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Imodium syrup 0.2mg/ml

Imodium syrup 1mg/5ml (half strength)

Imodium syrup 1mg/5ml half dose

K.L.N. suspension

KAO-C mixture junior

KAO-C suspension adult

Kaodene suspension

Kaolin and morphine mixture BP

Kaolin compound powder BPC 1963

Kaolin light (solid) BP

Kaolin mixture BP

Kaolin mixture paediatric BP

Kaonorm suspension


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Kaopectate suspension 1.03g/5ml sugar free

Lomotil liquid 2.5mg/5ml sugar free

Lomotil liquid 2.5mg/5ml sugar free (2.5ml dose)

Lomotil liquid sugar free (half strength)

Lomotil tablets (2.5mg)

Loperamide hydrochloride capsules 2mg

Loperamide hydrochloride powders 1mg

Maws K.L.N. suspension

Sulphurated potash and kaolin capsules 20/200mg

The quantity required, and therefore the price, per day will vary depending on the clinical needs of the patient.

PRIME MINISTER

Engagements

Sir Peter Tapsell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 18 March.

Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 18 March.

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.

European Court of Human Rights

Dr. Godman : To ask the Prime Minister which Departments of State have had to defend themselves at the European Court of Human Rights over the past 12 years ; what pronouncements were made by the Court in these cases ; and what changes in procedures, or other steps were instituted by Her Majesty's Government as a result.

The Prime Minister : The judgments against the United Kingdom since 1981 are as follows :


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Date                                   |Name of the Case                      |Government                            |Court's finding                       |Government action                                                            

                                                                              |Department                                                                   |where appropriate                                                            

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

13 August 1981                         |Young, James and Webster/             |Employment                            |Violation                             |Legislation introduced                                                       

                                       |Closed Shop                                                                                                                                                                                       

22 October 1981                        |Dudgeon/                              |Northern Ireland Office               |Violation                             |Legislation introduced                                                       

                                       |Homosexuality in Northern                                                                                                                                                                         

                                       |Ireland                                                                                                                                                                                           

5 November 1981                        |X/                                    |Home Office                           |Violation                             |Legislation introduced                                                       

                                       |Right to have                                                                                                                                                                                     

                                       |detention reviewed                                                                                                                                                                                

25 February 1982                       |Campbell and Cosans/                  |Scottish Office                       |Violation                             |Legislation introduced                                                       

                                       |Corporal punishment                                                                                                                                                                               

                                       |in schools                                                                                                                                                                                        

25 March 1983                          |Silver and Others/                    |Home Office                           |Violation                             |Prison Rules amended                                                         

                                       |Prisoners' correspondence                                                                                                                                                                         

28 June 1984                           |Campbell and Fell/                    |Home Office                           |Violation                                                                                                           

                                       |Prison Boards of Visitors                                                                                                                                                                         

24 August 1984                         |Malone/                               |Home Office                           |Violation                             |Legislation introduced                                                       

                                       |Telephone tapping                                                                                                                                                                                 

27 May 1985                            |Asbingdane/                           |Health and Social Security            |No violation                                                                                                        

                                       |Access to court for mental                                                                                                                                                                        

                                       |patient                                                                                                                                                                                           

28 May 1985                            |Abdulaziz, Cabales and                |Home Office                           |Violation                             |New immigration rules                                                        

                                       |Balkandali/                                                                                                         |introduced                                                                   

                                       |Immigration                                                                                                                                                                                       

21 February 1986                       |James and Others/                     |Environment                           |No violation                                                                                                        

                                       |Leasehold reform                                                                                                                                                                                  

8 July 1986                            |Lithgow and Others/                   |Trade and Industry                    |No violation                                                                                                        

                                       |Shipbuilding                                                                                                                                                                                      

17 October 1986                        |Rees/                                 |Home Office/                          |No violation                                                                                                        

