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Miss Widdecombe : The latest figures available show that in 1988, 50 per cent. of pensioners were owner occupiers, of whom 46 per cent. owned their homes outright. This compares well with 1979, when only 38 per cent. owned their homes outright.
EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
Teachers, North Yorkshire
Mr. Caborn : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will show the full-time equivalent number of teachers employed in (a) north Yorkshire infant and primary schools and (b) north Yorkshire secondary schools in each year from 1974 to 1991.
Mr. Fallon : The full-time equivalent number of qualified teachers in maintained primary and secondary schools in North Yorkshire local education authority in January of each year is shown in the following table.
Full-time equivalent of qualified teachers
in maintained primary and
secondary schools in North Yorkshire Local
Education Authority-
January 1974-1991.
(thousands)
|Primary<1>|Secondary
--------------------------------------------
1974 |2.6 |2.7
1975 |2.7 |2.8
1976 |2.7 |2.9
1977 |2.7 |3.1
1978 |2.7 |3.1
1979 |2.7 |3.2
1980 |2.6 |3.2
1981 |2.5 |3.2
1982 |2.4 |3.2
1983 |2.3 |3.2
1984 |2.3 |3.2
1985 |2.3 |3.1
1986 |2.3 |3.0
1987 |2.3 |2.9
1988 |2.4 |2.9
1989 |2.4 |2.8
1990 |2.5 |2.8
1991 |2.4 |2.8
<1> Includes infant schools.
Pupil Expenditure
Mr. Conway : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the expenditure per pupil in the county of Shropshire in 1978-79, 1982-83, 1986-87 and 1991-92.
Mr. Fallon : The latest year for which actual spending information is available in 1989-90. Shropshire local education authority's school- based expenditure per nursery, primary and secondary school pupil is shown in the table. The real terms increase in per pupil spending between 1978-79 and 1989-90 was 56 per cent.
Net institutional expenditure<1> per
pupil<2>
Nursery, primary and secondary schools
Year |Current |1989-90
|prices |prices<3>
----------------------------------------
|£ |£
1978-79 |405 |940
1982-83 |765 |1,100
1986-87 |1,070 |1,290
1989-90 |1,470 |1,470
Notes to table
<1> Net institutional expenditure
covers the direct costs in schools of
salaries and wages, premises and
certain supplies and services. It does
not include the cost of school meals,
home to school transport, LEA
central administration, and financing
costs of capital expenditure.
<2> The figures are derived from
Shropshire local education authority's
returns of its spending to the
Department of the Environment and of
its pupil numbers to the Department of
Education and Science.
<3> Figures for 1978-79, 1982-83 and
1986-87 have been repriced to
1989-90 prices using the GDP (Market
Prices) Deflator Index.
Sixth Forms
Mr. Fatchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the total number of school sixth forms in England in (a) 1979-80 and (b) on the latest available figures.
Mr. Eggar : The numbers of maintained secondary schools with sixth forms in England, in 1980 and 1991 were 2,487 and 1,998 respectively. These figures include sixth form colleges in England.
Teachers' Superannuation
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his answers of 11 December, Official Report, column 448-49 and 2 December, Official Report, column 16 on the teachers' superannuation scheme, what is the basis for paying widowers' pensions in respect of service from 6 April 1988
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and charging extra for the optional cover from 1 April 1972 to 5 April 1988 when widows' pensions are paid on all service from 1 April 1972.Mr. Fallon : The normal contribution rate, of which an individual teacher pays 6 per cent. of salary and his or her employer the balance, is determined by the Government Actuary in his quinquennial valuations of the scheme. For the period 1 April 1972 to 5 April 1988, the Government Actuary took into account the cost of providing widows' pensions as a benefit of the scheme but not widowers' pensions and the normal contribution rate reflected this. In his most recent valuation, the actuary has taken account of the fact that widowers' benefits are now provided by the scheme with effect from 6 April 1988. Widowers' benefits prior to 6 April 1988 have not been covered by the contributions already paid by teachers and employers and on that basis the arrangements set out in my answer of 2 December were introduced.
A-levels, Islington
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to publish the report of Her Majesty's inspectorate in relation to the inspection carried out in November of the Islington sixth form centre and the two Islington further education colleges ; and what was the finding of this report in relation to the proportion of A- level passes as compared with the national average.
Mr. Eggar : The report from HM inspectorate is shortly to be received by my right hon. and learned Friend, once received, it will be published as quickly as possible. When the report is published I will write to the hon. Member with the information on A-level passes.
School Meals
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the number of children entitled to free school meals in each year since 1979.
