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Hospital Strip Cells
Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were put into hospital strip cells in each of the years from 1986 to 1990.
Mrs. Rumbold : I regret that the information is not available in statistical form and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Women's Prisons
Ms. Richardson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the overcrowding and lack of integral sanitation at Bullwood Hall and Styall women's prisons ; and if he will give figures for the certified normal accommodation and the actual numbers for the last 12 months at these
establishments.
Mrs. Rumbold : Some cells in Bullwood Hall are being shared because of the temporary withdrawal of 23 cells so that access to night sanitation can be provided by means of an electronic unlocking system. All the main areas of accommodation in the prison will have integral sanitation by February 1992 leaving only the hospital and segregation unit, and work will be carried out in these areas in 1992-93. There is no overcrowding in Styal prison and integral sanitation is currently being installed. Work on one house is complete and the two remaining houses will have integral sanitation by September 1991. All other areas of the prison have open access and therefore integral sanitation is not required.
The figure for the certified normal accommodation of Bullwood Hall is 119. The figure for Styal is normally 258, but has been reduced to 208 while refurbishment is carried out. The actual numbers of prisoners on the last Friday of the month for each of the previous 12 months were as follows :
|Bullwood Hall|Styal
----------------------------------------------------------
1990
30 March |123 |221
27 April |124 |214
25 May |119 |204
29 June |112 |185
27 July |113 |196
31 August |115 |200
28 September |112 |202
26 October |115 |204
30 November |115 |205
28 December |116 |206
1991
25 January |105 |197
22 February |105 |200
Television Programme Listings
Mr. Andrew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations he has received on the publication of television programme listings ; and what evaluation he has made of the effects of charges on local newspapers ;
(2) if he will again review the implications of the Broadcasting Act for television listings in local newspapers ; and what steps he will take to monitor referrals of charges for listings to the copyright tribunal.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : We have received a number of representations about the proposed scale of charges for the
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publication of television listings. The Broadcasting Act 1990, however, makes provision for the independent Copyright tribunal to adjudicate in any case in which a publisher considers that the charge imposed for publishing television listings is unreasonable. I see no need to monitor referrals to the tribunal. It is premature to consider the effects of charges on local newspapers until the procedure set out in the Act has been concluded.Estate Rifles
Mr. Robin Cook : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue guidelines to chief police officers following the consideration of the firearms consultancy committee of section 16 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 on visitors' use of estate rifles ; and whether he intends to legislate on the purchase of ammunition by users of estate rifles.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : We shall consider the need for this most carefully in the light of any advice which the Firearms Consultative Committee may make in due course. We have no plans, at present, to legislate for further controls on the purchase of ammunition permitted under section 16.
Detainees
Mr. Darling : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the guidelines decided by his advisory panel on those detained on the grounds of national security under the Immigration Act 1971 in relation to (a) the number of witnesses allowed, (b) the legal or other advisers who may be present at hearings and (c) other matters ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The arrangements are those set out in the then Home Secretary's statement to the House on 15 June 1971 at columns 375-77. Other issues affecting the conduct of proceedings are a matter for the chairman of the panel.
WALES
Air Pollution
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the air pollution monitoring sites based in Wales for (a) ozone, (b) carbon monoxide, (c) nitrogen oxides, (d) acid deposition, (e) atmospheric hydrocarbon, (f) trace germs, (g) atmospheric chemistry, (h) smoke and sulphur dioxide directive, (i) other sulphur dioxide sites, (j) lead sites and (k) multi-element sites including lead.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : The sites operated in Wales on behalf of the United Kingdom Government are :
(a) Ozone--Aston Hill.
(b) Acid deposition sites--Beddgelert ; Tycanol Wood ; Llyn Brianne ; Plinlimmon.
(c) Smoke and sulphur dioxide, including directive sites--Cardiff ; Cresselly (Pembs) ; Marshfield, near Cardiff ; Newport, Gwent ; Neyland ; Pontypool ; Port Talbot ; Waunfawr ; Welshpool ; Wrexham ; Cwmgwrach, Neath ; Glynneath--installed but not yet operational. (
(d) Lead sites--Cardiff.
