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Mr. Michael Forsyth : This information is not held centrally.
Scottish Civil Service
Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by department the total number of persons employed by the Scottish Office on 1 January 1991 and on the same date in each of the last five years.
Mr. Lang : The information is set out in the table.
Column 231
Department |1 January |1 January |1 January |1 January |1 January |1 January
|1991 |1990 |1989 |1988 |1987 |1986
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Scottish Office Environment |1,264.5 |1,276.5 |1,255.5 |1,305.5 |1,324.5 |1,342.5
Department
The Scottish Office Education Department |540.5 |556.5 |544.0 |562.5 |591.5 |599.5
The Scottish Office Home and Health |890.5 |872.0 |855.0 |841.0 |928.0 |908.0
Department
The Scottish Office Industry Department |375.0 |380.5 |374.0 |346.0 |336.5 |346.5
The Scottish Office Agriculture and |1,402.0 |1,464.5 |1,514.5 |1,641.5 |1,722.5 |1,930.0
Fisheries Department
Central Services |1,752.0 |1,720.0 |1,762.5 |1,795.5 |1,834.5 |1,831.0
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |6,224.5 |6,270.0 |6,305.5 |6,492.0 |6,737.5 |6,957.5
Scottish Prison Service |<1>3,919.0|3,822.0 |3,602.5 |3,347.0 |3,138.0 |2,933.5
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Totals |10,143.5 |10,092.0 |9,908.0 |9,839.0 |9,875.5 |9,891.0
<1> As at 1 December 1990, latest available figure.
The figures take account of the following transfers of staff arising from machinery of government changes :
Date |Number
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 1986 |Staff to Royal Botanic Garden |169.5
July 1987 |Staff to Scottish Legal Aid Board |52
April 1988 |Staff to Crofters Commission/Red Deer|61
| Commission
|-------
Total |-282.5
Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons and at what grades are employed in the Scottish Office inquiries and reporters unit.
Mr. Lang : Forty-one officers are employed in the unit as follows :
Grade |Number
|employed
------------------------------------------------------------
Chief Reporter [(Unified Grade 3)] |1
Deputy Chief Reporter [(Unified Grade 5)] |1
Principal Reporter |2
Reporter |8
Senior Executive Officer |1
Higher Executive Officer |3
Executive Officer |4
Administrative Officer |15
Administrative Assistants |4
Personal Secretary (part-time) |2
Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons and at what grades are employed as clerks in (a) the sheriff courts, (b) the Court of Session and (c) the High Court of Justiciary.
Column 234
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Staff of the Court of Session and of the High Court of Justiciary are now trained to be competent in all the work of the supreme courts and are no longer separately identified. Clerks in both the supreme courts and the sheriff courts have specific and separate job titles but are shown in the equivalent civil service grades in the table.
Grade |Supreme |Sheriff courts
|courts
------------------------------------------------------------
Grade 5 |1 |1
Grade 6 |- |5
Grade 7 |3 |6
SEO |22 |14
HEO |9 |61
EO |16 |153.5
AO |9 |<1>197.5
<1> Includes 11 clerk/typists.
Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons are employed and in what grade in the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland who work (a) in agriculture and (b) in fishing.
