Previous Section | Home Page |
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will show for full-time workers the percentage earning less than £100, £110, £120, £130, £140, £150, £160, £170, £180, £190, and £200 per week, giving the information for (a) women and (b) men (i) manual, (ii) non-manual and (iii) all, both including overtime and excluding overtime, in (1) West Yorkshire, (2) South Yorkshire, (3) North Yorkshire and (4) Humberside.
Mr. Jackson : The information available from the new earnings survey is given in the following tables.
Column 207
Full time employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence. April 1990 Percentage with weekly earnings, excluding overtime, less t |£100|£110|£120|£130|£140|£150|£160|£170|£180|£190|£200 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (a) Women (i) Manual West Yorkshire |17.8|28.3|42.8|54.9|63.5|71.1|78.2|85.3|88.5|90.6|91.9 South Yorkshire |18.3|29.1|42.9|53.1|61.7|70.9|76.0|83.4|88.6|93.7|97.1 North Yorkshire |19.4|30.1|43.7|54.4|62.1|70.9|81.6|90.3|93.2|96.1|96.1 Humberside |15.7|26.9|40.3|53.0|66.4|70.1|81.3|86.6|91.0|94.0|95.5 (ii) Non-manual West Yorkshire |3.0 |6.8 |14.4|20.5|28.0|34.7|42.5|49.4|53.9|58.0|62.8 South Yorkshire |4.0 |8.9 |16.0|22.8|29.2|36.2|44.1|51.9|57.7|62.4|66.9 North Yorkshire |5.7 |9.8 |16.8|24.9|31.2|37.9|45.3|52.6|58.3|62.9|66.4 Humberside |6.9 |13.3|19.7|26.4|33.3|38.9|48.3|53.6|58.7|63.5|67.5 (iii) All West Yorkshire |6.5 |11.9|21.1|28.6|36.4|43.3|51.0|57.9|62.1|65.7|69.7 South Yorkshire |7.2 |13.4|21.9|29.5|36.4|43.8|51.1|58.8|64.5|69.9|73.6 North Yorkshire |8.7 |14.2|22.7|31.4|37.9|45.1|53.2|60.8|65.9|70.1|72.9 Humberside |9.2 |16.9|25.1|33.4|42.0|47.2|57.0|62.3|67.2|71.5|74.9 (b) Men (i) Manual West Yorkshire |2.1 |4.6 |8.3 |14.1|19.5|25.9|33.8|41.6|50.3|58.7|65.5 South Yorkshire |1.6 |3.7 |6.9 |11.0|15.8|21.5|27.4|32.9|39.8|47.7|53.9 North Yorkshire |3.1 |4.9 |10.0|17.8|25.6|34.8|41.0|51.4|57.5|65.5|70.4 Humberside |2.2 |4.9 |9.5 |14.1|22.0|28.6|34.3|42.0|48.2|53.3|57.0 (iii) Non-manual West Yorkshire |1.3 |1.9 |3.0 |4.5 |5.5 |7.4 |10.2|12.6|15.1|17.7|20.7 South Yorkshire |0.8 |1.4 |2.3 |3.7 |5.5 |7.3 |9.1 |11.3|13.0|16.7|20.1 North Yorkshire |1.4 |2.8 |4.7 |7.2 |9.4 |11.0|14.9|17.1|19.3|22.4|26.2 Humberside |2.3 |2.9 |3.7 |5.5 |7.6 |11.1|14.3|17.2|19.7|21.1|24.8 (iii) All West Yorkshire |1.7 |3.4 |6.0 |9.9 |13.4|17.8|23.5|29.0|34.9|40.8|46.0 South Yorkshire |1.3 |2.7 |5.0 |7.9 |11.4|15.5|19.6|23.7|28.4|34.6|39.5 North Yorkshire |2.4 |4.1 |7.9 |13.6|19.2|25.4|30.7|37.8|42.4|48.4|52.9 Humberside |2.2 |4.1 |7.2 |10.8|16.4|21.7|26.5|32.3|37.0|40.7|44.4 Source: New Earnings Survey 1990.