                                       |Private life and right to marry       |Health and Social Security                                                                                                                                 

                                       |General Register Office                                                                                                                                                                           

24 October 1986                        |Agosi/                                |Customs and Excise                    |No violation                                                                                                        

                                       |Confiscation of Krugerrands                                                                                                                                                                       

2 March 1987                           |Monnell and Morris/                   |Lord Chancellor's                     |No violation                                                                                                        

                                       |Appeal proceedings                                                                                                                                                                                

2 March 1987                           |Weeks/                                |Home Office                           |Violation                                                                                                           

                                       |Discretionary lifer                                                                                                                                                                               

8 July 1987                            |O. H. W. B and R/                     |Health and Social Security/           |Violation                             |Legislation introduced                                                       

                                       |Parental access                       |Lord Chancellor's                                                                                                                                          

27 April 1988                          |Boyle and Rice/                       |Scottish Office                       |Violation                                                                                                           

                                       |Prisoners' complaints                                                                                                                                                                             

28 November 1988                       |Brogan and Others/                    |Home Office/                          |Violation                             |Derogation                                                                   

                                       |Detention under PTA                   |Northern Ireland Office                                                                                                                                    

30 March 1989                          |Chappell/                             |Lord Chancellor's                     |No violation                                                                                                        

                                       |Anton Pillar Order                                                                                                                                                                                

7 July 1989                            |Gaskin/                               |Health and Social Security            |Violation                             |Legislation to be introduced                                                 

Access child care records                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

7 July 1989                            |Soering/                              |Home Office                           |Potential violation                                                                                                 

                                       |Extradition US                                                                                                                                                                                    

21 February 1990                       |Powell and Rayner/                    |Transport                             |No violation                                                                                                        

                                       |Aircraft noise                                                                                                                                                                                    

28 March 1990                          |Granger/                              |Scottish Office                       |Violation                             |Practice Note                                                                

                                       |Scottish legal aid                                                                                                                                                                                

30 August 1990                         |Fox, Campbell and Hartley/            |Northern Ireland Office               |Violation                             |Legislation changed                                                          

                                       |Arrest under Emergency                                                                                                                                                                            

                                       |Provisions Act                                                                                                                                                                                    

30 August 1990                         |McCallum/                             |Scottish Office                       |Violation                             |Change in Prison Standing                                                    

                                       |Prisoner's correspondence                                                                                           |Orders                                                                       

27 September 1990                      |Cossey/                               |Home Office                           |No violation                                                                                                        

                                       |Private life and right to marry       |General Register Office                                                                                                                                    

25 September 1990                      |Thynne, Wilson and Gunnell/Home Office|Violation                             |Change in legislation                                                                                               

                                       |Discretionary Lifers                                                                                                                                                                              

30 October 1991                        |Vilvarajah/                           |Home Office                           |No violation                                                                                                        

                                       |Asylum                                                                                                                                                                                            

26 November 1991                       |Observer, Guardian and Sunday         |Treasury Solicitor's                  |Violation                                                                                                           

                                       |Times/                                                                                                                                                                                            

                                       |Spycatcher                                                                                                                                                                                        

25 March 1992                          |Campbell/                             |Scottish Office                       |Violation                             |Change in Prison Standing                                                    

                                       |Prisoners' correspondence                                                                                           |Orders                                                                       

16 December 1992                       |Edwards/                              |Home Office                           |No violation                                                                                                        

                                       |Fair trial                                                                                                                                                                                        

(Where no Government action is shown in response to the Court's finding of a violation, this is because the judgment hinged on the individual circumstances of the case and no legislation or procedural changes were found to be         

necessary.)                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Political Parties (Funding)

Mr. Winnick : To ask the Prime Minister if he will introduce legislation whereby political parties represented in the House would be required to publish detailed annual accounts of their finances.


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Mr. Rogers : To ask the Prime Minister if he will introduce legislation to require political parties to disclose funds held abroad and to disclose the source of those funds.

The Prime Minister : I have no plans to do so.