There are no air pollution monitoring sites operated in Wales on behalf of the United Kingdom Government in
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respect of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, atmospheric hydrocarbon, trace germs, atmospheric chemistry and multi- elements. However, other monitoring is carried out under the aegis of various independent organisations.Welsh Water
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what target has been set for Welsh Water plc to achieve in terms of reducing water loss between reservoir and consumer as part of the efficiency component in price setting.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : In the prospectus of the water share offers in November 1989, Dwr Cymru stated that it intended to reduce the proportion of water lost through leakages and otherwise unaccounted for to 25 per cent. by 2012. As part of its "K" investment programme the company is to spend £550 million, at November 1989 prices, on its distribution system by 31 March 2000. The company also set out in the prospectus its objectives in relation to the replacement and relining of its mains.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what reports have been made by Welsh Water on progress made in reducing the proportion of water between reservoir and consumer since privatisation.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : This is a matter for the Director General of Water Services.
CIVIL SERVICE
Equal Opportunities
Mr. Janner : To ask Minister for the Civil Service when his Department last conducted a survey of the ethnic origins of its employees ; when it next plans to do so ; and whether he will make a statement.
Mr. Renton : The last survey was conducted in 1986. There are no plans to repeat it, but the enthnic origins of all entrants to the department are monitored on a continuous basis.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT
Peru (Cholera)
Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what specific medical resource is available to help the people of Peru combat the outbreak of cholera.
Mrs. Chalker : The Government of Peru, with assistance from the World Health Organisation, has identified the medical requirements and requested external assistance. The international community, including Britain, has responded positively to this request.
ENERGY
Equal Opportunities
Mr. Janner : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he has taken to recruit members of ethnic minorities in top grades of employment at his Department.
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Mr. Wakeham : Recruitment to senior grades is carried out by the Civil Service Commission on behalf of my Department. The commission has taken a number of steps to encourage applications from the ethnic minorities and to ensure that selection procedures are
non-discriminatory. These include publicity in the ethnic minority press, increasing representation of ethnic minority members on selection panels, training in equal opportunities issues and validation of selection procedures to ensure that they are non-discriminatory.
Mr. Janner : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many and what percentage of officers in each grade (1 to 7) and overall in the Department are (a) women and (b) from ethnic minorities, respectively.
Mr. Wakeham : As at 1 January 1991 there were no women in grades 1 to 4 ; at grade 5 there were five, or 12.5 per cent., at grade 6 there was one, or 4.5 per cent., and at grade 7 there were 14 or 10 per cent. The information supplied voluntarily in the most recent ethnic origin survey shows one person, or 0.5 per cent., of grades 1 to 7 is from the ethnic minorities.
Mr. Janner : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when his Department last conducted a survey of the ethnic origins of its employees ; when it next plans to do so ; and whether he will make a statement.
Mr. Wakeham : The last survey was conducted in the spring of 1990, and a top-up survey is currently in progress. Further surveys will be carried out as the need arises, initially on an annual basis.
Electricity Prices
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he or any of his Ministers or officials have been in touch with regional electricity companies about their proposed price increases for domestic electricity consumers.
Mr. Wakeham : I and my Ministers and officials are in regular contact with the regional electricity companies on a range of electricity matters.
Pollution Tax
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what studies he has made of the effect of a pollution tax on (a) fossil fuels and (b) fossil fuels used to supplement electricity generation under the non-fossil fuel obligations.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : The Government's policy on the use of economic instruments for environmental protection is set out in the White Paper "This Common Inheritance". In the long term, action to control emissions will inevitably have to include increases, achieved by taxation or other means, in the relative price of energy. However, the White Paper made clear the Government's intention not to introduce any such measures in the next few years outside the transport sector. Analytical work continues in support of this policy.
Plutonium
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newport, West of 25 February, Official Report, column 345, how
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much of the 3.5 tonnes of plutonium sent abroad, or the 0.5 tonnes of plutonium held on behalf of foreign customers at Sellafield, was reprocessed and stored or exported by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. before the tripartite safeguards agreement between the United Kingdom and Euratom/IAEA was agreed.Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : Some 40 per cent. of the plutonium referred to by the hon. Member was sent abroad or stored by British Nuclear Fuels plc before the United Kingdom/Euratom/IAEA safeguards agreement--Infcirc-263-- came into force in 1978. All plutonium arising from reprocessing spent fuel at Sellafield on behalf of overseas customers has been subject to Euratom safeguards since 1973 and to the terms of that tripartite agreement.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newport, West of 25 February, Official Report, column 345, what proportion of the 3.5 tonnes of foreign origin plutonium to which he refers arose from contracts for reprocessing nuclear fuel from abroad signed prior to the end of 1975.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : Specific details of the Company's contracts are a commercial matter for British Nuclear Fuels plc.
