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East Coast Line
Mr. Steinberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures are being taken to combat the recent episodes of vandalism to equipment on the east coast line ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : I understand that BR has been suffering very serious problems of vandalism on the east coast main line in recent weeks, particularly involving cutting and removal of signal cables at various points over a 100-mile stretch of the route in north-east England. The British Transport police, in co-operation with British Rail, have been undertaking a large-scale operation to contain and reduce the vandalism, and I understand that there have been some 50 arrests. British Rail is also speeding up the removal of redundant cabling and is taking measures to improve the security of key installations.
EMPLOYMENT
EC Earnings
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out the information he has of the level of national average earnings in each EC country at the present time, or the latest period for which information is available, both in that country's currency and in the sterling equivalent.
Mr. Forth : The information sought is set out in "Rapid Reports-- Population and Social Condition, 1991/5 ; Earnings in Industry and Services", published by Eurostat, a copy of which is currently available in the Library. Data are given in national currencies, ecu, and purchasing power standards. At present there are 0.7 ecu to the pound.
Mr. Lewis Drake
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the actions taken by the Health and Safety Executive in connection with the fatal accident to Mr. Lewis Drake on 7 November at A. H. Markes Ltd., Low Moor, Bradford.
Mr. Forth : The Health and Safety Executive investigation into the fatal accident to Mr. Lewis Drake at A. H. Marks and Co. Ltd., Bradford, began on 8 November 1991 and is continuing. The circumstances leading to the accident and the working procedures being followed, are under investigation by the HSE which has also examined the plant involved and given advice about its reinstatement.
Travel-to-Interview Scheme
Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether he has any plans to review the travel-to-interview scheme ;
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(2) if he will make it his policy to relate the money offered to interviewees under the travel-to-interview scheme to the benefits the interviewee is receiving rather than the salary of the job offered ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Jackson : The effectiveness of all the Departments programmes are continually monitored. As a result it was recognised that the salary limit applied to the travel-to-interview scheme was out of date. The limit will therefore be increased from £16,500 to £25,000 a year from 2 January 1992. We expect this will have significantly, increased the number of people helped.
The new salary covers 90 per cent. of all wage earners and will avoid the administrative complexities of a benefits based scheme. A link with benefits could in fact lead to more restricted eligibility than currently exists.
EC Social Action
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what arrangements he proposes for his presence and participation in the European Community Social Affairs Council of Ministers meetings, when the other member states' Ministers are discussing matters arising under the social protocol agreed at the Maastricht summit meeting.
Mr. Forth : The treaty on European union agreed at the Maastricht European Council confirms that the social chapter within the present treaty --articles 117-122--will be retained without change and the United Kingdom will continue to participate fully in all relevant discussions about the development of the Community's social dimension.
A protocol to the treaty on European union notes that the 11 other member states wish to continue along the path laid down in the social charter, which they signed in 1989, and have adopted among themselves an agreement to that end. The conduct of business under that agreement is a matter for the 11 Governments concerned. The United Kingdom shall not take part in their deliberations, and any decisions taken by them shall not be applicable to the United Kingdom.
HM Dockyard, Portsmouth
Mr. Roger King : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what he plans to open for inspection to the public, all or in part, the file on the approval of ventilation arrangements at HM dockyard, Portsmouth, October 1933 to October 1968, ref. LAB 14 478, file no. SHW 4207 1960.
Mr. Forth : In accordance with the terms of the Public Records Acts, this file will be opened to the public after 30 years in January 1999.
ENERGY
European Energy Charter
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish a report on his participation in the European energy charter signing ceremony on 16 and 17 December ; what are the United Kingdom's primary objectives in signing the charter ; if he will place a copy of the charter and the text of supporting in documents in the Library ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Wakeham : I attended the international conference on the European energy charter in the Hague on 16 and 17 December 1991. In addition to signing the charter on behalf of the United Kingdom, I made a short statement welcoming agreement of the charter as a political declaration and looking forward to negotiation of legally binding agreements and protocols to implement the principles and objectives of the charter.I am pleased that the charter was signed on behalf of 31 European countries, the European Community, nine Soviet republics and the inter- state economic committee of the Soviet Union, and four non-European countries.
The United Kingdom's primary objective throughout the charter process has been to promote more open, non-discriminatory energy markets across Europe and throughout the world, and to assist in the achievement of economic efficiency and environmental benefits, particularly in the countries of eastern Europe and in the Soviet republics.
