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EC Council of Ministers
Mr. Denzil Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list, together with the respective dates, those meetings of the EC Council of Ministers which were attended by Ministers in his Department in the latest 12 months.
Mr. Mates : None. Northern Ireland's interests like those of the rest of the United Kingdom at EC Council meetings are represented by the Minister with the lead United Kingdom policy responsibility.
Clubs
Mr. William O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he intends to publish in the near future the review of the Registration of Clubs (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Ancram : The review is still in progress. In due course, the Government will publish proposals for amending legislation.
Education and Library Boards
Mr. Beggs : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the annual cost of administering each education and library board in each of the last three years.
Mr. Ancram : The information is as follows :
Year |Belfast |North-Eastern|South-Eastern|Southern |Western
|£ million |£ million |£ million |£ million |£ million
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990-91 |6,229 |6,840 |6,727 |7,227 |6,365
1991-92 |8,903 |8,962 |8,080 |9,155 |7,496
<1>1992-93 |7,888 |7,429 |6,266 |7,360 |6,532
<1> Estimated
Mr. Beggs : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the education authorities in Northern Ireland and the total number of pupils for which each education and library board is responsible.
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Mr. Ancram : The education authorities in Northern Ireland are the five education and library boards and the total numbers of pupils are as follows :
|Number
-------------------------------
Belfast |66,183
Western |65,478
Northern-Eastern |74,328
South-Eastern |64,300
Southern |75,030
Mr. Beggs : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time (i) teachers and (ii) other staff were employed in each education and library board area in Northern Ireland in the latest year for which figures are available.
Mr. Ancram : The latest information relates to 1992-93 and is as follows :
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Teachers Other Staff
Board Area |Full-time |Part-time<1>|Full-time |Part-time
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Belfast |3,635 |58 |1,557 |2,683
North-Eastern |3,994 |118 |1,741 |4,365
South-Eastern |3,410 |77 |1,260 |3,263
Southern |3,964 |95 |1,730 |4,199
Western |3,507 |34 |1,823 |4,735
<1> Information is not available on the number of part-time teachers. The
figures in this column are based on the number of part-time teacher hours
worked, expressed as full-time equivalents.
Note: Data for teachers covers all those employed in schools in the boards'
areas, but not necessarily by the boards. Figures for other staff relate to
boards' staff only.
Education Department
Mr. Beggs : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total number of people employed in the Department of Education (Northern Ireland) in each of the last 10 years.
Mr. Ancram : The information is as follows :
Year |Number --------------------- 1984 |568 1985 | 588.5 1986 |602 1987 |606 1988 | 615.5 1989 |621 1990 | 638.5 1991 |631 1992 |622 1993 |655
Mr. Beggs : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the annual cost of administering the Department of Education (Northern Ireland) in each of the last three years.
Mr. Ancram : The costs for each of the last three financial years were :
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Year |£ million ------------------------------- 1990-91 |12.5 1991-92 |13.0 <1>1992-93 |14.8 <1>Provisional outturn.
Pensions
Mr. McNamara : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the actual and estimated future annual totals for old age pension payments to people resident in Northern Ireland annually from 1990 to the year 2000.
Mr. Ancram : I refer the hon. Member to table 9.22 of the Government's Public Expenditure Plans for Northern Ireland (Cmnd 2216), a copy of which is in the Library. Expenditure plans for the years 1996 to 2000 are not yet available.
European Community Funding
Mr. McNamara : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much of the annual transfers of EC moneys to Northern Ireland are (a) payments to Northern Ireland under each specific EC fund and (b) payments channelled via the United Kingdom Government and not explicitly identified as common agricultural policy transfers or other such transfers.
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Mr. Mates : The greatest part of the annual transfers of EC monies to Northern Ireland are made via the United Kingdom Government as payments from either the European regional development fund, the European social fund or the European guidance and guarantee fund (EGGF). Other small payments are made by the European Commission direct to recipients which are not passed through the United Kingdom Government.
