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Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 22 June 1994
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Rough Sleepers and Beggars
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what instructions are given to security staff in his departmental offices in London for dealing with (a) those sleeping rough in departmental doorways and (b) beggars in the vicinity ; and how many problems have been experienced with each category in the last three months.
Mr. John M. Taylor : No formal instructions are given to security staff for dealing with those sleeping rough in departmental doorways or beggars in the vicinity. It is, however, normal practice for security staff to ask those sleeping rough in departmental doorways to move at the start of the working day if they have not already done so. No problems with either category have been reported within the last three months.
Katyn
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will now review the withholding of eight of the 762 entered papers on files FO 371/34563-90, following the information about Katyn made available by the Russian Government on 14 October 1992.
Mr. John M. Taylor : Seven papers relating to Katyn were released to the Public Record Office in 1993. These were :
FO 371/34553 (1943)
FO 371/34590 (1943)
FO 371/39385 (1944)
FO 371/39421 (1944)
FO 371/77476 (1949)
FO 371/77477 (1949)
FO 371/100719 (1952)
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is currently reviewing all other papers withheld on files 371/34563-89, only one of which appears to relate to the Katyn massacre. I shall let my hon. Friend know the outcome of the review in due course.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Benzodiazepines
Mr. Peter Robinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prescriptions for benzodiazepine drugs have been issued by the Department of Health and Social Services in the past 10 years.
Mr. Ancram : Some 7,995,602 prescriptions for benzodiazepine drugs were issued by general practitioners in Northern Ireland between 1983 and 1993.
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Government Offices (Union Flag)
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether a flag pole has been provided at the premises of the roads service of the Department of the Environment in Armagh city ; whether a Union flag has been supplied to these premises ; whether advice has been given about the recognised days on which the Union flag is flown at Government offices ; why the Union flag was not flown on the official birthday of Her Majesty the Queen at these premises ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Tim Smith : Both a flag pole and a Union flag are provided at the Department of the Environment's roads service premises in Armagh city. Advice is usually given about the recognised days on which the Union flag is flown at Government offices but, owing to an administrative error, the date of the Queen's official birthday was not notified this year. Steps have been taken to prevent a recurrence.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether a flag pole has been provided at the premises of the water service at the Department of the Environment in Armagh city ; whether a Union flag has been supplied to these premises ; whether advice has been given about the recognised days on which the Union flag is to be flown at Government offices ; why the Union flag was not flown on the official birthday of Her Majesty the Queen at these premises ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Tim Smith : Neither a flag pole nor a Union flag has been provided at the Department of the Environment's water executive sub- divisional depot at 15 Ardmore road, Armagh. Provision will be made as soon as possible to enable a Union flag to be flown at this building.
Waste Paper Recycling
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to provide for payments to voluntary groups to collect waste paper for recycling ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Tim Smith : The Government have no plans to provide for payments to voluntary groups to collect waste paper for recycling. New waste legislation is being prepared, which will introduce to Northern Ireland provisions similar to those contained in part 2 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, including a recycling credit scheme.
Industrial Development Board
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many sites have been identified in the constituency of South Down for the purposes of industrial development by the Industrial Development Board from 1 April 1984 to 31 March 1994 ; and which are they.
Mr. Tim Smith : The Industrial Development Board's industrial estates at Killough road in Downpatrick and at Milltown in Warrenpoint have been available for industrial development since 1984.
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made by the Industrial Development Board on the indentification of sites for industrial development in South Down.
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Mr. Tim Smith : A 6-acre site has been identified at the racecourse on Ballydugan road in Downpatrick. A search for other possible locations has resulted in four sites being identified and a report on their suitability for industrial development is expected at the end of July.
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many jobs were created by the Industrial Development Board from 1 April 1984 to 31 March 1994 ; how many of these were the result of inward investment contracts ; and what are the location of these jobs.
