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Written Answers to Questions

Wednesday 20 January 1993

HOME DEPARTMENT

Juvenile Offenders

Mr. Batiste : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (i) how many juveniles have been convicted of (a) offences against property, (b) assault, (c) taking cars without the owner's consent, (d) driving without a licence and (e) dangerous driving in England in each of the last five years ;

(2) how many juveniles have been convicted of burglary in England in the last five years.

Mr. Jack : The information is given in the table.


Number of juveniles (persons aged 10 to under 17) convicted at all                                                               

courts of certain offences 1987-91)                                                                                              

England                                                                                                                          

Principal offence    |1987             |1988             |1989             |1990             |<1>1991                            

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Offences against property                                                                                                        

Burglary             |10,244           |8,474            |7,060            |6,266            |5,549                              

Theft and handling                                                                                                               

  stolen goods       |19,967           |16,365           |10,013           |9,123            |7,976                              

Fraud and forgery    |436              |357              |317              |243              |214                                

Criminal damage      |1,462            |1,420            |1,072            |1,120            |969                                

                                                                                                                                 

Assault                                                                                                                          

Grievous bodily harm  582               616               565               551               464                                

Actual bodily harm   |2,789            |2,983            |2,863            |2,423            |2,190                              

Assault on constable |259              |240              |233              |232              |192                                

Common assault<1>    |59               |59               |157              |220              |231                                

                                                                                                                                 

Theft or unauthorised taking                                                                                                     

   of a motor vehicle                                                                                                            

Theft                |921              |668              |582              |524              |500                                

Unauthorised taking<2>                  4,919             4,507             4,284             3,861                              

Driving without a                                                                                                                

  licence            |38               |42               |16               |28               |26                                 

                                                                                                                                 

Dangerous driving                                                                                                                

Reckless driving     |76               |113              |169              |214              |288                                

<1> Provisional.                                                                                                                 

<2> Reclassification as summary offences under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (October 1988).                                     

Mr. Batiste : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the number of offences committed by juveniles in England while on bail in each of the last five years.

Mr. Jack : Information is not currently available nationally. However, my Department is presently examining with the police ways in which the extent of offending on bail can be effectively monitored at a national level.

Mr. Batiste : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consult the police authorities on the reform of legislation to permit custodial sentences to be imposed on juvenile offenders.

Mr. Jack : We intend to consult widely, including representative organisations of the police service, before bringing any firm legislative proposals before Parliament.

Mr. Meale : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of offenders in (a) the east midlands, (b) Nottinghamshire, (c) Mansfield and (d) England and Wales were under 21 years in the last year for which figures are available.

Mr. Jack : [holding answer 15 January 1993] : Information for 1991, which is provisional, is given in the tables.


Column 249


Table A                                                                                                                             

Number and percentage of offenders found guilty at all courts and cautioned in the East Midlands region, Nottinghamshire police     

force area                                                                                                                          

and England and Wales by age and type of offences 1991<1>                                                                           

                                 Aged under 21                                               All Ages                               

                                 years                                                                                              

Area/type of offence             Cautioned           Found guilty        Total found         Cautioned Found guilTotal found guilty 

                                                               guilty or cautioned                               or cautioned       

                                |Number   |Per cent.|Number   |Per cent.|Number   |Per cent.|[=100]   |[=100]   |[=100]             

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

East Midlands region                                                                                                                

Indictable offences             |10,868   |69       |9,541    |36       |20,409   |48       |15,782   |26,311   |42,093             

Summary non-motoring offences   |3,081    |59       |6,011    |17       |9,092    |22       |5,226    |36,420   |41,646             

All offences (excluding summary                                                                                                     

  motoring)                     |13,949   |66       |15,552   |25       |29,501   |35       |21,008   |62,731   |83,739             

                                                                                                                                    

Nottinghamshire pfa                                                                                                                 

Indictable offences             |4,353    |67       |3,501    |38       |7,854    |50       |6,452    |9,190    |15,642             

Summary non-motoring offences   |1,040    |66       |2,100    |18       |3,140    |23       |1,573    |11,885   |13,458             