The majorty of payments under the guarantee section of the EGGF are made centrally on a United Kingdom basis through the Intervention Board Executive Agency and are not recorded on a territorial basis. There are no other transfers of EC monies to Northern Ireland via the United Kingdom Government.
Babies (Eye Defects)
Dr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for each year from 1976 to the latest available date, the numbers of babies born in Northern Ireland with (a) no eyes, (b) small eyes, (c) damaged optic nerves and (d) all recorded eye defects ; and if he will estimate the comprehensiveness of the recorded information.
Mr. Ancram [holding answer 15 June 1993] : The information is not collated centrally in the form requested. During the years 1980 to 1988, five babies were born in Northern Ireland with no eyes, 47 with small eyes and 28 with cataract. The number of babies born with eye defects between 1976 and 1981 were as follows :
|No eyes or small |Other eye defects
|eyes
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1976 |2 |2
1977 |2 |1
1978 |2 |3
1979 |12 |22
1980 |12 |29
1981 |12 |19
The Northern Ireland genetics service, which has provided the information, believes it to be reasonably comprehensive.
PRIME MINISTER
Horse Racing
Q7. Mr. Paice : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on Government policy towards the horse racing industry.
Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.
the Government are keen to see the industry prosper and, as my hon. Friend knows, we have in recent months taken various measures to help it to do so. I also welcome the establishment of the new British Horseracing Board and wish it success in its aim of putting racing in this country on a sound financial footing.
Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister what response he is making to the letter on THORP from the Japanese groups delivered to him on 15 June.
Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.
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So far as I am aware, no trace of the letter can be found.Mr. Salmond : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his public statements on THORP since November 1990.
Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to the right hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Ashdown) on 17 June 1993 at columns 987-88.
Mr. Salmond : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those hon. Members with whom he has had meetings to discuss THORP since November 1990.
Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister meets hon. and right hon. Members regularly and discusses a range of topics.
Engagements
Sir Peter Tapsell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 22 June.
Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has been attending a European Council meeting in Copenhagen.
Irish Republic (President)
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Prime Minister what has been the cost to the United Kingdom of each visit made by the present President of the Irish Republic to Northern Ireland ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.
The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Workplace Creches
Ms Abbott : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list, for the Civil Service in the Whitehall area, how many (a) men and women are directly employed, (b) buildings are used and (c) workplace creches are in place, or so much of the information requested as is available.
Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.
In the Whitehall area there were approximately 4,560 men and 3,080 women employed in the home civil service at 1 April 1993. There are 27 common user estate buildings and two civil service workplace nurseries. A further nursery serving this area is scheduled to open in November. A number of Departments and agencies also have places in a private nursery in the vicinity.
TRANSPORT
British Transport Police
Sir Anthony Durant : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the Government's conclusions on the response to the consultation document "The Future Status of British Transport Police".
Mr. Freeman : We have today issued our conclusions on the consultation exercise and I am arranging for a copy to
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be placed in the Library of the House. I welcome this opportunity of confirming our decisions that overall control will remain in the public sector ; that a provision in the operator's licence will make it compulsory to use BTP for the administration of law and order on the railway ; and that there will be levels of policing laid down which operators will be required to provide.The Government do not inte Bypass)
Mr. Madel : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the target date of autumn 1993 for the publication of draft orders under the Highways Act for the A5 Dunstable bypass stated in the letter from the then Minister for Roads and Traffic to the hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire of 23 March remains in place.
Mr. Key : We hope to publish draft orders next spring. The delay results from a need to examine more fully the environmental impact of the road on the sensitive areas through which it passes. I will write to the hon. Member.
Air Accident Report
Mr. Wilshire : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on air accident report 3/93 ; and what action he plans to take, and when, on the recommendations in this report.
Mr. Norris : This accident report, by my Department's air accident investigation branch (AAIB), relates to an incident on 9 March 1992, when an aircraft suffered damage soon after take-off from Frankfurt and diverted to London Heathrow. The AAIB has made a thorough analysis of this incident and its causes and consequences and have produced a valuable and comprehensive report.
