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Overseas Investment
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the current estimated level of British overseas investment ; and what it was in 1979 ;
(2) what is the estimated level of dividends received from Britain's overseas investment.
Mr. Mellor : The estimated level of overseas direct and portfolio investment by United Kingdom residents at the end of 1990 was £312 billion, compared with £44 billion at the end of 1979. The interest, profits and dividends received by United Kingdom residents from direct and portfolio investment overseas in 1990 were £25.9 billion.
Soviet Union
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what benefits to the United Kingdom economy have accrued from his recent visit to the Soviet Union.
Mr. Maples : During my right hon. Friend's visit he had discussions with a wide range of contacts in the public and private sector. My right hon. Friend received several requests for assistance. A number of these projects are being organised through the know-how fund for the Soviet Union, and will be of direct benefit to United Kingdom businesses. These contacts should also open up opportunities for United Kingdom companies in the Soviet Union in the years to come. More generally, my right hon. Friend's visit served to strengthen contacts between the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union.
Inheritance Tax
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions since 1980 any agreement for inheritance tax exemptions for national heritage land of outstanding scenic, historic or scientific interest has been broken ; if he will indicate the location of the land and the undertakings that were broken in each case ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Francis Maude [holding answer 17 October 1991] : This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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If a landowner breaks an undertaking given in respect of conditionally exempt land inheritance tax is chargeable on the current value of the property. This provides a powerful incentive to honour the terms of the undertaking.THE ARTS
Yorkshire and Humberside Arts
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Minister for the Arts who are the current chairman and officers of Yorkshire and Humberside Arts ; what are their terms of office ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Renton : The information requested is as follows :
Ernest Hall (Chairman)
Councillor Chris Heinitz (Deputy Chairman)
Board Members :
Abha Adams
Norman Adsetts
Paul Allen
Councillor Bernard Atha
Michael Blackburn
Roger Bush
Councillor John Considine
Graham Devlin
Dorothy Dickson Barrow
Councillor Mrs. E. Edwards
Tessa Gordziejko
Duncan Graham
Jo Habib
Lord Harewood
Councillor Trevor Larsen
Councillor John Marshall
Lynda Murdin
Ruth Pitt
Griselda Pollock
Nima Poovaya-Smith
Councillor Bob Preston
Councillor Mike Pye.
The chairman is appointed for a three-year period. All members of the board are initially appointed for one year.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Mr. John Cairncross
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Attorney-General whether Her Majesty's Government has any plans to seek the extradition of Mr. John Cairncross, former Foreign Office civil servant, from France.
EMPLOYMENT
Health and Safety Executive
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how long the Health and Safety Executive staff who investigated the accident of Mr. Randall at Maxwell house, Chadderton on 31 August 1989 had been in post ; what qualifications they had ; and what disciplinary action has been taken against them.
Mr. Forth : The inspector who conducted the investigation into the circumstances of Mr. Randall's accident joined the Health and Safety Executive in 1978 and holds an honours degree in engineering. The Health
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and Safety Executive considers that the inspector undertook the inquiry in an appropriate manner. The question of disciplinary action does not therefore arise.Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many times in each of the last five years accidents occurred on sites where Vanguard Engineering was a sub-contractor which were not reported to the Health and Safety Executive in the correct manner, or in the correct time.
Mr. Forth : The information requested is not available.
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many notifiable accidents involving Vanguard Engineering (Northern) Ltd. happened during each of the last five years ; and what action the Health and Safety Executive has taken to bring prosecutions against Vanguard.
Mr. Forth : The Health and Safety Executive is aware of two incidents in the last five years reportable to the appropriate enforcing authority under the Reporting of Incidents, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1984 involving Vanguard Engineering (Northern) Ltd. Legal proceedings were not instituted by the Health and Safety Executive following the investigation of either incident.
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the cause of the accident to Mr. Randall of Reddish, at Maxwell house, Chadderton on 31 August 1989 ; and what consideration was given by the Health and Safety Executive to prosecuting (a) MCP in respect of reporting the accident and (b) Vanguard Engineering in respect of supervising the job.
Mr. Forth : The accident to Mr. Randall occurred when a lifting gantry frame fell over when a load was lifted through a floor opening and swung clear. It appears that brackets intended to secure the frame to the floor had not been fitted. Having investigated the incident the Health and Safety Executive decided that the prosecution of MCP was not appropriate and that of Vanguard Engineering could not be sustained.