Radioactive Wastes
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy for what time periods the low, intermediate and high level radioactive wastes respectively, arising from the reprocessing of foreign spent oxide nuclear fuel at the thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield, may be stored at the site before being repatriated.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : Contracts containing provisions for the return of waste from reprocessing during the first 10 years of operation of British Nuclear Fuel's thermal oxide reprocessing plant allow a period of up to 25 years following the year of reprocessing for the return of conditioned waste. Contracts signed in 1990 for reprocessing in the second 10 years of THORP operations provide that conditioned waste will normally be returned within five years. It is planned to return high-level waste, which contains 98 per cent. of the activity of all wastes, as soon as practicable after vitrification. The detailed negotiation of this programme is a matter for BNFL and its customers who must complete facilities for the receipt and storage of the vitrified waste before it can be returned. It is expected that even for the initial baseload contracts the return will begin within five to 10 years of the fuel being reprocessed.
Oil and Gas (GDP)
Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has on the proportion of the gross domestic product of each of the countries of the European Community and Norway and Sweden which is derived from oil and gas production ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Moynihan : In 1990 extraction of mineral oil and natural gas accounted for about 2 per cent. of United Kingdom gross domestic product at current factor cost. The corresponding percentage is zero for Belgium,
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Luxembourg, Portugal and Sweden. Comparable figures for Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Spain and Norway are not readily available.PRIME MINISTER
IRA Terrorism
Mr. Latham : To ask the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on the Government's programme to combat IRA terrorism in Northern Ireland and mainland Britain.
The Prime Minister : The Government remain totally committed to defeating terrorism, whether it emanates from the Provisional IRA, or from other Northern Irish terrorist groups.
In Northern Ireland, we will continue with the security policy described by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in his statement of 8 November 1990.
In order to ensure that anti-terrorist legislation is appropriate to the current security threat, the Government have laid before Parliament the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Bill. In addition to re-enacting virtually all the provisions of the existing emergency law this Bill would provide the police and armed forces with the legal means to protect the community effectively, and at the same time provide appropriate safeguards for individuals. The specific proposals before Parliament include new powers to examine documents ; a new criminal offence of possession of items intended for terrorist purposes ; new powers in relation to closed crossings on the Anglo-Irish land border ; a new offence of directing the activities of an organisation concerned in terrorism ; new powers to enable the Secretary of State to make statutory codes of practice in connection with the exercise of emergency powers ; and new powers to facilitate the investigation of terrorist financing and to confiscate the assets of those who have gained personally from their involvement in this.
In Great Britain, responsibility for protecting the public from the threat of attack from the Provisional IRA rests primarily with the police. The Government welcomed the appointment last year by the Association of Chief Police Officers of the head of the Metropolitan police anti-terrorist branch as national co-ordinator of PIRA investigations. The Government will seek to ensure that the police have the right structure for combating terrorism ; that they have sufficient resources ; and that they have sufficient powers. To this end it is in the Government's view essential that the House should approve the continuation of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989. The Act contains special provisions for the proscription of Irish terrorist organisations ; for the exclusion of suspected terrorists from Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom as a whole ; for the restraint and confiscation of terrorist funds ; for the arrest and detention without charge of suspected terrorists for a maximum period of seven days on the authority of the Secretary of State ; and for the system of police controls at ports and airports throughout the United Kingdom.
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Equal Opportunities
Mr. Janner : To ask the Prime Minister how many and what percentage of officers in each grade (1-7) and overall in the Cabinet Office are (a) women and (b) from ethnic minorities, respectively.
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The Prime Minister : The number of women and ethnic minorities in each grade (1-7) and overall serving in the Cabinet Office is :
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Grade |Women |Percentage |Members of |Percentage
|ethnic minorities<1>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 |0 |0 |0 |0
2 |1 |6 |0 |0
3 |2 |11 |0 |0
4 |0 |0 |0 |0
5 |9 |18 |1 |2
6 |15 |35 |0 |0
7 |36 |21 |0 |0
-------
Overall in the Cabinet Office 839 56 51 3.5
<1>These figures are based on a voluntary questionnaire.
The Gulf
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister when Her Majesty's Government first learned of the announcement made on Baghdad radio on 25 February that Iraqi forces were withdrawing from Kuwait ; at what time an authoritative English translation of the announcement was made ; and whether he made any contact with allied partners in Operation Granby as a result of the radio statement.