Full time employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence April 1990 |Percentage with weekly earnings, including overtime, less than: |£100 |£110 |£120 |£130 |£140 |£150 |£160 |£170 |£180 |£190 |£200 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (a) Women (i) Manual West Yorkshire |15.0 |23.6 |37.3 |47.8 |58.3 |66.7 |73.5 |80.6 |83.7 |87.1 |89.2 South Yorkshire |16.0 |24.0 |40.6 |50.3 |58.3 |67.4 |72.6 |80.6 |85.7 |90.3 |94.9 North Yorkshire |18.4 |28.2 |41.7 |51.5 |56.3 |65.0 |71.8 |81.6 |85.4 |88.3 |90.3 Humberside |11.2 |20.9 |35.8 |46.3 |55.2 |59.7 |71.6 |78.4 |82.1 |83.6 |88.8 (ii) Non-manual West Yorkshire |2.7 |5.9 |13.1 |19.1 |25.6 |32.2 |39.5 |47.2 |51.9 |56.2 |61.0 South Yorkshire |4.0 |8.4 |14.1 |21.2 |27.8 |35.7 |42.3 |49.8 |56.1 |61.1 |65.4 North Yorkshire |4.9 |8.9 |15.2 |23.0 |30.1 |36.6 |43.4 |50.1 |55.8 |60.7 |65.0 Humberside |5.6 |12.8 |18.1 |24.8 |30.9 |35.7 |43.7 |49.6 |56.3 |61.1 |64.8 (iii) All West Yorkshire |5.6 |10.1 |18.8 |25.9 |33.4 |40.4 |47.6 |55.1 |59.5 |63.5 |67.6 South Yorkshire |6.7 |11.8 |19.9 |27.6 |34.5 |42.7 |49.0 |56.5 |62.6 |67.5 |71.7 North Yorkshire |7.8 |13.1 |21.0 |29.2 |35.8 |42.8 |49.6 |57.0 |62.3 |66.7 |70.6 Humberside |7.1 |14.9 |22.8 |30.5 |37.3 |42.0 |51.1 |57.2 |63.1 |67.0 |71.1 (b) Men (i) Manual West Yorkshire |1.5 |2.7 |5.0 |8.1 |11.4 |15.7 |20.0 |25.5 |31.0 |37.9 |43.0 South Yorkshire |1.1 |2.5 |4.3 |6.5 |9.2 |11.9 |15.9 |19.9 |24.4 |29.8 |34.9 North Yorkshire |2.7 |4.0 |8.2 |11.8 |16.9 |22.0 |25.8 |31.4 |35.8 |41.7 |47.4 Humberside |1.7 |3.7 |6.2 |8.2 |12.5 |16.4 |19.8 |24.5 |28.4 |32.7 |38.4 (ii) Non-manual West Yorkshire |1.2 |1.7 |2.8 |3.8 |5.1 |6.6 |9.4 |11.4 |13.3 |15.7 |18.0 South Yorkshire |0.8 |1.2 |1.8 |3.1 |4.2 |5.8 |8.0 |9.9 |11.5 |14.9 |17.8 North Yorkshire |1.4 |2.4 |3.9 |6.4 |8.6 |10.2 |13.5 |15.2 |17.7 |21.3 |24.6 Humberside |2.3 |2.9 |3.5 |4.5 |6.1 |8.4 |11.1 |14.1 |17.2 |19.1 |22.3 (iii) All West Yorkshire |1.4 |2.2 |4.0 |6.2 |8.6 |11.7 |15.4 |19.3 |23.3 |28.2 |32.1 South Yorkshire |1.0 |1.9 |3.2 |5.0 |7.1 |9.3 |12.5 |15.6 |18.9 |23.5 |27.6 North Yorkshire |2.2 |3.4 |6.5 |9.6 |13.6 |17.3 |20.9 |25.0 |28.6 |33.6 |38.3 Humberside |1.9 |3.4 |5.1 |6.7 |10.0 |13.2 |16.4 |20.5 |24.0 |27.4 |32.1 Source: New Earnings Survey 1990.