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Mr. Rogers : To ask the Prime Minister if he will introduce legislation to prevent the use of back-to-back loans from offshore companies to political parties in the United Kingdom.

The Prime Minister : The various ways in which funds may be remitted to the United Kingdom were considered in a consultative document issued by the Inland Revenue in 1988 "Residence in the United Kingdom--The Scope of United Kingdom Taxation for Individuals". This included proposals for changes in the tax treatment of non-domiciled individuals who are resident in the United Kingdom. In the light of the responses received, including a representation from the hon. Member's own party, it was announced that the Government did not intend pursuing these proposals on 15 March 1989 at columns 501-2 .

South Africa

Mr. Rogers : To ask the Prime Minister what steps the Government are taking to investigate shipments of United Kingdom arms to South Africa in the period 1980 to 1991.

The Prime Minister : The Government have no reason to make any investigations at the present time. If there is any evidence to support allegations that United Kingdom arms have been shipped to South Africa unlawfully, it should be passed on to the appropriate authorities.

Public Services, Gloucestershire

Mr. Spearing : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement concerning public services in Gloucestershire.

The Prime Minister : I am satisfied that the local government finance settlement that the House approved on 3 February 1993 will enable authorities if they are efficient, including Gloucestershire, to provide a good level of services in 1993-94.

Honours

Ms Hoey : To ask the Prime Minister how many advisory committees there are advising on suitable recipients for honours ; who are their members ; and when they last met.

The Prime Minister : My honours recommendations are my personal responsibility. Any advice given in formulating these recommendations is confidential.

Taxation

Mr. Rogers : To ask the Prime Minister what studies were proposed by the board of Inland Revenue into the tax position of overseas owners of United Kingdom assets between the years 1984 and 1987 ; what action was taken ; and what information relating to these studies was disclosed to officials of the Conservative party.

The Prime Minister : In 1988 the Inland Revenue issued a consultative document "Residence in the United Kingdom--The Scope of UK Taxation for Individuals". This included proposals for changes in the tax treatment of non-domiciled individuals who are resident in the United Kingdom. In the light of the responses received, including a representation from the hon. Member's own party, it was announced that the Government did not intend pursuing these proposals on 15 March 1989 at columns 501-2 .


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Civil List

Mr. Gordon Prentice : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 5 March, Official Report , column 306 , if he will bring forward legislation to amend the Civil List Audit Act 1816 to ensure that the accounts and reports on how civil list payments are spent are published and presented to Parliament.

The Prime Minister : As I explained to the House on 11 February 1993, at column 1116, I have no plans to change the audit arrangements for the civil list.

India (Detainees)

Mr. Madden : To ask the Prime Minister what representations he made to the Indian authorities during his recent visit about the case of David Ward and Steve Hillman, detained in India ; and if he will make a statement.

The Prime Minister [holding answer 15 March 1993] : I raised the case of David Ward and Stephen Hillman during my recent visit to India and have written to the Indian Home Minister to follow up. I made clear our concern at the long period they had spent in detention and urged that they should either be charged or released. I am glad to say that charges against David Ward and Stephen Hillman were dropped by the Indian authorities. They returned to London on 17 March.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

Public Bodies

Dr. Wright : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many appointments to the public bodies listed in "Public Bodies" for his Department were made from names supplied by the public appointments unit ; and if he will list them.

Mr. Curry : Our officials regularly consult the public appointments unit for names of suitable, qualified candidates for public appointments. Of the appointments made by my right hon. Friend since 1 April 1992, three were made from names supplied by the public appointments unit.

Fish

Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set up an inquiry into the current disparity between the wholesale price of fish and the price being paid for fish and fish products by the consumer.

Mr. Curry : No. I do consider, however, that dialogue is needed between catchers and processors. A feature of the present market situation appears to be that United Kingdom catchers are landing fish which are not wanted by processors and attract low prices, while processors continue to pay higher prices for supplies from third country sources. Catchers and processors should have a mutual interest in working to develop a more rational use of resources and to encourage a revival of customer demand.

Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider setting up a Fisheries


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Council to bring together all sections of the United Kingdom fishing industry and fisheries ministers to develop a co -ordinated approach to the management and conservation of United Kingdom fisheries.

Mr. Curry : Existing arrangements already ensure a co-ordinated approach between Departments, and my colleagues and I have regular contacts with the industry on a range of issues. In addition, I hope shortly to launch a series of in-depth dialogues on technical measures involving all parts of the United Kingdom industry together with our scientists and administrators.

Rabbits

Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what application has been made for a veterinary products licence to produce a vaccine for viral haemorrhagic disease in rabbits for the United Kingdom market.

Mr. Soames : One such application was submitted and subsequently withdrawn during 1992. Although officials in the veterinary medicines directorate are holding discussions with that applicant and with other companies, no further application has been received.

Agriculture Council

Mr. Lidington : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 16 and 17 March ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gummer : I represented the United Kingdom at the meeting of the Agriculture Council on 16 and 17 March, together with my hon. Friend the Minister of State.

The main issue on the Council's agenda was a further discussion of the Commission's farm price proposals for 1993-94. No decisions were possible, in the absence of the European Parliament's opinion. But, at my strong urging, the Council and Commission made a declaration that it would not be appropriate to bring linseed into the set-aside arrangements for 1993-94. This removes the damaging and unnecessary uncertainty that linseed growers had been facing as a result of the Commission's proposals.

To avoid milk quotas expiring at the end of the month, the Council agreed provisionally to roll them forward for 1993-94 at their existing levels. The Council also declared that the milk co-responsibility levy would be abolished as from 1 April 1993, as part of its decisions on the price package as a whole.

The French Government requested the Council to approve national assistance for their sheep producers, whose returns they believed to have been adversely affected by imports. I made it clear that I would only agree in exchange for an assurance that the French Government would take all necessary steps to secure the free flow of goods, particularly fish, within the single market. The French Minister of the Interior has promised that his Government would do this : and that instructions to this effect had gone to the prefectures concerned.

Along with several other members of the Council, I pressed the Commission to bring forward measures to protect the welfare of animals in transit, and the Commission agreed to do so.


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Live Animals Directives

Ms Walley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made with European directives on live animals ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Soames : New Community rules for the protection of animals during transport came into force on 1 January 1993. Commission proposals are awaited on further detailed measures including rules on feeding, watering and rest intervals, and vehicle standards. In their absence national rules continue to apply and we have set the maximum feeding and watering interval at 15 hours for all livestock journeys.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Tourism

10. Mr. Gordon Prentice : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what studies his Department has undertaken into the development of tourism in Northern Ireland ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Atkins : In 1989 the Department published a strategic review of the industry and it has, in conjunction with the Northern Ireland tourist board, also commissioned reports by consultants on the employment and wealth-creation opportunities of tourism and the quality of tourist accommodation.

Prescription Charges

11. Mr. O'Hara : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on prescription charges in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Hanley : Prescription charges are the same throughout the United Kingdom, and in Northern Ireland nine out of 10 items on prescription are dispensed free, as opposed to eight out of 10 in Great Britain, which means that 60 per cent. of the population receive exemption against 50 per cent. in Great Britain.

Hospitals

12. Rev. Martin Smyth : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will undertake a regional review of hospital provision in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Hanley : The Government have already set out their policy for hospital services in their regional strategy for health and personal social services which was published in November 1991. Boards are working with this policy framework in drawing up their plans for hospital services.

Employment Discrimination

13. Mr. Alan W. Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the workings of the mechanisms in Northern Ireland to attempt to eliminate problems of employment discrimination betweeen Catholics and Protestants.

