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Executive Agencies
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out those areas for which ministers are referring parliamentary questions for reply to next steps executive agencies.
The Prime Minister : The Government's policy for dealing with parliamentary questions on matters delegated to executive agencies was set out in their response to the Eighth Report of the Treasury and Civil Service Committee (October 1990, Cm 1263) as follows : "It is for Ministers responsible for particular Agencies to respond in the way they consider most helpful and appropriate to inquiries raised by Members In the case of Parliamentary Questions concerning day-to-day operational matters delegated to the Agency, Ministers will normally arrange for the Chief Executive to write to the Member (and will reply to this effect in Hansard )".
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All replies to hon. Members from agency chief executives, other than those concerning personal or confidential matters, are available in the Library.The Government's intention is that replies about the carrying out of Government business are full, prompt and as helpful as possible. The arrangements we have are intended to achieve this and they are kept under review.
Engagements
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 23 July.
The Prime Minister : This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.
Security Vetting
Sir John Wheeler : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the Government's policy on the implications of homosexuality for security vetting.
The Prime Minister : All candidates for posts involving access to highly classified information are vetted in accordance with the procedures described in the statement of vetting policy announced by my predecessor on 24 July 1990 at columns 159-61.
Because homosexual acts, even between consenting adults, remain criminal offences in a number of overseas countries, evidence of homosexuality, even if acknowledged, has been treated under this policy as a bar to clearance at PV (TS)--positive vetting (top secret)--or enhanced positive vetting (EPV) level in overseas posts and therefore as a bar to recruitment to certain areas of employment, including the diplomatic service. In the light of changing social attitudes towards homosexuality in this country and abroad, and the correspondingly greater willingness on the part of homosexuals to be open about their sexuality, their lifestyle and their relationships, the Government have reviewed this policy and concluded that in future there should be no posts involving access to highly classified information for which homosexuality represents an automatic bar to security clearance, except in the special case of the armed forces where homosexual acts remain offences under the service disciplinary Acts.
The susceptibility of the subject to blackmail or pressure by a foreign intelligence service will continue to be a factor in the vetting of all candidates for posts involving access to highly classified information. An individual assessment is made in each case, taking account of the evidence which emerges in the course of the vetting process and the level of security clearance required.
WALES
Further Education
Mr. Rowlands : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of local education colleges' expenditure in each county is currently covered by (a) central Government, (b) local education authorities, (c) training providers and training and enterprise councils and (d) fees paid by students.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The information requested is not held centrally.
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Mr. Rowlands : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which bodies or organisations will be finally consulted by the proposed funding council for further education in determining the annual budgets of individual further education in colleges in Mid-Glamorgan.Sir Wyn Roberts : The Further Education Funding Council for Wales has not yet been established. The consultation period on the proposals contained in the White Paper, "Education and Training for the 21st Century", has just ended and comments from interested parties are being taken into consideration in formulating the necessary legislation. Once established, the funding council will be required to allocate funds in a way that secures the efficient management of the colleges : the extent of consultation will be a matter for the council itself to determine. It will work closely with the training and enterprise councils, as stated in the White Paper.
Community Dental Service
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to inform general medical practitioners of the range of services provided by the community dental service.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : This is an issue for family health services authorities and district health authorities to decide in the light of local needs and circumstances.
Local Government Review
Mr. John Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much time he has allowed for consultation with local authorities in Wales on local government reorganisation ; and what consideration he has given to whether the time is adequate.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : We have allowed 4 months from the date of publication of our consultation paper, "The Structure of Local Government in Wales", for the preparation of responses. We consider that this period is entirely adequate.
Mr. John Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will consult other representative bodies in Wales, in addition to local authorities, on local government reorganisation in the same manner that representative bodies were consulted on the Kilbrandon report in 1974.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : We have distributed our consultation paper on "The Structure of Local Government in Wales" to a large number of bodies and persons inside and outside local government, and we will consider all submissions on these matters which are put to us.
Dental Services, Gower
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to improve the provision of dental services available to residents of the Gower peninsula.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : Assessment of the needs for, and securing the provision of, dental services at local level is the responsibility of the appropriate family health services authority and district health authority.
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Doctors and Dentists
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is average gross income of (a) general dental practitioners and (b) general medical practitioners in Wales for the latest available year.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : The intended average gross income for general dental practitioners for 1991-92 is £74,008. The intended average gross income for general medical practitioners is currently £54,790 per annum and will rise to £55,484 per annum from 1 December 1991.
