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Staff Salaries
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the cause of the corruption that occurred to hon. Members' staff salaries for the month of May.
Mr. Newton : The corruption of the Members' staff computer payroll records for the month of May was a direct result of operator procedural error at a time of extreme pressure. It did not originate from a computer virus nor from unauthorised access to the computer system or records held in the Fees Office.
I am assured that all possible steps are being taken to prevent a repetition of the error.
SCOTLAND
Hardy Nursery Stock
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the development of the hardy nursery stock industry in Scotland.
Sir Hector Monro : The Scottish Office agriculture and fisheries department provides general encouragement for the hardy nursery stock industry in Scotland which is demonstrating steady and welcome development as regards range and quality of products and market expansion.
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Population Statistics
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the population of (a) Orkney, (b) Shetland, (c) Islay, (d) Jura, (e) Colonsay and (f) Mull ; how many people are considered to be economically active on each of these islands.
Mr. Allan Stewart : Figures from the 1991 census of population are not yet available. The most recent figures are from the 1981 census and are given in the table.
4
Area |Residents |Residents
|economically
|active
----------------------------------------------------
Orkney |18,425 |8,156
Shetland |22,768 |10,957
Colonsay |134 |57
Islay |3,792 |1,636
Jura |224 |97
Mull |2,196 |963
Hospices
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the development of the hospice movement in Scotland ; what plans he has to encourage this development ; and what criteria he applies to the award of financial assistance to individual hospices.
Mr. Allan Stewart : The 13 voluntary hospices in Scotland have benefited over the past three years from the Government's scheme under which at least 50 per cent. of their running costs have been met by health boards. This initiative, which runs until the end of the current financial year, was designed as a transitional measure to enable the hospices and health boards to work together to construct a sound basis for contractual relationships and future development. Its effectiveness and possible future arrangements are now being assessed by the Scottish Office home and health department. Views have been sought from each voluntary hospice and each health board with a hospice in its area. We shall make known the outcome of this assessment when it has been completed.
The main criteria which a hospice must satisfy in order to be eligible for assistance under the initiative are :
--the hospice must be recognised as a charity by the Inland Revenue ;
--services must be provided to meet the needs of terminally ill patients (and their families) when those needs can no longer be met by curative treatments ;
--medical, nursing and paramedical staff should be employed, who are skilled in the provision of palliative medicine for cancer patients, and for others who require such expert care for a span of time ; and --no charge should be made to patients or their families.
Homelessness
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet representatives of the Scottish Council for Single Homeless to discuss the homelessness crisis in Scotland ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : I have no immediate plans for such a meeting, but my officials meet representatives of the council on a regular basis.
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Placentas
Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the supply of placentas by the national health service to (a) national health service and university research departments and (b) private companies ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Allan Stewart : Arrangements for the supply of placentae from NHS hospitals to research departments of the NHS and universities or private companies are the responsibility of individual health boards. Information on the disposal of placentae is not held centrally.
Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance he has given to health boards on the disposal of placentas after childbirth ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Allan Stewart : Placentae are regarded as clinical waste. Guidance produced by the Health and Safety Commission and issued to health boards in June 1982 by the Scottish home and health department requires that placentae should be placed in a suitable bag or bin and incinerated.
Arthritis Care
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet representatives of the Arhtritis Care organisation ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Allan Stewart : My right hon. and noble Friend, the Minister for Health in Scotland plans to attend the reception which Arthritis Care has arranged at the House of Commons for 26 November 1992.
Local Government Services
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the future operation, management and organisation of (a) legal, (b) architecture and related services, (c) personnel, (d) administration, (e) planning and development and (f) general management services within Scottish local authorities.
Mr. Allan Stewart : The responses to the consultation paper "Competing for Quality : Competition in the Provision of Local Services" are being carefully considered. Announcements will be made in due course about the proposals for extending the list of activities subject to the compulsory competition provisions of the Local Government Act 1988, and on the timetable for implementation.
