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Written Answers to Questions
Friday 19 March 1993
DEFENCE
Service Bands
Mr. Colvin : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 5 March, Official Report, column 342, why the band of the Prince of Wales's Own Regiment is not due to deploy with the regiment to Bosnia ; what duties bandsmen of the Cheshire Regiment have carried out in Bosnia ; who will carry out those duties during deployment of the Prince of Wales's Own Regiment ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Bandsmen of the Cheshire Regiment, deployed in Bosnia with the battalion, are being used primarily as medics and drivers. As an integral part of the battalion, the tasking and deployment of the band of the Prince of Wales's Own Regiment is at the discretion of the commanding officer. In this case, he has decided to employ the band on rear party duties as he has sufficient drivers and medics elsewhere in the battalion.
Missiles Programme
Mr. Pike : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about the future of the United Kingdom medium-range surface-to-air missile programme ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Aitken : A number of representations have been received. Work on the evaluation of MSAM tenders was completed last September and we are now assessing the options in the context of our overall defence requirements. No decision has yet been made.
Nuclear Weapons Testing
Mr. Hutton : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what payments have been made by Her Majesty's Government to the United States Government in each year since 1979 in respect of the environmental costs of the British nuclear weapons testing programme ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Aitken : The United Kingdom pays the cost levied by the United States authorities for each test on an individual basis. Included in the costs are payments covering arrangements for the management and disposal of radioactive wastes associated with the test, but none are made specifically in respect of environmental issues. The wastes are disposed of by the United States under recognised procedures.
Military Service
Sir John Hunt : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to make the terms of military service more attractive.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : My Department remains committed to ensuring that the terms and conditions of
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service for the regular and volunteer reserve forces are designed to attract the highly motivated men and women who are required by the armed forces and are seeking a rewarding and challenging career.WEU Reserve Forces
Sir John Hunt : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to co-ordinate policy towards improving conditions for reserve service men among the member states of the Western European Union.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : There is already discussion on and co- ordination of policy towards reserve service men between the United Kingdom and its allies, including the member states of the Western European Union. This takes place under the auspices of the Western European Union, the National Reserve Forces Committee, and the Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers.
Service Housing
Ms Janet Anderson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has about the housing needs of redundant British service men and women returning home from overseas ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : All service personnel selected for redundancy are invited to say where they intend to settle when they leave and what their housing intentions are. The replies from those made redundant in 1992 -93 indicated that some 50 per cent. of personnel already owned their own homes and that the majority (over 75 per cent.) were confident about their housing arrangements. The replies also indicated that resettlement will be spread across the country and that the number of housing applications to individual local authorities is unlikely to be significant. For those with no firm plans for housing arrangements, the joint services housing advice office can provide comprehensive guidance on housing options. We will continue to monitor the situation.
Gulf War
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest assessment of the number of Iraqi (a) military personnel and (b) civilians killed during the Gulf war.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : My Department has no authoritative information on which to assess the number of casualties sustained by Iraq during the Gulf conflict.
Eurofighter 2000
Dr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects a contract to be placed for the development of a laser warner for Eurofighter 2000.
Mr. Aitken : Following a review of the operational requirement, we have concluded that a laser warner is a necessary part of the defensive aids suite for the RAF's Eurofighter 2000 aircraft. Following an international competition, Eurofighter GmbH will be awarding a sub-contract for development of the equipment to GEC-Ferranti. The order, which will be worth nearly £20 million, will support some 100 jobs in the Edinburgh area. At the moment this is a United Kingdom-only requirement, although Spain will be retaining the option to fit the equipment later.
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HOME DEPARTMENT
Public Bodies
Dr. Wright : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. Kenneth Clarke : Details of the appointments for which my Department is responsible which have been made from names supplied by the public appointments unit are not readily available. My Department regularly consults the public appointments unit for names of suitably qualified candidates for consideration for a wide range of appointments.