All offences (excluding summary                                                                                                     

  motoring)                     |5,393    |67       |5,601    |27       |10,994   |38       |8,025    |21,075   |29,100             

                                                                                                                                    

England and Wales                                                                                                                   

Indictable offences             |119,424  |66       |115,376  |34       |234,800  |46       |179,885  |335,394  |515,279            

Summary non-motoring offences   |38,649   |39       |63,279   |14       |101,928  |19       |98,880   |450,558  |549,438            

All offences (excluding summary                                                                                                     

  motoring)                     |158,073  |57       |178,655  |23       |336,728  |32       |278,765  |785,952  |1,064,717          

<1> Provisional.                                                                                                                    


Table B                                                                                                    

Number and percentage of offenders found guilty at Mansfield<1> petty sessional division by age and type   

of offence                                                                                                 

1991<2>                                                                                                    

Area/type of offence                Aged under 21                       All ages                           

                                    years                                                                  

                                    Found guilty                        Found guilty                       

                                   |Number           |per cent.        |(= 100 per cent.)                  

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mansfield petty sessional division                                                                         

    Indictable offences            |734              |41               |1,807                              

    Summary non-motoring offences  |418              |18               |2,364                              

    All offences (excluding summary motoring)  1,152  28                4,171                              

<1> Including convictions at the Crown Court where the committing court was Mansfield petty sessional      

division.                                                                                                  

<2> Provisional.                                                                                           

Mr. George Pai

Mr. Dickens : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration is being given to the deportation of Mr. George Pai of Manchester.

Mr. Charles Wardle : Mr. Chan Yee Yau, also known as Georgie Pai, last entered the United Kingdom in breach of an extant deportation order. He was arrested on 9 December 1991 and detained as an illegal entrant with a view to his removal. On 19 December 1991 an application on Mr. Yau's behalf to the divisional court for leave to move for judicial review of the decision to remove him was granted. The case was adjourned pending the outcome of a relevant case then before the European Court of Justice. On 24 December 1991 the court granted an application for bail, and Mr. Yau was released. His case is still pending before the divisional court.

Triads, Manchester

Mr. Dickens : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Manchester on the progress of the investigations into Triad gangs in Greater Manchester.

Mr. Charles Wardle : No. These are operational matters and the responsibility of the chief officer of the Greater Manchester police.

Stabbings

Lady Olga Maitland : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of stabbing there have been in each of the last three years in which the perpetrator has been aged (a) under 16, (b) 16 to 20, (c) 21 to 24 years or (d) other.

Mr. Jack : Information is not collected centrally on the age of the perpetrator in all incidents of stabbing. However, the number of currently recorded homicides in England and Wales where the method of killing was by a sharp instrument is shown by age of suspect for the years 1989, 1990 and 1991 in the following table :


Offences currently recorded as homicide involving a sharp instrument                  

by age of principal suspect                                                           

Age of principal  |1989            |1990            |1991                             

suspect                                                                               

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aged less than 16 |1               |2               |2                                

Aged 16-20        |32              |25              |32                               

Aged 21-24        |34              |35              |29                               

Aged 25 and above |104             |108             |149                              

                  |-------         |-------         |-------                          

Total             |171             |170             |212                              


Column 252

Betting Offices

Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he expects to publish the Licensed Betting Office Regulation 1986 (Amendment) Regulations ;

(2) what consideration is being given to allowing betting offices to open during evening hours.

Mr. Peter Lloyd : I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. and learned Friend gave to a question from my right hon. Friend the Member for Westminster, North (Sir J. Wheeler) on 19 January 1993, at column 141.

Surveillance Equipment

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce restrictions on the manufacture, use and sale of equipment that can be used to eavesdrop on the activities of private individuals.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke : We have no present plans to impose restrictions on the manufacture and sale of equipment that can be used to receive and amplify sound.

As part of their response to the Calcutt review of press self-regulation-- Official Report, 14 January, columns 1067-69--the Government have accepted the case for restrictions on the use of surveillance devices in certain circumstances. We have also accepted the Calcutt recommendations that further consideration should be given to legislation covering the interception of telecommunications, with a view to identifying all significant gaps and determining whether further legislation is needed, and that further consideration should be given to the introduction of a new tort of infringement of privacy.

