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West Midlands Residuary Body
Mr. Gill : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the West Midlands residuary body will be dissolved ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Key : The West Midlands residuary body will formally be dissolved on 31 March 1991 by an order made under section 67 of the Local Government Act 1985. The order transfers the remainder of the residuary body's property, functions, rights and liabilities to successor authorities. The residuary body's final report and accounts will be laid before Parliament in due course.
On abolition the residuary body inherited some 5,000 former county council property interests. Surplus properties of substantial value have been identified and successfully disposed of on the market while those needed for continuing functions have been transferred to the district councils. The residuary body has been able to distribute some £110 million to successors from property sales and revenue balances for the benefit of the local charge payers. It is a credit to all concerned that the residuary body's tasks have been successfully completed within the statutory timescale. I would like to pay tribute to the chairman, Sir Tom McDonald, his predecessor, Dr. Malcolm Skillcorn, the board members and the staff for their contribution to this achievement.
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All six metropolitan residuary bodies have now completed their work. This effectively draws to a close a chapter of local government reorganisation.Business Rates
Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to modify the transitional arrangements for non-domestic rates.
Mr. Key : We have today issued a consultation paper on proposals which would mean that private sector companies winning contracts to carry out defined activities would, when the previous occupier of the premises was the local authority, be eligible for transitional relief under the new non-domestic rating system.
These proposals are intended to restore competitiveness for private sector companies bidding for local authority contracts under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988.
Under the present rules, transitional relief is generally lost when there is a change of occupier of a building. This means that private sector firms tendering to take over work previously done by a local authority would have to include the higher costs of the full rates bill in their bid. The new rules would put them on an equal footing. It would not be necessary for an authority's direct services organisation to participate in the tendering process for a firm to qualify for relief, but relief would cease if there were any further change of occupation.
We would propose to introduce the necessary regulations as soon as possible after consultation. I have placed a copy of the consultation paper in the Library.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales is carrying out a similar exercise and a copy of his consultation paper has also been placed in the Library.
EMPLOYMENT
Labour Statistics
Mr. Ralph Howell : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of (a) unskilled, (b) semi-skilled and (c) skilled persons (i) in the entire work force and (ii) classified as unemployed in Britain ; and what information he has on conparable figures in other Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development countries, showing in each case the actual figure and percentage of the total work force.
Mr. Jackson : The Great Britain labour force survey provides estimates of people in skilled occupations. Preliminary results from the 1990 labour force survey are shown in the following table :
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Economically active and unemployed by social class
Great Britain, Spring 1990
Economically active
|Thousands|Per cent.|Thousands|Per cent.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All persons<1> |28,037 |100 |1,869 |100
Professional and Intermediate Occupations |8,283 |30 |187 |10
Skilled Occupations |13,117 |47 |604 |32
Partly skilled Occupations |4,315 |15 |300 |16
Unskilled Occupations |1,373 |5 |133 |7
<1>Includes some who did not adequately describe their occupation or who were not asked.
<2>Includes those in employment and the unemployed.
<3>The social class of the unemployed is based on their previous occupation, except for
those who left their last job more than three years ago, or who have never had a job, who
are not asked about their previous occupation.
Source: 1990 Labour Force Survey, preliminary results.
This does not exactly equate to skilled persons. For instance, skilled people working in unskilled occupations will be classified as unskilled. No reliable comparable figures are available for other OECD countries.
Departmental Staff
Mr. Ralph Howell : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff are employed in all aspects of paying unemployment benefit and dealing with tribunals and fraud ; and how many separate premises they occupy.
Mr. Jackson : Questions on operational matters in the Employment Service executive agency are the responsibility of Mike Fogden, the agency's chief executive, to whom I have referred this question for reply.
Mr. Ralph Howell : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff are employed in (a) unemployment benefit offices, (b) job centres, (c) the Training Agency and (d) the remainder of his Department ; and how many separate buildings are occupied for each.
Mr. Jackson : I regret that the information is not readily available in the form requested. As at 1 January 1991 there were 26, 040 people employed in the Employment Service local office network which comprises unemployment benefit offices and jobcentres. There were 990 staff employed in the training, enterprise and education directorate, formerly the Training Agency headquarters, and 8,266 in the ED headquarters regions, formerly the Training Agency regions. There were 14,909 staff employed in the remainder of the ED group. There are 676 buildings occupied by unemployment benefit offices, 680 by jobcentres and 300 by integrated offices. There are 107 buildings occupied by TEED and ED headquarters regional offices. The remainder of the ED group occupies 282 buildings.
