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Column 551

Written Answers to Questions

Friday 13 December 1991

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

Botswana

Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what British aid funds have been used to fund Botswana's wildlife activities since 1 January 1990 ; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Chalker : We have funded the salary and most allowances of the deputy director of wildlife since February 1990 at a cost of around £54,500 in the last complete financial year. We are also providing three United Kingdom training awards this academic year at an estimated cost of £26,000.

Following a review of our support to the natural resources sector, we shall be considering with the Government of Botswana an appraisal mission to identify a programme aimed at promoting environmentally sustainable management of livestock and wildlife. This will be pursued at the bilateral aid talks being held on 12 December.

Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding is given by Britain directly or indirectly to the deputy director of wildlife in Botswana.

Mrs. Chalker : The salary and most allowances of the deputy director of wildlife in Botswana are funded under the aid programme at a cost of some £54,500 in the last complete financial year.

Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what studies the Overseas Development Administration has contributed to in respect of the culling of elephants in Botswana.

Mrs. Chalker : We have financed no studies in respect of the culling of elephants in Botswana, but we are financing the salary and most allowances of the deputy director of wildlife, who can be expected to be associated with studies of this subject.

PRIME MINISTER

Council Tax

Mr. Battle : To ask the Prime Minister if he will co-ordinate an examination by the Secretary of State for the Environment and Secretary of State for Social Security of the impact upon claimants in receipt of family credit and disability working allowance, of increasing the taper for the proposed council tax rebates to 20 per cent.; and if he will make a statement.

The Prime Minister : Such an examination has already taken place. The overall effect on people who receive family credit or disability working allowance will be very small.


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Non-ministerial Public Bodies

Mr. Morgan : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 28 November, Official Report, column 614, what is the definition of executive duties used when deciding whether a person is carrying out such duties in a political party.

The Prime Minister : There is no formal definition. The rule is applied by Departments after consideration of the nature of the particular post held.

ENVIRONMENT

Housing Investment

Mr. George Howarth : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been, at constant 1991-92 prices, the volume of local authority housing investment for each year since 1979-80, giving the outturn figures up to 1990-91 and the estimated figures for 1991-92, by region, and distinguishing new housebuilding, renovation of local authority stock, private sector grants and others.

Mr. Yeo : I have placed a table providing the information requested in the Library.

Homelessness

Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what special help is being given by his Department to local authorities to help homeless people now sleeping rough ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Yeo : My Department is providing, through Single Homelessness in London, a London boroughs working party, 300 places in shelters between December and March, at an estimated cost of £1 million. SHIL has developed a co-ordinated strategy of emergency shelters, transportation and support for those sleeping rough in central London during the winter.

This programme is part of my Department's £96 million rough sleepers initiative in central London, which has provided 500 places in hostels, with another 400 to come ; 500 bedspaces in flats and houses leased from private owners, with a further 180 to come, and 370 places--out of an anticipated 2,000--in permanent housing.

Renewable Energy

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many copies of his departmental planning guidance notes on renewable energy projects have been printed in the first print run ; and if he will make it his policy to arrange for the widespread distribution of this document to relevant parties and major public libraries.

Mr. Yeo [holding answer 12 December 1991] : My hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning announced on 5 December, Official Report, col. 185, the issue for public consultation in England and Wales of draft planning policy guidance about renewable energy. A copy of the consultation paper has been sent to over 300 organisations and individuals, including local authority associations, professional and planning bodies, and conservation and energy organisations, inviting comments by 12 February 1992.


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Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the Library. Copies of the draft guidance may also be obtained, on request, from the Department of the Environment, room C13/13, 2 Marsham street, London SW1P, 3EB, or from the Welsh Office, room G040, Cathays park, Cardiff, CF1 3NQ.


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Local Government Finance

Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the level of rate support grant/revenue support grant for local authorities for the years 1979-80 to 1992-93 showing (a) the cash figure in £ billion, (b) the percentage of actual local authority expenditure covered by RSG and (c) the sum expressed in constant prices where 1979-80 = 100.

Mr. Portillo [holding answer 12 December 1991] : the available information is as follows :


Column 553


                Rate support grant            Total expenditure             Rate                         

                                                             support                                     

                                                             grant as a                                  

                                                             percentage                                  

                                                             of total                                    

                                                             expenditure                                 

               |Cash          |1981-82 prices|Cash          |1981-82 prices|Per cent.                    

               |(£ billion)   |(£ billion)   |(£ billion)   |(£ billion)                                 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1981-82        |9.0           |9.0           |18.2          |18.2          |49.5                         

1982-83        |9.0           |8.4           |19.7          |18.4          |45.7                         

1983-84        |9.1           |8.1           |20.8          |18.6          |43.6                         

1984-85        |9.1           |7.7           |21.3          |18.1          |42.7                         

1985-86        |9.2           |7.4           |21.7          |17.4          |42.3                         

1986-87        |9.1           |7.1           |23.8          |18.5          |38.1                         

1987-88        |9.5           |7.0           |25.7          |19.0          |36.9                         

1988-89        |9.7           |6.7           |27.7          |19.1          |35.0                         

1989-90        |9.6           |6.2           |29.4          |19.0          |32.6                         


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                Revenue support grant         Net revenue expenditure       Revenue                      

                                                             support                                     

                                                             grant as a                                  

                                                             percentage                                  

                                                             of total                                    

                                                             expenditure                                 

               |Cash          |1981-82 prices|Cash          |1981-82 prices|Per cent.                    

               |(£ billion)   |(£ billion)   |(£ billion)   |(£ billion)                                 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1990-91        |9.5           |5.7           |33.2          |19.8          |28.5                         

1991-92        |9.7           |5.4           |36.3          |20.2          |26.6                         

Notes:                                                                                                   

(1) Rate support grant and revenue support grant are not directly comparable as they derive from two     

different financial systems.                                                                             

(2) Total expenditure and net revenue expenditure are not directly comparable as they derive from two    

different financial systems.                                                                             

(3) Under the local government finance system introduced in 1990 the level of revenue support grant is   

affected, inter alia, by the amount of non-domestic rates distributed from the national pool. In 1990-91 

and 1991-92 the total amount received by the authorities was £10.4 billion and £12.4 billion             

respectively (£6.2 billion and £6.9 billion at 1981-82 prices). For comparison in 1989-90, the total     

income from non-domestic rates was £9.6 billion (£6.2 billion at 1981-82 prices).                        

