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Mr. Eggar : I have seen and considered the paper, a copy of which was handed to me by my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston (Dame J. Knight). We are taking its contents into account along with the other submissions we have received in the context of the coal review.
Mr. Mike O'Brien : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to repeal or amend section 46 of the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946.
Mr. Eggar [holding answer 11 January 1993] : I am considering British Coal's suggestion that this provision be
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repealed, along with all the other evidence to the coal review. We shall shortly publish a White Paper setting out the results of that review.Accountancy Bodies
Sir Michael Grylls : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has received the first annual reports on audit regulation of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants and the Association of Authorised Public Accountants as recognised supervisory bodies under Part II of the Companies Act 1989 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Neil Hamilton : I have now received the first annual reports of these two associations on their activities as recognised supervisory bodies for the regulation of
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company auditors, and have placed copies in the Library. My Department will be discussing the contents of the reports with the bodies.NORTHERN IRELAND
Community Regeneration
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table to show the sums expended under the Community economic regeneration scheme in each year to date and detailing the projects supported and the sources of the funds, showing in each case the amounts, or as much of such information as is readily available to him.
Mr. Atkins : The sums expended on the Community economic regeneration scheme in each year to date and the details of the projects supported are as follows :
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Title |1989-90 |1990-91 |1991-92 |1992-93<1> |Total
|£ |£ |£ |£ |£
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dairy Farm, Belfast |140,411.00 |2,294,559.92|2,467,744.28|40,601.58 |4,943,316.78
North Howard Street, Belfast |145,962.67 |1,505,163.58|1,771,311.17|998,451.68 |4,420,889.10
Ashton Street, Belfast |65,442.69 |315,463.54 |637,434.64 |4,365.05 |1,022,695.92
Bryson Street, Belfast |- |- |613,745.30 |317,898.25 |931,643.55
Shantallow Village, Londonderry |- |- |1,099,774.66|1,784,814.94|2,884,589.60
Inner City Trust Heritage Centre, Londonderry |- |- |- |625,000.00 |625,000.00
Community Enterprise Centre, Creggan, Londonderry |- |- |- |15,692.59 |15,692.59
<1> To date.
Costs are generally shared equally between the International Fund for Ireland and the Department of the Environment (NI).
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table to show the sums expended on the Community regeneration initiative special project in each year to date ; on which projects they were spent ; and what were the sources of the funds, showing in each case the amounts or as much of such information as is readily available to him.
Mr. Atkins : The sums expended on CRISP in each year to date and the projects where the money was spent are as follows :
CRISP town |1990-91 |1991-92 |1992-93<1>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coalisland
Cornmill |12,557.39 |330,079.28 |486,445.41
Fireclay Works |- |11,213.11 |319,805.28
Weaving Factory |153,529.75 |113,894.65 |9,300.53
Carrickmore
Milestone Centre |8,480.14 |171,795.47 |1,010,739.55
Garrison
Gillaroo Court |- |21,531.29 |25,669.47
Plumbridge |- |6,171.05 |17,564.20
Pettigo
Environmental
Improvements |- |14,675.88 |227.86
Miscellaneous |- |442.50 |-
Derrygonnelly
Environmental
Improvements |4,838.22 |5,230.93 |-
Creamery Complex |- |5,578.07 |51,597.82
Newtownhamilton
Core Project |- |2,038.15 |2,394.05
Belcoo
Environmental
Improvements |- |4,731.79 |17,347.78
Core Project |- |753.82 |34.49
Dromore, County Tyrone
Environmental
Improvements |- |22,566.78 |44,636.90
Workspace Units |2,921.45 |7,448.65 |110,350.78
Cullyhanna
Core Project |- |236.54 |3,311.03
Portaferry
Brewery Yard |- |14,363.87 |55,721.85
Downpatrick
Core Project |- |555.42 |3,220.00
Castlewellan
Core Project |- |14,597.81 |5,828.44
Crossmaglen
Core Project |- |- |8,237.37
Drumquin
Core Project |- |- |6,254.31
Hilltown
The Downshire Arms |- |10,724.74 |132,844.53
Castlederg
Castle Site |23,920.22 |48,495.00 |32,654.00
Environmental
Improvements |5,270.29 |35,196.00 |32,493.00
Cushendall
Core Project |- |- |54.20
Keady
Environmental
Improvements |2,648.72 |4,525.50 |211,140.95
Old Mill |- |32,852.75 |35,560.15
Draperstown
Environmental
Improvements |- |13,789.88 |1,491.50
Belleek
Envirnmental
Improvements |9,029.69 |53,023.95 |3,268.94
Gateway Centre |- |92,518.50 |256,668.12
Stewartstown
Environmental
Improvements |- |4,373.63 |9,240.37
Core Project |- |9.78 |17,935.22
<1> To 8 January 1993.
