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Farm Subsidies
Mr. Amos : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to speed up the payment of grants and subsidies to farmers ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Curry : The timing of payments depends on a number of factors, including the determination of the
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relevant rates, rules of eligibility and the availability of resources to carry out detailed administrative checks. Subject to these constraints, payments are made as quickly as possible. I fully recognise the importance of early payments to the farmers concerned.PRIME MINISTER
War Graves
Mr. Viggers : To ask the Prime Minister if he will take steps to co- ordinate the activities of the different departments and agencies involved in the maintenance of war graves to ensure that a memorial will continue to exist to honour the memory of men killed in HMS Amethyst on the Yangtse River, China, in July 1949.
The Prime Minister : The memorial will remain in St. Nicholas' church and it will be looked after and maintained for anyone wishing to view it or pay tribute.
The Gulf
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister what steps have been taken in formulating coalition military policy in the Gulf to avoid damage to cultural and religious sites ; and what protection is being afforded to Ur of the Chaldees and to Babylon.
The Prime Minister : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the remarks made on this matter during the debate on the Gulf situation yesterday.
Disabled Workers
Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Prime Minister what steps are taken to co-ordinate action by relevant Government Departments regarding the problem of unemployment amongst the disabled.
The Prime Minister : My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Employment has the lead responsibility within government for policies to assist unemployed people with disabilities back to work. There are frequent discussions between the Department of Employment and other relevant departments at ministerial and official level to ensure that policies are properly co-ordinated.
ENERGY
Petroleum Coke
Mr. Cummings : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will list year by year since 1980 the sources of petroleum coke burned in the United Kingdom ;
(2) if he will list by year since 1980 his estimate of the tonnage of petroleum coke being burned in domestic appliances in the United Kingdom ; and what is the level of sulphur content per tonne burnt.
Mr. Moynihan : All petroleum coke supplied to the metal refining industry is produced in the United Kingdom. All petroleum coke reaching the domestic market and used as an industrial fuel for refractory and cement manufacture is imported. Figures realting to the amount of imported petroleum coke used domestically and its sulphur content are not available.
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Petrol Supplies
Mrs. Roe : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received from independent petrol retailers about allocation of supplies of petrol under contingency plans for rationing ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Moynihan : I have received one such representation which is now receiving attention. Under the allocation schemes which the Department could activate in the event of fuel shortage there is no differentiation between retail outlets operated by the oil companies and those of independent operators. Both would be subject to the same restrictions on their supplies.
There are ample oil supplies at present. The International Energy Agency has, in addition, brought into effect a contingency plan which will make available an additional 2.5 million barrels of oil per day to the market. This should further reassure the market and the public that, if shortages do occur, additional supplies will be available.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Leasing and Rental Agreements
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on his Department's request to Sir Ron Dearing to investigate leasing and rental agreements.
Mr. Redwood : My Department has written to the Accounting Standards Board drawing attention to the problem that the accounts of some companies appear to have paid insufficient regard to potential future liabilities inherent in the business such as the impact of early termination of leases or continuing maintenance obligations. This may be a question of judgment in applying existing requirements or it may suggest a need to strengthen accounting standards. The Accounting Standards Board has confirmed that it will consider this problem.
Knitwear Industry
Sir John Farr : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies, units and departments of the knitwear industry have ceased trading during the last two years ; what action he intends to take to arrest this decline ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Leigh : There are no Government statistics available that relate directly to such closures. However, a recent report in the trade journal, Knitting News, suggested that 143 companies, units and departments in the knitwear industry have been affected by closure, closedown of an operation, or change of ownership in the past two years. Decisions on such matters are for the commercial judgment of the firms concerned.
The Department encourages growth in all markets by promoting enterprise and by creating a climate in which all sectors of industry can flourish. There are no plans for any new initiatives specifically for the textile and clothing industries. The Department's general regional, export and consultancy services are, however, already available to these industries.