Employment Training, Bradford
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to enable Bradford and District training and enterprise council to assist the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders employment training centre in Bradford to continue ; how many trainees are currently receiving training at NACRO in Bradford ; what training is available ; what alternative training will be offered to NACRO trainees if the Bradford centre closes ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jackson : The responsibility for identifying and meeting local training and enterprise needs in Bradford rests with Bradford and District training and enterprise council. It is for Bradford TEC to use its resources to decide which organisations it contracts with to ensure that these needs are met, and I cannot intervene in their contracting decisions.
NACRO in Bradford provides employment training in clerical, secretarial and elementary occupations, and also initial training via a subcontractor. As at 1 March 1991, 79 ET trainees were in training.
Bradford and District TEC has offered NACRO three contract closure options. NACRO has expressed a
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preference for a residual contract to 30 June 1991 at new funding rates and are currently giving this further consideration. This would enable most trainees to complete their ET with NACRO.There are many other local training providers offering similar training to that provided by NACRO. Bradford and District TEC will seek to minimise any disruption caused to those trainees who are required to transfer to another training provider to complete their training.
Youth Training Scheme
Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the report by the Robens Institute at Surrey university into accidents in the youth training scheme ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jackson : I have placed a copy of the report in the Library of the House.
We have recently been given further attention to the needs of trainees in the new training environment created by the advent of training and enterprise councils, and other initiatives such as the introduction of employment training, youth training and training credits.
Our policy for the health and safety of trainees has been in place for a number of years, as the youth opportunities programme and youth training schemes followed by ET and YT, have evolved. The foundations of this policy are that the primary legal and moral responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of trainees rests with those who are providing the training, whether in a college or in the workplace. To this end we have provided in the Health and Safety (Training for Employment) Regulations 1990 for unemployed trainees in training with an employer to have the same legal protection under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act as they would if they were employees. The Government will use their best endeavours to ensure that those responsible for arranging and delivering training understand their obligations and are given appropriate help and support in carrying them out.
It is our aim to promote quality training programmes which enjoy the full confidence of the public. This includes firm policies for accident prevention and occupational health protection. As part of the training objective we aim to provide each trainee with health and safety skills and knowledge which they can carry forward into their working life.
Through their contracts with my Department TECs are contractually bound to have satisfactory systems to ensure their providers and their sub- contractors have adequate health and safety arrangements. My Department, through its regional offices, appraises TEC proposals in these respects and monitors performance when contracts are signed. To enhance the ability of the regional offices to perform this task their professional resources-- regional safety advisers--are being strengthened overall.
We are also embarking on a range of other new measures. The existing publications and training materials provided by the Department are being reviewed, evaluated and then revised to provide relevant and up-to-date support and guidance to trainers and trainees alike. Gaps in existing provision will be identified and new products developed.
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For TECs we will be examining a targeted approach to their health and safety activities. Our aim is to establish standards to which they can work and by which their performance can be measured. With the Health and Safety Executive we will be looking at the consequences of coming European Community legislation for health and safety training and the health and safety content of national vocational qualifications.Finally, taking into account the recommendations of the Robens Institute report a working group including representative of TECs is looking at the need of accident data collection in relation to employment training and youth training in the TEC era.
Altogether this represents a very considerable commitment of public resources to the health and safety of trainees.
Regional Offices (Expenditure)
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide a table of expenditure showing the cost of running each regional office of his Department and the cost of running sub-regional offices aggregated by region and with London shown separately, for 1989-90 and excluding the funding programmes operated by the offices.
Mr. Jackson [holding answer 25 March 1991] : The information is as follows :
Financial year 1989-90
Outturn
Region |Regional|Area |Total
|office |office
|£'000s |£'000s |£'000s
--------------------------------------------------
South East |2,985 |9,548 |12,534
London |4,586 |9,558 |14,144
South West |1,816 |5,919 |7,735
West Midlands |3,450 |7,624 |11,074
East Midlands |2,251 |7,680 |9,931
Yorkshire and Humberside6,7599 9,719
North West |2,866 |11,671 |14,537
Northern |2,322 |5,859 |8,181
Wales |1,975 |5,306 |7,282
Scotland |3,876 |8,469 |12,345
|------- |------- |-------
Total |29,087 |78,393 |107,480
Note: All figures are £'000s and show the cost of
former Training Agency offices.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Overseas Electors Scheme
Mr. Lewis : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total cost, broken down into all expenditure heads, of the implementation of the overseas electors scheme.