Waiting Lists
Mr. John Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the current waiting lists for patients to have their first consultation with consultants in each of the main specialties in West Glamorgan and Neath hospitals respectively ; and what were the comparable figures in each of the last three years.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : Information on the numbers of patients waiting for a first out-patient consultation in five specialties, general surgery (including urology), ear, nose and throat, traumatic and orthopaedic surgery, ophthalmology, and gynaecology, at Neath general hospital and West Glamorgan as a whole is published in the "Welsh Hospital Waiting List Bulletin" series. Neither of the other two hospitals in Neath, Cymla and Tonna, treat patients in these specialties. The bulletins are published twice a year giving figures as at March and September and copies are in the Library of the House.
Unemployment
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to reduce unemployment in Wales ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. David Hunt : My Department and other Government agencies operate a wide range of measures aimed at combating unemployment. Last financial year, these secured some 19,500 new jobs in Wales. The Welsh Office and associated bodies will continue to respond swiftly to any opportunities that arise which have the potential to reduce unemployment. Last month, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment announced a substantial package of additional measures to help unemployed people back into work. This includes expert advice and help in looking for a job, extra training and a new work experience programme--employment action. This new package, together with the other measures already in place, amounts to the most comprehensive set of programmes we have ever had to alleviate unemployment.
Trecwn Naval Base
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes to visit the Trecwn naval base ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. David Hunt : Although I have no present plans to visit RNAD Trecwn, I have asked the Welsh Development Agency and the West Wales training and enterprise council to look at action which needs to be taken to alleviate the effects of the proposed closure of the depot in 1996. Special help will also be available in the area from the employment service in Wales.
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Cardiff Airport
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to visit Cardiff airport ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Wyn Roberts : My right hon. Friend has no plans to visit Cardiff -Wales airport.
Welsh Language
Mr. Gwilym Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to announce the outcome of his recent consultation exercise on exemptions for the teaching of Welsh in the national curriculum.
Mr. David Hunt : I have now considered the advice of the Curriculum Council for Wales and the representations made by others to the consultation document which I issued in early May. I now intend to proceed to make Regulations to exempt the 10 secondary schools--three in Clwyd, two in Gwent and five in south Pembrokeshire--as specified in my consultation document from the key stage 4 (pupils aged 14 to 16) to teach Welsh in the national curriculum. Schools where exemptions apply will be encouraged to offer those pupils who so wish, the opportunity to study the language.
Regulations have been made to extend the implementation timetable for a number of schools in Dyfed, Gwent, Powys and south Glamorgan and to exempt from the national curriculum requirements to study Welsh pupils arriving in schools from outside Wales or transferring between schools in Wales late in their school career but with no previous experience of learning the language.
Education Expenditure
Mr. Rowlands : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has of the annual capital and current expenditure of each of the further education colleges in Mid Glamorgan.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The information requested is not held centrally.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Divorce Law Reform
Mr. Colvin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to establish counselling and mediation services to enable the Law Commission's recommendations on divorce law reform to be implemented adequately ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Kenneth Baker : The Government are presently reviewing all aspects of divorce reform and conciliation as part of its consideration of the Law Commission's report. It would, accordingly, be premature to reach a view on conciliation and mediation services.
Marriage Guidance
Mr. Colvin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the review of the funding of marriage guidance.
Mr. Kenneth Baker : I am considering the findings of the review. The separate question of funding is under consideration as part of the current public expenditure survey.
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Relate
Mr. Colvin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to provide funding to Relate to assist the probation service with domestic supervision cases.
Mr. Colvin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will undertake an assessment of the burden which would devolve on the public purse were the charity Relate to cease its counselling functions ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Kenneth Baker : No. The detailed research on which to base a firm estimate is not available. Considerable further research and verification would be necessary before the estimate Relate itself has drawn up could be used as a definitive basis for calculation.
Police Training
Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are being taken to ensure that recruits to the Metropolitan police receive training in race relations after their initial training at Hendon initial training school ; and how many recruits received such additional training in the financial year 1990-91.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Following their initial training at Hendon training school, probationer constables in the Metropolitan police receive further training on the local area to which they have been posted. The precise content is determined by local training managers but most probationers become involved in discussion groups with representatives from minority groups including the ethnic minorities. A community and race relations handbook is being produced which will be given to every area training unit and to every recruit. Because of the diverse nature of local training arrangements the number of recruits receiving race relations training on leaving Hendon in the financial year 1990-91 could be ascertained only at disproportionate cost.
Crime Prevention Week
Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 28 June, Official Report , column 561 , if the Home Office research and planning unit will be undertaking any quantitative research on the effects of Crime Prevention Week.
