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Teachers (Suspensions)
Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make it his policy to require local education authorities or schools to inform him when teachers are suspended.
Mr. Forth : No. It is for the head teacher or governing body of a school to decide whether suspension is appropriate in the circumstances of each particular case, and my right hon. Friend has no power to intervene in such decisions. A requirement to report all cases in which a teacher is suspended would impose an additional and unnecessary burden on schools. Special schools, and
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independent schools approved by my right hon. Friend to cater for pupils with special educational needs, are asked to inform the Department if a member of the school staff is suspended as a result of allegations of child abuse involving pupils at the school because of my right hon. Friend's responsibility for the approval of such schools.DEFENCE
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will consult the ex-service organisations before triggering any reduction in the United Kingdom's contribution to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission ;
(2) what representations he has had from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in the light of the proposed reduction in the United Kingdom's contribution to its resources.
Mr. Hanley : The United Kingdom's contribution to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission is agreed annually between my Department and the commission. Over the past five years, my Department has increased the funding in cash terms to the commission by some 50 per cent. and this year's reduction in the size of the grant from my Department takes full account of the size of the commission's operating surplus which is carried forward from year to year.
My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence met representatives of the commission in February. This was one of several occasions on which it was confirmed that there were no plans to cut any projects or commitments as a result of the level of funding agreed for 1994 -95. There are no current plans to consult the ex-service organisations in respect of this subject.
Defence Estimates
Dr. Reid : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors account for the differences in the incremental grand totals listed in table 3 of the 1993 "Statement on the Defence Estimates" and the incremental grand total listed in table 4 of the 1994 "Statement on the Defence Estimates" for (a) engineer regiments (regular), (b) engineer regiments (TA), (c) infantry battalions (TA and Royal Irish Home Service), (d) transport, tanker and search and rescue aircraft, (e) Harrier, (f) Nimrod reconnaissance and maritime reconnaissance and (g) Tornado F3.
Mr. Hanley [holding answer 3 May 1994] : The differences reflect, for the most part, changes in presentation following SDE 93. In detail, the changes arise from :
(a) and (b) exclusion of MT 1.24 (Hydrographic and geographic services) from tables 1 to 4, leading to the deliberate omission of 1 Regular and 1 TA Engineer Squadron for survey work (no change in actual force levels) ;
(c) change in arithmetic rounding conventions used in SDE94 (no change in actual force levels) ;
(d) exclusion of Hercules, BAe 125 and Tristar In-Use Reserves (IUR) to reflect the conventions used for other RAF aircraft in SDE tables ; revised assumptions for Puma Aircraft Establishment following withdrawal from Belize ; revised Sea King Wessex mix as the latter is replaced in the search and rescue role ; and revised aggregation of Chinook numbers (IUR remain included in the figures, however, as these are declared to NATO) ;
(e) revised plans for declaration to NATO of new Harrier T10 ;
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(f) exclusion of MT 1.11 (Intelligence Collection) from Tables 1 to 4 of SDE 94 ;(g) revised declaration of OCU aircraft to NATO Main Defence Forces.
EMPLOYMENT
Earnings
Mr. Frank Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many (a) male and (b) female workers earned below the national insurance threshold for each year over the past 30 years.
