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Mr. Scott : I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency that the information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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Disability Living Allowance
Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the members of the disability living allowance advisory board ; how often the board has met ; whether it has yet given any advice to Ministers ; when it expects to issue its first report ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Scott : The names of the members of the disability living allowance advisory board are in the table. It has met four times in full and nine times in quorum. So far, the board has given Ministers valuable advice on the content of the disability handbook--all of which has been acted upon. The board is due to produce its first report in April 1993.
Members of the disability living allowance advisory board Professor J. Marshall CBE, DSc, MD, FRCP, DPM
Mrs. J. Allen-King MBE
Mrs. J. Ashcroft
Mrs. P. Case CBE, BA
Dr. A. K. Clarke BSc, MBBS, FRCP
Miss E. Fanshawe OBE, DipCOT
Mrs. J. Franklin CQSW
Mr. S. R. Gallop MA
Mrs. C. Henry RGN
Dr. C. F. Herridge MA, MB, BChir, FRCPsych, DPM
Dr. J. A. Hunter BSc, MBChB, FRCP
Miss S. Knibbs CQSW
Mr. P. Large CBE
Dr. I. McKinlay BSc, MBChB, FRCP
Dr. T. J. G. Phillips MBBS, FRFPS, MRCP, MFOM
Mrs. S. A. Philbrook
Dr. M. Piper MB, BS, FRCP
Dr. M. Richards BSc, MB, BCh, FRCGP
Professor H. Simpson MD, FRCP, DCH, DRCOG
Mr. A. Williamson LLB, MA(Ed), CQSW
Industrial Injuries
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of claims for A8 and A4 prescribed diseases for each of the last five years.
Mr. Scott : I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, that the information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to implement the recommendation of the May 1992 report of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (Cm. 1936).
Mr. Scott : I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Erewash (Mrs. Knight) on 21 May at column 241.
Unemployment
Mr. Ainger : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the average cost to the Exchequer over 12 months of an unemployed former civilian Ministry of Defence employee in unemployment benefit, income support, mortgage interest payments or housing benefits, free dentistry and prescriptions and poll tax rebates.
Mr. Burt : A reliable estimate is not possible.
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SCOTLAND
DNA Information
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy on the provision of DNA information about patients to insurance companies.
Mr. Stewart : Information obtained from DNA testing is confidential and should be treated in the same way as other personal health information. It should not be disclosed to insurance companies without the prior consent of the patient.
Genetics
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what policy conclusions have been drawn in relation to genetic therapy and genetic counselling from the conference "Our Genetic Future" held at BMA house on 30 June.
Mr. Stewart : The conference was an important contribution to the debate about the issues surrounding developments in genetic research. The Government recognise the importance of counselling for both sufferers and their families and are currently considering their response to the report of the Committee on the Ethics of Gene Therapy, Cm 1788.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses are currently trained in the detection and treatment of genetic disorders ; and what plans he has to increase the numbers.
Mr. Stewart : (a) The information collected centrally records only the main specialty of a doctor. The numbers--whole-time equivalent--of doctors in the specialty of medical genetics at 30 September 1991, the latest date for which information is available, are given in the table.
|Whole time
|equivalent
--------------------------------------------
Consultants |4.2
Associate specialists |1.0
Senior registrars |3.2
Registrars |4.4
Total |12.8
(b) Information on nurses trained in medical genetics is not available centrally.
The numbers of doctors in the training grades of registrar and senior registrar reflect health boards' plans for staffing the specialty.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what plans he has to promote the early adoption of new techniques of diagnosis management, and treatment of the effect of genetic disease, including proven gene therapy ;
(2) what strategy he has to use new molecular knowledge in surgery and treatment ; and what training is given to those who use manipulative techniques in this field.
Mr. Stewart : The Government consider that it is important that applications of new molecular biological techniques to the diagnosis, management and treatment of patients should be subjected to stringent evaluation before
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they are adopted for use in clinical practice. In Scotland, new techniques are kept under close review by the Scottish Molecular Genetics Consortium, established in 1984, one of whose purposes is the co-ordination of approaches towards the diagnosis of genetic disorders.The committee on the ethics of gene therapy was set up in 1989 to provide advice to the United Kingdom Health Ministers on scientific and medical developments which have a bearing on the safety and efficiency of human gene modification. The committee's report was published in January this year and a public consultation on its recommendations ended on 18 May. The Government are currently considering their response to the report.
Each of the royal colleges and faculties takes the lead on professional training within its own speciality. Training in molecular biological techniques is available for clinicians in training programmes organised by the Medical Research Council, the Wellcome Trust and other bodies.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what provision he is making to provide genetic counselling for (a) individual patients, (b) family groups and (c) relatives of victims of genetic disorders.