(4) In 1991-92 community charge grant is also being paid, amounting to about £4.8 million (£2.7 million  

at 1981-82 prices).                                                                                      

(5) The 1992-93 provisional revenue support grant settlement is £16.6 billion (£8.9 billion at 1981-82   

prices).                                                                                                 

(6) Information is not available for years before 1981-82.                                               

TRANSPORT

Light Dues

Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those member states of the EC which will be charging light dues after 1991.

Mr. McLoughlin : Within the EEC I believe that only the United Kingdom, Ireland and Greece have systems of light dues ; but that Denmark charge their own flag vessels for the use of their Decca radionavigation system. I am unaware of any changes in the position after 1991.

Channel Tunnel

Mr. O'Hara : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures will be taken against the possibility of outbreaks of fire in the channel tunnel when it is in use.


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Mr. Freeman : The matter has recently been covered in the inquiry by the Home Affairs Committee into fire, safety and policing of the channel tunnel. I understand that the Committee will be publishing its report on 19 December 1991 as HC 23.

Merchant Shipping

Mr. Grylls : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals the Government are considering to assist British merchant shipping following the defence review ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. McLoughlin : A statement on the review of the availability of British flag shipping for defence purposes will be made as soon as that review is complete.


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Dock Labour Scheme

Mr. Bell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what checks were carried out by his Department with Humberside Holdings Ltd. or Humberside Sea and Land Services Ltd. in relation to the abolition of the dock labour scheme to ensure that compensation payments were made only in accordance with redundancy conditions ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. McLoughlin : None. Neither firm was an employer of registered dockworkers.

Mr. Bell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state the full amounts of compensation recovered under the liquidation arrangements entered into consequent upon the abolition of the dock labour scheme as at 31 July 1991 ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. McLoughlin : A total of £497,604.

Mr. Bell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost to the Tees and Hartlepool port authority of redundancy payments made by the authority under the dock labour scheme covering the years 1989, 1990 and 1991 ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. McLoughlin : The following is the information.


Year      |£                  

------------------------------

1989      |2,883,500          

1990      |304,000            

1991      |3,163,500          

Mr. Bell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the full redundancy costs was borne by his Department in liquidation cases, and for what per cent. of the redundancy payments made on the abolition of the dock labour scheme did they register as non-preferential creditors ; what amounts were received from the assets of Lindsey Dock Services Ltd. and John Sutcliffe Consolidated Stevedores Ltd. against redundancy paid by these two companies under the dock labour scheme ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. McLoughlin : Under the Dock Work (Compensation Payments Scheme) Regulations 1989, the Department meets the full cost of compensation in such cases, and becomes a non-preferential creditor in respect of 50 per cent., representing the employer's share. It has received an interim dividend of £75,712 from the liquidators for Lindsey Dock Services Ltd. and none so far in respect of John Sutcliffe Consolidated Stevedores Ltd.

Mr. Bell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many redundancies there were within the Tees and Hartlepool port authority in the years 1989, 1990 and 1991 following the abolition of the dock labour scheme ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. McLoughlin : The THPA employed 445 registered dockworkers at the time of abolition. Redundancies have been as follows :


       |Number       

---------------------

1989   |183          

1990   |18           

1991   |192          

Mr. Bell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many redundancies there were within Immingham and Grimsby docks in the years 1989, 1990 and 1991 following the ending of the dock labour scheme ; how many registered dock workers were employed by Lindsey Dock Services Ltd. and John Sutcliff Consolidated Stevedores Ltd. ; how many jobs were lost on the liquidation of these companies ; what was the amount outstanding in severance liabilities ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. McLoughlin : There were 498 redundancies at Grimsby and Immingham in 1989, including the entire workforces of Lindsey Dock Services (106) and John Sutcliffe Consolidated Stevedores (226). Total compensation received by employees of the two firms was £3,028, 000 and £7,272,000 respectively. Subsequent redundancies have numbered 24 in 1990 and 10 in 1991.

Bus Services, London

Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many routes that have been put out to tender by London Buses Ltd. have been won by private bus operators.

Mr. Freeman : Of London Transport's 529 existing bus routes, 223 have been contracted out by competitive tender ; 100 are run by private bus operators, and 123 by London Buses Ltd. Subsidiaries.

Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what would be the cost of setting up a new bus executive for London.

Mr. Freeman : No estimates have yet been made of the costs involved in setting up a new London bus executive. However, the Government see no reason why the cost of establishing a new executive should be significantly greater or less than the cost of other options canvassed in our consultation paper "A Bus Strategy for London".

Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the responses received to his consultation paper, "A Bus Strategy for London", how many responses were received and from whom ; what was the proportion supporting and opposing the creation of a new bus executive for London ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Freeman : We received just over 200 official responses to the consultation paper "A Bus Strategy for London". A list of respondents has already been placed in the Library. It is not the Government's intention to publish responses. There was more support amongst respondents for creating a passenger transport authority for London or for designating London Transport as bus authority than there was for the creation of a non- departmental public body. However, with very few exceptions, those who advocated either of the former approaches were also opposed to deregulation. The creation of a new London bus executive will give London a body dedicated to bus activities, without distraction, and without any potential conflict of interest.