The Prime Minister : The substance of the Baghdad radio broadcast, made at 2230 hours GMT on 25 February, became known to us at 2245 hours GMT. A full English translation became available to us at 2324 hours GMT. We are in constant touch with our coalition partners over many aspects of the Gulf crisis.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister what assessment was made of the applicability of Geneva convention article 23 before allied airforces in Operation Granby were given orders to bomb convoys of Iraqi military forces withdrawing from Kuwait.
The Prime Minister : Article 23 of the regulations attached to Hague convention IV of 1907 states that it is especially forbidden to kill or wound an enemy who, having laid down his arms, or having no longer means of defence, has surrendered at discretion. The coalition made it clear that it would not attack unarmed Iraqi soldiers, but that retreating formed combat units continued to pose a threat and would therefore be treated as hostile.
International Agreements
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister if he will now make it his policy for Ministers of Her Majesty's Government to answer questions from Members that seek clarification of Her Majesty's Government's interpretation of international treaties, agreements and United Nations resolutions to which the United Kingdom is a party and affect policy decisions of the Government.
The Prime Minister : It has always been our policy to answer hon. Members' questions as well as we can.
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THE ARTS
Crafts Council
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he has any plans to increase the level of Government funding to the Crafts Council.
Mr. Renton : The Government's current level of funding to the Crafts Council is £2.52 million. Under the latest settlement, this funding will increase to £2.815 million in both 1991-92 and 1992-93, and increase further in 1993-94 to £2.885 million. The figures for 1991-92 include an exceptional additional allocation of £65,000 for incentive funding to use in connection with the move to new premises.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Minister for the Arts what has been the level of funding granted to the Crafts Council in each year from 1979 onwards ; and what are the estimated grants for the Crafts Council up until 1992-93.
Mr. Renton : Details of the level of funding granted to the Crafts Council in each year from 1979 onwards are set out in the table. Under the latest settlement, the estimated grant for the Crafts Council is £2,815 million for each year of 1991-92 and 1992-93.
|£ million
------------------------------------
1979-80 |1.148
1980-81 |1.260
1981-82 |1.525
1982-83 |1.600
1983-84 |1.665
1984-85 |1.777
1985-86 |1.880
1986-87 |1.925
1987-88 |2.022
1988-89 |2.250
1989-90 |2.350
1990-91 |2.520
Welsh Arts Council
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Minister for the Arts how many separate grants and other payments have been made by the Welsh Arts Council during the last three years ; and how many grants issued were of amounts less than 5,000.
Mr. Renton : The information requested is as follows : 1989-90--409 grants and subsidies (263 less than £5,000) ;
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1988-89--440 grants and subsidies (308 less than £5,000) ; 1987-88--369 grants and subsidies (260 less than £5,000).The Gulf
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Minister for the Arts what information he has, pursuant to his oral answer of 18 February, Official Report , column 12, relating to the Kuwait museum of islamic antiquities, the museums and shrines of Najaf and Kerbaka, Babylon and Ur of the Chaldees, and the museum in Baghdad housing Sumerian antiquities.
Mr. Renton : The Office of Arts and Libraries has no responsibility for museums or religious and cultural sites in Iraq or Kuwait. My answer of 18 February referred to the removal by Iraq of the contents of the Kuwait museum of Islamic antiquities. I have no information relating to the museums and shrines of Najaf and Kerbaka, Babylon and Ur of the Chaldes and the museum in Baghdad housing Sumerian antiquities. Newspaper reports have speculated about the possibility of damage being caused to cultural and religious sites in Iraq and Kuwait, but I have no means of substantiating these reports.
Departmental Policies (Environmental Implications)
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Minister for the Arts what actions have been taken since the appointment of a Minister in his Department to consider the environmental implications of his Department's policies ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Renton [holding answer 1 March 1991] : The environmental implications of the Department's policies are my responsibility. Consideration is given to them as appropriate in consultation with arts bodies, but particularly with the institutions which my Office sponsors. Arts organisations contribute considerably to the enhancement of the environment through conservation activity, assistance towards inner city regeneration, ecological and other research programmes.
HEALTH
Incontinence Services
Mrs. Ann Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the existing project on incontinence drawing on evidence from the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys surveys started ; when he expects it to finish ; who is carrying out the project ; and how the results will be used in developing the incontinence services.