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will show for part timers the number of women earning less than £2 per hour, £2.20 per hour, £2.40 per hour, £2.50 per hour, £2.80 per hour, £3 per hour, £3.20 per hour, £4 per hour, £4.50 per hour and £5 per
Column 210
hour for (1) manual, (2) non-manual and (3) all women in (i) West Yorkshire, (ii) South Yorkshire, (iii) North Yorkshire and (iv) Humberside.Mr. Jackson : The information available from the new earnings survey is given in the following tables.
Column 209
Part-time females on adult rates, whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence April 1990 Number in the sample with hourly earnings less than: |£2.00|£2.20|£2.40|£2.50|£2.80|£3.00|£3.20|£4.00|£4.50|£5.00 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) Manual West Yorkshire |5 |26 |53 |70 |137 |226 |248 |370 |384 |396 South Yorkshire |7 |16 |26 |43 |91 |130 |100 |276 |285 |297 North Yorkshire |2 |6 |11 |19 |44 |63 |71 |123 |129 |130 Humberside |8 |12 |15 |16 |39 |101 |122 |161 |170 |175 (2) Non-manual West Yorkshire |9 |12 |17 |30 |85 |123 |161 |306 |354 |388 South Yorkshire |6 |8 |10 |16 |60 |77 |89 |142 |184 |200 North Yorkshire |.. |.. |.. |.. |.. |.. |.. |.. |.. |.. Humberside |3 |5 |9 |13 |44 |56 |77 |121 |135 |146 (3) All West Yorkshire |14 |38 |70 |100 |222 |349 |409 |676 |738 |784 South Yorkshire |13 |24 |36 |59 |151 |207 |277 |418 |469 |497 North Yorkshire |2 |7 |14 |25 |68 |97 |116 |199 |222 |230 Humberside |11 |17 |24 |29 |83 |157 |199 |282 |305 |321 Note: "" denotes reliable information not available.
Percentage with hourly earnings less than: |£2.00|£2.20|£2.40|£2.50|£2.80|£3.00|£3.20|£4.00|£4.50|£5.00 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) Manual West Yorkshire |1.2 |6.4 |13.0 |17.2 |33.7 |55.5 |60.9 |90.9 |94.3 |97.3 South Yorkshire |2.3 |5.2 |8.5 |14.1 |29.8 |42.6 |61.6 |90.5 |93.4 |97.4 North Yorkshire |1.5 |4.5 |8.2 |14.2 |32.8 |47.0 |53.0 |91.8 |96.3 |97.0 Humberside |4.4 |6.6 |8.3 |8.8 |21.5 |55.8 |67.4 |89.0 |93.9 |96.7 (2) Non-manual West Yorkshire |1.8 |2.3 |3.3 |5.8 |16.6 |24.0 |31.4 |59.6 |69.0 |75.6 South Yorkshire |2.3 |3.1 |3.8 |6.1 |23.0 |29.5 |34.1 |54.4 |70.5 |76.6 North Yorkshire |.. |.. |.. |.. |.. |.. |.. |.. |.. |.. Humberside |1.7 |2.8 |5.1 |7.4 |25.0 |31.8 |43.8 |68.8 |76.7 |83.0 (3) All West Yorkshire |1.5 |4.1 |7.6 |10.9 |24.1 |37.9 |44.5 |73.5 |80.2 |85.2 South Yorkshire |2.3 |4.2 |6.4 |10.4 |26.7 |36.6 |48.9 |73.9 |82.9 |87.8 North Yorkshire |0.8 |2.8 |5.5 |9.9 |26.9 |38.3 |45.8 |78.7 |87.7 |90.9 Humberside |3.1 |4.8 |6.7 |8.1 |23.2 |44.0 |55.7 |79.0 |85.4 |89.9 Note: "" denotes reliable information not available. Source: New Earnings Survey 1990.