Mr. Stewart : Specialist genetic counselling is provided by clinical geneticists based in the four genetic advisory centres in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen. In addition, other clinicians, including obstetricians,paediatricians and GPs play an important role in counselling those suffering from genetic disorders, their families and those whose future children may suffer from such disorders.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what study he has made of the practice of payment from one health authority to another in paying for tests relating to genetic disorders.
Mr. Stewart : No such study has been undertaken.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the need of central laboratories for clinical geneticists.
Mr. Stewart : A review last year of the four laboratories which comprise the Scottish Molecular Genetics Consortium identified a need for two additional consultant clinical geneticist posts. Both should be filled in the near future. The need for any further increase is under discussion with the consortium.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for the provision of genetic registers, and enabling such registers to play a role in the elimination of potential carriers of disease.
Mr. Stewart : The first computerised genetic register in the United Kingdom, RAPID--Register for the Ascertainment and Prevention of Genetic Disease--was developed and established in the department of human genetics at Edinburgh university in 1970. All four of the major medical centres in Scotland now have such registers.
Thalassaemia
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what provision is made for those suffering from thalassaemia.
Mr. Stewart : Thalassaemia can be detected by pre-natal tests, and the Scottish Molecular Genetics Consortium
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offers such a service. Individuals suffering from thalassaemia major are treated mainly by blood transfusion coupled with iron-reducing drugs.Community Charge
Mr. Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discretion local authorities have over the collection of small amounts of outstanding community charge debt where costs of collection are greater than the amount due.
Mr. Stewart : Local authorities must consider each case on its merits and be prepared to explain the reasonableness of their approach to their auditors if necessary.
Mr. Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will give figures showing, for each local authority, the number of cases of community charge collection where the amount collected was less than the costs of collection ;
(2) if he will give figures showing the costs for each Scottish local authority of enforcement action for the recovery of community charge debt and the amounts so recovered ;
(3) if he will give figures showing the costs for each Scottish local authority of enforcement action for the recovery of community charge debt in cases where the costs of collection are greater than the amount due.
Mr. Stewart : The information is not held centrally.
Speech Therapy
Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how much of the speech therapy provision announced on 24 February is to be distributed to (a) under-fives, (b) children in mainstream education and (c) children with mental handicaps ;
(2) what is the estimated cost of speech therapy provision for children with records of needs in each of the regional council areas ; and how many such children there are in each.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : As soon as the information is available I will reply to the hon. Member in writing.
Sheriff Ewen Stewart
Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has now considered the findings of the investigation undertaken by the Lord President and Lord Justice Clerk of the fitness for office of Sheriff Ewen Stewart ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a decision on the case of Sheriff Ewen Stewart before 16 July.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 7 July 1992] : As I announced last year, following representations, including representations from Members of this House, and in the light of the observations of Sheriff Principal R. A. Bennet QC in a particular case, I concluded that it would be appropriate for an investigation to be undertaken of the fitness for office of Sheriff Ewen Stewart. I therefore asked the Lord President and Lord Justice Clerk to carry out such an investigation under the provisions of section 12 of the Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1971. I received their report on 10 February 1992.
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In the report, their lordships noted that this was the third occasion that an investigation had been undertaken into the fitness for office of Sheriff Stewart. Their lordships concluded that a general investigation would be appropriate into the sheriff's conduct since the date of the last report. Following preliminary inquiries, their lordships provided Sheriff Stewart with a list of the cases relevant to his conduct which they were to investigate and invited him to answer specific questions relating to these cases as well as to offer any general observations which he cared to make. On receipt of the sheriff's responses, further inquiries were made and their lordships interviewed Sheriff Stewart before completing their report.The conclusion of their lordships' very detailed report was that Sheriff Stewart was unfit for office by reason of inability to perform the judicial functions which are expected of a sheriff by virtue of his office and in terms of his judicial oath. On receipt of their lordships' report I arranged for a copy to be sent to Sheriff Stewart and invited him to comment on its findings. I have given very careful consideration to Sheriff Stewart's detailed response which he submitted to me on 4 May 1992, but I have decided, in all the circumstances, to bring forward an order removing him from office. I am arranging, to be placed in the Library of both Houses of Parliament, their lordships' letter of 10 February 1992, together with appendix A and appendix C thereto, under deletion from appendix A of two cases which their lordships decided, having considered Sheriff Stewart's response, did not merit further investigation. Appendix B, which contains Sheriff Stewart's responses to their lordships, has not been placed in the Library. As indicated by their lordships in appendix C to their letter, much of what is said by Sheriff Stewart is irrelevant to the cases which were under investigation. In addition, some parts of appendix B appear to be potentially defamatory.