Mr. Lang : At 1 January 1991 the number of staff employed in the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department was 1,402 of whom 873 were employed in association with the Department's agricultural responsibilities and 529 in association with fisheries responsibilities. Details of the staff by grade in each of the areas are as follows :--
Column 233
Grade |Agriculture|Fisheries |Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Open Structure
Grade 2-Deputy Secretary |0.5 |0.5 |1.0
Grade 3-Under Secretary |1.0 |1.0 |2.0
Grade 4-Chief Scientific Officer |- |1.0 |1.0
Grade 4-Chief Agricultural Officer |1.0 |- |1.0
Grade 5-Assistant Secretary |6.0 |3.0 |9.0
Grade 5-Deputy Chief Scientific Officer |2.0 |1.0 |3.0
Grade 5-Senior Economic Adviser |1.0 |- |1.0
Grade 5-Deputy Chief Agricultural Officer |1.0 |- |1.0
Grade 6-Senior Principal Scientific Officer |7.0 |5.0 |12.0
Grade 6-Chief Inspector, Sea Fisheries |- |1.0 |1.0
Grade 6-Assistant Chief Agricultural Officer |5.0 |- |5.0
Grade 6-Chief Surveyor |1.0 |- |1.0
Grade 7-Principal |14.5 |6.0 |20.5
Grade 7-Principal Scientific Officer |5.0 |27.0 |32.0
Grade 7-Deputy Chief Inspector, Sea Fisheries |- |2.0 |2.0
Grade 7-Statistician |1.0 |- |1.0
Grade 7-Economic Adviser |3.0 |- |3.0
Grade 7-Inspector, Salmon Fisheries |- |1.0 |1.0
Grade 7-Chief Fatstock Officer |1.0 |- |1.0
Grade 7-Surveyor |5.0 |- |5.0
Administrative grades
Senior Executive Officer |8.0 |4.0 |12.0
Higher Executive Officer |37.5 |10.0 |47.5
Executive Officer |57.5 |18.0 |75.5
Administrative Officer |123.5 |21.0 |144.5
Administrative Assistant |106.0 |12.5 |118.5
Professional, Technical and Scientific Grades
Senior Economic Assistant |1.0 |- |1.0
Economic Assistant |1.5 |- |1.5
Senior Assistant Statistician |1.0 |1.0 |2.0
Senior Professional and Technical Officer |14 |- |14
Higher Professional and Technical Officer |11 |1.0 |12
Professional and Technical Officer |31 |7.0 |38
Senior Scientific Officer |5.0 |43 |48
Higher Scientific Officer |18 |39 |57
Scientific Officer |17 |39 |56
Assistant Scientific Officer |27.5 |24 |51.5
Principal Agricultural Officer |13 |- |13
Senior Agricultural Officer |53 |- |53
Higher Agricultural Officer |52 |- |52
Agricultural Officer |98 |- |98
Chief Food and Dairy Officer |1.0 |- |1.0
Food and Dairy Officer |4.0 |- |4.0
Assistant Food and Dairy Officer |1.0 |- |1.0
Principal Horticultural Officer |1.0 |- |1.0
Senior Horticultural Officer |1.0 |- |1.0
Higher Horticultural Officer |1.0 |- |1.0
Horticultural Officer |2.0 |- |2.0
Principal Poultry Officer |1.0 |- |1.0
Meat and Livestock Officer |2.0 |- |2.0
Higher Marketing Officer |7.0 |- |7.0
Marketing Officer |8.0 |- |8.0
Farm Manager |2.0 |- |2.0
Mapping and Charting Officer |1.0 |- |1.0
Mapping and Charting Technical Grade 1 |3.0 |- |3.0
Mapping and Charting Technical Grade 2 |2.0 |- |2.0
Technical Grade 1 |2.0 |- |2.0
Technical Grade 2 |5.0 |- |5.0
Senior Photographer |1.0 |- |1.0
Principal Photographer |- |1.0 |1.0
Graphics Officer |- |1.0 |1.0
Inspector of Sea Fisheries |- |8.0 |8.0
Fishery Officer 1 |- |22 |22
Fishery Officer 2 |- |31 |31
Collector of Fisheries Statistics |- |0.5 |0.5
Marine Superintendent |- |1.0 |1.0
Engineer Superintendent |- |1.0 |1.0
Commander |- |5.0 |5.0
First Officer |- |12 |12
Second Officer |- |20 |20
Senior Fishing Mate |- |2.0 |2.0
Junior Fishing Mate |- |3.0 |3.0
Chief Engineer |- |4.0 |4.0
Second Engineer |- |6.0 |6.0
Third Engineer |- |25 |25
Librarian |- |1.0 |1.0
Assistant Librarian |- |1.0 |1.0
Secretarial and Support Grades
Senior Personal Secretary |2.0 |- |2.0
Personal Secretary |20.0 |8.0 |28.0
Typing Manager |2.0 |1.0 |3.0
Typist |30.5 |6.0 |36.5
Support Grade Band 1 |1.0 |- |1.0
Support Grade Band 2 |8.0 |5.5 |13.5
Industrial Grades
Gardener |3.3 |- |3.3
Assistant Gardener |1.0 |- |1.0
Patrolman |4.0 |- |4.0
Estate Worker |1.0 |- |1.0
Grieve |3.0 |- |3.0
Experimental Worker |2.0 |5.0 |7.0
Shepherd |1.0 |- |1.0
Stockworker |4.0 |- |4.0
Farm Worker |7.0 |- |7.0
Tractorman |6.0 |- |6.0
Driver/Handyman |2.0 |8.0 |10.0
Senior Storeman |- |3.0 |3.0
Storeman |- |3.0 |3.0
Chief Petty Officer |- |5.0 |5.0
Petty Officer |- |2.0 |2.0
Chief Steward |- |5.0 |5.0
Chief Cook |- |3.0 |3.0
Cook Steward |- |4.0 |4.0
Steward |- |10.0 |10.0
Seaman |- |27.0 |27.0
Motorman |- |11.0 |11.0
Net Rigger |- |2.0 |2.0
Engineering Craftsman |- |3.0 |3.0
Electrical Engineering Craftsman |- |1.0 |1.0
Semi-skilled Engineer |- |1.0 |1.0
Craftsman |- |3.0 |3.0
|--- |--- |---
Total |873 |529 |1,402
Overseas Representation
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any changes are being made to the overseas representation of Locate in Scotland and the Scottish Development Agency/Scottish Enterprise in the current year.