The AAIB has made two recommendations, directed at the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). These recommendations have been accepted and the appropriate alterations will be included in the next amendment to the Manual of Air Traffic Control Part I, due on 28 June 1993.
Mr. Wilshire : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date he sent a copy of air accident report 3/93 to the Library.
Mr. Norris : No copies of air accident report 3/93 were sent to the Library. Copies of AAIB reports are sent to the Library in the event of accidents and incidents likely to attract considerable public interest or where Members have indicated a particular interest in the investigation.
Mr. Wilshire : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many hon. Members were sent copies of air accident report 3/93 when it was published on 9 June.
Mr. Norris : None. The air accidents investigation branch (AAIB) send copies of their reports to all Members of Parliament who express an interest in a particular investigation.
The AAIB published an interim bulletin on this accident in June 1992 but no Members indicated an interest in receiving a copy of the formal investigation report.
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Railway Track Support Grant
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will require a reassessment of rail freight rates in light of the proposed track support grant ; and if he will make a statement ; (2) if the track support grant is to be made available to the Cambrian coast railway ; and if he will make a statement ; (3) when he expects to make an announcement regarding the level and distribution of track support grant ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : We envisage that Railtrack will be able to accept on to the rail network any freight flow which can cover its avoidable costs. The track charge grant is aimed at assisting flows which cannot cover those costs. It follows that grant will be flow specific, not route specific. The public expenditure provision for the new grant will be determined in the course of the current public expenditure planning round.
Taxis
Dame Angela Rumbold : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps will be taken under the new proposed regulations to ensure that ex-licensed black cabs are not used for other taxi purposes ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris : At present, the law requires that when a vehicle licensed as a taxi in London is sold, or the licence has expired without plans for renewal, the vehicle licence plate must be returned to the licensing authority. Once this has been done the taxi becomes a private vehicle and although it can be used as a minicab, it is an offence to use it to ply for hire. In addition, the display of any sign or notice on it which includes the words "taxi", "cab" or "hire" is prohibited.
Outside London, a London-type taxi may be used as a hackney carriage if it is licensed by the local district council, but it may not be used as a private hire vehicle at all because it might be mistaken for a taxi. If unlicensed it may be used as a private car only.
Dame Angela Rumbold : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is proposing to take to enforce prosecution of unlicensed minicabs ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris : Minicabs in London are not licensed, and their use for pre-booked journeys is perfectly legal. It is illegal for them to accept hirings in the street. The police already have powers to take action in such cases.
I am, however, reviewing the regulation of taxis, minicabs and private hire vehicles in England, including London, and I hope to publish a Green Paper on this subject shortly.
A418
Mr. Walden : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department will publish its proposals for the A418 trunk route in Buckinghamshire.
Mr. Key : Preparations are in hand to consult the public about the A418 west of Aylesbury to Wing proposals later this year.
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Portwood Roundabout
Mr. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to give the approval and finance for the installation of traffic lights at the Portwood roundabout giving access to the M66.
Mr. Key : Approval has already been given to install lights on the Portwood roundabout so that traffic leaving the M63 does not queue on the motorway. Funds have been made available to carry out the work this financial year.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Milk
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what plans she has to help the milk industry following the reduction of EC financial support for the school milk scheme ; and if she will make a statement ;
(2) what is her policy towards the provision of subsidised school milk ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Jack : Until the Commission presents its detailed proposals for expenditure under the school milk scheme in 1994, I am not able to make a clear statement of future policy in this area.
Common Land
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans she has to introduce legislation regarding common land and overgrazing ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Jack : As regards legislation concerning common land, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Dunn) on 8 June at col. 291.
Environmentally damaging overgrazing on common land and elsewhere is being tackled under legislation covering hill livestock compensatory allowances (HLCAs) and the environmentally sensitive areas scheme. We plan to adjust other livestock premiums to complement the action already being taken on HLCAs. In addition, we have carried out consultations on a new moorland scheme which will also contribute to reducing overgrazing.
