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Women in the National Health Service
Mrs. Maureen Hicks : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether he has any plans to encourage job sharing in the NHS ; (2) what plans he has to ensure that full use is made of women's contributions to the NHS ; and if he will make a statement ; (3) how many women work in the NHS.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley [holding answer 8 February 1991] : The latest available information, which relates to 1989, indicates that there were 770,300 women working in the national health service in England, representing 76.6 per cent. of the total work force. We are firmly committed to ensuring that the best possible use is made of their valuable contribution.
We take every opportunity to stress to health authorities the importance of flexible working arrangements, including job sharing, which allow women to successfully combine their family
responsibilities with those of working in the NHS.
To encourage authorities in the development of good personnel policies and practices which enable them to recruit and retain the services of women staff, we have endorsed a wide range of initiatives, including :
Publication of a comprehensive guidance manual and summary report sent to all health authorities by the national steering group on equal opportunities for women in the NHS.
Many health authorities operate their own independent day nursery and holiday play schemes, while others have entered into collaborative arrangements with separate organisations.
Launch of two new schemes in December last year for "Keeping in Touch" and "Getting Back to Practice" to replace an existing dentists' retainer scheme, enabling dentists who take career breaks from their practices to keep up to date with their skills and experience.
The introduction of a maternity payments scheme for general dental practitioners who intend to return to general practice after having a child.
Publication in January this year of the report and recommendations of a special departmental working group on "Women Doctors and their Careers" aimed at promoting greater equality of opportunity for women in the medical profession.
Publication of a special report by the Department's social services inspectorate "Women in Social Services--A Neglected Resource" giving guidance on how social services departments can benefit from making full use of womens skills and experience.
Launch of a new scheme providing special leave arrangements for a range of family and domestic needs, agreed in January this year between NHS management and staff representatives. This scheme complements one agreed in July last year under which authorities may grant career breaks.
Departmental funding for a number of projects aimed at encouraging the return of nursing, health visiting and midwifery staff to the NHS.
Additionally, the new GP contract recognises explicitly that women GPs often want to combine a career in general practice with bringing up their family. It does so by formally introducing new opportunities to work part time and to job share. We have also removed the list size criterion for a locum allowance while a woman GP is absent from the practice having a baby- -so the practice will not lose out while she is away.
Implementation of some of these schemes is a matter for the individual employing authorities. We shall continue to seek ways of encouraging them to effect improvements where necessary.
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PRIME MINISTER
Senior Civil Servants (Degrees)
Mr. Page : To ask the Prime Minister how many permanent secretaries have engineering, science or mathematics degrees ; and what percentage that is of the total.
The Prime Minister : Four permanent secretaries--12 per cent. of the total--have degrees in these subjects. Two have science degrees and two have mathematics degrees. There are in addition a further 12 permanent secretaries--35 per cent. of the total--with social science degrees, including economics and statistics, and one with a professional accountancy qualification.
Mr. Page : To ask the Prime Minister how many under-secretaries have engineering, science or mathematics degrees ; and what percentage that is of the total.
The Prime Minister : This information is not held centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.
Defence Quality Assurance Unit
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Prime Minister if he will seek to co- ordinate the activities of the Departments of Environment, Trade and Industry and Transport with regard to the proposed relocation of the Ministry of Defence quality assurance unit to Stockton on Tees.
The Prime Minister : The Ministry of Defence has been in contact with the Departments mentioned during the course of their studies into the relocation of the directorate general defence quality assurance.
Ministerial Advisers
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Prime Minister how many political advisers to Ministers are currently employed in the civil service ; in which Departments they work ; and on what grades they are paid.
