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Written Answers to Questions
Friday 12 June 1992
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Compensation Claims
Mr. Bermingham : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will outline the specific training undertaken by staff of his Department in relation to compensation claims ; and what steps are taken to ensure the fair treatment of claimants.
Mr. John M. Taylor : The Department issued guidance to its officials in 1990 on the principles to be taken into account when checking claims for compensation. Decisions are taken at a senior level, with legal advice being sought where appropriate.
Mr. Bermingham : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what are his Department's criteria and guidelines in dealing with compensation claims.
Mr. John M. Taylor : The Department is prepared to consider claims for compensation where loss is sustained through maladministration by court officials in matters for which the Lord Chancellor is responsible.
Staff dealing with the justification for and assessment of compensation claims are required to apply guidelines, the broad principles of which were reproduced in the Law Society Gazette in August 1990. Each claim is assessed on its individual merits.
Mr. Bermingham : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department whether (a) the remuneration levels claimed and paid to solicitors and the Treasury Solicitor undertaking work for his Department in relation to compensation claims, (b) the work undertaken by claimants' solicitors to secure financial redress satisfactory to claimants and (c) delays between lodging and resolving claims reflect in compensation and costs paid.
Mr. John M. Taylor : Claims for compensation are considered on the individual merits of the case. The Department will consider payment of a solicitor's reasonable costs in pursuing a claim but inevitably the process of assessing the validity of claims takes time, particularly where it involves communication with other offices within the Department or, on occasions, with the Treasury.
Mr. Bermingham : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects to take decisions on the publication of guidelines as to the principles upon which his Department assesses ex gratia payments for compensation.
Mr. John M. Taylor : The broad principles upon which the Department assesses claims for ex gratia compensatory payments were outlined in an article in the Law Society Gazette in August 1990. Consideration is being given to further publication of these principles.
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ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Maxwell Companies
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Attorney-General if the Serious Fraud Office will take steps to contact Dr. Werner Keicher of Vaduz with a view to obtaining his assistance in the investigations into the Maxwell group of companies.
The Attorney-General : It is the policy of the Serious Fraud Office not to divulge operational details relating to the proposed handling of its investigations. I am satisfied that all steps currently necessary properly to investigate the Maxwell group of companies are being taken.
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Attorney-General if he will provide additional resources and instructions to the Serious Fraud Office in order that they can assist in the recovery of moneys belonging to the Maxwell pension funds.
The Attorney-General : The role of the Serious Fraud Office is to investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute alleged offences involving serious or complex fraud. Primary responsibility for the recovery of assets rests with the trustees of the Maxwell pension funds, the administrators and liquidators. The Serious Fraud Office assists those so engaged to the extent that it is lawfully able to do so and that such assistance does not detract from the discharge of its own duties.
I am satisfied that the SFO is properly resourced for the discharge of its duties.
TRANSPORT
Air Misses
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the aircraft near-miss involving a Caledonian Airways Tristar and a glider at a height of 2,500 feet at approximately 14.10 hours on 1 June eight miles south-west of Newcastle-upon-Tyne over Currock hill gliding site.
Mr. Norris : The responsibility for the safety regulation of United Kingdom civil aviation rests with the Civil Aviation Authority. All air miss reports in United Kingdom airspace, involving civil or military aircraft, are investigated initially by the joint air miss section of the National Air Traffic Services, which is a joint CAA/Ministry of Defence organisation.
They are then examined by the joint air miss working group (JAWG), an independent committee drawn from a wide cross-section of responsible civil and aviation bodies. The JAWG investigation is not a disciplinary procedure ; its purpose is to serve the interests of flight safety by establishing the cause of the air miss in order to try to devise ways of preventing a similar occurrence.
I have drawn the hon. Member's question to the attention of the Civil Aviation Authority and have asked it to write to him direct when the investigation into the air miss which is the subject of the question is complete.
Highway Code
Mr. Wells : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce his proposals for the revision of the highway code.
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Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : My right hon. Friend has laid before Parliament a document setting out his proposed alterations to the highway code. These take into account the many responses received to the Department's consultation document issued last October. This has been the first major review of the highway code since 1978. The proposals contain forty two new rules and many other rules have been amended to reflect recent changes in the law and best road safety practice. We are taking the opportunity also to improve the format of the code in order to make it more attractive to the reader and so encourage further its regular use by all road users.Hazardous Chemicals
Mr. Hardy : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he intends to take to ensure that EC arrangements will not prevent the use of emergency action codes for the transportation and storage of hazardous chemicals.