Mental Illness

Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of persons currently under the supervision of the probation service in England and Wales are considered to be mentally disordered or mentally ill.

Mr. Jack : In 1991, 147 persons conditionally discharged from psychiatric hospitals were under probation service supervision and a total of 911 persons commenced probation orders with a requirement of psychiatric treatment--784 non-residential, 119 residential, eight juvenile non- residential. Information on mental disorder and mental illness in respect of the total probation caseload is not collected centrally.


Column 253

Mr. Sodigar Hussain

Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange for the post in Islamabad to refer the latest entry clearance application by Mr. Sodigar Hussain, date of birth 21 July 1959, to join his wife in the United Kingdom to him for consideration under the review concerning couples with children separated for more than five years ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Charles Wardle : Any further application by Mr. Hussain will be considered by the entry clearance officer under the immigration rules taking account of relevant policy guidance.

Karimjit Singh Chahal

Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now release Karimjit Singh Chahal from Bedford prison ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Charles Wardle : The decision to detain Mr. Chahal is regularly reviewed, but at the present time my right hon. and learned Friend sees no grounds for his release.

Mrs. Hildegarde Biel

Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a decision is to be taken on the application to remain in the United Kingdom by Mrs. Hildegarde Biel--Ref : IMP R63833/5 (S) and PO 17232/92 ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Charles Wardle : We hope to reach a decision shortly, and I will then write to the hon. Member.

Juvenile Crime

Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of the decision of the magistrates court in Leeds to impose a fine on Leeds city council after a child in its care committed a burglary on (a) crime prevention and reduction and (b) the resources available for diverting young people from criminal activity.

Mr. Jack : It would not be appropriate to comment on, or assess the impact of, a decision of the courts in an individual case. Nevertheless, we intend to monitor carefully the effect of the new powers for courts introduced by the Criminal Justice Act 1991 which, inter alia, allow them to make local authorities liable to pay fines and compensation when children in their care commit offences. The purpose of these new provisions, which parallel those which apply to parents, is to ensure that local authorities do all in their power to ensure that children in their care do not commit offences. Local authorities are under a separate duty under the Children Act 1989 to encourage children in their areas not to commit criminal offences.

NATIONAL FINANCE

Whisky

Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the change in (a) duty rate and (b) total duty received on whisky and whiskey in each of the past 15 years.


Column 254

Sir John Cope : The information is as follows :


                     |Estimated duty (£m) |Percentage change in                     

                     |on whisky/whiskey   |duty rate                                

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1977-78              |447                 |0.0                                      

1978-79              |567                 |0.0                                      

1979-80              |572                 |13.7                                     

1980-81              |578                 |14.6                                     

1981-82              |623                 |6.4                                      

1982-83              |478                 |5.0                                      

1983-84              |818                 |1.9                                      

1984-85              |591                 |1.9                                      

1985-86              |714                 |0.0                                      

1986-87              |667                 |0.0                                      

1987-88              |698                 |0.0                                      

1988-89              |682                 |0.0                                      

1989-90              |650                 |10.0                                     

1990-91              |726                 |9.3                                      

1991-92              |730                 |4.5                                      

Civil Servants

Mr. Ancram : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish tables giving for an administrative assistant, an administrative officer, an executive officer, a higher executive officer and a principal UG7 (a) the maximum annual salary on 1 April each year since 1970 and on 1 August 1992 excluding range or performance points, (b) the percentage of the national average wage represented by each figure and (c) the value today of the figures for 1 April 1976, 1 April 1980 and 1 April 1985 if they had been increased in line with (i) the movements in the retail prices index and (ii) the gross domestic product deflator.

