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Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 22 June 1993
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Judges
Mr. Boateng : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many judges aged 70 years or over are sitting on the circuit bench (a) full-time and (b) part-time ; and how many of these are recorders or assistant recorders.
Mr. John M. Taylor : As at 1 June 1993, there were 16 full-time circuit judges aged 70 or over. In addition there were 29 deputy circuit judges and 12 recorders aged 70 or over, who may sit part time. There were no assistant recorders aged 70 or over.
Market Testing
Ms Mowlam : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list all the market tests that have taken place in his Department since November 1992 and indicate, in each case, whether the result was the maintenance of in-house provision, or whether the service was contracted out.
Mr. John M. Taylor : Since November 1992 the Lord Chancellor's Department has commenced market tests in eight areas : internal audit ; pay services ; Public Trust Office taxes division ; Public Trust Office typing services ; Statutory Publications Office ; printing and forms supply ; IT services ; and court building and estates management. To date, seven separate market tests have been completed in the court building and estates management area, which all resulted in the services being contracted out. These services were formerly provided by the Property Services Agency. Save for internal audit, the market tests in the remaining areas are still proceeding and no decisions have been taken. In the case of internal audit an in-house provision has been maintained.
NATIONAL HERITAGE
Redundant Farm Buildings
Dr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what grant aid is available for the purpose of restoring redundant farm houses and associated buildings in order that they may once again form the basis of an active farming unit.
Mr. Brooke : If the hon. Member's focus is a Scottish one, I suggest that he writes to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. In England, since 1989, English Heritage has been contributing funds towards the barns and walls conservation scheme, in the Swaledale and Arkengarthdale conservation area of the Yorkshire Dales national park--a joint initiative also involving the national park, Richmondshire district council, the
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Countryside Commission and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Grants of up to 80 per cent. are available to farmers and landowners to enable them to bring the buildings back into working condition, using traditional materials and repair techniques. Nationally, English Heritage is able to give grants for the repair of historic buildings of outstanding historical or architectural interest-- usually those listed grade I or grade II--or those situated in designated conservation areas.National Lottery
Mr. Stern : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has for the national lottery to contain an instant lottery element.
Mr. Sproat : The types and mix of games for the national lottery will be for the operator to propose. The licensing of individual games under clause 6 of the National Lottery etc. Bill will be the responsibility of the director-general.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Northern Ireland Court of Appeal
Mr. Trimble : To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a further statement on the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland's progress in considering the cases referred to him by the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal in its judgment in the case of R v. Latimer and others delivered on 29 July 1992.
The Attorney-General : The Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland considered the judgment of the Court of Appeal and all other then available facts and information. On 5 August 1992, 10 February 1993 and 27 April 1993 the director issued interim directions to the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary requesting that further reports, information and witness statements be obtained. The majority of these further reports, information and witness statements have been obtained by the Royal Ulster Constabulary and submitted to the director. A small number of witness statements remain outstanding.
When all the matters requested in these interim directions have been received and considered, a decision as to whether criminal proceedings will be instituted will be taken. It is expected that this decision will be taken in the near future. I refer the hon. Member to the replies that I gave to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) on 11 November 1992 at columns 835-36 and to the right hon. Member for Strangford (Mr. Taylor) on 27 January 1993 at column 709.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Wheel Clamping
Mr. Tipping : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number and names of individuals and organisations who responded to the public consultation exercise on wheel clamping.
Mr. Maclean : Approximately 2,400 copies of the consultation paper were distributed and 184 responses have been received. Respondents were not asked to agree
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to the publication of their names when their comments were invited and it would not be appropriate now to identify them. However, the table shows the categories to which these respondents belong.
|Number
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Landowners:
hospitals |7
estates |10
national organisations |9
local organisations |22
individuals |8
Wheelclamping companies |11
Motorists |13
MPs and Members of the House of Lords |8
Local authorities |46
Police |23
Other bodies (including other Government departments
and public and private organisations representing a
wide variety of interests) |27
In addition, since 1 April 1992, we have received 199 letters forwarded by MPs and Members of the House of Lords, and 107 letters sent direct to the Home Office or other Government Departments commenting on this issue.
Police Batons
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will agree to a pilot project on the use of the expandable side- handled baton being monitored by (a) the Association of Chief Police Officers, (b) the Police Federation, (c) the Chief Inspector of Constabulary and (d) an independent research and assessment team.
Mr. Charles Wardle : I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 21 June at column 2.
Rabies
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce tougher sentences for offenders contravening anti-rabies laws ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean : The maximum penalty for offences under the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974 is an unlimited fine and/or 12 months' imprisonment. We have no plans to increase it.
Wickham Laboratories
Sir John Wheeler : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the outcome of the investigations into allegations by the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection in respect of Wickham laboratories.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The Home Office Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate and the Medicines Control Agency have investigated allegations made by the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) into procedures and practices at Wickham laboratories.