I will place a copy of the charter and the concluding document of the conference in the Library of the House.
Flue Gas Desulphurisation
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of fossil-fuelled power stations have been fitted with flue gas desulphurisation equipment in each EC member state in 1989, 1990 and 1991.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : My Department does not have this information.
Research and Development
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proposals he has to strengthen his Department's research and development programme in the energy efficiency field after the current financial year.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : We will continue to develop the best practice programme which started in 1989. Expenditure on research, development, demonstration and dissemination of energy efficiency technology is planned to increase by some 14 per cent. in the coming financial year, and by further amounts in each of the succeeding two years. The continuation of the development of best practice is in line with our commitments under the Environment White Paper "This Common Inheritance" and with the recent recommendations by the Advisory Council on Research and Development and the Advisory Council on Science and Technology.
Gas Purification
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what evaluation he has made of the Haldor Topsoe SNOX flue gas purification plant ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : My Department is aware of a large number of flue gas purification processes. It is the responsibility of plant operators to choose the most cost-effective means of meeting statutory limits on gaseous and other emissions.
Kozlodny Power Station
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the forms of assistance being provided by the British nuclear electricity industry via the World
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Association of Nuclear Operators for safety improvements, repairs and training at the Kozlodny nuclear power station in Bulgaria ; how this aid is co-ordinated with the technical and financial assistance being arranged for Bulgaria by the G-24 group of nations ; and when and under what conditions he expects Kozlodny to meet WANO safety standards.Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : In response to recommendations from the G7 London summit in July 1991, the G24 group of countries has recently agreed procedures for co-ordinating the programmes of nuclear safety assistance which are being provided to central and eastern Europe by individual member countries and international organisations. The overall objective of the G24 assistance is to help the countries of central and eastern Europe to exercise their responsibilities in nuclear safety in an informed and effective manner in conformity with best international practice. The EC emergency assistance programme for Bulgaria will now fit within this co- ordination framework. The World Association of Nuclear Operators is managing two aspects of the emergency programme of nuclear safety assistance to Bulgaria financed under the European Community's regional PHARE programme for 1991. These comprise urgent "housekeeping" measures to improve the physical condition of the older VVER 230 units at Kozloduy nuclear power plant and ensure the effective operation of safety systems, and a twinning programme under which western operators are providing guidance on operational safety improvements. In addition WANO is overseeing a six-month programme of generic design safety studies on the VVER 230.
An engineer from Scottish Nuclear is a member of the "housekeeping" team. Nuclear Electric has provided a quality assurance expert to assist in the implementation of the six-month programme and expects to send two more experts to Kozloduy in the new year. The United Kingdom nuclear industry is bidding for contracts under the six-month programme. The United Kingdom Government have also provided two experts to assist the European Commission with overall supervision of its programme of assistance.
Under the same emergency programme a consortium of EC safety authorities is undertaking safety analysis of the Kozloduy reactors and providing assistance to the Bulgarian regulatory authority. The UKAEA and the nuclear installations inspectorate are members of this consortium.
Decisions on further action to be taken to improve the safety of the reactors are the responsibility of the Bulgarian Government.
Wood Fuel
Mr. Hind : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, what progress has been made since the "Wood : Fuel for Thought" conference in Bristol in October to exploit short-term arable coppice as a wood fuel.
Mr. Moynihan : I can today announce the setting up of the farm wood fuel and energy project in which five farms will grow short-rotation arable coppice as a commercial enterprise to produce wood fuel. The farmers who have agreed to participate are :
John Willmer Esq. of Clanfield, Oxford
Brian Maggs Esq. of Compton Dando, Bristol
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Robert Goodwin Esq. of Kelvedon, ColchesterChristopher Barnes Esq. of Morebath, Tiverton and
Lord Falmouth of Tregothnan, Truro
R. H. and R. W. Clutton, chartered surveyors and land agents, will be assisting these farmers to establish this energy crop and in due course will identify energy markets for the wood fuel.
The Agricultural Development and Advisory Service will independently monitor the commercial viability of these enterprises in order to inform other farmers interested in arable coppice. Environmental Research Limited will be carrying out an assessment of the environmental impact of the crop. I expect this project to be the first step in the realisation of the very significant potential for energy crops in the United Kingdom.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Security Service
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the newly appointed head of the Security Service will meet hon. Members of Parliament formally to discuss her job.