Mr. Norris : My Department is working closely with the Home Office to promote the benefits of the emergency action codes in Europe with a view to incorporating them in the United Nations road transport agreement, "ADR", that is likely to form the basis of future commission proposals concerning the transport of dangerous goods. Commission officials have been involved in preliminary discussions.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT
International Conventions
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is currently granted by the Overseas Development Administration to help lower income signatory countries to implement action under (a) the Ramsar convention for the conservation of wetlands of international importance, (b) the convention concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage, (c) the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora and (d) the convention of the conservation of migratory species of wild animals.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The ODA funds a number of projects to support wildlife (biodiversity) and habitat conservation in developing countries which would assist them to implement action under the wildlife conventions mentioned. Since 1990 the ODA has committed over £20 million to such projects. Lists of projects are available in the Library of the House.
In addition, the Government :
(a) contributed about £34,000 in 1992 to the Ramsar Convention Trust Fund and gave a grant of £5,700 to support a Ramsar-related workshop for developing countries of south and west Asia ; (b) contributed about £90,000 in 1992 towards the World Heritage Fund ;
(c) makes an annual contribution of about £85,000 to the CITES Trust Fund ; has given an extra £40,000 to improve the international enforcement of CITES ; makes an annual contribution of £10,000 to assist developing country delegates to attend CITES meetings, and has pledged £600,000 to support African elephant conservation projects, and
(d) contributed about £45,000 in 1992 to the Bonn Convention Trust Fund.
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International Social Statistics
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to encourage the improvement in the coverage, reliability, breakdown of data by sex, income group and area, and availability of international social statistics.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : It will continue to be our policy when considering the work programmes of those organisations of which we are members to encourage, as far as resources permit, improvements in the coverage, reliability, breakdown of data by sex, income group and area, and availability of international social statistics.
Overseas Aid
Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will indicate the total United Kingdom expenditure upon overseas aid in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available from (a) Government sources, (b) other public sector sources and (c) private and charitable sources ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : [holding answer 11 June 1992] : Gross public expenditure on overseas aid (£ million) in 1981 to 1990 was as follows :
|Total |CDC<1> of
|which project
|aid
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1981 |1,184 |68
1982 |1,085 |51
1983 |1,174 |56
1984 |1,316 |108
1985 |1,324 |79
1986 |1,350 |64
1987 |1,295 |63
1988 |1,667 |112
1989 |1,793 |151
1990 |1,725 |137
<1> Commonwealth Development Corporation resources include Government
loans and income from investments in developing countries.
|c|Grants by voluntary
agencies (£ million) in
1981-1990 to developing|c|
|c|countries, net of the
grants given to these
agencies by the|c|
|c|Government, was as follows:
|c|
|£ million
------------------------------
1981 |47
1982 |58
1983 |67
1984 |105
1985 |132
1986 |119
1987 |126
1988 |132
1989 |150
1990 |184
Ngamiland
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been contributed by Her Majesty's Government to the construction of a buffalo fence in Ngamiland ; and what estimate he has made of the damage it will cause to wildlife in the area.
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Mr. Lennox-Boyd [holding answer 11 June 1992] : The British Government have made no contribution to the cost of this fence, nor have they been involved in any assessment of its likely impact.United Nations Aid
Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the European Community's timetable for meeting the United Nations aid target by the year 2000.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd [holding answer 11 June 1992] : The European Community has not set a timetable for reaching the United Nations aid target. The Government's aid programme has been increasing in real terms and is planned to continue to do so.
NATIONAL FINANCE
Inheritance Tax
89. Mr. Ronnie Campbell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many landowners have benefited in respect of inheritance tax in return for public access to their estates ; and if he will list footpaths to which public access has resulted from conditional exemption.
Mr. Dorrell : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 2 June 1992, Official Report, column 399. Information about individual cases is covered by the normal rules of taxpayer confidentiality. However, heritage bodies are able to supply information about public access to heritage land including conditionally exempt land (although the land will not be identified as conditionally exempt). The main such bodies in England and Scotland are the Countryside Commission and the Countryside Commission for Scotland, and for land of scientific interest the respective Nature Conservancy Councils. In Wales and Northern Ireland the relevant bodies are the Countryside Council for Wales and the Environment Service of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland.
