| Previous Section | Home Page |
Sir John Cope [holding answer 9 July 1992] : Ms. Margaret Jackson was questioned and searched by customs at Heathrow Airport on Thursday 11 June. She had arrived at around 10.15 am on a flight which is considered by Customs to be in the high-risk category for drug smuggling. After initial questioning, Customs officers decided to carry out a search. Ms. Jackson was offered the
Column 355
opportunity to see a senior officer and her rights under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 were explained. The search was authorised by the senior officer and carried out by a female officer in accordance with the standard procedures. This search, and a subsequent urine test, proved negative. Ms. Jackson was released at 12.02 pm. Throughout her detention Ms. Jackson was made aware of her legal rights and she was offered access to an on-call duty solicitor.WALES
Cardiff Bay Barrage
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his financial memorandum on the updating of the costs of the proposed Cardiff bay barrage, if he will specify which sewer diversion works have already been paid for by Welsh Water and in the course of construction of the Butetown link section of the South Glamorgan county council's peripheral distributor road.
Mr. David Hunt : The sewers removed from the table of related expenditure in the note on the comparison of costs provided for the members of Standing Committee F on the Cardiff Bay Barrage Bill are as follows :
i. The Cogan outfall proposals
These are now within the programme of Welsh Water Plc for diversion by 1994.
ii. Pierhead combined sewers north of James street
The main diversion works, including the Harrowby Street Pumping Station, have been constructed by South Glamorgan County Council as part of the Peripheral Distributor Road scheme. The diversion of flows south of the Peripheral Distributor Road remains within the estimate.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the most up-to -date estimate available to him of the cost of (a) the remedial drainage works and (b) basement waterproofing works to compensate for the effects of the Cardiff bay barrage arising from paragraph 7 of the Roy Stoner report published in January and costed on an outturn basis, using the same hypothesis on the timing of start and finish of construction as in his answer of 26 June, Official Report, column 340.
Mr. David Hunt : The £440,000 for remedial drainage works mentioned in Mr. Stoner's report would have an outturn cost of £496,000. As Mr. Stoner observed, it can be argued that since the areas involved are inadequately drained at the moment, the whole charge concerned with land drainage should not fall upon the barrage project.
The cost of remedial works to property based on Hydrotechnica's most likely scenario would be £14.43 million at 1991-92 prices, which would become £17.47 million on an outturn basis. This figure was included in the £167.4 million given in my answer of 26 June. The outturn figure would be increased by a further £11.18 million if Hydrotechnica's "extreme case" of groundwater levels were to arise. However, as Mr. Stoner commented in his report,
"generally one would expect that the levels experienced in practice would be lower".
Speed Limits
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will introduce provisions to enable local highway authorities to provide speed limits in areas where they
Column 356
deem these to be necessary on county roads irrespective of the volume of traffic or number of pedestrians crossing the road ; and if he will make a statement.Sir Wyn Roberts : Following consultation, a review is being conducted into the criteria used for setting speed limits. The new criteria will be more flexible and will allow greater weight to be given to local factors. Revised guidelines will be issued to local highway authorities.
Local Government Finance
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was (a) allocated and (b) spent by each district council in Wales for the collection of the poll tax, for the latest year for which figures are available.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The information available is given in the table :
Local authority expenditure on community charge
collection<1>
£ thousand
|1991-92 |1992-93
|estimated |budgets
|outturn<2>
-------------------------------------------------------
Alyn and Deeside |633 |685
Colwyn |316 |360
Delyn |346 |427
Glyndwr |342 |365
Rhuddlan |413 |399
Wrexham Maelor |1,044 |899
Carmarthen |484 |423
Ceredigion |503 |566
Dinefwr |269 |294
Llanelli |435 |446
Preseli Pembrokeshire |327 |288
South Pembrokeshire |294 |292
Blaenau Gwent |436 |481
Islwyn |792 |722
Monmouth |420 |396
Newport |987 |988
Torfaen |540 |431
Aberconwy |427 |407
Arfon |528 |535
Dwyfor |376 |378
Meirionnydd |497 |419
Ynys Mon |567 |604
Cynon Valley |622 |656
Merthyr Tydfil |375 |446
Ogwr |844 |576
Rhondda |717 |678
Rhymney Valley |1,079 |1,122
Taff Ely |804 |822
Brecknock |358 |364
Montgomeryshire |535 |536
Radnorshire |244 |229
Cardiff |2,157 |2,829
Vale of Glamorgan |906 |928
Port Talbot |493 |498
Lliw Valley |636 |595
Neath |772 |707
Swansea |1,369 |1,524
Total Wales |22,887 |23,315
<1> Net current expenditure, as recorded by local
authoritiese on form RA9293.