Mr. Kenneth Baker : The Security Service Act 1989 placed on a statutory footing the previous convention, under which the Director General of the Security Service was regarded as responsible to Ministers for the work of the service, and Ministers were in turn accountable to Parliament. There are no plans for any change in this framework.
Safer Cities Campaign
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration was given by his Department to (a) Swansea and (b) Cardiff in regard to involving those cities in his safer cities campaign.
Mr. John Patten : The Home Office safer cities programme does not extend to Wales and consequently Cardiff and Swansea were not eligible for consideration. Separate arrangements for providing support for local crime prevention activity apply in Wales.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all the cities in the United Kingdom which were eligible under the criteria for the safer cities campaign and the figure granted to date to each of these cities.
Mr. John Patten : The following is a list of the 20 local authority areas in England selected for inclusion in the Home Office safer cities programme showing the amount of grant approved up to 17 December 1991 in support of local crime prevention activity :
Area |Grant
|approved
-------------------------------------------
Birmingham |916,000
Bradford |966,000
Bristol |984,000
Coventry |939,000
Derby |<1>nil
Hartlepool |696,000
Hull |602,000
Leicester |<2>nil
Middlesbrough |<1>nil
Nottingham |793,000
Rochdale |655,000
Salford |697,000
Sunderland |586,000
Wirral |762,000
Wolverhampton |792,000
London Boroughs
Hammersmith and Fulham |<3>nil
Islington |853,000
Lewisham |1,031,000
Tower Hamlets |539,000
Wandsworth |531,000
<1> Project established October 1991.
<2> Project established September 1991.
<3> Project established December 1991.
The safer cities programme in Scotland and the safer towns initiative in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Scottish Office and Northern Ireland Office respectively.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any towns which were not formally in possession of city status were (a) considered and (b) offered involvement in the safer cities campaign.
Mr. John Patten : The term "safer cities" is a working title intended to denote the programme's concentration on inner-city and similar urban areas. All 57 district, metropolitan district and London borough council areas in England covered by the urban programme were considered for possible inclusion in the safer cities programme : a number of those invited to join, and in which safer cities projects have subsequently been established, do not have city status.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been (a) budgeted, (b) allocated and (c) paid out in respect of the safer cities campaign in the present financial year.
Mr. John Patten : In 1991-92 the estimate of the costs of the 20 local projects in the Home Office safer cities programme is £7.1 million. Of this £5.1 million is for grants to support local crime prevention activity all of which has been allocated to project areas. As at 9 December, £3.8 million of this grant money had been paid out or firmly committed to local crime prevention schemes.
City Centre Monitoring
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to the use of closed-circuit television as a means of monitoring city centre activity with a view to targeting the deployment of police resources.
Mr. John Patten : The use of surveillance systems is an operational matter for chief officers. The Home Office crime prevention centre conducted a survey last year of more than 100 CCTV schemes in England, Wales and Scotland, and the results have been circulated to police forces.
Young Offenders
Mr. Terry Davis : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders were transferred from Hewell Grange to the young offender institution at Hatfield during September 1991.
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Mrs. Rumbold : Twenty one.Closed-circuit Television
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research has been undertaken by or for his Department on the use of closed-circuit television in regard to criminal activity.
Mr. John Patten : Research is being undertaken by the Home Office on the effect of closed-circuit television on public order and the level of crime committed on the streets in Birmingham city centre.
Refugees
Mr. Andrew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the criteria for the issue of a travel document to a refugee residing in the United Kingdom who has the status of exceptional leave to remain.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Home Office certificates of identity are issued at the discretion of the Secretary of State and on payment of a fee of £15 to overseas nationals who have exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom where it can be shown that normal passport facilities have been refused by the authorities of their country of nationality or where it would be unreasonable to expect them to apply for national passports. A certificate of identity can be used as a travel document if recognised by the country of destination. People recognised as refugees under the terms of the United Nations refugees convention would normally be issued on request with a United Nations travel document.
Private Security Industry
Sir John Wheeler : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are being made for the regulation of the private security industry ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Kenneth Baker : The Government believe that access to criminal records would be an essential ingredient of any statutory scheme for the regulation of the private security industry. They have, however, accepted the recommendation of the recent report on the scrutiny of criminal records that there should be no further extension of the arrangements for access to these records in advance of their computerisation. This is not expected to be completed until the mid-1990s. It is the Government's intention to publish a consultation paper towards the end of next year outlining our proposals for new disclosure arrangements.
