| Previous Section | Home Page |
Medical Staff
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many consultant medical oncologists, radiotherapists and general surgeons are employed on (a) a full-time basis and (b) a part-time basis in each of the health boards.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 6 May 1993] : The numbers of consultants in the specialties of medical oncology, radiotherapy and general surgery employed on a full-time basis and a part-time basis at 30 September 1992, the latest date for which information is available, are given in the following annex.
Column 315
Consultants in selected specialties
by contract status and health board
as at 30 September 1992
Specialty/contract |Greater Glasgow |Highland |Lanarkshire |Lothian |Orkney |Shetland |Tayside |Western Isles
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medical oncology
Whole-time |2 |0 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0
Part-time |5 |0 |0 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0
Total |7 |0 |0 |3 |0 |0 |0
Radiotherapy
Whole-time |11 |2 |0 |6 |0 |0 |3 |0
Part-time |2 |0 |0 |3 |0 |0 |0 |0
Total |13 |2 |0 |9 |0 |0 |3 |0
General surgery
Whole-time |30 |8 |13 |19 |1 |2 |9 |1
Part-time |8 |0 |0 |2 |0 |0 |3 |1
Total |38 |8 |13 |21 |1 |2 |12 |2
Notes:
(a) Whole-time includes maximum part-time appointments.
(b) Part-time includes clinical academic staff holding honorary appointments.
Column 315
Consultants in selected specialties
by contract status and health board
as at 30 September 1992
Specialty/contract |Greater Glasgow |Highland |Lanarkshire |Lothian |Orkney |Shetland |Tayside |Western Isles
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medical oncology
Whole-time |2 |0 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0
Part-time |5 |0 |0 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0
Total |7 |0 |0 |3 |0 |0 |0
Radiotherapy
Whole-time |11 |2 |0 |6 |0 |0 |3 |0
Part-time |2 |0 |0 |3 |0 |0 |0 |0
Total |13 |2 |0 |9 |0 |0 |3 |0
General surgery
Whole-time |30 |8 |13 |19 |1 |2 |9 |1
Part-time |8 |0 |0 |2 |0 |0 |3 |1
Total |38 |8 |13 |21 |1 |2 |12 |2
Notes:
(a) Whole-time includes maximum part-time appointments.
(b) Part-time includes clinical academic staff holding honorary appointments.
Cancer
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the seven most common malignant neoplasms amongst NHS patients ; and what were the number of deaths brought about by each in the past five years.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 6 May 1993] : The table gives the number of registrations of the seven most common cancers in men and women in Scotland in the period 1987-91 and the number of deaths from these forms of cancer in the same five-year period.
Numbers of registrations and deaths from the seven most
common malignant neoplasms, by sex, Scotland 1987-91
Site of Cancer |Number of |Number of deaths
|registrations
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Males
Trachea, bronchus and lung |15,163 |13,869
Non-melanoma skin cancer |9,560 |121
Prostate |6,204 |3,112
Colon |4,363 |2,466
Bladder |4,241 |1,535
Stomach |3,406 |2,603
Rectum |2,534 |1,524
Females
Breast |13,913 |6,379
Non-melanoma skin cancer |9,202 |114
Trachea, bronchus and lung |8,078 |7,131
Colon |5,563 |3,273
Ovary |2,779 |1,990
Stomach |2,370 |1,915
Rectum |2,283 |1,427
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Cyprus
Lady Olga Maitland : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to meet Mr. Rauf Denktash, the leader of the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus.
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations are being made to Cyprus for Asil Nadir to be brought back to the United Kingdom ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Garel-Jones : We have an extradition treaty with the Republic of Cyprus, but the writ of the lawful Government does not run in the north of the island.
Column 318
Immediately after Nadir's abscondment, our high commissioner in Nicosia met Turkish Cypriot leader Mr. Denktash on 5 May to demand that Nadir be handed over to the British authorities.On 7 May I summoned the Turkish ambassador to explain the anger felt in this country, and ask for Turkish assistance in ensuring Nadir's return.