Costs of the core projects and environmental improvement elements of CRISP are shared equally by the International Fund for Ireland and the Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland.
Information on the urban development grant element of CRISP is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. This grant is for the refurbishment of property and is available throughout Northern Ireland outside Belfast and Londonderry. It is wholly funded by the International Fund for Ireland.
Water Services
Mr. William O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much of the regional rate paid by ratepayers in Northern Ireland is charged for water services, including sewage disposal.
Mr. Mates [holding answer 11 January 1993] : Although the regional rate is based on expenditure by central Government in Northern Ireland on services which in Great Britain would be undertaken by local authorities, it is essentially a general charge and the proceeds are not allocated to the component services. However, since 1991-92 arrangements have been made to appropriate in aid of water services, including sewage disposal, the relevant share of regional rate income to facilitate transition to commercial accounting procedures. In 1992-93 the share of the regional rate appropriated in aid of these services is equivalent to poundage of 65.63 p.
Column 788
PRIME MINISTER
Objectives
Q8. Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Prime Minister what are his objectives for 1993.
The Prime Minister : Among the Government's objectives for 1993 are continuing to work for economic growth and recovery and to encourage British industry to take advantage of the great opportunities offered by the single market ; reducing the burden of regulations on business ; pressing ahead with our reforms of education and health so that there will be more grant-maintained schools and more GP fund holders ; continuing to drive for a return to basics in our schools and to give parents more information about how their children are doing ; extending home ownership ; making further progress with privatisation and contracting out ; strengthening and modernising our police force and cracking down on juvenile offenders in particular ; continuing our reforms as part of the citizens charter programme to give more power to those who use our public services ; bringing forward proposals to develop a network of voluntary help in local communities ; defending Britain's interests in Europe and the world.
Edinburgh Summit
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral statement in answer to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, of 14 December, Official Report, column 34, what was the result of his inquiries relating to Telecom's arrangements for incoming calls at the Meadowbank stadium for journalists attending the Edinburgh summit.
The Prime Minister : I wrote to the hon. Member on 16 December setting out the telecommunications arrangements at the European Council media centre.
Peerages
Mr. William Powell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the peerages created since 30 November 1990, together with the dates on which the holders were introduced.
The Prime Minister : The information is as follows :
Peers created under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876
|Created |Introduced
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lord Browne-
Wilkinson (a
Lord of Appeal
in Ordinary) |1 October 1991 |15 October 1991
Lord Mustill (a Lord
of Appeal in
Ordinary) |10 January 1992 |11 March 1992
Lord Slynn (a Lord
of Appeal in
Ordinary) |11 March 1992 |11 March 1992
Lord Woolf (a Lord
of Appeal in
Ordinary) |1 October 1992 |1 November 1992
Peers created under the Life Peers Act 1958
Lord Waddington |4 December 1990 |4 December 1990
Lord Sterling of
Plaistow |17 January 1991 |23 January 1991
