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Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the annual expenditure by his Department on electoral registration per London borough for each financial year since 1987-88.
Mr. Kenneth Baker [holding answer 12 March 1991] : Financial provision for local authority expenditure on electoral registration is made as part of the revenue support grant. Decisions about the amount spent on electoral registration rest with individual authorities.
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Iraqi nationals have (a) permanent residence, (b) exceptional leave to remain, (c) student status and (d) political asylum, as of the latest available date.
Mr. Peter Lloyd [holding answer 12 March 1991] : It is estimated from the latest labour force surveys and immigration control data that, at present, some 7,000 Iraqis are usually resident in the United Kingdom, including students. In addition, some 1,300 Iraqis have been granted exceptional leave since 1983, and about 200 Iraqis have political asylum.
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the approximate cost to the Exchequer in a full tax year of introducing a quoted company individual share ownership allowance on the first (a) £1,000, (b) £2,000 and (c) £5,000 of taxable income if (i) 50 per cent., (ii) 75 per cent. and (iii) 100 per cent. of taxpayers with sufficient taxable income used such an allowance to invest in new shares in quoted companies ; and how much finance would be available to quoted companies as a result.
Mr. Maude : On the stated assumptions, estimates relating to 1990-91 are as follows :
Cost of income tax relief £ billion Percentage take-up Tax allowance £ |50 per cent. |75 per cent. |100 per cent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1,000 |3.1 |4.6 |6.2 2,000 |5.6 |8.4 |11.2 5,000 |9.9 |14.9 |19.8
Amount of investment £ billion Percentage take-up Tax allowance £ |50 per cent. |75 per cent. |100 per cent. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1,000 |11.9 |17.9 |23.8 2,000 |21.4 |32.1 |42.8 5,000 |37.3 |55.9 |74.5
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated effect on receipts of corporation tax over the next five financial years of replacing the existing capital expenditure allowance rates by rates of (a) year one 40 per cent., year two 40 per cent. and year three 20 per cent., (b) year one 33er cent., year two 33er cent. and year three 33er cent. and (c) the accounting rate of depreciation used in a company's accounts.
Mr. Maude : The effect would depend on a number of factors, including the levels of capital expenditure qualifying for allowances, which would be influenced by a change in the rates, and the extent to which companies would be able to set any increases in allowances against profits for tax purposes.
Mr. Hawkins : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what level could mortgage interest relief be raised, at no net cost, if higher rate mortgage and relief were abolished.
Mr. Maude : The mortgage interest relief limit could be raised to about £37,000 on the basis of the 1990-91 figures if relief were restricted to the basic rate. The estimate excludes behavioural effects.
Mr. Sumberg : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the annual cost of allowing taxpayers to offset contributions to an approved pension plan against higher rates of tax in the last year for which figures are available.
Mr. Maude : About £350 million at 1990-91 levels.
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the reduction in annual liability to (a) capital gains tax and (b) capital transfer tax in 1990-91 and 1991-92 as against the 1978-79 indexed regime, specifying in each case the total and average reduction per taxpayer and the number of taxpayers in each year.
Mr. Maude [holding answer 25 February 1991] : I regret the delay in replying. Latest available estimates for capital
transfer/inheritance tax for 1990-91 and for 1991-92, based on the 1990-91 regime with statutory indexation, are as follows :
|Estimate ------------------------------------------------------------------ Reduction, compared with indexed 1978-79 regime in: Total liability (£ million): 1990-91 |690 1991-92 |730 Average liability<1> (£): 1990-91 |9,600 1991-92 |10,300 Taxpayer numbers (thousands) Indexed regime: 1990-91 |72 1991-92 |70 Present regime: 1990-91 |23 1991-92 |22 <1> The reduction in the average liability is calculated using estimated numbers of taxpayers under the indexed 1978-79 regime.
These estimates are based on the estimated value of taxable estates passing on death in 1990-91 and 1991-92 under existing rules and make no allowance for any impact which the indexed 1978-79 tax rate would have on the level of taxable estates.