The Prime Minister : There are currently 26 special advisers to Ministers employed in the civil service. The number in each Department is as follows :
|Number
----------------------------------------------------------
Cabinet Office (including No. 10) |6
Department of the Environment |4
Foreign and Commonwealth Office |2
Department of Health |2
Her Majesty's Treasury |2
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food |1
Department of Education and Science |1
Department of Energy |1
Department of Employment |1
Home Office |1
Lord President of the Council |1
Scottish Office |1
Department of Social Security |1
Department of Trade and Industry |1
Department of Transport |1
Special advisers are not graded and are not therefore paid on civil service salary scales. They are normally paid on a special advisers salary spine comprising 30 points, as follows :
Scale point |Salary
|(inclusive)
------------------------------------
30 |54,184
29 |52,100
28 |50,096
27 |48,924
26 |47,757
25 |46,264
24 |44,771
23 |42,731
22 |41,144
21 |39,563
20 |37,908
19 |36,239
18 |34,571
17 |32,909
16 |30,927
15 |29,667
14 |28,664
13 |27,666
12 |26,617
11 |25,660
10 |24,873
9 |23,771
8 |22,931
7 |22,185
6 |21,449
5 |20,697
4 |19,595
3 |18,925
2 |18,353
1 |17,280
The two most senior special advisers are paid personal salaries above the spine limit of £54,184. It is not our practice to reveal the salary of any adviser, as it is negotiated individually in relation to previous earnings and is, therefore, confidential.
Greater London Council
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Prime Minister which departments of state are still carrying out functions and responsibilities arising from the abolition of the GLC.
The Prime Minister : The Home Office, the Department of the Environment, the Department of Transport and the Office of Arts and Libraries.
WALES
Mental Illness
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many mental illness hospital beds were available in Wales in 1978, 1982, 1986, and during each of the last three years.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : Information on mental illness beds and other psychiatric beds, excluding mental handicap, is given in the table :
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Average daily available NHS hospital beds Specialty |1978 |1982 |1986 |1987 |1988 |1989-90 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mental illness |5,352.4 |4,526.7 |4,200.4 |3,956.1 |3,808.9 |2,586.1 Child and adolescent psychiatry |84.0 |69.0 |62.1 |61.0 |61.0 |75.0 Forensic psychiatry |- |- |- |- |- |9.5 Old age psychiatry |189.0 |298.0 |468.2 |488.5 |525.7 |1,473.4 Total of above |5,625.4 |4,893.7 |4,730.7 |4,505.6 |4,395.6 |4,144.0
A487, Gwynedd
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the outcome of his feasibility study undertaken for his Department, by Gwynedd county council, on possible options for improving the A487 road in the vicinity of Penygroes and Llanllyfni, and of providing a bypass for these two villages ; and what is the expected time scale of these improvement schemes.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The study report on the A487 trunk road from Caerau to Pont Seiont, which includes Penygroes and Llanllyfni has not yet been received by the Welsh Office. However the outcome of preliminary consideration of the case for road improvements will be covered in a supplement to "Roads in Wales", to be published next week.
South Wales Traffic Study
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the remit for the south Wales area traffic study ; what is its estimated cost ; who is undertaking it ; when it will be completed ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The study is a review of traffic patterns over most of the south Wales trunk road network. It identifies sections likely to exceed their recommended traffic flow levels in the foreseeable future and evaluates possible solutions. It was undertaken by JMP Consultants Ltd in association with Veryard and Partners for £350,000. Their summary report was submitted last December and it is currently receiving careful consideration. No public statement is likely before the spring.
Roads
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to issue the revised supplement on "Roads in Wales" ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Wyn Roberts : We plan to publish a 1991 supplement to "Roads in Wales" on 25 February.
Castle Cement Works
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will indicate the action he has taken since the announcement of redundancies at the Castle cement works, Clwyd.
Mr. David Hunt : As the hon. Gentleman knows from my reply of 15 January, the Welsh Development Agency is taking these redundancies into account in planning its activities. The agency's small firms service have been in Castle Cement recently advising people who are considering self- employment and will continue to play an active role in helping those made redundant.
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Brymbo Steelworks
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will indicate the action he has taken since the announcement of redundancies at the Brymbo steelworks, Clwyd.
Mr. David Hunt : Since United Engineering Steels' announcement on the 14 May 1990 that Brymbo steelworks was to close, I have met, on several occasions, all the parties involved to discuss the future of the steelworks.
At my request, the Welsh Development Agency made extensive, worldwide efforts, throughout last summer to find a buyer for the site who would continue steelmaking in some form without success. The Welsh Development Agency is still in consultation with United Engineering Steels over possible future uses for the site. On 30 October 1990, I announced a support package designed to mitigate the effects of the steelworks closure on the area. The package entails the government matching United Engineering Steel's contribution of £260,000 to the North East Wales training enterprise council pound for pound ; an extra urban programme grant of £0.5 million this financial year, as well as the revenue appointment of a Brymbo village liaison and advice worker for three years, and an extra £0.5 million for Wrexham Maelor borough council for its Redwither project as part of its 1991-92 credit approvals announced on 10 December. In addition, the Welsh Development Agency has commenced work on £5.5 million programme of works based at the Wrexham industrial estate which should create job opportunities for 500 people. European regional development fund aid of £2,229,345 has been granted towards projects in the Wrexham travel-to-work area under the Clwyd integrated development operational programme. I will be meeting again the hon. Member for Wrexham (Dr. Marek) and representatives of the county and district councils later this week to review the situation and I will be taking further action as and when I consider it necessary.
