House of Commons Hansard Debates for 25 Oct 1993

Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant

Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what matters in regard to Sellafield and the new thermal oxide reprocessing plant were raised at the intergovernmental conference on Ireland held on 10September.

Sir Patrick Mayhew : The areas of discussion at meetings of the intergovernmental conference are listed in the communique s issued afterwards ; copies of which are placed in the Library. Details of these discussions are confidential between the two Governments.

Prisons

Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for each of Her Majesty's prison establishments in the Province the key objectives reported for the year 1993-94 ; and what they were for the year 1992-93.

Sir John Wheeler : All prison establishments in Northern Ireland operate from year to year with the following key objectives : (a) to keep in custody, with the degree of security and control considered appropriate by staff, each individual person committed to custody by the courts and to produce or release them as required ; (b) to provide for all prisoners the necessities of life ; including accommodation, food, exercise, health care and freedom to practice religion, and to provide them with the opportunity to engage in constructive activities, such as work, education, training, hobbies and sport, to fill at least the working day ;

(c) to enable all prisoners to retain links with their families and to assist sentenced prisoners in their preparation for release into the community ;

(d) to treat prisoners as individuals regardless of their religious beliefs or political opinions and to offer them the opportunity to serve their sentences free from paramilitary influence, and (e) to manage resources economically and efficiently and, in particular, to enhance the morale and abilities of staff by providing the appropriate conditions of service, management structures and training.

NHS Trusts

Mr. Milburn : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will itemise the cost of establishing national health service trusts ;

(2) how much has been spent in each health and social service board on (a) printing and publication costs, (b) publicity and public relations costs, (c) consultation and public meetings and (d) other costs connected with the proposed establishment of NHS trusts in 1991-92 and 1992-93 ; and what is the expected spending in 1993-94.

Mr. Ancram : Health and social services boards are not required to meet costs of this nature. The Department of Health and Social Services has set aside additional resources to meet the cost of mounting applications for trust status and, where they are successful, other neccesary transitional expenses. Approximately £185,000 is set aside for each successsful applicant to cover the cost of developing and publishing a formal application, remuneration of non-executives during the shadow period and a range of measures to prepare the trust for operational independence.

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Mr. Milburn : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how the revenue grant to national health service trusts during their shadow running period is calculated.

Mr. Ancram : The financial assistance which the Department of Health and Social Services gives to trusts during their shadow period is a one-off payment calculated to meet expenditure on areas essential to the trust becoming operationally independent. The level of assistance is based on that available in other parts of the United Kingdom.

Mr. Milburn : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what will be his Department's total expenditure on the establishment of national health service trusts since their first introduction to the end of the current financial year.

Mr. Ancram : To date a total of around £1.9 million has been spent on the establishment of health and social services trusts in Northern Ireland. Decisions are awaited on two further applications for trust status. Were both of these applications to be successful, this figure would increase by £370,000 making the total expenditure to the end of the current financial year £2,270,000.

Mr. Milburn : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the cost of employing management consultants and private agencies to assist in the preparation of national health service trust applications in the Province, and in each health and social services board.

Mr. Ancram : The Department of Health and Social Services has employed consultants from the Institute of Health Services Management to assist in its assessment of applications for trust status. The average cost of this consultancy for each application has been £2, 000. Information on other consultancy is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Milburn : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much each national health service trust has spent on (a) shadow board costs, (b) legal expenses, (c) employment of staff and (d) miscellaneous expenses ; and if he will define what costs are included under miscellaneous expenses.

Mr. Ancram : During the shadow period between establishment and operational independence trusts do not have funds of their own to meet these expenses and therefore costs are covered directly by the non- recurring assistance made available by the Department of Health and Social Services. Shadow board costs will vary from trust to trust depending on turnover but the average figure is around £20,000 per trust. Legal services for conveyancing etc. are provided by the Department at no cost to the trust. Details of individual costs for the employment of staff are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Miscellaneous expenses might include such items as new signs for buildings and vehicles, new stationery, organisational and management development, induction of chairmen and non-executive directors and consultants fees. Details of spending under individual headings are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

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Arable Area Payments Scheme

Mr. Martlew : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of applications in each county in Northern Ireland under the (a) main arable areas payments scheme and (b) the simplified scheme in 1993 ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Ancram : The number of applications by county under the arable area payments scheme are as follows :


H

                  |County           |Main scheme                        

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Antrim            |12               |678                                

Armagh            |8                |251                                

Down              |66               |1,050                              

Fermanagh         |-                |2                                  

Londonderry       |33               |671                                

Tyrone            |7                |335                                

                  |--               |---                                

Total             |126              |2,987

Advance payments for oilseed applications have already been made and payments for cereals, proteins and set-aside will be made during the months of November and December.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

National Lottery

1. Mr. William O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on how local communities can help provide recreational facilities for their communities under the national lotteries provisions.

