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Mr. David Hunt : The information requested is not held centrally except in relation to gipsy sites. There are currently two transit sites for gipsies in Wales ; one at Welshpool and one at Llandegai near Bangor. Comparable figures for 1970 and 1980 are not available.
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Mr. Geraint Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many caravan sites there are in Cardiganshire ; what are the corresponding figures for 1965, 1975 and 1985, and if he will make a statement.
Mr. David Hunt : The information requested is not held centrally except in relation to gipsy sites. Statistics supplied by the local authority show that there were no authorised gipsy sites in Ceredigion district in July 1985 or in July 1991. No figures are available for 1965 or 1975.
Universities
Mr. Livsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has made to help Welsh university colleges meet the demands of increased numbers of students expected in the next five years in terms of (a) capital available for buildings and (b) staffing.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The existing system of funding the universities has enabled a higher proportion of young people to enter universities by providing an incentive to institutions to expand efficiently. The proposals set out earlier this year in the White Paper "Higher Education--A New Framework" are aimed at ensuring that the higher education sector, as a whole in Wales, is better placed to meet the increased demands that will be put on it over the rest of this decade and beyond : under our proposals detailed decisions about future funding will be taken by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales.
Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the sites of special scientific interest in Wales for which management agreements are currently being negotiated, giving details of the damage threatened in each case ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. David Hunt : This information is not held centrally, and is treated as confidential by the parties to the agreement.
Welsh Development Agency
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance is given to the Welsh Development Agency about identifying and handling possible conflicts of interest in the employment of consultants where one of the principals in the consultancy is employed in a senior capacity by the Welsh Development Agency ; and if he has any plans to revise this advice.
Mr. David Hunt : Current guidance is contained in "Non Departmental Public Bodies : A guide for Departments". The WDA staff rules on the disclosures of possible conflicts of interest comply with the guide. The guide is kept under review.
Pembrokeshire Health Authority
Mr. Alan W. Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 11 November, Official Report, column 415, how many representations he has received supporting the application for national health service trust status from Pembrokeshire health authority.
Mr. David Hunt : Thirty-one respondents have written in to support the application, with a further 21 expressing no clear opinion.
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Departmental Land Holdings
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the hectarage, number of holdings and numbers of tenants of holdings of agricultural land owned by his Ministry in each county in Wales in (a) 1980 and (b) 1990.
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Mr. David Hunt [holding answer 6 November 1991] : The information is shown in the table :
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1980 1990
|Area of |Number of |Area of |Number of |Number of
|holding to|holdings |holding to|holdings |tenants
|nearest |nearest
|hectare |hectare
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clwyd |159 |5 |19 |3 |3
Dyfed |32 |5 |2 |1 |1
Gwent |32 |2 |2 |1 |1
Gwynedd |60 |3 |32 |1 |1
Mid Glamorgan |24 |2 |27 |3 |3
Powys |13 |3 |34 |7 |6
South Glamorgan |12 |2 |8 |1 |1
West Glamorgan |26 |2 |- |- |-
Information on the number of tenants in 1980 is not available.
The substantial decrease between 1980 and 1990 in the amount of land owned or held by the Secretary of State reflects the ongoing process of rationalisation by the Department to ensure disposal of any land or property which is surplus to requirements.
In addition in 1990 the Secretary of State owned or held on long lease the following three holdings at the Pwllpeiran experimental husbandry farm in Dyfed :
|Hectares
-----------------------------------------------
Holding 1 |-647.47
Holding 2 (999 year lease) |-<1>318.6
Holding 3 |-<1>58.2
<1>Managed by Forestry Commission.
Information on land held in 1980 for experimental purposes could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Forestry Commission land in Wales is vested in the Secretary of State. A total of 11,000 hectares of agricultural land were held in 1980.
Figures for 1990 are :
|Number
-------------------------------------
Area |4,467
Number of tenancies |100
Number of grazing lets |48
Information is not kept centrally on the number of holdings or the distribution by county. This information and a breakdown of the 1980 figure could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Nursing Statistics
Dr. Marek : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on (a) the establishment and (b) the actual numbers of district nurses, midwives and health visitors practising in Wales.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett [holding answer 11 November 1991] : Complete information on staff numbers is available only for all nursing and midwifery staff, and not for occupational groups such as district nurses, midwives and health visitors. At 31 September 1991, the whole-time equivalent number of nursing and midwifery staff in Wales was 27,991. Information on establishment is not available centrally.