Clwyd Furniture Industry
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will indicate the measures he proposes in Clwyd consequent upon the announcement of redundancies in the furniture industry.
Mr. David Hunt : These job losses are very much regretted. The Welsh Development Agency takes all job losses into account in planning its future activities and reviews its plans in the light of continuing developments.
Glendale Company
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement of the action he has taken consequent upon the placing of the Glendale company in the hands of the receiver.
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Mr. David Hunt : While the company is in the hands of the receiver it would be inappropriate for me to intervene. I have however asked the WDA to alert possible purchasers and both the agency and the Welsh Office stand ready to give every possible assistance to any potential purchaser.Effluent
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report a list of the trade effluent consents that have been granted for the discharge of pesticide waste to sewers, giving for each, the eight figure Ordnance Survey grid reference number for the point of discharge.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : This information is not held centrally. Copies of trade effluent consents are available for public inspection at the offices of the sewerage undertaker.
Drinking Water
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report the information available to his Department on the incidence of faecal material in drinking water.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : Water undertakers are required by the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989 (SI 1989 No. 1147) to record on a public register the results of the analysis of samples taken. In addition the chief inspector of the drinking water inspectorate will publish in the summer a full report upon the quality of drinking water supplied in England and Wales during 1990.
Wetlands
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those estuaries and wetlands with nature conservation protection designations, currently facing urban/recreational or industrial development proposals.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The information is not held centrally. The Nature Conservancy Council must be consulted about all development proposals in sites of special scientific interest and has undertaken a review of the nature conservation interests of the estuaries of Great Britain. I understand that the full report is due to be published on25 March 1991.
Cardiff Bay Development Corporation
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the duties he has prescribed for the Cardiff Bay development corporation in the field of vocational training.
Mr. David Hunt : Neither I nor my predecessors have prescribed duties for Cardiff Bay development corporation in the field of vocational training. The corporation has, however, been actively involved in the development of a training initiative in co-operation with local authorities and government agencies, with the full support of the Wales TUC and CBI. The initiative will provide training opportunities for unemployed local people so that they can benefit from the regeneration of the area.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has had any consultations with the chairman of the
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Cardiff Bay Development Corporation regarding the setting up of a centre of excellence in the vocational training field at Cardiff bay.Mr. David Hunt : I have had no such consultations. My officials were, however, involved in discussions with officers of the corporation about its involvement in the development of a centre of excellence for vocational training within the bay area. These discussions took place in the context of the normal project approval arrangements for the corporation.
Local Plans
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report a list of those local authorities in Wales that have no local plan.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : No local plans have been placed on deposit or adopted in the areas of the following local authorities : Alyn and Deeside district council
Carmarthen district council
Ceredigion district council
Glyndwr district council
Montgomeryshire district council
Neath borough council
Preseli Pembrokeshire district council
South Pembrokeshire district council
Vocational Courses
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide transitional funding assistance to vocational part-time courses at higher education colleges due to be directly funded after April 1992.
Sir Wyn Roberts : I refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply of 11 February 1991.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Fair Employment
Mr. Beggs : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many companies have been prosecuted to date in Northern Ireland for failing to make monitoring returns to the Fair Employment Commission.
Mr. Beggs : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will seek to ensure that small companies in Northern Ireland are not threatened with disqualification by the Fair Employment Commission following minor breaches of the fair employment legislation.
Mr. Needham : It is for the Fair Employment Commission to decide how to use its power under the fair employment legislation, including when to take action against those who fail to comply with its provisions.
Mr. Beggs : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many companies have been prosecuted to date after making a late return of monitoring records to the Fair Employment Commission.
Mr. Needham : Of the 15 concerns that were prosecuted for failing to make a monitoring return to the commission within the prescribed time, 14 made a late return before the hearing in the magistrates court.
