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Mr. Pendry : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will extend the consultative period over the evening opening of betting offices.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : We should be willing to arrange for written comments to be received after 29 November if any organisations are unable to submit them by that date. Until all written comments have been received, it is not possible to predict what further consultations may be necessary nor how long they may take to complete.
Horse Racing
Mr. Pendry : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many evening horse racing meetings took place during the last 12-month period when figures were available ; and what estimate he has of the annual attendance at these evening meetings, and at all horserace meetings during that year.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : There were 134 evening horserace meetings in 1990 attended by 654,302 racegoers. The total attendance for all horserace meetings in 1990 was 4,901,515.
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Asylum
Mr. Darling : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum as listed in his answer of 21 October, Official Report, column 338, were (a) in country and (b) at port of entry on entry in each quarter of 1990 and 1991.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The information requested is given in the table. The figures are for principal applicants excluding dependants. The 1990 figures for after-entry applications understate because of delays in recording, particularly for the fourth quarter.
Applications received<1><2> for asylum in the United Kingdom, by
location of application, 1990-91
|At port of |After entry<3><4>|Total<3><4>
|entry
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990<3>
Quarter 1 |1,450 |1,910 |3,360
Quarter 2 |1,615 |2,000 |3,615
Quarter 3 |2,580 |4,220 |6,800
Quarter 4 |3,550 |3,995 |7,545
1991
Quarter 1 |3,520 |8,180 |11,700
Quarter 2 |2,040 |10,030 |12,070
Quarter 3 |1,970 |8,630 |10,600
<1> Excluding dependants.
<2> Provisional figures, rounded to the nearest 5.
<3> The after-entry, and total, figures for 1990 understate because of
delays in recording, particularly for the fourth quarter. In total,
applications in 1990, excluding dependants, are estimated at over
22,000 (over 30,000 including dependants).
<4> Includes also the small number of principal applications made
from overseas.
Young Prisoners
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to achieve his commitment to end the practice of holding young people in prison accommodation.
Mr. John Patten : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has established a national steering group to plan and take forward the work needed to give effect to the juvenile remand provisons of the Criminal Justice Act 1991, including the abolition of prison remands for 15 and 16-year-old boys.
Public Opinion Surveys
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the public opinion surveys carried out by his Department since 11 July.
Mr. Kenneth Baker : My Department's public relations branch has commissioned three market research surveys since 11 July : Pre-campaign research for smoke alarms maintenance advertising. Qualitative research among samples of the target audience for Special Constables recruitment advertising.
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Post-campaign research for electoral registration advertising.Greyhound Tracks
Mr. Pendry : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many greyhound tracks operate throughout England, Scotland and Wales in the evening for the last year when figures were available ; and what information he has as to the approximate annual attendance at greyhound evening meetings.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : On the basis of figures provided by the joint standing committee of the British Greyhound Racing Board and the National Greyhound Racing Club to the Home Affairs Committee inquiry into the financing of greyhound racing, I understand that there were about 87 greyhound tracks operating in the evening in 1990 with annual attendance estimated at about 5 million.
Residential Psychiatric Patients
Miss Lestor : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many former residential psychiatric patients were prosecuted for offences in the last year for which figures are available.
Mr. John Patten : Information on the number of former residential patients who have been prosecuted for offences is not collected centrally.
Adoption
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to the number of children brought into the United Kingdom for the purpose of adoption each year since 1979.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The information held centrally relates to Romanian children during the last two years only. In 1990 the issue of 114 entry clearances was authorised to Romanian children with a view to adoption by British couples. To date the corresponding figure for 1991 is 212. In 1990, a total of 80 and in 1991 to date seven Romanian children have been brought to the United Kingdom without entry clearance with a view to adoption. In addition I understand that in 1990 our High Commission in Sri Lanka issued 54 entry clearances to Sri Lankan children with a view to adoption by British couples.
PRIME MINISTER
Terrorist Offences
Mr. Stanbrook : To ask the Prime Minister in how many cases since 1975, excepting those initiated under the Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1975, British courts have exercised extra-territorial jurisdiction conferred upon them by anti-terrorism legislation in compliance with mulilateral conventions for the suppression of hijacking, hostage-taking and similar terrorist offences.
The Prime Minister : The information requested is not available.
Separation of Powers
Mr. Allen : To ask the Prime Minister if he will bring forward proposals to ensure a constitutional separation of powers and to enhance the powers of the elected representatives vis-a -vis those of the Government.