Mrs. Rumbold : The main extra costs involved in implementing the provisions of the Representation of the People Act 1989 are set out in the table. The staffing costs were absorbed within existing provision and are not separately identifiable.
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|£
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advertising campaign (Home Office) |480,000
Leaflets and posters (including distribution costs) |63,000
Application forms |40,000
Advertising campaign (Foreign and
Commonwealth Office) |250,000
Administration costs (Foreign and Commonwealth
Office) |100,000
Costs to local authorities (1990-91) |<1>86,000
|-------
Total |1,019,000
<1> Estimate.
Volunteer Centre UK
Mr. Harris : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the Volunteer Centre UK to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.
Mr. John Patten : I am glad to lend my support to such an exhibition, which will encourage attention to the value of volunteering and to the contribution which the Volunteer Centre UK makes in promoting it. I understand that the exhibition will take place from 24 to 28 June and I look forward to visiting it.
Legislation
Mr. McNamara : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the differences between the legislation in force in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) England and Wales with respect to (i) the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989, (ii) the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and (iii) codes of practice made under these Acts, and similar legislation applying to Northern Ireland.
Mr. Kenneth Baker : The Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 extends to the whole of the United Kingdom with the exception of the provisions listed in section 28(2) of the Act. The differences between the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 were set out in the explanatory document to the 1989 order, a copy of which was sent to the hon. Member in July 1988. The main difference between the four codes of practice issued under article 65 of the 1989 order and the four codes issued under section 66 of the 1984 Act which came into force in England and Wales on 1 January 1986 is that the Northern Ireland codes of practice do not apply to the exercise of powers conferred by or under the Prevention of Terrorism Act or to arrest or detention under that Act. In addition, the Northern Ireland code C for the detention, treatment and questioning of persons by police officers reflects the provisions of the Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1988 which has no equivalent in England and Wales.
Business Corruption
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the statutory provisions that relate to the offer of corrupt inducements to employees.
Mr. John Patten : In England and Wales the principal legislative provisions relating to the bribery of employees
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are the Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act 1889 and the Prevention of Corruption Acts 1906 and 1916. Bribery of a public official is also an offence at common law.Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to seek to amend the law relating to business corruption.
Police Complaints Authority
Mr. John Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any new appointments have been made to the Police Complaints Authority.
Mr. Kenneth Baker : Miss Beryl Wallis, who retired from a senior post in IBM United Kingdom Ltd. in February 1991, has accepted my invitation to serve as a member of the Police Complaints Authority. She will take up her post on 29 April 1991.
Brigadier Anthony Vivian, who was until 4 March 1990 colonel of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, has accepted my invitation to serve as a member of the Police Complaints Authority. He will take up his post on 2 April 1991.
Forensic Science Agency
Sir Gerrard Neale : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made towards establishing the forensic science service as an executive agency ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Kenneth Baker : I am pleased to announce that the Forensic Science Service will be established on 1 April 1991 as an executive agency of the Home Office. The FSS plays a vital role in the administration of justice principally by providing scientific support in the investigation of crime and expert evidence to the courts. From 1 April the FSS will recover its full costs through charging its customers direct for the services it provides. In preparation for this the FSS last year made substantial changes in its organisation and style of operation. Agency status will give the FSS the managerial and financial freedom it needs to continue improving its efficiency and effectiveness thereby giving its customers better value for money. It will also enable the FSS to maintain its high standards of scientific work and quality. I have set the agency challenging performance targets including recovery of full costs, a unit cost of £579.50 and a unit cost productivity gain of 1.75 per cent. in 1991-92.
I have appointed Dr. Janet Thompson, the director general of the FSS, as its first chief executive. Details of the
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principles by which the FSS will operate are set out in the framework document, copies of which will be placed in the Library.Passport Department
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made towards establishing the passport department as an executive agency ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Kenneth Baker : I am pleased to announce that the passport department of the Home Office will be established as an executive agency on 2 April. The full title of the agency will be the United Kingdom Passport Agency. I shall be placing a copy of the agency's framework document in the Library.
The main aim of the passport agency will be to provide passport services to British nationals promptly and economically. The agency will be starting from a sound base in fulfilling this aim. I am confident that the enhanced freedoms and responsibilities which the framework document grants to it will enable it to deliver further improvements in its service to customers while providing better value for money.
The key targets which I have set the agency for its first year of operation are :
(i) to reduce the time taken to process properly completed, straightforward applications to a maximum of 20 working days in the period of peak demand from January to July and to a maximum of 10 working days at other times.