The investigation did not find substantiated some of the principal allegations against Wickham, but it did disclose poor local management, resulting in lax attitudes and practices among certain staff. These included a readiness
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to falsify test and environmental data on occasions. There was also one case of unnecessary animal use. Some aspects of the technical training were unsatisfactory : initial training was poorly structured and unrecorded and left some basic gaps in coverage. The system also lacked formal assessment of competence before unsupervised tasks were allocated to new employees.My right hon. and learned Friend has concluded that direct responsibility for the failures detected by the investigation lies with the individual who was line manager for the named day-to-day care person at the time to which the BUAV allegations relate, and who was himself named day-to-day care person at the time of the Home Office investigation. My right hon. and learned Friend has directed that he be replaced as named day-to-day care person and deputy project licence holder, and that his personal licence be revoked. In addition, the individual who was named day-to-day care person at the time of the BUAV investigation has been warned that particular attention will be paid to her current skills and knowledge if in future she should apply for a personal licence. A number of other members of Wickham staff have received letters of admonition, reminding them of the importance of a proper understanding of their responsibilities and obligations under the legislation.
In addition to action in respect of individuals, my right hon. and learned Friend has directed :
that Wickham agree with the inspectorate a formal training scheme for all animal unit staff, including full records of training given and an assessment of expertise for specific tasks being made from the beginning of each individual's employment ;
that Wickham's standard operating procedures relating to the care, husbandry and euthanasia of animals should be revised to the satisfaction of the inspectorate and to reflect best current practice.
It has been made clear to Wickham that a serious view has been taken of the lapses which this investigation has revealed, and that Wickham's operation will be subjected to particularly close scrutiny in the future. The Animal Procedures Committee has been informed of the outcome of the investigation, and has endorsed the action taken. Other allegations made by the BUAV were not substantiated, and the inspectorate had reservations about some of the evidence presented in support of the allegations. In particular, the investigation did not find that there had been unauthorised reuse of animals, or that animal suffering had resulted from poor accommodation, or that problems had arisen from a potential conflict of interests among the senior management at Wickham. On the latter point, however, the Animal Procedures Committee has decided to look in general terms at the conflicts which may arise when the posts of certificate holder, project licence holder and named veterinary surgeon are not all held by separate individuals.
The BUAV alleged that unnecessary animal testing took place. I am satisfied, however, that all the work carried out at Wickham was properly licensed under the Act. The general issue of animal testing performed to satisfy the requirements of regulatory authorities is currently being examined by the Animal Procedures Committee, and I look forward to receiving its advice.
Finally, I understand that the Medicines Control Agency's conclusion is that although there were operational and procedural deficiencies at Wickham, they do not call in question the validity of the particular tests, nor do they raise doubts about Wickham's continued
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operation as a contract research establishment. A range of improvements has been insisted upon by the agency and it will be keeping the situation under close review.Prosecution Statements
Sir Ivan Lawrence : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to give the defence the right to see prosecution statements in summary trials ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean : We have no plans at present to extend to defendants accused of summary offences the provisions of the Magistrates Courts (Advance Information) Rules 1985. The issue is, however, within the terms of reference of the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice and we will consider carefully any recommendations it might make.
Unit Fine System
Dr. Wright : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider establishing a restrospective scheme to compensate those individuals who have been disadvantaged by the unit fine system after it has been replaced.
Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many claims have been made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in each of the last three years ; how many have been successful ; how many have gone to appeal and then been accepted ; and what have been the shortest, longest and average times each year to deal with cases that have gone to appeal.
Mr. Maclean : The latest available information, provided by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (CICB), is summarised in the following tables.
?
Table 1
Claims received and decisions made by CICB
|1989-90|1990-91|1991-92
---------------------------------------------------------------
Claims received |53,655 |50,820 |61,400
Awards offered and accepted at
first decision stage |25,577 |32,135 |35,268
Applications for appeal |7,203 |8,123 |9,258
Appeals heard |3,897 |6,265 |8,731
Successful appeals |2,349 |3,055 |3,981
Table 2
Time between application for appeal and hearing
|1989-90 per cent.|1990-91 per cent.|1991-92 per cent.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Up to 3 months |1 |4 |3
3 to 6 months |3 |8 |13
6 to 9 months |6 |10 |15
9 to 12 months |18 |11 |14
Over 12 months |72 |67 |55
|--- |--- |---
|100 |100 |100
Note: The numbers relating to awards, applications for appeals and appeals heard in any
one year do not necessarily relate to claims received in that year, or to each other.
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Police Mergers
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those police authorities that have been considered for amalgamation (a) during his period of office as Home Secretary and (b) during the past 10 years ; and which proposals did not proceed because of the current procedure for amalgamation (i) as the only or primary reason and (ii) as a contributory reason.
Mr. Charles Wardle [holding answer 19 May 1993] : No police authorities were considered for amalgamation during the term of office of my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke). At the time of the abolition of the metropolitan county councils, consideration was given to possible changes in the relevant police force areas. No changes were made because it was felt unlikely that reorganisation would improve effectiveness. The amalgamation procedure was not a factor in this decision.
Complete records for the last 10 years are not available. However, the records that are available indicate that detailed consideration has not been given to the amalgamation of any other force areas during that time.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
World Service
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to enhance the output and reputation of the World Service.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : In discussions with the World Service in March and April this year we reached broad agreement on plans for the next funding triennium (April 1994 to March 1997), and on priority areas for development, funded from savings elsewhere in the World Service. These plans, which remain subject to the outcome of the current public expenditure survey, take account of the need to respond to changes in the former Soviet Union, and include the introduction of two central Asian languages.