Miss Widdecombe [holding answer 5 May 1994] : The available information showing the difference between the total work force and numbers of employed people who paid a national insurance contribution is provided in the tables :
Year |Workforce in |Number who |Difference
|Employment |paid at least
|in June |one NI
|contribution
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Thousands)
1962 |8,225 |8,180 |45
1963 |8,265 |8,190 |75
1964 |8,444 |8,350 |94
1965 |8,610 |8,460 |150
1966 |8,798 |8,530 |268
1967 |8,688 |8,400 |288
1968 |8,721 |8,410 |311
1969 |8,804 |8,430 |374
1970 |8,839 |8,270 |569
1971 |8,855 |8,200 |655
1972 |8,949 |8,250 |699
1973 |9,320 |8,350 |970
1974 |9,548 |8,500 |1,048
1975 |9,607 |N/A |N/A
1976 |9,575 |9,226 |349
1977 |9,676 |9,159 |517
1978 |9,780 |9,245 |535
1979 |10,059 |9,254 |805
1980 |10,090 |9,509 |581
1981 |9,775 |9,129 |646
1982 |9,699 |8,774 |925
1983 |9,675 |8,687 |988
1984 |10,061 |8,667 |1,394
1985 |10,275 |8,839 |1,436
1986 |10,418 |9,135 |1,283
1987 |10,787 |9,275 |1,512
1988 |11,222 |9,604 |1,618
1989 |11,671 |10,070 |1,601
1990 |11,873 |10,361 |1,512
1991 |11,663 |10,473 |1,190
1992 |11,577 |10,215 |1,362
Source:
Employment Department and Department of Social Security
Notes:
Information is not available for 1975
Workforce in employment includes members of Her Majesty's forces,
self employed people, and people on government training schemes
Males
(Thousands)
Year |Workforce in |Number who |Difference
|Employment |paid at least
|in June |one National
|Insurance
|contribution
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1962 |16,395 |16,600 |-205
1963 |16,379 |16,650 |-271
1964 |16,488 |16,710 |-222
1965 |16,579 |16,760 |-181
1966 |16,546 |16,720 |-174
1967 |16,297 |16,630 |-333
1968 |16,108 |16,560 |-452
1969 |16,040 |16,500 |-460
1970 |15,900 |16,380 |-480
1971 |15,806 |16,240 |-434
1972 |15,688 |16,200 |-512
1973 |15,890 |16,120 |-230
1974 |15,731 |16,020 |-289
1975 |15,576 |n/a |n/a
1976 |15,372 |15,768 |-396
1977 |15,294 |15,666 |-372
1978 |15,322 |15,659 |-337
1979 |15,420 |15,597 |-177
1980 |15,343 |15,711 |-368
1981 |14,682 |15,196 |-514
1982 |14,322 |14,410 |-88
1983 |14,068 |14,363 |-295
1984 |14,338 |14,241 |97
1985 |14,408 |14,178 |230
1986 |14,290 |14,295 |-5
1987 |14,484 |14,302 |182
1988 |14,907 |14,402 |505
1989 |15,255 |14,613 |642
1990 |15,282 |14,656 |626
1991 |14,591 |14,435 |156
1992 |14,084 |13,883 |201
Labour Statistics
Mr. Frank Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will present in tabular form the size of the working population for each of the last 30 years ; and if he will divide this data into male and female workers and further sub-divide the total as to whether these people work full or part time.
Miss Widdecombe [holding answer 5 May 1994] : The information requested is provided in the table :
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Workforce in employment: Great Britain
Seasonally adjusted (Thousands)
|Total |Male all |Male F/T |Male P/T |Female all|Female F/T|Female P/T
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1963 |24,113 |16,015 |- |- |8,098 |- |-
1964 |24,397 |16,121 |- |- |8,276 |- |-
1965 |24,643 |16,208 |- |- |8,435 |- |-
1966 |24,801 |16,181 |- |- |8,620 |- |-
1967 |24,445 |15,931 |- |- |8,513 |- |-
1968 |24,288 |15,744 |- |- |8,545 |- |-
1969 |24,298 |15,675 |- |- |8,623 |- |-
1970 |24,183 |15,532 |- |- |8,651 |- |-
1971 |24,097 |15,441 |- |- |8,656 |- |-
1972 |24,079 |15,326 |- |- |8,753 |- |-
1973 |24,646 |15,525 |- |- |9,121 |- |-
1974 |24,707 |15,368 |- |- |9,339 |- |-
1975 |24,608 |15,215 |- |- |9,394 |- |-
1976 |24,382 |15,016 |- |- |9,366
1977 |24,401 |14,941 |- |- |9,459 |- |-
1978 |24,523 |14,969 |- |- |9,554 |- |-
1979 |24,881 |15,061 |- |- |9,820 |- |-
1980 |24,838 |14,987 |- |- |9,850 |- |-
1981 |23,887 |14,345 |- |- |9,543 |- |-
1982 |23,461 |13,995 |- |- |9,467 |- |-
1983 |23,178 |13,742 |- |- |9,436 |- |-
1984 |23,833 |14,012 |12,994 |1,018 |9,822 |5,557 |4,264
1985 |24,107 |14,077 |13,037 |1,040 |10,030 |5,666 |4,364
1986 |24,131 |13,961 |12,873 |1,088 |10,170 |5,692 |4,478
1987 |24,688 |14,152 |12,946 |1,206 |10,536 |5,888 |4,647
1988 |25,529 |14,569 |13,298 |1,271 |10,960 |6,184 |4,776
1989 |26,317 |14,915 |13,538 |1,377 |11,402 |6,385 |5,017
1990 |26,528 |14,933 |13,494 |1,438 |11,595 |6,392 |5,203
1991 |25,613 |14,236 |12,837 |1,399 |11,377 |6,221 |5,156
1992 |25,023 |13,734 |12,310 |1,424 |11,289 |6,114 |5,174
1993 |24,603 |13,372 |11,921 |1,451 |11,232 |6,026 |5,206
Notes:
1. Information relates to June of each year.
2. Part-time information is not available prior to 1984.
3. There is a discontinuity in the series between 1970 and 1971 due to change of source for the
self-employed data.
CHURCH COMMISSIONERS
Suffragan Bishops
Mr. William Powell : To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners what was the total sum of money paid out in (a) 1992-93 and (b)
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1993-94 in (i) the salaries and other employment costs, (ii) housing, (iii) transport and (iv) office and on other incidental expenses for suffragan bishops.Mr. Alison : On a calendar year basis, the total sums provided by the commissioners were as follows :
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|1992 |1993
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Stipends, staff salaries and other |1,715,911|1,778,383
employment costs
Housing |101,992 |175,883
Transport (including provision of car) |311,376 |333,474
Office and other incidental expenses |452,447 |498,740
|------- |-------
Total |2,581,726|2,786,480
Mr. William Powell : To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners for how many suffragan bishops financial responsibility was accepted in (a) 1992-93 and (b) 1993-94.
Mr. Alison : On a calendar year basis the commissioners contributed towards the salaries, official expenses and housing costs of 65 suffragan bishops in both the calendar years 1992 and 1993.
PRIME MINISTER
Correspondence
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) of 18 April, Official Report, column 365, for what reason no records of correspondence received by his office prior to April 1989 any longer exist.
The Prime Minister : It is not cost-effective to retain full records of all correspondence received by my office. However, from April 1989 onwards brief records of selected correspondence--and from 1992 brief records of all correspondence--have been entered on a computer database.
Internet
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Prime Minister what plans his Department has (a) to utilise the Internet, (b) to make available on the Internet press releases and other departmental information which the public may wish to have access to and (c) to use the Internet as a means of increasing the openness of his Department.
The Prime Minister : My office's press releases are accessible, through the Central Office of Information, to users of the Internet via Data-Star Dialog (Europe) or Mead/Lexis/Nexis. They are also available to subscribers to FT Profile, Reuters Textline, POLIS and through the Central Office of Information's fax retrieval service.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Flood Defence Committees
Mr. Clifton-Brown : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when she will select the chairman of the regional flood defence committees.
Mr. Jack : The following have been reappointed as chairmen of regional flood defence committees of the National Rivers Authority in England for three years from 1 July 1994 :
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Mr. G. C. Manning, OBE (South West) ; Mr. J. S. Martin, CBE (Anglian) ; Mr. W. M. Wannop, OBE (North West) ; and Mr. T. D. Collier (Yorkshire).The following new appointments have been made :
Mr. J. Dainty, OBE (Severn-Trent) ; Mrs. J. Venables (Thames) ; Mr. D. G. L. Monnington (Southern) and Mr. J. P. Hackney (Northumbria). Consideration is still being given to the chairmanship of the Wessex regional flood defence committee.
Mr. Clifton-Brown : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will ensure that farming and landowning interests are adequately represented on the regional flood defence committees.
Mr. Jack : As indicated in the reply to the hon. Member for Glanford and Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley) on 8 March, Official Report, columns 195-96, in making ministerial appointments to these committees, the objective is to reflect a range of interests. Nominations of farmers and landowners will be considered alongside those for other candidates with expertise relevant to the work of the committees.
Drift Nets
Mr. Spellar : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what actions her Department is taking to ensure compliance with the European Union ban on drift nets longer than 2.5 km.
Mr. Jack : At the Fisheries Council on 12 April the Commission tabled a report on the ecological impact of drift netting, together with a proposal. The Council had a first discussion on the issues raised, including a suggestion that a derogation for use of drift nets longer than 2.5 km should be reintroduced. I made clear my firm opposition to this and the importance I attach to taking environmental implications fully into account. The derogation was not renewed. These matters are now being considered by experts.