The methodology used to compare the indexed 1978-79 capitals gains tax regime with the current regime has been examined. A number of major modelling assumptions have to be made for this comparison since, in 1978- 79, tax was charged on nominal gains with gains accruing prior to 6 April 1965 being ignored whereas, under the current regime, the charge applies to gains after allowing for indexation and ignoring gains accruing prior to 31 March 1982. I regret that the conclusion reached is that it is not possible to provide sufficiently reliable estimates of the difference between the two regimes. Latest available estimates of taxpayer numbers for capital gains tax for the present regime, excluding gains realised by companies and included in assessments to corporation tax, are :
|Thousands ---------------------------------------- 1990-91 liabilities |110 1991-92 liabilities |95
1990-91 liabilities 110
1991-92 liabilities 95
Mr. Roy Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on staff shortages and turnover rates among ancillary, nursing, administrative, clerical, professional and technical staff in the health service.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The available information is :
Per cent. Staff group |Vacancy |Turnover |levels<1> |rates<2> ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ancillary |not known |32.7 Nursing and midwifery |2.9 |15.6 Administrative and clerical |not known |20.2 Professions allied to medicine |4.2 |21.6 <1> Vacancies of three months or more on 31 March 1990 as a percentage of funded establishments. <2> Calculated as numbers leaving health authorities year ended31 March 1990 as a percentage of staff in post at 30 September 1989. Leavers include those moving from one region to another.
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people in his Department are wholly or substantially involved in purchasing stores and distribution activities ;
(2) what is the full annual cost, including overheads, of his Department's purchasing activity.
Mr. Dorrell : The Department keeps no records of those employed on purchasing stores as opposed to services, or
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of those exclusively involved in distribution activities. Similarly, the management arrangements for the Department which involve devolved responsibilities in line with the financial management initiative means that it is not possible without incurring disproportionate costs to ascertain the costs of the Department's purchasing activity.Mr. Soley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the figures for deaths due to hypothermia while sleeping rough, for each year since 1979, in (a) Greater London and (b) England and Wales.
Mr. Dorrell : The information requested is readily available for the years 1986-90, but for the earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The table shows, for each year from 1986, the number of deaths registered with any mention of hypothermia recorded on the death certificate and where, in addition, the deceased was recorded as being of no fixed abode, or information on their usual residence was not known at time of registration.
Year Area |1986 |1987 |1988 |1989 |<1>1990 ------------------------------------------------------------------ England and Wales |10 |12 |8 |9 |6 Greater London |7 |6 |4 |3 |4 <1> Provisional.
Mr. Soley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the deaths reported in England and Wales during the cold weather period ending 15 February were of homeless people.
Mr. Dorrell : The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mrs. Heal : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that before patients are discharged to private sector residential or nursing homes the financial consequences and the right of patients to choose to remain in the care of the national health service are explained and that patients and their relatives are not unreasonably pressured to leave national health service care.
Mr. Dorrell : The booklet of good practice guidance accompanying circular HC(89)5, "Discharge of Patients from Hospital", a copy of which is available in the Library, stated that arrangements for discharge to alternative care should be made in good time and be acceptable to patients and/or their carers. Information should be given in writing before the transfer as to whether the health authority would pay the fees under a contractual arrangement. No national health service patient should be placed in a private nursing or residential care home against his or her wishes if that means that he or she or a relative will be personally responsible for the home's charges. At the same time, authorities are not expected to keep patients in hospital when there is no clinical need to do so.
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research has been carried out into the proportion
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of residents in (a) local authority homes, (b) voluntary homes, (c) private residential homes, (d) private nursing homes and (e) private homes with joint registration who have been drawn from the immediate locality of the home concerned ;(2) what research he has undertaken into the client satisfaction of residents of care homes ;
(3) what research he has undertaken into life expectancy in respect of inmates of residential care homes.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The Department has funded research projects on various aspects of the residential care and nursing home sectors over the past five years at a number of universities, notably at the personal social services research unit, University of Kent and the social policy research unit and centre for health economic, University of York. A project by the Policy Studies Institute, funded by the Department, on "Services for Elderly People--Choice, Participation and Satisfaction" is due for completion this summer. We are not aware of research bearing directly on life expectancy of residents in homes or on the proportion of residents drawn from the immediate locality.