(ii) to reduce unit costs by at least 2.3 per cent. in real terms. The chief executive will be directly accountable to me for the performance of the passport agency. An advisory board including two private sector members with experience of delivering services to the public will help me to assess the agency's performance.
Immigration
Mr. Darling : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum, by nationality, were made (a) on entry and (b) after entry to the United Kingdom in each month since June 1989.
Mr. Peter Lloyd [holding answer 25 March 1991] : The readily available information is given in the following table. Some of the figures for 1990 will understate because of delays in recording. Reliable figures for the fourth quarter of 1990 are not yet available.
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Applications <1><2> received for asylum in the United Kingdom, by location<3> of application and nationality: 1989-90
1989 1990
Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3
|Made on|Made |Made on|Made |Made on|Made |Made on|Made |Made on|Made
|Entry |after |entry |after |entry |after |entry |after |entry |after
|entry |entry |entry |entry |entry
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Europe
Czechoslovakia |5 |30 |* |5 |- |* |- |- |- |-
Hungary |- |5 |* |* |- |* |- |* |- |-
Poland |- |15 |* |10 |- |5 |- |5 |- |*
Romania |- |* |- |5 |- |5 |- |20 |* |75
Turkey |10 |125 |20 |105 |10 |125 |40 |170 |170 |80
Yugoslavia |5 |5 |- |* |* |* |* |5 |* |*
Others |* |25 |5 |15 |5 |20 |5 |30 |5 |60
Total |25 |210 |30 |145 |20 |155 |45 |230 |180 |220
Americas
Chile |* |5 |- |5 |- |* |- |- |- |-
Colombia |15 |10 |10 |15 |10 |10 |25 |25 |15 |15
Others |- |5 |- |5 |5 |10 |5 |10 |5 |10
Total |20 |20 |10 |25 |15 |20 |30 |35 |15 |20
Africa
Angola |25 |65 |20 |70 |65 |75 |95 |135 |65 |100
Ethiopia |100 |125 |140 |105 |75 |120 |225 |160 |490 |460
Ghana |5 |85 |20 |120 |30 |190 |25 |140 |20 |385
Libya |- |5 |- |5 |- |* |* |5 |- |5
Seychelles |* |10 |5 |10 |* |10 |- |5 |* |*
Somalia |795 |205 |815 |110 |400 |75 |315 |195 |600 |505
South Africa |* |5 |5 |* |* |10 |* |5 |* |*
Sudan |5 |45 |* |60 |- |60 |- |40 |- |40
Uganda |295 |195 |330 |215 |250 |210 |320 |230 |410 |540
Zaire |5 |190 |50 |275 |5 |420 |40 |400 |80 |1,140
Others |* |35 |5 |25 |25 |60 |25 |35 |35 |35
Total |1,230 |960 |1,390 |990 |855 |1,235 |1,045 |1,350 |1,700 |3,215
Middle East
Iran |35 |90 |50 |70 |65 |45 |40 |50 |60 |75
Iraq |65 |55 |75 |25 |135 |25 |145 |55 |395 |135
Lebanon |20 |35 |65 |35 |60 |40 |45 |15 |165 |115
Syria |- |5 |- |- |- |* |5 |- |* |*
Others |* |5 |- |20 |* |10 |5 |5 |* |15
Total |120 |195 |190 |160 |260 |120 |240 |120 |625 |340
Asia
Afghanistan |25 |5 |20 |5 |20 |5 |35 |20 |45 |30
Bangladesh |* |- |- |* |* |5 |5 |10 |* |5
India |* |175 |* |245 |5 |335 |- |330 |5 |410
Pakistan |- |70 |* |135 |10 |185 |5 |165 |15 |415
Sri Lanka |270 |275 |760 |285 |560 |220 |510 |200 |540 |305
Others |5 |45 |5 |35 |10 |30 |- |20 |- |55
Total |300 |565 |785 |710 |600 |780 |555 |740 |605 |1,225
Other and unknown nationality |25 |40 |65 |25 |50 |25 |65 |20 |75 |25
Grand Total |1,715 |1,985 |2,470 |2,050 |1,800 |2,340 |1,980 |2,495 |3,200 |5,040
<1>Provisional and estimated figures: some of those for 1990 will understate because of delays in recording. Figures
rounded to nearest 5, with *'=less than 3.
<2>Including dependants applying with the principal applicant, and those, to date, arriving subsequently but before
the principal application was decided. Figures are tabulated by the date and location of the principal application.