Departmental Spending
Dr. Wright : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage share of total departmental spending was accounted for by non-departmental public bodies in each year since 1979.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : The percentage of total Home Office expenditure accounted for by grant funding to non-departmental public bodies is as follows :
Mortgage possession
orders<1>
made in Warrington
County Court during
1987-1992
|Number
---------------------
1987 |202
1988 |75
1989 |119
1990 |174
1991 |276
1992 |326
<1> Including
suspended orders
Racehorse Doping
Mr. Meale : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Devon and Cornwall police on the progress of his inquiries into the doping of the racehorse Her Honour ;
(2) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Surrey on the progress of his inquiries into the doping of the racehorse Flash of Straw at Yarmouth in 1992 ;
(3) when his Department was informed about the circumstances surrounding the doping of the racehorses Norwich and Bravefoot at Doncaster in 1990 ;
(4) when his Department was informed about the circumstances surrounding the doping of the racehorse Flash of Straw at Yarmouth in 1992 ;
(5) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of South Yorkshire on the progress of his inquiries into the doping of the racehorses Norwich and Bravefoot at Doncaster in 1990 ;
(6) what proposals he has to amend the law relating to the doping of racehorses for gain ;
(7) when his Department was informed about the circumstances surrounding the recent doping of the racehorse Her Honour.
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Mr. Peter Lloyd : I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to his questions on 15 March at column 43 .
I have no plans to call for reports from the police.
As to the law, there is no offence of illegal doping as such. The question of criminal charges would be a matter for the prosecuting authorities, depending on the circumstances of the case.
Immigration Appeals
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current number of outstanding appeals to the immigration appeals tribunal and the immigration tribunal.
Mr. John M. Taylor : I have been asked to reply.
As of this month, there were 750 applications for leave to appeal outstanding before the immigration appeals tribunal, and 177 appeals. There were 19,077 cases outstanding before the immigration adjudicators ; of those, 11,334 are estimated to be cases where the parties have not yet indicated their readiness to proceed, and 364 cases are estimated to be paper cases, which will not require an oral hearing.
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Departmental Spending
Dr. Wright : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage shares of total departmental spending was accounted for by non-departmental public bodies in each year since 1979.
Mr. John M. Taylor : Figures for the period 1979 to 1983 are not available. The percentage shares of total departmental spending accounted for by non-departmental public bodies in each year since are : 0.85 per cent. in 1983-84 ; 0.65 per cent. in 1984-85 ; 0.71 per cent. in 1985-86 ; 0.8 per cent. in 1986-87 ; 1.15 per cent. in 1987-88 ; 57.88 per cent. in 1988-89 ; 60.93 per cent. in 1989-90 ; 61.93 per cent. in 1990-91 and 60.45 per cent. in 1991-92 the last financial year for which figures are available. The substantial increase from 1988-89 onwards is as a result of the setting up of the Legal Aid Board, which has assumed responsibility from the Law Society for the administration of the legal aid fund. Expenditure in relation to legal aid for 1983-88 is not included in the figures above since this was not expenditure accounted for by an NDPB.
House Repossessions
Mr. Hall : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many house repossession orders were made in the county courts in each year since 1978-79 involving houses in the Warrington South constituency.
Mr. John Taylor : The earliest year for which information is available is 1987. The table shows the total number of mortgage possession orders made in Warrington county court during each year from 1987 to 1992. These figures cover properties throughout Warrington. They do not indicate how many houses have been repossessed through the courts as not all of the orders will have resulted in the issue and execution of warrants of possession. The figures relating solely to properties in the
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Warrington South constituency could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The 1992 figures are provisional and are liable to revision to take account of late amendments.
Mortgage possession
orders<1>
made in Warrington
County Court during
1987-1992
|Number
---------------------
1987 |202
1988 |75
1989 |119
1990 |174
1991 |276
1992 |326
<1> Including
suspended orders
Probate Service
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 26 October, Official Report c. 436- 37, what progress has been made in relation to the improvements in the probate service referred to ; when a report on these improvements will be available ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John M. Taylor : Following the report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of February 1992, a review of the organisation and working methods of the probate service is being undertaken internally. The review is expected to be concluded shortly.