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TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Textile and Footware Factories
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) footwear factories and (b) textile factories he has visited in the last 12 months.
Mr. Leigh : My ministerial colleagues and I have regular contact with representatives of the footwear and textile industries and have visited several factories over the past year.
Post Office
Mr. Henderson : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what plans he has to privatise Post Office Counters Ltd ;
(2) what plans he has to privatise Parcelforce ;
(3) what plans he has to privatise Post Office Letters.
Mr. Lilley : I have no present plans to privatise the Post Office or any constituent part of it.
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give details of the real unit cost target for 1992 in respect of the Post Office.
Mr. Lilley : The Government set efficiency targets in the form of a cumulative percentage change in real unit costs--RUC--for Royal Mail Letters and for Post Office Counters Ltd., but not for Parcelforce, in recognition of the strongly competitive environment in which it operates.
The current RUC targets relating to the three-year period 1989-90 to 1991- 92 are minus 1 per cent. for Royal Mail and minus 2 per cent. for Counters. New targets for 1992-93 onwards have not yet been set.
Deregulation Unit
Mr. Quentin Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many regulations were abolished as a result of an initiative taken by his Department's deregulation unit over the latest 12-month period for which figures are available ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood : The deregulation unit is responsible for monitoring and co-ordinating progress under the
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deregulation initiative. The initiative has three aims : to abolish unnecessary regulations and licences ; to improve the clarity and effectiveness of all rules and regulations where these remain necessary ; and to ensure that the compliance costs to business are assessed and taken into account in developing new regulations. The initiative covers regulation by central and local government in the United Kingdom as well as regulations originating in the European Commission. On 13 May, I announced publication of "Cutting Red Tape for Business", the latest record of achievements under the initiative. A copy is in the Library. The benefit of these achievements is cumulative and, taken together, they have saved business many millions of pounds in time and administrative effort. For example, self-employed people whose annual turnover is below a certain threshold now need only send the Inland Revenue a simple three-line statement of profits instead of full accounts. The threshold has recently been raised to £15,000. Again, the annual turnover threshold for VAT registration has been increased by 38 per cent. from £25,400 to £35,000, keeping small businesses out of the VAT net for longer. The unit would welcome suggestions of new areas for action.Libya (Trade)
Mr. Parry : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the Official Report details of trade between Britain and Libya in each of the past five years to the latest available date ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood : Information on United Kingdom visible trade is regularly published in "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom", which is available in the Library of the House.
Investor Protection
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the review of investor protection and advice to investors will be published.
Mr. Redwood : The Securities and Investments Board's review of retail regulation is a matter for the board.
Cigarettes
Sir Thomas Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the market share of imported cigarettes.
Mr. Redwood : Information on the market share of imported cigarettes is published in table D4 on page 67 of the 1990-91 report of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library.
Caravans
Mr. Mudd : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has estimated the number of caravans needing to be brought up to current safety standards ; what assessment he has made of the availability of sufficient expertise to complete this task by 29 February 1992 ; if he has estimated the cost of attention and certification likely to fall upon the holiday parks industry ; if he is willing to consider financial aid to those unable to meet the cost ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Lilley : I welcome the constructive attitude taken by the National Caravan Council and the British Holiday and Home Parks Association on this matter of improving caravan safety following the tragic fatalities earlier this year. All parties involved have demonstrated that the first consideration must be the safety of caravan occupants.
It has been estimated that there are 300,000 caravans distributed over 300 sites. Of these, it is thought that nearly all will need modification to bring them up to the current safety standards for water heater flues. I welcome the speed with which the industry has organised training courses to ensure that there are enough competent people to complete the work by the start of the next holiday season. It is expected that most modifications will be made by the site staff in the closed season, with the average cost for the parts to complete the work expected to be approximately £15 per caravan.
Scotch Whisky
Mr. Bill Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action has been taken by the Government to obtain the elimination of the discriminatory tariff and taxation faced by Scotch whisky exported to the Republic of Korea.