The Turkish Cypriots should appreciate the damage it could do to their interests if they were to acquire a reputation as a refuge for fugitives from justice.
Libya
Mr. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many United Kingdom citizens are (a) currently serving sentences and (b) awaiting sentencing in Libyan prisons.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : There are no British citizens serving sentences or awaiting sentences in Libyan prisons.
Departmental Staff
Mr. Garrett : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the numbers and percentages of his staff in grades one to five who each have (a) arts degrees, (b) science degrees, (c) technical degrees, (d) who are qualified accountants, (e) have post-graduate qualifications in management and (f) who were educated in (i) local authority and (ii) private schools.
Mr. Goodlad : I shall write to the hon. Member with details as soon as they are available.
Lockerbie
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his response to the Libyan/Russian proposal at the United Nations for an international tribunal under United Nations auspices to try the two Libyans accused of the Lockerbie bombing.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We are not aware of any such proposal.
Unpaid Parking Fines
Sir John Wheeler : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish figures recording the number of unpaid parking fines incurred by diplomatic missions in London during 1992.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The information requested by my hon. Friend is given in the table. The table also includes those international organisations which incurred unpaid fines. The figures may be reduced by late payments.
Column 319
The total of 4,166 represents a 19 per cent. reduction from the same period in 1991 when 5,145 fines were incurred. This compares favourably with the same period in 1984 when almost 108,932 fines were recorded. We welcome this further reduction in unpaid parking fines and appreciate the cooperation of diplomatic missions and international organisations since the introduction of the parking policy. We shall continue to monitor carefully the level of unpaid fines and pressure diplomatic missions to reduce this still further.
Unpaid parking fines
Diplomatic mission |1992 |1991
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Turkey |245 |130
Russia |226 |363
France |182 |95
Nigeria |167 |159
China |159 |140
Greece |153 |150
United Arab Emirates |128 |21
Saudi Arabia (1991 includes Libyan Interests Sec.) |127 |200
Zambia |117 |63
Cote D'Ivoire |106 |121
Israel |86 |204
Korea |85 |116
Kuwait |85 |0
Tunisia |81 |43
Thailand |80 |72
Cameroon |70 |38
Sudan |70 |123
Poland |69 |154
Egypt |68 |78
India |66 |73
Gambia |63 |56
Romania |62 |34
Cyprus |62 |55
Uruguay |61 |57
Hungary |60 |68
Germany |60 |65
Spain |60 |45
Oman |59 |52
Pakistan |57 |97
Qatar |52 |94
Morocco |48 |117
Ghana |48 |84
Libyan Interests Sec., Saudi Arabia |44 |-
Portugal |42 |40
Bangladesh |41 |49
Zimbabwe |38 |38
Jordan |38 |89
Mauritius |38 |13
Angola |35 |11
Algeria |34 |11
Bulgaria |33 |81
Gabon |32 |25
Barbados |29 |54
Malaysia |27 |26
United States |26 |17
Brazil |25 |26
Italy |25 |34
Brunei |24 |30
Tanzania |23 |47
Syria |22 |16
Zaire |20 |7
Mexico |19 |6
Senegal |19 |2
Malawi |18 |20
Bahrain |18 |35
Finland |16 |25
Venezuela |16 |17
Lebanon |14 |9
Ethiopia |14 |27
Japan |14 |16
Ireland |13 |5
Yugoslavia |12 |41
Iran |12 |13
Kenya |12 |6
Yemen |12 |20
Jamaica |11 |11
Nepal |11 |7
Iraqi Interest Section, Jordan |11 |38
Cuba |11 |13
Canada |10 |135
Lesotho |10 |7
Philippines |10 |8
Paraguay |10 |6
Fiji |9 |10
Afghanistan |9 |0
Guyana |7 |16
Burma |7 |10
Guatemala |7 |27
Peru |7 |7