Public Bodies
Dr. Wright : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 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. John M. Taylor : Six of the current appointments made by the Lord Chancellor to bodies listed in "Public Bodies" are people whose names were suggested by the public appointments unit. They are : Mr. M. Acland, Mr. D. Sinker and Ms V. Boakes (Legal Aid Board). Mrs. J. O'Dell OBE (Authorised Conveyancing Practitioners Board). Mr. W. Hyde (Council on Tribunals).
Ms. U. Prashar (Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct).
Embryology
Mr. Jopling : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what delays there have been in producing guidance for the courts by his Department in connection with section 30 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 ; and what steps he is taking to ensure that no further delays are caused in completing the work.
Mr. John M. Taylor : Before the court rules can be drafted the policy in respect of the regulations on which the court rules are based has to be settled. The complexity of this has meant that this has only recently been achieved. Work is now proceeding with a view to the rules coming into force as soon as possible.
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Legal Aid
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many applications have been made in the last two months for legal aid for immigration casework.
Mr. John M. Taylor : The information requested is not available. However, in January and February this year the Legal Aid Board paid 2,358 and 4,100 bills respectively, for work done on immigration and nationality matters under the green form scheme.
ENVIRONMENT
Housing
Dr. Wright : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has under the charter programme for a complaints procedure for tenants, for people on waiting lists and for homeless applicants.
Sir George Young : The council tenants charter sets out how a tenant or an applicant for housing can make a complaint about his or her authority. Complaints can be made by using an authority's complaints procedure or by making representations to their local councillor.
Dr. Wright : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has under the charter programme to guarantee citizens basic rights to housing when in need.
Sir George Young : Local authorities do have a duty under part III of the Housing Act 1985 to secure accommodation for particular categories of homeless household.
Parliamentary Questions
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions in the current Session two or more questions by an hon. Member have been linked together for written answer.
Sir George Young : This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
New Build, Ealing
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 15 March, if he will instruct the Housing Corporation to cease purchasing newly built properties in the London borough of Ealing ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry : The guidelines described in my answer of 15 March are still in place. I have no plans to request the Housing Corporation to vary them. Of the 198 purchases approved in the London borough of Ealing by 26 February, the latest date for which a breakdown by vendor type is available, 18 were new properties purchased from builders or developers.
Environmental Protection Act 1990
Mr. Jenkin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish the consultation paper reviewing the coverage of the controls under part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
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Mr. Maclean : This consultation paper meets a commitment in the White Paper to review the scope of the controls under part I of the Environmental Protection Act. It invites comment on some suggestions for rationalising the coverage of the controls and clarifying certain process definitions in the regulations.
I am looking forward to receiving comments from the wide range of industry and trade associations, environmental groups, and enforcing authorities who are being sent copies.
A copy of the consultation paper has been placed in the Library of both houses.
The consultation paper, entitled "Environmental Protection Act 1990 Part I, review of the prescribed processes and substances regulations", is available from room B350, Romney house, 43 Marsham street, telephone 071 276 8322. Comments are invited by 31 May and should be sent to the same address.
Local Government Finance
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that the resources available within capping limits to any one local authority are equal to the total sum of its respective standard spending assessments.
Mr. Robin Squire : My right hon. and learned Friend does not intend to cap any authority budgeting at or below the level of its standard spending assessment.
House Renovation Grant System
Lady Olga Maitland : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date he plans to introduce changes to the house renovation grant system.
Sir George Young : We now plan that the changes will take effect on 5 April to coincide with adjustments to housing benefit on which the means test for house renovation grants is based. Amending regulations to implement changes to the means test to improve targeting of resources on low income applicants and to make consequential changes to the prescribed application forms were laid before Parliament on 15 March. An order introducing a limit of £50,000 on mandatory renovation grants and amending regulations revising the cost limits for minor works assistance were also laid.
These changes will be separately notified to local housing authorities and a departmental circular will be issued shortly.
