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Mr. Soames : The slaughterhouse survey for brucella melitensis and contagious agalactia in sheep and goats and for brucella ovis in sheep was concluded in June 1992. None of the diseases was confirmed. A total of 3,234 of the samples taken were screened for maedi visna, and these results will be made available to the sheep and goat health scheme advisory group.
Equines
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action is being taken by his Department to check values of equines being submitted to his Department for export ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Soames : The Department ensures that the valuations are determined by qualified valuers or the appropriate judges of breed societies.
Animal Welfare
Mr. Stevenson : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he intends to take to implement fully the EC directive on the welfare of animals in transit.
Mr. Soames : Proposals were issued for public consultation on 15 October 1992.
EMPLOYMENT
Health and Safety
Mrs. Peacock : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when she expects to lay the regulations relating to the EC directive on health and safety in the workplace relating to (a) health and safety (general provisions), (b) provision and use of work equipment, (c) manual handling operators, (d) workplace (health, safety and welfare), (e) personal protective equipment at work and (f) health and safety (display screen equipment).
Mr. McLoughlin : The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations--previously referred to as the
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Health and Safety (General Provisions) Regulations--were laid before Parliament on 8 September 1992. The other regulations relating to the EC directive on health and safety in the workplace are expected to be laid before Parliament by early next month.European Community Funds
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much financial assistance has been given to (a) Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Glasgow and (c) Strathclyde by way of each of the four objectives of the European Community's social fund in each of the past three years ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The information requested is not available in the form sought, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Training
Mr. Nicholls : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what responses she has received to the proposals in the White Paper "People, Jobs and Opportunity", in respect of (a) giving employees information about company training policy and (b) making training contracts more easily enforceable ; and what further action she intends to take.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The Department has received some 75 responses from a range of organisations and individuals, including a number of firms. I am most grateful to all those who commented.
Many respondents saw the first proposition as an important adjunct to the "Investors in People" standard. They believed that employers would welcome guidance on effective policies for developing and training their employees, and communicating these policies throughout the work force. However, many replies pointed out that a major strength of the "Investors in People" standard is that it is voluntary, driven by business needs and by real commitment from top managers. It is also flexible enough to be relevant to individual circumstances. Accordingly, the Department plans to involve employers in drawing up detailed guidance on creating and communicating effective training policies. We do not propose to introduce legislation, as a clear majority of respondents opposed this. The great majority of respondents did not support the idea of changing the law on the enforceability of training contracts. Most considered there was not a widespread problem and, even among respondents from the main sector where problems had been reported, there was no general agreement that legislation was required. Given the prevailing view, we propose not to take further action on this proposition.
EDUCATION
Special Needs
Mr. Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children in Essex have had statements of special educational needs ; and if he will make a statement on the situation in Essex.
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Mr. Forth : In January 1992, Essex local education authority was responsible for 4,923 children with statements of special educational needs --around 2.3 per cent. of the county's school population.
Mr. Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children in special needs schools in Essex have not had statements.
Mr. Forth : In January 1992, there were 2,606 pupils registered at special schools in Essex local education authority. Approximately 7 per cent. of these pupils did not have statements of special educational needs, most of whom were undergoing formal assessment prior to a statement being issued.
Research
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make it his policy to publish all research sponsored by his Department.
Mr. Forman : No ; most research reports are published, but the Department needs to consider each case on its merits and no blanket undertaking to publish can be given.
Student Grants
Mr. Rooker : To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list for each education authority the number and proportion of mandatory student grants which had not been paid at 31 October.
Mr. Forman : This information is not collected centrally. I am, however, most concerned by any reports of delays in making payments, and my officials will investigate vigorously any complaints which are received.
Four-year-olds
Mr. Rooker : To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list in rank order the proportion of four-year-olds in each local education authority who start school at the beginning of the academic year.
Mr. Forth : Information is not available in the form requested, but details of pupils aged four admitted to infant classes between September and December 1990 are given in statistical bulletin 5/92 which is available in the Library.