Mr. Tim Smith : Information on job creations is not available in the manner requested or by location. However, details of jobs promoted by the Industrial Development Board over the last 10 years are available by district council area and are set out in the table. The Industrial Development Board's own research shows that companies create approximately two thirds of all promoted jobs over a period of three to five years after acceptance of the Industrial Development Board's offer of assistance.
Jobs Promoted by the Industrial Development Board
1984-85 to 1993-94
District Council |Total Jobs |Inward Investment
Area
|Promoted |Jobs Included in
|Total Jobs
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Antrim |3,878 |1,972
Ards |1,419 |130
Armagh |562 |-
Ballymena |1,284 |323
Ballymoney |536 |116
Banbridge |206 |-
Belfast |4,145 |2,128
Carrickfergus |978 |216
Castlereagh |1,205 |407
Coleraine |1,205 |20
Cookstown |232 |-
Craigavon |5,039 |754
Derry |5,356 |1,626
Down |589 |121
Dungannon |2,544 |257
Fermanagh |1,350 |109
Larne |1,758 |100
Limavady |922 |483
Lisburn |2,567 |1,160
Magherafelt |832 |22
Moyle |52 |37
Newry and Mourne |1,475 |347
Newtownabbey |4,585 |1,222
North Down |572 |60
Omagh |392 |131
Strabane |1,113 |-
|--- |---
Total |44,796 |11,741
House Sales, Ards
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the income from the sale of houses for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in the borough of Ards for the years 1993-94 and 1992-93 ; and how much of this income was reinvested in the borough of Ards in each of those two years.
Mr. Tim Smith : This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but its chief executive has advised me that income from the house sales scheme in the borough of Ards was £1.335 million for 1992- 93 and £1.398 million for 1993-94. The Housing Executive's investment in the borough of Ards on new build was £1.919 million in 1992-93 and £1.659 million in 1993-94.
Further and Higher Education
Mr. Stott : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total capital expenditure for minor and major works for each college of further education in Northern Ireland during each of the last five years ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Ancram : Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the colleges' total capital expenditure for each financial year from 1989 to 1992 is analysed by area in the "Statements and Summary of the Education and Library Boards' Accounts"--Cmnds. 1531, 1977 and 2249--copies of which are available in the Library. The 1992-93 and 1993-94 expenditure is as follows :
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£000s
Category |Belfast |Western |North- |South- |Southern
|Eastern |Eastern
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1992-93
Major |- |220 |- |1,967 |104
Minor |164 |195 |468 |265 |105
1993-94<1>
Major |- |14 |- |3,358 |-
Minor |222 |192 |258 |74 |57
<1> Provisional.
Local Enterprise Development Unit
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many jobs have been created by the Local Enterprise Development Unit from 1 April 1984 to 31 March 1994 ; if he will list the locations of these jobs ; and how many of these jobs still exist.
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Mr. Tim Smith : Up to 1990-91 the principal measure of LEDU performance was job promotions. The job promotion figures for 1984-85 to 1990-91 by regional area are as follows :
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Area |1984-85|1985-86|1986-87|1987-88|1988-89|1989-90|1990-91
------------------------------------------------------------------------
North |672 |799 |653 |903 |675 |839 |775
South |859 |669 |992 |839 |975 |1,121 |1,110
East |1,903 |1,896 |1,974 |1,896 |2,036 |2,632 |2,942
West |575 |524 |582 |409 |709 |629 |674
|--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |---
Total |4,009 |3,888 |4,201 |4,047 |4,395 |5,221 |5,501
Since 1991-92 LEDU has identified net employment change within all LEDU client companies. These figures are not available on a regional basis.
|1991-92|1992-93|1993-94
----------------------------------------------------------
Jobs Created |1,750 |2,630 |2,870
Jobs Lost due to Closures |2,400 |1,610 |1,530
Net Employment Change |-650 |1,020 |1,340
It is not possible to say how many jobs created by LEDU in a given year and location are still in existence.
Red Squirrels
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list by county the current estimate of the red squirrel population ; what were the figures (a) five years and (b) 10 years ago ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Tim Smith : No estimate of the red squirrel population of Northern Ireland has been made. I counted five when I visited Belvoir forest park on 23 March. Support for the population of red squirrels includes full protection under the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985.