Mr. Ronnie Campbell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost to the Exchequer of inheritance tax benefit to landowners in return for public access to their estates.
Mr. Dorrell : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 2 June 1992, Official Report , column 399.
Environmental Costs
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to include environmental cost in measures used by his Department to measure economic performance.
Sir John Cope : Exploratory work on environmental accounts and indicators is under way at the Department of Environment and the Central Statistical Office. This work is still in its early stages.
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Employee Share Ownership
Mr. Ian Taylor : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees have received shares under case law employee share ownership plans ; and what is the current total value of shares in such schemes.
Mr. Dorrell : I regret that the information is not available centrally.
Lodgers
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he hopes to bring in legislation under which home owners will be able to let rooms to lodgers without liability to tax on the rent that they receive ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Dorrell : I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Members for Greenwich (Mr. Raynsford) and for Cheltenham (Mr. Jones) on 2 June 1992, Official Report, column 366.
VAT Harmonisation
Sir Teddy Taylor : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the outcome of the meeting of the Council of Finance Ministers on 9 June ; and if consideration was given to the harmonisation of value added tax levels.
Mr. Norman Lamont [holding answer 10 June 1992] : The Economic and Finance Council of the European Community met in Luxembourg on 9 June and I represented the United Kingdom.
The Council discussed the Spanish programme for economic convergence as part of its regular multilateral surveillance exercises. We welcomed the programme's objective of non-inflationary growth via macroeconomic stabilisation, including a tightened fiscal stance, and the undertaking of significant structural reforms. Particular attention was drawn to the importance of the Spanish regional governments in achieving fiscal consolidation.
The removal of rigidities, particularly in the markets for labour and services, combined with a stable nominal exchange rate were welcomed as policies to reduce inflation and encourage wage moderation. The scale of Spanish proposals to improve the functioning of their labour market and to deregulate services was acknowledged. The Council urged the rapid introduction of these measures while stressing their importance to achieving sustainable non-inflationary growth. It was also agreed that the Council's multilateral surveillance exercises should be strengthened by paying more attention to structural measures in promoting economic convergence. Over lunch there was a brief discussion of Commission proposals for further loans to Bulgaria and Romania but no decisions were reached. The Council also discussed the Commission's future financing proposals. I argued that the Commission's proposals to increase Community spending in real terms between 1992 and 1997 by about 21 billion ecu (£14 billion)--an increase of over 30 per cent.--were unacceptable and I was strongly supported by a majority of other member states. I pointed to the findings of the European Court of Auditors, demonstrating the poor value for money from Community spending. I argued against any increase in the own resources ceiling, stressing
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that the Community had to live within its means and that taxpayers should not be asked to accept substantial increases in Community spending at a time when there was a need for national budgetary restraint.On indirect taxes, the presidency tabled a global compromise covering the eight draft directives on excise duty rates and structures for tobacco products, mineral oils and alcoholic beverages and VAT.
There was little substantive discussion on these issues. I recorded the various problems the current text posed. On the minimum rate for spirits, although the proposed figure of 600 ecu per hectolitre of pure alcohol was an improvement on its predecessor (1,000 ecu), it would still require at least one member state to increase its duty rate. I could see no case in logic for the minimum rate for wine to be set at zero, but for a high positive rate for spirits. I said that there would also need to be a commitment to review the rates in the light of a proper study on competition in the alcoholic drinks market.
On alcohol structures, I argued that the revised text for intermediate products was still unacceptable since it would require products of 10 per cent. alcohol by volume to be taxed at a higher rate than a wine of 17 per cent. alcohol by volume. I noted that there were also a number of important technical points to be resolved including the treatment of strong wines, denatured alcohol and alcohol in foodstuffs.
On tobacco rates, I stressed the importance the United Kingdom attaches to an underpinning cash minimum for cigarettes and other tobacco products.
On VAT issues, I stated that the United Kingdom view had not changed, particularly on the minimum standard rate of VAT, our concerns with the proposed treatment of works of art and the need to safeguard our present exemption at import ; and to ensure protection for donated goods sold in charity shops. I expect ECOFIN to return to this dossier on 29 June.
