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Bank holidays in the United Kingdom 1992
|Date
---------------------------------------------------------------
New Year's Day |1 January
Bank Holiday (Scotland) |2 January
St. Patrick's Day (Northern Ireland) |17 March
Good Friday |17 April
Easter Monday (except Scotland) |20 April
May Day Bank Holiday |4 May
Spring Bank Holiday |25 May
Battle of the Boyne (Northern Ireland) |13 July
Summer Bank Holiday (Scotland) |3 August
Summer Bank Holiday (except Scotland) |31 August
Christmas Day |25 December
Boxing Day |26 December
Bank Holiday |28 December
Labour Statistics
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list the current number of job vacancies in the travel-to-work areas which include the coal mines which British Coal has announced will close ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. McLoughlin : Pursuant to my answer of 20 October 1992, columns 280-81, the chief executive of the Employment Service has written further to the hon. Member.
Column 501
Letter from Mr. M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Max Madden, dated 26 October 1992.As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question to her about the number of current job vacancies within the travel to work areas for the coal mines which British Coal has announced will close. This is something which falls within the responsibilities she has delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
Unfortunately, my reply of 20 October contained an error in the table. The Cotgrave and Claverton collieries in the Nottingham travel to work area should have read 1,174 unfilled vacancies on 2nd October. The following reply now contains the correct information. I attach a table showing the number of vacancies unfilled at Jobcentres on 2nd October 1992, the last statistical count date, for each of the relevant travel to work areas. All of the travel to work areas are included as requested although following the statement by the President of the Board of Trade on 19th October only 8 of these areas have a colliery now designated for closure after the statutory consultation period has been completed.
It is not possible to provide information on the total number of job vacancies available in the labour market but it is estimated that about one third of all vacancies are notified to Jobcentres. I hope this is helpful.
As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.
Colliery |Travel to work area |Number of unfilled vacancies at local Jobcentres on
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Easington
Vane Tempest |Durham |313
Wearmouth |Sunderland |603
Westoe |South Tyneside |146
Parkside |Wigan and St. Helens |742
Prince of Wales
|Sharlston |Wakefield and
Frickley |Dewsbury |705
Rossington
Bentley
Hatfield/Thorne
Markham Main |Barnsley, Doncaster,
Houghton Main |Rotherham and
Grimethorpe |Mexborough |879
Maltby |Rotherham and
|Mexborough
Kiveton |Sheffield |1,190
Silverhill
Bevercotes
Bilsthorpe |Worksop, Alfreton
Clipstone |and Ashfield,
Rufford |Retford, Mansfield |551
Cotgrave
Calverton |Nottingham |1,174
Bolsover
Markham
Shirebrook |Chesterfield |352
Trentham
Silverdale |Stoke |571
Betws Drift |Llanelli |351
Point of Ayr |Shotton, Flint and
|Rhyl |574
Taff Merthyr |Merthyr and
| Rhymney |452
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Livestock Auctioneers
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will review the implication of the administrative and financial practice of livestock auctioneers to hold in trust any moneys from livestock sales for the farmers whose animals had been sold in markets, and the effect of the insolvency of livestock auctioneers upon this practice.
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to compensate farmers whose money for livestock sales at market had been taken in trust by livestock auctioneers facing insolvency and invested in bank accounts which were overdrawn prior to the completion of the transaction at auction.
Potatoes
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps in the EC to ensure that the new potato re gime will not adversely affect current area controls and direct intervention systems utilised in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Curry : There is as yet no Commission proposal for a potato re gime. We wish to see what the Commission proposes before taking any decisions about the future of the potato marketing scheme in Great Britain. The Government's objective under any re gime will be to ensure that our growers can supply what the market needs and operate on equal terms with growers elsewhere, and in particular that the processing sector should be able to find adequate sources of potatoes in Britain.
Rabies
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will review the holding period powers of local authorities in relation to dogs and the minimum incubation period of rabies ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Soames : Under the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and other Mammals) Order 1974 local authorities are given the power to seize dogs where there is reason to suspect that the dog may have been landed in contravention of the order. Animals seized may be immediately exported or detained in quarantine for six months. However, if exportation is chosen and there has been a biting or scratching incident the local authority must detain the animal for 15 days observation : an animal may become infective shortly before the disease manifests itself clinically, and it is important to establish whether there is any possibility that the rabies virus may have been introduced into Great Britain.