Mr. Fallon : Since the implementation of the 1986 Social Security Act in 1988, only children whose families are in receipt of income support and those children who are themselves eligible for income support are entitled to receive free school meals. Prior to this local authorities had discretionary powers to provide free school meals and a variety of schemes existed. Consequently, it is not possible to give the number of children entitled to free meals before this date.
A total of 821,373 free school meals were taken in maintained schools in England on the census date in January 1991.
Sport
Mr. Anthony Coombs : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the chairmanships of the proposed United Kingdom Sports Commission and the Sports Council for England.
Mr. Atkins : As announced on 19 December 1991 in the policy statement "Sport and Active Recreation", the Government intend to replace the Sports Council of Great Britain with a United Kingdom sports commission and a sports council for England, subject to the approval by the Queen in Council, of the royal charters for the new bodies.
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My right hon. and learned Friend intends to appoint Peter Yarranton as chairman of the United Kingdom sports commission, and Ian Beer as chairman of the sports council for England. Mr. Yarranton is presently chairman of the Sports Council of Great Britain. He has agreed to continue in that capacity until the transition to the new arrangements has been effected.NORTHERN IRELAND
Political Talks
4. Mr. Riddick : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress of talks between the political parties of Northern Ireland.
Mr. Brooke : I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Falkirk, West (Mr. Canavan).
19. Mr. Skinner : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what further steps he proposes to take in respect in respect of new political initiatives in Northern Ireland ; and if he will make a statement.
25. Mr. Hain : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his current efforts to bring about a political settlement in the Province.
Mr. Brooke : I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Falkirk, West (Mr. Canavan).
Security
15. Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the recently elected Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland on security issues.
Mr. Brooke : My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, the Minister of State and I held a meeting with the new Taoiseach, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Justice yesterday, during which a range of security and other issues were discussed. I shall be meeting the Irish Foreign Affairs and Justice Ministers again at a meeting of the Anglo-Irish Conference which will be held shortly.
20. Mr. Ron Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the security situation.
Mr. Brooke : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Attercliffe (Sir P. Duffy).
24. Dr. Goodson-Wickes : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a further statement on the security situation in the Province.
Mr. Brooke : I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Attercliffe (Sir P. Duffy).
Brook Advisory Clinic
16. Miss Hoey : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will visit the newly opened Brook advisory clinic in Belfast to discuss funding.
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Mr. Hanley : I understand that the Belfast Brook centre has not yet, in fact, been opened. As the Eastern health and social services board is responsible for the funding of the services to be provided by the Brook centre when operational, it would not be appropriate for either my right hon. Friend or I to enter into separate discussions with the centre on this matter.
Industrial Development Board
17. Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the achievements to date of the Industrial Development Board in targeting new jobs.
Mr. Needham : During the six-year period from 1 April 1985 to 31 March 1991, 27,583 jobs were promoted by the IDB against a target of 32,435.
Local Management of Schools
18. Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many schools have devolved budgets under the local management of schools arrangements ; how many schools are grant maintained ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : In Northern Ireland 237 schools and 24 colleges of further education have fully delegated budgets and 1,050 have partially delegated budgets under LMS and LMC arrangements. There are no grant- maintained schools.
Tourist Board
21. Mr. Colvin : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will appoint a new chief executive of the Northern Ireland tourist board.
Mr. Needham : The appointment of a chief executive is a matter for the Northern Ireland tourist board. I understand, however, from the chairman of the board that the post was recently advertised, with a closing date for receipt of applications on 2 March 1992.
Buses
22. Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has visited plants in Northern Ireland producing buses.
Mr. Needham : I visited Walter Alexander and Co. (Belfast) Limited's bus body building plant at Newtownabbey on 1 November 1990. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State visited Robert Wright and Son (Coachworks) Ltd. at Balleymena on 19 June 1990.
Rural Development
23. Mr. Dover : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made towards encouraging rural development ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : Following the report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Rural Development in 1991 an independent Rural Development Council, representing a wide spectrum of rural interests has been established to provide advice and resources to rural communities to help them develop multi-sectoral regeneration plans for their local areas.
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Within the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland a rural development policy division has also been set up and three rural development area co-ordinators at senior level have been appointed to provide integrated statutory responses to local community plans.Museums
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what plans he has to provide funding for museums in Northern Ireland other than those he already funds ;
(2) what plans he has to publish a policy statement for museums in Northern Ireland.
Dr. Mawhinney : There are no immediate plans to extend funding to local authority museums, other than those to meet half of the cost of any improvement grant which may be awarded by the museums and galleries improvement fund, a joint venture between Government and the Wolfson charity trust.