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EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

Examination Results

Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to publish the analysis of the summer 1991 examination results.

Mr. Eggar : Assuming that schools and LEAs respond promptly and accurately to the survey, the first results should be available for publication in March. Full results should be published around the end of 1992.

School Transport

Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average percentage cost of school transport expressed as a total of each education authority's total education budget.

Mr. Fallon : For 1989-90, the latest year for which actual spending information is available, each local education authority's spending on transport from home to school expressed as a percentage of its total net recurrent expenditure on education was as follows :



Home to school transport<1> as a percentage of 

net recurrent                                  

expenditure<2> on education, 1989-90           

LEA                  |Per cent.<3>             

-----------------------------------------------

ILEA                 |0.51                     

Barking              |0.53                     

Barnet               |0.35                     

Bexley               |0.70                     

Brent                |0.72                     

Bromley              |1.21                     

Croydon              |0.89                     

Ealing               |1.54                     

Enfield              |n/a                      

Haringey             |n/a                      

Harrow               |1.22                     

Havering             |1.08                     

Hillingdon           |1.34                     

Hounslow             |n/a                      

Kingston-upon Thames |0.99                     

Merton               |0.13                     

Newham               |1.54                     

Redbridge            |1.29                     

Richmond upon Thames |1.07                     

Sutton               |1.28                     

Waltham Forest       |1.11                     

Birmingham           |0.84                     

Coventry             |0.56                     

Dudley               |0.68                     

Sandwell             |0.73                     

Solihull             |1.38                     

Walsall              |0.53                     

Wolverhampton        |0.47                     

Knowsley             |0.56                     

Liverpool            |1.01                     

St. Helens           |0.88                     

Sefton               |0.88                     

Wirral               |1.26                     

Bolton               |0.99                     

Bury                 |0.57                     

Manchester           |n/a                      

Oldham               |0.63                     

Rochdale             |0.92                     

Salford              |1.51                     

Stockport            |n/a                      

Tameside             |1.24                     

Trafford             |0.99                     

Wigan                |0.60                     

Barnsley             |0.36                     

Doncaster            |0.58                     

Rotherham            |0.83                     

Sheffield            |0.52                     

Bradford             |0.91                     

Calderdale           |1.04                     

Kirklees             |0.88                     

Leeds                |1.23                     

Wakefield            |n/a                      

Gateshead            |0.73                     

Newcastle Upon Tyne  |0.77                     

North Tyneside       |n/a                      

South Tyneside       |0.32                     

Sunderland           |0.45                     

Isles of Scilly      |1.20                     

Avon                 |0.46                     

Bedfordshire         |2.21                     

Berkshire            |1.62                     

Buckinghamshire      |2.00                     

Cambridgeshire       |2.93                     

Cheshire             |1.65                     

Cleveland            |0.50                     

Cornwall             |2.34                     

Cumbria              |2.57                     

Derbyshire           |1.49                     

Devon                |2.97                     

Dorset               |2.53                     

Durham               |1.87                     

East Sussex          |1.67                     

Essex                |2.45                     

Gloucestershire      |2.69                     

Hampshire            |1.72                     

Hereford & Worcester |1.69                     

Hertfordshire        |1.58                     

Humberside           |1.56                     

Isle of Wight        |2.27                     

Kent                 |2.96                     

Lancashire           |1.48                     

Leicestershire       |1.94                     

Lincolnshire         |2.53                     

Norfolk              |3.35                     

North Yorkshire      |2.86                     

Northamptonshire     |1.82                     

Northumberland       |2.58                     

Nottinghamshire      |1.08                     

Oxfordshire          |2.65                     

Shropshire           |2.51                     

Somerset             |2.43                     

Staffordshire        |1.46                     

Suffolk              |0.23                     

Surrey               |2.49                     

Warwickshire         |2.14                     

West Sussex          |1.90                     

Wiltshire            |2.30                     

                                               

England average      |1.48                     

<1> Local education authorities' costs of      

their own drivers and vehicles, and their      

payments in respect of public transport and    

contract hire, used to transport pupils from   

home to nursery, primary and secondary schools 

and to special education schools or other      

establishments.                                

<2> Net recurrent expenditure on education     

includes total expenditure other than costs of 

financing capital expenditure, less income     

other than from specific grants.               

<3> The percentages are derived from           

authorities' returns of their spending to the  

Department of the Environment.                 

n/a indicates that a return was not received.  

Grammar Schools

Mr. Straw : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the number of maintained grammar schools in England in (a) June 1970, (b) February 1974, (c) May 1979 and (d) the latest available date.

Mr. Eggar : Information relating to the precise dates requested is not available. However, the numbers of maintained grammar schools in England as at January 1970, 1974, 1979 and 1991 are given in the following table.


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The 1991 figure (which is provisional) includes grant-maintained grammar schools. Direct grant grammar schools (which ceased to exist as such in 1980) are excluded from the figures for 1970, 1974 and 1979.


           |Maintained           

           |Grammar              

           |Schools              

---------------------------------

1970       |1,038                

1974       |675                  

1979       |254                  

1991       |148                  

Education Exhibitions

Mr. Straw : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish (a) details of the total estimated cost and staffing requirements of his Department's education exhibitions, (b) a full list of the 25 towns and cities in England which the exhibition will visit, (c) the dates when the exhibitions will visit each location and (d) the duration of each visit.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke : The total estimated cost of the "Time for School" touring exhibition including staffing is £170,000. A list of the 25 towns and cities to be visited including the dates and duration follows :


Location                      |Dates                                                                                    

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Birmingham                    |2, 3, 4 January 1992         |3 days                                                     