LINC Projects
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish the discussion papers prepared for the development of the LINC projects, 1989-92, which received a grant from his Department.
Mr. Forth : Proposals for the development of the language in the curriculum--LINC--project were set out under category XXIX in the education support grant circular sent to all local education authorities in England in July 1988, a copy of which is available in the Library. This followed publication of the Kingman report in March 1988 which recommended that an in-service training scheme be undertaken to increase teachers' knowledge about language.
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Grant-maintained Schools
Mr. Byers : To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will state the number of pupils excluded from each grant-maintained school for the school years 1990-91 and 1991-92.
Mr. Forth : Information on permanent exclusions from LEA and grant- maintained schools over a two-year period starting with the summer term 1990 has been collected under the national exclusions reporting system-- NERS. The purpose of NERS is to provide a basis on which to review the working of the existing statutory procedures on exclusions. The information received is currently being analysed. NERS returns were made on a confidential basis and it would not be appropriate for me to disclose information on individual schools without the agreement of their governing bodies.
Open University
Mr. Mans : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what advice he has received from the Open university's visiting committee concerning the university's grant needs for 1993.
Mr. Forman : The visiting committee's advice is contained in a report which has been placed in the Library.
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A copy of the report has been passed to the Higher Education Funding Council for England, which will be responsible for determining the Open university's grants from 1 April 1993.Mr. Rooker : To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will place in the Library the latest report of the visiting committee for the Open university.
Mr. Mans : To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish the final report of the Open university's visiting committee.
Mr. Forman : A copy has been placed in the Library.
City Technology Colleges
Mr. Steinberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will update his answer of 15 July, Official Report, columns 722-23, on principals of CTCs ; and if he will list the colleges which have changed principals and the reasons for the departure of the original principals.
Mr. Forth : The names and dates of appointment of the current principal, or equivalent, of each CTC are as follows :
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College |Title |Name |Date of appointment ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kingshurst |Principal |Valerie Bragg |January 1988 Macmillan |Principal |John Paddick |January 1989 Djanogly |Principal |Matt Andrews |September 1988 Dixon's |Principal |John Lewis |September 1989 Leigh |Principal |Virginia Waterhouse|January 1990 Emmanuel |Principal |Bill Smith |September 1992 Harris |Principal |Lyndon Jones |January 1990 Bacon's |Principal |Peter Jenkins |September 1990 Britschool |Principal |Anne Rumney |January 1990 Brooke |Principal |Gareth Newman |September 1990 Haberdashers' |Director |Roy Baldock |November 1990 Thomas Telford |Headmaster |Kevin Satchwell |January 1991 ADT |Chief Executive |Richard Painter |October 1990 Landau Forte |Principal |Peter Shackleton |September 1990
The only new appointment is that of the principal at Emmanuel college. The appointment or departure of a principal is a matter for the college itself.
Pupil-Teacher Ratios
Mr. Geoffrey Robinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the pupil-teacher ratios for each local education authority in England for (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools, in the years 1990-91 and 1991-92.
Mr. Forth : Pupil-teacher ratios for maintained primary and secondary schools in each local education authority in England in January 1991 are published in statistical bulletin 2/92 which is available in the Library. Information for January 1992 is not yet available.
HEALTH
Ozone
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account she has taken of the implications for health care of continuation of ozone depletion (a) at present rates for 20 years and (b) thereafter at an exponential rate.
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Mr. Sackville : The possibility of long-term depletion of the ozone layer is of serious concern and Government policy remains the earliest possible phasing out of the production of ozone-depleting chemicals. The achievement of this will mean that depletion does not continue at present rates for 20 years.
Exposure to ultraviolet radiation--UV--is an important factor in the number of cases of skin cancer which develop and levels of UV at ground level are influenced by changes of levels of ozone in the stratosphere. However, these are only one factor influencing the numbers of skin cancers. Seasonal variations in solar UV levels and short term variations due to cloud cover and local weather conditions are far in excess of any variations anticipated as a result of ozone depletion. The main risk factor which is believed to account for the increase seen in the incidence of skin cancer is the increased extent to which people expose themselves to the sun. The programme of work following the publication of "Health of the Nation" in July includes work to halt the increase in skin cancers.