Lord White of Hull |25 January 1991 |29 January 1991
Lord Runcie |1 February 1991 |26 February 1991
Lord Pallumbo |4 February 1991 |12 February 1991
Lord Griffiths of
Fforestfach |5 February 1991 |20 February 1991
Baroness James of
Holland Park |7 February 1991 |19 February 1991
Lord Laing of
Dunphail |8 February 1991 |19 February 1991
Baroness Seccombe |14 February 1991 |26 February 1991
Lord Wolfson of
Sunningdale |26 March 1991 |26 March 1991
Lord Desai |5 June 1991 |18 June 1991
Baroness Hamwee |6 June 1991 |12 June 1991
Lord Marlesford |7 June 1991 |11 June 1991
Lord Judd |10 June 1991 |25 June 1991
Baroness Denton of
Wakefield |11 June 1991 |11 June 1991
Baroness Hilton of
Eggardon |14 June 1991 |2 July 1991
Baroness Mallalieu |19 June 1991 |19 June 1991
Lord Hollick |20 June 1991 |25 June 1991
Baroness O'Cathain |21 June 1991 |3 July 1991
Lord Renfrew of
Kaimsthorn |24 June 1991 |9 July 1991
Lord Mackay of
Ardbrecknish |26 June 1991 |26 June 1991
Lord Skidelsky |15 July 1991 |17 July 1991
Baroness Perry of
Southwark |16 July 1991 |16 July 1991
Lord Cheshire |17 July 1991 |24 July 1991
Lord MacFarlane of
Bearsden |29 July 1991 |15 October 1991
Lord Craig of
Radley |30 July 1991 |16 October 1991
Lord Rix |27 January 1992 |12 February 1992
Lord Prentice |30 January 1992 |12 February 1992
Lord Rodgers of
Quarry Bank |12 February 1992 |25 February 1992
Lord Wilson of
Tillyorn |14 February 1992 |15 July 1992
Lord Wakeham |24 April 1992 |28 April 1992
Baroness Chalker of
Wallasey |24 April 1992 |23 April 1992
Lord Taylor of
Gosforth |27 April 1992 |29 April 1992
Lord Roger of
Earlsferry |29 April 1992 |29 April 1992
Baroness Thatcher |26 June 1992 |30 June 1992
Lord Finsberg |27 June 1992 |13 July 1992
Lord Parkinson |29 June 1992 |7 July 1992
Lord Healey |29 June 1992 |1 July 1992
Lord Owen |30 June 1992 |8 July 1992
Lord Howe of
Aberavon |30 June 1992 |1 July 1992
Lord Lawson of
Blaby |1 July 1992 |6 July 1992
Lord Merlyn-Rees |1 July 1992 |7 July 1992
Lord Howell |2 July 1992 |9 July 1992
Lord Moore of
Lower Marsh |3 July 1992 |6 July 1992
Lord Tebbit |6 July 1992 |9 July 1992
Lord Younger of
Prestwick |7 July 1992 |14 July 1992
Lord Amery of
Lustleigh |8 July 1992 |8 July 1992
Lord Walker of
Worcester |8 July 1992 |21 June 1992
Lord Archer of
Sandwell |9 July 1992 |14 July 1992
Lord Ashley of
Stoke |10 July 1992 |13 July 1992
Lord Eatwell |14 July 1992 |19 October 1992
Lord Weatherill |14 July 1992 |15 July 1992
Lord Ewing of
Kirkford |17 July 1992 |26 October 1992
Lord Geraint |18 July 1992 |27 October 1992
Lord Stewartby |20 July 1992 |20 October 1992
Lord Clark of
Kempston |21 July 1992 |28 October 1992
Lord Plant of
Highfield |24 July 1992 |4 November 1992
Lord Archer of
Weston-Super-
Mare |27 July 1992 |20 October 1992
Lord Ridley of
Liddesdale |28 July 1992 |28 October 1992
Baroness Jay of
Paddington |29 July 1992 |21 October 1992
Lord Williams of
Mostyn |30 July 1992 |26 October 1992
Lord Braine of
Wheatley |10 August 1992 |2 November 1992
Lord Cooke of
Islandreagh |11 August 1992 |3 November 1992
Lord Barber of
Tewkesbury |12 August 1992 |2 November 1992
Lord Hayhoe |21 August 1992 |3 November 1992
Lord Gilmour of
Craigmillar |25 August 1992 |4 November 1992
Lord Elis-Thomas |18 September 1992|27 October 1992
Squatting
Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Prime Minister if he will transfer responsibility for squatting as an issue to the Department of the Environment.
Treasury (Advice to Ministers)
Mr. Bennett : To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to market- test the provision of advice to Treasury Ministers.
The Prime Minister : The provision of advice to Treasury Ministers is one of the Treasury's core functions and there are no plans for it to be market tested.
London
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Prime Minister what machinery of government deals with London affairs.