Stoke-on-Trent                |8 to 9 January 1992          |2 days                                                     

Shrewsbury                    |10 to 11 January 1992        |2 days                                                     

Manchester                    |15 to 16 January 1992        |2 days                                                     

Preston                       |17 to 18 January 1992        |2 days                                                     

Wood Green, London            |22 to 23 January 1992        |2 days                                                     

Edgware                       |24 to 25 January 1992        |2 days                                                     

Luton                         |29 to 30 January 1992        |2 days                                                     

Stevenage                     |31 January to 1 February 1992|2 days                                                     

Swindon                       |5 to 6 February 1992         |2 days                                                     

Cheltenham<1>                 |7 to 8 February 1992         |2 days                                                     

Leicester                     |12 to 13 February 1992       |2 days                                                     

Nottingham                    |14 to 15 February 1992       |2 days                                                     

Middlesbrough                 |19 to 20 February 1992       |2 days                                                     

Sheffield<1>                  |21 to 22 February 1992       |2 days                                                     

Doncaster                     |26 to 27 February 1992       |2 days                                                     

Leeds                         |28 to 29 February 1992       |2 days                                                     

Newcastle<1>                  |4 to 5 March 1992            |2 days                                                     

Gateshead                     |6 to 7 March 1992            |2 days                                                     

Skelmersdale                  |11 to 12 March 1992          |2 days                                                     

Warrington                    |13 to 14 March 1992          |2 days                                                     

Eastbourne                    |18 to 19 March 1992          |2 days                                                     

Southampton                   |20 to 21 March 1992          |2 days                                                     

Telford                       |25 to 26 March 1992          |2 days                                                     

Brierley Hill, Dudley         |27 to 28 March 1992          |2 days                                                     

<1> Subject to final confirmation.                                                                                      

Schools (Capital Allocations)

Mr. Straw : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to announce his decision in respect of capital allocation for schools.

Mr. Fallon : We have already announced that £524 million will be allocated for schools buildings for 1992-93, an increase of 11 per cent. over the £472 million allocated in 1991-92. Building grants for voluntary aided schools will also increase to £151 million, a rise of over 15 per cent. on the current year.

My right hon. and learned Friend intends to announce his decisions on the distribution of annual capital


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guidelines and voluntary aided school capital allocations for 1992-93 to local education authorities before Christmas.

National Curriculum

Mr. Straw : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a full list of all documents relating to the national curriculum and its amendments by (a) the National Curriculum Council, (b) the School Examinations and Assessment Council and (c) him or his Department, since June 1987.

Mr. Eggar : The information requested is in the two tables following. Interim documents which become redundant when subject orders are laid, such as working group reports, subject proposals and draft subject orders, are detailed in table 2.





Table 1                                                                                                                                          

Documents relating to the National Curriculum                                                                                                    

Documents published by the Department of                       |Date of                                                                          

Education and Science                                          |publication                                                                      

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. National curriculum subject orders and                                                                                                        

      associated documents                                                                                                                       

Mathematics in the National Curriculum                         |March 1989                                                                       

Science in the National Curriculum                             |March 1989                                                                       

English in the National Curriculum                             |September 1989                                                                   

English in the National Curriculum (No. 2)                     |March 1990                                                                       

Technology in the National Curriculum                          |March 1990                                                                       

History in the National Curriculum                             |1991                                                                             

Geography in the National Curriculum                           |1991                                                                             

Modern Foreign Languages in the National                       |November 1991                                                                    

  Curriculum                                                                                                                                     

Modern Foreign Languages in the National                       |November 1991                                                                    

  Curriculum: Section 3 order                                                                                                                    

2. Other statutory instruments and circulars                                                                                                     

Education Reform Act 1988: Local Arrangements                  |January 1989                                                                     

  for the Consideration of Complaints, Circular                                                                                                  

  1/89                                                                                                                                           

Education Reform Act 1988: The School                          |February 1989                                                                    

  Curriculum and Assessment, Circular 5/89                                                                                                       

Education (National Curriculum) (Modern                        |May 1989                                                                         

  Foreign Languages) Order 1989, SI 1989/825                                                                                                     

  and Circular 9/89                                                                                                                              

Education (Schools Curriculum and Related                      |June 1989                                                                        

  Information) Regulations 1989, SI 1989/954                                                                                                     

  and Circular 14/89                                                                                                                             

Education (School Curriculum and Related                       |July 1989                                                                        

  Information) Regulations 1989 Amendment,                                                                                                       

  SI 1989/1136 and covering letter                                                                                                               

Education Reform Act 1988: Temporary                           |July 1989                                                                        

  Exceptions from the National Curriculum,                                                                                                       

  SI 1989/1181 and Circular 15/89                                                                                                                

Education (School Curriculum and Related                       |May 1990                                                                         

  Information) Regulations 1989 Amendment,                                                                                                       

  SI 1990/1109 and covering letter                                                                                                               

Management of the School Day, Circular 7/90                    |July 1990                                                                        

The Education (Individual Pupils' Achievements)                |July 1990                                                                        

  (Information) Regulations 1990, SI 1990/1381                                                                                                   

  and Circular 8/90                                                                                                                              

Education (School Curriculum and Related                       |1991                                                                             

  Information) (Amendment) Regulations 1991,                                                                                                     

  SI 1991/1278                                                                                                                                   

Education (Information on School Examination                   |1991                                                                             

  Results) (England) Regulations 1991, SI                                                                                                        

  1991/1265, and Circular 9/91                                                                                                                   

Education (National Curriculum) (Assessment                    |October 1991                                                                     

  Arrangements for English, Mathematics and                                                                                                      

  Science) (Key Stage 1) Order 1991, SI                                                                                                          

  1991/2169                                                                                                                                      

Education (National Curriculum) (Assessment                    |October 1991                                                                     

  Arrangements for Technology) Order 1991,                                                                                                       

  SI 1991/2170                                                                                                                                   

National Assessment Arrangements: assessing                    |October 1991                                                                     

  seven-year-olds in English, Mathematics,                                                                                                       

  Science and Technology in 1992                                                                                                                 

Circular 4/91: The Education (National                                                                                                           

  Curriculum) (Assessment Arrangements for                     |October 1991                                                                     

  English, Mathematics and Science) (Key Stage                                                                                                   

  1) Order 1991; the Education (National                                                                                                         

  Curriculum) (Assessment Arrangements for                                                                                                       

  Technology) (Key Stage 1) Order 1991                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                                 