Mr. Dorrell : The information is as follows :


                         |Salary<1>       |Percentage of                    

                                          |national average                 

                                          |earnings<2>                      

                         |£                                                 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Administrative Assistant                                                    

1 April 1970             |943             |72.3                             

1 April 1971             |1,037           |73.8                             

1 April 1972             |1,123           |71.7                             

1 April 1973             |1,235           |68.1                             

1 April 1974             |1,456           |71.9                             

1 April 1975             |1,940           |73.1                             

1 April 1976             |1,940           |61.4                             

1 April 1977             |1,940           |56.0                             

1 April 1978             |2,608           |67.0                             

1 April 1979             |2,894           |63.7                             

1 April 1980             |3,155           |57.0                             

1 April 1981             |4,070           |64.7                             

1 April 1982             |4,340           |62.2                             

1 April 1983             |4,584           |61.4                             

1 April 1984             |4,813           |58.1                             

1 April 1985             |5,054           |56.8                             

1 April 1986             |5,357           |55.8                             

1 April 1987             |5,799           |56.1                             

1 April 1988             |6,081           |53.5                             

1 April 1989             |6,324           |50.7                             

1 April 1990             |7,322           |53.5                             

1 April 1991             |8,720           |58.9                             

1 April 1992             |8,790           |55.59                            

1 August 1992            |8,790           |<3>55.5                          

If increased in line with Retail Price Index to 1 April 1992:               

1 April 1976             |6,526                                             

1 April 1980             |6,382                                             

1 April 1985             |7,353                                             

If increased in line with Gross Domestic Product Deflator to 1              

April 1992:                                                                 

1 April 1976             |6,890                                             

1 April 1980             |6,438                                             

1 April 1985             |7,573                                             


                       |Salary<1>       |Percentage of                    

                                        |national average                 

                                        |earnings<2>                      

                       |£                                                 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Administrative Officer                                                    

1 April 1970           |1,253           |96.0                             

1 April 1971           |1,385           |98.5                             

1 April 1972           |1,489           |95.0                             

1 April 1973           |1,601           |88.3                             

1 April 1974           |1,883           |92.9                             

1 April 1975           |2,540           |95.7                             

1 April 1976           |2,540           |80.4                             

1 April 1977           |2,540           |73.4                             

1 April 1978           |3,280           |84.2                             

1 April 1979           |3,627           |79.8                             

1 April 1980           |4,000           |72.2                             

1 April 1981           |5,102           |81.2                             

1 April 1982           |5,421           |77.7                             

1 April 1983           |5,708           |76.5                             

1 April 1984           |5,993           |72.3                             

1 April 1985           |6,293           |70.8                             

1 April 1986           |6,671           |69.5                             

1 April 1987           |7,091           |68.6                             

1 April 1988           |7,555           |66.5                             

1 April 1989           |7,857           |63.0                             

1 April 1990           |9,278           |67.8                             

1 April 1991           |9,983           |67.4                             

1 April 1992           |10,409          |65.7                             

1 August 1992          |10,409          |<3>65.7                          

If increased in line with Retail Price Index to 1 April 1992:             

1 April 1976           |8,544                                             

1 April 1980           |8,092                                             

1 April 1985           |9,155                                             

If increased in line with Gross Domestic Product Deflator to 1            

April 1992:                                                               

1 April 1976           |9,021                                             

1 April 1980           |8,162                                             

1 April 1985           |9,429                                             


                  |Salary<1>       |Percentage of                    

                                   |national average                 

                                   |earnings<2>                      

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Executive Officer                                                    

1 April 1970      |1,835           |140.6                            

1 April 1971      |2,000           |142.2                            

1 April 1972      |2,150           |137.2                            

1 April 1973      |2,288           |126.2                            

1 April 1974      |2,782           |137.3                            

1 April 1975      |3,670           |138.3                            

1 April 1976      |3,670           |116.2                            

1 April 1977      |3,670           |106.0                            

1 April 1978      |4,579           |117.6                            

1 April 1979      |5,043           |111.0                            

1 April 1980      |5,700           |102.9                            

1 April 1981      |7,247           |115.3                            

1 April 1982      |7,700           |110.4                            

1 April 1983      |8,078           |108.2                            

1 April 1984      |8,492           |102.6                            

1 April 1985      |8,917           |100.3                            

1 April 1986      |9,452           |98.4                             

1 April 1987      |9,864           |95.4                             

1 April 1988      |10,755          |94.7                             

1 April 1989      |11,185          |89.7                             

1 April 1990      |12,621          |92.3                             

1 April 1991      |13,605          |91.9                             

1 April 1992      |14,165          |89.4                             

1 August 1992     |14,165          |<3>89.4                          

If increased in line with Retail Price Index to 1 April 1992:        