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether the Health and Safety Executive interviewed all those persons working with Mr. Randall at Maxwell house on 31 August 1989 when an accident occurred to Mr. Randall to ascertain whether verbal instructions as to how the work was to be carried out had been correctly given ; and what steps the Health and Safety Executive is taking to see that all witnesses to accidents are interviewed.
Mr. Forth : In the course of the investigation into the cause of Mr. Randall's accident, the Health and Safety Executive did not interview all those persons who were working with Mr. Randall at the time. Inspectors are not required to question every witness to an accident and may decide to curtail an investigation if, in their opinion, further inquiries are unlikely to be productive for their purposes. There are no proposals to change this procedure.
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many accidents in 1989 were not reported to the Health and Safety Executive in the correct
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manner and were only subsequently found out about by the Health and Safety Executive ; and in how many cases employers were prosecuted for their failure to report an accident.Mr. Forth : The Health and Safety Executive's records do not distinguish between accidents reported voluntarily by employers and those reported following inquiries by HSE. In 1989-90, HSE inspectors obtained 89 convictions for non-reporting under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985.
Low Pay
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what guidance is issued by his Department to the Employment Service to ensure that the service (a) does not advertise jobs which are paying below the legal wage council minimum and (b) reports to the wages inspectorate any such offence in order that prosecution can take place ; and if he will make a statement.
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.
Disability
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to review provisions to assist people with disabilities in training or employment ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jackson : Following a review of the Department's services and schemes for people with disabilities, we invited comments last year from a wide range of interested parties on a number of proposals to make our provision more effective. Since these consultations, we have announced a number of changes to existing measures or action which we are taking to consider issues further. We will make further announcements as appropriate. We will continue to keep our employment and training provision for people with disabilities under review.
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to review the registration rules for people with disabilities who are seeking employment or vocational training ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jackson : Since its introduction, the main purpose of the disabled persons register, established under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944, has been connected with the operation of the scheme under which employers with 20 or more employees are required to employ a "quota" of registered disabled people.
My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Employment announced on 17 September that he has decided to make no changes to the quota system and to keep the position under review. We will, therefore, continue to look at the operation of the scheme and reassess its effectiveness in due course.
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which organisations he normally consults on matters relating to employment and/or training of people with disabilities ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jackson : Ministers and officials from this Department and Training and Enterprise Council
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personnel are frequently in contact with a wide variety of organisations involved with people with disabilities to discuss matters affecting our employment and training services and schemes. Particular organisations are consulted on specific issues as appropriate.The National Advisory Council on Employment of People with Disabilities provides Ministers with advice at national level and committees for the employment of people with disabilities fulfil a similar function locally.
Last year we issued two consultative documents on issues connected with the employment and training of people with disabilities, which together attracted comments from several hundred organisations and individuals.
Construction Industry
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing his estimate of the number of apprenticeships in the construction industry, by trade, in each year since 1975 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jackson : The available estimates from the Labour Force Survey are given in the following table. I will write to the hon. Member about his request for figures by trade.
Apprenticeships in the construction industry Year |Thousands ------------------------------ 1979 |56 1983 |75 1984 |64 1985 |67 1986 |54 1987 |64 1988 |64 1989 |81 1990 |77
Ports (Accidents)
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list for each port in England and Wales, and for each year since 1985, the number of recorded accidents which have taken place in the course of the employment of dockers, stevedores and dock workers.
Mr. Forth : The information is not readily available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The table shows the total number of injuries to employees occurring in the sea transport and port and inland water transport industries in Great Britain between 1985 and 1989-90. Injuries involving dockers, stevedores and dock workers cannot be separately distinguished.
Date of Number of reported<1> injuries
accident |Fatal |Major<2>|Over 3 |Total
|days<3>
--------------------------------------------------------
1985 |12 |120 |n/a |n/a
1986-87<4> |6 |144 |694 |844
1987-88<4> |13 |136 |672 |821
1988-89<4> |9 |123 |655 |787
1989-90<4> |11 |94 |514 |619
n/a Not available.
<1> As reported to the Health and Safety Executive's
Factory and Agricultural Inspectorates under the
Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences
Regulations 1980 (NADOR) for 1985 and the Reporting of
Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences
Regulations 1985 (RIDDOR) for subsequent years.