3. Other publications                                                                                                                            

Education Reform: the Government's proposals                   |November 1987                                                                    

  for schools: National Curriculum, more open                                                                                                    

  enrolment, financial delegation, Grant                                                                                                         

  Maintained Schools, City Technology Colleges                                                                                                   

Task Group on Assessment and Testing: A Report                 |December 1987                                                                    

Task Group on Assessment and Testing: Three                    |March 1988                                                                       

  supplementary Reports                                                                                                                          

Task Group on Assessment and Testing Report: A                 |March 1988                                                                       

  Digest for Schools                                                                                                                             

Our Changing Schools                                           |November 1988                                                                    

National Curriculum: From Policy to Practice                   |February 1989                                                                    

National Curriculum: A Guide for Parents                       |August 1989                                                                      

  (Various translations)                                                                                                                         

Aspects of English: English in the National                    |September 1991                                                                   

  Curriculum in Key Stages 1 to 4: Teachers                                                                                                      

  notes                                                                                                                                          

How is Your Child Doing at School? A parents' guide            |1991                                                                             

  to testing                                                                                                                                     

Your Child's Report-what it means and how it                   |1991                                                                             

  can help                                                                                                                                       

Your Child and the National Curriculum: a                      |December 1991                                                                    

  parent's guide to what is taught in schools                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                 

4. Speeches by the Secretary of State                                                                                                            

National Curriculum for 14 to 16 year olds:                    |February 1990                                                                    

  Speech by the Right hon. John MacGregor                                                                                                        

  OBE MP, Secretary of State for Education and                                                                                                   

  Science, at the Conference of the Society of                                                                                                   

  Education Officers in London on 25 January                                                                                                     

  1990                                                                                                                                           

National Curriculum and Assessment: A                          |June 1990                                                                        

  Summary of Messages from Recent Speeches                                                                                                       

  to Teachers Associations by the Right Hon.                                                                                                     

  John MacGregor OBE MP, Secretary of State                                                                                                      

  for Education and Science                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                 

5. Reports and other publications by HM                                                                                                          

  Inspectorate                                                                                                                                   

Report by HM Inspectors on the Implementation                  |1989                                                                             

  of the National Curriculum in Primary                                                                                                          

  Schools, Carried Out Summer 1989                                                                                                               

The Implementation of the National Curriculum                  |1990                                                                             

  in Primary Schools: A Survey of 100 Schools,                                                                                                   

  Autumn Term 1989: A report by HM                                                                                                               

  Inspectorate                                                                                                                                   

Mathematics Key Stages 1 and 3                                 |April 1991                                                                       

Science Key Stages 1 and 3                                     |April 1991                                                                       

English Key Stages 1 and 3                                     |April 1991                                                                       

Assessment, Recording and Reporting                            |June 1991                                                                        

National Curriculum and Special Needs                          |July 1991                                                                        

Information Technology and Special Needs in                    |October 1990                                                                     

  Schools                                                                                                                                        

In-service Training for the Introduction of the                |September 1991                                                                   

  National Curriculum: report by HM                                                                                                              

  Inspectorate 1988-1990                                                                                                                         

Teaching and Learning of Information                           |October 1991                                                                     

  Technology                                                                                                                                     

Teaching and Learning of Design and Technology                 |October 1991                                                                     

Initial Training of Primary Teachers for Science               |October 1991                                                                     

  and the National Curriculum                                                                                                                    

Training Teachers for the National Curriculum                  |October 1991                                                                     

Training Teachers for the National Curriculum:                 |October 1991                                                                     

  History                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                 

Documents published by the National Curriculum                                                                                                   

  Council                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                 

6. National Curriculum Non-Statutory Guidance                                                                                                    

    (published in association with National                                                                                                      

    Curriculum Statutory Orders)                                                                                                                 

Mathematics Non-Statutory Guidance                             |June 1989                                                                        

Science Non-Statutory Guidance                                 |June 1989                                                                        

English Key Stage 1 Non-Statutory Guidance                     |June 1989                                                                        

Technology Non-Statutory Guidance: Design and                  |April 1990                                                                       

  Technology Capability                                                                                                                          

Technology Non-Statutory Guidance:                             |April 1990                                                                       

  Information Technology Capability                                                                                                              

English Key Stages 2-4 Non-Statutory Guidance                  |July 1990                                                                        

Geography Non-Statutory Guidance                               |May 1991                                                                         

History Non-Statutory Guidance                                 |May 1991                                                                         

Modern Foreign Languages Non-Statutory                         |November 1991                                                                    

  Guidance                                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                                 

7. NCC Subject Reports-Reports to the Secretary                                                                                                  

    of State on the outcome of consultation and                                                                                                  

    NCC's recommendations                                                                                                                        

Science for Ages 5-16                                          |August 1988                                                                      

Mathematics for Ages 5-16                                      |August 1988                                                                      

English for Ages 5-11                                          |May 1989                                                                         

English for Ages 5-16                                          |November 1989                                                                    

Geography                                                      |November 1990                                                                    

History                                                        |December 1990                                                                    

Modern Foreign Languages                                       |May 1991                                                                         

Design and Technology for Ages 5-16                            |November 1989                                                                    

Mathematics in the National Curriculum (1991): a               |October 1991                                                                     

  report to the Secretary of State on the statutory                                                                                              

  consultation for attainment targets and                                                                                                        

  programmes of study in Mathematics                                                                                                             

Science in the National Curriculum (1991): a                   |October 1991                                                                     

  report to the Secretary of State on the statutory                                                                                              

  consultation for attainment targets and                                                                                                        

  programmes of study in Science                                                                                                                 

Geography and History at Key Stage 4                           |October 1991                                                                     

Whole Classes Taking GCSE or Equivalents Early                 |November 1991                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                 

