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Health Service Pay
Mr. Andrew Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the national health service, and at which grades, he expects to earn more than £20,280 per annum following the recent pay review body report.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 5 February at column 207. Following the recent pay review body awards, it is now estimated that on 1 April 1992 at least 83,000 people working in the NHS in England, and in the same categories listed in the earlier reply, will have basic earnings greater than £20,280 per annum. An additional and substantial number in most of those categories will have gross earnings in excess of £20,280, because they receive additional payments such as
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overtime and allowances. The review body award for senior nurses and midwives, and pay settlements due on 1 April will further increase the numbers earning more than £20,280.Prescriptions
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost of prescription charges for each year since 1979 in cash terms, real terms and as an index with 1979 as the base.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The requested information is in the table. Only one in six prescription items dispensed in the NHS now attracts a charge, compared with one in three in 1979. Last year over 100 million more exempt items were dispensed than in 1979.
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Prescription |Date of increase |Cost at |Index charge |1979-80 prices |(1979-80 prices) £ |£ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0.20 |Current at 1 January 1979|0.20 |100 0.45 |16 July 1979 |0.45 |225 0.70 | 1 April 1980 |0.59 |295 1.00 | 1 December 1980 |0.85 |425 1.30 | 1 April 1982 |0.94 |470 1.40 | 1 April 1983 |0.96 |480 1.60 | 1 April 1984 |1.05 |525 2.00 | 1 April 1985 |1.25 |625 2.20 | 1 April 1986 |1.32 |660 2.40 | 1 April 1987 |1.37 |685 2.60 | 1 April 1988 |1.38 |690 2.80 | 1 April 1989 |1.40 |700 3.05 | 1 April 1990 |1.40 |700 3.40 | 1 April 1991 |1.46 |730
GP Lists
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the present procedures whereby medical doctors can remove patients from their panel list without being required to give any reason ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Since the foundation of the NHS, a GP has had a right (subject to certain safeguards as regards necessary treatment) to remove a patient from his or her list without giving a reason. With effect from April 1990 patients have had the same right to withdraw from a doctor's list without giving a reason. The Family Health Service Authority will help any patient who has problems in finding another doctor, and, if necessary, will allocate the patient to a doctor's list.
Insulin
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 27 November, Official Report, column 544, to the hon. Member for Ashford, (Mr. Speed), when he hopes to provide needles for insulin- injecting pens on prescription for diabetics ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : I cannot add to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Ashford on 27 November 1991 at column 544.
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations he has received (a) in
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favour of and (b) against issuing needles for insulin-injecting pens on prescription to diabetics during the current session ; and if he will make a statement.Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : We have received a number of representations in favour of issuing needles for insulin-injecting pens on prescription during the current session. We aim to make both pens and needles available on prescription as soon as resources allow.
Legionnaire's Disease
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of cases of Legionnaire's disease at each provider unit and trust since April 1991.
Mr. Dorrell : In 1991 three cases of Legionnaire's disease were reported in residents of England and Wales in patients who were believed to have acquired their infection in hospital. The three cases were reported from the Freeman group of hospitals NHS trust site at Freeman Road hospital, Newcastle, and the illness in the cases began in June, July and October respectively. There were 10 other cases reported in England and Wales which may have been contracted in hospital, but there was insufficient evidence to determine whether the source was in hospital or in the community.
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the communicable disease surveillance centre is preparing a report on the recent outbreak of Legionnaire's disease at the Freeman hospital trust, Newcastle.
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Mr. Dorrell : The public health laboratory service (PHLS) communicable disease surveillance centre was not involved in the investigation of this incident and will therefore not be preparing a report.Pharmacy
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has for the introduction of a statutory requirement for pharmacists to inform customers when a medication is cheaper by normal retail sale than by prescription ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Only a small number of items prescribed by GPs can be bought without a prescription. Where these are available at a price less than the prescription charge, the pharmacist is, of course, free to point this out. There are no plans to make this a statutory requirement.
General Practitioner Charges
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has for the introduction of charges for visits to and by general practitioners ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : There are no such plans.