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will show for part-time women workers (i) average gross weekly earnings, (ii) average weekly hours, total and overtime, and (iii) average gross hourly earnings for (a) manual, (b) non-manual and (c) all part-time women workers in (1) West Yorkshire, (2) South Yorkshire, (3) North Yorkshire and (4) Humberside.
Mr. Jackson : The information available from the new earnings survey is given in the table.
Part-time females on adult rates, whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence-April 1990 |Average |Average |gross |gross weekly Hours hourly |earnings|Total |Overtime|earnings |(£) |(£) ------------------------------------------------------------- (a) Manual West Yorkshire |58.6 |18.1 |0.6 |3.14 South Yorkshire |58.3 |19.2 |1.5 |3.21 North Yorkshire |.. |18.6 |0.9 |3.21 Humberside |.. |17.8 |1.6 |3.22 (b) Non-manual West Yorkshire |89.4 |20.6 |1.0 |4.36 South Yorkshire |88.0 |20.4 |1.6 |4.31 North Yorkshire |20.6 |0.8 Humberside |20.7 |1.1 |3.95 (c) All West Yorkshire |75.8 |19.5 |0.8 |3.86 South Yorkshire |72.6 |19.8 |1.6 |3.74 North Yorkshire |68.2 |19.6 |0.8 |3.58 Humberside |68.9 |19.2 |1.4 |3.61 N.B. "" denotes reliable information not available. Source: New Earnings Survey 1990.
Column 212
Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last discussed with (a) the Confederation of British Industry and (b) the Trades Union Congress the special difficulties experienced by disabled people seeking work.
Mr. Jackson [holding answer 22 January 1991] : I have not discussed this subject with either organisation. However, both the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress were invited by my Department to comment on the consultative document "Employment and Training for People with Disabilities", which was published on 29 June 1990, and on the summary paper, "Evaluation of Special Schemes for People with Disabilities", which was published on 2 November 1990.
Mr. Galloway : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Government of Syria about the human rights situation in Syria ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon) on 4 December 1990, Vol. 182, c. 63.
Mr. Galloway : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent communications he has had with Amnesty International and other human rights organisations about the human rights situation in Syria ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We maintain informal contact with Amnesty International and receive representations from other organisations and individuals, including hon. Members, about human rights in Syria.
Column 213
Mr. Galloway : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on whether Syria has ceased to provide safe haven for any groups involved in the promotion of international terrorism ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Douglas Hogg : We have received welcome assurances from the Syrian Government that Syria rejects acts of international terrorism and will take action against the perpetrators of such acts where there is convincing evidence.
Sir David Steel : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he intends to take to ensure that immigration officials in Hong Kong are following correct immigration procedures for Vietnamese applicants ; and if he will increase funding to the mission of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Hong Kong.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The criteria applied by the Hong Kong immigration authorities to determine refugee status are those laid down in the 1951 convention and the 1967 protocol relating to the status of refugees. Their procedure follow UNHCR guidelines. The UNHCR is free to monitor these procedures as well as the appeals procedure which is to an independent refugee status review board headed by a former judge. UNHCR provides counselling and legal advice to all asylum seekers during the determination process. In addition, private lawyers are allowed access to the boat people centres to provide legal advice to individual clients.
Although we do not directly fund the mission of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Hong Kong, we are among the major contributors to UNHCR. In 1990 we contributed £19.9 million of which some £8.5 million was for the comprehensive plan of action for Indo-Chinese refugees. We expect our contribution in 1991 to be at least as high as our contribution in 1990.
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral reply of 16 January 1991, Official Report, column 836, if he will indicate what discussions are taking place on the restrictions placed by the Belgium Government on the supply of ammunition to the United Kingdom ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : During the past weeks we have put several requests to Belgium and other partners for logistic and other support for British forces in the Gulf. Details are confidential. The requests have been under discussion both bilaterally and within the Western European Union. Although the Belgian Government felt unable to meet all our requests, other allies were able to meet the shortfall. The Belgian Government have helped in other ways, notably in providing medical and air transport support. They have also deployed combat aircraft to Turkey and provided other assistance in the region. At the WEU ministerial meeting on 17 January we advised partners that we might be making further requests in due course. We would hope that any such requests would receive swift and sympathetic consideration.
