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Mr. Sackville [holding answer 13 July 1992] : The chief medical officer returns the notification form--HSA4--to the operating doctor with a request that the medical condition should be completed.
Disabled Employees
Mrs. Roche : To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 30 June, to the hon. and learned Member for Leicester, West, (Mr. Janner) Official Report, column 462, how many and what proportion of her Department's employees were registered disabled in 1989 and 1990, respectively.
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Mr. Sackville [holding answer 14 July 1992] : In June 1989 there were 30 registered disabled people employed in the Department which represented 0.7 per cent. of the total work force. In 1990, the comparable figures were 29 and 0.6 per cent.Dry-cleaning Chemicals
Mr. John Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been undertaken by her Department into potential health risks from chemicals used by dry cleaners ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. McLoughlin : I have been asked to reply.
The majority of dry cleaners use either perchloroethylene (tetrachlorethylene), or 1,1,2 trichloro-1,1,2 trifluoroethane (R113). White spirit and trichlorethylene are also known to be used and a few may use 1,1,1 trichloroethane (methyl chloroform) or trichlorofluoromethane) (R11). No specific research into the potential health risks from the use of these chemicals by dry cleaners has been carried out by either the Department of Employment or the Department of Health, but the Health and Safety Executive is currently assessing recently published scientific data concerning health risks associated with exposure to perchloroethylene.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Fair Employment
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 the Eastern Health and Social Services area board ; whether this board has been investigated by the new Fair Employment Commission ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : The Eastern health and social services board has an equal opportunities policy and has developed procedures for the implementation and monitoring of equality of opportunity, which are in line with the recommendations in the code of practice on fair employment. The board is committed to carry out any affirmative action necessary to address any apparent imbalance in its work force.
The board has not been investigated by the Fair Employment Commission, but, in line with other employers, consults the commission as and when necessary.
Hospitals
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the total expenditure on hospitals by the Eastern health and social services area board in each of the past five years ; and how much in each year was for capital projects.
Mr. Hanley : The information requested is as follows :
Year |Capital works|Total
|£ |£
--------------------------------------------------------
1986-87 |7,972,296 |217,094,300
1987-88 |11,509,758 |236,424,600
1988-89 |11,013,938 |255,205,941
1989-90 |9,032,633 |267,502,118
1990-91 |11,659,842 |296,815,875
Forestry
Mr. Michael J. Martin : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are employed in the forestry industry in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Hanley : About 1,050 ; 500 of whom are employed in the Department of Agriculture forest service and approximately 550 in the private sector.
Hospital Services, Downpatrick
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to provide funding for the relocation of acute hospital services on the Downshire site in Downpatrick, Co. Down ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : The management and delivery of acute hospital services in the Downpatrick area is the responsibility of the Eastern health and social services board. The consultation period on its recently published consultative document "Framework for General (Acute) Hospital Services within the Board Area" is due to end on 30 September 1992, after which the board will frame its proposals for the future. I understand that the board has not at this time agreed any plans to relocate acute hospital services on the Downshire site.
Fishing Industry
Mr. Michael J. Martin : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are employed by the fishing industry in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Hanley : There is estimated to be some 2,900 people employed in the Northern Ireland fishing industry either on a full-time or part-time basis. This includes sea fisherman, fish farmers, those engage in processing and other ancillary occupations and commercial salmon and inland fishery enterprises.
Hospital Bed Closures
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will increase the budgetary allocation to the Eastern health and social services board in order to prevent the proposed reductions of beds and job losses in hospitals within the board area ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : The Eastern board's recently published consultative document "A Framework for General (Acute) Hospital Services within the Eastern Board Area" contains an analysis of the future need for acute hospital beds in its area. The conclusion in the document that fewer acute beds will be needed does not stem primarily from cost or budgetary considerations. Advances in medical techniques and tchnology, and improvements in efficiency levels in the use of beds to match those being achieved elsewhere, mean that the same number of patients could receive treatment of a higher quality in the Eastern board area with at least 750 fewer beds. The Government are fully committed to seeking continuing improvements in the quality of care while making the best use of available resources and they fully support the principles which underline the Eastern board's policy for the provision of acute care.