Inspection Services
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department will carry out a study of the cost and staffing implications of the timing of his proposals for red and poultry meat inspection services ; and if he will make a statement.
Column 503
Mr. Soames : In March this year the Government announced their intention to transfer the responsibility for meat hygiene inspection and enforcement from local authorities to a new national meat hygiene service, following a detailed independent study which looked at the financial, management, staffing and other aspects of various options. The Government will work closely with the local authorities to ensure that the new arrangements, which will be dependent on the availability of parliamentary time for the necessary primary legislation, are introduced as smoothly and cost-effectively as possible.
Agricultural Employment
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has of the number of people working in industries allied to agriculture for the most recent five-year period for which figures are available.
Mr. Curry : I regret that the information requested is not available. Details of the number of persons employed in each primary industrial group are published monthly in the Employment Gazette.
Set-aside
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has of the number of on-farm jobs that will be lost from agriculture as a result of the introduction of the 15 per cent. EC set -aside scheme.
Mr. Curry : The impact on farm labour of the new set-aside arrangements will depend on a range of factors, including the extent to which set-aside land is used to produce crops for non-food purposes.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the number of jobs in industries allied to agriculture that will be lost as a result of the introduction of the 15 per cent. EC set-aside rule.
Mr. Curry : It is not possible at this stage to make any realistic assessment of the likely impact of the new set-aside arrangements on industries allied to agriculture. However, we shall keep the position under careful review.
Farm Support
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with the representatives of companies and businesses allied to agriculture about the prospects for those businesses following reduction in farm support via the CAP ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Curry : The Department is in regular contact with the representatives of companies and businesses allied to agriculture to discuss issues of interest to the industry including CAP reform.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for the last three years for which figures are available the total amount of subsidy paid by EC or United Kingdom budgets for each category of livestock and arable crop eligible for subsidy within the United Kingdom, showing the actual amount in cash paid to producers in each case.
Column 504
Mr. Curry : Table 9.1 of "Agriculture in the United Kingdom : 1991", a copy of which is available in the Library, gives details of public expenditure under the CAP and on national grants and subsidies. The main livestock and arable aid payments are in section I and IV of the table. A breakdown of payments between producers and other recipients is not available.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the total cost of the administration, monitoring and enforcement costs of the United Kingdom and EC departments responsible for paying farm subsidies over the last three years, showing each figure as a percentage of the total subsidies and a percentage of the subsidies actually received by producers.
Mr. Curry : This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Energy-producing Crops
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to provide schemes to grow crops that can produce energy.
Mr. Curry : Under the new EC arable area payments scheme which comes into operation this year, growers will be able to claim area or set-aside payments on land used to produce eligible crops for a range of non-food uses, including biofuels and crops for direct combustion.
Short rotation coppice is eligible for establishment grants under the woodland grant scheme, which is operated by the forestry authority. Grants are also available under the farm and conservation grant scheme to help farmers meet the cost of straw and coppiced wood burning boilers and furnaces for their farms.
Animal Exports
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimates have been made of the financial cost to the livestock producing industry of reducing the maximum permitted transport time to eight hours.
Mr. Soames : I am not aware of any such estimates. British legislation requires livestock in transport to be offered food and water at intervals not exceeding 15 hours. These arrangements have served us well. In EC discussions we shall be seeking to persuade the Community to adopt rules which reflect our own high standards.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he is having with the groups involved in the consequences of transportation of live animals.
Mr. Soames : We have regular discussions with a wide range of interested bodies about the transportation of live animals.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what steps he is taking to ensure adequate inspection, lairage and rest for animals in transit ;
(2) if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's position on the transportation of live animals within the EC, indicating where the United Kingdom Government's position is different from the current EC directive.
Column 505
Mr. Soames : The Export of Animals (Protection) Order 1981 provides for inspection and rest, at an approved portal lairage, for food animals exported from Britain. This order also implements the current EC directive on the protection of animals during international transport. These arrangements are due to be superseded by a new directive which needs to be supplemented by additional rules on which Commission proposals are awaited.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the number of live animals exported from the United Kingdom to the EC over the last five years for each type of livestock transported.
