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Mr. Atkins : The numbers of establishments and employees covered by each wages council in Northern Ireland at 31 December 1991 are as follows :
Wages council |Number of |Number of employees
|establishments
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baking |283 |863
Boot and shoe repairing |90 |43
Catering |4,944 |15,240
Clothing manufacturing |149 |9,334
Laundry |16 |306
Linen and cotton handkerchief and household
goods and linen piece goods |45 |1,127
Paper box |15 |725
Road haulage |1,812 |6,506
Sugar confectionery and food preserving |20 |166
|--- |---
Totals |7,374 |34,310
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for 1991, how many establishments were checked in which underpayments were found in wages council trades ; how many checks were carried out and underpayments found by the Northern Ireland wages inspectorate ; how many workers were covered by wages councils and what were the results of the checks ; how many workers' pay was checked by the Northern Ireland wages inspectorate ; and how many establishments were found to be failing to post wages council notices and failing to keep adequate records of wages paid and of hours worked.
Mr. Atkins : The requested information is as follows :
|Number
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Establishments checked where underpayments were found |18
Workers found underpaid |545
Checks carried out by Wages Inspectorate |1,476
Workers covered by Wages Councils |34,310
Workers whose pay was checked |10,458
Establishments failing to post Wages Council notices |94
Establishments failing to keep adequate records of
(a) wages paid |Nil
(b) hours worked |58
Recycling
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to encourage the newspaper and textile industries to promote and participate in recycling schemes ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : The newspaper industry in Northern Ireland already uses recycled material in its production and places newspaper material into the recycling stream. In 1991, following discussions with the Government, the Newspaper Publishers Association agreed to aim to increase the proportion of waste paper used in newsprint consumed in the United Kingdom to at least 40 per cent. by the year 2000.
Plans are in hand to promote recycling and the use of recycled materials amongst business and industry in Northern Ireland and I intend to announce new legislative proposals next year.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Iraq
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to raise, as president of European political co-operation, the status of European Community member states' sensitive technology exports to Iraq at the next EPC meeting.
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Mr. Douglas Hogg : The member states of the European Community in political co-operation regularly discuss issues concerning the control of exports of sensitive technologies. They do not make such exports to Iraq which is under comprehensive, mandatory sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council.
Western Sahara
Mr. Austin-Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the continued occupation by Morocco of western Sahara.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The UN Secretary-General's special representative is continuing his talks on the implementation of the UN settlement plan for the western Sahara. We are giving our full support to those efforts.
Mr. Austin-Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the United Nations proposals for a referendum in western Sahara.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Although some progress has been made, there are still differences over eligibility to vote in the referendum. The UN Secretary-General's special representative has arranged a meeting with tribal chiefs of the western Sahara in Geneva on 30 November to 1 December to see if some of these problems can be overcome.
UNESCO
Sir Russell Johnston : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the United Kingdom has to make an application to rejoin UNESCO.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We continue to monitor carefully progress at UNESCO. There are no plans at present to apply to rejoin the organisation, but we shall keep the situation under review.
Saharaic Arab Democratic Republic
Mr. Austin-Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he intends to meet Mohammed Abdelaziz, president of the Saharaic Arab Democratic Republic during his visit to London.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : No. Mr. Mohammed Abdelaziz will meet a senior official at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Tunisia
Mr. Shersby : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 9 November, Official Report, column 546, what was the substance of the discussions between his Department and representatives of the Tunisian Government on the question of human rights ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The most recent occasion on which we have discussed human rights with the Tunisian Government was in October when our ambassador in Tunis led an EC troika delegation at a meeting with the Tunisian deputy Foreign Minister. This was an
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opportunity for a wide-ranging discussion on human rights and democracy. The troika drew attention to the declaration issued at the Lisbon European Council on relations with the Maghreb. This declaration underlines the importance the EC attaches to respect for human rights.Hong Kong
Sir Thomas Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the exchange of letters between the British Government and the Chinese Government prior to the adoption by the Chinese National People's Congress of the Basic Law for Hong Kong.