Trade Representatives
Mr. Nigel Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) diplomats and (b) trade representatives there are in each United Kingdom diplomatic post overseas.
Mr. Goodlad : The total number of United Kingdom diplomats (with the rank of second secretary and above) serving in United Kingdom diplomatic posts overseas is 1,263.
The total number of trade representatives at these posts, including locally engaged staff, is 451.
A breakdown of the figures by post is as follows :
Foreign and Commonwealth Office diplomatic posts overseas
Country |Post |Number of diplomats|Trade
|representatives<1>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Albania |Tirana |1.0 |0
Algeria |Algiers |7.0 |1
Angola |Luanda |6.0 |2
Antigua |Antigua |1.0 |0
Argentina |Buenos Aires |8.0 |3
Australia |Brisbane |2.0 |2
Australia |Canberra |11.0 |0
Australia |Melbourne |3.0 |5
Australia |Perth |2.0 |3
Australia |Sydney |3.0 |3
Austria |Vienna |10.0 |3
Austria |Vienna CFE |5.0 |0
Austria |Vienna UKMIS |4.0 |0
Azerbaijan |Baku |2.0 |0
British Virgin |Tortola |1.0 |0
Isles
Bahamas |Nassau |2.0 |1
Bahrain |Bahrain |5.0 |0
Bangladesh |Dhaka |11.0 |1
Barbados |Bridgetown |5.0 |1
Barbados |DT Secretar |2.0 |0
Belarus |Minsk |1.0 |0
Belgium |Brussels |11.0 |5
Belgium |Brussels JMO |4.0 |0
Belgium |Brussels UKDL |9.0 |0
Belgium |Brussels UKRP |39.0 |1
Belize |Belmopan |2.0 |0
Bolivia |La Paz |2.0 |1
Botswana |Gaborone |3.0 |1
Brazil |Brasilia |8.0 |0
Brazil |Rio de Janeiro |2.0 |3
Brazil |Sao Paulo |3.0 |5
Brunei |Ban Seri Beg |3.0 |0
Bulgaria |Sofia |7.0 |0
Burma |Rangoon |2.0 |1
Cambodia |Phnom Penh |3.0 |0
Cameroon |Douala |1.0 |2
Cameroon |Yaounde |2.0 |0
Canada |Montreal |3.0 |4
Canada |Ottawa |8.0 |3
Canada |Toronto |3.0 |6
Canada |Vancouver |2.0 |2
Chile |Santiago |8.0 |4
China |Peking |17.0 |7
China |Shanghai |2.0 |1
Colombia |Bogota |5.0 |1
Costa Rica |San Jose |2.0 |2
Croatia |Zagreb |4.0 |1
Croatia |Zagreb ECMM |1.0 |0
Cuba |Havana |4.0 |0
Cyprus |Nicosia |11.0 |3
Czechoslovakia |Prague |11.0 |5
Denmark |Copenhagen |10.0 |5
Ecuador |Quito |3.0 |2
Egypt |Alexandria |1.0 |0
Egypt |Cairo |13.0 |4
El Salvador |San Salvador |1.0 |1
Estonia |Tallinn |1.0 |0
Ethiopia |Addis Ababa |5.0 |1
Falklands |Stanley |1.0 |0
Fiji |Suva |2.0 |1
Finland |Helsinki |8.0 |4
France |Bordeaux |1.0 |1
France |Lille |1.0 |1
France |Lyons |1.0 |2
France |Marseilles |1.0 |1
France |Paris |33.0 |10
France |Paris OECD |6.0 |0
France |Strasbourg |2.0 |0
Gambia |Banjul |2.0 |0
Germany |Berlin |12.0 |4
Germany |Bonn |25.0 |0
Germany |Dusseldorf |7.0 |7
Germany |Frankfurt |3.0 |3
Germany |Hamburg |2.0 |2
Germany |Munich |4.0 |3
Germany |Stuttgart |1.0 |2
Ghana |Accra |10.0 |2
Gibraltar |Gibraltar |2.0 |0
Greece |Athens |11.0 |4
Grenada |St. George's |1.0 |0
Guatemala |Guatemala City |3.0 |1
Guyana |Georgetown |2.0 |0
Holy See |Vatican City |2.0 |0
Honduras |Tegucigalpa |1.0 |0
Hong Kong Hong Kong BTC 11.0 4
Hong Kong Hong Kong CTU 2.1 3
Hong Kong Hong Kong JLG 3.0 0
Hungary |Budapest |9.0 |5
Iceland |Reykjavik |2.0 |0
India |Bombay |7.0 |5
India |Calcutta |2.0 |2
India |Madras |2.0 |3
India |New Delhi |21.0 |5
Indonesia |Jakarta |14.0 |5
Iran |Tehran |8.0 |2
Iraq |Baghdad |4.0 |0
Ireland |Dublin |9.0 |3
Israel |Tel Aviv |7.0 |3
Italy |Florence |1.0 |1
Italy |Milan |5.0 |8
Italy |Naples |2.0 |1
Italy |Rome |17.0 |3
Ivory Coast |Abidjan |3.0 |2
Jamaica |Kingston |5.0 |1