Mr. Redwood : Ministers and senior officials, in London and Seoul, raise the problems facing the Scotch whisky industry in the Korean market as a result of discriminatory tariffs and taxation with their opposite numbers in the Republic of Korea at every opportunity. In addition, we are discussing the possible handling of a GATT case with the European Commission.
Mr. Bill Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action has been taken by the Government to ensure that exports of Scottish whisky to Canada continue to be recognised and protected under Canadian legislation.
Mr. Redwood : Both the British Government and the European Commission have represented strongly to the Canadian authorities that the existing protection provided by Canada should not be withdrawn. The Canadian Government are considering these representations now that the formal period for public comment on their proposed amendments to the existing legislation has ended.
Banks
Sir Robert McCrindle : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what plans he has to meet the chairmen of individual banks to discuss their status as an independent financial adviser ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) what discussions he has had with regulators under the Financial Services Act 1986 on ways to encourage banks to provide independent financial advice or advice based on tied association with a provider but not both ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood : The arrangements governing the provision of investment advice under the Financial Services Act, which are primarily a matter for the Securities and Investments Board, are being considered as part of its review of retail regulation.
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ECGD Insurance Services Group
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he has reopened negotiations with NCM of Amsterdam on the terms for the acquisition of the Insurance Services Group of the Export Credits Guarantee Department ;
(2) what further progress he has to report on the proposed sale of the Insurance Services Group of the Export Credits Guarantee Department to NCM of Amsterdam ; whether there will be further invitations to tender or re- tender for the sale ; and if he will make a statement ;
(3) what is his most up-to-date assessment of the date for completion of negotiations with NCM of Amsterdam regarding the sale of the Insurance Services Group of the Export Credits Guarantee Department.
Mr. Lilley : Negotiations with NCM have been continuing since its selection as preferred purchaser, which was announced to the House on 1 July this year. Substantial progress has been made. The negotiations are now nearing completion and the sale is expected to take place on 1 December 1991.
Yugoslavia
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now make it his practice to answer questions on the supply of arms by British companies to Yugoslavia.
Mr. Lilley : It is not the practice to comment on individual export licence applications.
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether British companies have supplied cluster bombs to the Yugoslav National Army.
Mr. Lilley : Yes. All export licences for military equipment to Yugoslavia were revoked on 3 July 1991.
Iraq
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his current assessment of the contribution that British firms made in supplying materials that were used by Iraq to detonate nuclear initiators.
Mr. Lilley [holding answer 13 November 1991] : We have not received full details of information obtained during the inspections in Iraq carried out by the United Nations Special Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
I am, therefore, not yet able to assess whether any British firms supplied materials used by Iraq to detonate nuclear initiators.
Mr. Gordon Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will detail the breaches of the arms embargo with Iraq now known to his Department.
Mr. Lilley [holding answer 11 November 1991] : Inspections in Iraq by the United Nations Special Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency have revealed the names of many companies, around the world, which have traded with Iraq, including some from Britain. It is possible that more names will be revealed as time goes on.
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The information provided by these agencies is being carefully reviewed, but there is no evidence that the vast majority of the United Kingdom companies that have already been named have done anything wrong. Until the invasion of Kuwait, trade with Iraq was not illegal provided strategic export controls were not breached. Prosecutions for offences under the Export of Goods (Control) Order are a matter for Her Majesty's Customs and Excise. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on current cases.Information Technology
Mr. Warren : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library a copy of the document published recently giving guidelines of practice by Her Majesty's Government of information technology goods and services.
Mr. Maples : I have been asked to reply.
I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the "Review of the Information Systems/Information Technology Procurement Processes" undertaken by CCTA-- the Government centre for information systems--and involving extensive consultation with industry and Government departmental customers. A management summary entitled "1991 Update" was published recently and I have placed a copy of this in the Library. A comprehensive guide giving detailed advice on best practice is due for publication next week and a copy of that will be placed in the Library as soon as it is available.
SCOTLAND
Govan Dry Docks
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the organisation Clydebuilt about the future of Govan dry docks ; and what replies he has sent.
Begging and Sleeping Rough
Mrs. Golding : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were (a) prosecuted for begging, (b) convicted of begging, (c) prosecuted for sleeping rough and (d) convicted of sleeping rough in each police district in Scotland in the year ending 31 December 1990.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Neither begging nor sleeping rough is, by itself, a criminal offence in Scotland.