Column 214
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Government were first consulted on the timing of the allied attack on Iraq.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister was in regular consultation with President Bush about the possibility of needing to use force if Iraq did not withdraw from Kuwait at the end of the deadline. He discussed with President Bush the precise timing of the attack very shortly after the conclusion of the debate in the House on 15 January.
Mr. Kilfedder : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will arrange for a local public inquiry to be held under article 103 of the Planning Order 1972 into the application to build premises to be known as Bregenz house on the seafront at Bangor.
Mr. Hanley : No. The application did not meet any of the criteria set down in the Planning Order (Northern Ireland) 1972.
Mr. Kilfedder : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to assess whether the Brownlow community trust at Craigavon is following good employment practice in keeping with the policy of the Fair Employment Commission.
Mr. Hanley : Brownlow community trust is not a registered concern under the Fair Employment (NI) Act 1989. The commission has had no dealings with the trust.
Mr. Kilfedder : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the nature of the proposed capital expenditure envisaged under the heading "Mater Hospital Vacated Spaces" in the draft review entitled "Management Content" issued by the Eastern health and social services board.
Mr. Hanley : It is the adaptation of existing accommodation to provide facilities for a gynaecological unit and a medical unit, including the upgrading of the existing sanitary annexes and ward pantries.
The estimated cost of the works including fees and equipment is £791,000 spread over three years, with £200,000 being expended in 1991-92.
Mr. Kilfedder : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the reason for the proposed replacement of the cooling towers at Belfast city hospital ; and what is the estimated cost.
Mr. Hanley : It is to eliminate the risk of an outbreak of Legionnaires disease, with regard to the type of towers in use, their age and the Department of Health guidance document "The Control of Legionnellae in Health Care Premises--A Code of Practice" (1988). The estimated cost is £700,000.
Column 215
Mr. Kilfedder : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Eastern health and social services board is permitted to use the proceeds of sale of land, buildings and equipment at the Royal group of hospitals and the Mater Infirmorum.Mr. Hanley : Each health and social services board is permitted to use the proceeds of sales of its surplus land, buildings and equipment for reinvestment and is free to decide where these funds should be used.
Mr. Trimble : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has as to how many firms in England and Wales experiencing shortages of skilled workers have transferred to or established subsidiaries in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Hanley : Over the last five years, 12 companies from England and Wales have accepted financial assistance from the Industrial Development Board (IDB) to establish operations in Northern Ireland. These operations are in addition to public sector organisations, such as the Inland Revenue, the Department of Social Security and the Passport Office which have set up in Northern Ireland to serve clients in Great Britain.
It is unlikely that their decisions were based entirely on the skill shortages being experienced by many companies in Great Britain, although this may have been the driving force in some instances. Certainly the Province's abundant supply of well-educated and skilled people, eager for work, is a compelling attraction ; but Northern Ireland also offers an excellent infrastructure, including a state-of-the-art fibre optic telecommunication system, a lower operating cost base and a very good quality of life for managers who may be asked to transfer. It is for a combination of these reasons, plus the availability of assistance from the IDB, that Ministers remain confident that companies from Great Britain will continue to locate in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what figures he has on the proportion of commercial property loans to equity in each of the major banks.
Mr. Maples : The Treasury does not have such figures for individual banks. However, aggregated figures showing shareholders' funds and exposure to particular sectors of the economy for members of the Committee of London and Scottish Bankers are published in the committee's annual "Abstract of Banking Statistics" and the monthly updates of this.
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on taxation on tobacco ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations on the taxation of tobacco products, but I cannot anticipate his Budget statement.