Japan |Osaka |3.0 |5
Japan |Tokyo |23.0 |14
Jerusalem |Jerusalem |2.0 |0
Jordan |Amman |7.0 |1
Kazakhstan |Alma Ata |2.0 |0
Kenya |Nairobi |16.0 |3
Kiribati |Tarawa |1.0 |0
Korea |Seoul |9.0 |9
Kuwait |Kuwait |10.0 |4
Latvia |Riga |2.0 |0
Lebanon |Beirut |2.0 |1
Lesotho |Maseru |3.0 |0
Libya |Tripoli |1.0 |0
Lithuania |Vilnius |2.0 |0
Luxembourg |Luxembourg |2.0 |0
Macedonia |Skopje |1.0 |0
Madagascar |Antananarivo |2.0 |0
Malawi |Lilongwe |5.0 |0
Malaysia |Kuala Lumpur |9.0 |6
Malta |Valletta |4.0 |1
Mauritius |Port Louis |2.0 |0
Mexico |Mexico City |10.0 |5
Mongolia |Ulaanbaatar |2.0 |0
Montserrat |Plymouth |1.0 |0
Morocco |Casablanca |2.0 |2
Morocco |Rabat |4.0 |0
Mozambique |Maputo |6.0 |0
Namibia |Windhoek |3.0 |0
Nepal |Kathmandu |5.0 |0
Netherlands |Amsterdam |2.0 |0
Netherlands |The Hague |13.0 |5
New Zealand |Auckland |2.0 |3
New Zealand |Wellington |8.0 |2
Nicaragua |Managua |1.0 |0
Nigeria |Abuja |4.0 |2
Nigeria |Kaduna |2.0 |2
Nigeria |Lagos |17.0 |5
Norway |Oslo |10.0 |3
Oman |Muscat |6.0 |3
Pakistan |Islamabad |21.0 |3
Pakistan |Karachi |4.0 |3
Panama |Panama City |1.0 |1
Papua New |Port Moresby |2.0 |0
Guinea
Paraguay |Asuncion |2.0 |1
Peru |Lima |4.0 |1
Philippines |Manila |7.0 |3
Poland |Warsaw |12.0 |3
Portugal |Lisbon |11.0 |5
Portugal |Oporto |1.0 |1
Qatar |Doha |3.0 |3
Romania |Bucharest |8.0 |2
Russia |Moscow |26.0 |6
Russia |St. Petersburg |3.0 |1
Saudi Arabia |Al Khobar |2.0 |1
Saudi Arabia |Jedda |4.0 |3
Saudi Arabia |Riyadh |13.0 |8
Senegal |Dakar |2.0 |0
Seychelles |Victoria |2.0 |0
Sierra Leone |Freetown |2.0 |0
Singapore |Singapore |8.0 |5
Slovakia |Bratislava |2.0 |0
Slovenia |Ljubljana |1.0 |0
Solomon Islands |Honiara |2.0 |0
South Africa |Cape Town |4.0 |2
South Africa |Durban |1.0 |1
South Africa |Johannesburg |8.0 |6
South Africa |Pretoria |11.0 |0
Spain |Barcelona |2.0 |3
Spain |Bilbao |1.0 |3
Spain |Madrid |19.0 |8
Spain |Malaga |1.0 |0
Spain |Palma |1.0 |0
Sri Lanka |Colombo |7.0 |2
St. Lucia |Castries |1.0 |0
St. Vincent |Kingstown |1.0 |0
Sudan |Khartoum |4.0 |1
Swaziland |Mbabane |2.0 |0
Sweden |Stockholm |10.0 |5
Switzerland |Berne |6.0 |1
Switzerland |Geneva CG |7.0 |1
Switzerland Geneva UKDEL 3.0 0
Switzerland Geneva UKMIS 10.0 0
Switzerland |Zurich |2.0 |6
Syria |Damascus |6.0 |1
Taiwan |Taipei Attc |3.0 |4
Tanzania |Dar Es Salaam |7.0 |0
Thailand |Bangkok |13.0 |8
Tonga |Nuku'alofa |1.0 |0
Trinidad |Port of Spain |3.0 |2
Tunisia |Tunis |5.0 |0
Turkey |Ankara |10.0 |3
Turkey |Istanbul |5.0 |5
Turks/Caicos |Grand Turk |1.0 |0
U. A. Emirates |Abu Dhabi |7.0 |3
U. A. Emirates |Dubai |5.0 |3
Uganda |Kampala |7.0 |0
Ukraine |Kiev |6.0 |0
Uruguay |Montevideo |3.0 |1
USA |Atlanta |2.0 |3
USA |Boston |2.0 |2
USA |Chicago |5.0 |9
USA |Cleveland |1.0 |1
USA |Dallas |1.0 |2
USA |Houston |2.0 |3
USA |Los Angeles |6.0 |4
USA |Miami |1.0 |2
USA New York BTIO 9.0 11
USA New York UKMIS 17.0 0
USA |New York BIS |3.0 |0
USA |New York CG |4.0 |0
USA |New York JMO |2.0 |0
USA |San Francisco |2.0 |2
USA |Seattle |1.0 |1
USA |Washington |38.0 |3
Uzbekistan |Tashkent |2.0 |0
Vanuatu |Vila |2.0 |0
Venezuela |Caracas |7.0 |4
Vietnam |Hanoi |4.0 |0
Vietnam |Ho Chi Minh |1.0 |1
Yemen |Sana'a |5.0 |1
Yugoslavia |Belgrade |7.0 |3
Yugoslavia |Kosovo |1.0 |0
Zaire |Kinshasa |2.0 |0
Zambia |Lusaka |8.0 |2
Zimbabwe |Harare |10.0 |2
|------- |-------
|Totals |1,263.1 |451
<1> Including senior locally engaged staff.