Future policy for the support of local authority museums in Northern Ireland will be considered following the publication, later this year, of a report by the Northern Ireland museums advisory committee of its study into the feasibility of establishing an area museum service for the Province.
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the Irish Museums Association in Ireland to discuss the role and funding of museums in Northern Ireland ; and if he will make a statement.
Dr. Mawhinney : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has never met the Irish Museums Association.
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the budgetary allocation to museums in Northern Ireland in each of the financial years from 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1991 inclusive.
Dr. Mawhinney : The information requested is as follows :
|1988-89 |1989-90 |1990-91
|£ |£ |£
-------------------------------------------------------------
Ulster Museum |2,876,400|3,529,300|4,136,000
Ulster Folk and
Transport Museum |2,124,300|2,364,700|2,747,300
Ulster American Folk
Park |685,000 |641,000 |792,800
Community Services
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the amount allocated to each district council in Northern Ireland for community services in the financial years from 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1991.
Dr. Mawhinney : The amounts allocated were as follows :
Recurrent funding
|1988-89 |1989-90 |1990-91
Council |£ |£ |£
--------------------------------------------------------
Antrim |46,275 |47,700 |50,175
Ards |33,675 |34,650 |36,450
Armagh |16,800 |19,275 |20,250
Ballymena |53,625 |55,200 |58,125
Ballymoney |6,675 |6,900 |7,275
Banbridge |15,750 |17,250 |18,150
Belfast |679,125 |685,350 |717,000
Carrickfergus |37,875 |39,000 |41,100
Castlereagh |83,700 |83,700 |88,125
Coleraine |30,150 |31,050 |32,700
Cookstown |6,000 |7,500 |7,875
Craigavon |172,275 |172,275 |181,500
Derry |112,350 |115,500 |121,575
Down |30,975 |33,750 |35,550
Dungannon |7,725 |9,825 |10,350
Fermanagh |36,375 |37,500 |39,450
Larne |19,425 |22,275 |23,475
Limavady |15,375 |15,750 |16,575
Lisburn |61,950 |63,825 |67,200
Magherafelt |4,725 |4,725 |5,025
Moyle |14,100 |14,550 |15,300
Newry and
Mourne |85,950 |88,500 |93,150
Newtownabbey |51,600 |54,750 |57,750
North Down |44,475 |46,500 |48,975
Omagh |56,175 |61,950 |65,250
Strabane |66,375 |72,750 |76,650
|------- |------- |-------
Total |1,789,500|1,842,000|1,935,000
Capital Funding
Council
Antrim |38,836 |6,052 |Nil
Ards |39,667 |21,448 |26,860
Armagh |32,872 |Nil |86,182
Ballymena |99,697 |nil |17,213
Ballymoney |20,537 |11,145 |985
Banbridge |1,706 |33,680 |2,784
Belfast |144,423 |20,618 |3,405
Carrickfergus |nil |nil |nil
Castlereagh |32,531 |nil |4,866
Coleraine |106,745 |26,422 |5,838
Cookstown |65,580 |nil |nil
Craigavon |63,697 |49,415 |6,443
Derry |104,378 |162,820 |125,688
Down |38,332 |5,109 |25,064
Dungannon |59,521 |3,376 |44,770
Fermanagh |nil |4,535 |nil
Larne |151,375 |177 |517
Limavady |17,903 |7,085 |5,770
Lisburn |43,005 |61,376 |18,957
Magherafelt |26,408 |6,841 |517
Moyle |9,895 |nil |nil
Newry and
Mourne |100,146 |34,834 |13,505
Newtownabbey |nil |7,598 |nil
North Down |18,199 |2,776 |18,586
Omagh |26,940 |8,308 |35,919
Strabane |38,734 |65,435 |nil
|------- |------- |-------
Total |281,127 |539,050 |443,869
Notes:
1. Capital cost figures cover both community and
recreation facility
provision.
2. Grants made to councils are made in respect of
expenditure on
individual approved projects.
Government Offices (Relocation)
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to relocate central Government offices into the constituency of South Down in response to the provision of the Star telecommunications network within the area.
Column 609
Dr. Mawhinney : The location or relocation of civil service work is considered whenever a new function emerges, an existing function changes its organisational structure, or when the lease of a civil service occupied building expires. The provision of good communication links, such as those now available under the STAR telecommunications network, is just one of a number of factors which are taken into account when deciding upon relocation options. There are no plans at present to relocate any central Government functions to the South Down constituency.South Eastern Education and Library Board
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he is currently considering from South Eastern education and library board in respect of a headquarters on a single site.
Dr. Mawhinney : The South Eastern board is currently reviewing the options for locating its headquarters on a single site. The Department of Education is awaiting the outcome of these investigations before entering into further discussions with the board.