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Textile Industry
Sir John Farr : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has on the level of representations at the recent international textile manufacturing exhibition in China by (a) German, (b) Italian and (c) United Kingdom machine manufacturers.
Mr. Sainsbury : Exact information is not available, but it is estimated that there were about 80 exhibitors from Italy ; a further 50 or so from Germany ; and at least 10 from the United Kingdom.
Political Donations
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take proceedings under the Companies Act 1985 against Stock Land and Estates, formerly called J. A. and M. A. Carter Developments, for failure to disclose the recipients of political donations in the financial year ended September 1985.
Mr. Redwood : In accordance with its usual practice in response to specific allegations of non-compliance with statutory disclosure requirements, my Department will look into this and, if there has been a failure to comply with those requirements, it will take appropriate action.
Petroleum Coke
Mr. Cummings : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research has been and is being carried out, and at what cost, to determine the dangers of petroleum coke used in domestic appliances.
Mr. Leigh : My predecessor has met suppliers of petroleum coke. In addition, my Department is looking into what evidence there is from those who have sought controls on the supply of petroleum coke for domestic use, as well as existing research work on the burning characteristics of this fuel.
Mr. Cummings : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action his Department is taking to advise members of the public as to risks associated with the use of petroleum coke ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Leigh : My Department is discussing with suppliers of petroleum coke the instructions for use of the fuel for domestic purposes, the form of these instructions and how they can be best conveyed to consumers.
Sensitive Technologies
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what initiatives have been taken by his Department to explain to companies wishing to export sensitive technologies, the current regulations and risks involved in such exports.
Mr. Lilley : My Department makes available to exporters a range of guidance booklets and information describing controls on the export of sensitive goods and technology and how they are implemented. We have in addition organised a major programme of seminars to increase awareness of the risks of clandestine attempts to procure such goods for use in nuclear, chemical or biological weapons programmes, or missile delivery
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systems, and the steps that need to be taken to prevent this. My officials stand ready to provide advice to any exporter seeking guidance on matters relating to export controls.Disabled Workers
Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with manufacturers of computer hardware to make equipment more accessible to disabled people ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Leigh : No discussions for this specific purpose have taken place since the end of the Concerned Technology campaign in 1989. Concerned Technology was part of the Department's programme to raise general awareness of information technology. The general awareness programme has now ended, and the Department's efforts are directed towards the broader needs of business and commerce through promotion of the use of information technology in accordance with best practice and through support for basic research to strengthen industry's technological capability. My Department's role in serving the interests of disabled people is through encouragement of the develolpment and use of basic technologies which will improve the capabilities and adaptability of all products that utilise them. It is now for those in the industry to respond to demands expressed by the disabled and caring agencies when designing their products. The Employment Department is responsible for a range of special aids, including special computer equipment, to help the disabled to obtain and keep employment.
Photocopying Companies
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) about which photocopying companies he has received complaints of malpractice ;
(2) what action he is taking to investigate the complaints he has received of malpractice by photocopying companies ;
(3) when he expects to report on the conclusions of his Department's investigation into malpractice by photocopying companies.
Mr. Redwood : As I made clear in the Adjournment debate on 12 November 1990, at column 423, I am willing to consider any evidence that might warrant an inquiry under the Companies Act. I have now received information from the hon. Gentleman and from other sources. I continue to liaise with the Director General of Fair Trading to whom the complaints have been copied and who has a duty to consider the continued fitness of licensees to retain licences granted to them under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. But, as I explained on 12 November 1990, I will not be able to confirm whether we or any other authority are conducting an investigation.
Insurance Act 1982
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many regulatory inquiries have been carried out by his Department or its inspectors under the Insurance Act 1982 in each year ; and, in each case, which section of the Act was involved.
