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Mr. Scott : The administration of the social fund is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.
Mobility Allowance
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current practice of the mobility allowance unit in respect of the period for which mobility allowance to disabled people is awarded ; and what is the relationship between the period of award and eligibility for the mobility scheme.
Mr. Scott : Decisions on eligibility and the duration of an award are for independent adjudicating authorities in
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accordance with the appropriate legislation. The minimum period awarded is one year and the maximum is until the disabled person reaches age 80.The minimum period of award required to take advantage of the motability scheme is three years for a leased vehicle. To purchase on hire purchase requires an award of two years for a second-hand vehicle, or four years for a new one.
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on his Department's policies on the award of mobility and attendance allowance pending the introduction of disability allowance in 1992 ; and whether he has any information on the number of people currently receiving mobility allowance who will receive the lower rate of allowance when the new disability allowance is introduced.
Mr. Scott : Awards of attendance allowance and mobility allowance will continue to be made on the same basis as they are now until disability living allowance is introduced in April 1992. People who are in receipt of mobility allowance at the point of change will be automatically transferred to the higher rate of the mobility component of disability living allowance.
Poll Tax Deductions
Mr. Nellist : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, further to his answer of 13 May, Official Report, column 29, to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher), what is the estimated cost to public funds of administering in the week of February containing the quarterly day, the 28th, the deductions from 36,448 people's income support to cover poll tax arrears ; and if he will make a statement.
Miss Widdecombe : The administration of income support is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information office.
Correspondence
Mr. Nellist : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in the Official Report the letter sent to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East in answer to his question of 1 May, Official Report, column 255.
Miss Widdecombe : I refer the hon. Member to the letter by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to all right hon. and hon. Members about the arrangements for handling parliamentary questions concerning operational matters within the remit of the Benefits Agency. In accordance with the terms of that letter, a copy of Mr. Bichard's reply to the hon. Member of 8 May, which set out the information requested in considerable detail, has been placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.
Next Steps
Mr. Nellist : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about the criteria for selecting those matters within his responsibility and the responsibility of the next steps agencies which are deemed to be operational matters.
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Miss Widdecombe : The responsibilities of chief executives of DSS agencies on operational matters are set out in the framework document for each agency, copies of which are available in the Library. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to all right hon. and hon. Members about the new arrangements we were introducing for Members' correspondence and written parliamentary questions about the operational activities of DSS agencies. The arrangements are designed to provide a better service to Members. Ministers remain fully accountable for the work of the Department including its executive agencies.Information Technology Services Agency
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the chief executive at the Information Technology Services Agency will meet NVCPS, CPSA, and other staff unions to discuss the agency's first-year business plan ; when the second-year business plan will be published ; and when the fifth-year strategic plan will be published.
Miss Widdecombe : Consultation with staff unions and the publication of agency business and strategic plans are matters for Mr. John Kenworthy, the chief executive of the Information Technology Services Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Press and Public Relations
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total expenditure by his Department on press and public relations in 1979-80 and in each following year ; and what is his estimate for 1990- 91 and budget for 1991-92.
Dr. Mawhinney [holding answer 30 April 1991] : I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
Industrial Development Board
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many jobs were promoted by the Industrial Development Board in each of the 17 parliamentary constituencies during the years 1989-90 and 1990-91.
Mr. Needham : The information is as follows :
Parliamentary constituency |1989-90 |1990-91 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Belfast, East |106 |74 Belfast, North |23 |- Belfast, South |82 |973 Belfast, West |496 |119 East Antrim |651 |129 East Londonderry |166 |40 Fermanagh and South Tyrone |212 |619 Foyle |827 |371 Lagan Valley |85 |288 Mid Ulster |150 |388 Newry and Armagh |34 |160 North Antrim |246 |460 North Down |425 |- South Antrim |1,068 |185 South Down |56 |72 Strangford |87 |50 Upper Bann |417 |474
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Speech Therapists
Mrs. Ray Michie : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time speech therapists are currently employed by each health board in Northern Ireland ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : Details of the number of speech therapists employed by each health and social services board in Northern Ireland at 31 March 1991 are as follows :
Health and social services board |Full-time |Part-time
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern |64 |19
Northern |30 |13
Southern |20 |4
Western |25 |1
| ------- | -------
Total |139 |37
Since 1981, the number of speech therapists in Northern Ireland has risen from 118 (whole-time equivalent 100.58) to 176 (whole-time equivalent 158.30) an increase in real terms of 57.38 per cent.