Mr. Allan Stewart : For the current year, neither the Scottish Development Agency nor Locate in Scotland have made, nor do they have any firm plans to make, any substantive changes to their overseas representation. The question of overseas representation is, however, kept under regular review to ensure that it is appropriate to prevailing market conditions.
Development Agencies
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make available the staffing structure of the Scottish Development Agency at its headquarters office and its equivalent under Scottish Enterprise.
Mr. Allan Stewart : The staffing structures of the Scottish Development Agency and of Scottish Enterprise are essentially operational matters to be determined by the board of each body. Details of the senior staff employed by the agency are set out in its annual report for 1990, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) which industrial sectors had Scottish Development Agency teams working in them in 1988 ; and how many staff were employed in each team ;
(2) which industrial sectors have Scottish Enterprise teams scheduled to start on 1 April ; and how many staff are to be employed in each team.
Mr. Allan Stewart : These are operational matters for the bodies concerned and I have asked their chief executives to write to the hon. Member.
Education
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the relevant expenditure for education on which his Department was willing to pay grant in every year since 1979 at 1990-91 prices.
Mr. Allan Stewart : The information is set out in the table.
Column 238
Provision/grant aided
expenditure at 1990-91 prices
|£ million
------------------------------
1978-79 |1,631.2
1979-80 |1,594.0
1980-81 |1,466.4
1981-82 |1,705.4
1982-83 |1,860.4
1983-84 |1,842.5
1984-85 |1,770.6
1985-86 |1,743.9
1986-87 |1,746.1
1987-88 |1,992.2
1988-89 |1,925.5
1989-90 |1,936.8
1990-91 |1,973.1
Notes:
1. The figures for the years
1978-79 to 1983-84 inclusive
include provision for
libraries and museums as well
as education in accordance
with the provision
categorisation provided in
the Rate Support Grant
Orders.
2. The figures for 1978-79 to
1988-89 inclusive are
provision figures. Provision
was replaced by grant aided
expenditure (GAE) with effect
from 1990-91.
3. The figures for all years
are at 1990-91 prices
calculated by means of the
Treasury GDP deflator (
October 1990).
Local Government Expenditure
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the outturn figures for (a) all local government expenditure and (b) local government education expenditure in every year since 1979 at 1990-91 prices.
Mr. Allan Stewart : The information is set out in the table.
|Expenditure at 1990-91 prices |Education expenditure at 1990-91 prices
|£ million |£ million
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1978-79 |4,224.6 |1,792.8
1979-80 |4,573.8 |1,799.1
1980-81 |4,608.6 |1,877.5
1981-82 |4,671.7 |1,928.6
1982-83 |4,690.0 |1,934.0
1983-84 |4,727.1 |1,950.6
1984-85 |4,760.3 |1,913.6
1985-86 |4,695.1 |1,871.0
1986-87 |4,848.5 |1,938.3
1987-88 |4,959.7 |2,001.4
1988-89 |5,012.8 |2,026.8
1989-90 |5,065.5 |2,080.9
1990-91 |5,131.7 |2,097.1
Notes
1. The figures in column 1 are inclusive of loan and leasing charges while those in column 2 are exclusive of such charges as separate loan and leasing charges
for education are not readily available.
2. The figures are at final outturn to 1988-89, provisional outturn for 1989-90 and budget estimate for 1990-91.
3. All years have been converted to 1990-91 prices by means of the Treasury GDP deflator (October 1990).
Non-domestic Rates
Mr. Bill Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, following his announcement of increased assistance for business ratepayers, if he will make a statement on non-domestic rates for 1991-92.
