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enclose a copy of the Report, which I hope will help to fill out the picture for you. Since the Government's Reply was published, the Employment Service has agreed to provide additional funding to enable the number of prison job clubs and prisons running job search preparation courses to be increased. In consequence, as part of its business plan for 1993-94, the Prison Service aims to increase the number of prisons running job search preparation courses from 24 to 48 and the number of prison job clubs from 5 to 10.Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of the working group examining the future of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board have (a) English legal qualifications and (b) Scottish legal qualifications.
Mr. Maclean : There is no working group examining the future of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. As my right hon. and learned Friend the member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke) announced on 23 November 1992, col 457, the Government have decided that the present criminal injuries compensation scheme should be replaced in 1994 by one based on a tariff of awards. The intention is to offer a better, more straightforward service to claimants.
Officials are working up the more detailed proposals in the normal course of their duties under the direction of Ministers. The officials take legal advice as and when appropriate. Details of the new scheme will be set out in the White Paper within the next two or three months.
Bosnian Refugees
Mr. Waller : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to accelerate the programme for the reception of Bosnian refugees and their dependants announced on 30 November.
Mr. Charles Wardle : In response to the humanitarian organisations' priorities the programme has initially concentrated on former detention camp inmates and their dependants. We have already received a total of 250 ex-detainees and 421 dependants, but there have been difficulties, particularly in securing further releases from the detention camps. In discussion with UNHCR we have made clear our readiness to consider other vulnerable individuals for inclusion in the 1,000.
Anti-Abortion Protesters
Sir David Steel : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to prevent the entry into the United Kingdom of anti-abortion protesters from the United States.
Mrs. Helen Jackson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to prevent the entry to the United Kingdom of activitists from (a) Operation Rescue and (b) Rescue America.
Mr. Charles Wardle : Citizens of the United States of America are subject to immigration control and must qualify to enter under the terms of the immigration rules. My right hon. and learned Friend may direct exclusion if a person's presence would not be conducive to the public good. Consideration will be given to any evidence which would justify exclusion on this ground.
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City of London (Road Closures)
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has held with the City of London Corporation on the closure of roads on security grounds ; and what is the maximum time that such road closures can be maintained.
Mr. Howard : The experimental traffic scheme now in operation was introduced by the Commissioner of Police for the City of London with the agreement of the Corporation of London, under section 12 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. A scheme introduced under this section may remain in force for up to six months and may thereafter be continued for a maximum of 12 months in all. The City's proposals did not require my approval, although the City corporation and police discussed them with members of my Department before implementation.
Immigration Rules
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the progress of discussions on proposals to remove sex discrimination from the immigration rules ; when he expects the conclusions to be implemented ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Charles Wardle : We are currently considering these and other aspects of the immigration rules and hope to publish proposals shortly.
Macedonia
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to abolish the visa requirement for citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Car Park Attacks
Mr. Shersby : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis concerning (a) the attacks on women that have taken place recently in supermarket car parks in south London and (b) the consideration he is giving to crime prevention advice to shoppers and to the proprietors of supermarkets about improved security ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Charles Wardle : All such attacks are investigated and an arrest has been made in the recent case of an attack on a women shopper returning to her car parked in a supermarket car park. There is no indication that this type of crime is increasing. Sensible precautions are promoted by the Metropolitan police and the national "Secured Car Parks" scheme operates in London. This scheme extends throughout the Metropolitan police district and is open to all car park owners and operators, including supermarket proprietors.
Sheehy Inquiry
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the experience or qualifications possessed by each member of the inquiry into police responsibilities and rewards prior to their appointment which were considered to be of particular relevance to that appointment.
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Mr. Charles Wardle : The chairman and each member of the inquiry between them possessed an impressive range of skills and experience drawn from the management of large private and public sector organisations, a practical understanding of business, and in particular effective service delivery.
Electoral Register
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to bringing forward proposals for a rolling register whereby names can be added to the list of voters throughout the year ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The introduction of a "rolling" electoral register is one of the matters being discussed in the post-election review. The five working groups set up as part of the review are expected to report their findings in
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the late summer. Representatives of the political parties and the local authority associations will then be invited to discuss the reports at a meeting in the autumn.Racial Incidents
Mr. Churchill : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) of 17 December 1992, Official Report, column 443, if he will provide a breakdown of the figures given by ethnic group of victim, for the last five years for which figures are available.