Prescription Charges
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of prescriptions given to adults of less than pensionable age result in the payment of the prescription charge ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : An estimated 40 per cent. of prescription items dispensed to adults below the state retirement pension age attract a charge. Extensive exemption and charge remission arrangements, coupled with the prescription prepayment certificate scheme, protect those people who may otherwise have difficulty in paying prescription charges. In 1990-91 a charge was paid on only one item in six dispensed in the NHS and 100 million more items were dispensed free than in 1979, when one item in three attracted a charge.
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Non-alcoholic Drinks
Mr. Rooney : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had on the promotion of non-alcoholic drinks.
Mr. Dorrell : We have had a number of informal meetings with the Portman Group and with some of its sponsor companies about how the sensible use of alcohol might be encouraged, in the course of which the promotion of non-alcoholic drinks has been discussed. At recent conferences "Women and Alcohol" in December 1991 and the "Education on Alcohol" conference this month, not only were non-alcoholic drinks advertised but they were the only drinks available.
Residential Care
Mr. Rooney : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations he has received on the closure of residential care homes run by North Yorkshire county council in (a) Whitby and (b) Harrogate ;
(2) what representations he has received concerning residential places for the elderly in the North Yorkshire county council area.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : No such representations have been received. It is for each local authority to determine the best way in which to meet the need for social services in their area, including residential care.
Mr. Rooney : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many places in residential care establishments in North Yorkshire were available in each of the last five years (a) under the management of North Yorkshire county council, (b) in the voluntary sector, (c) under the management of housing associations and (d) with other owners.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The information in respect of elderly people is given in the table.
Overall residential care provision for elderly people in North Yorkshire increased from 5,500 in 1987 to 5,884 in 1991.
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Table 1
Number of residential care places primarily for the elderly,
by sector, and housing association stock for the elderly in the North Yorkshire local authority 1987-91
Numbers
Housing Association
As at 31 March |Local authority |Voluntary |Private homes |Housing units<1>|Hostel
|homes |homes |bedspaces<2>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1987 |2,004 |603 |2,893 |1,330 |280
1988 |1,984 |562 |3,202 |1,370 |360
1989 |1,952 |626 |3,314 |1,580 |320
1990 |1,876 |582 |3,350 |1,580 |350
1991 |1,823 |648 |3,413 |2,120 |380
<1>Housing units-Total number of units in schemes designed for the elderly. The units are self contained dwelling
units and units in shared
housing with no warden support. In the latter case, one unit is a group of rooms sharing facilities.
<2>Hostel bedspaces-Bedspaces in hostels catering exclusively for the elderly. A hostel is a building containing
single or shared rooms which
are not self contained and which has warden support. Nursing homes are excluded.
Community Care Reforms
Mr. Moss : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the Government are doing to help local authorities make the investment in information technology necessary to support its community care reforms.
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Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : We are committed to turning our community care policy into practice. We are making £10.175 million available through supplementary credit approval for capital spending in 1992-93 on information technology to support the implementation of "Caring For People". This allocation is more than double that for 1991-92. Local authorities will be free to use their allocation on systems to support any of the various aspects of "Caring For People". These may include systems to support care management and assessment, systems to enable complaints and inspection procedures, project planning and management systems and software to link existing databases with new financial management systems.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Departmental Staff
Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total number of employees in his Department ; and how many are (a) black, and (b) disabled.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The total number of staff in post in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office including the Overseas Development Administration at 1 April 1991 was 8,277. In voluntary surveys 181 had declared themselves to be of ethnic minority origin. At 1 June 1991 the FCO employed 49 registered disabled staff.
Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a table showing the number of (a) men and (b) women in his Department in each of grades (i) 1, (ii) 2, (iii) 3, (iv) 4, (v) 5, (vi) 6, (vii) 7, (viii) SEO, (ix) HEO, (x) administrative trainee, (xi) EO, (xii), CO and (xiii) CA.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The latest available figures for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, including the Overseas Development Administration, are as follows :
Grade (and |Male |Female Equivalents) ---------------------------------------------------- 1 |8 |- 2 |31 |- 3 |121 |6 4 |1 |- 5 |329 |14 6 |99 |12 7 |647 |93 SEO |464 |71.5 HEO |919 |259 AT |218 |20 EO |939.5 |764.5 AO |1,210 |1,463.5 AA |235 |329.5
Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe
Mr. Atkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the new institutions of the CSCE ; and if he will list their forthcoming meetings.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : At the meeting of the CSCE Council of Ministers in Prague on 30 and 31 January the CSCE's office for free elections was given broader functions and renamed as the office for democratic institutions and human rights.