Mr. Ian Lang : I am delighted that the additional resources which have become available to me allow greater progress to be made next year towards full harmonisation of non-domestic rates. The reduction of £100 million which I announced to the House on 17 January is more than twice what we included in the spending plans made last year and will mean a significant reduction in the gap between rate burdens north and south of the border. In spite of this major increase in funding, local authorities are still being asked to contribute only £10 million through efficiency savings.
Column 240
The table shows the rate poundage which I intend to prescribe for each local authority in regulations that I shall lay before Parliament shortly. These regulations will revoke those made last week. The rate poundage reductions apply across the board to all authorities with the exception of Shetland where a reduction of about 6 per cent., around two thirds of the average, is sufficient to bring the local rate into line with next year's national non-domestic rate in England of 38.6p. There will, therefore, be no need for reductions in the Shetland rate poundage in future years under this policy and the number of areas in Shetland's position will increase as the policy proceeds to its conclusion.As I also announced on 17 January, as a result of the larger reduction in poundages than previously intended I propose to reduce the level of derating next year from its present level of 35 to 30 per cent., not 32 per cent. I have already indicated that I intend reviewing the way in which poundages and derating may be reduced in future and the powers available to me, which do not allow me at the present time to set different levels of industrial derating in different areas within Scotland, and I would welcome the views of interested bodies on these matters.
Column 239
|1 |2 |3 |4 |5
|1990-91 |1991-92 |1991-92 |1991-92 |Reduction to
|poundages |Pre-NNDR |poundages |poundages at|ratepayer
|reduction |ratepayer
|level
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Borders |36.0 |39.9 |36.5 |- |-
Central |41.7 |46.2 |42.3 |- |-
Dumfries and Galloway |38.3 |42.5 |38.9 |- |-
Fife |46.1 |51.1 |46.8 |- |-
Grampian |34.2 |37.9 |34.7 |- |-
Highland |41.3 |45.8 |41.9 |- |-
Lothian |47.5 |52.7 |48.2 |- |-
Strathclyde |46.0 |51.0 |46.7 |- |-
Tayside |43.0 |47.7 |43.6 |- |-
Berwickshire |7.5 |8.3 |7.6 |44.1 |4.1
Ettrick and Lauderdale |8.5 |9.4 |8.6 |45.1 |4.2
Roxburgh |9.4 |10.4 |9.5 |46.0 |4.3
Tweedale |7.2 |8.0 |7.3 |43.8 |4.1
Clackmannan |14.9 |16.5 |15.1 |57.4 |5.3
Falkirk |12.2 |13.5 |12.4 |54.7 |5.0
Stirling |18.1 |20.1 |18.4 |60.7 |5.6
Annandale and Eskdale |9.1 |10.1 |9.2 |48.1 |4.5
Nithsdale |9.1 |10.1 |9.2 |48.1 |4.5
Stewartry |7.9 |8.8 |8.0 |46.9 |4.4
Wigtown |7.4 |8.2 |7.5 |46.4 |4.3
Dunfermline |10.1 |11.2 |10.2 |57.0 |5.3
Kirkcaldy |12.6 |14.0 |12.8 |59.6 |5.5
North East Fife |11.3 |12.5 |11.5 |58.3 |5.3
Aberdeen City |11.0 |12.2 |11.2 |45.9 |4.2
Banff and Buchan |9.8 |10.9 |9.9 |44.6 |4.2
Gordon |7.9 |8.8 |8.0 |42.7 |4.0
Kincardine and Deeside |6.5 |7.2 |6.6 |41.3 |3.8
Moray |8.2 |9.1 |8.3 |43.0 | 4.0
Badenoch and Strathspey |6.3 |7.0 |6.4 |48.3 |4.5
Caithness |9.8 |10.9 |9.9 |51.8 |4.9
Inverness |7.5 |8.3 |7.6 |49.5 |4.6
Lochaber |11.4 |12.6 |11.6 |53.5 |4.9
Nairn |6.3 |7.0 |6.4 |48.3 |4.5
Ross and Cromarty |9.8 |10.9 |9.9 |51.8 |4.9
Skye and Lochalsh |9.4 |10.4 |9.5 |51.4 |4.8
Sutherland |7.1 |7.9 |7.2 |49.1 |4.6
East Lothian |13.4 |14.9 |13.6 |61.8 |5.8
Edinburgh City |13.1 |14.5 |13.3 |61.5 |5.7
Midlothian |13.4 |14.9 |13.6 |61.8 |5.8
West Lothian |11.8 |13.1 |12.0 |60.2 |5.6
Argyll and Bute |14.9 |16.5 |15.1 |61.8 |5.7
Bearsden and Milngavie |10.3 |11.4 |10.4 |57.1 |5.3
Clydesbank |15.3 |17.0 |15.5 |62.2 |5.8
Clydesdale |13.2 |14.6 |13.4 |60.1 |5.5
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth |13.0 |14.4 |13.2 |59.9 |5.5
Cumnock and Doon Valley |13.4 |14.9 |13.6 |60.3 |5.6
Cunninghame |16.1 |17.9 |16.3 |63.0 |5.9
Dumbarton |14.9 |16.5 |15.1 |61.8 |5.7
East Kilbride |11.2 |12.4 |11.4 |58.1 |5.3