For this reason alone, therefore, it is not appropriate at this time to consider statutory regulation of the private security industry. Other factors, however, also support the case against statutory regulation. The present level of offending by private security personnel does not justify the introduction of an inevitably expensive and bureaucratic licensing system. And although the Government recognise concerns about the quality of service provided by some private security firms, it believes that issues such as quality, training and wages are fundamentally matters for the industry and its customers. The Government therefore believe that the most appropriate position is for the industry to strengthen the existing self- regulation mechanisms.
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The industry has already made considerable progress in self-regulation. Recent important developments include : the merging of the National Supervisory Council for Intruder Alarms and the security systems inspectorate of the British Security Industry Association to form the National Approved Council for Security Systems ; the formation by the International Professional Security Association of the British Security Registration Board ; and the involvement of the International Professional Security Association in plans to reconstitute the manned services inspectorate of the British Security Industry Association to make it independent of its parent body, thereby allowing it to offer its inspection services to non-members of the British Security Industry Association, as well as to members.The adoption of standards, and the invocation of sanctions against those who fail to meet them, are an important part of the the industry's work in this area.
The Government commend the industry's efforts to develop self-regulation, and in particular the projected enhancement of the manned services inspectorate. The extent to which the new arrangements achieve their objectives will, however, be monitored and the position will be reviewed when computerisation of the criminal records has been achieved.
The Government reserve the option of requiring the industry to pay for any statutory regulation from its own resources should self-regulation prove ineffective.
The Government's position is set out more fully in a background paper which has been placed in the Library and which is being sent to all interested parties in the industry and to the Association of Chief Police Officers.
Terrorist Firebomb Attacks
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table showing the number of terrorist firebomb attacks there have been in each year since 1973 in (a) London and (b) Great Britain ; what was the amount of damage caused, the number of persons arrested, charged and convicted, in respect of the attacks ; and if he will give the rate of conviction in each year.
Mr. Kenneth Baker : The number of terrorist incendiary attacks in each year since 1973 is given in the tables.
|London |Great Britain
--------------------------------------------------------
1973 |14 |14
1974 |18 |31
1975 |1 |-
1976 |1 |-
1977 |6 |4
1978 |- |-
1979 |- |-
1980 |1 |-
1981 |- |-
1982 |- |-
1983 |- |-
1984 |1 |1
1985 |- |1
1986 |- |-
1987 |- |-
1988 |- |-
1989 |- |-
1990 |- |-
<1>1991 |13 |35
<1>To 18 December 1991.
This information relates to Irish and international terrorism ; it does not include domestic extremist attacks. The figures given are for the number of locations attacked and not the number of incendiary devices used.
The information requested regarding the amount of damage caused and the convictions of those responsible for carrying out the attacks could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Dr. M. Khan
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the refusal of an extension visa for Dr. M. Khan, Ref. No. TH/23660/91 ; and whether he will now allow a visa until the Royal College of Surgeons examinations in February.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Dr. Khan came to the United Kingdom on 11 May 1990 as a visitor and was admitted for six months, which is the maximum period under the immigration rules allowed to visitors. He then applied to remain here to resit examinations for the Royal College of Surgeons of England which he had previously failed. That request was granted exceptionally outside the immigration rules. He subsequently asked for further leave to remain to sit examinations--to take place in September 1991--for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow. That application was refused. His subsequent appeal to the independent adjudicator was dismissed and leave to appeal to the immigration appeal tribunal refused. I do not believe I would be justified in affording further exceptional treatment to Dr. Khan, and he should now make arrangements to leave the United Kingdom.
Animals (Scientific Experiments)
Sir Richard Body : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up an inquiry into the scientific validity of animal experiments in assessing the effects of pesticides upon human health.
Mrs. Rumbold : My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is not one of the Ministers responsible for the national and international regulations under which the safety testing of pesticides is required. His responsibility is for controlling the conduct of scientific procedures on living animals. Where validated alternatives to the use of living animals in scientific research for whatever purpose are available, authority under the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to use living animals in research will not be granted.
Magistrates Courts
Mr. Trotter : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are his proposals for the future organisation of the magistrates courts in the light of the Le Vay review.
Mr. Kenneth Baker : The Government have now completed their review of the organisation of the magistrates courts service in England and Wales. In addition, because that review made it timely to do so, they have also considered how responsibility for the service should be allocated within government.