The Prime Minister : Government Departments deal with issues within their areas of responsibility. The Cabinet sub-committee on London co- ordinates their policies. The 32 London boroughs and the corporation of the City of London are responsible for local government services in London, with joint arrangements where these are necessary.
Ministerial Committees
Mr. Richard Shepherd : To ask the Prime Minister if he will update the list of ministerial standing Cabinet committees published in May 1992 to include a list of those ad hoc ministerial committees established since the formation of his Government.
The Prime Minister : I will publish an updated list shortly.
Travellers
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Prime Minister where the responsibility lies for caravan site provision for the traditional travelling community.
Column 791
The Prime Minister : The Caravan Sites Act 1968 requires local authorities in England and Wales to provide accommodation on caravan sites for travelling people staying in or resorting to their areas. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, local authorities have a discretionary power to provide sites for travelling people.
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Prime Minister what provisions exist to improve access to state services for the traditional travelling community.
The Prime Minister : In England and Wales, the Department for Education and the Welsh Office respectively provide grant support to local education authorities to help them improve the attendance of traveller children at school and meet their particular educational needs. General medical and hospital services are available to travellers on the same basis as to the rest of the population and health authorities are expected to take account of travellers' needs when planning services. In addition, the Department of Health is funding a number of special schemes aimed at meeting the day-to-day needs of such groups as single rough sleepers, families in bed-and-breakfast accommodation and traveller families.
In Scotland, education and health services for travelling people are under regular review by the Secretary of State's advisory committee on travelling people. In Northern Ireland, a document published in November 1992 by the advisory committee on travellers reviewed progress on travelling people's access to services. A consultation process is in train.
Cabinet Papers
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister what is the reason for withholding release of certain Cabinet papers and departmental papers on the royal family and Cyprus beyond 30 years.
The Prime Minister : Records relating to these matters are considered for release after 30 years in the normal way in accordance with the provisions of the Public Records Acts 1958 and 1967. Any which are deemed to require protection for longer than 30 years are either closed under section 5(1) or retained in Departments under section 3(4) of the Public Records Act 1958 in accordance with the criteria published in the Government's response to the Wilson Committee report "Modern Public Records", Cmnd. 8531.
Government of Scotland
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Prime Minister what he has done since April 1992 to take stock of how Scotland is governed ; when he plans to announce his proposals for the future ; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : I am examining a wide range of aspects of the governance of Scotland and have had fruitful discussions with numerous people in Scotland representing many walks of life and political viewpoints. Once the review is complete, the Government will announce the results to the House.
Column 792
Bed-and-breakfast Accommodation
Mr. Pike : To ask the Prime Minister if he will take steps to investigate the incidence of poor nutrition and ill health among families living in bed-and-breakfast accommodation ; and what representations he has received on this subject.
The Prime Minister : There is evidence concerning the association between ill-health and adverse social circumstances, but little to identify specific causes of this, particularly the role of nutrition. Indeed, the nutritional content of the diets of people of all incomes is remarkably similar. A balanced diet with more bread, cereals, seasonal vegetables and fruit, and fewer fatty foods can be cheaper than a less healthy diet. The Nutritional task force set up to help implement the White Paper "Health of the Nation" will seek ways to improve the promotion of healthy eating.
Labour Statistics
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Prime Minister if he will direct the Secretary of State for Employment to discontinue replying to hon. Members' questions over regional unemployment by referring them to the NOMIS data base in the Library ; and if he will make it his policy that the information requested should be published in the Official Report.
The Prime Minister : I endorse the procedure followed by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Employment, which is to refer hon. Members to NOMIS when more than 10 figures are asked for. The introduction of this procedure was announced, in answer to a parliamentary question, by the then Secretary of State for Employment, on 19 October 1990. This was done only after extensive consultation with both sides of the House and with the then Speaker. The procedure does not result in withholding information and does not deny hon. Members the opportunity of asking questions about unemployment or other labour market issues. NOMIS is a public data base, which can be accessed through a terminal in the House of Commons Library. It provides an open and an efficient way of publishing statistics, which I welcome under the citizens charter. The Official Report has never been a statistical digest.