Eastwood |7.9 |8.8 |8.0 |54.7 |5.1
Glasgow City |20.9 |23.2 |21.2 |67.9 |6.3
Hamilton |14.2 |15.7 |14.4 |61.1 |5.6
Inverclyde |12.6 |14.0 |12.8 |59.5 |5.5
Kilmarnock and Loudoun |13.0 |14.4 |13.2 |59.9 |5.5
Kyle and Carrick |13.4 |14.9 |13.6 |60.3 |5.6
Monklands |14.2 |15.7 |14.4 |61.1 |5.6
Motherwell |12.9 |14.3 |13.1 |59.8 |5.5
Renfrew |14.2 |15.7 |14.4 |61.1 |5.6
Strathkelvin |12.6 |14.0 |12.8 |59.5 |5.5
Angus |10.6 |11.8 |10.8 |54.4 |5.1
Dundee City |16.9 |18.7 |17.1 |60.7 |5.7
Perth and Kinross |11.0 |12.2 |11.2 |54.8 |5.1
Orkney |39.3 |43.6 |39.9 |39.9 |3.7
Shetland |37.1 |41.1 |38.6 |38.6 |2.5
Western Isles |57.6 |63.9 |58.4 |58.4 |5.5
GP Budgets
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the number of general practitioner firms that have applied to become budget holders in each health board area in Scotland ; how many of these firms operate practices in rural areas ; and when he expects to be able to confirm the final numbers of practices to be approved.
Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 16 January 1991] : So far, four practices--or in some cases groups of practices--have sought formal approval to commence fundholding from 1 April 1991. The health boards responsible are currently in the final stages of determining these applications. Details of these applications are provided in the table, including location as an indicator of degree of rurality.
Health Board and
Location
----------------------------------
Tayside
Forfar
Dundee
Lothian
Edinburgh
Argyll and Clyde
Helensburgh
There is no time limit for the submission of applications, and a number of other practices are known to be working towards taking part in the scheme as from a later date.
Carstairs Hospital
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the number of patients at Carstairs hospital who have been kept there principally because (a) they are mentally disturbed criminals, (b) they are
Column 242
mentally ill but not criminals, (c) they are mentally handicapped and (d) other reasons for each of the past five years.Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 16 January 1991] : Patients at the state hospital are classified as either restricted or state patients or detained non-restricted patients. Restricted patients have either been convicted of, or have been alleged to have committed, a criminal offence, but are considered by medical opinion to be suffering from a treatable mental disorder and to constitute a serious danger to the public. Detained patients will have previously been receiving treatment in ordinary psychiatric hospitals for mental disorder on a compulsory basis but have become sufficiently dangerous either to themselves or others to require to be detained in the secure conditions at Carstairs. The majority of these will not have committed any criminal offences.
The numbers in the categories requested are as follows :
|(a) |(b) |(c)<1> |Other
|Mentally |Patients |Patients
|disturbed |who are |who have
|patientsMentally ill|mental
|who have |handicap
|committed
|offences
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1986 |157 |70 |42 |-
1987 |146 |64 |49 |-
1988 |148 |68 |48 |-
1989 |163 |66 |40 |-
1990 |163 |59 |44 |-
<1> These patients are also included under (a) and (b)
Notes: The figures are at 31 December in each year.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Sewage Sludge Dumping
Mr. Speller : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on which two most recent dates the sites were monitored at which he allows Wessex Water and
Column 243
Welsh Water to dump, respectively, 55,000 and 300,000 tonnes of sewage sludge ; what were the results ; and what traces of organic and metal contaminants were found.Mr. Curry : Monitoring at the Bristol channel sewage sludge disposal site was carried out in 1988 and 1990. The surveys were undertaken jointly by the Welsh and Wessex water authorities in 1988 and by the successor water companies in 1990 under conditions of disposal licences issued by the Ministry.