Mr. Nigel Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which 10 countries have had the greatest growth of GDP over the last five years ; and what has been the percentage change of the number of United Kingdom trade representatives in the diplomatic posts in each of these countries over that period.
Mr. Goodlad : The information is contained in the table.
Column 85
Country |GDP growth 1988-92 |British exports 1992|Export league |Percentage of |Percentage change
|£ million |position 1992 |British exports |British trade
|1992 |representation
|1988-92
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thailand |10.17 |476 |34 |0.40 |+79.0
Maldives |9.51 |4 |160 |0.00 |<1>
Malaysia |9.09 |635 |28 |0.60 |-3.2
Belize |8.80 |11 |127 |0.01 |<2>
Singapore |8.06 |1,145 |19 |1.10 |-9.9
South Korea |7.96 |654 |27 |0.60 |+35.2
China |7.90 |429 |36 |0.40 |+32.5
United Arab Emirates |7.20 |926 |23 |0.90 |<2>
Chile |7.14 |125 |57 |0.10 |-1.6
Botswana |6.94 |20 |105 |0.02 |-16.0
Source: IMF.
<1> No local representation.
<2> No change.
Thailand
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current state of development of the proposed construction of the new transmitter in Thailand for the BBC World Service ; and when the construction will be completed.
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Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We have reached agreement in principle with the Thai authorities for the construction of a BBC World Service relay station in Thailand. Detailed site survey work, which is required before final project approval can be given, is about to begin. The target date for completion of the project is 1996.
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UN Security Council
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the United Kingdom ambassador to the United Nations has had with his American, Russian, French and Chinese counterparts in New York following the proposal by the United States ambassador that Germany and Japan be allocated permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council ; and what discussions Her Majesty's Government have had with the United States Administration over the proposal.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We have regular discussions with the Americans and other permanent members of the Security Council on a range of United Nations issues, including Security Council reform. The Americans have aired their views, which are not new, in the context of the Secretary-General's request for member states to submit views on Security Council reform by the end of June. Many states, including the United Kingdom, will be sending replies and we will play a full part in the debate.
UN Peace-keeping Operations
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the United Kingdom's contribution was to the United Nation's peace-keeping operations for each of the last 10 years ; and what form each contribution took.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : United Kingdom assessed contributions to the United Nations for peacekeeping operations for calendar years 1983 to 1992 inclusive are shown in table A.
We also contribute contingents to a number of operations. Table B shows average manpower totals for FY89/90 onwards and the costs. Figures are not available for personnel involved in peacekeeping operations before 1989.
Table A
PKO |Total United Nations|United Kingdom
|costs |assessment
|$ |$
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1983
UNEF/UNDOF |51,424,618 |2,903,400
UNIFIL |204,687,820 |11,562,616
|------- |-------
Totals |256,112,438 |14,466,016
1984
UNEF/UNDOF |35,008,804 |1,980,362
UNIFIL |139,515,477 |7,889,724
|------- |-------
Totals |174,524,281 |9,870,086
1985
UNEF/UNDOF |17,668,157 |999,159
UNIFIL |69,743,881 |3,943,611
|------- |-------
Totals |87,412,038 |4,942,770
1986
UNEF/UNDOF |36,075,718 |2,128,643
UNIFIL |165,495,803 |9,732,229
|------- |-------
Totals |201,571,521 |11,860,872
1987
UNEF/UNDOF |34,637,584 |2,052,892
UNIFIL |160,242,048 |9,499,379
|------- |-------
Totals |194,879,632 |11,552,271
1988
UNEF/UNDOF |17,448,712 |1,034,131
UNIFIL |128,287,933 |7,613,781
UNIIMOG |35,214,525 |2,085,184
|------- |-------
Totals |180,951,170 |10,733,096
1989
UNEF/UNDOF |35,758,957 |2,125,368
UNIFIL |152,928,144 |9,100,088
UNIIMOG |113,464,671 |6,765,227
UNAVEM |9,033,059 |535,871
UNTAG |409,555,646 |24,313,435
|------- |-------
Totals |720,740,477 |42,839,989
1990
UNEF/UNDOF |39,705,206 |2,350,921
UNIFIL |142,383,974 |8,450,380
UNIIMOG |24,245,517 |1,431,539
UNAVEM |5,680,851 |335,005
ONUCA |56,908,988 |3,375,840
|------- |-------
Totals |268,924,536 |15,943,685
1991
UNEF/UNDOF |37,865,581 |2,222,717
UNIFIL |151,520,291 |8,895,787
UNAVEM |52,133,556 |3,070,269
ONUCA |25,932,122 |1,514,512
UNIKOM |60,296,777 |3,542,240
MINURSO |140,911,223 |8,265,226
ONUSAL |13,242,993 |767,485
|------- |-------
Totals |481,902,543 |767,485
1992
UNEF/UNDOF |35,202,425 |2,120,982
UNIFIL |144,962,169 |8,792,954
UNAVEM |56,604,651 |3,420,182
ONUCA |12,120,754 |724,660
UNIKOM |60,869,647 |3,651,915
ONUSAL |36,260,035 |2,175,387
UNAMIC |33,294,358 |2,010,720
UNTAC |801,823,206 |48,813,331
UNPROFOR |250,455,801 |15,254,166
UNOSOM |108,441,298 |6,584,483
|------- |-------
Totals |1,540,034,344 |93,548,780
Note: Figures taken from United Nations status of Contribution Reports.