Correspondence
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Lord Advocate will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Cunninghame, North dated 22 July 1991 requesting a fatal accident inquiry into the deaths of certain of his constituents in a house fire.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The Lord Advocate's private secretary replied to the hon. Member on 13 August 1991 and 18 October 1991 indicating that inquiries were still proceeding into the circumstances of the deaths of certain of the hon. Member's constituents in the house fire to which he refers.
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The procurator fiscal's inquiries are not yet complete. Once they are, the report will be submitted to Crown Office for the consideration of Crown counsel and the decision will then be taken whether a fatal accident inquiry should be held. Once it has been taken, the Lord Advocate will advise the hon. Member of the decision.HEALTH
NHS Trusts
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the total deficit of hospitals and units with trust status.
Mr. Dorrell : The 57 first-wave trusts are currently not reporting an overall deficit.
Spokes Inquiry
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health which of the recommendations of the Spokes inquiry report, Cm 440, have been implemented ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Dorrell : The Spokes report made 30 recommendations. Four of these--recommendations 22, 25, 26 and 27--are covered by the care programme approach, HC(90)23/LASSL(90)11, which health authorities in collaboration with local authority social services departments were required to implement as from 1 April 1991.
A clarification of health and local authorities statutory duties to provide after-care for former mentally disordered hospital patients--recommendation 23--is contained in the Mental Health Act 1983 code of practice, laid before Parliament in 1989.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists has prepared a document entitled "Good Medical Practice in the Aftercare of Potentially Violent or Vulnerable Patients discharged from Inpatient Psychiatric Treatment" which it plans to circulate to its members in December
1991--recommendation 24.
The new diploma in social work is being introduced. This allows students to specialise in their final year of training. One area of specialist study is mental health. The training of social workers for approval under the Mental Health Act 1983, section 114, now lasts for 60 days and local authorities are also expected to provide their approved social workers with refresher training--recommendation 21. The Housing Corporation's special needs housing programme provides accommodation for people with special needs, including the mentally ill, at the rate of 3,000 bedspaces per year. In addition, revenue funding for special needs is due to increase from £36.5 million to over £95 million in the period 1990-93. The needs of single mentally ill people will continue to receive high priority- -recommendation 28. The remaining recommendations are regarded as matters of good practice on which no further Government action is required. The recommendations have been drawn to the attention of health and local authorities and the relevant professional bodies which are expected to have taken them into account in developing their own working and training procedures.
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Counterfeit Medicines
Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information he has on the import, production and sale of counterfeit medicines in the United Kingdom ;
(2) what steps he is taking to eradicate the import, production and sale of counterfeit medicines in the United Kingdom ;
(3) what assessment he has made of the damage being done to British pharmaceutical companies by the import, manufacture or sale of counterfeit medicines.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Section 118 of the Medicines Act 1968 restricts the disclosure of information regarding any alleged importation, sale or production of counterfeit medicines. Any reports of alleged import, production or sale of counterfeit medicines in the United Kingdom are urgently investigated by the enforcement unit of the Medicines Control Agency. The United Kingdom licensing system covering the import, sale and production of medicinal products is continually kept under review to ensure appropriate safeguards against counterfeit products are maintained. No information is available about any damage being done to pharmaceutical companies arising from alleged trade in such products.
The Health of the Nation"
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration was given in the preparation of the Green Paper "The Health of the Nation" to the 1985 targets set out by the World Health Organisation in respect of housing and equal access to education.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The World Health Organisation, which has warmly welcomed the approach taken in "The Health of the Nation", has made it clear that its health for all by the year 2000
initiative--HFA--is meant to be adapted to the specific needs of individual countries. All aspects of the WHO approach were taken fully into consideration in preparation of the Green Paper proposals for a health strategy for England. The Green Paper also included a report on England's progress towards meeting the HFA targets.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on how environmental, transport, housing, food and agriculture considerations were integrated in the Green Paper "The Health of the Nation."
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The Government recognise the importance of a wide range of factors affecting health. This was reflected in the prominence "The Health of the Nation" gave to the
responsibilities of specific Government Departments. We have established a ministerial group on which the 14 Government Departments are represented, to oversee development of the health strategy and co-ordinate the Government's contribution to it.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how often progress towards health for all is assessed.
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