The council also agreed on new functions for the conflict prevention centre ; and that the committee of senior officials will henceforth meet more frequently and from time to time as an economic forum.
These changes which, together with a new programme of CSCE meetings, will be further discussed at the CSCE
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follow-up meeting in Helsinki from 24 March to 10 July 1992, are intended to continue the adaptation of the CSCE to enable it more effectively to promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law, to engage in crisis management and conflict resolution and to encourage the transition to market economies.Cambodia
Mr. Hunter : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards Cambodia ; and what measures he has taken and proposes to take to promote peace in that country.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We support the agreements on a comprehensive political settlement of the Cambodia conflict signed in Paris last October. The United Kingdom played an active part in the negotiations leading up to these agreements. We will continue to work both through the United Nations and bilaterally to ensure that the agreements are implemented fully.
NATIONAL FINANCE
Customs
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans there are to establish a dedicated computerised intelligence network across Europe for the Customs service.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : A new customs information system--CIS--is being developed for use across the European Community. It is planned to use the existing system customs enforcement network--SCENT--as a carrier for the CIS, which is being developed in phases.
The first phase will be in place later this year, and will provide encrypted computer messaging facilities at all main ports and airports in the European Community. A central database willl be added to this system in the second phase, providing specific intelligence about potential customs offences, and information on recent smuggling trends. In the light of experience from the first two phases, consideration will be given to enhancing the system to incorporate CIS facilities into national computer systems, with the possibility of eventually establishing a fully integrated system.
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the start-up costs of the secure customs enforcement network ; and what are its annual running costs since it became operational.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : Over the first three years of the system, commencing in 1986, EC Commission spending to launch the system totalled approximately 300,000 ecu. More recent figures from the Commission are not readily obtainable except at disproportionate cost.
The United Kingdom's Intervention Board executive agency recently installed a terminal at a total cost of £900.71, including first quarter running costs of £55.83.
Running costs for the Customs and Excise terminal have totalled £4, 987.67 from the time of installation in late 1987 to 8 December 1991.
More recent or detailed figures are not available except at disproportionate cost.
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Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the purpose of the secure customs enforcement network ; when it was established ; and which authorities have access to the system.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : SCENT was developed in response to increasing needs for exchange of information between customs operational investigation services in the European Community. It has an electronic encrypted mailing system, the facility to send messages to telex machines and it provides access to databases of reference information such as Lloyds Seadata. Initiated by the Commission towards the end of 1986, SCENT became operational from 1987 onwards. Access to the system is strictly controlled, and limited to authorised users. Most terminals are used by customs services. Others are allocated to the Commission's directorate general XXI for work on customs questions or movements of drugs precursor chemicals and directorate general VI for common agricultural policy work. The United Kingdom Intervention Board executive agency and its equivalent bodies in other member states have access to the system. The other two users are the International Narcotics Control Board and the United Nations, which has one terminal.
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many terminals are connected to the secure Customs enforcement network ; and what plans there are to expand access to the system.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : There are currently 29 terminals in use, two of which are in the United Kingdom. It is planned to increase the total number of terminals to about 200, most of which should be installed by the end of 1992. Of these, 25 should be sited in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many passengers who are United Kingdom citizens returning from Brussels on the 18 February at Heathrow on flight BA 0397 were questioned by Customs and Excise ; and what was the result of the questioning.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard [holding answer 24 February 1992] : I regret that the information requested is not available. Customs at Heathrow deal with large numbers of passengers and passengers from different sources pass through customs controls simultaneously. No record is kept of individual passenger challenges except where seizures or search of person result.
Value Added Tax
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the rates of VAT charged in each other EC country for (a) food in shops, (b) food in restaurants, (c) books, (d) magazines, (e) newspapers, (f) household fuel, (g) rents, (h) house purchase, (i) children's clothing (j) community centres and (k) transport fares.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : Rates of VAT charged in each other EC country for food in shops, food in restaurants, books, magazines, newspapers, household fuel, rents, house purchase, children's clothing, community centres and transport fares according to the latest information available, are set out in the tables.