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European Year of the Elderly
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has for his Department to celebrate in 1993 the European Year of the Elderly ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 13 July, Official Report, columns 430-31.
The Department of Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland is contributing to the development of the national programme for the year and, in addition, has set up a Northern Ireland steering group to plan and co- ordinate regional activities.
Cold Weather Payments
Mr. Clifford Forsythe : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what dates and in what parts of Northern Ireland the cold weather payments system was triggered during the winter of 1991-92 ; and how many households received payment on each occasion.
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Mr. Hanley : Social security operational matters are the responsibility of the chief executive of the Social Security Agency. However, I understand that the cold weather payment system was not triggered in any part of Northern Ireland during the winter of 1991-92.
Grammar Schools
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many places in grammar schools in South Down were allocated to students who obtained a grade 1 and a grade 2, respectively, in the selection procedure ;
(2) how many applications were received by each grammar school in South Down from pupils who received grade 1 and grade 2 in the selection procedure ;
(3) how many places were available for student intakes into each grammar school in South Down for the academic year 1992-93.
Mr. Hanley : The information requested in respect of 1992-93 is as follows :
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f
Applications Admissions
School |Places |Grade 1 |Grade 2 |Grade 1 |Grade 2
|available
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Down High School, Downpatrick |100 |74 |33 |74 |26
Assumption Grammar School, Ballynahinch |135 |134 |36 |134 |1
St. Patrick's Grammar School, Downpatrick |100 |94 |28 |94 |16
St. Louis's Grammar School, Kilkeel |78 |35 |41 |35 |40
|--- |--- |--- |--- |---
Total |423 |337 |138 |337 |83
Mr. Clifford Forsythe : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many households in Northern Ireland qualify for payments under the cold weather payments scheme.
Mr. Hanley : Social Security operational matters are the responsibility of the chief executive of the Social Security Agency. However, I understand that information is not kept on the number of households in Northern Ireland who qualify for payments under the cold weather payment scheme.
Mr. Clifford Forsythe : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what dates cold weather payments were made in Northern Ireland in response to a forecast of a qualifying period ; and if he will indicate the period taken for payment to be made once the system has been triggered.
Mr. Hanley : Social Security operation matters are the responsibility of the chief executive of the Social Security Agency. However, I understand that since the introduction of the forecast system on 1 November 1991, no cold weather payments have been made in Northern Ireland in response to a forecast of a qualifying period.
Legal Parades
Mr. Mallon : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of (a) the number of security force personnel and (b) the cost of policing each legal parade or march held in (i) Newry town, (ii) Armagh, (iii) Newtownhamilton or (iv) Markethill in each of the past three years.
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Mr. Mates : The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Mallon : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many legal parades were approved by the Royal Ulster Constabulary in (a) Newry town, (b) Armagh, (c) Newtonhamiltown and (d) Markethill in each year since 1980 ;
(2) if he will give details of all legal parades or marches in each of the past five years, that were held in (a) Newry town, (b) Armagh city, (c) Newtownhamilton and (d) Markethill ;
(3) what organisation sought permission for each legal parade in (a) Newry town, (b) Armagh, (c) Newtownhamilton and (d) Markethill in each of the past five years.
Mr. Mates : I shall write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.
Police Complaints
Mr. Gale : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what decisions he has reached on the recommendations contained in the report of the Independent Commission of Police Complaints on its triennial review 1988-91.
Sir Patrick Mayhew : My predecessor announced on 27 March 1991 that he intended to consult various interested bodies. A consultation document was sent to the police authority, the Chief Constable, the police representative bodies, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights, the Committee
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on the Administration of Justice, the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and Northern Ireland Members of this House. The document was also made available to anyone else on request.I have given further consideration to the recommendations in the light of the comments received. I have decided to accept six of the commission's nine recommendations in whole or in part.