Mr. Redwood : Taking regulatory inquiries to mean actuarial investigations--section 42 of the Insurance
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Companies Act 1982--or use of powers to obtain information--section 44--the information requested, drawn from the insurance annual reports is :Year |Section 42|Section 44 -------------------------------------------- 1983 |8 |24 1984 |11 |29 1985 |6 |25 1986 |4 |21 1987 |6 |39 1988 |1 |24 1989 |3 |31
Departmental Expenditure
Mr. Warren : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give a detailed breakdown of the planned increases in central Government expenditure by ECGD in each year 1990-91, 1991-92 and 1992-93 as announced in the autumn statement as against the plans in the January 1990 public expenditure White Paper.
Mr. Lilley [holding answer 18 January 1991] : This information will be published next month in the new Trade and Industry departmental report.
Soviet Union
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will review existing trade agreements with the Soviet Union in the light of recent events in Lithuania and Latvia ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 21 January 1991] : Trade agreements are matters of European Community competence. EC Foreign Ministers have expressed their deep concern at recent developments in the Baltic states. They are keeping all aspects of their relationship with the USSR under review.
EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
School Pupils
Mr. Butler : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide a table showing for (a) primary school pupils and (b) secondary school pupils levels of expenditure per child in education in Cheshire for each year since 1978-79 in (i) cash terms and (ii) constant price terms.
Mr. Fallon : The available information is given in the table.
Cheshire LEA-net institutional expenditure per pupil<1>
Year Nursery and Primary<2> Secondary schools
schools
|cash terms |real terms<3>|cash terms |real terms<3>
|(£) |(£) |(£) |(£)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1978-79 |340 |745 |495 |1,090
1979-80 |400 |755 |580 |1,090
1980-81 |510 |810 |735 |1,170
1981-82 |580 |840 |815 |1,185
1982-83 |660 |895 |890 |1,205
1983-84 |665 |865 |940 |1,220
1984-85 |715 |880 |1,010 |1,245
1985-86 |760 |890 |1,090 |1,275
1986-87 |825 |935 |1,235 |1,395
1987-88 |900 |965 |1,410 |1,515
1988-89 |960 |960 |1,545 |1,545
<1> The figures are based on LEA expenditure returns to DOE and pupil number
returns to DES.
<2> Figures for nursery and primary schools were not collected separately from
1987-88. Figures for all years include nursery and primary schools.
<3> The cash figures for earlier years have been repriced to 1988-89 prices using
the Gross Domestic Product (Market Prices) Deflator.
Music Working Party
Mrs. Ann Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to publish the interim report of the music working party.
Mr. Eggar : My right hon. and learned Friend is considering the interim report of the national curriculum music working group, and will be publishing it soon.
Child Abuse
Sir Michael McNair-Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will list the changes he has introduced in the regime of independent schools as a result of the case involving child abuse at Crookham Court school in Berkshire ; (2) if he will introduce legislation to require head teachers always to inform the police and his Department when a member of staff is required to leave a school because of child abuse ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Fallon : During the past 18 months, my right hon. and learned Friend has introduced further measures to reduce the risk of pupils in independent schools being subject to physical or sexual abuse by members of staff. The measures described later in my reply strengthen the pre-existing procedures under the Education Acts 1944 and 1981 ; in addition the provisions of section 87 of the Children Act 1989, which includes a new statutory welfare duty on proprietors and those responsible for running certain independent boarding schools, will be brought into effect in October 1991. From the same date, certain independent schools with 50 boarders or fewer will need to register as children homes and will be subject to regulations, including on welfare, to be made under section 63 of that Act.
The Registrar of Independent Schools reminded proprietors on 30 April 1990 of their existing statutory duty to report to the Secretary of State instances where teachers are dismissed on grounds of misconduct or resign in circumstances where dismissal would have been considered. The letter also gave detailed guidance about the standing arrangements for schools to vet prospective employees, noting that in all cases referred to the Department a check would automatically be made of the list of people deemed unsuitable for employment in maintained schools--list 99.