Belvoir Park Estate, Castlereagh
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the criteria for membership of the Wednesday club for the elderly in the community centre in Belvoir park estate in the borough of Castlereagh.
Mr. Hanley : The management of the Wednesday club for the elderly in the Belvoir park estate is the responsibility of the eastern health and social services board. When I have received the necessary information from the board, I will write to the right hon. Gentleman and arrange for a copy of my reply to be placed in the Library.
Prisoners
Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the prison population of Northern Ireland is nationalist ; and what percentage is loyalist.
Dr. Mawhinney [holding answer 20 May 1991] : The information requested is not available.
EMPLOYMENT
Trainees
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of (a) ET trainees and (b) YT trainees respond to follow-up surveys after completion of their courses.
Mr. Jackson : About 50 per cent. of ET trainees and YT trainees respond to national follow-up surveys. These response rates are very good for such large-scale voluntary postal surveys.
Approved Training Organisations
Mr. Ronnie Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many approved training organisations there are in (a) Northumberland and (b) Blyth Valley ; and what are their names.
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Mr. Jackson : The numbers and names of approved training organisations in Northumberland and Blyth Valley is a matter for the training and enterprise council to answer. TECs have agreed to ensure that providers secure approved training organisation or equivalent status within a period of time set out in the TEC's agreed business plan.Work-related Training
Mr. Andrew Bowden : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentages of people on work-related Government training programmes are (a) aged 18 to 24 years and (b) aged 50 years and over.
Mr. Jackson : The proportion of trainees on youth training aged 18 to 24 fluctuates during the year between 10 per cent. and 30 per cent. Thirty-five per cent. of entrants to employment training are in the 18 to 24 age group and 5 per cent. are 51 and over.
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Work Accidents
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the calculated incidence rates per 100,000 employees based upon injuries as a result of work activities reported to enforcement authorities in the five counties of the east midlands region for each year since 1986-87 in the categories (i) fatal and major and (ii) over three days in (a) agriculture, (b) energy, (c) manufacturing, (d) construction, (e) services and (f) all industries.
Mr. Forth : The available information is provided in the table below. Analysis by individual counties could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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Occupational injuries<1> in the East Midlands Region (incidence rates per 100,000 employees)
1986-87-1989-90 (provisional)
Standard Industr1986-87 1987-88 1988-89 1989-90<6>
Classification 1980 Sector
|Fatal + |Over 3 |Fatal + |Over 3 |Fatal + |Over 3 |Fatal + |Over 3
|Major<2>|Day<3> |Major<2>|Day<3> |Major<2>|Day<3> |Major<2>|Day<3>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agriculture |<5>116.5|427.2 |<5>176.5|568.6 |206.2 |611.7 |183.5 |565.5
Energy |<4>73.2 |<4>888.7|360.6 |2,880.3 |419.2 |4,589.3 |418.3 |4,140.1
Manufacturing |138.9 |1,121.7 |146.5 |988.3 |136.5 |1,096.3 |121.9 |1,199.5
Construction |185.1 |1,478.8 |197.4 |1,365.4 |205.7 |1,430.6 |215.4 |1,710.3
Services |63.1 |473.1 |56.5 |475.8 |56.0 |462.2 |52.9 |464.6
All Industries |94.3 |743.7 |106.5 |780.3 |104.4 |862.6 |95.8 |871.1
<1> Based on injuries to employees, reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and
Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, 1985
(RIDDOR), to all enforcement authorities excluding HSE's Railway Inspectorate.
<2> As defined under RIDDOR.
<3> Injuries causing incapacity for work for more than three days.
<4> Excludes injuries reported to HSE's Inspectorate of Mines and Quarries.
<5> Analysis by county of fatal injuries reported to HSE's Agricultural Inspectorate in 1986-87
and 1987-88 is not available.
<6> -provisional.
HSE Inspectors
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of inspectors employed within the north midlands area of the Health and Safety Executive in each year since 1986-87 in (a) the factory inspectorate, (b) the mines and quarries inspectorate and (c) the agricultural inspectorate.