Uganda |7 |5
Sierra Leone |6 |28
Honduras |5 |9
Austria |5 |3
Malta |5 |2
Australia |5 |5
Chile |5 |7
Indonesia |5 |3
South Africa |5 |2
East Caribbean States |5 |13
Sweden |4 |8
Belgium |4 |6
Mongolia |4 |9
Liberia |4 |18
Former Czechoslovakia |4 |6
Panama |3 |14
Seychelles |3 |4
Sri Lanka |3 |3
Luxembourg |3 |2
Mozambique |3 |3
Lithuania |2 |-
Armenia |2 |-
Nicaragua |2 |1
Netherlands |2 |3
Colombia |2 |0
Denmark |2 |1
Switzerland |2 |2
Vietnam |2 |13
Trinidad and Tobago |2 |7
Norway |2 |4
Singapore |1 |3
Botswana |1 |1
Papua New Guinea |1 |2
Bahamas |1 |4
Iceland |1 |3
Costa Rica |1 |2
El Salvador |1 |0
New Zealand |1 |0
Togo (Embassy closed 30 September 1991) |0 |8
Somalia (Embassy closed 2 January 1992) |0 |5
Bolivia |0 |9
Swaziland |0 |1
Ecuador |0 |1
Dominica |0 |1
Benin |0 |1
Argentina |0 |1
Slovenia |0 |-
Latvia |0 |-
Ukraine |0 |-
Grenada |0 |0
Namibia |0 |-
Croatia |0 |-
Tonga |0 |0
Estonia |0 |-
Belize |0 |0
Antigua and Barbuda |0 |0
International organisations
Commonwealth Secretariat |28 |26
EBRD |8 |-
INMARSAT |7 |3
African Development Bank |5 |-
Coffee |2 |2
WEU |1 |0
IMO |1 |1
EC |1 |2
United Nations |0 |0
Sugar |0 |0
Cocoa |0 |-
|------- |-------
|4,166 |4,575
Diplomatic Immunity
Sir John Wheeler : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many serious offences were alleged to have been committed in 1992 by persons entitled to diplomatic immunity ; and how many foreign diplomats were withdrawn from their posts in Britain in that year as a result of alleged offences.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Thirty-three alleged serious offences by persons entitled to diplomatic immunity were drawn to the attention of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1992, as against 40 the previous year. "Serious offences" are defined in accordance with the report to the Foreign Affairs Committee, "The Abuse of Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges (1985)" as offences falling into a category which would in certain circumstances attract a maximum penalty of six months or more imprisonment. The majority involved drinking and driving and shoplifting.
Eight diplomats were withdrawn from their posts in Britain in 1992 following alleged offences, as against seven the previous year.
Overseas Trade Assistance
Mr. Archy Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further plans he has to increase the assistance available overseas to businesses seeking to increase trade in other countries ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Garel-Jones : In consultation with the DTI (as our partners in Overseas Trade Services) we are constantly seeking ways to enhance the export services we offer to British industry.
EDUCATION
How is Your Child Doing at School?"
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish the total number of telephone calls and written requests for "How is Your Child Doing at School?" ; and how many were distributed in each of the 10 languages listed in the advertisement on 27 April.
Mr. Forth : Responses to the first part of this campaign are still being compiled. My right hon. Friend will announce these in due course.
Grant-maintained Schools
Mr. Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects to announce his decision following the consultations on the common funding formula for grant-maintained schools ; and if he will make a statement.
Column 322
Mr. Forth : We are currently considering the responses to the first consultation paper on the common funding formula (CFF). In the light of that consideration we intend to issue a second consultation paper early in the summer as a further move towards the introduction of the CFF in a small number of pilot areas from April 1994.