Mr. Goodlad : The relevant exchange of letters was published by the British and Chinese Governments on 28 October. A copy of the exchange has been deposited in the Library of the House.
Bosnia
Mr. Milburn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 23 November, Official Report, column 452, if he will list the posts closest to Bosnia and Slovenia where visa applications can be made for entry to the United Kingdom.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Our embassy at Belgrade provides a limited visa- issuing service--for example, to those seeking entry to the United Kingdom on urgent medical or compassionate grounds, and spouses and close family of British citizens.
We plan to provide a visa service at our embassy in Zagreb in Croatia as soon as practical problems including accommodation have been sorted out. As our enbassy in Ljubljana in Slovenia is currently operating out of an hotel, we have no plans, at present, to provide a visa service there.
Our posts in Budapest, Vienna, Sofia, Rome, Florence and Milan all provide visa services. Applications can be made by mail.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Attendance Allowance
Mr. Austin-Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received concerning the 18-month-old constituent of the hon. Member for Woolwich who is HIV positive with AIDS- related symptoms, for whom an attendance allowance claim was made on 20 January.
Mr. Scott : The administration of attendance allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Letter to Mr. John Austin-Walker from Mr. Michael Bichard, dated 26 November 1992.
As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the representations received concerning your 18 month old constituent for whom an Attendance Allowance (AA) claim was made on 20 January.
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I can confirm that an adjudication officer on the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Unit has now considered your constituent's claim and the decision was notified to the child's mother on 24 October. I replied on 24 November to your letter of 1 October to the Minister of State for Social Security and Disabled People and this explains the position in greater detail.I offer my sincere apologies and regret for the delay your constituent has experienced and clearly on this occasion the family have not received the standard of service which they have every right to expect from the Benefits Agency.
As you are aware, from 6 April DLA replaced and extended both AA and Mobility Allowance for people disabled before the age of 65. I wrote to all MPs on 19 October explaining in detail the significant problems encountered with the launch of DLA and the measures introduced to deal with the backlog which resulted.
I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy of this reply will appear in the Official Report. Copies are also being placed in the Library.
Welsh Language
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to ensure that a member of staff within the main disability living allowance unit in Blackpool is able to deal with inquiries from Welsh speakers in the Welsh language.
Mr. Scott : The provision of customer service at the disability living allowance unit is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Letter to Mr. Elfyn Llwyd from Mr. Michael Bichard, dated 26 November 1992 :
As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking whether it will become policy to ensure that a member of staff within the main Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Unit in Blackpool is able to deal with enquiries from Welsh Speakers in the Welsh language. There are no arrangements for a specific member of staff in the DLA unit in Blackpool to deal with such enquiries. However, there are alternatives which ensure that Welsh speaking customers are given a service which ensures that they can use the Welsh language if they choose.
The Cardiff Disability Benefits Centre (DBC) deals with initial DLA claims from Welsh customers and has a Welsh speaker in its Customer Service Section. There is a telephone freeline available in Welsh which can provide free advice and help on all benefit matters including DLA. Within Wales all Districts operate a bilingual policy and the Agency has a Welsh Language and Media Unit.
If a customer contacts the DLA Unit in Blackpool we are able to offer a Welsh translation service for written communications. Telephone inquiries cannot be handled in Welsh but the customer can be referred to the Welsh Free Line, as can enquirers of the free Benefit Enquiry Line. Welsh Language versions of the DLA claim pack and a leaflet covering DLA are available and both are updated regularly.
Should there be a particular case which is causing you concern, please let me know and I will be happy to look into it further. I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report. Copies are also being placed in the Library.
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Social Fund, Newcastle
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the definitions of the high, medium and low-priority groups in use in the Newcastle area for grants and loans within the social fund in April and at the latest available date.
Mr. Scott : The administration of the social fund is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Letter to Mr. Jim Cousins from Mr. Michael Bichard, dated 26 November 1992 :
As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Social Fund priorities in Newcastle.