A satisfactory political agreement was reached on a Presidency package consisting of the most contentious points in the draft Capital Adequacy Directive (which will provide a harmonized framework of capital requirements on banks' and securities firms' trading portfolios in support of the Second Banking Coordination Directive and the draft Investment Services Directive). This opens the way to further technical work on the rest of the Directive. An array of important points remain to be addressed before further discussion at ECOFIN on 29 June.
I ensured that the draft directive would allow securities firms to continue to take on large tradeable positions ("large exposures"), that it should provide an appropriate treatment of reverse repurchase agreements, stock borrowing and similar arrangments, and that it should have a mechanism for convergence with wider international standards currently under development. I successfully secured all these objectives, which I made clear were vital to the international competitiveness of the United Kingdom financial services sector.
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EDUCATION
Mature Students
Mr. John Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has of the number of mature students who have paid national insurance contributions and who are not entitled to claim social security benefits.
Mr. Forman : I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill (Mr. Alton) on 9 June 1992, Official Report , columns 88-89 .
Student-Staff Ratios
Dr. Wright : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what change has taken place in the average student-staff ratio in universities in the United Kingdom between 1979-80 and 1992-93.
Mr. Forman : Data for student-staff ratios in universities in Great Britain are shown below for 1979-80 to 1990-91 :
|Universities
---------------------------------------
1979-80 |9.3
1984-85 |10.3
1989-90 |11.8
1990-91<1> |12.3
<1> Provisional.
Source: Universities' Statistical
Record.
Adult Students, Islington
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Education how he envisages provision being made within the London borough of Islington after 1 April 1993, for adult students with learning difficulties, for basic literacy and English, and for basic mathematics.
Mr. Forman : Under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, the duty to secure provision of all kinds of further education for adults, including those with learning difficulties, will from 1 April 1993 be divided between the new further education funding councils and local education authorities. Responsibility for securing adequate provision of literacy and numeracy teaching for adults will pass to the further education funding councils. Both the councils and local education authorities will have a duty to have regard to the requirements of adults with learning difficulties in respect of the types of education for which they will be responsible.
Section 6(5) of the Act provides that colleges and centres which do not transfer to the new further education sector should be able to apply through FE colleges within the new sector for funds to support that part of their work which falls within the funding councils' remit. The FE college will forward the application to the funding council if facilities for the kind of courses in question are not adequate in the locality. If the FE college does not forward the application, its decision will be subject to review by the Secretary of State.
My right hon. Friend will be making clear in guidance to the councils that he does not expect to see precipitate changes in the pattern of educational provision for adults. Such provision should make the best use of whatever facilities and expertise are available and should be readily accessible to local communities.
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Teacher Training
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what provision will be made in the Liverpool area for teacher training ; what schools will be used as training bases ; what assessment he is making of the existing private studies in Liverpool developing between the Liverpool institute of higher education, Liverpool university and local comprehensive schools ; if it is his intention to maintain those arrangements ; and if he will make a statement ; (2) whether new teacher training arrangements will be based entirely on opted-out schools.
Mr. Forth : Courses of initial teacher training are approved by my right hon. Friend against criteria laid down by him. The Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (CATE) advises him on whether courses meet these criteria.
Following consultation earlier this year my right hon. Friend announced that changes would be made in the criteria and procedures for the accreditation of training for secondary school teachers. Details of the new criteria and procedures will be issued shortly. Under the new procedures it will be a matter for individual schools and higher education institutions in Liverpool, as elsewhere, to work together. Participating schools will be expected to meet explicit criteria, including performance indicators. All maintained and independent secondary schools will be eligible to be considered for selection as partner schools and it will be for the higher education institutions to justify their selection of schools, in the first instance to CATE.
Data Protection
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his 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 he will make a statement.
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Mr. Forman : The Department has in the past consulted the Data Protection Registrar on guidelines for the holding of personal data on computer systems in educational establishments and agencies, about the student loans scheme, and in relation to the Department's internal systems.
The Department's procedures are reviewed annually and I am satisfied that they are effective in safeguarding personal data and in ensuring subject access.
Officials will continue to consult the Registrar where appropriate.
Engineering Graduates
Mr. Patrick Thompson : To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he received a copy of the Engineering Council's recent report on international comparisons of engineering graduate manpower output ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Forman : Engineering has a vital part to play in our economy. Higher education institutions are important providers of qualified manpower, and our policies are aimed at increasing their ability to respond to the needs of industry and students. Those needs are usefully informed by a knowledge of the position in competitor countries. I welcome the Engineering Council's report, which I received on 4 June, as a contribution to such knowledge.