Mr. Knowles : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table in the Official Report to show the
Column 216
tax paid on a pack of 20 cigarettes in each Economic Community country as a percentage of the total price and the average price of a pack of 20 cigarettes in each country ; and what the figures were five years ago.Mrs. Gillian Shephard : The figures for current and 1986 taxation and price levels of a pack of 20 cigarettes in each EC country are as follows.
Excise and VAT on 20 cigarettes in the most popular price category as at 18 January 1991 Country |RSP<2> |Total tax |Tax as |pence |percentage |RSP ----------------------------------------------------------- Belgium |111 |80 |72 Denmark |231 |199 |86 France |104 |70 |67 Germany |145 |106 |73 Greece |44 |31 |70 Ireland |181 |133 |73 Italy |87 |63 |72 Luxembourg |79 |57 |72 Netherlands |104 |73 |70 Portugal |57 |42 |74 Spain |31 |18 |58 United Kingdom |180 |131 |73 <1> Rates of Exchange as at 16 January 1991 <2> Retail selling price Source: EC Excise Duty tables
Excise Duty and VAT on 20 Cigarettes in the most popular price category as at 4 February 1986<1> Country |RSP (pence) |Total Tax |Tax as a |(pence) |percentage of RSP ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Belgium |93 |65 |70 Denmark |230 |201 |87 France |48 |37 |77 Germany |132 |97 |73 Greece |30 |<2>18 |60 Ireland |171 |126 |74 Italy |74 |54 |73 Luxembourg |73 |48 |66 Netherlands |101 |73 |72 Portugal |48 |34 |71 Spain |52 |28 |54 United Kingdom |150 |113 |75 Source: EC Excise duty tables. <1> Rates of Exchange as at 29 January 1986. <2> Includes sales tax.
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost in 1991-92 of replacing the exemption for day nurseries with zero-rating.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : Nurseries are not registrable for VAT, so there is no reliable information available on the cost of replacing the current exemption with zero rating.
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the trade balance with the other countries of the European Community in 1979, expressed in 1990 prices ; and what it is now.
Mr. Mellor : Information on trade with member countries of the European Community is not available at constant prices. Information for the EC as a whole is
Column 217
available at current prices on the Central Statistical Office database, which may be accessed through the Library of the House.Mr. Cryer : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current level of exports of manufactured goods.
Mr. Mellor : In volume terms, exports of manufactures in the year to date--November 1990--show an increase of 9 per cent. over the same period a year earlier.
Mr. Hunter : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the export performance of United Kingdom manufacturers during 1990.
Mr. Mellor : In the 11 months to November 1990 the volume of manufactured exports, excluding erratics, was 9 per cent. higher than a year earlier. United Kingdom manufacturers' share of world trade is likely to have risen in 1990 for the second successive year. This share has stabilised since the early 1980s, after decades of decline.
Mr. Andrew Mitchell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress Departments have made under the Government's relocation policy.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : My predecessor informed the House on January 1990 that, in accordance with the policy announced by the then Paymaster General on 31 March 1988, Departments had already announced decisions to relocate well over 16,000 posts away from the south-east. There are no central targets or preferred locations under this policy. Departments review the location of their work systematically, with a view to finding easier labour markets and better value for money. The guidelines require Departments to consult the regional policy and territorial Departments and DOE Property Holdings about potential relocation venues, and to report progress to the Treasury in the annual public expenditure survey.
By the end of June 1990 Departments had identified nearly 7,000 further posts for location or relocation away from the south-east, bringing the total since 1988 to nearly 23,000. More than 1,000 others have been identified for cost-effective transfer within the south-east, and some 15,000 have been reviewed but judged not suitable for relocation at this stage. Almost 13,000 are still at various stages in the review process. When these reviews are complete, over 51,000 posts in the south-east will have been subject to review--equivalent to 24 per cent. of total posts in the region ; and further posts will be reviewed in the coming year.
Three quarters of the posts identified for transfer are destined for locations within assisted or urban programme areas and at least half are expected to be filled through local recruitment. Around 6, 000 posts have already been moved since the beginning of 1988, which exceeds the figure for the whole of the period 1974-79 and compares favourably with the 12,000 posts moved or created outside the south-east between 1979-1987.