Mr. Forth : The information requested is given below for 1 April each year.
Year at |Inspectors |Inspectors |Inspectors 1 April |in FI |in AI |in MQI<1><2> ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1986 |23 |10 |8 1987 |23 |11 |10 1988 |21 |11 |7 1989 |23 |12 |9 1990 |28 |9 |7 1991 |30 |9 |6 <1> The figures given are for both Mines and Quarries Inspectors although under an internal reorganisation in October 1989 Quarries Inspectors joined Factory and Agricultural Inspectors in a new Division. From that date the Mines and Quarries Inspectorate was renamed the Mines Inspectorate. <2> Mines Inspectorate is organised into districts whose boundaries differ from those of HSE's areas.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of inspectors employed within the east midlands area of the Health and
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Safety Executive in each year since 1986-87 in (a) the factory inspectorate, (b) the mines and quarries inspectorate and (c) the agricultural inspectorate.Mr. Forth : The available information is as follows for 1 April each year.
Year |Inspectors |Inspectors |Quarries
|in FI |in AI |Inspectors<1><2>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1986 |25.0 |9 |-
1987 |26.0 |8 |-
1988 |24.5 |9 |-
1989 |26.0 |9 |-
1990 |27.0 |9 |1
1991 |30.5 |8 |1
<1> No Mines and Quarries Inspectors were based within the HSEs
East Midlands Area until October 1989 when an internal
reorganisation resulted in Quarries Inspectors joining Factory and
Agricultural Inspectors in a new Division. From that date the Mines
and Quarries Inspectorate was renamed the Mines Inspectorate.
<2> Mines Inspectorate is organised into Districts whose boundaries
differ from those of HSEs areas.
Agency Status
Mr. Cash : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those bodies currently with agency status within his Department under the next steps initiative ; and whether he has identified any further candidates for agency status under the initiative within his Department.
Mr. Jackson : In April 1990, we established the Employment Service as a next steps agency. The
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Employment Service employs some 38,000 people and its aim is to give positive help to unemployed people through job placement services and other programmes, and by payments of benefits and allowances to those entitled to them. It is the second biggest agency to be set up under the next steps initiative.There are no other candidates for agency status at present. However, we are currently considering the further application of next steps agency status to departmental functions.
Defence Manufacturing
Sir Neil Macfarlane : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to assist employees of companies engaged in defence manufacturing to seek alternative employment.
Mr. Jackson : The full range of services and facilities of the Department, the Employment Service and training and enterprise councils is available to assist employees who lose their jobs in the defence industry and other industries to find and train for alternative employment.
Employment Training
Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide an analysis of the amount each training and enterprise council has received of the additional £120 million for employment training distributed by the Training, Enterprise and Education Directorate ; how much remains to be distributed ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jackson : The additional £120 million for ET in 1991-92 was distributed on the basis of the allocation formulae agreed with the TECs and with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland for the original distribution of the ET budgets in 1991-92. The £120 million has been fully incorporated into TEC business plans which are commercially confidential.
Labour Statistics
Mr. Denzil Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those travel-to-work areas in England, together with the respective percentages, where 40 per cent. or more of all employees are engaged in production.
Mr. Jackson : The most recent estimates of employees in employment in travel-to-work areas are from the September 1989 census of employment. The travel-to-work areas in England with 40 per cent. or more of employees employed in the production industries are listed in the table below.
Travel-to-work area |Proportion<1>
|percentage
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Haverhill |55.4
Pendle |54.2
Barrow-in-Furness |53.5
Corby |51.5
Alfreton and Ashfield |49.9
Chard |47.9
Burnley |46.3
Loughborough and Coalville |45.0
Bishop Auckland |44.9
Retford |44.5
Accrington and Rossendale |44.4
Stoke |44.4
Walsall |44.2
Gainsborough |43.1
Whitehaven |43.0
Oldham |42.7
Uttoxeter and Ashbourne |42.6
Castleford and Pontefract |42.5
Blackburn |41.6
Burton-on-Trent |41.4
Calderdale |41.3
Kidderminster |41.2
Dudley and Sandwell |40.9
Widnes and Runcorn |40.9
Leek |40.5
Telford and Bridgnorth |40.3
<1> Employees in Divisions 1 to 4 of the Standard Industrial
Classification 1980 as a percentage of all employees in the
travel-to-work area.