8. National Curriculum Council Circulars                       |October 1988                                                                     

Applying the National Curriculum to Five Year                                                                                                    

  Olds in September 1989                                                                                                                         

A New Description for School Year Groups                       |February 1989                                                                    

Implementing the National Curriculum in                        |March 1989                                                                       

  Primary Schools                                                                                                                                

English 5-11 in the National Curriculum: A Digest              |April 1989                                                                       

Implementing the National Curriculum-                          |May 1989                                                                         

  Participation by Pupils with Special Education                                                                                                 

  Needs                                                                                                                                          

The National Curriculum and Whole Curriculum                   |October 1989                                                                     

  Planning: Preliminary Guidance                                                                                                                 

Publications on the National Curriculum from                   |December 1989                                                                    

  NCC, DES, HMI and SEAC                                                                                                                         

Technology 5-16 in the National Curriculum:                    |December 1989                                                                    

  A Digest                                                                                                                                       

English 5-16 in the National Curriculum: A Digest              |December 1989                                                                    

The National Curriculum at Key Stage 4                         |May 1990                                                                         

Circular 11: Linguistic Diversity and the National             |March 1991                                                                       

  Curriculum                                                                                                                                     

Circular 12: Report on Monitoring the                          |July 1991                                                                        

  Implementation of the National Curriculum                                                                                                      

  Core Subjects, 1989-90 (and summary)                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                                 

9. Other Publications                                          |February 1989                                                                    

The National Curriculum Information Pack No. 1                                                                                                   

An Introduction to the National Curriculum                     |May 1989                                                                         

Developing INSET Activities                                    |May 1989                                                                         

A Framework for the Primary Curriculum                         |July 1989                                                                        

A Curriculum for All: Special Education Needs in               |October 1989                                                                     

  the National Curriculum                                                                                                                        

National Curriculum Council: A Guide for                       |November 1989                                                                    

  Employers                                                                                                                                      

The National Curriculum: A Guide for Parents of                |June 1990                                                                        

  Primary Children                                                                                                                               

The National Curriculum Information Pack No. 2                 |March 1990                                                                       

Teaching, Talking and Learning in Key Stage One                |March 1990                                                                       

The National Curriculum: A Guide for Parents of                |May 1990                                                                         

  Secondary Children                                                                                                                             

Education for Work: a guide for industry and                   |April 1991                                                                       

  commerce                                                                                                                                       

The National Curriculum: a guide for staff of                  |November 1990                                                                    

  museums, galleries, historic houses and sites                                                                                                  

Working Together: English in the National                      |June 1990                                                                        

  Curriculum in Key Stages 1 and 2                                                                                                               

The National Curriculum and the Initial Training               |April 1991                                                                       

  of Student, Articled and Licensed Teachers                                                                                                     

Science Explorations (video and notes)                         |May 1991                                                                         

Technology 5-11 (video and notes)                              |October 1990                                                                     

Design and Technology 11-16 (video and notes)                  |August 1991                                                                      

The Whole Curriculum                                           |April 1990                                                                       

Education for Economic and Industrial                          |April 1990                                                                       

  Understanding                                                                                                                                  

Health Education                                               |July 1990                                                                        

Careers Education and Guidance                                 |August 1990                                                                      

Environmental Education                                        |September 1990                                                                   

Education for Citizenship                                      |November 1990                                                                    

Teacher Placements and the National Curriculum                 |March 1991                                                                       

Managing Economic and Industrial                               |March 1991                                                                       

  Understanding in Schools                                                                                                                       

Planning for Key Stage 4: discussion paper and                 |September 1990                                                                   

  supplementary paper for NCC invitation                                                                                                         

  conferences                                                                                                                                    

The National Curriculum at Key Stage 4 (advice                 |November 1990                                                                    

  to the Secretary of State)                                                                                                                     

Science and Pupils with Special Educational                    |September 1991                                                                   

  Needs: a workshop pack for Key stages 1 and                                                                                                    

  2                                                                                                                                              

10. Guides to Teacher Assessment                                                                                                                 

Your Questions Answered                                        |January 1990                                                                     

Teacher Assessment in the Classroom                            |January 1990                                                                     

Teacher Assessment in the School                               |January 1990                                                                     

A Sourcebook for Teacher Assessment                            |January 1990                                                                     

National Curriculum Assessment. Responsibility                 |August 1991                                                                      

  of LEAs in 1991-92                                                                                                                             

Timetable for Assessment Cycle 1991-92                         |September 1991                                                                   

School Assessment Folder: Key Stage 1                          |November 1990                                                                    

Records of Achievement in Primary Schools                      |December 1990                                                                    

National Curriculum Assessment: Assessment                     |February 1991                                                                    

  Arrangements for Core Subjects at Key Stage                                                                                                    

  1                                                                                                                                              

English En1: Speaking and Listening                            |February 1991                                                                    

Teacher Assessment at Key Stage 3                              |January 1991                                                                     

Teacher Assessment at Key Stage 3: an in-service               |January 1991                                                                     

  resource for Mathematics                                                                                                                       

Teacher Assessment at Key Stage 3: An in-service               |January 1991                                                                     

  resource for Science                                                                                                                           

Key Stage 1 School Assessment Folder update                    |October 1991                                                                     

National Pilot for Mathematics and Science Key                 |October 1991                                                                     

  Stage 3: end of key stage assessment                                                                                                           

  arrangements 1992                                                                                                                              

National Tests for 7-year-olds in English,                     |October 1991                                                                     

  Mathematics and Science                                                                                                                        

Key Stage 3 School Assessment Folders in                       |October 1991                                                                     

  Mathematics and Science (Part 1) and teacher                                                                                                   

  assessment leaflet                                                                                                                             

                                                                                                                                                 