I have accepted the following two recommendations which can be implemented by amendments to regulations and I have asked my officials to bring forward the necessary amendments as quickly as possible :
The informal resolution procedure should be amended to provide for the complainant to indicate in writing that he is satisfied that his complaint has been resolved (recommendation 2). The regulations would make it clear that the complainant is not required to sign such a statement if he or she does not want to.
Regulations should be made to provide a monitoring role for the Commission where the Police Authority decides to use its discretionary power under Article 6(2) of the 1987 Order to deal with a complaint against a senior officer other than by formal investigation (recommendation 3).
I have also accepted the following three recommendations whose implementation will require primary legislation. The second of these is part of a wider recommendation. They will be implemented at the earliest legislative opportunity :
A complaint should be referred to the Commission once it has been recorded by the appropriate authority under Article 5(1) or Article 6(1) of the 1987 Order (recommendation 4).
The Commission should be granted discretion to discontinue supervision of a case where it becomes apparent that supervision is not warranted (second part of recommendation 6).
The 1987 Order should be amended to require the Commission to give its reasons to the Chief Constable for preferring disciplinary charges at the recommendation stage under Article 13(1) rather than at the later stage of direction (recommendation 7).
The purpose of recommendation 7 is being achieved by administrative action pending amendment to legislation.
I have accepted the following recommendation which is an administrative matter for the Policy Authority and the Independent Commission for Police Complaints :
meetings between the Police Authority and the Commission should continue on a more structured basis (recommendation 9)
I have decided not to accept the following three recommendations and the first part of another recommendation :
The Chief Constable should be required to consult the Commission in those cases where he is of the opinion that the matter does not constitute a complaint within the meaning of Article 2 of the 1987 Order ; the Commission's decision should prevail where there is a difference of view as to whether the matter should properly be regarded as constituting a complaint (recommendation 1)
The Commission should be given a reserve power under an amended Article 8 of the 1987 Order to "call in" for supervision in the public interest those matters considered by the Commission to be of grave or exceptional circumstances (recommendation 5)
The mandatory supervision of complaints category relating to serious injury should be eliminated, that supervision in all cases should be a matter for the discretion of the Commission (first part of recommendation 6)
Consideration should be given to the establishment of a truly independent tribunal with a legally qualified chairman to hear disciplinary charges. Such charges would be presented on behalf of the Commission at the hearing ; any consequential disciplinary action would be the responsibility of the Chief Constable and he might therefore require to have a presence or a specialised function at a tribunal (recommendation 8).
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I have been heartened by the positive response to the consultation document on the commission's recommendations and I am satisfied that the action I have outlined will further enhance the operation of the procedures for dealing with complaints against the police.Water Privatisation
Mr. Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will indicate when he plans to privatise the water and sewerage functions of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland.
Sir Patrick Mayhew : The citizens charter for Northern Ireland made clear the Government's intention to privatise the Department of the Environment's water and sewerage functions. Hitherto, it had been intended that these functions would be transferred to a Government-owned company before privatisation. However, having reviewed progress, I have concluded that we should in fact proceed directly to privatisation, as soon as practicable in 1995-96. This will build on the preparatory work which has already been done and will allow customers and taxpayers to obtain at the earliest date the benefits that privatisation will bring.
NATIONAL HERITAGE
Broadcasting, Northern Ireland
Mr. Mallon : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to ensure that regional broadcasting within Northern Ireland is maintained and enhanced ; and if he will make it his policy to ensure that regional broadcasting stations at Newry town hall and elsewhere will continue to operate in the future.
Mr. Key : BBC programming and day-to-day administration, including its continuing commitment to regional broadcasting in Northern Ireland, are a matter for the corporation under its royal charter and licence and agreement. The Broadcasting Act 1990 established the framework for other national and regional television and radio services.
European Year of the Elderly
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has for his Department to celebrate in 1993 the European Year of the Elderly ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Key : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 13 July 1992, Official Report , columns 430-31 .