Column 87
Average manpower totals deployed on United Nations peacekeeping operations
Operation |Financial Year|Financial Year|Financial Year|Financial Year|Financial Year
|1989-90 |1990-91 |1991-92 |1992-93 |1993-94
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UNFICYP (Cyprus) |763 |778 |773 |786 |592
UNTAG (Namibia) |170 |- |- |- |-
UNIKOM (Iraq-Kuwait) |- |- |20 |15 |15
MINURSO (Western Sahara) |- |- |15 |15 |15
UNTAC (Cambodia) |- |- |<1><2>123 |123 |123
UNPROFOR (Yugoslavia)
[Including Hanwoood,
Cheshire and Grapple] |- |- |- |<1><3>2,489 |2,642
|-- |-- |-- |--- |---
Total for year |933 |778 |931 |3,428 |3,387
<1> Manpower level reduced following the recent 25 per cent. reduction in the UNFICYP force.
<2> Original deployment consisted of three military observers, a 13 man mine clearance team and two military
liaison officers at the United Nations. Increased in mid-March to its current strength.
<3> Between 15 July-23 October average manpower in-theatre was 331 but rose to 2,489 following the implementation
of Operation Grapple.
Column 89
Cost of United Kingdom participation
(£ million)
|1988-89|1989-90|1990-91|1991-92|1992-93
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
UNFICYP (Cyprus) |23.77 |24.84 |26.34 |29.93 |33.78
UNPROFOR (Croatia/Bosnia) |- |- |- |- |-
UNTAG (Namibia) |- |1.25 |- |- |-
MINURSO (Western Sahara) |- |- |- |0.06 |0.61
UNIKOM (Iraq/Kuwait) |- |- |- |0.03 |0.82
UNTASC/UNAMIC (Cambodia) |- |- |- |0.01 |0.83
-------
Gross cost |23.77 |26.09 |26.34 |30.03 |100.35
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution has been made by the United Kingdom towards the training of persons involved in peacekeeping by the United Nations in each of the last 10 years.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The preparation and training of United Kingdom personnel participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations is undertaken by the United Kingdom armed forces before each deployment. Over the last 10 years the United Kingdom has contributed personnel to the following peacekeeping operations :
MINURSO--United Nations Mission for the Referendum in the Western Sahara
UNFICYP--United Nations Peackeeping Force in Cyprus
UNIKOM--United Nations Iraq/Kuwait Observer Mission
UNTAC--United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia UNPROFOR--United Nations Protection Force (in the former Yugoslavia)
UNTAG--United Nations Transitional Assistance Group (Namibia)
Narcotics
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total of the United Kingdom's funding for overseas programmes to combat the production and trade in narcotics in each of the last five years, with each programme shown separately.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The figures for Departments' overseas programmes to combat the production and trade in narcotics for the last five years are as follows :
Column 90
i
|Foreign and |Overseas Development|Home Office
|Commonwealth Office |Administration
|£ |£ |£
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1988-89 |664,572 |n/a |1,985,000
1989-90 |4,267,927 |7,941,400 |2,267,000
1990-91 |4,453,930 |3,733,585 |3,352,000
1991-92 |3,203,266 |3,496,275 |2,093,000
1992-93 |2,802,303 |3,627,631 |4,428,000
n/a=not available.
ODA figures relate to projects aimed both directly and indirectly at reducing drug production and trafficking in developing countries. In addition, £94,000 from the seized asset fund was allocated to drugs- related assistance to overseas governments in 1992-93.
NATIONAL FINANCE
EC Economic Statistics
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current (a) inflation rate, (b) budget surplus or deficit as a percentage of gross domestic product, (c) public debt as a percentage of gross domestic product and (d) long-term interest rate, of each of the EC member states.
Mr. Nelson : The information requested is set out in the table.
