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Mrs. Roche : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the findings of the independent inquiry into the mandatory life sentence chaired by Lord Lane ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) what assessment he has made of the effect on victims and their families of knowing the sentence imposed on those convicted of murder, as recommended in the independent inquiry into the mandatory life sentence chaired by Lord Lane.
Mr. Maclean : I consider that the report of the Committee on the Penalty for Murder has usefully drawn together the arguments for a change in the existing law under which the mandatory penalty for murder is a sentence of life imprisonment. In considering the report's
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conclusions, I will, of course, take into account the possible effects of any change on the families of murder vicitims. But I have not been persuaded by arguments I have so far heard that any change is necessary to the present law.Banking Services (Sundays)
Sir Keith Speed : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to provide that the services provided by bank and building societies to individuals such as automatic cash dispensers, telephone banking and cash and credit card transactions should be restricted on Sundays ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : None. The Sunday Trading Bill contained on introduction three options for reform of the Sunday trading laws in England and Wales. A Committee of the whole House on 8 December chose the option of partial deregulation. If it becomes law this option would place no restriction on services provided by banks and building societies.
Deportation Policies
Mr. Bernie Grant : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will annouce the outcome of his internal review of deportation policies and procedures following the death of Joy Gardner ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Charles Wardle : I had hoped to be able to announce the outcome of the review before the House rises, but the review is not yet quite complete. I shall make an announcement as soon as possible after the recess.
Voluntary Repatriation
Mr. Bernie Grant : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inquiries have been received about voluntary repatriation schemes established under section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971, in the past quarter and the same quarter last year ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The voluntary repatriation scheme established under section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971 is operated by the International Social Service of the United Kingdom (ISS) on behalf of the Home Office. In the quarter 1 September to 30 November 1993 a total of 103 inquiries about voluntary repatriation were received by ISS ; 43 such inquiries were received in the same quarter last year.
Immigration Advisory Service
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the criteria for the appointment of the directors of the organisation formerly known as UKIAS ; how many candidates applied ; how many (a) black and (b) Asian people were on the shortlist ; what were the names of those who interviewed the candidates ; and what are the salary and conditions of appointment of the successful candidate.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The appointment was a matter for the trustees of UKIAS's successor body, the immigration appeals advisory service, which is an independent body.
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Prison Rules
Sir Ivan Lawrence : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his proposed changes to the prison rules.
Mr. Howard : I have laid prison and young offender institution amendment rules before Parliament to come into effect on 1 January 1994. First, the rules will extend the scope of confidentiality for prisoners' legal correspondence to all correspondence between prisoners and their legal advisers or a court, whether or not legal proceedings have been commenced. The rules set out the circumstances in which such correspondence may be opened, read or stopped. Secondly, the amendments will increase the maximum period of cellular confinement a governor may impose as a disciplinary punishment from three to 14 days for adult prisoners and from three to seven days for young offenders. This is a desirable strengthening in disciplinary powers, particularly in the light of the continuing trend in increased offending in prisons.
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DEFENCE
Civil Servants
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for each civil service grade in his Department (a) the total number of people employed (b) the total number of black people and (c) the total number of Asians.
Mr. Aitken : The following table sets out, by grade, the total number of staff serving in my Department and the total number of black and Asian staff who have responded to the Department's ethnic minority origin survey. Response to the survey was voluntary, and where there are fewer than 10 ethnic minority staff listed in a particular grade, for reasons of personal confidentiality it is not our policy to define precise numbers.