Budget
Mr. Hendry : To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will set out the proportion of the education budget retained centrally by each local education authority.
Mr. Forth : Information is not available in the form requested. The proportion of each LEA's potential schools budget (PSB) delegated to schools in 1990-91 and 1991-92 is contained in the table below, together with each LEA's central administration costs as a proportion of its PSB. Figures for 1992-93 are not yet available, but I will write to my hon. Friend when they are.
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|c|The extent of LEAs' delegation to schools (1991-92)|c|
(1) (2) (3)
Local education authority PSB delegated to schools Central administration as
proportion of PSB
|1991-92 |(1990-91) |1991-92 |(1900-91)
|(per cent.) |(per cent.) |(per cent.) |(per cent.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Stockport |88.69 |(-) |3.15 |(-)
2. Rochdale |88.46 |(85.74) |2.37 |(2.55)
3. Sunderland |88.40 |(86.86) |2.15 |(3.10)
4. Bolton |88.31 |(89.10) |2.06 |(2.02)
5. Northumberland |88.16 |(86.54) |2.37 |(3.10)
6. Manchester |88.03 |(-) |3.54 |(-)
7. Sefton |87.86 |(87.44) |2.71 |(4.45)
8. Berkshire |87.68 |(87.68) |2.78 |(2.71)
9 West Sussex |87.67 |(87.49) |2.09 |(1.95)
10.Suffolk |87.56 |(85.66) |.78 |(2.75)
11.Cambridgeshire |87.45 |(80.75) |2.03 |(4.82)
12.Cheshire |87.35 |(84.31) |1.71 |(5.15)
13.Devon |87.14 |(83.11) |2.53 |(3.06)
14.Warwickshire |86.72 |(85.24) |3.19 |(3.90)
15.Bradford |86.68 |(86.04) |3.55 |(3.87)
16.Buckinghamshire |86.58 |(84.88) |3.55 |(4.58)
17.Leeds |86.26 |(86.12) |4.22 |(3.87)
18.Hertfordshire |86.19 |(-) |3.81 |(-)
19.Hampshire |86.11 |(85.78) |3.16 |(3.34)
20.Shropshire |86.09 |(84.60) |2.00 |(2.48)
21.Salford |86.03 |(84.37) |2.64 |(3.19)
22.Northamptonshire |86.01 |(84.74) |2.23 |(3.69)
23.South Tyneside |85.94 |(83.76) |2.06 |(4.20)
24.Sheffield |85.92 |(82.61 |3.26 |(3.49)
25.Barnsley |85.91 |(83.38) |2.88 |(2.86)
26.Kent |85.84 |(84.87) |4.61 |(3.79)
27.Wirral |85.73 |(-) |2.59 |(-)
28.Solihull |85.59 |(85.31) |1.93 |(2.49)
29.Walsall |85.50 |(85.72) |3.40 |(3.37)
30.Somerset |85.48 |(82.91) |2.69 |(3.58)
31.Calderdale |85.46 |(81.86) |2.39 |(4.84)
32.Lincolnshire |85.46 |(85.13) |2.21 |(2.68)
33.Rotherham |85.43 |(86.13) |3.76 |(3.74)
34.Cumbria |85.41 |(82.53) |3.02 |(4.04)
35.East Sussex |85.37 |(84.09) |2.20 |(2.42)
36.Bury |85.31 |(81.92) |2.00 |(4.70)
37.Barking |85.20 |(87.01) |3.27 |(3.34)
38.Dorset |85.16 |(81.85) |3.72 |(4.71)
39.Sutton |85.15 |(83.44) |3.84 |(4.05)
40.Havering |85.09 |(83.87) |1.93 |(2.28)
41.Essex |85.08 |(84.03) |3.52 |(4.11)
------- see Footnote 2 -------
42.Kirklees |84.96 |(83.38) |3.65 |(3.98)
43.Bromley |84.88 |(80.70) |5.70 |(4.49)
44.Westminster |84.88 |(77.96) |5.59 |(8.20)