Mr. Maclean : The information given to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey can only be further broken down by ethnic group for the Metropolitan police district, and is given in the table.
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Recorded racial incidents in the Metropolitan police area
Ethnic grouping
Year |White European |Dark-skinned |Black/Afro- |Asian |Oriental |Arabic/Egyptian |Origin unknown/Other|Total
|European |Caribbean
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1988 |270 |54 |532 |1,348 |32 |15 |25 |2,276
1989 |384 |86 |558 |1,616 |35 |25 |43 |2,747
1990 |439 |104 |649 |1,661 |46 |36 |27 |2,962
1991 |610 |114 |686 |1,893 |36 |47 |2 |3,388
1992 |654 |130 |796 |1,860 |58 |42 |134 |3,674
Note.-These figures do not agree with the table for classified racial incidents as in certain cases there is more than one victim per incident.
Quangos
Mr. Grocott : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the names of individuals who (a) are spouses of hon. Members, (b) are members of the House of Lords, (c) are spouses of members of the House of Lords and (d) have been party candidates for Parliament, indicating for which party, who have been appointed by his Department since 1988 to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations giving, in each case, the title of the post, any salary payable, and the duration of the appointment.
Mr. Howard : The information requested is not available, apart from the following information in respect of part (b) of the question : Lord Belstead
Chairman of the Parole Board
Salary £45,060
Appointed 3 October 1992 until 2 October 1997
Lord Brassey of Apethorpe
Member of the Board of Visitors, HM Prison, Gartree
Expenses only
Appointed 1981 for 3 years ; reappointed on a 3-yearly basis Rt. hon. Lord Carlisle of Bucklow, QC
Chairman of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
Salary £31,350
Appointed 1 March 1989 until 31 March 1995
Lord Kimball
Chairman of the Firearms Consultative Committee
Expenses only
Appointed for 5 years from 1989
Lord Macaulay of Bragar, QC
Member of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
Fee £246 per day
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Appointed 12 January 1989 until 31 March 1995Baroness Masham of Ilton
Member of Board of Visitors, HM Young Offender
Institution, Wetherby
Expenses only
Appointed 1963 ; reappointed on a 3-yearly basis
Lord Nathan
Chairman of the Animal Procedures Committee
Expenses only
Appointed January 1990 until February 1993
Professor Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior
Member of the Animal Procedures Committee
Expenses only
Appointed 1985 ; renewed 1987 for 4 years
Lord Swaythling
Member of the Horserace Totalisator Board
Salary £7,772
Appointed 1981 ; reappointed for 5 terms until 1993
Lord Wyatt of Weeford
Chairman of the Horserace Totalisator Board
Salary £92,000
Appointed 1976 ; reappointed 1993 for 2 years.
Information in respect of the Parole Local Review Committees is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
Oxfam
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to consult Oxfam before the G7 conference about the issues to be raised there.
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Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The conclusions in Oxfam's recent report "Africa, Make or Break" were widely considered in the run-up to the summit, and my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development met representatives of Oxfam on 8 July. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister also met members of the all-party group, the "Africa Caucus", on 29 June, and discussed issues raised by the report.
Kashmir
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to withhold aid programmes to India until the Indian Government allow independent observer groups from the British Parliament to visit the Indian-occupied area of Kashmir ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We have no plans to withhold aid programmes to India.
Vegetable Waste (Exports)
Sir David Steel : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he will take in the light of the representations made to him concerning the production of compost/soil enricher from vegetable waste for export to the third world ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We do not believe exporting compost from the United Kingdom is an appropriate or cost-effective way to improve soil fertility in the developing world.
We aim to address developing country problems through promoting economic growth and self-reliance, and are assisting smallholder farms in Africa and Asia to produce compost from their own organic wastes.
Indonesia
Dr. Marek : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 22 April to the hon. Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon), Official Report, column 172, when it became the policy of Her Majesty's Government to seek to influence Indonesia by dialogue rather than by attaching conditions to aid.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The Government explained their policy on good government in speeches by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 6 June 1990 and by my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development on 25 June 1991. When determining the flows of development aid, Her Majesty's Government studies each individual case carefully. Respect for human rights, among other factors, is taken into account.