Successful relocation requires careful planning. Departments exchange experience and, where appropriate, co-ordinate action with other Departments, with some transfers between Departments for staff not wishing to
Column 218
move and with good use being made of the extra flexibilities now available in the personnel management field.Sir Ian Gilmour : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his reply of 14 December 1990 to the right hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham, Official Report, column 538, if he will estimate by how much the standard rate of personal income tax would need to be increased if (a) education and (b) education, fire and police were financed by income tax, assuming no change in the grants paid by central Government to the local authorities ; and if he will also estimate savings in community charge benefit in each case.
Mr. Norman Lamont [holding answer 15 January 1991] : If local authorities spend in line with central Government's assessments in 1991-92, expenditure on education in Great Britain will be around £21 billion, expenditure on education, fire and law and order services will be around £28 billion, and total income from the community charge would be around £14.5 billion.
Assuming no change were made in the level of revenue support grant and non- domestic rates paid by central Government to local authorities, the basic rate of income tax would need to increase by (a) 8 p and (b) 10p if these services were financed by income tax. However, if education, fire and law and order services were funded in line with these proposals, the extra central Government funding would more than exceed anticipated community charge income for 1991-92. The saving on community charge benefit would be around £2 billion.
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the reply given to the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Dunn) on 15 January, Official Report, column 463, what direct costs to public funds there were as a result of the negotiations with Racal Data Network Ltd. from 15 February 1990 onwards ; where in the public accounts those costs will be recorded ; and whether he proposes to allocate additional resources to the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency to continue to prepare a future Government telecommunications service.
Mr. Maples [holding answer 22 January 1991] : The costs to public funds of the Government telecommunications service--GTS-- negotiations, and related telecommunications research, were some £2.4 million. These costs were borne by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency--CCTA--the five participating Departments, and the Treasury Solicitor's Department. Expenditure on the project prior to 31 March 1990 was accounted for in the appropriation accounts of CCTA--class XIX vote 13--Department of Employment--class VI vote 2--Department of Social Security--class XV vote 7--Inland Revenue--class XVIII vote 6--Her Majesty's Customs and Excise--class XVIII vote 5--Department of Finance and Personnel (Northern Ireland)--DFP vote 1--and Treasury Solicitor's Department--class X vote 9. Expenditure in the 1990-91 financial year will be accounted for in the following appropriation accounts : Her Majesty's Treasury--class XVIII vote 1--Department of Employment--class VI vote 2--
Column 219
Department of Social Security--class XVI vote 7-- Inland Revenue--class XVIII vote 6--Her Majesty's Customs and Excise--class XVIII vote 5--Department of Finance and Personnel (Northern Ireland)--DFP vote 1--Treasury Solicitor's Department--class X vote 9. There are no plans to implement an alternative GTS. As I reported to the House on 15 January, the Departments concerned in the GTS negotiations will now be considering, with the CCTA, how best to meet future telecommunications requirements.Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any plans to exempt carers of mentally handicapped people from tax on a proportion of their earnings as carers.
Mr. Maude [holding answer 22 January 1991] : Whether income tax has to be paid on payments received for caring for a mentally handicapped person will depend on the circumstances. In particular, these payments will give rise to a tax liability only if they exceed the actual costs which the recipient incurs in caring for the handicapped person.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he has received concerning the backdating of tax on income earned caring for mentally handicapped people.
Mr. Maude [holding answer 22 January 1991] : None.
Mr. Ralph Howell : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member of Norfolk, North dated 7 December 1990, Official Report, column 217, on health service theft, fraud, and so on, what is (a) the number of cases reported to the police by Norwich health authority in each year since 1982, (b) the number of cases in which prosecutions subsequently took place and (c) the number of convictions and sentences which ensued ;
(2) pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member of Norfolk, North of 7 December 1990, Official Report, column 217, on health service theft, fraud, and so on, if he will give details of cases (a) reported to police, (b) where prosecutions took place and (c) of conviction and sentence, stating the name of health authority concerned and the nature of the offence in each case ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Dorrell : I have written to my hon. Friend.