Mr. Brooke : It is our hope that the national lottery will provide new recreational facilities right across the country. Local communities with projects or schemes in the fields of charities, sports, arts and the heritage will be able to apply to the appropriate distributors of lottery funds.

Built Heritage

10. Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what role is played by English Heritage in the conservation of the built heritage.

Mr. Brooke : English Heritage is the Government's principal expert adviser on the historic environment. In addition to maintaining an historic estate of some 400 properties, it gives advice to the general public on conservation issues and gives grants for the repair of buildings of outstanding architectural and historic interest.

Anti-doping Controls

11. Mr. Hall : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to intensify the anti-doping controls for all sports in the United Kingdom and introduce common penalties for all offenders following the recent recommendations of the International Olympic Committee.

Mr. Sproat : I welcome the decision taken in June by the IOC and the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations to accelerate the unification of their anti-doping rules and procedures. The Sports Council

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requires all governing bodies in receipt of grants and services to implement acceptable anti-doping regulations and the council will continue to work with the governing bodies to achieve greater harmonisation.

Arts Council

17. Mr. Callaghan : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the Arts Council to discuss the funding of the council.

Mr. Brooke : I meet the chairman of the Arts Council from time to time to discuss a range of issues.

Tourism

19. Dr. Twinn : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received regarding the signposting of tourism sights.

Mr. Sproat : I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Kent (Mr. Rowe).

20. Mr. Duncan Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what discussions he has had regarding the Coopers and Lybrand report on the English tourist board.

Mr. Sproat : I have had meetings with the chairman, some board members and senior staff of the English tourist board to discuss this report. I have also sought the views of the regional tourist boards and other industry representatives.

Television

21. Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has had from the chairman of the Independent Television Commission over the workings of the Broadcasting Act 1990.

Mr. Brooke : Since January 1993, when the provisions of the Broadcasting Act 1990 came fully into effect, I have had four exchanges with the chairman of the Independent Television Commission, mainly to explain how the commission intended to carry out its responsibilities under the Act.

23. Mr. Bryan Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he next intends to meet the chairman of the Independent Television Commission to discuss regulation of the industry.

Mr. Brooke : I have no present plans for a further meeting with the chairman of the Independent Television Commission whom I last met on 19 October.

26. Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to meet the chairman of the Independent Television Commission to discuss programme quality.

Mr. Brooke : I last met the chairman of the ITC on 19 October, but I would not plan to meet him to discuss programme quality, since this is a matter for the ITC, not for me.

Arts Spending

22. Sir John Hannam : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage by how much Government spending on the arts has changed since 1979.

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Mr. Brooke : Government funding for the arts has increased by over 45 per cent. in real terms since 1979. The Arts Council's grant-in-aid this year is £225.6 million.

Sports Grounds

24. Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has for visiting the new Den to discuss safety of sports grounds.

Mr. Brooke : I have no plans at present to visit the new Den. But I congratulate Millwall football club on being among the first clubs to meet the Government's deadline of August 1994 for all-seating stadia in the top two divisions.

Heritage Buildings (Insurance)

25. Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on representations about costs of insurance for heritage buildings, including churches, in the City of London.

Mr. Sproat : My right hon. Friend has received various representations about the cost of insuring listed churches against terrorist damage. Officials are investigating whether there is any practical way of easing the position.

BBC

27. Mr. Fabricant : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when his Department expects to make a statement regarding the future funding of the BBC.

Mr. Brooke : I announced on 21 June at column 27 the appointment of Touche Ross to assess the BBC's progress in achieving efficiency and revenue gains ; to advise on the scope for further gains ; and to advise whether RPI linkage was appropriate for the licence fee increases due in the next three years. I have received and am considering the Touche Ross report, and I plan to announce the Government's conclusions later this autumn. The longer-term funding of the BBC will be considered as part of the review of the BBC's royal charter.

South East Arts

28. Mr. Rathbone : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he last discussed with South East Arts encouragement of local performing arts, including music ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Brook : I met the chairman of South East Arts along with the chairmen of the other regional arts boards on 27 September, when a number of matters were discussed.

Old Monuments

29. Mr. David Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what steps he is taking to preserve old monuments.

Mr. Sproat : My right hon. Friend has a duty to compile and maintain a schedule of monuments the purpose of which is to provide them with statutory protection. English Heritage's monuments protection programme is identifying monuments of national importance and it is expected that within the next 10 years 70 to 80 per cent. of the monuments identified by the programme will have been

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scheduled. English Heritage also intends over the next two to three years to carry out work to identify those monuments most at risk, so that they can be given priority for scheduling during the remainder of the programme.

