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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 7 December 1992
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Equal Opportunities
Ms. Eagle : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he is taking to ensure an equal representation of women on the Bench.
Mr. John M. Taylor : The Lord Chancellor's policy is to appoint to judicial office those best qualified, regardless of sex, ethnic origin, political affiliation or religion. Without prejudice to this overriding principle, the Lord Chancellor has stressed publicly, and will continue to do so, that he would like to see more female legal practitioners who are suitably qualified appointed to the judiciary. The composition of the judiciary at any one time must inevitably reflect the composition of the legal profession within the relevant categories of age and seniority, but, as the proportion of women at these levels in the profession increases, so this is likely to be reflected on the Bench. Two women have been appointed to the High Court Bench this year and women are being appointed in greater numbers at other levels of the judiciary. The Lord Chancellor has ensured appropriate flexibility, for example related to women who have taken career breaks. He has asked that women candidates be included, wherever possible, in the list of those under consideration for appointment. He has co- operated with the Bar in research into sex equality at the Bar and in the judiciary, and will be studying the resultant findings and recommendations. Women represent 45 per cent. of the lay magistracy and the Lord Chancellor's aim is to achieve equality of sittings between male and female magistrates.
Contract Law
Mr. Higgins : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proposals he has to implement the recommendation of Law Commission report No. 174 on privity of contract law and estates ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John M. Taylor : The Lord Chancellor is actively considering the recommendations of the Law Commission on this subject and hopes to be able to make an announcement about this report in the near future.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Extradition (Ireland)
31. Mr. Peter Atkinson : To ask the Attorney-General when he last met his Irish counterpart ; and what matters were discussed concerning extradition.
The Attorney-General : The last meeting on this subject took place in Dublin on 21 and 22 July this year. It is not the practice to comment on the detail of our discussions.
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Ministerial Responsibilities
32. Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the division of his work between his role as Law Officer and his other governmental responsibilities.
The Attorney-General : As Attorney-General I am the principal legal adviser to the Government. I also act, wholly independently of the Government, to enforce the law on behalf of the general community in the public interest.
Sunday Trading
33. Mr. Michael : To ask the Attorney-General what is his current advice to local authorities on the enforcement of the legislation governing Sunday trading.
The Attorney-General : I informed the House on 11 May in answering questions from the hon. Member for Cardiff, Central (Mr. Jones), at columns 367-68, that local authorities can still issue summonses or seek injunctions. It is for them to consider what action to take in a particular case.
Serious Fraud Office (Staff)
34. Mr. Skinner : To ask the Attorney-General what is the current number of staff in the Serious Fraud Office ; and what productivity targets have been set.
The Solicitor-General : The Serious Fraud Office presently employs 132 permanent staff as well as additional temporary staff to meet the varying demands of its caseload. Ninety-one police officers are on attachment.
The main performance target is that the period between the acceptance of a case and its transfer or committal to the Crown court should not exceed 12 months.
Crown Prosecution Service (Vacancies)
35. Mr. Fabricant : To ask the Attorney-General how many vacancies there are in the Crown prosecution service for solicitors.
The Solicitor General : The Crown prosecution service currently has 159 vacancies for lawyers out of a total requirement of 2,256
Chancellor's Tenant
Mr. John Morris : To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the application of paragraph 25 of "Questions of Procedure for Ministers" to the civil case involving the Chancellor of the Exchequer ; and when Law Officers were informed of the case.
The Attorney-General : My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has already informed the hon. Member for Dunfermline, East (Mr. Brown) in a letter of 30 November which has been placed in the Library, of his approach to my predecessor.
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NATIONAL HERITAGE
BBC (Restructuring)
10. Mr. Fabricant : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment he has made of the effect of his proposals to restructure the BBC outlined in the Green Paper on the programme output of the corporation.
Mr. Brooke : Our discussion document set out options, but we cannot reach decisions about the BBC's future structure until we are clearer about the services it is to provide.