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(a) VAT on food in shops in the EC<1>
Country |Rate
|percentage
------------------------------------------------
Belgium | 6.0
Denmark |25.0
France | 5.5<2>
Germany | 7.0
Greece | 8.0
Ireland | 0.0<3>
Italy | 4.0<4>, 9, 12
Luxembourg | 3.0<5>, 6
Netherlands | 6.0
Portugal | 0.0<6>, 8, (6)
Spain | 6.0
<1> Excluding luxury foods.
<2> With certain exceptions, eg sweets,
ice-cream, margarine which
are standard-rated at 18.6 per cent.
<3> Alcohol and soft drinks other than fruit
juices are liable at 21 per
cent. in all circumstances, as is all food and
drink supplies through a
vending machine.
<4> The lower rate applies to essential
foodstuffs such as bread and
pasta. 12 per cent. applies to lobsters and
oysters, lobster and oyster
preserve, puffed cereal, extracts and meat
juices, sauces, condiments,
soups and broths.
<5> The lower rate applies to meat, meat
products, bread and butter.
<6> The rate shown in brackets applies to the
autonomous regions of
the Madeira and Azores archipelagoes. The zero
rate applies to
unprepared foodstuffs.
(b) VAT on food in restaurants in
the EC
Country |Rate
|per cent.
------------------------------------
Belgium |17.0
Denmark |25.0
France |18.6
Germany |14.0
Greece |18.0
Ireland |12.5
Italy |<1>9.0
Luxembourg | 6.0
Netherlands |18.5
Portugal |<2>8.0, (6)
Spain |<3>6.0, 13
Notes:
<1>Excluding the supply of food in
luxury premises including luxury
hotels.
<2>Lower rates apply in the
autonomous regions of the Azores
and
Madeira archipelagoes.
<3>The higher rate applies to
services supplied in luxury hotels.
(c) VAT on books in the EC
Country |Rate
|per cent.
--------------------------------
Belgium |6.0
Denmark |25.0
France |5.5
Germany |7.0
Greece |4.0
Ireland |0.0
Italy |4.0
Luxembourg |6.0
Netherlands |6.0
Portugal |0.0
Spain |6.0
(d) VAT on magazines in the EC Country |Rate per cent ------------------------------------------ Belgium |6.0 Denmark |25.0 France |2.1 Germany |7.0 Greece |4.0 Ireland |10.0 Italy |4.0 Luxembourg |6.0 Netherlands |6.0 Portugal |0.0 Spain |6.0
(e) VAT on newspapers in the EC Country |Rate per cent. --------------------------------------------- Belgium |6.0 Denmark |0.0 France |2.1 Germany |7.0 Greece |4.0 Ireland |10.0 Italy |4.0 Luxembourg |6.0 Netherlands |6.0 Portugal |0.0 Spain |6.0
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(f) VAT on household fuel in the European Community Rates per cent. Country |Oil |Gas |Electricity|Coal |Peat |Wood ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Belgium |17.0 |17.0 |17.0 |6.0 |6.0 |6.0 Denmark |25.0 |25.0 |25.0 |25.0 |25.0 |25.0 France |18.6 |5.5 |5.5 |18.6 |18.6 |18.6 Germany |14.0 |14.0 |14.0 |14.0 |14.0 |7.0 Greece |<1> |<1> |<1> |8.0 |8.0 |8.0 Ireland |12.5 |12.5 |12.5 |12.5 |12.5 |12.5 Italy |9.0 |9.0 |9.0 |9.0 |9.0 |9.0 Luxembourg |6.0 |6.0 |6.0 |6.0 |6.0 |6.0 Netherlands |18.5 |18.5 |18.5 |18.5 |18.5 |18.5 Portugal<2> |(6.0) 8.0 |(6.0) 8.0 |(6.0) 8.0 |(6.0) 8.0 |(6.0) 8.0 |(6.0) 8.0 Spain |13.0 |13.0 |13.0 |13.0 |13.0 |13.0 <1> Greece has set its VAT at 4, 8, 18 and 36 per cent., but full details about the applicability of the rates are not yet available. <2> The lower rate applies to the autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira Archipelagoes.