Property Services Agency
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's investigation unit's report into fraud, tax evasion and security lapses in the PSA Building Management South-East Contracting, Southwark ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 18 March 1993] : The central inquiry unit within PSA's internal audit department is conducting an investigation into various allegations made about the Building Management South East's contracting division which deals with directly employed labour throughout the BM south east area. The investigation has not so far revealed any evidence of fraud, apart from the discovery of a small piece of
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undercharged work which is to be the subject of disciplinary proceedings. It has, however, revealed that there were departures from good practice in terms of management and personnel controls. The financial and administrative management of the division has been strengthened and the contracts of two temporary staff are being terminated. The inquiry is continuing to see whether there were any irregularities in contract letting and breaches of security and I shall make a further statement when it is complete.It is not normal practice to put internal audit reports in the Library.
Chinchilla
Mr. Morley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in what circumstances an application for a licence or planning permission has to be made to local authorities in respect of commercial or large-scale keeping and breeding of chinchilla.
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 16 March 1993] : There is no separate licence required for the keeping of chinchilla. Nor is there any additional stipulation under planning legislation beyond the normal requirement for planning permission which applies to any development of land.
City Challenge
Mr. Betts : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many jobs have been created to date in each of the city challenge areas by schemes associated with city challenge.
Mr. Robin Squire [holding answer 18 March 1993] : I will write to the hon. Member.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Members' Staff
Mr. Meacher : To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what is the number of whole-time equivalent staff employed by the Fees Office to administer pension arrangements for hon. Members' staff ; and what was, for the latest year for which information is available, the cost of these staff including non-salary costs and office costs.
Mr. Beith : Two full-time members of the Fees Office work exclusively on administering the pension arrangements for hon. Members' staff. The salary costs for these staff are £38,591 pa. In addition, managerial staff are involved from time to time, but no separate record of this work is kept. The non-salary and office costs are not separately maintained.
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will give for the latest available year (a) the number of staff employed by hon. Members and paid through the office costs allowance and (b) the number of hon. Members employing one, two, three, four, five and five or more members of staff who are paid through the office costs allowance.
Mr. Newton : As at 28 February 1993, the latest date for which figures are available, a total of 1,607 separate employments were authorised by hon. Members to be paid from the office costs allowance.
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At the same date the number of hon. Members employing staff paid directly from the office costs allowance can be classified as follows :118 Members employ 1 staff
230 Members employ 2 staff
193 Members employ 3 staff
72 Members employ 4 staff
21 Members employ 5 staff
6 Members employ 6 staff
3 Members employ 7 staff
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will give for the latest available year (a) the maximum sum available to an hon. Member to make pension contributions in respect of a person employed by him/her and paid out of the office costs allowance, (b) the amount paid out in respect of this provision, (c) the number of staff for whom pension provision is made and (d) the number of (i) pension contracts or schemes and (ii) pension companies into which payments are made.
Mr. Newton : For the year ended 31 March 1992, the latest year for which details are available, the information requested is as follows :
(a) £2,899 subject to a limit in respect of each person employed of 10 per cent. of the salary paid to that person, (b) £1,037,001, (c) 994, (d ) (i) this information is not held, (d) (ii) 55.
Older People (Exhibition)
Mr. Clappison : To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the Abbeyfield Society and the European Year of Older People to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.
Mr. Michael J. Martin : I understand that under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 5 to 9 July.
Departmental Returns
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will estimate the annual number of reports or returns made to Parliament by Departments of state consequent to the requirements in Acts of Parliament, or instruments arising therefrom, listing them so far as possible.
Mr. Newton : Information supplied from the Library for Session 1991- 92 is as follows :
|Number
------------------------------------------------------------
1. Unprinted papers
SI's |728
Returns/Reports and Accounts |92
Departmental Statements of Guarantee |17
Government Observations on Petitions |41
Memoranda laid before Select Committees |36
Treasury Minutes |6
Oxbridge University Statutes |9
Speaker's communication of SI coming into
force before being laid |7
Miscellaneous remainder |21
|-------
Total |957
2. Unprinted Commands |15
3. House of Commons Papers |616
4. Command Papers |159
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TRANSPORT
Traffic Calming Measures
Ms Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many local roads are considered to require traffic calming measures ; and what is his estimate of when all these measures will be completed at the current rate of progress.
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