Members of the European Parliament
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last formally and collectively met Members of the European Parliament representing Scottish constituencies ; when he next plans to meet them ; what matters he hopes to discuss ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Allan Stewart : The Secretary of State last formally and collectively met Members of the European Parliament representing Scottish constituencies on 9 July 1991. There are no immediate plans for a further such meeting.
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Population Statistics
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the most recent percentage of the population which is (a) under 16 years, (b) 16 to 24 years, (c) 25 to 34 years, (d) 35 to
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pensionable age and (e) pensionable age in (i) the Paisley, South parliamentary constituency, (ii) Strathclyde region and (iii) Scotland.Mr. Allan Stewart : Annual population estimates by age are not made for parliamentary constituencies. The most recent figures are from the 1981 census of population and are given in the table.
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Residents 1981 Percentage
Age |Paisley, South|Strathclyde |Scotland
|constituency
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under 16 |23 |24 |23
16-24 |16 |15 |15
25-34 |13 |14 |14
35-pensionable age |33 |31 |31
Pensionable age and over |15 |16 |17
|------- |------- |-------
Total=100 per cent. |67,430 |2,375,410 |5,035,315
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a table showing the most up-to-date percentages of the population in each recognised socio-economic group in (a) the Paisley, South parliamentary constituency, (b) Strathclyde region and (c) Scotland.
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Mr. Allan Stewart : Figures from the 1991 census of population are not yet available. The most recent figures are from the 1981 census and are given in the table.
|c|Residents age 16 or over in employment|c|
per cent.
Socio-economic group |Paisley South |Strathclyde |Scotland
|Constituency
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Employers and managers in central and local government, industry, commerce, etc.-large
establishments |5 |5 |5
2. Employers and managers in industry, commerce, etc.-small establishments |4 |4 |5
3. Professional workers-self employed |0 |1 |1
4. Professional workers-employees |3 |3 |3
5.1 Ancillary workers and artists |11 |10 |10
5.2 Foreman and supervisors-non-manual |1 |1 |1
6. Junior non-manual worker |23 |21 |21
7. Personal service workers |8 |6 |6
8. Foreman and supervisors-manual |3 |3 |3
9. Skilled manual workers |19 |20 |19
10. Semi-skilled manual workers |16 |13 |12
11. Unskilled manual workers |6 |7 |7
12. Own account workers (other than professional) |2 |2 |2
13. Farmers-employers and managers |0 |0 |1
14. Farmers-own account |0 |0 |1
15. Agricultural workers |0 |1 |1
16. Members of armed forces |0 |1 |1
17. Inadequately described occupations |1 |1 |1
|------ |------ |----
Total |100 |100 |100
Rape
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, in rank order for each police force, the number of females who have reported being raped during the last 12 months.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Information is not collected centrally on the number of rapes reported to the police. The available information on the number of rapes recorded by the police is as follows :
|c|Number of rapes recorded by the
police in Scotland in 1991|c|
|Number
--------------------------------------
Strathclyde |138
Lothian and Borders |72
Grampian |42
Dumfries and Galloway |18
Tayside |17
Central |14
Fife |11
Northern |8
|-------
Scotland |320
Maedi Visna
Mr. Salmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current incidence of Maedi Visna in Scotland ; and what steps the Government intend to take to limit the spread of Maedi Visna.
Sir Hector Monro : Maedi Visna is not statutorily notifiable ; but one outbreak has been reported, in a flock which was brought into Scotland in 1990. Under the sheep and goat health scheme flock owners may have their flocks tested annually for maedi visna, or may achieve and
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maintain maedi visna accredited status. The scheme is regularly publicised at markets and shows ; and following the recent outbreak the Scottish Agricultural college has advised veterinarians in private practice to be alert for evidence of the disease.Mr. Salmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Government have plans to make Maedi Visna a statutorily notifiable disease within the terms of the Animal Health Act 1981.
Mr. Salmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the findings of the Maedi Visna/Caprine arthritis-encephalitis programmes carried out by the Agriculture and Fisheries Department.
Sir Hector Monro : In the year ending 31 March 1992, 20,157 samples were taken from flocks in the sheep and goat health scheme in Scotland, and only one positive reactor was found.