<3>Excluding applications made from overseas.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a table showing how many cattle in the past three years have been certified as suffering from BSE ; of these how many were (a) cows of generally recognised milk breeds and (b) cows of generally recognised beef breeds ; how many of the cows in each case were (i) under three years old, (ii) between three and six years old, (iii) between six and nine years old and (iv) over nine years ; and how many cattle so certified were (1) maiden heifers of milk breeds, (2) maiden heifers of beef breeds, (3) bulls (A) under and (B) over three years, (4) steers and (5) calves.
Mr. Maclean : From when the disease was first identified in November 1986 up to and including 18 March 1991 the total number of confirmed cases of BSE in the United Kingdom was 25,826. Out of these, 24 were in cattle whose dams were themselves affected and 23 of these were born before the introduction, in July 1988, of the ban on the feeding of ruminant protein to ruminants, and were
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exposed to a source of food-borne infection. The single remaining case was born in November 1988, after the imposition of the feed ban. This one animal should not have been fed on ruminant- derived protein and its feeding regime, and other possible sources of infection, are being investigated. The possibility of maternal transmission is one that will have to be examined.In a MAFF research project studying under controlled conditions 316 calves of cows affected with BSE, no animal has yet succumbed to BSE, even though 262 of them are older than the single case already mentioned. Even if this were a case of maternal transmission, it would have no significance for public health. The measures taken to deal with BSE (the slaughter and destruction of suspect animals, and a ban on the use for human or animal consumption of those tissues that might harbour the agent in pre-clinical cases) apply in all cases, regardless of how infection might have been acquired. The only significance for animal health might be that if maternal transmission were found to occur in some cases, eradication of BSE might take rather longer than would otherwise be the case. This was a point addressed by Dr. David Tyrell in his
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advice to the Government. He concluded that no Government action was necessary to control the use for breeding of the offspring of cattle affected by BSE.The rest of the information requested is as follows (excluding unattributable cases) :
|Dairy mixed|Beef herds
|herds
-----------------------------------------------------------
Calves |0 |0
Maiden heifers |0 |0
Under 3 years
Cows |101 |11
Bulls |0 |1
3 to 5 years inclusive
Cows |17,542 |1,050
Bulls |32 |14
Steers |1 |0
6 to 9 years inclusive
Cows |4,440 |334
Bulls |11 |3
10 years and over
Cows |46 |13
Bulls |0 |0
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Cereals
Mr. Ralph Howell : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what quantity of (a) wheat and (b) all cereals produced in (i) the United Kingdom, (ii) the EEC, (iii) north America, and (iv) the rest of the world has been used in each year since 1979 (1) for human consumption, (2) for animal feed, (3) for other processes, and (4) destroyed ; and if he will give these figures as a percentage of world production in each case.
Mr. Curry : The information, where readily available, is shown in the tables, the coverage of which varies according to sources. No information is available on the destruction of grain, but data on losses are shown where recorded. Information on the rest of the world as a whole is not readily available in the form requested.
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United Kingdom usage of:
million tonnes
Wheat All cereals (excluding rice)
|Human |Animal feed|<1>Other |Losses |Human |Animal feed|<1>Other |Losses
|consumption |processes |consumption |processes
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979-80 |5.1 (1.2) |3.9 (0.9) |0.3 (0.0) |0.1 (0.0) |6.4 (0.5) |11.6 (1.0) |3.5 (0.3) |0.3 (0.0)
1980-81 |5.0 (1.1) |3.6 (0.8) |0.3 (0.0) |0.1 (0.0) |6.2 (0.5) |10.7 (0.9) |3.1 (0.3) |0.3 (0.0)
1981-82 |4.8 (1.0) |3.4 (0.7) |0.3 (0.0) |0.2 (0.0) |6.2 (0.5) |9.6 (0.8) |3.0 (0.2) |0.3 (0.0)
1982-83 |4.9 (1.0) |3.9 (0.8) |0.3 (0.0) |0.2 (0.0) |6.3 (0.5) |10.2 (0.8) |3.0 (0.2) |0.4 (0.0)
1983-84 |5.0 (1.0) |4.0 (0.8) |0.3 (0.0) |0.2 (0.0) |6.3 (0.5) |10.2 (0.9) |3.1 (0.3) |0.4 (0.0)
1984-85 |4.8 (0.9) |4.9 (0.9) |0.5 (0.1) |0.2 (0.0) |6.0 (0.4) |10.0 (0.7) |2.8 (0.2) |0.5 (0.0)
1985-86 |4.9 (1.0) |5.5 (1.1) |0.6 (0.1) |0.2 (0.0) |6.1 (0.4) |10.3 (0.7) |2.7 (0.2) |0.4 (0.0)
1986-87 |4.9 (0.9) |6.2 (1.1) |0.7 (0.1) |0.3 (0.0) |6.2 (0.4) |11.2 (0.8) |2.7 (0.2) |0.5 (0.0)
1987-88 |5.7 (1.1) |5.7 (1.1) |0.8 (0.2) |0.2 (0.0) |6.5 (0.5) |10.5 (0.8) |2.9 (0.2) |0.4 (0.0)
1988-89 |5.4 (1.0) |5.2 (1.0) |0.9 (0.2) |0.2 (0.0) |6.5 (0.5) |10.0 (0.8) |3.0 (0.2) |0.4 (0.0)
1989-90 |5.1 (0.9) |5.4 (1.0) |0.9 (0.2) |0.3 (0.0) |6.5 (0.5) |10.0 (0.7) |3.4 (0.2) |0.4 (0.0)
<1>Industrial uses, including grains for malting, plus seeds.