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Political Advisers
Mr. Allen : To ask the Prime Minister how many political advisers are in post in Her Majesty's Government ; in which Departments they are in post ; what is the salary in each case ; and what is the total salary bill of such posts.
The Prime Minister : There are currently 34 political advisers to Ministers employed in the civil service. The number in each Department is as follows :
|Number
----------------------------------------------------------
Cabinet Office (including No. 10) |8
Defence |1
Department of the Environment |3
Foreign and Commonwealth Office |2
Department of Health |3
Her Majesty's Treasury |3
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food |1
Department of Education and Science |2
Department of Energy |1
Department of Employment |1
Home Office |2
Lord President of the Council |1
Lord Privy Seal |1
Scottish Office |1
Department of Social Security |1
Department of Trade and Industry |2
Department of Transport |1
It is not our practice to reveal the salary of any advisor as it is negotiated individually in relation to previous earnings and is therefore confidential. They are, however, normally paid on a special advisers' salary spine comprising 30 points, as follows :
Scale Point |Salary
|(Inclusive)
|£
------------------------------------
30 |57,706
29 |55,486
28 |53,352
27 |52,104
26 |50,861
25 |49,271
24 |47,681
23 |45,509
22 |43,818
21 |42,135
20 |40,372
19 |38,595
18 |36,818
17 |35,048
16 |32,937
15 |31,595
14 |30,527
13 |29,464
12 |28,347
11 |27,328
10 |26,490
9 |25,316
8 |24,422
7 |23,627
6 |22,843
5 |22,042
4 |20,869
3 |20,155
2 |19,546
1 |18,403
The two most senior special advisers are paid personal salaries above the spine limit of £57,706. The current total salary bill, excluding one adviser who is paid a daily rate, is £1,249,970.
Nuclear Weapons Tests
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister what changes he plans to announce in the programme of testing British nuclear weapons.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister what representation he has received from the Government of Australia or the representatives of the Maralinga aboriginal people to fund a clean-up of the British nuclear bomb test site at Maralinga, Australia.
The Prime Minister : I have received a letter from the Australian Prime Minister on the question of a further clean-up at the former nuclear weapon test sites at Maralinga and Emu field, and requesting discussions between Ministers and officials from both countries. We are considering the points raised by Mr. Hawke and have agreed to meet the relevant Australian Minister and officials later this year. In addition, a delegation representing the Maralinga aborigines called on my noble Friend the Earl of Arran, Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces, and senior officials on 30 October to present their views on the same topic.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister what response he has made to representations from the Shoshone nation against the continuation of the British nuclear bomb test site in Nevada.
The Prime Minister : I have asked Her Majesty's ambassador in Washington to reply on my behalf.
Economic and Monetary Union
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the Dutch Presidency's proposals for economic and monetary union with his own call for an EC of 30 states ; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : The question of enlargement will be high on the European Community's agenda in the coming years ; we must ensure that decisions taken in the intergovernmental conferences do not pose a barrier to the accession of applicants who wish to join and meet all the conditions of membership.
The text produced by the Dutch Presidency is a useful basis for further negotiation towards an agreement. But the United Kingdom and other member states are not committed to any particular part of its contents. The Government have plenty to say about it in the intergovernmental conference and we will make our views clear to the other member states. I remain confident that it will be possible to reach an agreement on economic and monetary union. Such an agreement should not hinder the enlargement of the Community.
Pensioners
Mr. Battle : To ask the Prime Minister how many letters he has received from pensioners about the level of their pension increase.
Column 44
The Prime Minister : I have received many representations on this topic.
Ukraine
Mr. Allen : To ask the Prime Minister what impact the declaration of independence for the Ukraine has had upon Her Majesty's Government's policy.
The Prime Minister : We are naturally paying close attention to developments in the Ukraine and intend to build on the good contacts we have established there. Questions of recognition and our future policy towards the Ukraine will largely depend on the outcome of discussions which are still going on between the Ukraine, the centre and other republics on the form of its future relationships. The Ukrainian people will vote on their Supreme Soviet's declaration of independence on 1 December.
Paid Public Appointments
Mr. Warren : To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish an up-to- date directory of paid public appointments made by Ministers ; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : A list of public bodies by Departments, with the number of paid and unpaid appointments, is now given in "Public Bodies", published annually by the Cabinet Office (OMCS). The 1990 edition is available from the House of Commons Library ; the 1991 edition will be published in December.
World Development
Mr. Lester : To ask the Prime Minister what interdepartmental meetings are held to discuss how world development issues can be covered within British schools.