Ewe and Suckler Cow Premiums
Dr. Strang : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the criteria by which the national reserve of ewe and suckler cow premium is distributed to applicants.
Mrs. Shephard : The categories to be covered by the national reserve were the subject of a consultation exercise, and the details are currently being finalised. The necessary national legislation will be made later in the summer.
New Farmers
Dr. Strang : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what capital incentives are available to make farming more accessible to new entrants.
Mrs. Shephard : No capital incentives available are aimed specifically at new entrants to the farming industry.
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However, young farmers (those under 40) taking out first improvement plans under the farm conservation grant scheme are eligible for additional grant of 25 per cent. of the normal rates of grant towards the cost of capital investments of benefit to conservation and the environment.CAP Fraud
Sir Teddy Taylor : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total amount of expenditure by the EC's administration concerned with seeking out fraud in the operation of the comon agricultural policy over the most recent 12 months for which figures are available ; what is the value of the fraudulent activities which they discovered during this period ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jack : A number of units within the Commission have an interest in dealing with CAP fraud. Information on their administrative costs is not available as the general budget of European Communities does not give this detail.
The Commission's annual report on the fight against fraud includes details of CAP fraud and irregularities and measures to combat these. The 1992 report and action programme for 1993, COM(93)141 final, was the subject of explanatory memorandum 6203/93 of 20 May 1993 submitted by the Paymaster General. A copy of the report was placed in the Library of the House.
Redundant Farm Buildings
Dr. Strang : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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.
Mrs. Shephard : My Department does not offer grant aid for the restoration of redundant dwellings on farms. However, grants are available under the farm and conservation grant scheme for the repair or refurbishment of traditional farm buildings currently in agricultural use using traditional materials and construction methods.
EMPLOYMENT
Disabled People
Mr. Richards : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to improve the way his Department gives assistance towards meeting the employment needs of people with disabilities.
Mr. David Hunt : I have asked the Employment Service to introduce a new major programme for people with disabilities from 1 April 1994. It will be called "access to work" and will assist people who need help to overcome barriers to work resulting from disabilities. Access to work replaces and adds to the help currently available under the special aids to employment, adaptations to premises and equipment, fares and work, and personal reader service schemes, which will be wound up. More people with a wider range of needs will be helped. Assistance will no longer be limited to prescribed, specific forms. Within resources available, it will be provided flexibly to meet need.
Access to work will be open to unemployed, employed or self-employed clients registerable as disabled with
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priority for unemployed people. New forms of help available will include communication support for deaf people, adaptations of vehicles to get to work, and support workers for people with severe physical disabilities, mental illness or with learning difficulties. In addition, from 5 July 1993, unemployed deaf people will be able to get help towards the cost of communicators at job interviews. Trials of other forms of communicator support for deaf people entering employment will be taking place in four locations during 1993. Lessons learned will be taken into account in access to work. Under access to work there will be an upper limit, at a level to be specified as soon as possible, to the amount of financial help any one individual can receive over a five year period, but entitlement to support will begin again after five years. Employers will be asked to make a 50 per cent. contribution towards assistance for employees who have worked for them for six months or more. These contributions will be capped over the five year period at a level to be specified. Employers will also be expected to pay for the cost of one-off items of equipment or help costing less than £100 for their employees who have worked for them for six months or more. Employers will not be asked for any contribution for new recruits or employees who have worked with them for less than six months.The job introduction scheme, which encourages employers to take on people with disabilities for short trial periods, will continue separately. The business on own account scheme, which currently provides assistance with general business setting up costs to only a very small number of severely disabled people, will be discontinued. However, those wanting to enter self -employment will be eligible for help under access to work.
I believe that the introduction of access to work will be an important step in helping to release, in the workplace, the individual potential and initiative of people with disabilities and to meet their employment needs.
CBI
Mr. Callaghan : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he will next meet the chairman of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss training issues.
Miss Widdecombe : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is looking forward to an early meeting. Such meetings are held regularly.
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