Council of Europe
Mr. Jopling : To ask the Prime Minister whether he has made any changes to the composition of the United Kingdom delegation for the 44th Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
The Prime Minister : With effect from 1 February 1993 my hon. Friend the Member for Ravensbourne (Sir J. Hunt) and my noble Friend, Lord Newall will become representatives on the delegation and my hon. Friend the Member for Hayes and Harlington (Mr. Dicks) and my noble Friend, the Earl of Dundee, will become substitutes. My hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Mr. Jessel) has resigned from the delegation.
Engagements
Sir Peter Tapsell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 14 January.
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 14 January.
Column 793
The Prime Minister : This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.
Coreper
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister what changes took place in the operation of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to the European Council during the United Kingdom presidency of the European Council.
The Prime Minister : None, other than that the chair was taken by the British representative.
NATIONAL FINANCE
Village Halls
Mr. Nigel Jones : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans his Department has to standardise the financial controls on loans given to village halls under different Government schemes ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nelson : There are no plans to standardise the financial controls on loans given to village halls under different Government schemes. However, the Government keep these schemes under review.
Cars (Taxation)
Mr. Olner : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the yield in 1991-92, and what is the latest estimate of yield in 1992-93, from (a) petrol duty, (b) DERV duty, (c) vehicle excise duty, (d) VAT on petrol and derv sales, (e) VAT on vehicle sales and (f) car tax.
Sir John Cope : Information on the outturn yield in 1991-92 and the projected yield in 1992-93 is provided in the table :
|1991-92 Outturn £ |1992-93 Forecast £
|billion |billion
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Petrol duty |8.0 |8.3
DERV duty |2.8 |2.8
Vehicle excise duty |2.9 |3.2
VAT on petrol and derv |1.6 |n.a.
VAT on vehicles sales |2.7 |n.a.
Car tax |1.2 |0.5
No direct figures are available for the VAT spent on petrol and DERV and on vehicle sales. The table contains estimates of the outturn on total VAT yield that can be attributed to these items on the basis of national accounts data on expenditure. For petrol and DERV the VAT estimate covers only consumers' expenditure--the yield from business expenditure is highly uncertain because the majority of businesses can reclaim the VAT paid as input tax. The relevant data are not available for 1992-93.
The 1992-93 forecasts for car tax have been revised to take account of abolition of the tax in November 1992.
Column 794
HOME DEPARTMENT
IRA Bombing Campaign
12. Mr. Trimble : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes he intends to make in the structure and operations of police forces in England and Wales to counter the current Irish Republican Army bombing campaign.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : I consider that the existing operational arrangements for dealing with terrorism are satisfactory.
Safer Cities
13. Mr. Duncan-Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the main achievements of his Department's safer cities initiatives ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Brazier : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many safer cities projects have been established ; and what assessment he has made of their effectiveness.
Mr. Jack : There are currently 20 safer cities projects which through a partnership approach have delivered over 2,800 crime prevention projects many of which, as the latest safer cities progress report shows, are now delivering effective reductions in both crime levels and the fear of crime.
Prison Population
14. Mr. Grocott : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest estimate of the prison population.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The prison population in England and Wales on Wednesday 13 January was 41,134, including 273 prisoners in police cells.
EC Presidency
15. Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on what was achieved by his Department during the United Kingdom presidency.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : We made progress on a wide range of interior and justice issues including immigration and asylum policy, police co- operation, action to combat drugs, and judicial co-operation. The meetings of Immigration and Trevi Ministers on 30 November and 1 December reached agreement on a number of issues, notably in relation to various aspects of asylum policy and member states' practices regarding expulsion.
In addition, at a special meeting of Interior and Justice Ministers held on 18 September, it was agreed to establish a joint group of police and judicial experts to report within six months on the organisation and structures of the Mafia and other international criminal organisations.
Asylum Applications (Europe)
16. Mr. Ian Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of asylum applications from European countries were successful in the last year for which figures are available ; and what was the figure for the EC as a whole.
Column 795
Mr. Charles Wardle : The large majority of recent asylum applications from the former Yugoslavia are still under consideration. Of applications from other central and eastern European countries that were decided in the period January to November 1992, 3 per cent. were recognised as refugees under the 1951 UN convention and granted asylum. We do not have corresponding information on the outcome of such applications to other EC member states.