It has also been decided that Her Majesty's inspectors visiting provisionally registered schools for final registration, or on routine visits to registered independent schools will now inquire whether appropriate checks have been made in the case of all recent staff appointments.
In the case of independent schools seeking approval under section 11 of the Education Act 1981 to admit pupils with special educational needs, Her Majesty's inspectors will include in their regular schedule of questions the inquiry whether appropriate checks have been made, including of list 99 in relation to staff appointments. In order to monitor the volume of enquiries from independent schools about list 99, and so that in any cases
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of doubt the facts can be verified, the Department has invited those organisations and agencies in the independent schools field who are authorised holders of the list to keep a record of the enquiries they receive. This information, together with the records kept by the Department's teachers misconduct division, will give the Secretary of State a clearer picture in future of how fully the list is being used.Where it comes to the notice of the Secretary of State that there has been a failure on the part of an independent school adequately to check the background of a teacher or other member of staff and, whether as a consequence of this or otherwise, circumstances have arisen which in his view render the school objectionable in the terms of section 71 of the Education Act 1944, consideration is given to bringing the known facts of the situation directly to the attention of all parents, guardians or agencies who place pupils at the school. In parallel, the Secretary of State will invariably consider the notice of complaint procedure provided for in the Education Act. In order to provide help and counsel for boarding school pupils who may have worries which they feel they cannot share with staff or other adults, the Department, with the Independent Schools Joint Council, is providing funds for the experimental boarding school line. The line was launched on 13 January and will operate this term and next. We hope that, apart from providing help, the line will give useful indications about the incidence of pupils' problems, including abuse.
Consideration is now being given to how list 99 may be made more comprehensive in its coverage of non-teaching staff, thus supplementing the consultancy service operated by the Department of Health whereby local authorities and voluntary bodies can check the suitability of those they propose to employ in the child care field. This would require that proprietors report to the Secretary of State instances where non-teachers are dismissed on grounds of misconduct or resign in circumstances where dismissal would be considered. Guidance on the implications for independent schools with boarders of the implementation of the Children Act will be published soon. The Department and Her Majesty's inspectorate will continue to work closely with the Department of Health and the social services inspectorate to devise arrangements and support which will make effective the duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils placed on proprietors, or those responsible for running, independent schools with boarders. In particular, it has been agreed that, in their routine visit to schools, social services departments will expect to see firm evidence that proper checks have been conducted on appointment of any staff who are likely to come into regular contact with pupils.
Finally, in order to minimise the danger of exploitation of students attending English language schools in Britain, the then Minister of State wrote to European colleagues in November 1989 drawing attention to the British Council's recognition scheme, and advising use of recognised schools only.
These additional measures are a mark of the seriousness with which the Secretary of State views the need to prevent any possibility of pupils in independent schools being subject to abuse. He is confident that his concern is shared by the vast majority of proprietors, heads and staff of independent schools, and the independent schools associations, and looks to those in schools to take all
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reasonable measures to avoid the possibility of abuse, or, in any cases when it does occur, to take swift and decisive action to stop it.A-Levels
Mr. Michael Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many A-levels, and at what grades, were obtained per pupil in 1989 and 1990 in (a) Lincolnshire and (b) Humberside.
Mr. Eggar : In the academic year 1988-89, the number of A-level passes, including AS level equivalent, per school leaver, for the areas in question, was as shown. The figures do not include A-levels achieved in colleges of further education. Figures for 1990 are not yet available.
----------------------- Lincolnshire |0.40 Humberside |0.38 All-England |0.55
GCSE
Mr. Michael Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many general certificate of secondary education passes per pupil were obtained in 1989 and 1990 in (a) Lincolnshire and (b) Humberside.