<2> Includes the cost of re-billing following the £140
reduction announced in the 1991 Budget.
Road Accident Victims
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many road accident victims suffering from (a) fractures to the upper limbs, (b) head injuries, (c) fractures to the
Column 357
lower limbs and (d) whiplash injuries in Wales were still reporting problems one year after the accident : and if he will give a breakdown according to age category.Mr. Gwilym Jones : The information is not available centrally.
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish figures showing the average length of hospital stay for patients suffering (a) fractures to the upper limbs, (b) fractures to the lower limbs and (c) whiplash injuries resulting from road accidents in Wales ; and if he will give a break-down of the figures according to age category.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The information given in the table is taken from hospital activity analysis, relating to patients treated in Welsh NHS hospitals during 1990.
Average length of stay (in days) by age and principal
diagnosis
Age at |Fracture |Fracture |Whiplash
discharge |to upper |to lower |(ICD 847.0)
|limb (ICD9 |limb (ICD
|810-819) |820-829)
------------------------------------------------------------
0.14 |7.5 |15.2 |-<1>
15.24 |4.6 |14.7 |1.9
25-44 |11.3 |20.9 |3.4
45.64 |11.7 |21.5 |2.5
65.74 |16.0 |33.0 |2.0
75{plus} |18.8 |26.4
All ages |9.3 |19.2 |2.7
<1> No cases recorded.
The information is based on cases recorded as road traffic accident victims. These may be understated as not all hospitals provide full details relating to discharges and deaths.
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were admitted to casualty departments in hospitals in Wales in each health authority area last year ; and how many of such admissions had resulted from road accidents in each instance.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The available information is given in the table :
Column 357
|Road traffic accident
|victims attending accident
|and emergency departments
|as percentage of total new
|attendances at accident and
endances at accident and emergency emergency departments,
out-patient departments, 1990-91
|Total
|New patients |attendances |Percentage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clwyd |92,608 |128,479 |2.8
East Dyfed |56,939 |78,812 |2.3
Gwent |108,712 |133,794 |2.1
Gwynedd |49,097 |60,293 |2.9
Mid Glamorgan |145,524 |212,666 |1.6
Powys |26,768 |41,910 |n.a.
South Glamorgan |85,213 |97,100 |2.5
West Glamorgan |102,402 |132,844 |2.8
Pembrokeshire |25,586 |37,708 |n.a.
<1> Data provided by directors of public health medicine for annual review purposes.
<2> April 1990-March 1991.
n.a.=not available.
#TCW92071013A
P
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#TCW92071013B
--------------------------
All casualties:
Car occupants<2>
Pedestrians
Pedal cyclists
Motor cyclists<3>
Others
All
<1> Provisional.
<2> Includes users of
invalid tricycles,
three-wheelers and
purpose-built taxis.
<3> Includes users of
scooters, mopeds and
motor cycle combinations.
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total number of (a) fatalities and (b) car accidents affecting (i) car occupants, (ii) pedestrians,, (iii) pedal cyclists and (iv) motorcyclists involved in road accidents in Wales in each of the last five years.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The table gives the numbers of fatalities and all casualties for the requested groups. Information on the number of car accidents affecting different road user groups cannot be derived.
#TCW92071013A
#TCW92071014B
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish an estimated figure for the economic cost of injury accidents on Welsh roads during each of the last five years.
Sir Wyn Roberts : Economic costs of injury road accidents are not calculated separately for Wales.
