standby vessels attending offshore installations. Some fishing vessels properly maintained and converted may meet the new requirements for standby vessels which are to be drawn up in the light of Lord Cullen's report into the Piper Alpha tragedy.
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about North sea standby vessels ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. McLoughlin : Since 1988, a number of representations have been received. Nearly all of them centre principally on improvements to the Department's code for the assessment of standby vessels and when the new standards will be implemented.
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