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Black and Asian staff in the Ministry of Defence
Grades within the |Total Staff at 1 |<1>Total Black Staff|<1>Total Asian Staff
open structure and |April 1993
occupational groups
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Open Structure Grade 1 (include 1A) |4 |- |-
Open Structure Grade 2 |9 |- |-
Open Structure Grade 3 |50 |- |-
Open Structure Grade 4 |34 |- |-
Open Structure Grade 5 |282 |- |-
Open Structure Grade 6 |730 |- |-
Open Structure Grade 7 |2,747 |<10 |16
Senior Executive Officer |1,211 |- |<10
Higher Executive Officer (D) |19 |<10 |<10
Higher Executive Officer |3,033 |<10 |10
Administration Trainee |6 |- |<10
Executive Officer |5,771 |45 |46
Administrative Officer |14,921 |186 |173
Administrative Assistant |7,625 |123 |111
Senior Economic Assistant |1 |- |-
Senior Assistant Statistician |2 |- |-
Assistant Statistician |1 |- |-
Senior Information Officer |29 |- |-
Information Officer |53 |- |-
Assistant Information Officer |2 |- |-
Senior Librarian |16 |- |-
Librarian |49 |- |-
Assistant Librarian |48 |- |-
Museum Curatorial Group Grade D |5 |- |-
Museum Curatorial Group Grade E |6 |- |-
Museum Curatorial Group Grade F |9 |- |-
Museum Curatorial Group Grade G |6 |- |-
Museum Conservation Group Grade F |1 |- |-
Chief Constable |1 |- |-
Deputy Chief Constable |2 |- |-
Assistant Chief Constable |5 |- |-
Chief Superintendent |12 |- |-
Superintendent |27 |- |-
Chief Inspector |66 |- |<10
Inspector |149 |<10 |<10
Sergeant |655 |<10 |<10
Constable |3,506 |11 |<10
Senior Professional and Technology Officer |2,341 |<10 |16
Higher Professional and Technology Officer |4,009 |<10 |49
Professional and Technology Officer |5,439 |14 |17
Professional and Technology Officer 4 |6 |- |-
Technical Grade 1 |406 |- |<10
Technical Grade 2 |32 |- |<10
Graduate Trainee |143 |- |<10
Trainee Incorporated Engineer |24 |- |-
Senior Mapping and Charting Officer |120 |- |-
Higher Mapping and Charting Officer |235 |<10 |<10
Mapping and Charting Officer |515 |<10 |<10
Mapping and Charting Technical Grade 1 |218 |- |-
Mapping and Charting Technical Grade 2 |92 |<10 |<10
Senior Graphics Officer |13 |- |-
Higher Graphics Officer |57 |- |-
Graphics Officer |218 |<10 |<10
Marine Service Officer Grade 1 |15 |- |-
Marine Service Officer Grade 2 |92 |- |-
Marine Service Officer Grade 3 |176 |- |-
Marine Service Officer Grade 4 |108 |- |-
Senior Research Officer (R) |45 |- |-
Research Officer (R) |20 |- |-
Chief Typing Manager |16 |- |-
Typing Manager |200 |<10 |-
Senior Personal Secretary |95 |<10 |<10
Personal Secretary |836 |10 |<10
Typist |3,698 |86 |38
Trainee Typist |6 |- |-
Senior Scientific Officer |1,678 |<10 |30
Higher Scientific Officer |1,686 |<10 |36
Scientific Officer |1,484 |10 |22
Assistant Scientific Officer |735 |<10 |<10
Senior Instricutional Officer |66 |- |-
Higher Instructional Officer |297 |<10 |-
Instructional Officer 1 |1,082 |<10 |<10
Instructional Officer 2 |235 |- |-
Catering Manager 3 |1 |- |-
Chef 1/Chief Cook 1 |12 |- |-
Chef 2/Chief Cook 2 |24 |<10 |-
Chief Fire Service Officer |1 |- |-
Senior Fire Officer |12 |- |-
Fire Service Officer 1 |34 |- |-
Fire Service Officer 2 |57 |- |-
Fire Service Officer 3 |59 |- |-
Senior Investigating Officer |12 |- |-
Investigating Officer 1 |61 |- |-
Investigating Officer 2 |228 |- |-
Museum Technician Grade 2 |1 |- |-
Museum Technician Grade 3 |3 |- |-
Museum Support Grade 1 |1 |- |-
Museum Support Grade 2 |3 |- |-
Museum Support Grade 3 |23 |- |<10
Museum Support Grade 4 |5 |- |-
Museum Support Grade 5 |7 |- |-
Senior Photographic Officer |9 |- |-
Higher Photographic Officer |55 |- |<10
Photographic Officer |165 |- |<10
Process and Supervisory Group Grade A |7 |- |-
Process and Supervisory Group Grade B |33 |- |-
Process and Supervisory Group Grade C |117 |- |-
Process and Supervisory Group Grade D |311 |<10 |<10
Process and Supervisory Group Grade E |135 |- |<10
Senior Psychologist |21 |- |<10
Higher Psychologist |23 |- |-
Psychologist (Graduate Trainee) |7 |- |-
Stores Officer Grade A |20 |- |-
Stores Officer Grade B |131 |- |-
Stores Officer Grade C |371 |- |<10
Stores Officer Grade D |782 |<10 |<10
Support Manager 1 |9 |- |-