Notes:
Figures in parenthesis are quantities used as percentage of world production.
(0.0) Negligible.
Source: MAFF.
European Community <1> Usage of:
million tonnes
Wheat (including durum) All cereals (excluding rice)
|Human |Animal feed|<1>Other |Losses |Human |Animal feed|<1>Other |Losses
|consumption |processes |consumption |processes
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979-80 |28.0 (6.5) |12.4 (2.9) |2.6 (0.6) |0.6 (0.1) |30.7 (2.6) |72.9 (6.2) |15.0 (1.3) |1.7 (0.1)
1980-81 |32.2 (7.2) |13.8 (3.1) |3.2 (0.7) |0.6 (0.1) |35.5 (3.0) |86.5 (7.4) |- |1.9 (0.2)
1981-82 |31.8 (7.0) |14.2 (3.1) |3.2 (0.7) |0.6 (0.1) |35.2 (2.8) |85.7 (6.9) |- |1.8 (0.1)
1982-83 |30.7 (6.4) |15.5 (3.2) |3.4 (0.7) |0.7 (0.1) |35.4 (2.8) |86.1 (6.7) |- |1.9 (0.1)
1983-84 |30.7 (6.2) |21.2 (4.3) |3.7 (0.7) |0.8 (0.2) |35.5 (3.0) |87.4 (7.3) |- |1.8 (0.2)
1984-85 |31.5 (6.1) |23.0 (4.4) |3.9 (0.8) |0.9 (0.2) |36.6 (2.7) |90.3 (6.8) |15.6 (1.2) |2.2 (0.2)
1985-86 |31.7 (6.3) |22.5 (4.4) |4.1 (0.8) |0.9 (0.2) |36.7 (2.7) |87.8 (6.4) |15.8 (1.2) |2.1 (0.2)
1986-87 |31.6 (5.9) |23.5 (4.4) |4.3 (0.8) |0.9 (0.2) |36.6 (2.6) |84.8 (6.1) |15.5 (1.1) |2.1 (0.2)
1987-88 |31.9 (6.2) |21.1 (4.1) |4.4 (0.9) |0.9 (0.2) |37.0 (2.8) |80.3 (6.1) |16.0 (1.2) |2.0 (0.2)
1988-89 |31.6 (6.2) |21.2 (4.2) |4.9 (1.0) |0.9 (0.2) |36.7 (2.9) |80.7 (6.4) |16.3 (1.3) |2.1 (0.2)
1989-90 |31.3 (5.8) |21.6 (4.0) |5.0 (0.9) |0.4 (0.1) |35.6 (2.6) |78.2 (5.7) |16.6 (1.2) |1.1 (0.1)
<1> EC10 for 1979-80; EC12 from 1980-81 to 1989-90.
<2> Industrial usage and seed.
Notes:
Figures in parenthesis are quantities used as percentage of world production. MAFF estimates using FAO data or world
production.
- Not available.
Sources: Eurostat and Commission of the European Communities.