Hospitals

30. Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what progress his task force has made on the future of hospitals which are listed buildings.

Mr. Sproat : The task force was established by the Department of Health and English Heritage in autumn 1992 to provide a forum to identify and assist in resolving problems concerning historic buildings and conservation matters in the NHS. It has reviewed a number of specific cases, commissioned the preparation of good practice guidance for NHS managers in respect of both listed hospitals that will continue in use, and those that will close, and is embarking on a review of the listing of redundant NHS institutions.

Regional Theatres

Mr. Gunnell : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received from regional theatres fearing closure following the Arts Council decisions on the distribution of funding for the next financial year ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Brooke : I have received a large number of representations from the staff and supporters of regional theatres. Decisions on the allocation of funding are a matter for the Arts Council.

Brodsworth Hall

Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what will be the location of the marble statues, greyhounds and urns to be temporarily removed from Brodsworth hall, Brodsworth, South Yorkshire, by English Heritage ; and if he will make a statement ;

(2) what was the original estimate given by English Heritage of the restoration of Brodsworth hall, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire ; what is the current estimate ; when it will be fully open to the public ; and if he will make a statement ;

(3) if he will list the items that have been stolen or lost to date during the restoration by English Heritage of Brodsworth hall, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire ; how many have been recovered ; and if he will make a statement ;

(4) if he has visited Brodsworth hall, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire, or intends to visit during the next 12months in connection with its restoration by English Heritage.

Mr. Brooke : The original estimate by English Heritage of the cost of the restoration of Brodsworth hall was £3million, at 1991 prices. The current estimate is £3.5million at 1993 prices. The house is expected to be fully open to the public during the summer of 1995. One of the notable features of the house and gardens is the Italian marble statuary which was placed in the main areas of the house, and also in the garden. Two of the garden statues, valued at £2,000 each, were stolen around the time of English Heritage's acquisition of the house and

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since then the garden statuary, which includes large numbers of greyhounds, has been stored at a secret location for security reasons. The stolen statues have never been recovered. The garden statuary will be replaced in situ, with suitable security precautions, when the hall is opened to the public.

I have not yet visited Brodsworth hall, although I should like to do so at some stage in the future to see the restoration work carried out by English Heritage.

Royal Parks Constabulary

Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what joint consultation procedure exists between the police committee of the Royal Parks constabulary and that force's Police Federation, and the representative bodies of other ranks, at which matters relating to police pay and conditions of service are discussed; what is the membership of the joint body; and on how many occasions it has met in the past five years;

(2) who serves on the police committee of the Royal Parks constabulary; and how often it has met over the past five years; (3) to what extent Home Office police regulations are applied to members of the Royal Parks constabulary;

(4) if a Minister from his Department will meet representative organisations of constables, sergeants, and inspectors of the Royal Parks constabulary to discuss the ramifications of (a) the Sheehy report, (b) the White Paper on police and (c) matters of general concern to Police Federation members which are not operational matters reserved for the chief constable.

Mr. Sproat : Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Royal Parks Agency under its chief executive, Mr. David Welch. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter to Mr. Andrew Mackinlay from David Welch, dated 18 October 1993

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Mr. Iain Sproat, has asked me to reply to your Written Parliamentary Questions asking : "To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what joint consultation procedure exists between the Police Committee of the Royal Parks Constabulary and that force's Police Federation, and the representative bodies of other ranks at which matters relating to police pay and conditions of service are discussed; what is the membership of the joint body; and on how many occasions has it met in the last five years."

"To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage who serves on the police committee of the Royal Parks Constabulary; and how often has it met over the past five years."

"To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage to what extent Home Office Police Regulations are applied to members of the Royal Parks sations of constables, sergeants and inspectors of the Royal Parks Constabulary to discuss the ramifications of (a) the Sheehey Report (b) the White Paper on Police and (c) matters of general concern to federation members which are not operational matters reserved for the chief constable."

Prior to the inauguration of the Royal Parks Agency, the Department of the Environment and subsequently the Department of National Heritage, ensured the management of an efficient and effective Royal Parks Constabulary by a Police Committee. No arrangements existed for consultation between that Committee and the Staff Association.

Following the formation of the Royal Parks Agency and the appointment of a Chief Executive, an Advisory committee was formed to generally oversee the running of the Agency. One of its

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members is Sir Peter Imbert, Q.P.M., ex Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. The Chief Executive has, nonetheless, retained the services of the former Deputy Assistant Commissioner as professional consultant on policing matters.

In Home Department Forces the Staff Association ie Police Federation and Superintendents Association, meet with their Chief Constables to discuss welfare and other issues. To the best of my knowledge these Associations do not meet directly with their Police Committees. In the Royal Parks Constabulary identical arrangements prevail.