Football Stadiums
11. Mr. John Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received regarding the implementation of the Taylor report ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Brooke : My predecessor announced the outcome of the Government's review of its all-seater policy in July. Since then, I have received several letters from hon. Members and from members of the public, and on 26 November my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State met bodies representing football supporters to hear their views. I have no plans to relax the all-seater requirement further.
Sports Clubs (Rating)
12. Mr. Rooney : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make it his policy to introduce mandatory rate relief for non-profit-making sports clubs.
Mr. Key : No. The present arrangement providing for local authority discretion means that each case can be considered on its merits.
Wootton Creek
13. Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the discoveries made in Wootton Creek as a result of funding by his Department.
Mr. Key : The Wootton survey project is still in its early stages, but it is already demonstrating the existence of important prehistoric and later remains in the inter-tidal zone, relating to the use of the coast by maritime trading communities of the Norman, Saxon and medieval periods.
National Lottery
Mr. O'Hara : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what estimate he has made of the effect of a national lottery on the revenue raised by the Treasury on the football pools industry.
Mr. Brooke : Matters pertaining to Government revenues are properly a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Estimates of the effects of the national lottery on the level of pools' turnover are subject to a series of hypotheses. I am aware of the understandable concerns on Merseyside and am looking forward to a meeting next week with the Pools Promoters Association.
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Mr. John Carlisle : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what discussions have taken place between himself and the Sports Council on the funds available for sport from a national lottery.
Mr. Brooke : I have not discussed this subject specifically with the Sports Council, although officials have discussed with the council funds likely to be available for sport.
Mr. Hall : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is his estimate of the revenue that will be raised for the Exchequer through the introduction of a national lottery.
Mr. Brooke : That will depend upon the size of the national lottery's turnover, and on taxation. The prime purpose of the national lottery is to raise additional funds for the arts, sport, the heritage and charities.
Arts Funding
Mr. Spring : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what value he attaches to the arm's-length principle of arts funding ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Key : The "arms-length" principle, under which Governments distance themselves from decisions on the funding of individual arts organisations, has been a central part of arts funding since the creation of the Arts Council. I expect to see it continued.
Public Libraries
Mr. Rowe : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many books were borrowed from public libraries in the latest year for which figures are available.
Mr. Key : The total number of books borrowed from public libraries in 1990-91--the last year for which figures are available--was 563 million, of which 475 million of these were lent from public libraries in England, for which I am responsible.
Overseas Visitors
18. Mr. Sproat : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many overseas visitors came to the United Kingdom in 1991.
Mr. Key : There were an estimated 16.7 million visits to the United Kingdom by overseas residents in 1991. Inward tourism was badly affected by the Gulf war and the recession in the USA. The number of visitors so far this year is well up on 1991, though not quite back to the record levels achieved in 1990.
Rugby League Football
19. Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on his policy towards rugby league football.
Mr. Brooke : The Government's role is to support and encourage the development of and participation in all sports including rugby league football, with most funding channelled through the Sports Council. In 1991- 92, the council provided £160,000 to the British Amateur Rugby League Association--BARLA--and £12,000 to the
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English Schools Rugby League for the development of the game. In addition, over the past year, the Foundation for Sport and the Arts has provided over £750,000 in grant aid to rugby league clubs for various projects.The Sports Council is also involved in promoting discussions between BARLA and the Rugby Football League about the creation of a unified governing body for rugby league.
Regional Orchestras
20. Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement concerning support for regional orchestras.
Mr. Brooke : Detailed funding decisions are, of course, the responsibility of the Arts Council and regional arts boards. Support for regional orchestras ranges widely, from the more than £6 million the Arts Council gives the major orchestras to smaller-scale grants to local amateur orchestras.
Broadcasting Green Paper
21. Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received on his Green Paper on broadcasting.
Mr. Brooke : I would refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave earlier today to the question from my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Thurnham).
Libraries and Theatres (Greater Manchester)
22. Mr. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will visit libraries and theatres in Greater Manchester to discuss resources.