Column 359
Estimates derived from Department of Transport average costs applied to Welsh accident figures are given in the table :
-
Estimated cost of injury road
accidents<1>
|£ million
------------------------------
1987 |230
1988 |240
1989 |240
1990 |250
1991 |220
<1> At June 1990 prices.
#TCW92071016A
M
Minimum |Maximum
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 January 199031 August 1990 |{fig sp}£35,000£50,750
1 September 199031 August 1991 |{fig sp}£37,980£55,060
1 September 1991to date |{fig sp}£40,260£58,370
#TCW92071016B
8
|Minimum|Maximum
--------------------------------------------------------
1 January 1989-31 August 1990 |£12,560|£39,170
1 September 1990-31 August 1991 |£13,560|£42,290
1 September 1991-to date |£14,380|£44,380
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many hospital beds are allocated per day on average in each health authority area, for victims of road accidents.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : Hospital beds are not allocated specifically for victims of road accidents. Such patients are treated in beds allocated to the specialty appropriate to each case.
Pembrokeshire Health Authority (Salaries)
Mr. Ainger : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the annual salary range of the general manager of Pembrokeshire health authority for 1989-90, 1990-91 and 1991-92, the personnel director of Pembrokeshire health authority for 1989-90, 1990-91 and 1991-92, the finance director of Pembrokeshire health authority for 1989-90, 1990-91 and 1991-92 ; and whether those salaries and fringe benefit packages included a car purchase or lease scheme.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : From 1 January 1990 salaries for district general managers have been set within three band ranges. The appropriate band range for the Pembrokeshire general manager post has been :
#TCW92071016A
The two senior managers referred to have received flat rate salaries on a point on the senior managers pay spine. The spine ranges have been :
#TCW92071016B
Senior managers may also receive performance pay up to a maximum of 20 per cent. of salary.
These salaries do not include other non-pay elements.
Entitlements to a Crown car or car purchase loan would be a matter for the employing authority having regard to the application of general Whitley council rules.
Unitary Authority, Vale of Glamorgan
Mr. Sweeney : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to preserve the present Vale of Glamorgan district authority as a unitary authority, including Penarth, and to expand the vale to the west by adding Wick, Southerndown, Ogmore and Porthcawl.
Column 360
Mr. David Hunt : The statement I made to the House of Commons on 3 March 1992 included a proposal for an authority for the Vale of Glamorgan. I am at present consulting on that and other proposals and am well aware of my hon. Friend's strong representations on this issue ; those consultations include further consideration of boundaries for the new authorities.
Cataract Treatment Centres
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of patients treated at (a) the cataract treatment centre at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor and (b) the cataract treatment centre at Bridgend general hospital his Department requires to be resident in Gwynedd and Mid- Glamorgan respectively.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : For 1992-93 it is proposed that 50 per cent. of patients treated at the ophthalmic treatment centre, Ysbyty Gwynedd and just over 9 per cent. of patients at the eye treatment centre, Bridgend general hospital will be from the centres' host district.
A494
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning the widening of the A494 at Aston Hill, Queensferry, Clwyd ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. David Hunt : My Department is currently undertaking a public consultation exercise in respect of an improvement for the section of the A494 between the River Dee and Ewloe which traverses Aston hill ; 331 representations have been received to date.
Queensferry Bypass
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what grounds he bases his proposals for widening the Queensferry bypass ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. David Hunt : Based on current and projected traffic flow data additional carriageway capacity is needed along the section of the A494 from the River Dee to Ewloe which includes the section known as the Queensferry bypass, to avoid serious congestion and a deterioration in road safety. The proposal to improve the section of road is currently the subject of a public consultation exercise.
Welsh Development Agency
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date he expects to arrange for the publication of the annual report and account of the Welsh Development Agency ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. David Hunt : Later this year.
Public Bodies
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which non- departmental public bodies are sponsored by his Department ; which of these are audited by the National Audit Office ; which firms of private accountants audits each of the others ; by what method of tendering contracts to such firms are awarded ; and for what duration.