Mr. Denzil Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what percentage of all employees in England are employed in (a) production and (b) services ;
(2) what percentage of all employees in (i) the south-east and (ii) the south-west of England are employed in (a) production and (b) services ;
(3) what information he has as to what percentage of all employees in (i) the United Kingdom, (ii) Germany, (iii) France and (iv) Italy were at the latest available dates, respectively, employed in (a) services and (b) production.
Mr. Jackson : The information available is shown in the table.
Employees in Employment
|Percentage of |Percentage of
|Employees in |Employees in Service
|Production |Industries
|Industries
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 1990
England<1> |24.5 |69.8
South East<1> |17.9 |77.3
South West<1> |22.8 |70.6
United Kingdom<1> |24.4 |69.6
(December 1990)
Germany (F.R.)<2> |37.6 |54.5
(June 1986)
France<2> |25.8 |65.8
(June 1988)
Italy<2> |28.9 |56.7
(June 1988)
<1> Source: Employment Department.
<2> Source: O.E.C.D. Labour Force Statistics.
Oil Platforms
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the semi-submersible rigs and jack-up structures which require modifications in terms of safety requirements outlined and recommended by the public inquiry into the Piper Alpha disaster and the date by which he expects such work to be completed ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Forth : Lord Cullen's 106 recommendations include wide-ranging reform of offshore safety legislation, with a new requirement for operators to produce, and have accepted by the Health and Safety Executive, a safety case
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for every offshore installation. The report's recommendations apply to both fixed and mobile installations. It is not possible to say in advance what changes any individual installation will be required to make.I refer the hon. Member also to my answer of 15 May 1991, Official Report, column 211-12.
Press and Public Relations
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total expenditure by the Training Agency-Manpower Services Commission on press and public relations in 1979-80 and in each following year ; and what is his estimate for 1990-91 and budget for 1991-92.
Mr. Jackson [pursuant to his reply, 30 April] : I regret that the information given in my reply of 30 April, Official Report, column 106, contained an incorrect table. The correct information is as follows.
Year |Expenditure
|£ million
-------------------------------------------
Actual
1979-80 to 1985-86 |n/a
1986-87 |1.08
1987-88 |1.014
1988-89 |3.185
1989-90 |3.331
Estimated
1990-91 |3.564
Notes:
Figures for 1986-87 and 1987-88 are for DE
Information Division
only. Figures for TA are not available.
Figures for 1988-89 and 1989-90 represent
total expenditure
separately incurred by DE information
Services Branch; the two
merged in November 1989.
(b) Expenditure levels for 1991-92 are in
the process of being set.
DEFENCE
Arms Dump, Caerwent
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any assessment has been made of the consequences on the surrounding area and the local population of an aircraft crash on the arms dump at Caerwent, Gwent.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : There has been no such specific assessment. However, the base has a comprehensive plan for dealing with all types of emergency, particularly ones involving fire.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish details of restrictions on flying near and over the arms dump at Caerwent, Gwent.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : There are no special restrictions on civil overflights of RAF Caerwent but military flying regulations take account of potential hazards at this and similar sites.
Low Flying
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish details of restrictions on low-flying exercises at or near the populated areas of south Gwent.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Aircrew carrying out low-flying exercises in the United Kingdom low-flying system are
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instructed to avoid overflying the centres of major conurbations and built-up areas and will, where practicable, seek to avoid all populated areas.Sea Harrier Crash
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will instigate a full inquiry into the crash of a Sea Harrier into a hillside at Wentwood, Gwent, on the morning of 10 May.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : It is standard procedure to convene a naval board of inquiry following an accident involving the loss of a Royal Navy aircraft. This inquiry will determine the cause of the accident and make recommendations on any lessons that may be learnt.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the flying pattern of the Sea Harrier that crashed into a hillside at Caerwent on 10 May, prior to the crash.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The aircraft was one of a group of three conducting a routine low-level reconnaissance sortie. The details of the accident are still being reviewed by a board of inquiry.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Sea Harrier that crashed at Wentwood, Gwent, on 10 May was on a low-flying exercise.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish details of any emergency landing areas in Gwent that are recommended for use by aircraft in emergencies.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : No emergency landing areas for military aircraft are specifically designated in Gwent. In any emergency it would be the reponsibility of the aircraft's captain to select the airfield most suited to deal with his particular circumstances. Details of military and civil airfields and emergency facilities are regularly promulgated.