Mr. Key : I am always delighted to visit local authorities in connection with my ministerial responsibilities. I have already visited Manchester to see one of its theatres and Chetham's library but would welcome further invitations to libraries and theatres in Greater Manchester. My Department has no direct responsibility for the resources provided for these services, although it must ensure that a comprehensive and efficient library service is provided.
Minority Languages and Cultures
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he last met his ministerial colleagues representing other member states of the European Community to discuss matters relating to the protection and development of minority and indigenous languages and cultures ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Key : Neither my right hon. Friend nor I have met European Community Culture Ministers specifically to discuss the position of lesser- used languages and minority cultures. I last met my EC ministerial colleagues in Brussels when I chaired the Culture Council on 12 November. Lesser-used languages were not on the agenda of that meeting, although mention of minority cultures was made during discussion of a Community-wide campaign to raise public awareness of books and reading which the Danish presidency intends to launch next year. Lesser-used languages and minority cultures were also mentioned, during wider discussions, when I attended a meeting of Culture Ministers under the aegis of the Council of Europe in Paris on 15 and 16 October.
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Fine Arts Heritage
Mr. Carrington : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what proposals he has to strengthen the ability of national institutions to retain the fine arts heritage in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Brooke : My hon. Friend is familiar with the Government's existing policies to encourage the retention of the nation's important works of art. These include the Waverley system of export controls, important tax concessions, and grants to national museums and galleries and to the National Heritage Memorial Fund. These policies continue to assist national museums and galleries to acquire major works by important artists.
Tourist Boards (Finance)
Mr. David Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the percentage of finance in local tourist boards provided by (a) the English tourist board, (b) local government and (c) the private sector.
Mr. Key : Funding for the regional tourist boards for the 1991-92 financial year was :
|Per cent.
----------------------------------------------
(a) English Tourist Board |30.5
(b) Local Authorities |8.5
(c) Private Sector |61.0
Windsor Castle (Fire)
Mr. Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the cost of repairs at Windsor castle.
Mr. Brooke : I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to the question from the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner).
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations the Government received from the Fire Prevention Association concerning the protection of the national heritage from fire ; and what subsequent action was taken in respect of Windsor castle.
Mr. Brooke [holding answer 3 December 1992] : In October 1991 the Fire Protection Association published a report, "Heritage under Fire", on fire safety in historic buildings. The report was published on behalf of the United Kingdom working party on fire safety in historic buildings, on which the Government and English Heritage were represented. No specific subsequent action was taken in respect of Windsor castle, as a comprehensive programme of fire prevention measures had already been set in hand at the castle.
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what contributions he estimates will be forthcoming for the restoration of Windsor castle from (a) the private sector, (b) insurance companies and (c) sources other than public funds.
Mr. Brooke [holding answer 27 November 1992] : It is not possible to make any such estimates at the present time.
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Royal Palaces
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what action the Historic Royal Palaces Agency takes to train and retain craftsmen with skills necessary for the restoration of royal palaces.
Mr. Key : The Historic Royal Palaces Agency does not employ its own craftsmen. The agency's experience is that craftsmen of the highest quality continue to be available in private firms.
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list those royal palaces that have sprinkler systems installed as a fire precaution.
Mr. Brooke [holding answer 3 December 1992] : Sprinkler systems have not been installed as a fire precaution at any of the royal palaces.
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will arrange for full fire safety inspections at all royal residences in receipt of public funds.
Mr. Brooke [holding answer 27 November 1992] : Fire safety inspections are made regularly at each of the occupied royal palaces.
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what has been the total cost to public funds arising from the upkeep of each of the royal residences in each of the last three financial years.
Mr. Brooke [holding answer 27 November 1992] : The resources provided for the maintenance of each of the royal residences over the last three years is as follows :
£ million
|1989-90|1990-91|1991-92
---------------------------------------------------
Windsor Castle |7.1 |9.8 |9.3
Buckingham Palace |3.0 |1.5 |5.2
St. James's Palace |0.8 |1.3 |2.5
Kensington Palace |1.1 |0.3 |0.7
Tourism
Mr. Waterson : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the total expenditure in England on section 4 grants for tourism- related projects in the last full year for which figures are available.