1 April 1976      |12,345                                            

1 April 1980      |11,531                                            

1 April 1985      |12,973                                            

If increased in line with Gross Domestic Product Deflator to 1 April 

1992:                                                                

1 April 1976      |13,034                                            

1 April 1980      |11,631                                            

1 April 1985      |13,361                                            


                         |Salary<1>       |Percentage of                    

                                          |national average                 

                                          |earnings<2>                      

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Higher Executive Officer                                                    

1 April 1970             |2,392           |183.3                            

1 April 1971             |2,625           |186.7                            

1 April 1972             |2,809           |179.3                            

1 April 1973             |2,961           |163.3                            

1 April 1974             |3,585           |176.9                            

1 April 1975             |4,700           |177.2                            

1 April 1976             |4,700           |148.8                            

1 April 1977             |4,700           |135.8                            

1 April 1978             |5,718           |146.8                            

1 April 1979             |6,233           |137.2                            

1 April 1980             |7,250           |130.9                            

1 April 1981             |9,184           |146.1                            

1 April 1982             |9,758           |139.9                            

1 April 1983             |10,218          |136.9                            

1 April 1984             |10,729          |129.5                            

1 April 1985             |11,263          |126.7                            

1 April 1986             |11,941          |124.3                            

1 April 1987             |12,448          |120.4                            

1 April 1988             |13,458          |118.5                            

1 April 1989             |13,996          |112.3                            

1 April 1990             |15,786          |115.4                            

1 April 1991             |17,017          |114.9                            

1 April 1992             |17,718          |111.9                            

1 August 1992            |17,718          |<3>111.9                         

If increased in line with Retail Price Index to 1 April 1992:               

1 April 1976             |15,810                                            

1 April 1980             |14,666                                            

1 April 1985             |16,386                                            

If increased in line with Gross Domestic Product Deflator to 1 April        

1992:                                                                       

1 April 1976             |16,693                                            

1 April 1980             |14,794                                            

1 April 1985             |16,876                                            


                 |Salary<1>       |Percentage of                    

                                  |national average                 

                                  |earnings<2>                      

                 |£                                                 

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Grade 7                                                             

1 April 1970     |3,902           |299.0                            

1 April 1971     |4,400           |312.9                            

1 April 1972     |4,708           |300.4                            

1 April 1973     |4,908           |270.7                            

1 April 1974     |5,775           |285.0                            

1 April 1975     |7,450           |280.8                            

1 April 1976     |7,450           |235.8                            

1 April 1977     |7,450           |215.2                            

1 April 1978     |8,729           |224.2                            

1 April 1979     |9,515           |209.4                            

1 April 1980     |11,750          |212.2                            

1 April 1981     |15,010          |238.7                            

1 April 1982     |15,948          |228.6                            

1 April 1983     |16,656          |223.2                            

1 April 1984     |17,489          |211.1                            

1 April 1985     |18,363          |206.5                            

1 April 1986     |19,465          |202.7                            

1 April 1987     |20,297          |196.2                            

1 April 1988     |21,936          |193.1                            

1 April 1989     |22,606          |181.3                            

1 April 1990     |24,075          |176.0                            

1 April 1991     |26,121          |176.4                            

1 April 1992     |27,819          |175.6                            

1 August 1992    |<4>28,904       |<3>182.5                         

If increased in line with Retail Price Index to 1 April 1992:       

1 April 1976     |25,060                                            

1 April 1980     |23,770                                            

1 April 1985     |26,716                                            

If increased in line with Gross Domestic Product Deflator to        

1 April 1992:                                                       

1 April 1976     |26,459                                            

1 April 1980     |23,977                                            

1 April 1985     |27,514                                            

Notes:                                                              

<1> National pay scales applying to civil servants outside London.  