Social Fund Officers (SFOs) decide the overall priority of individual applications by looking at all the circumstances of the case. They are obliged to take account of guidance issued by the Secretary of State for Social Security, and by the District Manager acting as Area Social Fund Officer (ASFO).
Guidance on priorities issued by the Secretary of State is in the Social Fund Guide which is in the Library.
The ASFO is required to provide guidance as to what priority should generally be afforded to certain categories of items, or in the case of grants, circumstances. The guidance is drafted so as not to interfere with the SFO's duty to consider the priority of individual items in light of the particular circumstances of the applicant. As the ASFO only suggests levels of priority in his guidance, it follows that there can be no definition of priorities as such.
I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy of this reply will appear in the Official Report . Copies are also being placed in the Library.
Occupational Pensions
Mr. Bowden : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to promote new EC legislation on the
transferability of occupational pensions during the Government's presidency of the European Commission.
Miss Widdecombe : During the United Kingdom presidency of the Council of Ministers we have tabled a resolution which, if adopted by the Council, seeks the implementation of measures which recognise that workers should be able to move between member states without undue loss of occupational pension rights. The resolution gives as examples of methods by which rights may be protected, both preservation and revaluation in the member's existing scheme, and transfers to a scheme in the other member state.
The resolution calls on member states to investigate whether other obstacles to the mobility of workers existing in the occupational pensions field and, if so, how they can be removed. It calls on the Commission to report on measures taken by member states and to consider whether further action is required.
Personal Pensions
Mr. Dewar : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made for the take-up and cost to the Exchequer of the proposed 1 per cent. additional rebate for personal pension holders in 1993 -94
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and for subsequent years ; and if he will publish figures separately for (a) people who already have an appropriate personal pension, (b) people newly contracting out into a personal pension scheme, (c) men and (d) women.Miss Widdecombe : This measure, which will cost the national insurance fund an estimated £165 million in 1994-95 will benefit in the region of 2 million appropriate personal pension holders aged 30 and over. There is nil cost in 1993-94 because payments are made after the end of the relevant tax year. The 2 million holders are estimated to comprise 1.5 million men at a cost of £135 million and 0.5 million women at a cost of £30 million. The cost and split between men and women are estimated to be broadly similar in subsequent years until a new rebate structure is implemented. This is expected to be in 1996-97.
The measure is designed to ensure that appropriate personal pensions remain attractive across the age range for the majority of current holders. We anticipate that in the relevant years there will continue to be about 5 million appropriate personal pension holders.
National Insurance
Mr. Dewar : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of social security expenditure was met by national insurance contributions for each year since 1979 ; what are the planned figures for 1992-93 and 1993-94 ; and if he will make a statement about future trends.
Miss Widdecombe : The available information is in the table.
Year |Per cent. ------------------------------ 1978-79 |67.5 1979-80 |65.7 1980-81 |66.2 1981-82 |63.0 1982-83 |59.8 1983-84 |58.6 1984-85 |54.6 1985-86 |53.9 1986-87 |53.6 1987-88 |53.2 1988-89 |53.9 1989-90 |54.4 1990-91 |55.0 1991-92 |54.5 1992-93 |52.9 1993-94 |52.3 1994-95 |51.7 Notes: 1. The percentages refer to expenditure met from the National Insurance Fund. 2. Figures for 1978-79 to 1990-91 are outturn; 1991-92 is estimated; 1992-93 onwards are plans contained in the Departmental Report 1992 (Cm 1914). 3. Income to the National Insurance Fund comes from several sources, predominantly employers' and employees' National Insurance Contributions, investment income and in certain years a Treasury Supplement.
Mr. Dewar : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the surplus or deficit in the national insurance fund for each financial year since 1979 ; and what is his estimate for the current year and for 1993-94.
Miss Widdecombe : The information requested is given in the table.