Fisheries
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the detailed arrangements for Spanish accession were settled at the same time as she approved the principle of the agreement.
Arable Farming
Dr. Strang : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is her latest estimate of (a) the total area of cereals grown in the United Kingdom in 1993 and (b) the area of land which was set aside under the arable area payments scheme in 1993.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : The June 1993 agricultural census estimated that a total area of 3,030,900 hectares of cereals--excluding maize--was grown in the United Kingdom in 1993. The total area of land which qualified for set-aside payments under the arable area payments scheme, including land used to grow crops for non-food purposes, was 567,000 hectares.
Dr. Strang : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers in England received arable area payments greater than (a) £100,000, (b) £250,000, (c) £500,000 and (d) £1,000, 000 in the last available year.
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Mrs. Gillian Shephard : I regret that this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Dr. Strang : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farms in England had arable aid scheme set-aside areas greater than (a) 100 hectares and (b) 50 hectares in the last available year.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : In 1993, 204 holdings in England had more than 100 hectares of land set aside under the arable area payments scheme and 1,151 holdings had between 50 and 100 hectares.
Dr. Strang : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list the rates of set-aside payment under the arable area payments scheme for each region of the United Kingdom for (a) the current year and (b) 1993.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : The payment rates per hectare for setting aside land under the arable area payments scheme are as follows. The actual rates paid in 1994 may be reduced if base areas are exceeded and set-aside land which is used to grow sugar beet for industrial purposes does not qualify for any payment.
|1992-93 |1993-94 |<1>1993-94
|Actual |<2>Projected|<2>Projected
Region |£ |£ |£
----------------------------------------------------------------------
England |253 |314 |220
Wales: LFA |198 |175 |123
Wales: Non-LFA |198 |273 |192
Scotland: LFA |205 |254 |178
Scotland: Non-LFA |236 |295 |207
Northern Ireland |201 |249 |175
<1>Voluntary set-aside for which there is no corresponding area of
eligible cropped land.
<2>Payment rates are set in european currency units and converted to
sterling at the green rate prevailing on 1 July for the year in
question. The projected payment rates for 1993-94 have been converted
using an exchange rate of 1 ecu/£0.929299 but the actual green rate
on 1 July may be higher or lower than this.
Dr. Strang : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest total paid to farmers
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in (a) arable aid scheme set-aside payments and (b) total arable area scheme payments in England following the 1993-94 harvest.Mrs. Gillian Shephard : The total amount paid to date in Engalnd under the arable area payments scheme in respect of the 1992-93 scheme year is just over £681 million, including set-aside payments of £125 million. No payments have yet been made in respect of the 1993-94 scheme year.
Dr. Strang : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farms in England had hectarages of land under cereals greater than (a) 1,000 hectares, (b) 500 hectares and (c) 250 hectares in the last available year.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : The number of holdings in England with more than 1,000 hectares of land under cereals--excluding maize--estimated from the June 1993 agricultural census, was four. The number with more than 500 hectares and the number with more than 250 hectares of cereals was 96 and 916 respectively.
Animal Transportation
Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Dulwich of 13 April, Official Report, column 180, regarding animals unfit for transit if she will list for each consignment (a) the country of registration of the haulier and (b) the nationality of the driver ;
(2) pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Dulwich of 13 April, Official Report, column 180, regarding animals unfit for transit what was the place of slaughter for each consignment and how many animals were (a) deemed unfit for transit, (b) recumbent and (c) dead, on arrival at the place of slaughter.
Mr. Soames : The place of slaughter was a slaughterhouse in Birmingham. The other information requested is as follows.
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Date of arrival at |Country of |Nationality |Number of |Number of |Number of
slaughterhouse |registration |of driver |animals deemed |animals dead on |recumbent
|of the haulier |unfit at the |arrival at the |animals at the
|slaughterhouse |slaughterhouse |slaughterhouse
|for further
|transport
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17 February 1994 |Germany |German |0 |0 |0
8 March 1994 |Netherlands |Dutch |0 |1 |0
9 March 1994 |Republic of Ireland|Republic of Ireland|1 |1 |0
17 March 1994 |United Kingdom |British |6 |2 |6
28 January 1994 |Republic of Ireland|Not recorded |1 |0 |1
15 February 1994 |Netherlands |Dutch |2 |1 |2
8 March 1994 |United Kingdom |British |1 |0 |1
23 March 1994 |Republic of Ireland|Not recorded |0 |0 |0
Cheese Industry
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what support she is giving to the promotion of the British cheese industry.