NERIS Database
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the total public expenditure on the NERIS service ; what circumstances have led to it being wound up ; what implications there are for the delivery of the national curriculum ; what action he is taking to salvage the NERIS database ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Forth : From 1985-86--the first year of investment--to date, the total Government investment in NERIS from my Department and three others was £5 million. The purpose of this was to develop the database service to a position in which NERIS would be fully self-sufficient, serving schools and colleges across the United Kingdom. It failed to do that and the number of subscriptions declined substantially last year to a figure of only some 2,200. It was therefore decided that no further public investment could be justified. The NERIS Trust is currently considering winding-up procedures.
Disabled People
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what measures he intends to take to encourage people with disabilities to become teachers, nursery nurses or teachers' aides.
Mr. Boswell : The Department is in consultation with disabled teachers' interest groups prior to the revision of the Department's circular 1/88 "Physical and Mental Fitness to Teach of Teachers and of Entrants to Teacher Training". This will continue to stress that disability in itself does not mean a person is medically unfit to teach, but that the paramount consideration should be the health and welfare of pupils. Applicants need to take into account that employment in these areas can also make significant demands on an individual's strength and stamina.
Special Schools (Tests)
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent representations he has received from the National Association for Special Educational Needs regarding the implementation of the standard assessment tests for seven-year-olds in special schools.
Mr. Forth : There is no record of my right hon. Friend having received any representations in recent months from the National Association for Special Educational Needs on testing.
We believe that children with special educational needs should follow the national curriculum and participate in its associated assessment arrangements wherever possible, so that they have access to the same education as other pupils. The School Examinations and Assessment Council has given guidance to schools about ways in which the tests for both seven and 14-year-olds might be modified or adapted for pupils with special needs, without compromising the results they yield, so that as wide a range of pupils as possible can benefit from them.
Column 323
Surplus School Places
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Sir T. Arnold) of 30 April Official Report, column 555, if he will give the corresponding information on surplus school places for Cleveland.
Mr. Forth : On the basis of the survey of school capacity carried out by the Department we estimate that in Cleveland in 1991 there were some 11,181 primary and 10,676 secondary surplus places, representing, respectively, 17 per cent. and 23 per cent. of total capacity.
Tests (Advertising)
Ms. Estelle Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will provide a breakdown of the £750,000 her Department recently spent on advertising the Government's view on the testing of school children.
Mr. Forth : The campaign is providing information to parents about this summer's tests. It involves the production, printing and distribution of the leaflet "How is Your Child Doing at School?". The leaflet has been distributed to schools and its availability advertised in the national press. The total cost of the campaign has been estimated at £750,000 although the final cost will depend on the number of requests for further leaflets.
Nursery Schools
Mrs. Bridget Prentice : To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list, for each Greater London borough, the percentages of children under five years old currently registered as attending local authority funded nursery schools ; and if he will list for each of the boroughs what percentage of under fives attended maintained nursery schools in 1986, 1988, 1990 and 1992.
Mr. Forth : Participation rates for January 1992--the latest date for which information is available--are shown in the table. Because of recent revisions to the population estimates to take account of the provisional results of the 1991 national census of population, information is not available on a comprehensive basis for earlier years at individual authority level.
Estimated percentage of the local three- and four-year-old
population
attending maintained nursery schools in each education
authority in
the Greater London region.
January 1992
|Participation rates
----------------------------------------------------------------
Camden |5
Greenwich |10
Hackney |3
Hammersmith and Fulham |16
Islington |6
Kensington and Chelsea |9
Lambeth |6
Lewisham |3
Southwark |7
Tower Hamlets |11
Wandsworth |3
Westminster<1> |5
Barking |n/a
Barnet |6
Bexley |3
Brent |4
Bromley |n/a
Croydon |5
Ealing |8
Enfield |n/a
Haringey |4
Harrow |n/a
Havering |n/a
Hillingdon |2
Hounslow |n/a
Kingston upon Thames |7
Merton |n/a
Newham |12
Redbridge |n/a
Richmond upon Thames |2
Sutton |5
Waltham Forest |5
Greater London |5
<1> Includes City ILEA.
n/a= not applicable.