Mr. Soames : The number of live animals that have been exported from the United Kingdom to other member states of the EC over the last five years can be found in the annual volumes of the "Overseas Trade Statistics for the United Kingdom", copies of which are in the House of Commons Library. Details of their classification within SITC 00 can be found in the "Guide to the Classification for Overseas Trade Statistics", which is also in the House of Commons Library.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will estimate how long it would take to make the necessary changes to allow all livestock for slaughter to be slaughtered within the United Kingdom to prevent any animals being exported for slaughter from the United Kingdom to fellow EC countries ;
(2) what steps he is taking to increase the proportion of animals slaughtered within the United Kingdom prior to export as opposed to being transported live to other EC countries for slaughter.
Mr. Soames : It would not be possible, under the treaty of Rome, to impose a general prohibition on the export of livestock.
The capacity of the United Kingdom slaughtering industry is a matter for commercial judgment.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps his Department takes to ensure that health, hygiene and veterinary standards are being maintained on an equal basis throughout the EC.
Mr. Soames : It is already standard practice for EC animal health and welfare legislation to provide for on-the-spot inspections by Commission veterinary experts to ensure the uniform application of Community rules. The United Kingdom Government welcome the continued development of the Commission inspection role to promote this objective.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the number of live animals exported from Scotland to the EC over the last five years for each type of livestock.
Mr. Soames : There are no official statistics dealing with purely Scottish trade of live animals. The overseas trade statistics from Her Majesty's Customs and Excise are available only on a United Kingdom basis.
Column 506
DEFENCE
Air Crash, Chivenor
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement in respect of the incident to an RAF Hawk jet trainer which crashed at RAF Chivenor in September ; and if he will send to the hon. Member a copy of his Department's military aircraft accident summary relating to this incident when it is published.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The accident in question took place on 30 September. The Hawk aircraft, carrying two qualified pilots, crashed on the runway at RAF Chivenor while the aircrew were conducting a simulated engine failure after take-off. Tragically, one of the pilots was injured and later died in hospital. The other ejected safely. An RAF board of inquiry has been convened. My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence will forward a copy of the military aircraft accident summary to the hon. Member as soon as it is available.
Z-Berths
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual cost to his Department for the upkeep of Z-berths for emergency use by nuclear powered submarines at United Kingdom ports.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Z-berths may be established within particular ports, at mooring buoys or anchorages which have been assessed as suitable for short operations or recreational visits by nuclear powered submarines. The berths in question are not exclusively for the use of nuclear powered submarines. The cost of their maintenance as z-berths relates mainly to periodic surveys and liaison with the relevant local authorities to ensure the continuing suitability of the berths ; cost figures are not held centrally.
European Union
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what contribution his Department made to the declaration on Western European Union included in the annexes on the treaty of European Union (Cm. 1934) ;
(2) what contribution his Department made to the drafting of the title V, articles JI to JII of the treaty of European Union, (Cm. 1934).
Mr. Archie Hamilton : My Department was fully consulted in the preparation of both.
Low Flying
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent complaints his Department has received from British Nuclear Fuels plc over breaches of the low-flying exclusion zones around their nuclear plants.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Since January 1991 my Department has received four such complaints, one of which was subsequently withdrawn.
WE177 Warheads
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the expected timetable for dismantling of WE177 warheads now declared to be surplus to requirements.
Column 507
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The weapons in question will be dismantled as quickly as possible, consistent with the demands of security and safety.
Vulcan XH558
Sir Nicholas Bonsor : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what have been the most recent annual running costs to his Department of the RAF Vulcan XH558 ; on how many occasions it has been flown on public display in the last full year ; what estimate he has made of the cost of servicing the aircraft to enable it to continue flying ; if he has any plans to facilitate the transfer of the RAF Vulcan XH558 aircraft to a public collection ; and if he will make a statement.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the state of sale of the Vulcan XH558.
Mr. Aitken : Annual running costs for Vulcan XH558 will amount to some £250,000 in financial year 1992-93. The servicing and modification required for the aircraft to continue for a further display season after 1992 would cost at least £2.5 million. The Vulcan performed 30 displays and five flypasts during the 1992 display season. A number of expressions of interest have been received from potential buyers with a view to preserving the aircraft for the future, and I hope that these might result in the aircraft being transferred to a public collection.
Recruitment
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the costs of recruitment in each of the armed forces in each of the last five years ; how savings have been made in the costs of recruitment ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I will write to the hon. Member.