Mr. Jack [holding answer 29 April 1994] : The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food supports the promotion of the British cheese industry in several ways. It seeks to
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ensure that EC legislation does not disadvantage the industry in any way and that the regulatory burden is minimised. It liaises closely with the various cheese associations, which act as a central contact point for cheese makers, wholesalers and retailers. In addition, it ensures that the National Dairy Council, the co- ordinating body for the dairy industry's generic information and promotion activities in England and Wales, is kept fully informed of the availability of EC funds for promotional work.Column 43
The Ministry also assists the export of all British food, including cheese, through its support of Food From Britain-- FFB--and initiatives such as the continental challenge. Specialist cheese makers can benefit from the FFB speciality food programme which helps small producers to promote and market their products both nationally and internationally.NORTHERN IRELAND
Appointments
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list each appointment for which a Minister has to approve the appointment or shortlist for the appointment, showing for each appointment (a) which Minister exercises the responsibility, (b) the salary, if any, attached to the post, (c) the term of the appointment and (d) the person currently appointed to the post.
Sir John Wheeler : The information is not readily available in the form requested in all NI Departments and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, the information that is available has been placed in the Library.
Tree Planting
Mr. Beggs : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will introduce legislation or regulations to require (a) neighbour notification and (b) consultation with the planning and road service departments of the Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland, prior to approval by the Department of Agriculture, Northern Ireland, in respect of extensive grant-aided tree-planting schemes which will be adjacent to public roads or residential property.
Mr. Tim Smith : I do not consider that legislation or regulations of the type suggested are either necessary or desirable. The Department of Agriculture in Northern Ireland forest service pays particular attention to landscape, conservation and amenity issues both in planning its own planting activities and also in approving grant aid for new private sector planting.
Security
Mr. Donohoe : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the use of private detective agencies and security companies by his Department.
Sir John Wheeler : The Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office have market-tested a range of services which includes security guarding. Eighteen security guarding companies were employed in Northern Ireland on contracts at a cost of £1,947,000 in 1993-94.
There are currently no contracts for private detective agencies.
Junior Doctors' Hours
Mr. Beggs : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in reducing junior doctors' hours in Northern Ireland over the last two years ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Ancram : Very significant progress has been made towards reducing junior doctors' hours since 1991. Of the
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1,013 junior doctors and dentists identified at that time in Northern Ireland, about 500--52 per cent.--were contracted for more than 83 hours a week. Only 19 such posts, less than 2 per cent. of the total, remained at September 1993 when the last survey was completed. It is expected that these will be eliminated very shortly.Disability Living Allowance
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people over the age of 60 years receive (a) the higher rate and (b) the lower rate mobility component of the disability living allowance ; and what is the latest estimate of the number of people aged over 60 years entitled to claim the mobility component of disability living allowance who do not do so.
Mr. Ancram : Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Alec Wylie. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given. Letter from A. Wylie to Mr. Eddie McGrady, dated 6 May 1994 : I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning the mobility components of Disability Living Allowance.
The numbers of people over the age of 60 years who receive the higher and lower rate mobility components of Disability Living Allowance are 14,743 and 1,911 respectively.
There is no information available on which to estimate the number of people aged over 60 who are entitled to but do not claim the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance.
I hope you will find this reply helpful.
Environmental Protection Agency
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress he has made towards the establishment of an environmental protection agency ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Tim Smith : In Northern Ireland most of the functions of the proposed agency in England and Wales are already carried out by the environment service of the Department of the Environment. I will decide whether or not any proposals for change in Northern Ireland should be made when final details of the proposed agency in England and Wales are known and when I have received the results of the prior options study of the environmental service which was announced by the Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Westminster, North (Sir J. Wheeler), on 18 January 1994.
Training
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the cost of funding the job training programme in Northern Ireland ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) what is the cost of funding the youth training programme in Northern Ireland ;
(3) how many people participated in the youth training programme between 1 April 1984 and 31 March 1994 ; and how many of these have obtained a full- time position.