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has as to the number of different codes of practice published by organisations or associations of care home managers or owners recognised by his Department.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The Department has endorsed the working party report, "Home Life", published in 1984, a copy of which is available in the Library.
Information about codes of practice published by the various care home associations is not collected routinely by the Department.
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is given by his Department as to the maximum number of residents who are relatives of a private care or nursing home owner or staff member and in receipt of board, accommodation and personal care, who are permitted to reside in the home concerned in the part of the building which is registered over and above the number of beds for which the home is registered.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : None. Part I of the Registered Homes Act 1984 requires that adequate accommodation is provided for the residents of residential care homes. If relatives of the proprietor or staff of a home are accommodated, the accommodation available for use by other residents must continue to meet their needs. Part II of the Registered Homes Act requires that sufficient and suitable accommodation and services are provided to any patient in a nursing home.
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by each registration authority the number of registered homes in the following categories (a) local authority homes, (b) voluntary homes, (c) private residential homes, (d) private nursing homes and (e) private homes with joint registration ; and how many of these homes were purpose built.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Information about the number of residential care homes by registration authority is contained in table 1 of "Residential Accommodation for
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Elderly People and Younger Physically Handicapped People : All Residents in Local Authority, Voluntary and Private Homes Year Ending 31 March 1989 England" and, "Residential Accommodation for Mentally Ill and Mentally Handicapped People : Number of Local Authority, Voluntary and Private Homes and Places at 31 March 1989 England". Copies are in the Library.Information about the number of private nursing homes and dual registered homes by registration authority is contained in, "Private Hospitals, Homes and Clinics Registered Under Section 23 of the Registered Homes Act 1984, Annual Summary Booklet 1988/89", which is also in the Library.
Information about the number of homes that are purpose built is not collected centrally.
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list which organisations or associations of care home managers or owners are recognised by his Department.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The Department does not accord a preferential status or recognition to any particular care home organisations or associations.
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is given to registration authorities with regard to the provision of written details of terms and conditions of care provision to residents in care and nursing homes.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : "Home Life--a code of practice for residential care", which has been endorsed by the Department and commended to registration authorities, a copy of which is available in the Library, recommends that residents should be given a written statement of the terms on which accommodation is being offered before their admission to a residential care home.
We expect further guidance to be developed as part of the Department's caring in homes initiative.
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he gives to registration authorities with regard to the obligations of old and new owners of private care of nursing homes on their sale or transfer.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The Residential Care Home Regulations 1984 require a person registered in respect of a residential care home to notify the next of kin of any intention to terminate the arrangements for the accommodation of a resident. The code of practice "Home Life", a copy of which is available in the Library, also recommends that residents are directly advised of any change of owner. New owners must seek registration under the Registered Homes Act 1984.
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is given to registration authorities with regard to the contents of complaints procedures within private or voluntary residential or nursing homes.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The Residential Care Home Regulations 1984 require registered persons to advise residents of residential care homes in writing of their internal complaints procedures and also of the name and address of the registration authority to whom complaints may be directed. They must also ensure that complaints are fully investigated. The code of practice, "Home Life", a copy of which is available in the Library, suggests that
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complaints may cover any subject and that their handling should be recorded. The National Association of Health Authorities and Trusts handbook on registration and inspection of nursing homes gives specific advice about handling complaints.Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy with regard to the World Health Organisation/UNICEF code of marketing of breast-milk substitutes (WHA 34.22).
Mr. Dorrell : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Carlisle (Mr. Martlew) on 4 March, at column 24 .
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by national health service region (a) for 1980 and (b) for the most recent year, the hospitals in England which had consultant obstetric or general practitioner maternity beds giving the numbers of beds of each type in each hospital.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley [holding answer 22 February 1991] : The information requested has been placed in the Library. Due to changes in the type of information collected, the data for the years concerned are not strictly comparable. The data for 1980 identify the beds available in the type of unit concerned. Since 1987, the bed type has been classified according to clinical responsibility--by consultant, general practitioner or for joint use. In addition, many of the individual sites were not open during one or other of the years in question. While there has been an overall reduction in the number of beds over the period, this has been accompanied by a significant reduction in the average length of stay of approximately 30 per cent.