(g) VAT on rents in the EC The letting of immovable property is exempt from VAT in every member state, although some member states operate an option to tax in certain circumstances.
(h) VAT on house purchase in the EC
Country |Rates on new |Rate on second
|buildings |hand buildings
|(per cent.) |(per cent.)
------------------------------------------------------------
Belgium |17.0 |Exempt
Denmark |25.0 |Exempt
France |18.6 |Exempt
Germany |Exempt |Exempt
Greece |<1>Taxable |Exempt
Ireland |10.0 |<2>Exempt
Italy |<3>4.0, 19 |4, 19
Luxembourg |Exempt |Exempt
Netherlands |18.5 |Exempt
Portugal |Exempt |Exempt
Spain |<4>13.0 |Exempt
<1> Greece has set its VAT rates at 4, 8, 18 and 36 per
cent., but full
details about the applicability of the rates are not yet
available.
<2> Or 10 per cent. if developed since 31 October 1972 and
input tax
credit was claimed.
<3> Certain "low-priced" housing 4 per cent.; others 19 per
cent.
<4> Or 6 per cent. if the first supply by a constructor of
a residential
dwelling.
(i) VAT on children's clothing in the EC Country |Rate per cent. --------------------------------------------- Belgium |19.0 Denmark |25.0 France |18.6 Germany |14.0 Greece |18.0 Ireland |<2>12.5 Italy |19.0 Luxembourg |15.0 Netherlands |18.5 Portugal |<1>17.0 (12) Spain |13.0 Notes: <1> The lower rate applies in the autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira archipelagoes. <2> To be increased to 16 per cent. on 1 March 1992.
(j) VAT on community centres in the EC Leasing of such buildings is exempt in all member states. For purchase (including construction), in other member states, the rates in the table "VAT on house purchase in the EC" apply.
(k) VAT on public transport (
including bus fares) in the EC
Country |Rate
|(per cent.)
------------------------------------
Belgium |6.0
Denmark |Exempt
France |5.5
Germany |<1>7.0
Greece |8.0
Ireland |Exempt
Italy |<1>Exempt
Luxembourg |6.0
Netherlands |6.0
Portugal |8.0
Spain |6.0
<1>For journeys within towns or of
less than 50 kilometres;
otherwise Germany 14 per cent.,
Italy 9 per cent.
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what, in the latest year for which information is available, is the proportion of consumer spending subject to the standard rate of VAT, exempt from VAT and subject to a zero rate of VAT.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : In 1990, the latest year for which estimates are available, some 57 per cent. of consumers' expenditure was standard rated, a further 22 per cent. was exempt and 12 per cent. was zero rated.
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Income Statistics
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest estimates of (a) original, (b) gross, (c) disposable and (d) post-tax income, by decile, in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Maude : The information, derived from the 1989 family expenditure survey, is given in the table :
Average annual household income<1>
Decile group<2> |Original |Gross |Disposable |Post-tax
|income |income |income |income
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bottom |1,000 |4,100 |3,400 |2,200
2nd |1,600 |5,200 |4,500 |3,400
3rd |2,800 |6,200 |5,300 |4,100
4th |6,700 |9,400 |7,800 |5,900
5th |10,100 |12,100 |9,800 |7,500
6th |13,000 |14,600 |11,700 |9,100
7th |16,200 |17,500 |13,800 |11,000
8th |19,600 |20,500 |16,100 |12,900
9th |23,700 |24,400 |19,100 |15,400
Top |36,400 |37,000 |28,900 |24,800
|--- |--- |--- |---
All households |13,100 |15,100 |12,000 |9,600
<1> Rounded to the nearest £ 100.
<2> The 7,410 households were ranked by equivalised disposable
income.
Source: Economic Trends January 1992.
Motor Taxation
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total revenue from motor taxation in 1991-92 ; and what is his estimated revenue for 1992-93 divided into its constituent parts, for the United Kingdom.
Mr. Maude : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, East (Mr. Prescott) on 4 February 1992, at column 100. Revised estimates for 1991-92, and figures for 1992-93 will be given in the Financial Statement and Budget Report.
Alcoholic Beverages
Dr. Marek : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to receive the European Commission study on the possible distortion of competition between different alcoholic beverages as a result of the proposed European excise structure.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard [holding answer 21 February 1992] : I have not been advised of a date for publication of the Commission study.