Mr. Eggar : Amongst pupils aged 16 in the academic year 1988-89, the number of GCSEs at grade G or above achieved per pupil, for the areas in question, was as follows. Figures for 1990 are not yet available.
|Per pupil
---------------------------------------------------------
Lincolnshire |6.66
Humberside |6.32
All-England |6.58
Religious Education
Mr. Amos : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will meet the director of education in Northumberland to discuss the booklet "Religious Education : Topics for the Middle School" and its consistency with the requirement to teach Christianity in schools ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar : My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans for such a meeting. I have taken steps to obtain a copy of the booklet in question and will write to my hon. Friend when I have had an opportunity to consider it.
Grants
Mr. Fatchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out, at current prices, the value per child in each maintained sector school of education support grants and local education authority training grants.
Mr. Eggar : In 1990-91, the grant payable to local authorities under the education support grants and local education authority training grants schemes represents nationally an average of some £26 per pupil in local education authority-maintained schools.
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Mr. Fatchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out, at current prices, the value of the special purpose grant (development) for each child in a grant-maintained school.
Mr. Eggar : In 1990-91, special purpose grant (development) of some £26 per pupil is available to grant-maintained schools.
Bullers Wood School
Mr. Fatchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he received about the admissions policy, including catchment area, for Bullers Wood grant-maintained school in the London borough of Bromley.
Mr. Eggar : The Secretary of State approved Bullers Wood school as grant maintained on 10 October 1990. There have been no representations to the Secretary of State concerning the admissions policy of Bullers Wood grant-maintained school.
Annual Maintenance Grant
Mr. Fatchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out the basis on which the grant maintained schools' central annual maintenance grant has been calculated at 16 per cent. in the letter of 27 December 1990 to the chief education officer from the head of the grant maintained schools division ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar : The 16 per cent. is currently the average central annual maintenance grant figure for grant-maintained schools in this financial year. The individual figure for each current
grant-maintained school has been calculated in accordance with the provisions of the Education (Grant-Maintained Schools) (Finance) Regulations 1990--S.I. 1990/549.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Computers (Security)
Mr. Colvin : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures he is taking to ensure the security of (a) his Department's computers in-house and (b) lap-top personal computers when used by his civil servants outside his Department's offices.
Dr. Mawhinney : It is not Government policy to disclose details of the protective security measures for safeguarding computers used for official purposes. To do so would be of assistance to potential attackers and therefore reduce the effectiveness of the measures. These measures are kept under review.
Housing Executive
Rev. Martin Smyth : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the public liability claims against the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, area by area, for the years 1985 to 1990.
Mr. Needham : This is a matter for the chairman of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive who has advised me that the number of claims made against the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, by region for 1985-86 to 1989-90 is as follows :
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Public liability claims against
the Northern Ireland Housing Executive
|1985-|1986-|1987-|1988-|1989-
|86 |87 |88 |89 |90
-----------------------------------------------
Belfast |1,331|1,458|1,468|1,459|967
South East |413 |456 |519 |454 |338
South |371 |445 |401 |281 |367
North East |316 |385 |390 |443 |414
North West |701 |748 |697 |620 |421
West |198 |182 |202 |200 |161
|--- |--- |--- |--- |---
Total |3,330|3,674|3,677|3,457|2,668
District Councils
Rev. Ian Paisley : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all bodies and organisations in Northern Ireland to which district councils have the right to nominate members and to which the Government also nominate members.
Dr. Mawhinney [holding answer 16 January 1991] : The information is as follows :
Eastern Health and Social Services Board
Northern Health and Social Services Board
Southern Health and Social Services Board
Western Health and Social Services Board
The Senate of the Queen's University of Belfast
The Court of the University of Ulster
The Trustees of the Ulster Museum
The Trustees of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum
The Board of Governors of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Belfast Education and Library Board
South Eastern Education and Library Board
Western Education and Library Board
North Eastern Education and Library Board
Southern Education and Library Board
Drainage Council for Northern Ireland
Fisheries Conservancy Board for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Housing Executive
Fire Authority for Northern Ireland
Belfast Harbour Commissioners
Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners
Warrenpoint Harbour Authority
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