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total sum expended by the EC on export refunds for food and wine from free market and intervention stocks in respect of the export of food and wine to (a) central and east Europe and the Soviet Union and (b) the rest of the world, in the most recent annual period for which figures are available ; and if he will include the payments in respect of food aid within these totals.
Mr. Curry : It is not possible to provide figures showing EC expenditure on export refunds broken down by destination. The table gives the total expenditure on export refunds and the amount within that attributable to food aid for 1990.
Export refunds 1990 by commodity (£ million) Commodity |Total export|Export |refunds |refunds for |food aid ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Cereals |1,742.2 |39.3 Rice |26.7 |6.4 Sugar |647.2 |2.0 Olive oil |95.0 |1.0 Oilseeds |0.7 |- Fresh fruit and vegetables |46.7 |- Processed fruit and vegetables |9.5 |- Wine |38.1 |- Tobacco |43.1 |- Milk and milk products |1,356.6 |11.0 Beef |773.6 |- Pigmeat |121.3 |- Eggs and poultry |124.4 |- Processed goods |356.5 |- |---- |---- Total |5,381.4 |59.6
Mr. Ralph Howell : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total value of exports of (a) cereals and (b) other agricultural products in each year since 1979 in actual and constant prices ; and what is the percentage increase in each case in constant prices, showing 1979 as 100.
Mr. Curry : The readily available information is given in the table in which the volume indices (1985=100) indicate movements at constant prices.
United Kingdom Exports Cereals<1> Cereals and cereal Total SITC preparations Section 0<2> |Value |Value |Volume |Value |Volume |index |index |£ million|£ million|1985=100 |£ million|1985=100 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1979 |96.8 |264.4 |43.8 |1,745.2 |67.9 1980 |274.1 |455.7 |69.4 |2,050.8 |76.0 1981 |475.6 |697.8 |102.3 |2,338.5 |82.3 1982 |531.4 |773.9 |105.1 |2,508.3 |83.3 1983 |465.7 |740.9 |89.9 |2,754.6 |89.9 1984 |711.0 |992.7 |116.8 |3,114.8 |97.9 1985 |539.3 |833.0 |100.0 |3,252.4 |100.0 1986 |881.6 |1,177.5 |145.6 |3,745.8 |114.3 1987 |524.2 |831.2 |114.3 |3,730.3 |118.7 1988 |352.0 |674.8 |103.6 |3,458.2 |116.3 1989 |579.1 |951.6 |134.7 |4,228.8 |132.0 1990 |616.5 |1,045.5 |140.6 |4,324.6 |129.6 <1>Excluding rice. <2>Defined on page xvii of the December 1990 Business Monitor MM20 of Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom as food and live animals'. It includes cereals and cereals preparations. Source: Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and CSO.
Mr. Ralph Howell : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average price of common wheat received by the producer in the United Kingdom, Germany and France (a) in national currency and (b) converted to £ sterling at the market rates prevailing on the latest date for which this information is available.
Mr. Curry : The national averages of market prices provided by the Commission of the European Communities for the week ending Saturday 23 February 1991, converted to pound sterling using spot rate values for 22 February, are set out in the table.
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Breadmaking wheat Feed wheat |National |£ per tonne|National |£ per tonne |currency per |currency per |tonne |tonne ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- United Kingdom (£) |137 |137 |126 |126 Germany (DM) |391 |134 |381 |130 France (FF) |1,276 |128 |n./a. |n./a.
Mr. Ralph Howell : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average on-farm selling price of wheat in the United Kingdom for each of the years from 1979 to 1990 in actual and real terms, and also at constant prices, showing the 1979 price as 100.