Column 361
Mr. David Hunt : The non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Welsh Office are set out in "Public Bodies 1991", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.The Comptroller and Auditor General audits the accounts of all but two of the executive non-departmental public bodies on that list. The Cardiff Bay development corporation's accounts are audited by Ernst and Young whose appointment is for up to five years. Housing for Wales auditors are KPMG Peat Marwick whose appointment is for up to three years. Both appointments followed open competition.
DEFENCE
Liquid Crystal Display
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's current policy on liquid crystal display ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Aitken : The Ministry of Defence funds a research programme by the Defence Research Agency into liquid crystal displays to ensure that the DRA remains at the forefront of this fast developing technology and, consequently, is able to provide expert advice to the MOD on the development and procurement of relevant equipment.
Electro-magnetic Propulsion
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's current policy on electro-magnetic propulsion ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Aitken : The Ministry of Defence funds a research programme by the Defence Research Agency into aspects of electro-magnetic propulsion with the aim of assessing the applicability of this technology to military requirements.
Defence Research Agency
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list for the last 12 months, the fact-finding visits the chief executive of the Defence Research Agency has made ; what were his findings ; if he will place a copy of his findings in the Library ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) whether he will list by grade his Department's current staffing levels at the Defence Research Agency.
Mr. Aitken : These are matters for the Defence Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive of the DRA to write to the hon. Member.
Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list for the last 12 months, the titles of scientific papers published by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment ; (2) if he will list for the last 12 months, the fact-finding visits the chief executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment has made ; what were his findings ; if he will place a copy of his findings in the Library ; and if he will make a statement.
Column 362
Mr. Aitken : These are matters for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive of the CBDE to write to the hon. Member.
Green Minister
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline the priorities for future action of the green Minister in his Department (a) over the next year and (b) over this Parliament ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : During the next year my noble Friend the Under -Secretary of State for Defence, will oversee actions arising from the Department's environmental review and the work necessary to meet the requirements of the Montreal protocol and EC regulation 594/91 on ozone- depleting substances. Over the next year and beyond, work will continue to ensure defence activities are undertaken in a manner consistent with the Government's overall environmental policy as outlined in "This Common Inheritance", Cm 1200, that they comply with United Kingdom environmental legislation and that environmental considerations are fully integrated into defence activities, policies and forward planning. I also refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 342 to 348 inclusive of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1992".
Menwith Hill
Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 26 June, Official Report, column 360, what British Telecom service has replaced the cables laid between Menwith Hill and the British Telecom relay station at Hunterstones tower.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The service previously carried on cables between Menwith Hill station and Hunterstones tower is provided by communications leased exclusively for defence purposes. None of these involves a direct link, on cable or otherwise, between Menwith Hill station and Hunterstones tower.
Russian Aircraft Technology
Mr. Cash : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has from within NATO on whether Germany has engaged in negotiations with Russia for the purchase of Russian aircraft fighter technology by way of direct financial payment, debt reduction or otherwise.
Public Bodies
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which non- departmental public bodies are sponsored by his Department ; which of these are audited by the National Audit Office ; which firms of private accountants audits each of the others ; by what method of tendering contracts to such firms are awarded ; and for what duration.
Mr. Aitken : My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence will write to the hon. Member shortly.
Column 363
NORTHERN IRELAND
Renewable Energy
Mr. Beggs : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what encouragement is being given to small Northern Ireland based non-fossil fuel generators of electricity ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : A study is currently being undertaken into the potential for the development of renewable energy resources in Northern Ireland. The study's findings are due to be published later this year, following which the Department of Economic Development plans to introduce measures to encourage such generation.
Fair Employment
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made during the past 12 months to correct the under employment of Protestants within the staff of the Fair Employment Commission.
Mr. Atkins : In the 12 months to 1 January 1992 the commission received 1,389 job applications, of which 57 per cent. were from members of the Protestant community ; and appointed 17 staff, of whom nine were Protestant.
In the 12 months to 1 January 1991 the commission received 492 job applications, of which 47 per cent. were from members of the Protestant community ; and appointed nine staff, of whom four were Protestant.