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Year |Surplus |Deficit
|£'000 |£'000
----------------------------------------
1979-80 |535,302 |-
1980-81 |411,698 |-
1981-82 |- |991,008
1982-83 |- |23,004
1983-84 |580,379 |-
1984-85 |373,674 |-
1985-86 |315,514 |-
1986-87 |413,942 |-
1987-88 |1,580,654|-
1988-89 |3,081,188|-
1989-90 |- |61,669
1990-91 |1,484,717|-
1991-92 |- |3,455,556
1992-93 |- |4,659,000
1993-94 |- |4,827,000
Notes:
1. All figures represent the difference
between income and outgo within the
year.
2. Figures for 1992-93 and 1993-94 are
estimated.
Source: Government Actuary's
Department.
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Mr. Dewar : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which benefits have been transferred since 1979 to the consolidated fund from the national insurance fund.
Miss Widdecombe : Expenditure on industrial injuries benefits was transferred to the consolidated fund from 1 April 1990. Additionally, from that date new arrangements were introduced whereby the costs of statutory sick pay and statutory maternity pay were reimbursed to the national insurance fund from the consolidated fund.
Mr. Dewar : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what saving for the national insurance fund has been achieved by transferring out expenditure on each benefit transferred to the consolidated fund, in each year since 1979 in cash terms and as a percentage of the national insurance fund ; and what are the corresponding estimates for 1992-93 and 1993-94.
Miss Widdecombe : The information is in the table :
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1. |2. |3. |4. |5.
Year |Industrial injuries|Percentage of the |Statutory sick pay |Percentage of the
|benefits |national insurance |and statutory |national insurance
|fund |maternity pay |fund
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990-91 |584,622 |1.70 |1,268,000 |3.68
1991-92 |675,300 |1.95 |1,055,000 |3.04
1992-93 |677,000 |2 |1,071,000 |3
1993-94 |700,000 |2 |1,093,000 |3
Notes:
1. The figures in columns (2) and (4) are expressed as percentages of total receipts to the National Insurance Fund.
2. Figures for 1992-93 and 1993-94 are estimated.
Sources: Government Actuary's Report on the Social Security Bill 1992 (Cm 2097) and the Government's Expenditure Plans
1992-93-1993-94 (Cm 1914).
3. The figures shown in column (5) in respect of Statutory Sick pay and Statutory Maternity Pay are equivalent to the
amounts of reimbursement from the Consolidated Fund to the National Insurance Fund.
Mr. Dewar : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what sums have ben paid for each of the years since 1979 from general taxation into the national insurance fund, expressed in cash terms and as a percentage of the national insurance fund, and for what reasons in each case.
Miss Widdecombe : The information is in the table.
Year |Sum paid into NI |As a percentage of|Reason
|fund in £000 |the NI fund
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979-80 |2,343,000 |17.62 |<1>-
1980-81 |2,848,000 |17.79 |<1>-
1981-82 |2,433,000 |14.27 |<1>-
1982-83 |2,591,000 |13.36 |<1>-
1983-84 |2,807,000 |13.31 |<1>-
1984-85 |2,597,000 |11.74 |<1>-
1985-86 |2,163,000 |9.21 |<1>-
1986-87 |2,412,000 |9.52 |<1>-
1987-88 |2,135,000 |7.81 |<1>-
1988-89 |1,653,000 |5.54 |<1>-
1989-90 |- |- |-
1990-91 |1,268,000 |3.68 |<2>-
1991-92 |1,055,000 |3.04 |<2>-
1992-93 |1,071,000 |3.00 |<2>-
1993-94 |1,093,000 |3.00 |<2>-
<1>Treasury Supplement.
<2>Reimbursement of the costs of Statutory Sick Pay and Statutory Maternity Pay.
Note: The figures for years 1992-93 and 1993-94 are based on estimates.
Source: GAD.
Christmas Bonus
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 19 November, to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Wallace) Official Report, columns 367-68, on the subject of the Christmas bonus, what are the differences in calculation resulting in different figures in his answer and in a letter to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Maidstone (Miss Widdecoombe), dated 23 November.