Mr. Tim Smith : Responsibility for the subject matter in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its chief executive, Mr. J. S. Crozier. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
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Letter from J. S. Crozier to Mr. Eddie McGrady, dated9 May 1994 :The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to your questions about the cost of funding the Job Training Programme (JTP) and Youth Training Programme (YTP) and how many people participated in YTP, and entered full time employment. The cost of funding JTP and YTP in the year ended 31 March 1994 was £21.2 million (estimated) and £47.6 million
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respectively. The JTP expenditure has been estimated because all of the expenditure in respect of Training Allowances has not yet been charged to vote.Whilst we have figures showing the numbers of trainees entering employment we cannot say for certain that this was invariably full time employment, although that is likely to have been the position in most cases. In addition a proportion enter further education. The number of young people engaged in the Youth Training Programme in each of the years since 1984-85 then entering employment or further education is as follows :
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|Average |Total Number of |Leavers to |Percentage |Leavers to F.E. |Percentage |Total Percentage
|Occupancy |Leavers (For |Employment |to Employment
|whom destination |or F.E.
|is known)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1984-85 |7,347 |9,117 |5,017 |55 |274 |3 |58
1985-86 |8,081 |9,620 |5,500 |57 |289 |3 |60
1986-87 |8,659 |10,271 |5,686 |55 |411 |4 |59
1987-88 |8,778 |10,509 |5,787 |55 |525 |5 |60
1988-89 |8,881 |10,232 |6,428 |63 |512 |5 |67
1989-90 |9,818 |10,914 |6,767 |62 |655 |6 |68
1990-91 |12,914 |8,768 |4,223 |48 |1,228 |14 |62
1991-92 |15,688 |12,675 |5,754 |45 |2,662 |21 |66
1992-93 |13,725 |12,090 |6,672 |55 |1,334 |11 |66
1993-94 |<1>12,510 |10,565 |5,911 |55 |1,260 |11 |66
<1> Includes jobskills pilots.
In addition, during the years 1985 to 1990, YTP workscheme was a major element of second year provision in the Youth Training Programme. Workscheme offered employers financial and other assistance to encourage the employment and training of 17 year olds. Surveys indicated that the majority of young people in YTP Workscheme continued in employment beyond the grant aided year. The average numbers in employment with training under Workscheme was :
Average |Number occupancy ------------------------------ 1984-85 |1,428 1985-86 |1,713 1986-87 |3,951 1987-88 |2,641 1988-89 |4,447 1989-90 |2,411 1990-91 |911 1991-92 |4
The Training and Employment Agency has been reviewing its training programme and you may be aware that since September 1992 we have been piloting a completely new programme which if approved by Ministers would replace both YTP and JTP. It is designed to enhance quality and outcomes for participants partly through better performance in the achievement of qualifications.
I hope that you find this helpful.
Community Care
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what advice the Department of Health and Social Services has given to health boards on consultation with users and carers in producing local purchasing plans for community care ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Ancram : The need to involve users and their carers in the planning and delivery of community services is a continuous theme in a broad range of advice and guidance issued since March 1990 by the Department of Health and Social Services to health and social services boards.
In March 1991 the Department issued guidance on commissioning and purchasing and asked boards to seek to involve service users, carers and other relevant bodies in
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determining service specifications, and to set out the terms and conditions of service users' involvement. The guidance also required boards to consult individual clients and their carers when planning to purchase services to meet their assessed needs.In October 1993 the chief executive of the HPSS management executive issued further guidance to boards requiring them to consult widely with their residents, their health and social services councils and other interested parties in developing their plans for purchasing community care.
In addition the Department's social services inspectorate has brought to boards' attention official and other relevant publications and reports covering good practice in community care including the participation of users and carers. In February 1994 the social services inspectorate informed boards of a further publication in the Department of Health study series "Implementing Community Care" entitled "Informing Users and Carers" about empowering users and carers through disseminating information.
Invalidity Benefit
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many invalidity benefit awards for people in the constituency of South Down have been (a) reviewed, (b) disallowed and (c) reinstated on appeal in each of the last 12 months.
Mr. Ancram : Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Alec Wylie. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given. Letter from A. Wylie to Mr. Eddie McGrady, dated 6 May 1994 : I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on the number of Invalidity Benefit awards that have been reviewed, disallowed and reinstated on appeal in each of the last 12 months within your constituency.
I am sorry that the information you have requested cannot be provided for your constituency as Invalidity Benefit is
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