Mr. Curry : Average prices received by cereal producers are shown in the following table together with the all-items retail prices index. Average prices in real terms have been derived by dividing the average prices by the RPI and re-expressing with 1979 = 100. It is not meaningful to refer to prices "at constant prices".
Calendar year |Average price |Retail Price |Average |(£ per tonne)|Index |prices in real |(1985=100) |terms |(1979=100) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1979 |95.9 |59.9 |100.0 1980 |99.3 |70.7 |87.7 1981 |108.9 |79.1 |86.0 1982 |113.7 |85.9 |82.7 1983 |124.8 |89.8 |86.8 1984 |114.6 |94.3 |75.9 1985 |112.2 |100.0 |70.1 <1>1986 |111.1 |103.4 |67.1 1987 |112.1 |107.7 |65.0 1988 |105.1 |113.0 |58.1 1989 |104.7 |121.8 |53.7 <2>1990 |109.5 |133.3 |51.3 <1> From 1986, the prices quoted are net of co-responsibility levy. <2> Forecast.
Mr. Ralph Howell : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many differing green currency rates are operated throughout the European Economic Community.
Mr. Curry : There are currently 33 green rates in force in the European Community.
Mr. Ralph Howell : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average price paid to producers for (a) wheat, (b) beef, (c) milk, (d) eggs and (e) pork in 1960, 1979, 1980 and 1990, respectively, in actual prices, at constant 1960 prices and at constant 1990 prices.
Mr. Curry : Average prices received by producers are given in the table. The prices quoted for 1960 have been derived from various sources and are not necessarily consistent with those provided for later years. These are inclusive of subsidies and exclusive of corresponding levies as shown in tables within section 5 of "Agriculture in the United Kingdom 1990". It is not meaningful to refer to prices "at constant prices" but prices "in real terms" may be derived by dividing actual prices by a general index of prices. The all-items retail prices index is provided for the specified years.
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|1960 |1979 |1980 |1990 |(forecast) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wheat |21.00 |95.90 |99.30 |109.50 (£ per tonne) Beef |32.00 |130.00 |137.00 |180.00 (p per kg dcw.) Milk |3.07 |11.55 |12.77 |19.23 (p per litre) Eggs |18.30 |38.90 |44.20 |58.00 (p per dozen) Pigmeat |25.00 |78.00 |84.00 |108.00 (p per kg dcw.) Retail Price Index |13.20 |59.90 |70.70 |133.30 (1985=100)
Mr. Ralph Howell : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will show the average price to the consumer of (a) a pint of milk, (b) a 2 lb loaf of bread and (c) a pint of beer in 1960, 1970, 1980 and 1990 ; and if he will also show the percentage increase between 1980 and 1990 in each case.
Mr. Curry : The table gives the available information.
Description |Price ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |(pence per pint) a. Retail price of milk 1960-90 1960 milk |<1>3.3 1970 milk, ordinary |<2>4.7 1980 milk, ordinary |<2>16.5 1990 milk, pasteurised |<2>30.5 Percentage change 1980 to 1990<3> |+86 |(pence per loaf) b. Retail price of bread (unsliced) 1960-90 1960 white wheat bread 13/4 lb |<1>4.8 1970 white unwrapped loaf 13/4 lb |<2>8.8 1980 white unwrapped loaf 800 g |<2>36.6 1990 white unwrapped loaf 800 g |<2>65.2 Percentage change 1980 to 1990<3> |+70 |(pence per pint) c. Retail price of beer 1960-90 1960 beer, bottled |<1>9.3 1970 beer, bottled |<2>14.4 1980 beer, bottled and canned |<2>55.1 1990 (i) draught bitter |<2>108.7 (ii) draught lager |<2>121.6 Percentage change 1980 to 1990<3> |+132 <1> Price based on mid October. <2> Price based on annual average. <3> The percentage change between 1980 and 1990 is based on the index for each item, rather than the average price. This takes into account the fact that the specification of the item may have changed over the period. Source: Retail prices index.
Mr. Bellingham : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the guarantee price for the 1991 wool clip.