The commission's equal opportunity policy provides for outreach measures including positive encouragement to Protestants to apply in job advertisements.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made to correct the under-employment of Protestants in the Bank of Ireland since it was first investigated by the Fair Employment Agency ; when the Fair Employment Commission updated the position in this company ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : At the time of the investigation by the Fair Employment Agency in 1985, 222 employees--42.1 per cent.--of the Bank of Ireland were Protestant and 305--57.9 per cent.--were Roman Catholic. In January 1991, 277--44.2 per cent.--were Protestant and 350--55.8 per cent.--were Roman Catholic.
The bank is required by law to undertake a review of its employment composition and practices by 6 February 1993. If the review shows that members of one community are not enjoying fair participation, the bank must engage in affirmative action.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made to correct the under-employment of Protestants in the Allied Irish Banks Ltd. since it was first investigated by the Fair Employment Agency : when the Fair Employment Commission updated the position in this company ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : At the time of the investigation by the Fair Employment Agency in 1985, 164 employees--28.1 per cent.--of the Allied Irish Banks plc were Protestant and
Column 364
420--71.9 per cent.--were Roman Catholic. In January 1991, 232--31.7 per cent.--were Protestant and 501--68.3 per cent.- -were Roman Catholic.The bank is required by law to undertake a review of its employment composition and practices by 6 February 1993. If the review shows that members of one community are not enjoying fair participation, the bank must engage in affirmative action.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made to correct the under-employment of Protestants by Post Office Counters Ltd. since it was first investigated by the Fair Employment Agency ; when the Fair Employment Commission updated the position in this company ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : The Fair Employment Agency began an investigation in 1987 into the Post Office in Northern Ireland. The investigation covered the three businesses within the Post Office Corporation--Royal Mail, Royal Mail Parcelforce and Post Office Counters Ltd. In 1987, 1,764 employees-- 53.3 per cent.--were Protestant and 1,545--46.7 per cent.--were Roman Catholic. In January 1991, 1,837--51.6 per cent.--were Protestant and 1,721 --48.4 per cent.--Roman Catholic.
The Post Office is required by law to undertake a review of its employment composition and practices by 1 January 1993. If the review shows that members of one community are not enjoying fair participation, the Post Office must engage in affirmative action.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made to correct the under-employment of Protestants by Derry city council since it was first investigated by the Fair Employment Agency ; when the Fair Employment Commission updated the position within this local authority ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : Derry city council invited the Fair Employment Agency to conduct an investigation of its employment composition and practices. In March 1986, 166 of its employees--30.5 per cent.--were Protestant and 378-- 69.5 per cent.--Roman Catholic. In January 1991, 167--31.3 per cent.--were Protestant and 366--68.7 per cent.--Roman Catholic.
The council is required by law to undertake a review of its employment composition and practices by 1 January 1993. If the review shows that members of one community are not enjoying fair participation, the council must engage in affirmative action.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made to correct the under-employment of Protestants by Down district council since it was first investigated by the Fair Employment Agency ; when the Fair Employment Commission updated the position within this local authority ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : Down district council was not subject to a formal investigation by the Fair Employment Agency.
The council is required by law to undertake a review of its employment composition and practices by 1 January 1993. If the review shows that members of one community are not enjoying fair participation, the council must engage in affirmative action.
Column 365
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made to correct the under -employment of Protestants by Newry and Mourne district council since it was first investigated by the Fair Employment Agency ; when the Fair Employment Commission updated the position within this local authority ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Atkins : When the Fair Employment Agency began its investigation in October 1986, 50 employees--11.7 per cent.--of Newry and Mourne district council were Protestant and 378--88.3 per cent.--were Roman Catholic. In January 1991, 29--9.5 per cent.--were Protestant and 276--90.5 per cent.-- Roman Catholic.
The council is required by law to undertake a review of its employment composition and practices by 1 January 1993. If the review shows that members of one community are not enjoying fair participation, the council must engage in affirmative action.
| Next Section
| Home Page |