WALES
Badger Setts
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, further to his answer of 31 March, Official Report, column 270, what advice has been obtained before granting a licence to allow dogs to be entered into a badger sett ; what criteria have been applied to determine whether, when and to whom such a licence should be granted ; what measures have been taken to ensure that the minimum harm possible is suffered by dog and badger ; and what are the conditions attached to the granting of any such licence.
Mr. David Hunt : Any licence application to permit the entry of dogs into badger setts would be judged on its merits, taking account of advice from wildlife experts from the Agricultural Development Advisory Service following a site visit. Conditions attached to a particular licence will reflect the circumstances of the case.
Local Government, Gower
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will visit West Cross in the Gower constituency to discuss factors affecting local government matters.
Mr. David Hunt : I have no present plans to do so.
Employment Projects
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 4 May, Official Report, column 24, if he will specify the number of projects in each county corresponding to the jobs (a) created, (b) safeguarded and (c) the capital expenditure as arising from inward investment in 1992-93.
Mr. David Hunt : The county by county breakdown of inward investment projects recorded for Wales during 1992-93 is shown in the following table. The figures are based on information provided by the companies at the time the projects were recorded and have not been amended to take account of any subsequent development.
County |Number of projects
---------------------------------------------------------
Clwyd |40
Dyfed |13
Gwent |42
Gwynedd |22
Powys |22
Mid Glamorgan |30
South Glamorgan |21
West Glamorgan |11
|---
Total |201
Health Service
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines he has issued to fund-holding general practitioners in respect of payment for patients referred to treatment centres for ophthalmic,tioners and general practitioner fund holders, fund holders are eligible for a share of the centrally allocated places available to their district health authority. The cost of treatment for these places is funded centrally by the Welsh Office and there is no charge to general practitioner fund holders. In addition, health authorities and fund holders are free to make contracts with the centres for treatments over and above those funded by the Welsh Office.
NATIONAL FINANCE
Local Tax Offices
Sir Roger Moate : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the closure of the Inland Revenue offices in Sittingbourne, Kent ; what will be the cost of providing the service elsewhere, including location costs ; and what is the financial saving on a year to year basis.
Mr. Dorrell : Ten representations expressing concern at the planned closure of the tax office in Sittingbourne, Kent have been received. The costs of providing the service elsewhere and the financial savings cannot be separately identified since the closure of the Sittingbourne office is a part of a larger reorganisation involving offices in Maidstone, Kent.
Sir Roger Moate : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many local tax offices have been closed, or are planned to be closed, in 1992-93 and 1993-94, or any convenient period for which he has information ; and what are the estimated savings arising nationally.
Mr. Dorrell : The Inland Revenue is engaged in a long-term programme to restructure its 766 local offices in order to improve taxpayer services, operational effectiveness, and cost efficiency. By March 1994, 15 reorganisation schemes involving 71 existing offices will have taken place. Of these, 61 offices will cease to exist in their present form. The work carried out in those offices together with part of the work in 10 other offices will have been transferred to 31 newly created Revenue offices. Savings arising from the rationalisation of local office accommodation in these 15 schemes are expected to be of the order of £1.25 million a year in 1993-94 prices.
Column 326
Sir Roger Moate : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the Inland Revenue takes into account the provisions of the citizens charter when contemplating the closure of local tax offices, with particular regard to the question of customer access for advice and help from officials.
Mr. Dorrell : The Inland Revenue is fully committed to achieving further improvements in taxpayer service, operational effectiveness and in cost efficiency. In locations where tax offices may be closed, the Department is investigating alternative ways of meeting taxpayers' needs. These objectives are in line with those of the citizens charter.