Support Manager 2 |40 |- |-
Support Manager 3 |208 |<10 |<10
Support Grade Band 1 |1,205 |14 |<10
Support Grade Band 2 |1,048 |37 |13
Senior Telecommunication Technical Officer |50 |- |-
Higher Telecommunication Technical Officer |166 |- |-
Telecommunication Technical Officer |391 |<10 |-
Assistant Telecommunication Technical Officer |475 |<10 |<10
Trainee Telecommunication Technical Officer |53 |- |-
Communications Officer 1 |16 |<10 |-
Communications Officer 2 |47 |<10 |-
Communications Officer 3 |132 |<10 |-
Communications Officer 4 |366 |<10 |<10
|------- |------- |-------
Total Staff in Open Structure and Occupational Groups |74,468 |600 |658
|------- |------- |-------
|------- |------- |-------
Industrial Grades |42,121 |322 |204
|------- |------- |-------
Totals |131,757 |1,000 |917
Note:There are some 500 Departmental grades and some 850 Industrial grades used in the Ministry of Defence, most of which are managed
locally. A detailed breakdown of these could be provided only at disproportionate cost and effort.
<1> Respondents to ethnic minority origin survey.
United States Military Bases
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the United States military bases in the United Kingdom as of 1 December.
Mr. Hanley : As of 1 December 1993, bases and facilities were made available to the United States visiting forces at the following locations in the United Kingdom :
Main Operating Bases
RAF Alconbury
RAF Lakenheath
RAF Mildenhall
RAF Upper Heyford
Standby Deployment Base
RAF Fairford
Storage/Support Facilities
RAF Brawdy
Chilwell
RAF Daws Hill
Eastcote
Felixstowe
RAF Feltwell
RAF Hythe
London HQ USN Europe
RAF Machrihanish
Marchwood
RAF Molesworth
RAF Northwood
Oakington
RAF Spadeadam
RAF St. Mawgan
RAF Watton
RAF Welford
RAF West Ruislip
West Ruislip
Wartime Contingency Hospitals
RAF Arbroath
RAF Bicester
RAF Little Rissington
RAF Nocton Hall
RAF Upwood
NATO Ammunition Depot
NAD Glen Douglas
Communications Facilities
RAF Barford St. John
RAF Barkway
Botley Hill
Bovingdon
RAF Chelveston
RAF Chicksands
Christmas Common
Coldblow
RAF Croughton
RAF Daventry
RAF Dunkirk
RAF Edzell
Menwith Hill Station
RAF Oakhanger
RAF Swingate
RAF Uxbridge
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Departmental Objectives
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list his departmental standing objectives.
Mr. Hanley : The current departmental standing objectives have been listed on page 2 of the MOD "Departmental Report 1993"--Cm 2201--a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether quantitative data are used in his assessment of the achievement of departmental standing objectives.
Mr. Hanley : Performance against departmental standing objectives is assessed on the basis of quantitative data where available and the judgment of military and civilian budget holders reports up the management chain.
Performance Targets
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what performance targets have been established in his Department.
Mr. Hanley : Performance targets have been set at all levels in the Department, both in the management plans which set out what budget holders undertake to deliver for their delegated budgets and in job plans for individuals. They could be collated centrally only at disproportionate cost.
Equipment
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria are used to determine the figures provided in table 8, page 18 of Cm. 2201, relating to availability, reliability and maintainability of equipment ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Aitken : Table 8 on page 18 of Cm 2201 gives figures for the percentage by value of contracts for new equipment projects over £1 million which have provisions for availability, reliability and maintainability. The criteria used to determine the figures are that reliability and maintainability requirements should form essential elements of the contract specification, wherever possible linking payment to the demonstration of satisfactory reliability and maintainability in service. Alternative approaches, including warranties and fixed-price support contracts are used where linkage of payment to demonstration is not practicable.