PRIME MINISTER
State Property
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list by date and item for the last 48 months when an item from the state property inventories maintained at No. 10 Downing street was discovered to have been missing ; whether each item found to be missing was discovered by the Cabinet Office internal auditors or by one of his officials responsible for making periodic checks of the inventory ; and if he will list those items that have now been traced, and where they were discovered.
The Prime Minister : As far as I am aware, no item from the state property inventories has been discovered missing within the stated period.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Surplus EC Food
Mr. Allen : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the production, distribution and transportation of the surplus EC food currently being distributed ; the quantities and costs involved in the current year ; and what his projections are for the changes and trends in the system next year and in subsequent years.
Mr. Jack : In 1994, the European Commission allocated 175 mecu-- £136 million--to member states under the EC
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surplus food scheme which is fully financed by the Community. The United Kingdom received 29 mecu--£23 million-- for the release from invervention stores of 6,840 tonnes of beef, its transportation to processors, processing into canned stewed steak and its distribution to designated organisations. Certain administrative costs of these organisations are also reimbursed. The transportation of the produce to organisations for distribution to about 1.6 million eligible recipients should be completed by the end of July. Copies of leaflets LP45 and LP46, which describe the scheme rules, are available in the Library of the House.The European Commission is responsible for allocating funds to member states and for approving their plans for operating this scheme. It does so for one year in advance only. For 1995, the United Kingdom's current plan is to maintain the present arrangements, but I shall be making an announcement about this later in the year.
Animal Exports
Mr. Etherington : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if she will urge the European Commission to adopt a maximum eight- hour limit on slaughter journeys, and prohibit the export of farm animals to non-EU countries which do not comply with EU welfare standards during transport and at slaughter ;
(2) if she will support a maximum journey time for animals when the transport directive is decided upon.
Mr. Soames : At this week's Agriculture Council, the United Kingdom withheld support for a revised package of proposals on the welfare of animals during transport. We have obtained a commitment from the Commission that it will bring forward further proposals on journey limits by 1 July 1995.
Bovine Immunodeficiency Virus
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what regulations exist regarding milk produced by cows known to be infected with the bovine immunodeficiency virus.
Mr. Soames : All milk for human consumption must meet the requirements of the Milk and Dairies (General) Regulations 1959 and the Milk (Special Designations) Regulations 1989 made under the Food Safety Act 1990. Animal feed containing milk or milk products must meet the requirements of the Agriculture Act 1970 and the Feeding Stuffs Regulations 1991, as amended. Neither the Acts nor the regulations refer to bovine immunodeficiency-like virus.
Chickens
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what have been the losses in each of the last five years from (a) chicken cancer and (b) Mareks disease in chickens, and other herpes-based diseases.
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Mr. Soames : These diseases are not notifiable and therefore no comprehensive data is maintained.
State Veterinary Service
Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to her answer to the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Carlile) of 18 April, Official Report, column 415, which interested parties he has so far consulted and which he intends to consult regarding the future of the state veterinary service.
Mr. Soames : My right hon. Friend will consult interested parties shortly. The consultation documents will be placed in the Library of the House.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Court Escort Services
Mrs. Roche : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what conditions were specified in respect of the number of employees to be employed for the first phase of the contract in the contract with Securicor for carrying out court escort services in the Metropolitan police area.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from A. J. Butler to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 22 June 1994 :
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the court escort and custody service contract in the Metropolitan Police area.
There were no conditions relating specifically to the number of employees to be employed by Securicor Custodial Services Limited for the first phase of their contract to carry out court escort services in the Metropolitan Police area. Securicor were required, however, to employ sufficient numbers to staff adequately all courts in the contract area thereby enabling the courts to function effectively. They were also required to employ sufficient staff to escort safely all those who were required at courts.
Mrs. Roche : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what conditions were specified in respect of pay and terms of service of employees in the contract with Securicor for carrying out court escort services in the Metropolitan police area.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from A. J. Butler to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated22 June 1994 :
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the court escort and custody service contract in the Metropolitan Police area.