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United States cereals usage
million tonnes
Wheat <1>All cereals
|<2>Food |Seed |Animal feed |<2>Food, alcohol, seed|Animal feed
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979-80 |16.6 (3.9) |2.7(0.6) |2.3(0.5) |39.8(3.4) |142.2(12.1)
1980-81 |16.6 (3.7) |3.1(0.7) |1.6(0.4) |39.5(3.4) |125.6(10.8)
1981-82 |16.4 (3.6) |2.9(0.6) |3.7(0.8) |41.1(3.3) |131.3(10.6)
1982-83 |16.7 (3.5) |2.6(0.5) |5.3(1.1) |47.5(3.7) |144.6(11.2)
1983-84 |17.5 (3.5) |2.7(0.5) |10.0(2.0) |50.3(4.2) |130.0(10.9)
1984-85 |17.7 (3.4) |2.7(0.5) |11.0(2.1) |53.5(4.0) |141.6(10.6)
1985-86 |18.4 (3.6) |2.5(0.5) |7.4(1.5) |56.2(4.1 |142.5(10.4)
1986-87 |19.7 (3.7) |2.3(0.4) |10.5(2.0) |57.6(4.2) |155.9(11.3)
1987-88 |19.55(3.8) |2.3(0.5) |7.8(1.5) |58.9(4.4) |153.6(11.6)
1988-89 22.25(4.4) 4.3(0.8) 60.0(4.8) 124.1 (9.9)
1989-90 22.63(4.2) 4.3(0.8) 61.6(4.5) 138.8(10.1)
<1> Covers wheat, maize, barley, oats, sorghum, rye but excludes rice.
<2> No disaggregation between usage for direct human consumption and industrial processes available.
Notes:
Figures in parenthesis are quantities used as percentage of world production. MAFF estimates using FAO data on world production.
Sources: USDA Agricultural Statistics 1989 and Agricultural Outlook, March 1991.
Usage of cereals in Canada
Million tonnes
Wheat (including durum) All cereals
Year |Food and industrial |Animal feed |Seed |Food and industrial |Feed, seed and losses
|use |use
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979-80 |1.9 (0.4) |2.7 (0.6) |1.0 (0.2) |n.a. |n.a.
1980-81 |1.8 (0.4) |2.2 (0.5) |1.1 (0.2) |n.a. |n.a.
1981-82 |1.9 (0.4) |2.1 (0.5) |1.1 (0.2) |n.a. |n.a.
1982-83 |2.0 (0.4) |1.8 (0.4) |1.2 (0.2) |3.6 (0.3) |20.0 (1.6)
1983-84 |2.0 (0.4) |2.3 (0.5) |1.2 (0.2) |3.7 (0.3) |20.5 (1.7)
1984-85 |2.0 (0.4) |2.0 (0.4) |1.3 (0.3) |3.6 (0.3) |20.1 (1.5)
1985-86 |2.1 (0.4) |2.1 (0.4) |1.3 (0.3) |3.9 (0.3) |20.7 (1.5)
1986-87 |2.0 (0.4) |2.4 (0.4) |1.1 (0.2) |4.0 (0.3) |21.4 (1.5)
1987-88 |2.2 (0.4) |4.5 (0.9) |1.2 (0.2) |4.0 (0.3) |23.9 (1.8)
1988-89 |2.2 (0.4) |2.0 (0.4) |1.3 (0.3) |n.a. |n.a.
1989-90 |2.3 (0.4) |1.9 (0.4) |1.3 (0.2) |n.a. |n.a.
Notes:
Figures in parenthesis are quantities used as percentage of world production. MAFF estimates using FAO data on world production.
n.a. Not available.
Sources:International Wheat Council and Agriculture Canada.
Water Supplies, Kuwait
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assistance scientists from his Department are offering to Kuwait to (a) seal off chemicals from bombed chemical plants to prevent them from getting into the water table, (b) mitigate the effects of faecal-oral infection from damaged sewerage systems and (c) restore irrigation and water course systems damaged by military action in the Gulf war.
Mr. Curry : We have had no requests from Gulf states for assistance with these matters. The requests the Government have received have focused on the priority tasks of tackling oil and atmospheric pollution and we have of course responded urgently and positively by providing manpower, equipment and funds. The Government are also ready to help in identifying appropriate United Kingdom science expertise in relation to Gulf environmental problems.
EC Food Surpluses
Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to ensure that the EC food mountains are redistributed to those in need, particularly in the third world ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Curry : The European Community sends surplus food as short-term aid to famine areas, but it is often more cost effective to purchase food supplies from sources nearby. In the longer term, food aid is not an effective solution to food shortages, as it can hinder the development of local food production by depressing agricultural markets and increasing demand for imported products. The Government's policy is to supply cash, expertise, machinery and seeds to developing countries in order to improve their ability to feed themselves. The Government are also committed to securing overall reductions in the level of support and protection for Community agriculture, which would be of benefit to development countries.
Manpower Statistics
Mr. Rathbone : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the changes in the manpower numbers and manpower costs that are expected for each of the directorate of fisheries research, the sea fisheries inspectorate and the marine environmental protection division, and the reasons for those changes, between 1989-90, 1990-91 and 1991-92.