Supermarkets
Mr. Bill Michie : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what information is held on the number of playing fields lost to supermarket developments over the last 10 years in England.
Mr. Key : There is no centrally held information on the loss of playing fields. However, the Sports Council's grant in aid for 1991-92 included a specific sum to cover the cost of preparing a national register of playing fields in England. This will provide a means of monitoring gains and losses in playing fields and should be completed at the end of May 1993.
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HOUSE OF COMMONS
Scottish Business
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Lord President of the Council what plans he has to propose amendments to the procedures for the consideration of business in the House which relates solely to Scotland ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Newton : Existing procedures offer a variety of ways of handling Scottish business. The recent reconstituting of the Scottish Affairs Select Committee provides an additional opportunity for consideration of Scottish issues by the House.
WALES
Welsh Development Agency
Mr. Rowlands : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what was the expenditure of the Welsh Development Agency's property development programme in 1991-92 in the district authority areas of (a) Cynon Valley, (b) Merthyr Tydfill and (c) the Rhondda ; and what is the estimated expenditure in these three districts in 1992-93 ;
(2) whether he will list each project in the Welsh Development Agency's property development programme for 1991-92 and the cost of each project in that year and the corresponding information in 1992-93.
Mr. David Hunt : I have arranged for the chief executive of the WDA to write to the hon. Gentleman, and for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.
Young People
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many 16 and 17-year-olds there are in (a) Blaenau Gwent, (b) Gwent and (c) Wales ; and how many in each case are (1) in full-time education, (2) in youth training schemes, (3) receiving income support and (4) are neither in full- time education, youth training schemes, nor in receipt of income support.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The total numbers of 16 and 17-year-olds and the numberrs of those in full-time education for the requested areas are given in the table. Also shown are the numbers of persons of all ages on youth training schemes ; age-specific data are not collected. Reliable information on the numbers of 16 and 17-year-olds receiving income support and those who are neither in full-time education, on youth training schemes, nor in receipt of income support is not available for Wales.
Thousands ------------------------------------------------------------- 16 and 17-year-olds: Total population<1> |2.1 |11.8|76.7 In full-time education-colleges<2> |n/a |3.0 |17.9 In full-time education-schools<3> |n/a |3.1 |22.4 All persons on Youth Training schemes<4> |n/a |2.6 |16.0 <1>Mid year estimate 1990 (Source: Office of Population Censuses and Surveys) <2>Those aged 16 or 17 on 31 August 1991 following full-time courses at colleges of further and higher education as at November 1991. <3>Those aged 16 or 17 on 31 August 1990 attending schools as at January 1991. <4>All ages, as at 24 May 1992.
Blind Children
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of parents of blind and partially sighted children received social work counselling in Wales in the latest year for which figures are available ; and if he will make it his policy to issue guidelines to local authorities concerning the development of counselling services for parents upon discovery of a child's disability.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The figures requested are not held centrally. The Children Act 1989 provides a framework for the provision of services for all children, including those with disabilities. It makes clear the duty of local authorities to safeguard the needs of children with disabilities and their families, and to ensure that advice, guidance and counselling are available. It is for each local authority to decide what serices they consider appropriate. Comprehensive guidance on all aspects of the Act was issued to local authorities prior to its implementation in October 1991. The Secretary of State has no plans to issue further guidance to local authorities on this matter.
Neath-Port Talbot Hospital
Mr. John Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether the preparation for the building of the Neath/Port Talbot hospital is on target ; and when the first contracts will be signed.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : I understand that West Glamorgan health authority still anticipates that work will commence later this year on the infrastructure contract. Progress therefore remains on target.