Waste Collection
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the provision of specific financial assistance to local authorities which wish to establish or develop efficient collection and recycling of industrial, commercial and domestic waste.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 9 June 1992] : I have no plans for specific grant to authorities for recycling nor to specify that elements of capital spending consents may be used only to finance recycling initiatives. To do so would constrain the freedom enjoyed by local authorities to determine their own spending priorities. Recycling projects identified in authorities' expenditure plans are taken into account when setting the capital expenditure allocations each year.
Shellfish
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the forum on nephrops, to be convened by the chairman of the Sea Fish Industry Authority, is expected to meet before the summer recess.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 9 June 1992] : The arrangements for the nephrops forum are being made by the Sea Fish Industry Authority. I understand that the forum is to be held on Friday, 31 July.
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what surveys of the quality of Scottish coastal waters in respect of meeting EC standard on shellfish production have been made by DAFS ; and whether he will make the findings available.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 9 June 1992] : The classification of shellfish harvesting areas to meet the requirements of EC directive 91/492 is being undertaken by my Department's marine laboratory in Aberdeen. The exercise involves establishing the level of bacteriological contamination present in samples of shellfish flesh taken from harvesting areas.
Decisions on classification will be taken later in the year but information on the results so far will be issued to interested parties this month. Thus far the results have
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been encouraging with some 70 per cent. of results indicating category A, with 20 per cent. suggesting category B and the remainder in category C. But these are early days and some deterioration in the results over the coming months may occur linked to changing conditions.Environmental Issues
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the documents or projects produced by his Department to be used in schools to raise the awareness of pupils on environmental issues ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 8 June 1992] : The provision of material for use in schools is primarily a matter for education authorities. The following documents dealing with environmental education have recently been made available to education authorities by the Scottish Office.
This Common Inheritance ; A Summary of the White Paper on the Environment (Command 1200) (October 1990).
Environmental Studies 5-14 ; SOED Working Paper No. 13 (December 1991).
Environment in Trust : a series of leaflets covering : river quality ; global atmosphere and air quality ; radioactive waste management--A Safe Solution ; pollution control systems ; One World ; Cleaner Seas ; The Countryside ; and Waste Management and Recycling (February 1992).
The primary education development project has developed materials which it is intended to make available to support the delivery of environmental studies 5-14, and Scotland is currently participating in an OECD project on environmental education which will result in further materials for use in schools.
In addition a working group under the chairmanship of Professor Smyth is currently reviewing the provision of environmental education generally in Scotland. Its findings are expected later this year.
East Kilbride DC
Mr. Ingram : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide details of the arrangements for the sale of individual assets held by East Kilbride development corporation in the value range £250,000 to £4 million.
Mr. Allan Stewart [holding answer 8 June 1992] : The arrangements for the disposal of the assets of the new town development corporations in Scotland are set out in guidance issued by The Scottish Office industry department in April. A copy of the guidance was sent to the hon. Member on 19 May 1992.
EMPLOYMENT
Small Shops
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations she has received from OPEN, the small shops group about the consequences of the unamended working time directive for small convenience stores in the United Kingdom ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. McLoughlin : My predecessors received representations from OPEN about the proposed provisions in the draft directive on working time which would make Sunday a rest day in principle. At the Council of Social Ministers
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on 30 April there was general acceptance that any provision in the draft directive on the principle of Sunday rest should not be obligatory in its effect on member states. Negotiations are continuing on these issues.Training
Mr. Janner : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment of every 100 people who join employment training, how many will be expected to obtain a job at the end of their training ; and what is the figure for a similar number of people who do not join employment training but who are unemployed for the same period.
Mr. McLoughlin : Currently, for every 100 people who join ET, 33 are in employment or self employment three months after leaving. Comparable figures are not available for the unemployed who do not enter ET.
Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if it is her policy that youth training and employment training trainees be issued with a copy of their individual training plan before they commence training or on request ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. McLoughlin : Under the terms of the training and enterprise councils' operating agreement, TECs must ensure that all persons entering YT or ET are given an individual training plan agreed between the training provider and the trainee, either immediately upon entry or within a week of such entry. The issued document must contain specified information about the trainee and the training programme. The plan plays a key role in defining training intentions and trainee rights. It is also a fundamental requirement in financial control that training providers should keep a properly completed and up-to-date copy of each plan to support claims for payment. The existence of such a plan is normally regarded as a test for a trainee being recognised as a YT or ET trainee.
Technical and Vocational Education Initiative
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment for what reasons he decided to reduce the TVEI budget allocated to Staffordshire for 1992-93 from that allocated for 1991-92 ; what assessment he has made of the effects of this reduced allocation ; and if he will now reinstate the 1992-93 allocation to the 1991-92 level.
Mr. McLoughlin : Staffordshire's TVEI budget for 1992-93 has not been reduced. When Staffordshire started its TVEI extension programme in 1988 a phased allocation of the total available funds was agreed with the Department. This was weighted towards the early years when the major changes would be introduced. The planned budget for 1992-93 still applies, apart from the usual annual uprating of 2.5 per cent.
Job Search Seminars
Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the role, purpose and cost of job search seminars and which unemployed people are eligible for their assistance for Great Britain and for each region ; how many job search seminars have been established ;how many people have been helped by those seminars ; how many people have been directly placed into jobs ; how many have been directly placed in other outcomes ; and if she will make a statement ;
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(2) what is the role, purpose and cost of job referral teams and which unemployed people are eligible for their assistance and for Great Britain and for each region (a) how many job referral teams have been established, (b) how many people have been helped by those teams, (c) how many people have been directly placed into jobs and (d) how many have been directly placed in other outcomes ; and if she will make a statement ;(3) what is the role, purpose and cost of job review workshops and which unemployed people are eligible for their assistance and for Great Britain and for each region (a) how many job review workshops have been established, (b) how many people have been helped by those workshops, (c) how many people have been directly placed into jobs and (d) how many have been directly placed in other outcomes ; and if she will make a statement ;
(4) for Great Britain and for each region how many people have been called in to attend 13-week Employment Service counselling interviews ; how many people have actually attended such interviews ; and of those who attended (a) how many have been placed directly into jobs, (b) how many people have been placed in what other outcomes and (c) how many have had their benefit stopped or suspended and for what reasons ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. McLoughlin : Questions on operational matters in the Employment Service executive agency are the responsibility of the agency's chief executive, to whom I have referred these questions for reply.
Northgate Complex, Glasgow
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list by Department the number of working days that have been lost so far this year at the Northgate complex, Milton street, Glasgow, due to problems with the air conditioning system ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. McLoughlin : The Health and Safety Executive has no knowledge of any working days lost this year at the Northgate complex, Milton street, Glasgow due to problems with the air conditioning systems.
Sheep Dip
Mr. Tyler : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list the recommended protective clothing to be worn when using organo- phosphorous sheep dip ; what changes have been made to these recommendations in the last year ; and what changes are planned.
Mr. McLoughlin : Advice on protective clothing is given on the label and data sheet of individual products. General information is also available in the free leaflet "Sheep dipping : Protect your health" published by the Health and Safety Executive and available from their local offices.
The leaflet advises that personal protective equipment should include rubber gloves, coverall and a face-shield when handling the concentrate and rubber boots, rubber gloves and waterproof coat or bib apron when handling the diluted liquid and freshly dipped sheep. Sheep dip manufacturers and personal protective equipment suppliers can provide more specific advice.
There have been no changes in the last year to these
recommendations, nor are any planned. The Veterinary
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Products Committee is, however, reviewing the licences for sheep dip products and will be considering personal protective equipment requirements in formulating its advice to the licensing authority. I will arrange for copies of the leaflet to be placed in the Library.Data Protection
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of her Department's arrangements for consulting the Data Protection Registrar during the planning stage of any initiative involving the collection, use or disclosure of personal data ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. McLoughlin : In the Employment department group instructions have been issued that the Data Protection Registrar should be consulted on proposed legislation which might affect, or be affected by, the Data Protection Act. Such proposals and other planned initiatives are notified to the data protection co-ordinator who consults the Data Protection Registrar as appropriate.