Armed Forces (Reviews)
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the reviews of various aspects of the role of the armed forces which are (a) being reviewed and (b) have had their reviews completed in the last three years giving the dates by which they are more likely to be completed in each case.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Our plans for a major restructuring of the armed forces were set out in detail in both the 1991 Statement on the Defence Estimates, "Britain's Defence for the 90s" (Cm. 1559-I) and "Britain's Army for the 90s" (Cm. 1595). These were updated in the 1992 Statement (Cm. 1981). We will continue to keep these plans under constant review.
Agricultural Produce
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the agricultural produce which is grown on land owned or leased by his department giving the amounts produced in 1991 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Records are not maintained of the agricultural produce grown on land owned or leased by my Department.
Column 508
Munitions (Disposal)
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement about the alternative methods and locations that he will introduce for the disposal of munitions ;
(2) if he will list the regulations that control the dumping of munitions (a) on land and (b) in the sea ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The Ministry of Defence does not deposit redundant munitions, explosive waste or residues in land. Land based disposal methods such as detonation and open burning are conducted in accordance with departmental regulations which reflect the requirement of both the Explosives Act 1875 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The provisions of the London dumping convention apply to the dumping of waste at sea world wide and those of the Oslo convention regulate this activity in the north east Atlantic. The Ministry of defence has undertaken its sea dumping programmes in a manner consistent with the requirements of both these conventions but has no further plans to dispose of redundant munitions or explosives in this way. In the future, such material will be disposed of on land at suitable MOD sites where this is safe and environmentally acceptable and under contract by industry. The Ministry of Defence plans, also, to construct a purpose-built ammunition disposal facility.
Surplus Land and Buildings
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the procedure adopted by his Ministry for the sale of surplus land and buildings including the method of binding potential purchasers, and any targets that might be set as an annual basis ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The MOD's general policy is to sell surplus land and buildings for the highest return for the taxpayer and the usual procedure is to sell by competitive tender. Agents are engaged to place advertisements seeking tenders and purchasers are normally expected to provide a non-returnable 10 per cent. deposit when a sale is agreed.
Special provisions apply however to the sale of housing, namely, the discounted sale of surplus married quarters and civilian houses to service personnel and sitting tenants respectively and also the bulk sale of surplus married quarters to housing associations at a discount in return for nomination rights for service personnel leaving the services over the next few years.
No formal targets are set for disposals though assumptions have, of course, to be made for the purpose of the public expenditure survey, and the long- term costings process.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give (a) the amount of money realised to his Ministry from the sale of surplus land and (b) the valuation of that land in each of the last five years ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : In each of the last five financial years the following receipts have been realised from the sale of surplus land and buildings :
Column 509
Year |£ million ------------------------------ 1987-88 |76.6 1988-89 |15.0 1989-90 |71.2 1990-91 |80.6 1991-92 |102.3
The amount of money realised represents the market value of the property sold, with the exception that some service married quarters and civilian houses have been sold at a discount in line with departmental policy.
Privatisation and Agencies
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all the parts of his Ministry that have been (a) made into executive agencies, (b) privatised, giving the dates in each case, and (c) the parts of his Ministry he intends to privatise or make into executive agencies, giving the estimated dates in each case.
Mr. Aitken : Four executive agencies have been established : Meteorological Office--1 April 1990
Defence Research Agency--1 April 1991
Duke of York's Royal Military School--1 April 1992
Queen Victoria School--1 April 1992
We have also created 10 defence support agencies :
Hydrographic Office--1 April 1990
Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment--1 April 1991 Defence Accounts--1 April 1991
RAF Maintenance Group--1 April 1991
Military Survey--1 April 1991
Service Children's Schools (North West Europe)--1 April 1991 Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation--1 April 1992
Defence Analytical Services Agency--1 July 1992
Defence Postal and Courier Service--1 July 1992
Defence Operational Analysis Centre--1 July 1992
Both executive agencies and defence support agencies are run wholly on next steps lines.
The only parts of the Ministry which have been privatised are the Royal Ordnance factories on 2 January 1985.
There are no other parts of the Ministry which it is currently intended to privatise, although industry is being invited to express interest in purchasing the Royal Navy dockyards at Rosyth and Devonport.
Current candidates for agency status within MOD include the Ministry of Defence police, central services, the test and evaluation organisation, human factors research, some communications systems and elements of the logistic support and training organisations of the services. Looking ahead, we aim to identify all potential agency candidates by the end of next year. Areas under study include the balance of service logistics and training functions and the wider defence support area.
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