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Hydrochlorofluorocarbons
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the effect on human health of continuing production of HCFCs ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : I am advised that while HCFCs do have some ozone- depleting potential, they cause less damage than CFCs even in the short term. Further, HCFCs are, of course, needed to ensure that they are only used where they are vital to replace CFCs. The European Community will therefore be seeking to bring HCFCs under strict control in this month's review of the Montreal protocol.
With regard to the health effects of ozone depletion, I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave him on 19 October 1992 and 30 October 1992 at columns 79-80 and 939 respectively.
Listeria
Mr. Sykes : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to prevent imports of food products contaminated with listeria.
Mr. Sackville : The Food Safety Act 1990 and its subordinate legislation provide a statutory framework to protect the public from food which fails to meet food safety requirements, whatever its origin. We are not aware of any evidence of a problem with listeria contaminated food imports requiring special steps.
Broomfield Hospital
Mr. Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the closure of a ward at Broomfield hospital ; and what action can be taken to reopen the ward.
Mr. Sackville : Broomfield hospital is one of six hospitals which comprise the Mid Essex hospital services NHS trust. Through much greater efficiency, the trust exceeded its contract performance by more than 1,000 cases during the first six months of the current year. As a result ward B8, a general surgical ward, has been closed temporarily as it is not needed to maintain contracted levels of patient treatment.
NHS Trusts
Mr. Robert Ainsworth : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide details of the reason for the delay in the joint trust application by Walsgrave and Coventry and Warwickshire hospitals ; and what assessment he has made of the need to change the legal position in this regard.
Dr. Mawhinney : The decision on Walsgrave and Coventry and Warwickshire's application has been deferred along with two other applications because of the need for the Walsgrave national health service trust to undertake further internal consultation with its staff. Consideration is currenty being given to an amendment to the National Health Service Trusts (Consultation on Dissolution) Regulations 1991.
Mr. Milburn : To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) on 18 May, Official Report, column 63,
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if she will analyse the figures stated for expenditure on establishing NHS trusts into the different categories of expenditure linked in her answer.Dr. Mawhinney : I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave him on 26 October 1992 at columns 478-80 and on 3 November 1992 at column 180 .
Waterlogged Soils (Infant Mortality)
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department has available on links between waterlogged soils and variations in the infant mortality rate ; if she will commission further studies into the theory of such a link ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : The Department has no plans to commission research in this area, although we are always willing to consider suitable proposals.
West Midlands Regional Health Authority
Mr. Conway : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will suspend the chairman of the West Midlands health authority with immediate effect.
Dr. Mawhinney : No. Sir James Ackers has welcomed Sir Roy Griffiths' assistance in looking at management within West Midlands and is working closely with him to ensure arrangements are in place for the most effective management of the health services for the people of the west midlands.
Mr. Burden : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the audits, reports and investigations commissioned by her Department concerning the West Midlands regional health authority or any of its component districts in the past two years ; and if she will itemise (a) those whose final report has been received with dates, (b) those whose draft report has been received with dates and (c) those which have not yet reported.
Dr. Mawhinney : The Department frequently receives a wide range of reports on health and management matters from West Midlands regional health authority, districts and family health services authorities.
Child Care
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her policy on the application of the purchaser/provider split to local authority child care provision.
Mr. Yeo : It is for local authorities to determine the appropriate structure for the delivery of children's services having regard to their child protection duties and the general child care requirements imposed upon them by the Children Act 1989 and associated regulations and guidance.
Royal Northern Hospital
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received on the future of the Royal Northern hospital site in Islington ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : None. The North East Thames regional health authority is currently in discussion with the
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Bloomsbury and Islington district health authority regarding the future ownership and use of the Royal Northern site. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Chessels, the regional chairman, for further information.Medical Audit Commission
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will state (a) the annual budget of the Medical Audit Commission for 1991-92 and 1992-93 and (b) the main categories of its expenditure.