<2> The definition of a major injury was widened under
RIDDOR.
<3> Injuries causing incapacity for work for more than
three consecutive days.
<4> Year beginning 1 April.
Health and Safety
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what initiatives have been taken by his Department since July to improve health and safety in motor vehicle repair.
Mr. Forth : Since July 1991, the Health and Safety Executive has published and publicised a booklet and a video entitled "Health and Safety in Motor Vehicle Repair" aimed at improving health and safety in the motor vehicle repair industry. Inspectors have continued to undertake visits to motor vehicle repair premises for inspection and other purposes and to seek compliance with the health and safety regulations that apply. Additionally inspectors from the Heath and Safety Executive's engineering national interest group have met the National Tyre Distributors Association to discuss problems relevant to that sector of the industry.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish figures to the latest date available of health, safety and accident incidence in (a) the brewery industry, (b) the soft drinks industry and (c) the wine and cider industries in each of the past four years.
Mr. Forth : Reported injury statistics for these specific industries have been separately available only since 1989-90 and are provided in the table.
Information concerning occupational ill-health is not available for these industries.
Numbers of reported <1> injuries to employees in specified drinks
manfacturing industries, 1989-90 <2>Great Britain
Injury Severity |Brewing and |Soft Drinks <4>|Wines, Cider
|Malting <3> |and Perry <5>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fatal |- |- |-
Major<6> |88 |38 |12
Over 3 Day<7> |1,555 |396 |98
All Reported |1,643 |434 |110
Rate per 100,000 employees
Fatal and Major |215.7 |226.2 |315.8
All Reported |4,027.0 |2,583.3 |2,894.7
<1> Reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous
Occurrences Regulations 1985 (RIDDOR) to HSC/E.
<2> Year beginning 1 April.
<3> Defined as Standard Industrial Classification 1980 (SIC) activity heading
4270.
<4> Defined as SIC 1980 activity heading 4283.
<5> Defined as SIC 1980 activity heading 4261.
<6> As defined under RIDDOR.
<7> Injuries causing incapacity for work for more than three consecutive days.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what contributions Her Majesty's Government currently plan to make to the European Year of Health, Safety and Hygiene at Work.
Mr. Forth : The Government welcome this European initiative and hope that it will give a new thrust to the improvement of occupational health and safety throughout the Community. In the United Kingdom, a national liaison committee has been set up by the Health and Safety Commission to co -ordinate activities for the year. It is
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composed of employer, trade union, voluntary sector and Government representatives. The national committee is working with the Health and Safety Executive to develop a full programme of events and activities throughout the year. Some EC funding is available. Applications have been invited from a wide range of private, public and voluntary sector bodies to take forward projects during the year. In addition, many employers, workers and voluntary organisations are planning their own initiatives for the year. The success of the year clearly depends on the widest possible involvement at all levels.Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what new measures to enhance health and safety in clinical laboratories have been recently introduced.
Mr. Forth : On 17 September the Health and Safety Commission published new guidance entitled "Safety in Health Service Laboratories" on safe working and the prevention of infection in clinical laboratories and post-mortem rooms. This was accompanied by model rules for staff and visitors.
The guidance which has been made available to the Health Departments aims to help employers in the health care sector to comply with their duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, in particular in the context of risk assessment. A copy has been placed in the House Library.
Noise
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what recent studies have been undertaken by his Department on the environmental effects of noise in the workplace.
Mr. Forth : The Health and Safety Executive has a continuing programme of research into the effects of noise on employees in the workplace. Recent studies include a review of the non-auditory effects of noise which examined the effect of noise on, among other things, employees' performance, efficiency and health. Health and Safety Executive is to publish shortly a report by Professor Douglas Robinson on occupational hearing loss which provides tables to assist with the estimation of hearing loss caused by the combined effects of noise exposure and ageing.
Studies on the effects of workplace noise on the external environment are also being undertaken by the Department of the Environment. The Building Research Establishment is examining the factors which affect the insulation of buildings. This will help to contain noise at source and minimise the transmission of noise from one work environment to another. In addition, research is under way into the degree of acceptability to the public of industrial noise.