Sheep Dipping
Sir Richard Body : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will arrange for any inquiry into changes of regulations on sheep dipping to be held in public.
Mr. Maclean : I announced on 21 June 1990 the Government's intention to review arrangements for the control of sheep scab during 1991. I am ready to take account of views expressed by any interested party on this as on all other issues.
Carlisle Office
Mr. Jopling : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date his Carlisle office received the application forms at the end of 1989 for the sheep annual premium ; on what date they were distributed to farmers ; and on what date they were due to be returned.
Mr. Curry : Claim forms for the first application period under the sheep annual premium scheme 1990 could not be completed until certain important details had been clarified by the European Commission. The Carlisle divisional office received the forms on 11 December 1989, and dispatched them to interested farmers on 12 December. The closing date for the lodging of first period applications was 27 December 1989.
Mr. Jopling : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent his Carlisle office is currently undermanned ; and what requests he has had for extra staff appointments to be made.
Mr. Curry : The number of staff employed in our Carlisle office is currently one below complement in the administrative grades, and one below complement in the farm and countryside service. We have not received any direct requests for additional staff appointments to be made.
Food From Britain
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list, for the three counties of Yorkshire and for Humberside, the sales of speciality food or drink products that Food From Britain has supported during 1989 and 1990.
Mr. Curry : Neither Food From Britain nor this Department have details of sales by groups supported under the speciality food group scheme, nor has any group in the counties mentioned in fact applied for such support.
Salmonella
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has received a copy of the report of the Institute of Economic Affairs concerning salmonella contamination in eggs ; and if he will make a statement.
Column 244
Mr. Maclean : I have received a copy of this report and have noted its contents. The Government's policy in relation to salmonella in eggs and poultry has been set out in evidence provided to the Select Committee on Agriculture.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Ludlow (Mr. Gill) of 14 January, Official Report, column 392, what existing measures will continue to be taken where necessary to protect public health with regard to poultry flocks infected with salmonella typhimurium.
Mr. Maclean : The Minister's authority to exercise his powers under the Animal Health Act 1981 and the Zoonoses Order 1989 remains in force in relation to all types of salmonella. The arrangements for the compulsory slaughter of breeding flocks infected with salmonella typhimurium are to continue unchanged. For commercial egg-laying flocks, the automatic slaughter policy will continue in relation to salmonella enteritidis which remains the prime cause of salmonella food poisoning in humans. If infection from another type of salmonella is confirmed in a laying flock, slaughter will be required if this is considered necessary in the circumstances in order to safeguard public health.
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in the development of a diagnostic test for bovine spongiform encephalopathy ; and if he will make a statement on the progress of his research programme into this disease.
Mr. Curry : A considerable programme of research is in progress, including priority work to try and develop a diagnostic test for bovine spongiform encephalopathy. However, the nature of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, including its long incubation period, means that answers cannot be expected for some time.
Milk Quotas
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy on the future of milk quotas and whether milk quotas will remain at existing levels.
Mr. Curry : Since 1984 we have accepted milk quotas as the only negotiable means of controlling the cost to the Community of market support in the dairy sector. That cost is still excessive and I should welcome proposals from the European Commission for non-discriminatory quota cuts, together with support price adjustments as a step towards a more market- oriented regime. In the longer run the objective must be to move to levels of support which would permit the abandonment of quotas and allow market forces to influence production levels. In the meantime I have made it very clear that I could not contemplate discriminatory cuts in quota.
Sandwiches
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with the British Sandwich Association concerning its quality assurance scheme ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Curry : The association has recently informed my hon. Friend the Member for Penrith and the Border (Mr. Maclean) of the codes of practice that it is introducing for manufacturers and retailers of sandwiches. In his reply, my hon. Friend has acknowledged the efforts which the association has made since its formation in 1990 to raise safety and hygiene standards in the sandwich industry.Fishing Vessels
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has, by port, on the number of fishing vessels up for sale since the introduction of the new EEC fishing regulations.
Mr. Curry : None. This Department does not collect information about the number of fishing vessels up for sale.
Skimmed Milk Powder
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is proposing to take in respect of the lead- contaminated skimmed milk powder currently held in storage ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Curry : The butter and skimmed milk powder manufactured from milk withheld from sale in 1989 following the distribution of animal feedingstuffs contaminated by lead was tested by the Ministry. Restrictions on sale were removed after lead levels were found to be well below the limits laid down in the Lead in Food Regulations 1979 as amended. The subsequent disposal of these products was a matter for the milk marketing board, which owned them. I understand that all the product in question has been exported.