Column 89
|Latest inflation<1>|Budget balance<2> |General government |Long-term bond
|debt<3> |yield<4>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Belgium |2.7 |-6.9 |132.2 |7.2
Denmark |1.1 |-2.4 |74.0 |7.2
France |2.0 |-3.9 |50.1 |6.9
Germany<5> |4.0 |-2.8 |45.9 |6.8
Greece |16.2 |-13.8 |105.6 |n/a
Ireland |1.9 |-2.4 |99.0 |7.6
Italy |4.0 |-9.5 |106.8 |10.5
Luxembourg |3.8 |-1.6 |6.8 |7.2
Netherlands |2.3 |-3.3 |79.8 |6.6
Portugal |5.7 |-5.4 |66.2 |12.2
Spain |4.6 |-4.5 |47.4 |10.7
United Kingdom |1.3 |-6.2 |45.9 |8.0
<1> Latest percentage change in consumer prices on year ago.
<2> 1992 general government financial balance (as a percentage of GDP), European Commission.
<3> 1992 gross debt of general government (as a percentage of GDP), estimates taken from European Economy (Annual
Economic Report for 1993).
<4> Yield on fixed interest government securities on 15 June 1993.
<5> Inflation and government debt figures are for western Germany.
Source: OECD and Eurostat
Industrial Research and Development
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to offer tax incentives to encourage companies in the United Kingdom to invest in industrial research and development.
Mr. Dorrell : My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster's recent White Paper on science and technology reiterated our view that we do not consider there to be a case for further general tax incentives for spending on research and development.
Profit Distribution
Mr. Hain : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information his Departments has on the percentage of company profits distributed as dividends in each year since 1978 for each G7 country excluding Canada and for Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Column 92
Mr. Nelson : The available information is provided in the OECD's "National Accounts Volume II", a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library.
Income Tax
Mr. Milburn : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total tax liability of each decile of taxpayers in each year since 1979-80 in (a) current prices and (b) 1979-80 prices ; and how many taxpayers were in each decile in each year.
Mr. Dorrell : Estimates are given in the tables. For years up to and including 1989-90 married couples are counted as one taxpayer and their incomes are combined. Following the introduction of independent taxation, for 1990-91 onwards husbands and wives are counted separately. The figures in the table have been rounded to the nearest £100 million and may differ slightly from the totals shown.
Column 91
Income tax liability of decile groups of taxpayers at current prices
(£ million)
Year |Top 10 per cent. |10-20 |20-30 |30-40 |40-50 |50-60 |60-70 |70-80 |80-90 |Bottom 10 per cent.|Total tax liability|Number in each |Total taxpayers<1>
|decile (thousands) |(thousands)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979-80 |7,900 |3,600 |2,800 |2,300 |1,900 |1,600 |1,200 |900 |500 |200 |22,900 |2,160 |21,600
1980-81 |9,300 |4,200 |3,300 |2,700 |2,200 |1,800 |1,500 |1,100 |600 |200 |26,900 |2,100 |21,000
1981-82 |10,800 |4,700 |3,700 |3,000 |2,500 |2,100 |1,600 |1,200 |700 |200 |30,500 |2,080 |20,800
1982-83 |11,700 |5,000 |3,900 |3,200 |2,700 |2,200 |1,700 |1,200 |700 |200 |32,600 |2,080 |20,800
1983-84 |12,100 |5,300 |4,000 |3,300 |2,700 |2,200 |1,700 |1,200 |700 |200 |33,400 |2,040 |20,400
1984-85 |13,200 |5,600 |4,200 |3,400 |2,700 |2,200 |1,700 |1,200 |700 |200 |35,300 |2,020 |20,200
1985-86 |14,800 |5,900 |4,500 |3,700 |3,000 |2,400 |1,900 |1,400 |900 |300 |38,800 |2,020 |20,200
1986-87 |16,900 |6,500 |4,900 |4,000 |3,200 |2,600 |2,000 |1,500 |900 |400 |42,800 |2,040 |20,400
1987-88 |18,400 |6,800 |5,100 |4,100 |3,400 |2,700 |2,000 |1,500 |900 |300 |45,300 |2,080 |20,800
1988-89 |19,400 |6,900 |5,200 |4,100 |3,400 |2,700 |2,100 |1,500 |900 |300 |46,500 |2,130 |21,300
1989-90 |22,600 |8,300 |5,900 |4,600 |3,700 |2,900 |2,300 |1,700 |1,100 |400 |53,400 |2,150 |21,500
1990-91 |25,400 |9,400 |6,900 |5,400 |4,200 |3,400 |2,600 |1,800 |1,000 |300 |60,400 |2,630 |26,300
1991-92 |26,200 |9,800 |7,100 |5,600 |4,400 |3,500 |2,600 |1,800 |1,000 |300 |62,400 |2,550 |25,500
1992-93 |25,800 |9,500 |6,900 |5,300 |4,200 |3,200 |2,400 |1,600 |800 |200 |59,900 |2,480 |24,800
<1> Tax units prior to 1990-91.