Mr. Key : The expenditure on section 4 grants in England in the 1991 -92 financial year was £600,000.
BBC Archives
Mr. Gorst : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will review the restrictive covenants covering all BBC archives when he is considering the terms under which the BBC's charter will be renewed ; and if he will consider whether amending legislation is necessary to ensure that the provisions of European Community restraint of trade legislation are observed by any interests seeking to impose restraints on the use of BBC archives.
Mr. Brooke : The BBC's contractual agreements are a matter for the corporation. The use of the BBC's
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programme archives and other assets, including the relevance of any EC legislation, is an issue for the debate about the corporation's future.FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
UNESCO
Mr. Gapes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to which programme activities of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation he intends to contribute in the coming year ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : There are no plans at present to contribute in the coming year to any programme activities of UNESCO through its regular budget. However, the United Kingdom retains its membership of certain inter -governmental bodies which come under UNESCO auspices. We expect to contribute to the World Heritage Fund, the inter-governmental Oceanographic Commission, and the universal copyright convention in the forthcoming year.
Colombia
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Colombian Government about the use of children in coal mines in the Boyaca region.
Mr. Garel-Jones : None. We understand that the Colombian authorities, who are well aware of the concern felt in this country, wish to close illegal mines using child labour.
Hong Kong
Sir Thomas Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps were taken, since April 1992, to discuss the extension of democracy in Hong Kong before 1997 with the Chinese Government in advance of the Governor's published statement.
Mr. Goodlad : We have repeatedly told the Chinese side of our wish to see a faster pace of democratisation in Hong Kong by increasing the number of seats in the Legislative Council beyond that envisaged in the Basic Law. But the Chinese position has been that the Basic Law cannot be changed. We and the Governor therefore developed a parallel approach, consistent with the Basic Law. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs briefed the Chinese Foreign Minister on this approach in New York on 25 September, two weeks before the Governor's speech. The Governor sent a message in parallel to senior Chinese officials in Peking.
Visitors' Visas
Dr. Lynne Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the number of appeals in the last 12 months against refusal of visitors' visas to people visiting in order to visit relatives or friends in Birmingham.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The information requested is not centrally recorded and could not be provided except at disproportionate expense.
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Kashmir
Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are his foreign policy objectives with regard to Kashmir ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Our policy is to encourage the Governments of India and Pakistan to agree a means of settling their dispute over Kashmir as provided for in the 1972 Simla agreement ; to emphasise the importance of a genuine political process in Kashmir in which the aspirations of the population in Kashmir can be accommodated, an improvement on human rights there ; and to call for a clear cessation of any support from outside for violence within Kashmir.
Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make further representations regarding the Kashmiri people to the Indian Government.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We take every opportunity to discuss the situation in Kashmir with the Indian Government. They are fully aware of our concerns about human rights abuses by security forces there and the need for a genuine political process within Kashmir.
Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent of the freedom of the press in Kashmir.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We are not aware of any restrictions on access to Kashmir by Indian or foreign journalists, or on their reporting on the situation there.
Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to use opportunities within the United Nations to progress a positive and peaceful solution to the problems of Kashmir.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We do not expect that, given the known positions of India and Pakistan, such opportunities are likely to arise.
Chemical Weapons Convention
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much notice must be provided by states parties before access must be granted (a) to declared facilities and (b) undeclared facilities under the challenge inspection provisions of article IX of the chemical weapons convention.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Under the challenge inspection provisions of article IX of the chemical weapons convention, access must be permitted no later than 120 hours for undeclared facilities, and 100 hours for declared facilities, after notice of inspection has been provided by states parties.
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what allowances have been made for the retention of disabling agents for riot control purposes under the terms of the chemical weapons convention.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Under the terms of the convention, states parties will be entitled to use toxic chemicals for law enforcement, including domestic riot control purposes,
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provided that such chemicals are limited to those not listed in the schedules to the convention and which can produce rapidly in humans sensory irritation or disabling physical effects which disappear within a short time following termination of exposure. States parties will undertake not to use riot control agents as a method of warfare.
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