<2> Percentages of gross national earnings calculated on the basis  

of figures published in the New Earnings Survey, including overtime 

and allowances.                                                     

<3> Percentage based on the most recent figure available for        

national average gross annual earnings, i.e. as at 1 April 1992.    

<4> Old scale maximum increased by the across-the-board increase of 

3.9 per cent. payable from 1 August 1992. The old scale maximum is  

not a feature of the new pay arrangements introduced for certain    

grades (including Grade 7) on 1 August 1992.                        

KPMG Management Consultants

Ms. Mowlam : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the contracts awarded by his Department to KPMG Management Consultants over the past 12 months.

Mr. Portillo : HM Treasury has awarded two contracts to KPMG Management Consultants over the past 12 months, one for staff appraisal training and a research project.

Third World Debt

Mr. Jon Owen Jones : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost to public funds in (a) 1990, (b) 1991 and (c) 1992 of granting banks tax relief on setting money aside in case of default on debts by third world countries.

Mr. Dorrell : The available information is given in my reply to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 7 December 1992, at columns 471-72.

Child Care

Ms. Harman : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost to the Treasury of tax relief on employer-provided child care in (a) 1990-91, (b) 1991-92 and (c) 1992-93 ; and what are his estimates for the cost in 1993-94.

Mr. Dorrell : The revenue cost of exempting employer-provided child care is estimated to be about £10 million for each of the years 1990- 91, 1991-92 and 1992-93. The revenue cost for 1993-94 would depend on the level of provision.


Column 258

Ms. Harman : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the effect on Treasury revenue in 1993-94 of extending tax relief on employer-provided child care to (a) employer-provided cheques and vouchers for child care and (b) all forms of employer assistance for child care.

Mr. Dorrell : Exempting all existing employer assistance for child care would have a revenue cost, at 1992-93 levels of provision and subsidies, of approximately £5 million. There is insufficient information to subdivide this estimate. We expect that if such a measure were introduced there would be substantial behavioural effects.

Made in UK" Labels (Textile Imports)

Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what investigations he is intending to make into the production of "Made in UK" labels in Serbia and Macedonia which were supplied to Messrs. Dewhursts of Driffield, North Humberside ;

(2) what proposals he has for the examination of tachographs in establishing the source of textile products imported by Dewhursts of Driffield, North Humberside ;

(3) whether he intends to arrange for the interview of vehicle drivers employed or formerly employed by Burlington Ocean Express so as to secure statements on their involvement in the transportation of textile products from Serbia to an Otex-owned factory in Macedonia ; (4) what information he has as to the relationship between Otex of Macedonia and Genex of Serbia ;

(5) what proportion of textile imports for Messrs. Dewhursts held at port in December 1992 were subject to individual examination.

Sir John Cope [holding answer 19 January 1993] : Customs tell me that they have almost completed inquiries in this case and so far there is no evidence to suggest any breaches of sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro. As the case is not yet finalised, it would be inappropriate to comment further.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Disabled People

Rev. Martin Smyth : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many disabled people below the pensionable age are living in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Mates : Estimates derived from the surveys of disability undertaken by the policy planning and research unit of the Department of Finance and Personnel in 1989-90 indicate that, according to the definition used in the survey, there were 96,000 disabled people under pension age in Northern Ireland.

Forestry (Public Access)

Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many public access agreements have been concluded in Northern Ireland in each of the past three years in respect of Forestry Commission holdings sold to the private sector ; and what percentage of total sales these figures represent.

Mr. Hanley : The Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland is responsible for state forestry in


Column 259

Northern Ireland. It has not entered into any public access arrangements in respect of woodland areas disposed of in the past three years. All such disposals during this period were in isolated localities, were small in size and were of no recreational significance.