Mr. Sackville [holding answer 29 October 1992] : The medical audit initiative, which was introduced and funded by the Government as part of the national health service reforms, is funded by the NHS Management Executive, health care directorate.
Medical audit has received a substantial investment, which remains necessary to accomplish the major transformation in professional attitudes and working practices which it entails. The sums allocated in the years in question were :
(i) £60 million in 1991-92, and
(ii) £42 million in 1992-93.
A capital allocation was made for two years, ending in 1991-92 for comupters and software. Family health service audit funding has been built into normal allocations from 1992-93. The same will happen to HCHS funding when it has become firmly established, except for about £10 million retained centrally to fund work by the medical royal colleges and others to establish standards of best practice. Most of the money is spent on employing medical audit support staff, a new profession within the NHS which is already demonstrating the potential to make a major contribution to improving patient care. Funds also pay for computers and doctors' time spent organising audit and continuing medical education. The above sums do not include the cost of doctors' time--about a half day a month--spent attending audit meetings.
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NATIONAL HERITAGE
National Lottery
Mrs. Jane Kennedy : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he consulted with the charities in commissioning the consultants GAH Group to advise on aspects of a national lottery on charitable donations ; when he proposes to meet them to discuss the advice ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Brooke : The Government do not as a rule consult third parties before commissioning research advice. I plan to meet representatives from the National Council for Voluntary Organisations next week for general discussions on the national lottery ; and we are continuing consultations with other organisations in the charity and voluntary sector.
Mrs. Jane Kennedy : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he consulted with the football pools companies, in commissioning the consultants GAH Group to advise on aspects of a national lottery on the football pools industry ; when he proposes to meet them to discuss the advice ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Brooke : The Government do not as a rule consult third parties before commissioning research advice. I plan to meet soon representatives from the pools industry for general discussions on the national lottery.
Mrs. Jane Kennedy : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 30 October, Official Report, column 914, where the contract for the research work awarded to GAH Group was advertised ; when it was advertised ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Brooke : Government competitive tendering procedures do not invariably require the advertising of invitations to tender. Selected firms were invited to tender for the contract. The invitation was issued on 24 July 1992, and the contract was let on 10 August.
Pitchford Hall
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will review the current position in relation to Pitchford hall.
Mr. Key : I do not propose to do so.
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SCOTLAND
Murderers
Mr. Gallie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many individuals convicted for murder and sentenced to life imprisonment have been released and thereafter convicted for a further murder since 1985.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 3 November 1992] : A total of four individuals, having been convicted of murder and subsequently released from life imprisonment, have thereafter been convicted of a further murder since 1985.
Appointments
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all the names of public appointments that he has made, giving the period for which the appointment was made, relevant qualifications of the appointees and what remuneration each currently receives.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 2 November 1992] : As the information sought is extensive, I shall provide the hon. Member with a list of those I have appointed since becoming Secretary of State for Scotland and who currently hold their appointments. I am also arranging for copies of the list to be placed in the Library of the House. It shows the body on which they serve, the length of the appointment and, where appropriate, the remuneration. Information on relevant qualifications held, and on appointments, other than those of chairmen and deputy chairmen, is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Home and Health Department
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment has been made of the extent to which the grants awarded by the Home and Health Department are giving value for money ; and if projects are being vetted adequately.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 2 November 1992] : Grants are awarded by the Scottish Office Home and Health Department for many projects falling under that Department's areas of responsibility. In each case, strict guidelines and conditions are laid out relating to the use of grant aid and must be accepted in writing by prospective recipients prior to any funds being advanced. Thereafter, projects are monitored and evaluated on a regular basis throughout the life of the grant aid and, where appropriate, the annual accounts of the recipient bodies are required to be submitted to the Department. Increasingly, grant recipients are being required to produce business plans and are being set performance targets. All these measures serve to assist value-for-money examination and I am content that the projects are being vetted adequately.
NATIONAL FINANCE
Agencies
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list by grade the numbers of staff and their cost for 1991-92 and the estimated figures for 1992-93 for each executive agency for which he is responsible.