Column 91
Income tax liability of decile groups of taxpayers at 1979-80 prices
(£ million)
Year |Top 10 per cent. |10-20 |20-30 |30-40 |40-50 |50-60 |60-70 |70-80 |80-90 |Bottom 10 per cent.|Total tax liability|Number in each |Total taxpayers<1>
|decile (thousands) |(thousands)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979-80 |7,900 |3,600 |2,800 |2,300 |1,900 |1,600 |1,200 |900 |500 |200 |22,900 |2,160 |21,600
1980-81 |8,000 |3,600 |2,800 |2,300 |1,900 |1,500 |1,300 |900 |500 |200 |26,900 |2,100 |21,000
1981-82 |8,300 |3,600 |2,900 |2,300 |1,900 |1,600 |1,200 |900 |500 |200 |30,500 |2,080 |20,800
1982-83 |8,400 |3,600 |2,800 |2,300 |1,900 |1,600 |1,200 |900 |500 |100 |32,600 |2,080 |20,800
1983-84 |8,300 |3,700 |2,800 |2,300 |1,900 |1,500 |1,200 |800 |500 |100 |33,400 |2,040 |20,400
1984-85 |8,600 |3,700 |2,800 |2,200 |1,800 |1,400 |1,100 |800 |500 |100 |35,300 |2,020 |20,200
1985-86 |9,100 |3,600 |2,800 |2,300 |1,900 |1,500 |1,200 |900 |600 |200 |38,800 |2,020 |20,200
1986-87 |10,100 |3,900 |2,900 |2,400 |1,900 |1,600 |1,200 |900 |500 |200 |42,800 |2,040 |20,400
1987-88 |10,600 |3,900 |2,900 |2,400 |2,000 |1,600 |1,200 |900 |500 |200 |45,300 |2,080 |20,800
1988-89 |10,600 |3,800 |2,800 |2,200 |1,800 |1,500 |1,100 |800 |500 |200 |46,500 |2,130 |21,300
1989-90 |11,400 |4,200 |2,900 |2,300 |1,900 |1,500 |1,200 |800 |600 |200 |53,400 |2,150 |21,500
1990-91 |11,700 |4,300 |3,200 |2,500 |1,900 |1,600 |1,200 |800 |500 |100 |60,400 |2,630 |26,300
1991-92 |11,500 |4,300 |3,100 |2,500 |1,900 |1,500 |1,100 |800 |400 |100 |62,400 |2,550 |25,500
1992-93 |11,000 |4,000 |2,900 |2,300 |1,800 |1,400 |1,000 |700 |300 |100 |59,900 |2,480 |24,800
<1>Tax units prior to 1990-91.
Mr. Denzil Davies : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the revenue change in a full year at 1993-94 income levels and assuming existing levels of personal allowances of replacing the present rates and thresholds of income tax with a structure in which (a) the first £2,500 incurred tax at 20 per cent., (b) £2,500 to £30,000 at 25 per cent., (c) £30,000 to £50, 000 at 30 per cent., (d) £50,000 to £75,000 at 40 per cent., (e) £75,000 to £100,000 at 50 per cent., (f) £100,000 to £250,000 at 60 per cent. and (g) over £250,000 at 70 per cent.
Mr. Dorrell : The estimated revenue cost in a full year at 1993-94 income levels from imposition of the specified regime is £510 million. This does not allow for any behavioural effect that might result from such changes to the tax system and does not include capital gains tax.
New Change Building
Mr. Dowd : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in resolving the dispute concerning outstanding payments to contractors on project 1215 at New Change, EC4 on behalf of the Bank of England ; and when Mr. R. Simpson, the managing director of R. M. Simpson Ltd. (Heating Engineers) of London SE26, can expect a reply from the Chief Secretary to his letter to him of 19 March.
Mr. Portillo [holding answer 14 June 1993] : I have no record of receiving such a letter, although I now have a copy. My private secretary wrote to Mr. Simpson on 21 June.
Personal Investment Authority
Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has about the costs to date of the proposed personal investment authority.
Mr. Nelson [holding answer 16 June 1993] : The PIA is a company limited by guarantee which will be applying to the Securities and Investments Board for recognition as a self-regulating organisation under the Financial Services Act. The costs to date are a matter for the company.
Excise Duty
Mr. Fatchett : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the value to the Exchequer of excise duty levied on (a) beer, (b) wine and (c) spirits, for the latest financial year ; and if he will make a statement.
Column 94
Sir John Cope [holding answer 21 June 1993] : The information requested, for the year ending March 1993, is as follows :
|£ million
---------------------------------------
Beer |2,377
Wine and made wine |979
Spirits |1,659
NORTHERN IRELAND
Market Testing
Ms Mowlam : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all the market tests that have taken place in his Department since November 1992 and indicate, in each case, whether the result was the maintenance of in-house provision, or whether the service was contracted out.
Mr. Mates : Eleven tests have been completed in Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office since November 1992. Five of these were won by the in-house providers, two by outside contractors and four by a combination of both, as follows : Transit (computer systems)-- Contracted out
Bridge inspection vehicles--Retained in-house
Roadman training centre--Retained in-house
Road testing machines--Retained in-house
Castlenavan Quarry--Combination
Grounds maintenance (two tests)--Retained in-house
Sewer maintenance--Combination
Sludge maintenance (two tests)--Combination
Catering--Contracted out
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