Rough Terrain Vehicles
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether Her Majesty's Government have taken any recent initiative to improve the safety of rough terrain agricultural and forestry vehicles.
Mr. Forth : The Health and Safety Executive has recently instigated two research projects on the safety of all-terrain vehicles. In one, funded jointly by the Health
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and Safety Executive and industry, the Scottish Centre of Agricultural Engineering is assessing the braking performance and stability of ATVs primarily with mounted or towed equipment. In the other, Health and Safety Executive's research and laboratory services division is investigating the stability of ATV when used as a means of transport over different terrains.Health and Safety Executive is also supporting a further initiative, jointly sponsored by the British Agricultural and Garden Machinery Association and the Agricultural Training Board, to improve the training given to drivers of ATVs.
Training Credits
Mr. Fatchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department is making any assessment of the impact of training credits upon the provision of training opportunities for young people with special needs.
Mr. Jackson : Within training credits schemes, suitable high quality training must be made available to all eligible young people, including those with special needs. The impact of the initiative upon young people with special needs will be addressed in the rigorous evaluation the Department is undertaking of the pilot schemes.
Heart of England Tourist Board
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many domestic tourists, overseas visitors and day trips there have been to the Heart of England tourist board area for each year from 1979 to 1991.
Mr. Jackson : The available estimates of the numbers of visits by domestic tourists and by overseas residents to the Heart of England tourist board area for each year from 1979 to 1990 are contained in the following table. There were also 70 million same-day visits by residents of Great Britain in the 12 months between March 1988 and April 1989.
Millions
Year |Visits by|Visits by
|domestic |overseas
|tourists |residents
----------------------------------------
1979 |9 |0.8
1980 |8 |0.8
1981 |10 |0.7
1982 |9 |0.7
1983 |9 |0.8
1984 |11 |0.9
1985 |10 |1.0
1986 |11 |1.0
1987 |11 |1.0
1988 |10 |1.1
1989 |<1>9 |1.3
1990 |<1>7 |1.2
<1>Based on the United Kingdom Tourist
Survey and not wholly comparable with
the figures prior to 1989 which were
based on the British Tourism Survey
Monthly.
Labour and Social Affairs Council
Mr. Donald Thompson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the outcome of the meeting of the Labour and Social Affairs Council held in Luxembourg on 14 October ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Howard : The Council reached unanimous agreement on the draft directive concerned with health and safety on temporary and mobile construction worksites. The Council formally adopted a common position on the directive concerning written statements of employment conditions (proof of contract), on which the United Kingdom abstained in the vote.There was lengthy discussion of the provisions in the proposed directive on pregnant workers concerned with dismissal and maternity pay. However, agreement was not reached on actual texts, which were referred back to COREPER for further examination.
There was agreement to take forward my proposal that the Social Affairs Council should launch an employment initiative, based on the principle that unemployed people should be provided with the help they need to return to work as quickly as possible, and on a commitment by the Council to devote more of its time at future meetings to identifying and disseminating information on effective practice. As the first practical step in this initiative, the Council took note of a paper which I presented on the comprehensive range of help and advice available in the United Kingdom to people without a job.
The EC Ministers discussed implications of the European Court of Justice decision on the Barber case. Industrial action on the part of the interpreters prevented any discussion of the proposed directive on working time.
This Council demonstrated yet again that the United Kingdom is far from isolated in its approach to EC social affairs. A wide range of member states have substantial concerns about the more difficult legislative proposals made by the Commission under its social action programme. In contrast, the Council was able to make progress on matters of genuine relevance to health and safety at work and agreed that high priority should be given to creating and sustaining employment.
Prior to the Council, there was a meeting between members of the Council and representatives of the European Parliament to discuss the state of progress on EC social affairs.
HEALTH
NHS Reform
Mr. Atkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what new opportunities exist for health authorities and fund-holding general practitioners to obtain complementary and alternative medical treatment for their patients under the national health service as a result of his reforms.
Mr. Dorrell : Fundholding general practitioners may directly employ complementary therapists within their practice staff. Non-fundholding general practitioners may employ such therapists subject to their family health service authority's agreement to pay for the service.
Doncaster Family Health Service
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the current figures available on the average general practitioner list size for the Doncaster family health services authority.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : At 1 April 1991, the latest date for which figures are available, the average list size for the Doncaster family health service authority was 1,984.
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