45.Merton |84.86 |(79.79) |3.33 |(7.86)
46.Staffordshire |84.84 |(84.61) |4.10 |(4.51)
47.Enfield |84.68 |(81.50) |3.69 |(5.56)
48.Oxfordshire |84.68 |(81.37) |2.85 |(5.46)
49.Surrey |84.61 |(85.57) |4.85 |(6.17)
50.Humberside |84.60 |(81.71) |3.01 |(3.57)
51.North Tyneside |84.55 |(82.30) |3.99 |(5.03)
52.St. Helens |84.53 |(83.27) |3.65 |(3.69)
53.Gloucestershire |84.47 |(86.78) |3.37 |(3.65)
54.Dudley |84.47 |(83.98) |3.64 |(3.62)
55.Norfolk |84.37 |(83.62) |3.35 |(4.05)
56.Kingston |84.35 |(78.46) |4.11 |(7.09)
57.Wakefield |84.28 |(82.87) |1.49 |(2.98)
58.Leicestershire |84.28 |(-) |2.89 |(-)
59.North Yorkshire |84.16 |(82.62) |2.37 |(4.15)
60.Doncaster |84.00 |(85.45) |2.29 |(2.29)
61.Hereford and Worcester |83.99 |(-) |3.18 |(-)
62.Derbyshire |83.97 |(83.37) |3.04 |(2.96)
63.Nottinghamshire |82.96 |(82.72) |3.41 |(5.24)
64.Cornwall |83.95 |(83.57) |3.52 |(3.72)
65.Trafford |83.94 |(84.38) |3.68 |(3.49)
66.Gateshead |83.92 |(83.29) |2.99 |(3.01)
67.Hillingdon |83.91 |(-) |6.17 |(-)
68.Tameside |83.80 |(84.40) |2.16 |(2.47)
69.Haringey |83.77 |(79.36) |4.78 |(6.04)
70.Isle of Wight |83.75 |(82.48) |1.92 |(4.68)
71.Barnet |83.68 |(84.36) |4.96 |(5.07)
72.Brent |83.51 |(83.63) |4.26 |(4.82)
73.Birmingham |83.41 |(83.04) |3.85 |(4.36)
74.Cleveland |83.37 |(83.63) |4.64 |(5.56)
75.Bedfordshire |83.29 |(84.02) |3.66 |(3.91)
76.Wiltshire |83.26 |(82.35) |3.18 |(3.92)
77.Hounslow |83.26 |(81.59) |4.46 |(5.19)
78.Knowlsey |83.24 |(81.91) |4.99 |(5.07)
79.Isles of Scilly |83.17 |(-) |6.41 |(-)
80.Oldham |83.14 |(81.64) |4.53 |(4.98)
81.Redbridge |83.13 |(82.71) |5.10 |(4.91)
82.Wigan |83.03 |(83.28) |4.18 |(3.70)
83.Ealing |82.92 |(81.66) |5.86 |(6.33)
84.Liverpool |82.92 |(84.91) |4.65 |(4.07)
85.Avon |82.78 |(82.30) |3.87 |(3.40)
86.Coventry |82.76 |(80.93) |4.37 |(6.00)
87.Sandwell |82.74 |(83.24) |4.51 |(3.75)
88.Lancashire |82.74 |(82.66) |3.46 |(3.65)
89.Richmond |82.58 |(79.98) |4.82 |(6.91)
90.Harrow |82.45 |(81.52) |5.05 |(5.76)
91.Newcastle |82.38 |(79.76) |5.09 |(6.12)
92.Durham |82.16 |(83.13) |4.79 |(4.35)
93.Wolverhampton |81.55 |(81.77) |5.33 |(5.26)
94.Bexley |81.32 |(81.33) |5.06 |(4.61)
95.Croydon |81.00 |(-) |4.15 |(-)
96.Waltham Forest |80.22 |(79.65) |6.60 |(7.02)
97.Newham |79.46 |(-) |5.94 |(-)
|National Averages|84.89 |(83.76) |3.44 |(4.06)
Footnotes to table showing the extent of delegation
1. Ninety seven local education authorities (LEAs) had LMS schemes in operation in 1991-92, and were required to publish budget statements
under section 42 of the Education Reform Act. The LEAs are ranked according to the percentage of funds delegated to schools, with those
delegating more at the top of the ranking order. Schemes for the 12 inner London LEAs other than Westminster did not come into operation
until 1 April 1992.