As to organisation, the Government have concluded that, in the light of extensive consultations following the scrutiny of the magistrates courts service and of a study of
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costs undertaken by independent consultants, it would not be right to bring forward legislative proposals to reconstitute the service as an executive agency. However, there has been a widespread acceptance of the need to modernise the management structure of the service with a view to improving its performance and strengthening lines of accountability while at the same time maintaining the independence of the judicial process and the valuable contribution of local magistrates in the local management of the service.Some useful first steps have already been taken since the scrutiny. But in order to achieve these aims and to take forward the application to this service of the principles of the citizens charter we propose to work with the service to introduce a range of improvements, upon some of which an early start can be made while others will require legislation. They include progress towards the establishment of an inspectorate, to provide an effective management audit and to promote the spread of best practice ; a strengthening and clarification of the management role of magistrates courts committees ; the introduction of systematic performance review and planning throughout the service ; and a more coherent geographical structure, taking account as necessary of the review of the structure of local government as a whole which has now begun. On the other hand, no immediate change is envisaged in the balance between central and local financing of the service.
It will be important to ensure that the new arrangements are strong and flexible, enabling the service to adapt to changing circumstances while at the same time guaranteeing a satisfactory career structure for court staff, high standards of performance, and effective working relations with other parts of the criminal justice system throughout England and Wales.
As to responsibility, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has concluded that, in the light of the proposals outlined in this answer, it will be appropriate for the responsibilities in relation to the finance, organisation and management of the magistrates courts which are now assigned to the Home Secretary under the Justices of the Peace Act 1979 and related legislation to be exercised from 1 April 1992 by the Lord Chancellor in the same way as he holds those responsibilities for the Crown court. This brings to an end the divided responsibility for the magistracy. My right hon. Friend has also decided that, in these circumstances, it would be appropriate for him to appoint a junior Minister in the Commons in the Lord Chancellor's Department. The appointment will be announced in due course.
The necessary instruments will be brought before Parliament as soon as possible. I shall continue to answer to Parliament for the criminal and procedural law of the magistrates courts in the same way as for the Crown courts. The Government intend to set out these proposals in more detail in a White Paper and to continue to consult interested bodies as necessary.
Metropolitan Police (Early Retirement)
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Metropolitan police officers, and of what rank, have taken early retirement, for medical or for other reasons, while under investigation into possible disciplinary offences within the last two years.
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Mr. Peter Lloyd : This is a matter for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. However, information is given in his annual reports about the number of officers who resigned before disciplinary charges could be preferred against them, the number of these officers who were medically discharged and the number of officers who resigned while under investigation for disciplinary matters.Stop and Search (Ethnic Origins)
Mr. Bernie Grant : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in respect of the provisions of section 95 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991, whether he intends to make public information on the ethnic origin of those stopped and searched by police officers in the Metropolitan district.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Details of the information that will be published in respect of the provisions of section 95 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 are under consideration.
Irish Citizens
Mr. Kilfedder : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what record is kept of the citizens of the Irish Republic who come to live in the United Kingdom, but have little or no means of support.
Mr. Kenneth Baker : We are not aware of any such record.
Terrorism and Crime Guide
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to ban the sale in the United Kingdom of the guide to terrorism and crime computer disk version three and the soon to be released updated version four ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John Patten : It is for the police, in the first instance, and the Crown prosecution service to consider whether to bring proceedings against a particular publication contravening the criminal law.
Royal Pardons
Mr. Lawrence : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many royal pardons have been granted in each of the past five years.
Mr. John Patten : The information is as follows :
Year |Number of
|free pardons
|granted
---------------------------------------
1986 |28
1987 |41
1988 |39
1989 |50
1990 |47
<1>1991 |37
<1> To 18 December.
These figures are in respect of summary convictions. No free pardons have been granted in the past five years to persons convicted after a trial on indictment.
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HEALTH
Dental Treatment
Mr. Terry Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether he will publish the latest information in the possession of his Department as to the coverage of dental treatment on the national health service ; and whether he will make a statement ;
(2) how many dentists, since the inception of the new dental contract, in each regional health authority have ceased to offer treatment on the national health services, are still offering normal treatment on the national health service and have reduced the range of treatment they offer on the national health service.
Mr. Dorrell : Information is not available to make a direct comparison between the NHS services dentists were offering before the introduction of the new dental contract and those they are offering now. However, the table shows the numbers of dentists practising now.
The number of dentists at 30 September 1990 compared with the number of dentists at 30 September 1991 for each Regional Health Authority is as follows :
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