The membership of the Royal Parks Constabulary Police Committee comprised the Director of Heritage and Royal Estate (Grade 3) as Chairman, with the Head of Division (Grade 5) as his Deputy, a representative from the Parks Management, a Councillor from Westminster and Richmond, together with a professional police consultant. The Home Office were also represented.

The Committee met three times each year over the past five years. The Chief Officer and his Deputy also served as members and reported at each meeting.

The Royal Parks Constabulary is a non-Home Department Police Force and is therefore not subject to the Police Act 1964. Nonetheless, it has an agreement under Section 96 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, with the Home Office and Police Complaints Authority, for the handling and supervision of the police complaints and discipline procedures. In a similar manner, although the Police Regulations do not apply, the spirit of the Regulations--with particular reference to overtime etc., entitlements-- are applied in a like manner to Home Department Forces.

The Chief Officer and his Deputy have met with the Assistant Secretary of the National Union of Civil and Public Servants to provisionally discuss the recommendations of the Sheehy Report, and they will meet again once the Government announces its plan of implementation. No discussion has yet taken place or been asked for on the White Paper on Police. The Chief Officer and his Deputy are always available to the Staff Association to discuss matters of general concern to its members. The Chief Executive is likewise available to discuss similar issues with the Chief Officer or the membership as desired.

Licence Fees

Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if it is his policy that the retail prices index formula for adjusting the BBC licence fee will continue in the years immediately ahead ; and if he will make a statment.

Mr. Brooke : I announced on 21 June that I had commissioned Touche Ross to review the BBC's progress in achieving the efficiency and revenue gains identified by Price Waterhouse in 1990, and to advise whether the licence fee should remain linked to the retail prices index until the renewal of the BBC's royal charter. I have now received Touche Ross's report, and will announce the Government's conclusions shortly.

EMPLOYMENT

Smoking

Mrs. Peacock : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 5 July, Official Report, column 56 , if he will publish the independent legal advice that his Department has received on which he based his statement that section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 provides legal protection for employees at risk from passive smoking ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Michael Forsyth : The Department is advised on matters relating to health and safety at work by the Health and Safety Executive. The HSE's advice on the application

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of health and safety law to passive smoking in the workplace is set out in its guidance booklet, "Passive Smoking at Work", a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

Mrs. Peacock : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 5 July, Official Report, column 56 , if he will publish the results of the recent surveys which indicate progress towards realising the aim of having the large majority of employees covered by a no smoking policy by 1995 ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Michael Forsyth : Summaries of surveys carried out in 1992 for the Health Education Authority and for the Health and Safety Executive have already been published. Further analysis of data from the HEA survey indicated that 52 per cent. of employees worked for organisations which took some action on smoking, and that 49 per cent. of the work force are in workplaces with a formal written smoking policy.

EC Social Fund

Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when plans for the operation of European social fund objectives 3 and 4 will be submitted to the EC.

Mr. Michael Forsyth : Following a round of consultation we expect to submit the final version of the European social fund objective 3 plan by the end of this month. A copy will be placed in the Library. The use of objective 4 is still being considered.

Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to implement objective 4 of the European social fund for January 1994 in respect of the United Kingdom.

Mr. Michael Forsyth : A final decision on the use of objective 4 has yet to be taken. Meanwhile, we are waiting to hear from the European Commission how much money will be allocated to each member state, including the United Kingdom, under objectives 3 and 4. It remains our view that the European social fund should continue to focus first and foremost on helping unemployed people.

Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much European social fund resourcing the United Kingdom is expected to receive from (a) objective 3 and (b) objective 4 under the new European structural funds.

Mr. Michael Forsyth : We are waiting to hear from the European Commission how much money will be allocated to each member state, including the United Kingdom, for the European social fund under objectives 3 and 4.

Civil Servants

Mr. Byers : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many civil servants are working in the Employment Department offices in Caxton house, Tothill street, London.

Mr. Michael Forsyth : There are currently 736 civil servants working in Employment Department offices in Caxton house.

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Age Discrimination

Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy to develop a code of practice for public sector employers concerning age discrimination in employment.

Miss Widdecombe : Age discrimination is wasteful and short sighted. Our policy is to persuade employers in both the public and private sector to recruit and develop staff on merit regardless of age. The civil service abolished age limits on recruitment to service-wide grades in 1990.

Recently I launched "Getting On"--a drive to combat ageism which offers employers a five point plan to do just this. It urges all employers to follow the lead of the best and drop age bars from job adverts ; welcome applications from older people ; select on ability ; offer flexible arrangements ; develop and train all staff, regardless of age.

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