HEALTH
Bowel Complaints
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines are given to general practitioners about performing rectal examinations on patients with bowel complaints.
Dr. Mawhinney : It is for the profession to issue guidance on such clinical matters as appropriate.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State if she will list by regional health authority the average current delay between patients reporting (a) symptoms starting and (b) diagnosis of a patient with inflammatory bowel disorder.
Mr. Sackville : This information is not held centrally.
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Tobacco Advertising
Mr. Turner : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the guidance which the Department of Health has received on the potential value of a ban on tobacco advertising.
Dr. Mawhinney : The Department has received guidance on the potential effect of a ban on tobacco advertising from a number of sources. The Department is currently undertaking a study on the effects of tobacco advertising on tobacco consumption. The contents of this study will be made available in an appropriate form when it is completed.
Waiting Lists
Mrs. Anne Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the Cambridge regional health authority are waiting more than six months for a first time referral to a consultant.
Dr. Mawhinney : The information is not collected in the form requested. The hon. Member may wish to contact Sir Colin Walker, chairman of East Anglian regional health authority, or Richard King, chairman of Cambridge Health Authority, for details.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Mr. Shersby : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the change in the last year in the number of patients waiting over two years for hospital treatment.
Mr. Sackville [pursuant to the reply, 12 May 1992, c. 489-92] : Provisional waiting time figures as at 30 April are given in the table. These show that the number of patients waiting more than two years for treatment increased in April by 399 to 1,999. This compares with 51,100 patients at 31 March 1991. Regional general managers have been told to take firm management action to ensure these patients are treated as soon as possible and that the rapid fall in waiting times achieved in 1991-92 is continued.
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|c|Provisional waiting time figures-April 1992|c|
|c|In-patients and day cases combined|c|
Numbers waiting-April 1992
Region |Under one |One to two|Over two |Total
|year |years |years
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |53,855 |4,005 |0 |57,860
Yorkshire |63,452 |6,658 |8 |70,118
Trent |75,816 |9,641 |20 |85,477
East Anglian |34,367 |4,108 |77 |38,552
North West Thames |46,233 |8,894 |44 |55,171
North East Thames |68,637 |8,690 |713 |78,040
South East Thames |67,360 |8,700 |175 |76,235
South West Thames |44,101 |2,576 |26 |46,703
Wessex |53,598 |4,177 |0 |57,775
Oxford |39,354 |5,695 |30 |45,079
South Western |62,933 |3,252 |94 |66,279
West Midlands |85,761 |5,787 |214 |91,762
Mersey |49,918 |803 |0 |50,721
North Western |78,017 |6,864 |64 |84,945
|------- |------- |------- |-------
All regions |823,402 |79,850 |1,465 |904,717
SHAs |12,011 |1,397 |534 |13,942
|------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |835,413 |81,247 |1,999 |918,659
Note: Based on provisional figures obtained from regions.
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Community Care
Mr. Raynsford : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if her Department's estimates of the cost of housing provision necessary to meet the requirements of the Government's community care plans and the implementation of the Children Act 1989, identify separately the respective costs of (a) the provision, management and maintenance of the accommodation, (b) services directly related to the provision of accommodation, (c) personal services, including the provision of food, heating, lighting and laundry services, (d) care and support services, including medical and social care, counselling, social work support, skills training and therapy and (e) any other requirements ;
(2) what are her Department's estimates of the cost of the housing requirements arising from the Government's community care plans and the implementation of the Children Act 1989 for each of (a) people with mental health problems, (b) people with learning difficulties, (c) young people leaving care or who are homeless, (d) elderly people, (e) people with drug or alcohol abuse problems, (f) people with physical disabilities including degenerative and debilitating illnesses and (g) other client groups falling within the statutory provisions of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 and the Children Act 1989 in each of the three years from 1993-94 onwards.
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