Mr. Curry : The information is as follows :
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|1989-90 |1990-91<1>|1991-92<2>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Directorate of fisheries research
(i) Average staff-in-post |423.5 |417 |419
(ii) Total pay costs £'000 |6,425 |7,032 |7,736
(b) Sea fisheries inspectorate
(i) Average staff-in-post |92 |96 |99
(ii) Total pay costs £'000 |1,228 |1,401 |1,636
(c) Marine environmental protection division
(i) Average staff-in-post |20 |22.5 |23
(ii) Total pay costs £'000 |327 |411 |439
<1> Estimate.
<2> Forecast.
Variations in numbers of staff in post in the directorate and inspectorate reflect in the main difficulties in recruitment of staff to fill vacancies. Additional staff were appointed to the marine environmental protection division to ensure effective administration of licensing controls.
Waste (Sea Disposal)
Mr. Rathbone : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what cost increase identified in his recent departmental audit will be reflected in increased fees charged for work connected with the licensing of the sea disposal of waste.
Mr. Curry : A departmental audit showed that departmental overhead expenditure had not hitherto been fully reflected in standard departmental costs used in the calculation of all its chargeable operations including licence fees for sea disposal. Necessary changes in central London accommodation also served to increase overheads.
Mr. Rathbone : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reasons he has for assuming 8 per cent. inflation for the fiscal year 1991-92 when assessing fees charged for work connected with the licensing of the sea disposal of waste.
Mr. Curry : The 8 per cent. figure was not intended to be a forecast of the general rate of inflation over the coming year. It is a planning figure which the Department has used as a realistic estimate of the likely increase in the cost of certain elements, including pay costs, which are included in the calculations of our fees for sea disposal licences.
Nobel House
Mr. Rathbone : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the reason for moving part of the Ministry from Great Westminster house to Nobel house, including the cost effects of that move.
Mr. Curry : The move of some 1,100 staff of this Ministry from Great Westminster house at the end of 1988 was necessary because the lease had expired and the building was to be demolished. For reasons of working efficiency it was decided that the displaced staff should be rehoused in central London reasonably close to our Whitehall offices. The only suitable accommodation which the PSA were able to provide was in Nobel house and part of the adjacent building, Ergon house.
The costs falling to this Ministry for refurbishment, construction and fitting out of both buildings, which was
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managed by the PSA, totalled approximately £14 million, with a further £484,000 for IT cabling and £97,000 for removals. Annual accommodation charges increased by some £5 million from the relatively low level the Ministry was paying for poor quality accommodation on a long lease. This is offset to a degree by a significant decrease in maintenance and fuel and utilities costs.Horticulture Research International
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields of 21 March, if he will list the sources and amounts of funding of Horticulture Research International ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gummer : Horticulture Research International is funded by its annual research commissions with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, grant in aid from the Agricultural and Food Research Council, and research contracts with a range of customers including the United Kingdom horticulture industry. In 1991-92 this funding is expected to amount to some £12.7 million, £3.0 ‡million, and £2.9 million respectively.
Sheep Variable Premium
Sir Michael Shaw : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has reached a decision on the future of the sheep variable premium scheme ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gummer : The reformed EC sheepmeat regime adopted in 1989 provided for sheep variable premium, which operates in Great Britain only, to be phased out by the end of the 1992 marketing year at the latest. In the negotiations on the review of the regime the United Kingdom secured the right to end the scheme before that date. Last summer, Ministers decided that variable premium should continue to operate in 1991 but that the arrangements for 1992 should be reviewed early in 1991.
My right hon. Friend and I have now carried out that review, taking account of the views of interested parties. In the light of comments received and the experience of the phasing out process so far, we have concluded that the sheep variable premium should be terminated at the end of the 1991 marketing year.
With the ending of variable premium, support to producers in Great Britain under the sheep regime will switch entirely to the sheep annual premium, which will no longer suffer a reduction to take account of variable premium. At the same time the clawback charge on exports of lamb from Great Britain to the rest of the Community will be abolished. From then on support in Great Britain will be on the same basis as in Northern Ireland and the rest of the European Community with a unified system for calculating sheep premium applying in all member states.
The Government are announcing the end of variable premium well in advance of the effective date to remove uncertainty about the future arrangements and to allow all concerned time to adjust to the new circumstances that will apply from the beginning of the 1992 marketing year. Sheep producers will then have the opportunity and challenges of a more open market. I am sure they will respond with the quality produce which makes British lamb such an excellent product.
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