2. The potential schools budget (PSB) consists of the major part of the general schools budget (GSB)-ie the GSB less expenditure on
certain excepted items: capital expenditure; expenditure supported by central government grants; and expenditure on school meals, home to
school transport and transitional exceptions (eg grounds maintenance). The amount which the schools themselves decide how to spend, as a
proportion of the PSB, is a percentage used as an indicator of the extent to which LEAs have delegated resources to their schools. A new
requirement from 1993 (1995 for inner London authorities) is that this percentage should be a minimum of 85 per cent. The percentage for
the previous year 1990-91 is given in brackets. Where a figure is not given in brackets the LMS scheme was not in operation during that
year.
3. Expenditure on central administration-one of the discretionary exceptions included in the PSB-expressed as a percentage of the PSB. The
previous years percentage is given in brackets.
NB The percentages stated may differ from the percentages calculated by individual LEAs because of the effects of rounding.
School Places
Mr. Hendry : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what powers an education authority has to prevent the governing body of a school increasing the number of places at that school above the standard number set by the education authority ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Forth : Under the Education Reform Act 1988, schools now have to plan to admit to at least a number which reflects the capacity of the school--the standard number. Where the LEA controls admissions, a school governing body may propose that the admissions limit be raised beyond the standard number. If the proposal is rejected by the LEA, the governing body may apply to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for an increase in the school's standard number.
Advertising
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answer of 2 June, Official Report, column 446, if he will make a statement on the reasons for his Department's spending on advertising and promotion being expected to fall between 1991-92 and 1992-93.
Mr. Forman : Expenditure in 1991-92 includes spending on the teacher recruitment campaign and the parents charter. The reduction in 1992-93 is because there will not be a teacher recruitment campaign this year and there are no plans at present further to publicise the parents charter.
EMPLOYMENT
Training and Enterprise Councils
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many partnerships have been established between the training and enterprise councils and the careers services.
Column 310
Mr. McLoughlin : Pump priming funding has been made available enabling the establishment in 1992-93 of 56 careers service partnerships between training and enterprise councils and local education authorities.
Health and Safety Inspectors
Mr. Cummings : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many health and safety inspectors were employed in the northern region in each year since 1987.
Mr. McLoughlin : The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) field inspectors are based in a network of area offices, with the exception of mines inspectors who are organised by districts. The available information for the 1 April each year is given in the following tables :
|c|Inspectors based in the Health and Safety Executive's|c| |c|north east area office|c| Year |Number --------------------- 1987 |35 1988 |28.5 1989 |28.5 1990 |34.5 1991 |38 1992 |37.5 Notes: 1. Figures include factory and agricultural inspectors for all years. 2. 1990, 1991 and 1992 figures include field-based quarries inspectors who transferred to the factory and agricultural division in October 1989. 3. 1991 and 1992 figures include field-based railway inspectors following the transfer of the railway inspectorate from the Department of Transport in December 1990.
|c|Inspectors based at Health and Safety Executive's|c|
|c|mine's district offices|c|
District |1987 |1988 |1989 |1990 |1991 |1992
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scottish and |7}
|} |10 |10 |2 |2 |2
North Eastern |6}
Notes:
1.Pre 1990 figures are for mines and quarries inspectors. Figures for 1990,
1991 and 1992 are for mines inspectors only, following the transfer of the
quarries inspectorate to the factory and agricultural division in October
1989.
2.The table shows that the Scottish and North Eastern district offices
amalgamated in 1988. District boundaries were also changed.
3.The figure given for 1992 is for mines inspectors based at the Health and
Safety Executive's north east area office.
Electrical Equipment Certification Service
Mr. Hendry : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans her Department has for the future status and role of the electrical equipment certification service with the Health and Safety Executive.
Mr. McLoughlin : There are at present no plans to change the existing role and status of the electrical equipment certification service. However, the Health and Safety Executive recently commissioned consultants to review the role and status of the service. The executive is currently consulting staff and other interested parties before considering whether to make any recommendation to the Health and Safety Commission and Ministers, in the light of the conclusions of the consultants, concerning the service's future role and status.
WALES
Local Government
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the statutory responsibilities currently placed on local authorities in Wales (a) at district council level and (b) at county council level ;
(2) if he will list the non-statutory and permissive powers available to local authorities in Wales (a) at district council level and (b) at county council level.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : I will write to the hon. Gentleman.
Pembrey Country Park
Mr. Denzil Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what financial assistance his Department or the Welsh Development Agency have provided to Llanelli borough council for the purpose of transforming the land of the former Royal Ordnance factory, Pembrey, Llanelli, into the Pembrey country park.
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