Earnings
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) men and (b) women in each region earn (i) above and (ii) below the national insurance lower earnings limit ; and how many are between the lower earnings limit and the upper earnings limit, in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Hanley : Northern Ireland is regarded as a single region for national insurance purposes. The information requested is as follows. The figures refer to the latest estimates for the current year.
|Men |Women
----------------------------------------------------------------
Number of people who earn above lower
earnings limit |245,000|185,000
Number of people who earn below lower
earnings limit |25,000 |65,000
Number of people who earn between upper
and lower earnings limit |200,000|180,000
Pensioners
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the latest estimates of how many pensioners are (a) male, (b) female, (c) single and (d) married in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Hanley : In mid-1990 the estimated numbers of men and women at state pension age and over in Northern Ireland were as follows :
|Number
------------------------
Men |76,000
Women |155,000
Source: OPCS mid-year
estimates.
I regret that information is not available on the marital status of these pensioners.
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pensioners there are over the
Column 610
age of 75 years divided into males and females ; and what is (a) their average income from all sources and (b) the income distribution of such pensioners, in Northern Ireland.Mr. Hanley [holding answer 24 February 1992] : In mid-1990 the estimated numbers of men and women over the age of 75 in Northern Ireland were as follows :
|Number
---------------------
Men |28,000
Women |54,000
Source: OPCS
mid-year estimates.
I regret that sufficient information is not available to enable reliable estimates of the average income or income distribution of these men and women to be made.
Social Security Fraud
Mr. Peter Robinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is his estimate of the cost of social security fraud to his Department of Health and Social Services in each of the last five years ;
(2) how many people have been jailed as a result of being found guilty of social security fraud in each of the last five years ; (3) how many people were charged with social security fraud in each of the last five years.
Mr. Hanley : Social security operational matters are the responsibility of Mr. Alec Wylie, chief executive of the Social Security Agency. He will write to the hon. Gentleman and copies of his reply will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.
Butchers' Blocks
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what requirements have been introduced by the European Community in connection with the butcher's wooden block upon which cuts of meat are prepared ; and if he will make a statement on the future of this butcher's block.
Mr. Hanley : None. A proposed European Community directive on hygiene of foodstuffs presently under negotiation, would require that all articles, fittings, and equipment with which food comes into contact should be so constructed, be of such materials and be kept in such good order, repair and condition as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practical, any risk of contamination of the food. Similar provisions are already contained in existing United Kingdom food hygiene law.
Fisheries Patrol Boat
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the acquisition cost and what are the budgeted running costs of the Northern Ireland fisheries patrol boat, Ken Vickers.
Mr. Hanley : The acquisition cost was some £450,000, 50 per cent. of which will be met by the EC. The estimated running costs, including crewing, for 1992-93 are £72,400.
Column 611
Citizens Charter
Mr. Kilfedder : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the cost to date of the preparation, printing, publication and distribution of the citizens charter for Northern Ireland.
Dr. Mawhinney : A total of £120,400.
Low Energy Lighting
Mr. Corbett : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make it his policy progressively to introduce low-energy lighting in all the buildings operated by his Department.
Dr. Mawhinney [holding answer 25 February 1992] : Low-energy light fittings are already used in all new installations and to replace fittings which have reached the end of their useful life. In other circumstances low-energy units are fitted where it is cost-effective to do so.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Captive Birds
Mr. Andrew Mitchell : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further information he has on the levels of mortality in imported captive birds.
Mr. Gummer : The third report by the Ministry on mortalities in imported captive birds, relating to imports in 1990, shows that of 176,000 birds, 3,500 were dead on arrival and a further 18,100 died in post-import quarantine. The average mortality remains unacceptable but has fallen slightly to 12.3 per cent. compared with 12.7 per cent. in the previous year. The statistics give further evidence of the major problems in the bird trade which the Government are taking vigorous action to address. I am placing copies of the report in the Library of the House.
The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry), has just announced a far-reaching package of measures which underline our commitment. Clearly these issues need to be addressed internationally, and at the forthcoming Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species conference the United Kingdom will take a leading role in pressing for strengthened international controls. We are also seeking tough action in the European Community. We are determined that any future trade in wild birds should be conducted under proper conditions and that exporting countries, airlines and traders should all play their part and recognise their responsibilities for ensuring the highest standards of care.
Ministerial Appointments
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all the public bodies to which he makes appointments and all the committees within his Ministry which include outside experts appointed by him.