Mr. Kenneth Baker : No, but our public relations branch commissioned quantitative market research into the effects of the advertising campaign associated with the week. The stated objectives of the week were to raise awareness of crime prevention and to build new partnerships which could have a lasting benefit in tackling crime. The research found continuing high levels of awareness of crime prevention and positive attitudes to it. A survey of police forces showed that they found the week of value in strengthening their relationship with neighbourhood watch, crime prevention panels, the press, local businesses and other sections of the community. These results indicate that the main objectives of the week were achieved.
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Probation Hostels
Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the future financing of probation hostels.
Mr. Kenneth Baker : We have no plans at present to alter the current arrangements for the financing of probation hostels.
Prisons (Slopping Out)
Mr. Lawrence : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what effect he estimates the abolition of slopping out will have on the programme for the abolition of overcrowding in prisons.
Mrs. Rumbold : The majority of prisoners are already held in establishments which are not overcrowded. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced on 25 February, at column 660, that the programme to end slopping out would be accelerated and it was planned that by the end of 1994 all prisoners would have access to sanitation. The ending of this practice is a priority, even though the need to take accommodation out of use temporarily to enable sanitation systems to be installed will delay the ending of overcrowding in those establishments--principally local prisons-- which are currently operating at levels of occupancy above certified normal accommodation. Under current projections, the average prison population and average available accommodation is expected to come into balance in 1995.
Mr. Michael Thynne
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will refer the case of Michael Thynne of Her Majesty's prison Bristol to the Parole Board as soon as the revised procedures for reviewing discretionary life prisoners are in operation.
Mrs. Rumbold : Over 200 discretionary life sentence prisoners will be entitled to have their cases considered by the Parole Board when the provisions of part II of the Criminal Justice Bill come into effect. We shall need to consider, in consultation with the board, how they should be dealt with and what priorities should be established. The comments made by the European court of human rights on Mr. Thynne's case will be fully taken into account in that consideration.
Prisoners (Work)
Mr. Lawrence : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for rewarding prisoners who work with remission of time served.
Mrs. Rumbold : The Woolf report suggested that the prison service should consider, as part of its review of prisoners' pay, the option of linking the amount a prisoner earns to earlier release or an earlier date for parole review. The White Paper, to be published later this year, will contain our response to the Woolf inquiry's proposals on prisoners' pay.
Humberside Police
Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to split the Humberside police force or to reduce its complement.
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Mr. Peter Lloyd : The implications for the Humberside police will be among the matters to be taken into account in considering the recent recommendations of the Local Government Boundary Commission.
Data Protection
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the possible time scale of the further stages of the European Commission's draft directive on data protection.
Mrs. Rumbold : The Government believe that it will be difficult to reach a common position before early 1992 and adoption before late 1992, and that member states should be allowed the normal two years to implement the measure following the date of adoption of the directive.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he is making to the European Commission on the proposal in the data protection draft directive that any electronic file held or created by a news organisation must be communicated before possible use to each individual name on the file.
Mrs. Rumbold : The Government is seeking to ensure that the media and other data users are not unnecessarily hampered by requirements for automatic notification to and consent by data subjects before information about them is used.
Racial Attacks
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what special initiatives he intends to take to enable minority groups to combat the problem of racial attacks.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The progress report on multi-agency work to tackle racial attacks and harassment, due to be published later this year, will contain good practice on how community and voluntary groups can work with the statutory agencies to combat this problem. The report of the Newham pilot project in multi-agency work, funded by the Home Office, will make specific recommendations for the involvement of the community in such initiatives. We will consider further advice to police and community consultative groups in tackling racial attacks. And we are assessing a number of bids for projects under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 to help tenants who suffer racial harassment.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional action Her Majesty's Government intends to take to combat the problem of racial attacks.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The Government are continuing to develop existing initiatives, including the rigorous monitoring of the response of the police service and other agencies to guidance on racial attacks and harassment. In addition, we are co-ordinating and assessing progress made by the statutory agencies. This will lead to the publication later this year of a report on developments since the racial attacks group report of 1989, which will provide practical guidance and information on national and local initiatives, and enable local agencies to make sustained progress in combating racial attacks. The report of the Newham pilot project in multi- agency work funded
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by the Home Office will also be published this year, and will provide local initiatives with specific advice and information in taking this work forward.Police Pensions
Mr. Shersby : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make an estimate of the annual cost to the Exchequer of removing the restriction on police officers who have completed 25 but less than 30 years' service not being allowed to receive their pension until they have reached the age of 50 years.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The information requested would require assumptions about the extent to which police officers would be likely to take up this option were it available. It would be a question of giving up the chance to earn a full pension in order to retire early which would depend very much on individual circumstances. There is no reliable basis for such an estimate. Apart from the management implications for the police service, the change in question would be contrary to the Inland Revenue requirements for the tax approval of retirement benefits schemes. Such a change must therefore be considered unlikely.