Mr. Dorrell : The project, undertaken by the social policy research unit, university of York, commenced in September 1990 and is scheduled for completion in April 1991. The purpose is to relate the OPCS data to previous United Kingdom research on incontinence and incontinence services so as to establish a starting point for measuring outcomes.
Mrs. Ann Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the meeting between the Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State on 15 January with representatives from the Spinal Injuries Association, Age Concern England and the Association of Continence
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Advisers on the incontinence services ; what were the views expressed by those organisations ; and what was his response.Mr. Dorrell : It was agreed that, across the country, there were wide variations in the level of services to people with incontinence. The Department is looking at how best to tackle this problem. In the meantime the NHS management executive has written to all district health authorities drawing their attention to existing policy guidelines on continence services, and reminding them of the need not to expose vulnerable patients or clients to anxiety as a result of any proposed changes in arrangements for the supply of incontinence pads.
Mrs. Ann Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Health who will carry out the project on the role of continence advisers due to start in April 1991 ; with whom they will consult and work ; within what financial parameter they will look at the future roles of continence advisers ; and when he expects the project to finish.
Mr. Dorrell : The project will be conducted by the social policy research unit, university of York, and is expected to take two years. The researchers aim to make contact with all existing continence advisers, a representative sample of health and social service managers, and other interested parties. The researchers are free to make whatever recommendations they think appropriate.
Elderly People
Mr. Dunn : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the population was over the age of 65 years in 1961, 1970, 1980, and 1990 ; and if he will give estimates for the years 2000, 2010, 2020 and 2030.
Mr. Dorrell : Estimated and projected percentages of the population of England and Wales aged 65 and over are as follows :
|Per cent.
------------------------------
Mid-year estimate:
1961 |11.9
1970 |13.2
1980 |15.1
<1>1989 |15.8
Projections (1989-based):
1990 |15.8
2000 |15.7
2010 |16.1
2020 |18.0
<2>2029 |20.0
<1> Latest available
estimate.
<2> Last available
projection.
Mr. Dunn : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the Government's current policy towards the elderly ; if he will comment on funding arrangements of organisations connected with the elderly ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Dorrell : The Government's policy for elderly people comprises two main aims : the first is to provide services which enable people to maintain their independence for as long as possible and, after any period of hospital care, to return to their homes or to homely settings in the community as soon as possible ; the second is to provide care and treatment appropriate to the
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individual patient--this may involve community nursing at home, domiciliary social services, acute hospital care, rehabilitation or long-stay medical or nursing care.It is for each health and local authority to determine the type and level of provision they provide in the light of local circumstances and priorities. In drawing up their community care plans we expect the statutory agencies to work together to ensure that they are compatible and comprehensive taking account of provision in the independent sector and of the individual needs and wishes of the elderly people themselves and their carers.
Under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968, the Department of Health funds a number of voluntary organisations who work with and for elderly people.
Expenditure
Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the level of health expenditure in Scotland, England and Wales for each of the last 10 years at constant prices.
Mr. Dorrell : The information requested is given in the table.
Gross NHS expenditure at 1990-91 prices
£ million
|England |Scotland|Wales
---------------------------------------------
1981-82 |18,909 |2,555 |1,177
1982-83 |19,250 |2,587 |1,212
1983-84 |19,533 |2,641 |1,230
1984-85 |19,989 |2,695 |1,266
1985-86 |20,061 |2,707 |1,281
1986-87 |20,875 |2,786 |1,332
1987-88 |21,768 |2,870 |1,399
1988-89 |22,524 |2,977 |1,459
1989-90 |22,830 |3,046 |1,486
1990-91 |23,718 |3,102 |1,554
GDP
Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the proportion of the gross domestic product in each of the countries of the European Community and Norway and Sweden which is spent on health ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Dorrell : The information required is in the table :
Total Expenditure on Health as
a proportion of GDP (1987):
EC Countries, Norway and Sweden
|Per cent.
--------------------------------
Belgium |7.2
Denmark |6.0
France |8.5
Germany |8.1
Greece |5.3
Ireland |7.4
Italy |7.2
Luxembourg |7.5
Netherlands |8.5
Norway |7.5
Portugal |6.4
Spain |6.0
Sweden |9.2
United Kingdom 6.0
The proportion of GDP spent on
health care is indicative
neither of the efficiency with
which resources are used, nor
of health outcomes.
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