Income Tax
Ms. Armstrong : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the objective of the married couples allowance ; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the married couples allowance for couples where both partners have the same level of gross income.
Mr. Maude [holding answer 25 February 1992] : The married couple's allowance is intended to recognise the special responsibilities associated with marriage, which can encompass a variety of dependent relationships. The effect of the allowance is the same whatever the relative level of income of the partners, provided they earn enough to make use of their allowances.
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NORTHERN IRELAND
Disability Living Allowance
Mr. Hume : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will review the application form for disability living allowance with a view to making it shorter and less complicated.
Mr. Hanley : The form has been carefully designed to be both clear to the applicant and to allow applicants to explain fully the limitations on their abilities. It will, however, be kept under review to enable improvements to be identified and made as and when necessary.
Mr. Hume : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what consultation took place with general medical practitioners or welfare advice groups during the preparation of the application forms for the disability living allowance ;
(2) what evaluations or tests of the application forms for disability living allowance were made prior to their publication.
Mr. Hanley : Extensive consultation was carried out in Great Britain and Northern Ireland before the final version of the disability living allowance application form was determined. This included consultation with the British Medical Association and various disability and welfare groups and the testing of draft forms with disabled people. The resulting form has been specifically designed for completion by disabled people, with clear layout and large print.
Fair Employment
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken by the Social Security Agency to appoint equality officers to ensure that fair employment legislation and sex discrimination legislation is being adhered to in relation to all staff appointments.
Mr. Hanley : The Civil Service Commissioners for Northern Ireland are responsible for the selection of all permanent non-industrial staff appointed to the Northern Ireland civil service, including the Social Security Agency. The selection procedures adopted take account of equal opportunity legislation. The Department of Health and Social Services, within which the agency operates, has in place a departmental equal opportunities officer to ensure that the equal opportunities policies of the NICS are put into effect.
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken by the area health and social services boards to appoint equality officers to ensure that fair employment and sex discrimination legislation is being adhered to in relation to all staff appointments.
Mr. Hanley : An equal opportunities unit has been established in each health and social services board since 1988. The primary responsibility of these units is to ensure that equality of opportunity policy of their board is applied to all staff regardless of religious affiliation, gender or disability. These units are also responsible for ensuring that the provisions of the fair employment legislation are applied to all staff.
Column 503
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to ensure that persons involved in interview panels in the area health and social services boards are adequately briefed about employment legislation to ensure equality under the Fair Employment (NI) Act 1989 and the Sex Discrimination (NI) Order 1988.
Mr. Hanley : Each of the health and social services boards organises courses and seminars for staff involved in selection and appointments to ensure its policy of equality of opportunity is applied regardless of religious affiliation, gender or disability and to explain how the provisions of the fair employment legislation apply to staff in post and to applicants and appointees.
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to publish the religious breakdown of companies, organisations and businesses in accordance with requirements of the fair employment legislation.
Mr. Needham : The Fair Employment Commission has made public its intention to publish information on the composition of individual private sector concerns with more than 25 employees and specified public authorities. The date and manner of publication have not yet been decided.
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Fair Employment Commission will publish its report into employment practices in the colleges of further education located within the Belfast education and library board.
Mr. Needham : The Fair Employment Commission has forwarded a draft report of its investigation into teaching staff in further education colleges in Belfast to the Belfast education and library board. The board's formal response is awaited by the commission.
The commission plans to publish the report when this response has been received and considered.
Industrial Development Board
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the names of the companies assisted by the Industrial Development Board which located factories in each of the district council areas in Northern Ireland from 1 April 1991 to 31 December 1991.
Mr. Needham : Four new inward investment projects were secured in this period. Three of them, Vision Information Consulting Ltd., Audio Processing Technology Ltd. and the Royal Mail returned letters centre, will be located in Belfast city council area. The fourth, involving HM Customs and Excise, will be located in Derry city and Fermanagh district council areas. The Royal Mail and HM Customs and Excise projects were secured without selective financial assistance.
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many jobs were created by the Industrial Development Board in each district council area in Northern Ireland from 1 April 1991 to 31 December 1991.
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