Mr. Cummings : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the numbers of operations and waiting lists for ear, nose and throat operations carried out by year since 1985 in (a) Sunderland area health authority, (b) Durham area health authority and (c) Hartlepool area health authority.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The available information is given in the table. 1987-88 is the first year for which details of operations by specialty and by district health authority are held centrally.
Column 220
Ear, Nose and Throat Operations. |Number of |Waiting list |operations |31 March |waiting |1987-88 |1988 |over one |year ----------------------------------------------------------------- Hartlepool |585 |142 |1 Sunderland |4,122 |842 |0
|Number of |Waiting list|Percentage |operations |31 March |waiting |1988-89 |1989 |over one |year ----------------------------------------------------------------- Hartlepool |553 |67 |7 Sunderland |4,646 |1,256 |0
|Number of |Waiting list|Percentage |operations |31 March |waiting |1989-90 |1990 |over one |year ----------------------------------------------------------------- Hartlepool |523 |282 |3 Sunderland |4,558 |1,188 |0 Note: Durham figures are included with those of Sunderland. Sunderland provides an ENT service for Durham and South Tyneside District Health Authorities. Source: Operations KH08. Waiting list KH06, KH07, KH07A.
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce legislation to permit limited prescribing rights for nurses.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : We support the principle of nurse prescribing. Implementation is dependent on the outcome of work currently being carried out, in particular on the economic implications.
Mr. Robert G. Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what technical criteria are taken into account by health authorities when appointing independent technical consultants to evaluate competitive tenders for national health service laundry services.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : This is a matter for the health authority concerned. The usual requirements are for wide experience in laundry operations, expertise in assessing the capabilities of tenderers to perform to contract requirements, and knowledge to assist the authority in selecting the most cost-effective service options.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by (a) regional health authority and (b) area health authority the average weekly cost of providing meals for in-patients, for the latest date for which he has figures.
Mr. Dorrell : The health service indicators for 1988-89, which are available in the Library, include the average daily cost of meals for in- patients for regional and district health authorities--indicator CA01. These are the latest figures available.
Column 221
Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received over the past year about when the Disabled Persons' (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 is likely to be fully implemented.
Mr. Dorrell : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 13 November 1990 at column 111. Since then we have answered two parliamentary questions and one letter on this issue.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the capital expenditure of the Trent regional health authority he expects it to obtain from sales of land.
Mr. Dorrell : It is currently forecast that Trent regional health authority's land sales will make up 21 per cent. of the region's capital spending in 1990-91.
Mrs. Ann Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has for reviewing the quality of service and advice available to people with problems of incontinence.
Mr. Dorrell : The Department is currently considering ways in which good practice in the provision of incontinence services can be disseminated more widely throughout the country.
Mr. Simon Coombs : To ask the Lord President of the Council when he expects Her Majesty's Government to respond to the 1989-90 report of the Select Committee on House of Commons (Services) about computer services for Members (HC614).
Mr. MacGregor : I hope to be able to find time for a debate on this important report before long.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list the Orders in Council which have been approved in the current year.
Mr. MacGregor : No Orders in Council have been made in 1991.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Lord President of the Council when the Privy Council last met ; and what topics were discussed.
Mr. MacGregor : The last meeting of the Privy Council was on 19 December 1990. It is not the practice to disclose the proceedings at such meetings.
Column 222
Mr. Allen : To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list the current Privy Councillors.
Mr. MacGregor : An alphabetical list of Privy Councillors is published annually in "Whitaker's Almanack" and a list by precedence is published quarterly in Vacher's Parliamentary Companion. The list shown in the November 1990 edition of the latter shows all current Privy Councillors with the exception of Mr. Richard Ryder. The formalities for the appointment to the Privy Council of Mr. Alan Clark and Mrs. Angela Rumbold announced in the new year honours list will take place next month.
Next Section
| Home Page |