Mr. Gummer : Information about public bodies to which I make appointments is given in "Public Appointments : a Handbook for Women's Organisations" and annually in "Public Bodies", copies of which are in the Library. To provide a fully comprehensive list of all bodies and committees to which I make appointments would be disproportionately expensive.
Column 612
Oilseed Harvest
Mr. Hague : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what EC support arrangements will apply in the United Kingdom for the 1992 oilseed harvest.
Mr. Gummer : A new EC support system is being introduced because the existing arrangements were found to be incompatible with GATT rules. The scheme will apply to rapeseed, sunflower seed and soya bean crops harvested in summer 1992. The scheme will provide a payment related to the world price made at a flat rate per hectare and paid direct to growers.
The agriculture departments will be operating the scheme and will issue explanatory booklets and application forms as soon as possible. These will be sent to all known oilseed growers. Others will be able to obtain copies from the Ministry's regional service centres and the offices of other agriculture departments. I will place copies in the Libraries of the House.
The general rules of the scheme were adopted in December 1991 in council regulation 3766/91. A Commission regulation establishing more detailed rules is expected to be published shortly. When it is, I will make a further announcement. Growers sowing seed after the entry into force of the Commission regulation (three days after the date of its publication in the Official Journal ) will be subject to certain restrictions on the land on which they may sow if they are to be eligible for aid. They will only be eligible if they plant on arable land. That is defined in the Council regulation as
"land cultivated during the period 1989-90 to 1990-91, including land shown to have been fallowed in conformity with a publicly funded scheme, temporarily under grass as part of an arable rotation or exceptionally arable land fallowed throughout this period". The intention of this provision is to prevent the ploughing up of permanent grassland.
In addition to crops harvested from certified seed, home-saved seed will be eligible for aid, as will seed grown for industrial use and seed grown for sowing. Various requirements in relation to these matters, which are laid down in the Commission regulation, are being waived this year because it would be inequitable to apply them after growers have taken decisions on what seed to sow for the 1992 harvest. Specific obligations will however apply in future years, and these will be publicised in advance of growers' decisions on plantings for 1993 harvest.
Growers' completed applications must be received by the agriculture departments by 30 May. The Commission regulation provides for applications received in the following 30 days to suffer a 1 per cent. cut in the aid for each day that they are late up to a maximum cut of 30 per cent. of the aid. Applications received thereafter will be ineligible for any aid. Applications must be supported by a map--from the 1 : 10,000 Ordnance Survey series, or a map of an equivalent quality--showing the precise location of the crops. After growers' applications have been checked, a first payment (of up to 50 per cent. of the total) will be made by 30 September. After the grower has submitted a "harvest declaration", further checks will be made.
The remainder of the aid will be paid by the end of March 1993. There will also be some payments, on which the Commission has not yet made a proposal, to growers who hold the crop off the market, and thus help to ensure orderly marketing.
Column 613
Different rates of aid will be paid in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, to reflect their different average yields. Last autumn's and this spring's sowings will receive the same rate of aid. This may change for 1993 crop.The regulations contain a number of measures designed to penalise inaccurate applications and to prevent fraud. Penalties for fraud can include disqualification from support in the year following the committal of certain offences. A statutory instrument will be introduced providing in particular for powers of entry and inspection.
This scheme is free-standing. There is no linked set-aside requirement, nor is there any simplified scheme for small producers.
Dietary Supplements
Mr. Hague : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on future controls on dietary supplements.
Mr. Gummer : In March last year the Government published a report by officials from the Department of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on dietary supplements and health foods. The report was not a statement of policy but was intended to provide a basis for discussion. It was circulated to some 160 trade, consumer and other organisations for comment. Last December the European Commission issued a discussion paper on possible future controls on dietary supplements which covered much of the same ground as our earlier report. Views on the Commission paper were invited from all those who had commented on our report.
In the light of all the comments that we have received on the two documents we have concluded that there is a good case for the introduction of some specific controls on dietary supplements. However, we believe that a balance needs to be struck between on the one hand ensuring public health together with clear labelling information and, on the other hand, maintaining the availability of safe products for which there is clearly a strong public demand. We have recently submitted our views on future legislation to the European Commission in the form of an outline draft directive on dietary supplements. I have arranged for copies of the draft to be sent to all those who responded to the consultation exercises and to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.
At this stage we are only seeking to establish the broad framework for a directive. Regulatory regimes for supplements differ considerably throughout the Community and it will be important to settle questions of principle before we move on to more technical matters.
I understand that the Commission is due to hold a preliminary discussion on dietary supplements in early March. We will continue to keep all the interests involved informed on the progress of these discussions and will be consulting further on particular detailed issues such as the maximum daily dose limits which might be laid down for individual supplements.
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