Traffic Wardens
Mr. Gill : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the total number of traffic wardens employed in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : As at 30 April 1991, there was a total of 4,891 traffic wardens in England and Wales. Numbers in Scotland and Northern Ireland are a matter for the respective Secretaries of State.
Religious Discrimination
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he has any plans to bring forward proposals to repeal the provision within the Bill of Rights of 1689 barring Roman Catholics from succession to, or possession of, the Crown ; (2) if he will bring forward proposals to establish that section 9 of the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 should not apply to ordained priests of the Roman Catholic Church who have celebrated religious services according to the rites of the Church of Rome but have since ceased to practice as Roman Catholic priests ;
(3) if he will give consideration to the requirements of public policy which are met by maintaining disabilities regarding advice to the Crown on matters affecting the Church of England under the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 and the Jews Relief Act 1858 for Roman Catholics and Jews but not for other members of non-established churches and faiths, agnostics or atheists ;
(4) if he has any plans to bring forward proposals to repeal the provision within the Bill of Rights (IX 1689) whereby any person who marries a papist is excluded from succession to the Crown or any regal authority and jurisdiction if in possession of the Crown ; (5) if he has any plans to bring forward proposals to repeal the provisions contained in the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 barring Roman Catholic deacons and others in Roman Catholic minor orders from sitting in the House of Commons ;
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(6) if he will make it his policy to remove all outstanding civil disabilities affecting Roman Catholics and Jews from the statute book ;(7) if he will bring forward proposals to repeal the provisions contained within the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 and the Jews Relief Act 1959 which bar from office, civil or military, under the Crown Roman Catholics or Jews advising the Crown on appointments or preferment in the Church of England ;
(8) if he will consider what continuing needs are met by maintaining disabilities regarding the ecclesiastical functions of the Lord Chancellor under the Lord Chancellor (Tenure of Office and Discharge of Ecclesiastical Functions) Act 1974 for Roman Catholics and Jews but not for other members of non-established churches and faiths, agnostics or atheists.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : We have no plans to do so.
Broadcasting
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the international obligations of the United Kingdom which he has (a) notified and (b) proposes to notify the Independent Television Commission of for the purposes of section 9.9 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The obligations relevant to section 9(9) of the Broadcasting Act 1990 are the advertising provisions in the EC Directive of Broadcasting and the Council of Europe convention on transfrontier television. The Independent Television Commission has been made aware of them and they have been reflected in its codes of practice on advertising.
Derbyshire Constabulary
Mr. Oppenheim : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of (a) police officers and (b) civilian staff employed by Derbyshire constabulary in (i) 1979 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The information requested is set out in the table :
|April 1979|June 1991
------------------------------------------------
Police |1,587 |1,727
Civilian staff |634 |<1>504
<1> Centralisation of the county's common
services has reduced the
numbers of civilians recorded as employed
specifically on police
support.
Election Expenses
Mr. Andrew Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will report progress on the review of the system of controls on candidates' expenses at elections, announced on 21 June 1989, Official Report, columns 131-33.
Mr. Kenneth Baker : The second and final stage of the review has now been completed. I have placed in the Library a copy of a report by the consultative group which was set up in January of this year to complete the review.
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Police Complaints Authority
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any new appointment has been made to the Police Complaints Authority.
Mr. Kenneth Baker : Mr. William McCall, a former general secretary of the Institution of Professionals, Managers and Specialists (formerly the Institution of Professional Civil Servants), has accepted my invitation to serve as a member of the Police Complaints Authority. He will take up his post on 1 August.
Diamorphine
Mr. Barry Sheerman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will take steps to preserve the United Kingdom manufacturing base for diamorphine for medical use ;
(2) what is his Department's policy on importation of finished diamorphine to the United Kingdom ;
(3) if he will seek to prevent non-reciprocal imports of diamorphine from the European Community to Britain.
Mr. Baker : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given in another place to a question from the noble Lord Ennals on 16 July 1991 at column 9.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT
Environment Exhibition
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution was made by the Overseas Development Administration to the exhibition on environment, wildlife and conservation at Olympia on 6 to 11 July ; and how many copies of the administration's annual 1990 report, the report on the environment and the British aid programme were distributed.
Mrs. Chalker : The ODA contributed its seven panel display titled "The Environment, Forestry and British Aid" to The Sunday Times environment, wildlife and conservation exhibition. It was manned by ODA information staff ; 800 copies of the 1990 ODA annual review and 800 copies of "The Environment and the British Aid Programme" were distributed to members of the public.
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