11. Other Documents                                                                                                                              

Assessment Matters No. 1: Graphwork in Schools Science         |July 1990                                                                        

Assessment Matters No. 2: Measurement in School Science        |August 1990                                                                      

Leaflet No. 2: Negotiating Tasks in Design And Technology      |April 1991                                                                       

Leaflet No. 3: Structuring Activities in Design and Technology |August 1991                                                                      

Key Stage 4 Assessment: Quality assured                        |June 1991                                                                        


Column 564



Table 2                                                                                                                                  

Consultative and interim national curriculum documents                                                                                   

                                                   |Date of                                                                              

                                                   |publication                                                                          

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Documents published by the Department of                                                                                                 

Education and Science                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                         

1. General Consultation Document                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                         

The National Curriculum 5-16: A Consultation       |June 1987                                                                            

  Document                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                         

2. National Curriculum Working Group Reports                                                                                             

                                                                                                                                         

National Curriculum Science Working Group          |November 1987                                                                        

  Interim Report                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                         

National Curriculum Mathematics Working            |November 1987                                                                        

  Group Interim Report                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                         

National Curriculum Design and Technology          |November 1988                                                                        

  Working Group Interim Report                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                         

National Curriculum History Working Group          |August 1989                                                                          

  Interim Report                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                         

National Curriculum Geography Working Group        |November 1989                                                                        

  Interim Report                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                         

National Curriculum Modern Foreign Languages       |March 1990                                                                           

  Working Group Initial Advice                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                         

National Curriculum History Final Working          |April 1990                                                                           

  Group Report                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                         

3. Subject Proposals of the Secretaries of State                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                         

Mathematics for Ages 5-16: Proposals of the        |August 1988                                                                          

  Secretary of State for Education and Science                                                                                           

  and the Secretary of State for Wales                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                         

Science for Ages 5-16: Proposals of the Secretary  |August 1988                                                                          

  of State for Education and Science and the                                                                                             

  Secretary of State for Wales                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                         

English for Ages 5-11: Proposals of the Secretary  |November 1988                                                                        

  of State for Education and Science and the                                                                                             

  Secretary of State for Wales                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                         

English for Ages 5-16: Proposals of the Secretary  |June 1989                                                                            

  of State for Education and Science and the                                                                                             

  Secretary of State for Wales                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                         

Design and Technology for Ages 5-16: Proposals     |June 1989                                                                            

  of the Secretary of State for Education and                                                                                            

  Science and the Secretary of State for Wales                                                                                           

Geography for Ages 5-16: Proposals of the          |June 1990                                                                            

  Secretary of State for Education and Science                                                                                           

  and the Secretary of State for Wales                                                                                                   

History for Ages 5-16: Proposals of the Secretary  |June 1990                                                                            

  of State for Education and Science and the                                                                                             

  Secretary of State for Wales                                                                                                           

Mathematics for Ages 5-16: Proposals of the        |May 1991                                                                             

  Secretary of State for Education and the                                                                                               

  Secretary of State for Wales                                                                                                           

Science for Ages 5-16: Proposals of the Secretary  |May 1991                                                                             

  of State for Education and Science and the                                                                                             

  Secretary of State for Wales                                                                                                           

History and Geography at Key Stage 4: Proposals    |May 1991                                                                             

  of the Secretary of State for Education and                                                                                            

  Science and the Secretary of State for Wales                                                                                           

Whole Classes of Pupils Taking Examinations for    |June 1991                                                                            

  GCSE or Equivalent Qualifications in                                                                                                   

  National Curriculum Subjects Early:                                                                                                    

  Proposals of the Secretary of State for                                                                                                

  Education and Science and the Secretary of                                                                                             

  State for Wales                                                                                                                        

Science at Key Stage 4: Proposals of the Secretary |July 1991                                                                            

  of State for Education and Science and the                                                                                             

  Secretary of State for Wales                                                                                                           

Art and Music at Key Stage 4: Proposals of the     |August 1991                                                                          

  Secretary of State for Education and Science                                                                                           

  and the Secretary of State for Wales                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                         

4. Draft Subject Orders                                                                                                                  

National Curriculum: Draft Orders for              |December 1988                                                                        

  Mathematics                                                                                                                            

National Curriculum: Draft Orders for Science      |December 1988                                                                        

Education (National Curriculum) (Modern            |March 1989                                                                           

  Foreign Languages) Draft Order                                                                                                         

National Curriculum: Draft Order for English       |March 1989                                                                           

  Key Stage 1                                                                                                                            

National Curriculum: Draft Order for English       |December 1989                                                                        

  Key Stages 2-4                                                                                                                         

National Curriculum: Draft Order for               |December 1989                                                                        

  Technology                                                                                                                             

National Curriculum: Draft Amendment Order         |June 1990                                                                            

  for Technology                                                                                                                         

National Curriculum: Draft Order for               |October 1991                                                                         

  Mathematics                                                                                                                            

National Curriculum: Draft Order for Science       |October 1991                                                                         

Adult Education

Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of national spending on vocational adult education and the amount spent on leisure adult education in the current year.

Mr. Eggar : In 1989-90, the latest year for which information on actual spending is available, local education authorities' returns indicate that their net recurrent expenditure on adult education centres was £137 million. This includes the cost of self-standing adult education centres and of adult education centres within further education colleges. The £137 million excludes the cost of all other education for adults which further education colleges provide, because this is not separately identified on LEAs' returns. Nor do the returns distinguish between different kinds of education for adults. The Department is currently undertaking a survey to establish the proportion of spending on further education attributable to the courses for adults, including leisure and recreational courses, which under the proposals in the Further and Higher Education Bill (HL) will remain the responsibility of LEAs.