Sir Roger Moate : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what process of consultation is followed when the Inland Revenue plan the closure of a local tax office ; and what account is taken of representations from accountants, local companies and individual taxpayers.
Mr. Dorrell : The Inland Revenue has begun a long-term programme to restructure its local offices in order to improve taxpayer service, operational effectiveness, and cost efficiency. The results of major surveys to establish taxpayer and employer needs are informing this programme. Representations from accountants, companies, and taxpayers are considered, but it is not normally possible to carry out detailed advance consultation. Discussions with staff take place on the implications for them of a closure, and the arrangements necessary.
Mr. Roger Evans : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the policy of the Inland Revenue in respect of providing local offices at which taxpayers may have their affairs dealt with and may raise queries personally with the official dealing with their case.
Mr. Dorrell : The Inland Revenue has begun a long-term programme to restructure its local offices in order to improve taxpayer service, operational effectiveness and cost efficiency. The results of major surveys to establish taxpayer and employer needs are informing this programme. In some locations offices may be closed but where that happens the Department is investigating alternative ways of meeting taxpayers' needs.
Industrial Building Allowance Trusts
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his current estimate of the total tax receipts forgone in each enterprise zone arising from industrial building allowance trusts that have been approved.
Mr. Dorrell : I regret that the information is not available.
Tax Deduction Certificates
Mrs. Jane Kennedy : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 23 April, Official Report, column 248, if he will list those representations received last year concerning the free provision of tax deduction certificates by banks.
Mr. Dorrell : It is not our practice to publish representations of this nature, but the number we have received is quite small.
Column 327
VAT (Education)
Ms Eagle : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what forecast he has made of the revenue which would be raised by introducing a definition of education in schedule 6 to the Value Added Tax Act 1983 that excluded (a) music, (b) flower arranging and (c) domestic science, taught at adult education classes throughout the United Kingdom, from exemption ;
(2) what revenue he would expect to raise by applying a definition of "education" in schedule 6 to the Value Added Tax Act 1983 that excluded adult residential colleges from exemption.
Sir John Cope : No estimates have been made of the likely revenue effects.
Ms Eagle : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance he has given to Customs and Excise in defining the terms and the scope of their investigations into the interpretation of the 6th VAT directive (77/388/EEC) with respect to education.
Sir John Cope : None. Customs and Excise is undertaking an internal review of the VAT exemptions available for educational services provided by fee-paying schools, universities and other businesses to see whether, within the constraints of EC agreements there is scope for simplification and rationalisation, and will report their conclusions to Ministers in due course.
Inheritance Tax Exemptions
Mr. Burns : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 17 December 1992, Official Report, columns 380-81, when the computerised register of objects granted conditional exemption from inheritance tax will be available for inspection.
Mr. Dorrell : The Inland Revenue has now completed the computerisation of the register of conditionally exempt works of art (often known as the "V&A list"). The new computerised register includes a search and retrieval facility which will enable an inquirer to identify, more easily, objects of particular interest and obtain a detailed printout.
From today the computerised register can be consulted at the Victoria and Albert Museum (London), National Library of Scotland (Edinburgh), National Museum of Wales (Cardiff) and Ulster Museum (Belfast). Copies of the register in computer-readable format may also be purchased from the capital taxes office of the Inland Revenue for £10.
The computerisation of this register and the other measures which I announced last year will make it easier for the public to enjoy the benefits of conditionally exempt property which Parliament intended.
Charities
Ms Harman : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on charities of the changes to the rate of advanced corporation tax announced in the Budget.
Mr. Dorrell [holding answer 7 May 1993] : It is estimated that the tax credits payable to charities on dividends paid by United Kingdom companies will
Column 328
eventually be reduced by about £50 million a year. Under the Budget proposals for transitional payments to charities to ease the change to the new rate of tax credit, the cost will rise progressively to this level over the period 1993-94 to 1998-99. In 1993-94 the cost to charities is expected to be about £5 million, on the assumption that about half of tax credits are claimed in the same year in which the dividend is paid. Details of the forecast transitional payments are given in paragraph 5.10 of the 1993-94 Financial Statement and Budget Report.AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Meat Processing
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to legislate to ensure that meat processing companies have to label meat according to where the meat originated, rather than where it was transformed into other products ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Soames : We have no plans to do so.