Press Office
17. Ms. Lynne : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 9 December, Official Report , columns 662-64 , what progress has been made in his review of his Department's press office's procedures for handling inquiries about individual inquiries.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : I have completed the review and am satisfied that, under existing procedures, there is no question of my press office divulging personal details of any individual who has not sought to publicise his own dealings with my Department. I propose to continue this policy while reserving the right to stop silly and unfounded rumours.
Police (West Yorkshire)
18. Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police are available for duty on the beat in (a) West Yorkshire and (b) the Pudsey division.
Mr. Charles Wardle : I understand from the chief constable that a total of 2,834 officers out of the present force establishment are available for patrol duties. The corresponding figure for the Pudsey sub- division is 128.
Bombing (Manchester)
19. Mr. Eastham : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional measures his Department has taken to assist Greater Manchester police following the bombing in central Manchester on 3 December.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : Operational responsibility for the investigation of the terrorist incidents in central Manchester on 3 December rests with the Greater Manchester police, who are able to draw on any assistance which they might require from the Metropolitan police anti- terrorist branch. I have every confidence that, as in the investigation of other forms of crime, the police are well equipped to carry out this responsibility.
Rave Parties
20. Mr. Adley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to increase the power of local authorities to levy charges and set conditions for the holding of rave parties ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Charles Wardle : We have no plans to make any changes to the present arrangements governing the licensing of such events by local authorities.
Column 796
Police (Northumbria)
21. Mr. Jack Thompson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he plans to meet representatives of the Northumbria police authority to discuss manning levels.
Mr. Charles Wardle : My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State met representatives of Northumbria police authority on 10 December to discuss resource matters of concern to them. Staffing levels were included in those discussions.
Young People (Recidivism)
22. Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to deal with the problem of recidivism in young people ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jack : The Government are concerned about recidivism generally. In particular, we believe that more could and should be done to deal with the problem of persistent offending by what appears to be a comparatively small number of juvenile offenders. We are therefore looking urgently and critically at the existing legal and administrative arrangements for responding to juvenile offending.
Sunday Trading
Mr. Milligan : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans for consultation on Sunday trading.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary said in his statement on 26 November that we are consulting the Shopping Hours Reform Council and the Keep Sunday Special Campaign about how to reflect their models for reform of the law on Sunday trading in a Government Bill. My right hon. and learned Friend and I have also met representatives from a number of organisations and retailers to discuss our proposals for reform .
Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Ms. Glenda Jackson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contribution the Home Office makes to the Government's overall strategy for tackling drug and alcohol abuse ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jack : The Home Office works closely with other Government Departments to ensure that the law and the wide range of Government policies for tackling the misuse of drugs and alcohol are effective. It has responsibility for the national criminal intelligence service whose drugs division provides intelligence on drug trafficking to Customs and the police. The Government's drug prevention initiative is co-ordinated by the Home Office through a central drugs prevention unit which manages and supports 20 local drugs prevention teams in England, Scotland and Wales. The work of the prison and probation services includes helping offenders with drug and alcohol problems.
Column 797
Crime Statistics
Mr. Hain : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the percentage increase in crime since 1979 for (a) the United Kingdom, (b) South Wales and (c) Neath.
Mr. Jack : This answer refers only to England and Wales. Between 1979 and 1991 recorded crime in England and Wales has risen at an average rate of 6.3 per cent. In South Wales it has risen by an average of 7 per cent. Crime figures for Neath are not collected centrally.
Unemployed Offenders
26. Mr. Heppell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of offenders appearing before the courts in the east midlands and in England and Wales were unemployed in 1989, 1990 and 1991.
Mr. Jack : Information on the employment status of those appearing before the courts in England and Wales is not recorded centrally.
Ethnic Minorities
27. Mr. Gerrard : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations his Department has received on the level of funding under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 for the financial year 1993-94 and subsequent years.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : We have received a number of representations about future levels of section 11 funding from hon. Members, local authorities and representative organisations, individual schools and colleges, profes- sional associations and other interested bodies such as racial equality councils. My right hon. and learned Friend and I regret that in the present economic circumstances it is not possible to sustain throughout the next three years the level of expenditure that had earlier been planned.
Violent Offences (Women)
28. Mrs. Gorman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the penalties that can be awarded by the courts for violent offences against women.
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