Mr. Atkins : The Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989 set up the Fair Employment commission and the Fair Employment tribunal. It also placed new statutory


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responsibilities on employers including a requirement to register with the commission, to monitor the composition of their work forces and to review their employment practices and procedures at least every three years. I am pleased to report that the commission and the tribunal are working well and employers have complied with their requirements to a very satisfactory degree.

Anglo-Irish Agreement

14. Mr. McFall : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Irish Foreign Minister on the issue of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

Sir Patrick Mayhew : The Irish Foreign Minister, Mr. Spring and I last met at the Anglo-Irish intergovernmental conference in London on 3 February and I shall be meeting him again at a further meeting of the conference next week. Both the British and Irish Governments remain fully committed to the Anglo-Irish Agreement. We have also made clear that we would be prepared to consider a new and more broadly based agreement or structure if this can be arrived at through direct discussion and negotiation between all of the parties concerned.

Security

15. Rev. Ian Paisley : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland.

20. Mr. Cyril D. Townsend : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on security in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Mates : I refer the hon. Gentleman and my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to the right hon. Member for Lagan Valley (Mr. Molyneaux).

Play Care

16. Ms Hoey : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what initiatives are in place to support the expansion of out-of-school play care in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Atkins : The Training and Employment Agency is considering the need for a scheme similar to that announced for Great Britain on 16 December. The agency has been in close contact with the Employment Department and will be circulating a discussion paper to interested parties through the Playboard organisation.

President Clinton (Representative)

17. Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent representations he has received concerning the proposals made by President Clinton of a representative to examine and comment upon inter- community relations in Northern Ireland and relations with the Republic of Ireland ; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Patrick Mayhew : This has been raised by hon. Members in the House and in correspondence. The US Administration have made clear that they fully support the talks process.


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Inter-party Talks

18. Mr. Sykes : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the future of inter-party talks in the Province.

19. Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the latest talks he has held with the Irish Government about the future of Northern Ireland.

21. Mr. Winnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the latest position regarding talks over Northern Ireland.

Sir Patrick Mayhew : I refer hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Staffordshire (Mr. Fabricant).

Transport Links

22. Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to improve transport links between business locations in Northern Ireland and the port of Dover to facilitate exports by Northern Ireland businesses.

Mr. Atkins : A programme of improvements to Northern Ireland's ports, airports, road and rail systems commenced in 1989. The programme's main aim is the improvement of Northern Ireland's transport links with Great Britain and the continent. It will run until the end of this year by which time some £180 million will have been spent, of which £120 million is being contributed by the European Community through the Northern Ireland transportation operational programme. Northern Ireland businesses will benefit from the enhancements to the region's road and rail networks and ports and airports.

Glass-fronted Fires

23. Mr. A. Cecil Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received about problems relating to glass-fronted fires in Housing Executive houses.

Mr. Atkins : The Government have received representations from Members of Parliament, a general practitioner and a private individual. These representations were concerned mainly about possible effects on health. The most recent representations to the Department were in October 1991.

Homelessness

24. Ms Quin : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are currently homeless in Northern Ireland ; and what action the Government are taking to provide accommodation for the homeless.

Mr. Atkins : It is not possible to give a figure for the total number of homeless people in Northern Ireland at any specific point in time. However, I am advised by the chief executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive that at 5 March 1993 the number of households living in temporary accommodation secured for them under the homeless provisions of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988 was 370.

The Housing Executive has statutory responsibility for dealing with homelessness, and arranges both temporary


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and permanent accommmodation throughout Northern Ireland. Its housing selection scheme gives top priority particularly to families accepted as homeless. In addition, the Housing Executive and other local bodies provide extensive advice to those who are homeless, or are threatened with homelessness.

Balance of Trade (Republic)

25. Mr. Ian Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the balance of trade between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in the latest year for which figures are available.

Mr. Atkins : The information requested is not available from United Kingdom Government sources. However, I refer my hon. Friend to tables 9A and 9B of Trade Statistics (December 1991) published by the Central Statistics Office, Dublin, a copy of which is in the Library.


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