Rules on food labelling are harmonised at European Community level and already specifically require the place of origin to be given on food if its omission could mislead the consumer. Where a United Kingdom name is applied to imported products, then the place of origin is required to be given unless the product has undergone processing or treatment in the United Kingdom resulting in a substantial change. I consider that the present rules, together with the Government's initiatives to encourage retailers to provide this information where appropriate, provide sufficient information to enable consumers to make informed choices about the foods they buy.
Chernobyl
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action is being taken to help farmers still affected by the radioactive fall-out from the Chernobyl explosion ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Soames : Help to farmers who are still subject to post-Chernobyl sheep restrictions centres on "mark and release" arrangements, which enable essential controls to be applied with minimal disruption to normal farming practices, and compensation payments which mitigate any adverse economic effects.
In addition, we continue to pursue our scientific monitoring and research efforts which are designed to identify areas for early derestriction and to enable potential technical remedies to be evaluated.
IACS Forms
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the deadlines set for the return of completed integrated administration and control system forms in (a) Greece, (b) Luxembourg, (c) Italy and (d) for livestock farmers in Ireland.
Mr. Curry : The deadline for IACS applications is 15 May in Greece, Luxembourg and Italy. The deadline is 14 May in Ireland, but farmers with permanent pasture only may submit the IACS application with their first livestock aid application after 14 May but not later than 1 July.
Column 329
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many representations he has received advocating an extension to the deadline for submitting completed integrated administration and control system forms.
Mr. Curry : We have received a significant number of
representations pressing for an extension of the 15 May deadline. As we have previously made clear, however, the Commission have no proposals for an amendment to the EC Council regulation which lays down this date.
Comfrey
Mrs. Wise : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the action group for the relief of pain and distress was consulted specifically about the toxicity of comfrey prior to the announcement of the decision to ban the sale of comfrey products.
Mr. Soames : My hon. Friend the Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Maclean) announced in March 1991 a full review of the safety and use of certain herbal substances, including comfrey. These substances had been removed from sale as medicines, for safety reasons, but could still be purchased as foods. A number of representations have been made in the years since that review was publicly announced. Comfrey was the first of these substances reviewed and the COT advice, together with that of the Food Advisory Committee, formed the basis for the action taken. That advice was unequivocal and there was no subsequent consultation prior to my announcement of 2 March 1993 of the voluntary withdrawal of certain comfrey products.
Sea Defences, Beesands
Mr. Steen : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cost of the 50,000 tonnes of granite boulders which were brought in from Sweden and France as part of the sea defence scheme at Beesands, South Hams, Devon ; and if the contract for the boulders was made available to British companies.
Mr. Curry : The supply, delivery and placement of granite boulders was part of a larger contract awarded by the National Rivers Authority for the construction of the Beesands sea defences. Because of the narrow lanes in the area concerned, it was a condition of the contract that most of the rock should be delivered by sea. Eight British companies submitted tenders to the National Rivers Authority, including Costains Civil Engineering Ltd., who were awarded the contract. As yet itemised final accounts are not available to the Ministry but the estimated cost of supplying, delivering and placing the boulders is £0.8 million out of a total scheme cost of some £1.8 million.
Farmers' Earnings
Mr. Jon Owen Jones : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how he measures the cash earnings of farmers.
Mr. Curry : Farmers' earnings may include income from both the farm business and other sources. Income from the farm is measured from sample surveys of the farm business and these also provide some information on non -farm incomes. Latest results from these surveys and the various definitions employed are published in Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom 1991-92.
Column 330
| Next Section
| Home Page |