Miss Widdecombe : The figures quoted in my reply of 19 November to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Wallace) at columns 367-68, reflected the level of the Christmas bonus if it had been increased annually in line with prices since 1974. The figures given in my letter to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford reflected the level if the bonus had been increased annually in line with prices since 1972.
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HEALTH
Column Ozone
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research work is currently undertaken by her Department on the effect of sustained decreases of total column ozone upon levels of non-melanoma skin cancers and eye cataracts.
Mr. Sackville : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 19 October at column 80. Ultraviolet radiation (UV) monitoring undertaken by the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) has indicated no significant departures from the expected norms since measurements began in 1988. The Medical Research Council is currently conducting basic research into the mechanisms of UV related carcinogenesis. In addition, the NRPB has established an advisory group to examine the scientific literature on health hazards from UV. The Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) proposes to give advice on further research needs once the NRPB advisory group has reported.
St. George's Hospital, Tooting
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many registered general nurses have recently passed their examinations at St. George's hospital, Tooting ; and how many have been offered employment as nurses at that hospital ;
(2) what was the number of nursing vacancies at St. George's hospital, Tooting, on 16 November.
Mr. Sackville : This information is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Dr. Enid Vincent, the chairman of Wandsworth health authority, for details.
Deregulation
Mr. Sproat : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will list the main measures increasing regulation in any area for which her Department has responsibility, which her Department has caused to be put into effect since 9 April ;
(2) if she will list the main measures of deregulation, or simplification of regulation, which her Department has carried out, or caused to be carried out, since 9 April ;
(3) which Minister in her Department is responsible for the oversight of deregulation of regulatory matters which fall within the responsibility of her Department.
Mr. Sackville : I have responsibility for the oversight of deregulation issues.
From April 1992, a new simplified application procedure for the change of ownership of a medicinal product licence has been in place. Although there have been no other significant deregulatory measures, in considering new proposals, the Department--where
appropriate--reviews the regulatory burdens that might be placed on businesses to ensure that they are strictly proportionate in perceived risks.
There have been no measures increasing the regulatory burden on businesses since April.
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Clinical Performance
Dr. Wright : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the variation in clinical performance in relation to a range of treatments among different hospitals, units and clinicians ; and whether she will make available the evidence for publication.
Dr. Mawhinney : Each year the Department publishes a set of health service indicators which provide comparative information on a wide range of health service activities within each health authority in England. The indicator set contains data on a selected range of clinical treatments within each authority and this information is discussed with regional health authorities in the context of preparing and implementing the annual corporate contracts. The health service indicators are made available free to every health authority and a set is placed each year in the Library.
Community Health Councils
Dr. Wright : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to undertake a review of the role of community health councils.
Dr. Mawhinney : Community health councils have been given an important role in enabling the public interest to be represented in relation to local national health service services. How that role can best be fulfilled continues to be the subject of consideration at local, regional, and national level.
Medicines Control Agency
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 30 October, Official Report, columns 943-44, what has been the cost to the Exchequer of the director and chief executive of the Medicines Control Agency's visit to Washington, USA on 18 May.
Dr. Mawhinney : The administration of the Medicines Control Agency is a matter for its chief executive, Dr. Keith Jones. I have asked the chief executive to reply to the hon. Member.
Letter to Mr. Martin Redmond from Dr. K. Jones, dated 27 November 1992.
The Secretary of State for Health will have advised that your recent Parliamentary Question will be answered directly by the Chief Executive of the relevant agency. I give below the response for the Medicines Control Agency :
PQ 2082 Page 2129
The Medicines Control Agency is funded by fees paid by applicants for product and other licences and from current licence holders. There was, therefore, no cost to the exchequer from my visit to Washington in May.
Yorkshire Regional Health Authority
Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the contributions made in the public consultation exercise run by Yorkshire regional health authority concerning the proposed merger of Kirklees, Dewsbury and Calderdale health authorities into one new health authority.
Dr. Mawhinney : We have no plans to do so. We shall however take all comments into account before reaching a decision on this proposal and when this is announced set out fully the reasons for the conclusions.
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