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Sir John Cope : The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executives of the Royal Mint, Central Statistical Office, and Valuation Office agencies. A copy of the question has been passed to each and they have been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.
Letter from A. D. Garrett to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 2 November 1992 :
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to respond to your above Written Question concerning the numbers of staff and their cost for 1991-92 and estimates for 1992-93.
The information you require is set out on the attached sheet.
Royal Mint
Numbers Employed and Employment Costs
|1991-92 (Actual) |1992-93 (Estimated)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Staff Costs
a. Wages/Salaries |£16,883,000 |£17,595,000
b. Other employment costs |£3,274,000 |£3,681,000
|------ |------
Total |£20,157,000 |£21,276,000
2. Staff Numbers
a. Industrial |656 |647.5
b. Non-Industrial |384 |379.5
|--- |----
Total |1,040 |1,027.0
Non-Industrial Grade Breakdown
3. Grade |Numbers |Numbers
------------------------------------------------
G3 |1.0 |1.0
G4/5/6 |5.0 |5.0
G7 |11.0 |11.0
SEO/SPTO/SSO |28.0 |27.0
HEO |17.0 |17.0
EO |50.0 |53.0
AO |95.0 |93.5
AA |16.5 |13.5
SPS |1.0 |1.0
PS |6.0 |6.0
Typing Manager |1.0 |1.0
Typists |8.0 |8.0
Telephone Operator |1.0 |1.0
Senior Messenger |2.0 |2.0
Car Driver |3.0 |3.0
Messenger |5.0 |5.0
Cleaner |5.0 |4.5
Curator F' |1.0 |1.0
HPTO/HPO |19.0 |21.0
PTO/PO |79.0 |76.0
HSO |4.0 |3.0
SO |15.0 |15.0
TG1 |1.0 |2.0
P and GSD |3.0 |3.0
Laboratory Assistant |0.5 |0.5
Engraver 2 |5.0 |5.0
Engraver 3 |1.0 |0.0
|-- |---
Total |384 |379.5
Letter from W. McLennan to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 November 1992.
As Chief Executive of the Central Statistical Office I have been asked to respond to your Parliamentary Question of 28 October to the Chancellor of the Exchequer about staff numbers and costs. The attached gives numbers of staff for the CSO by grade and their salary costs for 1991-92, and estimates for 1992-93 as requested. I also enclose a summary of the CSO financial account for 1991-92, and our provision for 1992-93, which show a breakdown of running and capital costs.
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Central Statistical Office staff numbers and costs 1991-92
Grade |1991-92 |1991-92
|Average staff<1> in|Salary costs<2>
|post
|(numbers) |(£s)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grade 1A |1.0 |78,665
Grade 2 |1.0 |59,434
Grade 3 |3.0 |157,748
Grade 4 |1.0 |46,908
Grade 5/6 |22.0 |950.157
Grade 7 |69.0 |2,012,780
Senior Executive Officer |35.5 |886,350
Senior Assistant Statistician/
Assistant Statistician |23.5 |446,252
Higher Executive Officer |139.5 |2,661,887
Executive Officer |277.5 |4,147,744
Administrative Officer |387.5 |3,878,150
Administrative Assistant |65.00 |581,052
Higher Graphics Officer |1.0 |20,446
Graphics Officer |3.0 |53,256
Senior Information Officer |1.0 |23,582
Information Officer |1.0 |19,301
Assistant Information Officer |1.0 |12,411
Mapping and Charting Officer |1.0 |18,588
Librarian |1.0 |18,423
Assistant Librarian |1.0 |10,092
Typing Manager |2.0 |33,243
Senior Personal Secretary |3.0 |51,799
Personal Secretary |22.0 |327,706
Typist |16.0 |158,073
Support Manager III |1.0 |11,101
Support Grade Band I |6.0 |64,690
Support Grade Band II |17.5 |142,415
Proof Reader |- |3,439
Sandwich Students |- |48,644
|------ |------
Total |1,103 |16,924,336
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