DEFENCE
Sexual Harassment and Assault
Ms. Corston : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the number of complaints by British service women of alleged sexual harassment and sexual assault against British service men for the latest year for which information is available ; what action was taken as a result ; and what procedures exist for reporting and investigating such instances.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The number of complaints made by British service women about alleged sexual harassment and assault involving British service men could be provided only at disproportionate cost. All complaints by service personnel of harassment of any nature are dealt with under normal redress of grievance procedures and, if substantiated, appropriate action would be taken against the offender. Normally, a complaint is dealt with by the commanding officer, but if it cannot be resolved at that level or the complainant is dissatisfied, it may be referred up the chain of command and ultimately to the Navy, Army, or Air Force board. If a service woman wishes to make a complaint of sexual assault, she should report the incident to her superior officer for action through the chain of command.
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Depending on the seriousness of the offence, the matter would then be dealt with by the military authorities or civil police.Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta
Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the guardships which attended the Port of Dartmouth royal regatta in each of the last 10 years ; and if he will make a statement as to which ship will be present at the 1992 regatta, to be held between 26 and 30 August.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The information requested is as follows : 1982 --HMS Alfriston
1983--HMS Achilles
1984--HMS Euryalus
1985--HMS Diomede
1986--HMS Hermione
1987--HMS Plymouth
1988--HMS Avenger
1989--HMS Cardiff
1990--HMS Active
1991--HMS Battleaxe
HMS Sirius is currently scheduled to attend the 1992 regatta.
Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will arrange for (a) HMS Alacrity or (b) HMS Gloucester to attend the 1992 Port of Dartmouth royal regatta as guardship between Wednesday 26 August and Sunday 30 August.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The provision of a guardship for the Dartmouth royal regatta depends on the availability of a suitable vessel after taking account of operational training commitments which must take precedence. Neither HMS Alacrity nor HMS Gloucester will be available ; HMS Sirius is currently scheduled to attend the regatta.
Contaminated Land
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department will be represented at the session on restoration of militarily contaminated lands of the United Nation's conference on indigenous peoples in Geneva at the end of July.
Korea
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current United Kingdom military commitment in Korea, its present annual cost and the cost for each year since it began, both in actual and current prices.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The United Kingdom's military presence in Korea comprises two defence attaches, a first secretary (defence supply) and their supporting staff in the British embassy in Seoul ; members of the Commonwealth Liaison Mission to the United Nations Command, headed by the British defence attache ; and a platoon of infantry as part of the United Nations honour guard. The full costs of the commitment are not normally separately identified within the Defence budget, but it is estimated that in 1991-92 they amounted to £1.9 million at 1991-92 outturn prices. Figures for previous years could not be made available without disproportionate effort.
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Armaments (Dumping at Sea)
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make it his policy to set a target date for the banning of the practice of dumping armaments at sea around the coast of the United Kingdom ;
(2) if he will publish a list of all the sites utilised for dumping surplus armaments in the sea around the coast of the United Kingdom at present ;
(3) what mechanisms are utilised by his Department to monitor sites used for the dumping of armaments at sea, including environmental effects ;
(4) if he will publish a list of the materials contained in surplus armaments dumped around the coast of the United Kingdom over the last 10 years.
Mr. Aitken : Ministry of Defence will terminate all sea dumping of redundant ammunition and explosive stocks by 1 January 1993. This is in line with the Government's general policy that where safe and practicable waste should be disposed of on land, in preference to dumping at sea. Dumping is carried out in a strictly controlled manner to ensure that it does not cause damage to the marine environment, or interfere with fishing, or other legitimate uses of the sea. Preparation of stores for dumping includes the removal of components containing toxic heavy metals which are not permitted to be disposed of in this manner. There has been no sea dumping of redundant ammunition and explosive stocks around the coast of the United Kingdom during the last 10 years. The only dump site in use is some 400 miles off Lands End in the Atlantic at a depth of some 4,500 m. The depth of this site precludes effective monitoring but there is no evidence to suggest that controlled dumping of conventional ammunition and explosives in this manner constitutes a risk to the marine environment.
Overseas Equipment Sales
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role British military attaches play in the sale of British defence equipment overseas.
Mr. Aitken : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his earlier question on British military attaches, Official Report column 671.
Expenditure
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 1 July to the hon. Member for Clackmannan (Mr. O'Neill), Official Report, column 656, what additional costs are incurred by his Department from preparing separate forms of statistics on defence expenditures for the annual statement on the defence estimates and the United Nations report on military expenditures.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The information on defence expenditure provided to the United Nations and that contained within the annual statement on the Defence estimates are both based on information collected within the MoD for financial management purposes. It is not possible to quantify any additional costs.
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