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Hazardous Waste
Mr. Hume : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what regulations or guidelines govern the transportation of hazardous waste into and within Northern Ireland.
Mr. Needham : Incoming consignments of hazardous waste must conform with the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1989 which govern the import of hazardous waste from outside the United Kingdom into Northern Ireland for disposal. Controls on the disposal of hazardous waste within Northern Ireland are provided by the Pollution Control (Special Waste) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1981.
The transport of hazardous cargoes by sea is regulated by the Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods and Marine Pollutants) Regulations 1990 and the Merchant Shipping (Control of Pollution by Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk) Regulations 1987 as amended in 1990. The transport of dangerous substances by road within Northern Ireland is regulated by the Dangerous Substances (Conveyance by Road in Road Tankers and Tank Containers) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1988 and the Road Traffic (Carriage of Dangerous Substances in Packages etc) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1988 as amended in 1990.
The following Great Britain documents have been approved for use in Northern Ireland in relation to the transport by road of dangerous substances :
1. Approved Code of Practice--Operational Provisions of the Road Traffic (Carriage of Dangerous Substances in Packages etc.) Regulations 1986. ISBN 0 11 883898 9.
2. Approved Code of Practice--Operational Provisions of the Dangerous Substances (Conveyance by Road in Road Tankers and Tank Containers) Regulations 1981. ISBN 0 11 883728 1.
3. Approved Code of Practice--Classification and Labelling of Dangerous Substances for Conveyance by Road in Tankers, Tank Containers and Packages (Revision 1). ISBN 0 11 885518 2. 4. Approved Code of Practice--Road Tanker Testing. ISBN 0 11 883811 3.
5. Authorised and Approved List--Approved substance identification numbers, emergency action codes and classifications for dangerous substances conveyed in road tankers and tank containers. (Third edition) ISBN 0 11 885477 1.
Further guidance is contained in :--
1. Health and Safety booklet HS(G)26--Transport of dangerous substances in tank containers. ISBN 0 11 883843 1.
2. A guide to the Road Traffic (Carriage of Dangerous Substances in Packages etc.) Regulations 1986. Booklet HS(R)24 ISBN 0 11 883899 7. Mr. Hume : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what routes for the transportation of hazardous waste to Maydown have been identified in the context of the proposed siting of a hazardous waste incinerator at Du Pont's Maydown complex.
Mr. Needham : No routes for the transportation of hazardous waste to Maydown have been identified in the context of a proposal to site an incinerator for the disposal of toxic waste at Du Pont (UK) Limited, Maydown, Co. Londonderry.
Petrol Prices
Mr. Mallon : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the average retail price of petrol at the pumps (a) on 16 January and (b) currently.
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Mr. Needham : At 16 January four-star leaded petrol was 45.4p per litre and unleaded was 42.4p per litre. Currently they are 43.7p and 40.7p per litre respectively.
Environmental Improvement Schemes
Mr. Mallon : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the environmental improvement schemes (a) carried out and (b) under consideration, to date, by the Department of Environment, Northern Ireland.
Mr. Needham : To provide details of individual works completed or contemplated would involve disproportionate cost. Details of the expenditure for the 1988-89 and 1989-90 financial years, the expected outturn for 1990-91 and programmed expenditure for 1991-92 under the three main categories of bodies involved in environmental improvement schemes are as follows :
Year |Departmen- |Voluntary |District councils|Total
|tal schemes |sector |and other public
|schemes |bodies
|'000s |'000s |'000s |'000s
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1988-89 |2,164 |118 |1,995 |4,277
1989-90 |4,210 |198 |2,431 |6,839
1990-91 |2,904 |199 |1,785 |4,888
1991-92 |3,796 |132 |1,155 |5,083
|------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |13,074 |647 |7,366 |21,087
A breakdown of individual bodies within the three categories is listed :
Bodies which have received environmental improvement grants within the three categories of eligibility Category and Organisation/Division Departmental
Belfast development office
Belfast action teams
Roads service
Planning divisions
Londonderry development office
Voluntary Sector
Better Belfast
Conservation Volunteers
NI Amenity Council
Connswater environmental committee
Ligoniel Improvement Association
Rathcoole community group
Belfast civic trust
District Councils and Public Bodies
Belfast city council
Castlereagh borough council
Newtownabbey borough council
NI railways
Northern Ireland Housing Executive
Derry city council
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