The Prime Minister : As a result of the introduction of the national curriculum world development issues will be firmly established in school timetables. Government Departments worked together on the formulation of the national curriculum.
Publicity
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister what was the total expenditure by the Cabinet Office on press and public relations in 1979-80 and in each following year ; and what is his estimate for 1991-92 and budget for 1992-93.
The Prime Minister : Expenditure on press and public relations by the Cabinet Office was :
|£
------------------------
1984-85 |247,495
1985-86 |232,980
1986-87 |224,813
1987-88 |215,925
1988-89 |201,837
1989-90 |205,650
1990-91 |165,601
The latest estimate for 1991-92 is £1,005,000 and the provisional budget for 1992-93 is £508,000.
Similar information is not available for the years prior to 1984-85.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister if he will give separate figures for spending by his office on (a) television
Column 45
advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979-80 and in each following year ; and what are his latest estimates for 1991-92 and budgets for 1992-93.The Prime Minister : My office has incurred no expenditure on advertising or promotional material and there are no plans for any such expenditure in 1991-92.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister whether (a) the Prime Minister's office or (b) the Cabinet Office have sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material.
The Prime Minister : My office has not sent any unsolicited direct mail. The Cabinet Office, as part of its central civil service function, has sent the following publicity material :
An approach has been made to heads of universities and local authority chief executives advising them of European Community recruitment competitions as part of the ongoing initiative to improve United Kingdom representation in EC institutions.
Each year we inform certain private sector companies of the date by which the Cabinet Office needs to receive applications for the top management programme in the forthcoming cycle.
The public appointments unit approaches individuals, in respect of whom they have received a recommendation, seeking their willingness to be considered for senior appointments.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister what was the total expenditure by his office on press and public relations in 1979-80 and in each following year ; and what is his estimate for 1991-92 and budget for 1992-93.
The Prime Minister : Expenditure by my office on press and public relations was not recorded separately before 1987-88. The total expenditure for each year since then is as follows ; the budget for 1992-93 has not yet been finalised.
|£
---------------------------------
1987-88 |377,987
1988-89 |419,326
1989-90 |427,802
1990-91 |553,068
1991-92 |<1>560,750
<1> Estimate.
Note: The figures for 1990-91
and 1991-92 include notional
superannuation costs which are
excluded from the figures for
earlier
years.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister if he will provide an up-to- date list of each television advertising campaign carried out, or to be carried out, by (a) the Prime Minister's Office and (b) the Cabinet Office during 1991-92, and of each other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000, giving for each (i) the topic, (ii) the commencement date, (iii) the duration and (iv) the advertising, promotional and public relations companies involved.
The Prime Minister : My office has not undertaken any advertising campaigns in 1991-92 ; nor has the Cabinet Office undertaken any television advertising during 1991-92.
Details of the only advertising campaign costing over £100,000 carried out by the Cabinet Office in this period are as follows :
Column 46
(i) Citizen's Charter White Paper(ii) 22 July 1991
(iii) 7 weeks
(iv) the campaign was managed by the Central Office of Information Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister if he will give separate figures for spending by the Cabinet Office on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979-80 and in each following year ; and what are his latest estimates for 1991-92 and budgets for 1992-93.
The Prime Minister : The Cabinet Office has not incurred and does not expect to incur any expenditure on promotional advertising on television or radio in the years 1979 to 1993. Expenditure in this period on promotional advertising in newspapers is estimated at £585, 000 in 1991-92 and £300,000 in 1992-93.
Information on other promotional material is not available for the years 1979 to 1987. Expenditure on such material from 1987-88 was :
|£
----------------------
1987-88 |19,306
1988-89 |9,500
1989-90 |14,833
1990-91 |876
The Cabinet Office does not expect to incur any expenditure on other promotional material in 1991-92 or 1992-93.
Sunday Trading
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Prime Minister if he will issue guidance to local authorities on the kind of shops and markets and the goods which may legally be offered for sale to the public on the Sundays between 10 November and Christmas in England.
Private Health Insurance
Mr. Allen : To ask the Prime Minister what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on tax relief on private health insurance for the elderly.
The Prime Minister : The Government intend neither to abolish the existing relief nor to extend it to the under-60s.
Press and Publicity Staff
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister whether any member of (a) the Prime Minister's Office's or (b) the Cabinet Office's press and publicity staff accompanied him in Blackpool during the Conservative party conference.
The Prime Minister : One private secretary and one secretary were available to assist me in my official duties. Three members of my policy unit were also in attendance.