SOCIAL SECURITY

Family Credit

Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the latest available figures for the take-up of family credit.

Mr. Jack : The latest information about the number of families taking up family credit is a provisional caseload figure of 353,000 for the end of September 1991. Nearly 700,000 claims have been received since April 1991, more than half of them from new claimants as opposed to those renewing an existing award.

Since April 1988 when the scheme started, over 2.4 million awards have been made.


Column 566

Invalidity Benefit

Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what provision is made for people who are in receipt of invalidity benefit, but not income support, who require special outsize clothing due to their medical condition.

Mr. Scott : There is no provision.

Early Retirement

Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to ensure that those over the age of 60 years claiming unemployment benefit do not have to fulfil availability for work criteria if they are not currently working, and have taken early retirement under a recognised early retirement scheme.

Mr. Jack : Unemployment benefit is a short-term contributory benefit for people who are temporarily unemployed. To receive this benefit, a person must be capable of and available for work. He or she must also actively seek work. We have no plans to exempt persons aged 60 or over from these conditions.

However, a person aged 60 or over is not required to be available for work in order to receive income support, or class 1 national insurance credits to maintain their entitlement to sickness benefit and retirement pension.

NATIONAL FINANCE

Schools Inspectorate

Mr. Straw : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reviews of Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools Her Majesty's Treasury has undertaken or participated in since 1979 ; what was the purpose of each review and its date ; and whether it was published.

Mr. Mellor : The Treasury has not undertaken any reviews of its own into Her Majesty's inspectorate since 1979, but one Treasury official did assist with a DES-led grading review in 1989. The review was not published.

Gambling

Mr. Wilson : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list by sector the latest figures for the amounts of revenue derived annually, by way of taxation and other revenues, from all forms of gambling in the United Kingdom.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard [holding answer 12 December 1991] : In the year ended 31 March 1991 receipts of betting and gaming duties from sectors of the gambling industry were as follows :


                   |£ million          

---------------------------------------

Off-course betting |479                

Pool betting       |303                

Casino gaming      |57                 

Gaming machines    |98                 

Bingo              |67                 

Value added tax is also chargeable on the net take of gaming machines and on certain fees paid to participate in bingo. It is not possible to calculate the VAT yield from information on VAT returns.


Column 567

CIVIL SERVICE

Morale

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what proposals he has to improve morale in the civil service.

Mr. Renton : Our aim is to have an efficient, effective and well- motivated civil service. Managers in Departments and agencies continually work to achieve this.

Non-departmental Public Bodies

Mr. Andrew Mitchell : To ask the Minister for the Civil Service how many non-departmental public bodies are currently in existence ; and when the annual list of such bodies will be published.

Mr. Renton : On 1 April 1991 there were 375 executive bodies, One more than last year ; 874 advisory bodies, 97 less than last year ; 64 tribunals, two less than last year ; and 131 boards of visitors, three more than last year. In total there were 1,444 non-departmental public bodies--a fall of 95 over last year. Details can be found in "Public Bodies 1991" published today. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

SCOTLAND

Dyslexia

Mr. Beggs : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) primary and (b) post-primary schools in Scotland have a specialist teacher for children suffering from dyslexia.

Mr. Michael Forsyth : Learning support teachers, who assist children with specific learning difficulties such as are caused by dyslexia, are employed in schools in Scotland at which such children are pupils. At September 1990, the numbers of teachers with a qualification in learning difficulties employed in primary and secondary schools were 880 and 470 respectively.

Mr. Beggs : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what training teachers receive in (a) recognising symptoms of dyslexia in pupils and (b) how to assist pupils who show symptoms of dyslexia.

Mr. Michael Forsyth : All pre-service teacher training courses now contain elements covering special educational needs in which references to dyslexia and its identification are included. The guidelines which determine the content of diploma courses in special educational needs now strongly encourage the inclusion of elements on specific learning difficulty. Specialist courses for teachers on dyslexia are also being developed at Jordanhill college and Moray house. The Scottish Office Education Department has commissioned a research study of policy, practices and provision for children with learning difficulties including dyslexia. This will make recommendations about the content of further training courses in relation to dyslexia and offer specific guidance to teachers of dyslexic children.


Column 568

Sport

Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the allocation of funds from the Foundation for Sport and the Arts to sports facilities in Scotland.

Mr. Michael Forsyth : This is a matter for the foundation to consider. The foundation plans to announce its next tranche of grants in Edinburgh on 20 December and I will be participating in the announcement.

Speech Therapy

Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the chairmen of health boards about (a) the adequate provision of speech therapists and (b) the recruitment, selection and training of such therapists ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer Wednesday 11 December] : A further £2 million has been made available from 1 April next year toward the cost of speech therapy services for children with a formal record of needs. My officials have met the College of Speech Therapists, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Association of Directors of Education, Scotland to discuss this additional allocation. The latest meeting took place on 6 December. The recruitment and selection of speech therapists is a matter for health boards. As to training, all speech therapy training in Scotland is operated by the higher education sector, which liaises closely with health boards over the curriculum, clinical placements, and other aspects of the course.

Foreign Lottery Tickets

Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Scottish Sports Council regarding the possible free movement of lottery tickets in the EC post-1992.

Mr. Michel Forsyth [holding answer Thursday 12 December] : I have discussed this matter and others relating to the Scottish Sports Council's support for a national lottery with the chairman and members of the Scottish Sports Council, on a number of occasions. I have confirmed the advice which I have received that the sale of foreign lottery tickets in the United Kingdom can be controlled by domestic law as it stands.


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