Youth Training
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether the system for monitoring the numbers of young people covered by the youth training guarantee and seeking a place on youth training announced in the oral answer by the Secretary of State for Employment, Official Report, 7 July 1992, column 172, will cover Wales ; who will be responsible for monitoring in Wales ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. David Hunt : I reviewed performance on the youth training guarantee at a recent meeting with the chairmen of Welsh training and enterprise councils and I am satisfied that Welsh TECs have the resources they need to meet the guarantee. The Minister of State has subsequently written to the chairmen asking them for advance information of any issues in meeting it. My officials are discussing the position with each TEC, and will also be reviewing with TECs and principal careers officers whether changes to monitoring arrangements need to be made in the light of the steps announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment on 7 July.
Elderly People
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of elderly people dependent on income support, that have been turned away from voluntary care homes in Wales, for the latest year for which figures are available.
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Mr. Gwilym Jones : The information requested is not held centrally.Rural Wales
Mr. John Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will bring together the principal agencies concerned with the problems of rural Wales under his chairmanship at regular intervals.
Mr. David Hunt : Ministers frequently meet the chairmen and chief officers of all the agencies concerned to discuss the problems facing rural Wales and my officials are in regular contact with the staff of these agencies. The agencies also maintain close liaison with each other on matters of common interest.
Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a list of all sites of special scientific interest in Wales at present ; how many of these sites of special scientific interest have been damaged during the last year ; and what is the estimated percentage figure of the land mass of Wales currently designated as sites of special scientific interest.
Sir Wyn Roberts : There are currently 843 sites of special scientific interest in Wales. I have arranged for copies of the full list of sites to be placed in the Library of the House.
The Countryside Council for Wales is aware of damage to 45 sites during the period 1 April 1991 to 31 March 1992. The area of Wales which has been notified as sites of special scientific interest is approximately 9.5 per cent.
Small Businesses
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the achievements of his Department and his policies in helping small businesses over the last 12 months relative to the previous 12 months ; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.
Mr. David Hunt : The Government continue to place a high priority on helping small businesses, through improvements to the business climate, through deregulation and through specific programmes of support and assistance.
Measures operated by my Department to assist small businesses include the following :
Support for Local Enterprise Agencies
There are currently 21 local enterprise agencies in Wales and there is a likelihood of a number of new organisations approaching me for approval in the near future. In order to strengthen the network of agencies to improve and enhance services to small businesses mergers between agencies are encouraged where appropriate. One merger involving two agencies has occurred since last year. The WDA and the DBRW provided £318,000 in direct grant support to enterprise agencies for core services in 1991-92.
Training and Enterprise Councils
The training and enterprise councils (TECs) in Wales are responsible for running a range of measures which assist small businesses. They are continuing to develop provision to help new and existing businesses to acquire and build skills which will enable them to compete and grow. During the last financial year Welsh TECs assisted over 8,000 owner-managers and helped more than 3,300 people to start their own new businesses.
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Regional Selective Assistance, Regional Enterprise Grant Small businesses continue to take advantage of the help available under regional selective assistance. In the year to end of June 1992, 139 small firms (employing up to 200 people) accepted offers of RSA. The value of these offers in 1992 amount to £19.2 million. A further 151 small firms (employing less than 25 people) accepted offers of Regional Enterprise Grant totalling £1.70 million.Enterprise Wales
Launched in January 1988, the consultancy initiatives have proved extremely popular in Wales. More than 5,175 companies have applied. In 1991-92 alone 1,040 applicants were received, 6 per cent. above the economic weight, and 1,031 business reviews were commissioned, 19 per cent. above the economic weight.
Small firms merit award for research and technology (SMART) The number of small Welsh companies which received a SMART stage 1 award during the past 12 months was 16 and 11 companies received the SMART stage 2 awards. The maximum value of each stage 1 award has been increased from £37,500 to £45,000 and each stage 2 award from £50,000 to £60,000. On a per-capita basis, Wales has continued to do better than most other regions in this annual competition, receiving about 9 per cent. of the total awards nationwide.
Support for products under research
This scheme, which was introduced in 1991, is intended to support highly innovative projects by companies employing up to 500 persons. During the first year of its operation, offers of financial assistance were made to 10 Welsh companies, to a total value of £750, 000.
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