Interned Soldiers
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Prime Minister what representations he or his predecessors have made and what efforts he is currently making on behalf of civilians of Dutch, British and Commonwealth citizenship interned by invading and occupying forces in Indonesia and other Asian countries in the years 1942 to 1945 to secure adequate and meaningful compensation.
Column 47
The Prime Minister : Successive Governments have taken the view that the question of compensation for former prisoners of war and civilian internees of the Japanese was settled in the 1951 treaty of peace with Japan.Cabinet Committees
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will now give details of the name, composition and remit of each Cabinet committee and sub-committee.
The Prime Minister : No. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him of 6 June 1991 at column 280.
Engagements
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 5 November.
The Prime Minister : This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Public Opinion Surveys
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the public opinion surveys carried out by his Department since 15 July 1991.
Dr. Mawhinney : Two surveys have been carried out since 15 July : one, a survey of customer attitudes towards the service provided by the Social Security Agency with relation to national insurance contributions, the other a survey examining employment and possible improvements in services and the general environment in the Rathcoole/Bawnmore/Longlands area.
Column 48
Publicity
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give separate figures for the spending by his Department on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979-80 and in each following year ; and what are his latest estimates for 1991-92 and budgets for 1992-93.
Dr. Mawhinney : The information could be obtained in the form requested only at disproportionate cost ; the total figures for spending on all advertising and other promotional material are, however, set out in the table.
|£
---------------------------------------
1979-80 |468,972
1980-81 |487,393
1981-82 |613,464
1982-83 |1,550,896
1983-84 |2,853,451
1984-85 |2,699,659
1985-86 |3,916,824
1986-87 |3,787,628
1987-88 |4,028,259
1988-89 |4,606,655
1989-90 |5,227,759
1990-91 |5,886,796
1991-92 |<1>5,970,883
1992-93 |<2>4,845,837
<1> (Estimate)
<2> (Budget)
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide an up-to-date list of each television advertising campaign carried out, or to be carried out, by his Department during 1991-92, and of each other publicity campaign costing more than £100, 000, giving for each (a) the topic, (b) the commencement date, (c) the duration and (d) the advertising, promotional and public relations companies involved.
Dr. Mawhinney : The information is as follows.
Column 47
Campaign |Commencement Date |Duration |Company
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pedestrian Safety |26 June 1991 |1 month |A V Browne
|16 September 1991 |1 month |Advertising Ltd
Environmental Awareness and Energy Efficiency |22 August 1991 |3 months |Chrysalis TV
|Cannot be disclosed
Crime prevention |2 September 1991 |3 years |on security grounds
|Cannot be disclosed
Confidential Telephone |Mid-December 1991 |4 months |on security grounds
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 1991- 92 and budget for 1992-93.
Dr. Mawhinney : The information requested is as follows :
Year |£ --------------------------------------- 1979-80 |281,641 1980-81 |344,596 1981-82 |393,239 1982-83 |519,912 1983-84 |482,188 1984-85 |528,666 1985-86 |701,685 1986-87 |684,727 1987-88 |783,771 1988-89 |3,622,972 1989-90 |4,226,581 1990-91 |5,699,510 1991-92 |<1>5,502,537 1992-93 |<2>5,800,516 <1> Estimate. <2> Budget.
Column 49
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his Department has sent unsolicited direct mail as part of the distribution of publicity material.
Police Custody (Injuries)
Mr. McNamara : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many payments of compensation for injuries suffered in police custody have been made in each year since 1987 ; and if he will list the amounts paid in each case.
Dr. Mawhinney : The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Press and Publicity Staff
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any member of his Department's press and publicity staff accompanied him in Blackpool during the Conservative party conference.
Sports Clubs (Rate Relief)
Mr. Pendry : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many non-profit making sports clubs in Northern Ireland applied for rate relief for each of the financial years 1979-80 to 1991-92 and as a total over the same period ; and how many of these clubs were granted rate relief of (a) 25 per cent. or under (b) 25 to 50 per cent., (c) 50 to 65 per cent., (d) 65 to 90 per cent. and (e) 90 to 100 per cent.
Dr. Mawhinney : Rate relief for non-profit making sports clubs is a mandatory 65 per cent., but is restricted to those parts of the premises used solely for sporting purposes. This is administered by the Commissioner of Valuation who is responsible for the maintenance of the valuation list.
Relief is granted as of right to these clubs and there is no need for them to apply.
The application of sports and recreational relief is governed by article 31 of the Rates (Northern Ireland) Order 1977, and the Rates (Recreational Hereditaments) (Northern Ireland) Order 1979.
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