Irrigation Projects
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current level of United Kingdom aid for irrigation projects ; which are the main countries involved ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : In financial year 1992-93, we spent £6.54 million on irrigation and associated drainage projects. The main beneficiaries were Pakistan, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. We also spend about £750,000
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per annum on research into irrigation and drainage and fund scholarships in the United Kingdom for irrigation specialists from overseas.TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Hotel and Restaurant Industry
Lady Olga Maitland : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has had from the hotel and restaurant industry regarding deregulation.
Mr. Neil Hamilton : The hotel and restaurant industry is represented on the sectoral task forces and many individual operators and trade organisations have provided evidence of over regulation. The issues identified are being pursued vigorously with the Government Departments concerned.
THORP
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what approaches he has received from foreign customers for BNFL's THORP regarding the cancellation or amendment of contracts, the return of fuel or whether it will be reprocessed.
Music Industry
Mr. Whittingdale : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total amount in exports earned by the British music industry in 1992.
Mr. Needham : Exports of records, cassettes and compact discs as reported by Customs and Excise and shortly to be published by the British Phonographic Industry in its 1993 handbook were £211.9 million in 1992. BPI will also publish an estimate of invisible earnings in the form of royalties returning from overseas of £500 million in 1991.
Regional Assistance
Mr. Milburn : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what monitoring his Department undertakes of firms receiving regional financial selective assistance once their projects have been completed.
Mr. Sainsbury : Regional selective assistance offer letters require beneficiaries to confirm to the Department at intervals of 18 months and 36 months after the last payment of grant, that job totals and assets relating to the project remain in place or to explain any changes and the reasons for them.
Mr. Milburn : To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 9 June, Official Report, column 254, what information he has about any of the firms benefiting from regional financial selective assistance now having ceased trading.
Mr. Sainsbury : The Department may become aware that individual firms have ceased trading at any time during the normal monitoring of regional selective assistance and this information would be recorded on the case file. However, identifying all such cases would involve disproportionate costs. Firms that discontinue trading
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after completion of the monitoring period are treated as all other firms and the Department keeps no specific record of them.Post Office (Privatisation)
Mr. Hain : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those remaining Crown post offices which it is intended to convert to privatised status.
Mr. McLoughlin : No. Decisions on which individual Crown post offices should be proposed for conversion to agency status are an operational matter for the Post Office. The Post Office always consults publicly on individual proposals in accordance with a code of practice agreed with the Post Office Users National Council.
Mr. Hain : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consultations he held with the Post Office on its decision to convert an additional 200 Crown post offices to privatised status ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. McLoughlin : I understand that the Post Office has made no decision about the number of Crown offices to be converted to agency status. The Crown office conversion programme delivers costs savings which help to protect the rest of the post office network ; it also ensures that the delivery of post office services is responsive to customer needs by, for example, increasing opening hours. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade does not have detailed discussions with the Post Office on implementation of this programme, which is a matter within their operational responsibility.
Public Houses
Mr. Wareing : To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 5 July, Official Report, column 35, how many of the representations from Inntrepreneur Estates Ltd. lessees expressed concern over rent levels ; how many referred to the effect of a beer tie on rent levels ; and how many of the complainants have obtained redress of their grievances as a result of his intervention.
Mr. Neil Hamilton : The majority of representations received recently by my Department from Inntrepreneur Estates Ltd. lessees expressed concern over rent levels. Levels of rent are essentially a commercial matter between company and lessee. We understand from the company that rent levels negotiated by the company take account of the individual circumstances of each public house, including whether or not it is tied. The Government asked all the major brewers in 1991 to introduce procedures associated with long-term leases to be determined by independent arbitration or through independent assessment by a professional expert where they could not be agreed with the tenants ; these are available under the IEL lease. It would not be appropriate for the Government to intervene in individual cases.
Mr. Wareing : To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 5 July, Official Report, column 35, what were the specific issues raised with Mr. R. G. Williams, chairman and managing director of Grand Metropolitan Estates Ltd. in respect of Inntrepreneur leases ; what was his response ; what reduction in rents resulted from the removal of beer ties ; and if he will make a statement.
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