Eggs
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to complete the funding of the British eggs marketing initiative ; and what discussions he has had with the EEC Commission concerning this scheme.
Mr. Curry : I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the provision of funds to the British Egg Industry Council for the purpose of promoting the marketing of eggs out of the assets of the Egg Authority, which was abolished in 1986. When due provision has been made for the outstanding liabilities of the former authority it is expected that the remaining funds will be made available to the British Egg Industry Council for promotion and
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other activities until they are exhausted. It is not possible to say when this will be. Our officials have discussed the British Egg Industry Council's current promotional campaign with the Commission.Milk
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether there are to be any changes to the existing system of purchasing milk quotas.
Mr. Curry : EC regulations do not permit the sale of quota as such, but quota is transferred in proportion to the areas used for milk production when all or part of a dairy holding is sold, leased or transferred by inheritance. The EC Commission is aware of pressure for greater flexibility in the quota transfer rules, which apply in their present form until the end of March 1992. Proposals for their extension or amendment have yet to be made.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the European Community directive on milk quality ; what actions he is taking in respect of that directive ; and if he foresees any future change in its conditions.
Mr. Curry : Council directive 85/397/EEC on intra-Community trade in heat-treated milk came into force on 1 January 1989. It is implemented in England and Wales by the Importation of Milk Regulations 1988 and in Scotland and Northern Ireland by similar provisions. Under the directive our domestic milk production has been formally recognised as achieving the higher "step 2" milk hygiene standards. Denmark is the only other member state to have achieved this.
The Commission has tabled proposals for two Council regulations which would replace the directive and extend its standards to all Community-produced milk and milk products made from cows', goats', sheep's or buffaloes' milk. Discussions are under way and the United Kingdom is seeking an outcome which maintains and improves milk hygiene standards across the Community.
Dairy Inspections
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the charges, in cash and real terms, for statutory inspections of dairies for each year since 1980.
Mr. Gummer : Charges for statutory inspections of dairy farms by Ministry dairy officers were introduced in 30 March 1987. Since then, charges have been as follows :
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|30 March 1987 to|1 April 1989 to |Since
|31 March 1989 |26 August 1990 |27 August 1990
|£ |£ |£
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Routine visit
(a) higher rate |90 |78 |87
(b) lower rate |80 |60 |67
First follow-up visit
(a) higher rate |- |- |87
(b) lower rate |- |- |67
Subsequent follow-up visits
(a) higher rate |- |78 |87
(b) lower rate |- |60 |67
If the charges for routine visits had been raised in line with the retail prices index since March 1987, they would now be £116 (higher rate) and £103 (lower rate). The lower rates apply to inspections of farms with herds of fewer than 20 cows.
Salmon
Mr. Beith : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement about the report published by his Department on east coast salmon fisheries.
Mr. Curry : No report has yet been published. Work on the review is being completed and we hope to present it to Parliament shortly.
Southern Sea Fisheries
Mr. Adley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received about fines for the contravention of local fishery legislation in the southern sea fisheries area ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Curry : The question of the levels of fines for contraventions of local fishery legislation was raised with me when I met representatives of the Southern Sea Fisheries Committees on 23 October 1990. The matter is under consideration.
Agriculture Council
Mr. Tredinnick : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 21 and 22 January.
Mr. Gummer : I represented the United Kingdom at this meeting, together with my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary. The Council heard an oral presentation from Commissioner MacSharry on his personal ideas for possible changes to the common agricultural policy. His approach was based on the desirability of retaining the largest number of farmers as possible in the Community irrespective of the viability of their farms. He envisaged significant cuts in prices and quotas, the introduction of some new direct payments to producers, an expansion of the Community's agro-environmental policies and that a revised policy should be deliberately slanted so as to favour smaller producers. He did not quote figures, but it appeared that changes on the lines suggested would result in a significant increase in budgetary costs.