Chief of the Air Staff
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 6 December, Official Report, columns 54-55, what is the number of occasions in each of the last 12 months on which the Chief of the Air Staff has given a personal briefing to (a) hon. Members, (b) academics and (c) members of the media ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : Briefings by the Chief of the Air Staff were given as follows :
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|MPs |Academics|Media
--------------------------------------------------
January |- |- |-
February |- |- |4
March |1 |- |3
April |- |- |-
May |1 |- |-
June |- |- |-
July |- |- |-
August |- |- |1
September |- |- |-
October |1 |- |-
November |- |- |-
December |- |- |-
Mr. David Hart
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 6 December, Official Report, columns 54-55, whether Mr. David Hart was given a briefing by the Chief of the Air Staff as (a) an academic or (b) a member of the media ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : Mr. David Hart was briefed on 27 May by Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RAF Strike Command because he had published media articles on general defence issues and one particularly about the RAF.
Maralinga
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the ex- gratia payment towards the clean-up of the Maralinga site will be made ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley [pursuant to his answer, 1 December 1993, column 609 ] : The United Kingdom Government agreed in principle on 14 July to make an ex gratia payment of £20,000,000 to the Federal Government of Australia as a contribution to the cost of the further clean-up of the Maralinga site. A note giving effect to this agreement was signed today by the Australian High Commissioner and my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office. A copy of the note will be placed in the Library of the House. The payment will be phased over six years beginning on 1 January 1994.
NATIONAL HERITAGE
Copyright Libraries
Mr. Trimble : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the copyright libraries entitled to a copy of all books published within the United Kingdom.
Mr. Sproat : Under the Copyright Act 1911 publishers are required to deliver, at their own expense, a copy of any new publication to the British library. There are five other copyright libraries : the national libraries of Scotland and Wales ; the Bodleian library, Oxford ; Cambridge University library ; and the library of Trinity college, Dublin. If any of them requests a copy the Copyright Licensing Agency may demand a free copy from the publisher on its behalf.
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Overseas Artifacts
Mr. Bernie Grant : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage which artifacts and from which countries, previously held in Britain, have been returned to their countries of origin in the last 10 years ; what requests (a) have been rejected and (b) are currently under consideration ; and what is the value of the artifacts concerned.
Mr. Brooke : This information is not available centrally. The artifacts in question are the property of independent institutions and private owners and any requests for their return would normally be directed to them. The Government are not necessarily informed of such requests or their outcome. Even when we have been made aware of requests, the information required could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Laboratories
Mr. Cousins : To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many whole-time equivalent staff are currently employed at (a) the Warren Spring Laboratory, (b) the National Engineering Laboratory and (c) the National Physical Laboratory ; how many were employed at each laboratory on 31 March 1992 and 31 March 1993 ; and how many he plans to employ on 31 March 1994.
Mr. Heseltine : The numbers for 31 March 1992 and 1993 and currently are :
|31 March 1992|31 March 1993|Current
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warren Spring Laboratory |321.0 |278.0 |224.5
National Engineering Laboratory |388.5 |363.5 |338.0
National Physical Laboratory |807.5 |770.0 |748.0
Warren Spring Laboratory will be closing on 31 March to be replaced by the new National Environmental Technology Centre, to which a substantial number of its staff will be transferring.
I am currently considering future plans for the other laboratories.
Mr. Cousins : To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many staff at Warren Spring he presently proposes to transfer to AEA Technology ; and which sections, teams or project groups have been named for closure since 1 April.
Mr. McLoughlin : The House is aware that the National Environmental Technology Centre is being created in south Oxfordshire by the bringing together of Warren Spring Laboratory with the environmental technology services of the Atomic Energy Authority. This merger of the country's two major environmental research laboratories will form a single powerful centre of excellence in this field. The merger will take place on 1 April 1994. The turnover of the NETC will be about £20 million to £25 million, compared with £13.5 million at Warren Spring in 1992-93.
The merger will take place in most of the business centres of Warren Spring, accounting for 87 per cent. of the laboratory's work in 1992-93. All the scientific staff
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