Local Authorities

Mr. William O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to seek to allow local authorities in Northern Ireland additional powers and responsibilities ; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Patrick Mayhew [holding answer 11 January 1993] : I have no such plans. However, the Government believe that there is considerable scope to transfer greater power, authority and responsibility to locally elected representatives in Northern Ireland and would be willing to give serious consideration to any proposals regarding future arrangements for regional or local government in Northern Ireland which seemed likely to prove widely acceptable. These issues are best considered in the comprehensive context of further political talks.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

Legal Aid

Mr. Bayley : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will estimate the total expenditure on (a) green form assistance, (b) legal aid for civil cases and (c) legal aid for criminal cases that will be authorised in 1993-94 (i) in England and (ii) in the Yorkshire region on the assumption that the current eligibility rules continue to apply and also on the assumption that the new eligibility criteria which were proposed at the time of the autumn statement are introduced on 1 April.

Mr. John M. Taylor : The only estimates available for 1993-94 are those for England and Wales as a whole. For England and Wales it is estimated that following the abolition of contributory green form assistance, £138.7 million will be spent on legal advice and assistance in 1993-94 ; £142.4 million would be spent if there were no changes to financial eligibility. It is estimated that £508.7 million will be spent on civil legal aid in 1993-94 and that £548.2 million would be spent if there were no changes to financial eligibility. The changes will have little effect on total expenditure on criminal legal aid which it is estimated will be £570 million in 1993-94.

Mr. Bayley : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will estimate for England and for the Yorkshire region the number of applications for (a) green form assistance and (b) civil legal aid that will be approved in 1992-93 ; and how many would be eligible under the new rules.

Mr. John M. Taylor : For England and Wales as a whole it is estimated that in 1992-93, a total of 1,461,000 bills will be paid for legal advice and assistance under the green form scheme and that 413,000 civil legal aid certificates will be issued. For the Yorkshire and Humberside region, not including Hambledon, Richmond, Ryedale or Scarborough, it is estimated that in 1992-93, 120,000 bills will be paid for advice and assistance under the green form scheme and that 40,000 civil legal aid


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certificates will be issued. It is not possible to estimate how many of these green form bills would have been paid, or these civil legal aid certificates issued, had the new eligibility limits been in force.

Mr. Bayley : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will estimate for England and for the Yorkshire region the number of applications for (a) green form assistance and (b) civil legal aid that will be approved in 1993-94 (i) on the assumption that the current eligibility rules are unchanged and (ii) on the assumption that the new eligibility criteria proposed at the time of the autumn statement are introduced on 1 April ; and if he will estimate how many of those receiving legal aid under the new criteria would receive less aid in cash terms than they would have received under the old rules.

Mr. John M. Taylor : The only estimates available for 1993-94 are those for England and Wales as a whole. It is estimated that in 1993-94 under the current financial eligibility regulations, 1,548, 000 bills for legal advice and assistance under the green form scheme would have been paid, and that 452,000 civil legal aid certificates would have been issued. Under the new regulations it is estimated that around 1,400,000 green form bills will be paid and 333,000 civil legal aid certificates will be issued. It is not possible to estimate the number of people who will receive less aid in cash terms under the new criteria.

Public Record Office

Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many papers withheld at the Public Record Office have been subsequently released after review by the Lord Chancellor's advisory council in each year since 1979.

Mr. John M. Taylor : The Advisory Council on Public Records has a role in considering and commenting on applications to the Lord Chancellor by Departments for the extended closure of public records, that is, beyond the statutory period of 30 years after their creation. It has never reviewed records after they have been closed.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Physics Departments

Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what response he has made to the representations made to him by the Institute of Physics concerning the maintenance of the dual support system for physics departments not currently considered to be in the top rank.

Mr. Robert Jackson : The president of the Institute of Physics wrote to the chief scientific adviser on 17 November with the institute's views on the forthcoming science and technology White Paper. These included comments on the operation of the dual support system. The chief scientific adviser replied on 27 November thanking him for the institute's comments, which will be considered in preparing the White Paper.

Copies of the institute's comments were placed in the Library of the House on 18 December.