It was my intention to welcome the Commission's willingness to contemplate radical reform and certain strands of Mr. MacSharry's thinking, but to insist that changes should involve a reduction in costs, to advocate a closer integration of agricultural and environmental policies, and to reject the proposed discrimination against larger farmers on the grounds that this would prevent the emergence of a genuinely competitive European agriculture and would also involve unacceptable distortions between member states. However, only the Irish Minister was able to comment before the Commissioner was suddenly called away by a family bereavement. Discussions will resume at the next meeting of the Council of 4 February. It is not clear if the Commission will have adopted a definite position on CAP reform by them. The
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Council agreed to extend the Community's sugar regime for two years from 1 July 1991 on the current basis except for a small reduction in the permissible maxima for national aids, including that for cane sugar refining.Fish Landings
Mr. Harris : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the increase in the value of United Kingdom fish landings by United Kingdom vessels in comparison with the retail prices index in the period 1980 to 1990 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gummer : In 1989 the value of United Kingdom fish landings by United Kingdom vessels was £396 million. This was 78 per cent. higher than in 1980 and compares with an increase of 72 per cent. in the RPI during the same period. The latest provisional figures for 1990 suggest that the value of these landings has kept pace with the increase in the RPI.
In the fisheries debate on 13 December 1990 I may have inadvertently misled the House when responding to a point made by the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) by referring at column 1180 to individual years rather than to the period as a whole.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Savings
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much revenue would be raised by putting national insurance contributions on the income from savings above (a) £3,000 and (b) £5,000 ; (i) including pensioners and (ii) excluding pensioners.
Mr. Jack : If such contributions were charged at the current employees' main percentage rate of 9 per cent. on all investment income above £3,000 and above £5,000 the gain to the national insurance fund would be as shown in the table. However, national insurance contributions are levied only on earnings from employment and this is consistent with the approach since the establishment of the National Insurance Scheme in 1948.
Investment Income |National insurance |National insurance
|contribution income |contribution income
including pensioners |excluding pensioners
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
above £3,000 |£1.73 billion |£0.96 billion
above £5,000 |£1.35 billion |£0.74 billion
This estimate is based on a projection of the 1987-88 survey of personal incomes and is therefore provisional.
Tax Withdrawal Rates
Mr. Squire : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing (i) the number of working heads, (ii) dependants and (iii) families with children facing marginal tax and benefit withdrawal rates in excess of 50 per cent., in the manner of his answer of 25 March 1988, Official Report, column 244 .
Mr. Jack : The information requested is set out in the table :
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Combined marginal tax and benefit withdrawal rates 1990-91
Benefit units where at least one partner works full time (000)
Numbers facing combined rates of over 50 per cent.-in bands
Great Britain
Per cent. |Families with|Couples and |Total
|children |single people
----------------------------------------------------------------------
100 |0 |0 |0
90 to 99 |45 |0 |45
80 to 89 |160 |30 |190
70 to 79 |105 |55 |160
60 to 69 |0 |0 |5
50 to 59 |0 |0 |0
Projections based on 1985, 1986 and 1987 Family Expenditure Surveys.
Uprated to 1990-91 prices, taxes and benefits. Figures are rounded to
the nearest 5,000. Totals may not add due to rounding.
Independent Living Fund
Mr. Dewar : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the level of expenditure by his Department on the independent living fund for each of the past five years ; and how much of this was spent in Scotland in each year.
Mr. Scott : The Independent Living Fund was established in June 1988. Expenditure published by the Fund in their annual reports was £1.35 million in 1988-89 and £10.08 million in 1989-90. Provision for 1990-91 is £32 million. Information on the cost of awards in Scotland is not available. However, around 9 per cent. of the fund's beneficiaries live in Scotland.
Telephonic Liaison Service
Sir John Farr : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for what reason the Department of Social Security Leicester, has discontinued the telephonic liaison service on a special line ; and if he will take steps to have this restored.
Miss Widdecombe : The DSS local office at Leicester (Norton street) has replaced its telephone line dedicated to welfare rights inquiries with normal access to benefit sections plus, for particularly complex cases, reference to the assistant manager (liaison). It did so following complaints that the former system was not working. The effects of the new arrangements will be closely monitored.
Income Statistics
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list by year for the last 10 years the number of households (a) below and (b) above average income.
Mr. Jack : Information on the basis of income before housing costs is available for 1981, 1983, 1985 and 1987 and is in the table.
Year |Households |Households
|below average|above average
|income |income
|(millions) |(millions)
--------------------------------------------------------
1981 |12.0 |7.9
1983 |12.6 |8.2
1985 |12.8 |8.3
1987 |13.7 |8.1
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Industrial Injury Benefit
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list, for each of his local Department offices in the Doncaster area, how many people have made claims for industrial injuries disablement benefit during the current year to date and by year for the last 10 years ; how many had their claims accepted ; and what has been the total amount paid out in benefits.
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