There were no conditions specific to the pay and terms of service of employees in the contract with Securicor Custodial Services Limited for carrying out court escort services in the Metropolitan Police area.
Securicor are responsible for the recruitment, selection, training, and pay and terms of service for all their personnel.
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Recruitment policy and procedures must however be approved by the Prison Service. The Prison Service must be satisfied that the level of pay and the terms of service are sufficiently attractive to enable Securicor Custodial Services Limited to recruit and retain high calibre staff.Mrs. Roche : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which companies tendered for the contract to carry out court escort services in the Metropolitan police area.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from A. J. Butler to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated22 June 1994 :
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the companies that tendered for the contract to carry out court escort services in the Metropolitan Police area.
Tenders were received on 30 September 1993 from the following four companies : Securicor Custodial Services Limited ; Reliance Custodial Services ; Group 4 Court Services and Pinkerton Court Escort Services Limited.
After carefully considering the proposals, the Prisons Board decided to award the contract to Securicor Custodial Services Limited.
Mrs. Roche : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the value of the contract awarded to Securicor for court escort services in the Metropolitan police area.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from A. J. Butler to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated22 June 1994 :
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the value of the contract awarded to Securicor for court escort services in the Metropolitan Police area.
The contract is valued at £96 million and will run for five years.
Mrs. Roche : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training is currently given to prison officers escorting prisoners to court ; what is the duration of that training ; and what training, of what duration, will be given to employees of private security firms engaged in this work from 27 June in the Metropolitan police area.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from A. J. Butler to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated22 June 1994 :
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the court escort and custody service contract in the Metropolitan Police area.
All newly recruited prison officers receive specific training in court escort duties as part of their nine weeks induction course. The training comprises six sessions of 45 minutes each and
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covers relevant court and Prison Service procedures. Many other aspects of the induction course are also relevant to escort duties, including a range of training in interpersonal skills and general security procedures such as searching, handcuffing, and use of the closeting chain.Securicor are required by the contract to train all their custodial staff to prepare them for certification and employment as Prisoner Custody Officers carrying out prisoner escort duties and as Prisoner Custody Officers performing custodial duties at a contracted out prison.
The training consists of five modules which cover the following subjects : the legal framework ; prisoner management ; security ; supervision and control ; general. This training totals 234 hours. All training must be approved by, and completed to the satisfaction of the Prison Service.
Mrs. Roche : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what checks his Department has made for criminal records of the employees of Securicor who will be carrying out court escort services in the Metropolitan police area as of 27 June.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from A. J. Butler to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 22 June 1994 :
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the checks made for criminal records of the employees of Securicor who will be carrying out court escort services in the Metropolitan Police area.
All people who work at contracted out prisons and for the contracted court escort service are subject to routine enquiries about their suitability to work with prisoners. These enquiries are similar to those made in relation to applicants for Prison Service employment. Candidates who apply for employment, either in the public or the private sector of the Prison Service, in custodial duties or escort functions are exempted from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 by the Rehabilitation Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, and therefore convictions which ordinarily are regarded as "spent" are taken into account.
Probation and Bail Hostels
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of places in probation and bail hostels covering the Greater London area at 1 April.
Mr. Maclean : As at 1 April, there were a total of 343 approved hostel places in the Greater London area, comprising the inner-London, north-east, south-east and south-west London and Middlesex probation services.
Deportation
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many decisions to make a deportation order have been taken in each of the past five years either under section 3(5)(a) or section 3(5)(b) of the Immigration Act 1971 where the person to be deported had made known to the Secretary of State the existence of his or her British citizen children.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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Remand
Mr. Nigel Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each year since 1990 (a) the percentage of prisoners who are on remand for three months and over who are subsequently brought to trial, (b) the percentage of those on remand for three months and over who are brought to trial who are found not guilty and (c) of those brought to trial, found guilty and sentenced to a prison term, the percentage who have already served as long or longer on remand.
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