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ENVIRONMENT

Lead Shot

Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress his Department is making in discussions with interested parties concerning development of alternatives to lead shot ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maclean : My Department set up a working group with interested parties on 31 October 1991 to develop a programme for introducing non-toxic shot and phasing-out lead shot in wetland areas. The group has concluded that a target for commercial quantities of non-toxic shot for 12-bore shotguns to be available by September 1995 is feasible. The group intends that the majority of lead shooting over wetlands should be phased-out by September 1997 ; a ban on lead shot could operate from that date. The group will continue to pursue these objectives.

Rough Sleeping

Mr. Hendry : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria are used in assessing applications for grants under the rough sleeping initiative.

Mr. Baldry : Grants under the rough sleepers initiative in central London are given at the discretion of the Secretary of State. Projects are assessed against their value in meeting the policy objectives of the initiative. Capital projects comply with the standards laid down in the Housing Corporation's published schemework procedure guide and the value for money criteria published in the corporation's total cost indicator and grant rate circular.

Mr. Hendry : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the amount of grant received by each organisation under the rough sleeping initiative.

Mr. Baldry : I will write to my hon. Friend about this shortly.

Parliamentary Alternative Energy Group

Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent meetings he has had with the parliamentary alternative energy group ; and what meetings he has planned with the parliamentary alternative energy group in the current year.

Mr. Maclean : My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment attended a reception organised by the parliamentary alternative energy group at the House of Commons on Monday 14 December 1992. He has no plans at present to meet the group this year.

Peatlands

Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to bring forward new measures to safeguard lowland peatlands of nature conservation importance in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Maclean : A working group on peat extraction comprising representatives of the main interested parties is preparing advice for my right hon. and learned Friend.


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The Government strategy for peatlands will be announced after receiving the working group's advice and considering all other relevant information.

Environmental Inspectorates

Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to propose that a meeting of each EC nation's environmental inspectorate will also include the environmental authorities of central and eastern European nations ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maclean : The Government attach importance to improving the quality of inspection through, inter alia, exchanging information and experience. To this end, in November last year, the United Kingdom presidency launched the network of EC environmental enforcement agencies. The value of participation in the network by central and east European countries can be assessed in due course when we have had more experience of how the network is working and taking account of other options that may be available. The Department is already providing some advice and assistance to central and east European inspectorates through the environmental know- how fund.

Contaminated Land

Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in what form he intends to publish the responses received from the first consultation exercise on contaminated land ; if he will place a copy of all responses in the Library ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maclean : We are still considering the way forward on proposals for registers of land which may be contaminated which have been the subject of two consultation exercises. Copies of responses to both consultation exercises will be placed in the Library when we have announced our decisions.

Homelessness

Mr. Hendry : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria are used in assessing applications for grants under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985.

Mr. Baldry : Grant under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985 is given at the discretion of the Secretary of State against criteria set out each year in notes for the guidance of applicants. I have today placed in the Library a copy of the guidance notes for 1993-94.

Mr. Hendry : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the amount of grant received by each organisation under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985 in each of the past three years.

Mr. Baldry : I have today placed in the Library a list showing grants to homelessness voluntary organisations in England under the main section 73 grant programme in 1990-91, 1991-92 and 1992-93.


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Drinking Water (Lead)

Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to introduce World Health Organisation standards for lead in drinking water ; and if he will take steps to eradicate lead from drinking water supplies.

Mr. Maclean : We are considering whether any changes are needed in the light of the revised guidelines that the World Health Organisation is expected to publish later in the year.

Housing, Sandwell

Mr. Snape : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new homes will be provided by Sandwell metropolitan borough authority in 1993-94 ; what is the total provision from central funds which will be received by the authority in support of capital expenditure on housing ; and what capital expenditure he expects the authority to incur next year.

Mr. Baldry : The level of local authority housing capital expenditure in Sandwell in 1993-94, and priorities within the capital programme for that year, are matters for the council to decide in the light of available resources. Sandwell's housing investment programme allocation for 1993-94 is £21,554,000. Further resources for 1993-94 could be made available to Sandwell from housing special programmes.

Car Boot Sales

Mr. Tipping : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to review the planning laws relating to car boot sales.

Mr. Baldry : My Department issued a public consultation paper-- "Temporary Uses of Land, External


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