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Mr. Gummer : Together with the Secretaries of State for Scotland, for Wales, and for Northern Ireland, I have reviewed the state of the wool market and the prospects for the 1991 clip. 1990-91 has been a very difficult year for the wool industry. Market conditions have continued to deteriorate and worldwide stocks of wool have built up to record levels. At home wool sales have been depressed by a slowdown in the property market with a consequent reduction in the demand for the furnishings and carpets which normally absorb quantities of British wool. Other factors, including the continued absence of China, a major buyer, and the decisions of Australia and New Zealand to abandon market price support for the present have further contributed to the depressed market situation worldwide. Currently the average market prices being achieved in the United Kingdom are well below the 1990 clip guaranteed price of 125p/kg. For 1991 the prospects remain uncertain.Ministers have also had to take account of the Government's announced intention to end the wool guarantee and of the need for the industry to prepare for a smooth transition to market prices. In the light of this review, and taking account of current market conditions, it has been decided to set the guarantee at 120p/kg for the 1991 clip year--a reduction of 5p/kg on the 1990 guaranteed price. This constitutes a further step towards actual market prices and towards the ending of the guarantee.
Mr. McFall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what economic assistance Dumbarton constituency has received since 1985 ; and if he will list the amounts and types of grant involved.
Mr. Allan Stewart : The information is shown in the table :
|£'000s ------------------------------------------------- Regional selective assistance |843.3 Regional enterprise grants<1> |84.8 Regional development grants<2> |4,959.4 Scottish Development Agency |3,092.0 Scottish Tourist Board |1,362.6 <1>Regional enterprise grants were introduced on 1 April 1988. <2>Regional development grants were closed to new applications on 31 March 1988.
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in the implementation of the RENAVAL community programme in Strathclyde.
Mr. Allan Stewart : A programme of measures under the RENAVAL community programme was submitted, on behalf of Strathclyde, to the European Commission on 18 December 1990. The Commission's decision is still awaited.
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of homicide remain unsolved in the period 1970 to the latest date for which figures are recorded ; how
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many of these remain open ; and what guidance his officials give to police forces on the advisability of continuing with investigations of unsolved homicides.Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 14 March 1991] : Twenty-four cases initially classified as homicide remain unsolved from the period 1978 to 1989. Comparable figures for years before 1978 are not available. The initial classification of homicide may subsequently be altered, for example as a result of decisions on charges taken in the course of judicial proceedings or if death proves to have been the result of an accident.
The investigation of any crime is an operational matter for the chief constable, in consultation with the procurator fiscal, who has the right to direct the police in this regard. Unsolved homicides always remain open and the police are always ready to investigate further any case which has not been cleared up.
Mr. Atkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been loaned to the Soviet Union by British banks for each year since 1985 ; and if he will give details of each loan.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Details of individual loans are not available, but total outstanding claims against the Soviet Union of UK-registered banks are given in table 15 of the Bank of England's quarterly report, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.
Mr. Alan W. Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's relations with Burma.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We welcomed the free elections in Burma in May 1990 and deplore the continuing failure of the Burmese military authorities to respond to the people's clearly expressed will. We have repeatedly called on the Burmese authorities to release political detainees and to end violations of human rights. We shall continue to take every opportunity to make our views known to the Burmese authorities, along with fellow EC members and other like minded states.
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the companies employed on behalf of his Department to give advice, or to undertake other work on public relations and similar matters, during the Gulf crisis ; if he will indicate the amount of money spent on remuneration for the companies involved ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs gave to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) on 28 January, at column 377.
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Mr. Atkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Madrid.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : An extraordinary meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe was held in Madrid on 21 February. The United Kingdom was represented by my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. A copy of the conclusions of the Chair are being placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Atkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the decision to postpone a recent meeting of Cocom.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The most recent meeting of COCOM was held on 27 to 28 February at executive committee level. This was originally planned to be a high level meeting, but since some outstanding technical issues in the exercise to reform the COCOM controls remained, the high level meeting was postponed until the new "core list" of controls is ready for implementation.
The executive committee meeting made much progress towards solving the problems. Work continues in order to resolve the remaining issues rapidly.
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