Military Nuclear Materials
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to order a review of the safety of all facilities currently involved in the production and processing of military nuclear materials.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : No. All United Kingdom facilities involved in the production and processing of nuclear materials for military purposes are subject to a continuing safety review.
Defence Industry
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 March, Official Report, column 165, what studies have been carried out regarding the ability of the United Kingdom defence industry to support military operations in the mid-1990s.
Mr. Alan Clark : Studies into the lessons of Operation Granby will include assessments of the United Kingdom defence industry's support for military operations and their implications for the future.
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CSBM Negotiations
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 March, Official Report , column 166 , whether any personnel from the Royal Navy have been involved in the negotiations on confidence and security-building measures in Europe.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : There are no Royal Navy personnel directly involved in the CSBM negotiations. Naval staffs within the Ministry of Defence are consulted as necessary.
The Gulf
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel have been injured in non-combat accidents in the Gulf since 2 August 1990.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : According to our current records, some 540 armed forces personnel have been injured in non-combat accidents in the Gulf since 2 August 1990. This figure does not include minor injuries to Army personnel during the period up to 16 January 1991 when such injuries were not subject to central recording, nor does it include casualties who subsequently died.
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 March about Operation Granby, Official Report , column 165 , what is the approximate number of combat sorties carried out from the commencement of the air campaign that were (a) ground attack missions and (b) air defence missions.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : During hostilities in the Gulf, RAF Tornado GR1, Jaguar GR1 and Buccaneer aircraft flew some 2,400 sorties against targets in Iraq and Kuwait. RAF Tornado F3s flew about 700 air defence sorties.
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the approximate number of (a) ground attack sorties, (b) tactical transport sorties and (c) non-combat sorties carried out by the Army Air Corps during Operation Granby ; and if he will make a statement about army Air Corps operations during Operation Granby.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I regret that information on Army Air Corps activity was not recorded in the form requested. Army Air Corps Lynx and Gazelle helicopters were used during the allied operations to liberate Kuwait. During the night of 26 February, when 1st (British) Armoured Division was engaging an Iraqi armoured division, two Lynx, operating with two Gazelles, are believed to have destroyed four Iraqi tanks and three armoured personnel carriers.
Defence Quality Assurance (Headquarters)
Mr. Cartwright : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce a decision about the relocation of the headquarters of the directorate general of defence quality assurance.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : A decision about the relocation of the directorate general defence quality assurance headquarters will be made as soon as possible after completion of the current studies.
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RNAS Coulport
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the floating jetty, at present under construction at Hunterston, will be placed in an operational condition at Royal Naval Auxiliary Service Coulport ; if any revisions have had to be made in terms of the date of completion of the contract ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The explosives handling jetty construction programme has been subject to some delay, and we are currently examining what further steps are necessary in order to maintain the programme.
SCOTLAND
Elderly Forums
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial support the Scottish Office has provided to elderly forums ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : My right hon. Friend currently provides financial assistance to three elderly forums through the urban programme at a cost of £99,000 in 1991-92. They are in Strathclyde, Renfrew and Edinburgh. The funding over a period of four years represents 75 per cent. of the cost of the projects.
Scottish Homes
Sir David Steel : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will bring forward provisions which will enable Scottish Homes to claw back any subsidy given to transferred Scottish Homes housing stock which is subsequently sold on the open market and which thereby generates a windfall profit.
Mr. Lang : No. Scottish Homes already has the power to impose conditions on any financial assistance which it may provide in this connection. It is for it as owner of the stock to determine appropriate arrangements for clawback in the event of a subsequent disposal.
Sir David Steel : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will bring forward provisions to ensure that in assessing the continuing need for transferred Scottish Homes housing stock to remain available for affordable commercial renting, Scottish Homes will be required to take account of the recommendations of the district councils in their role as statutory local housing authorities.
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