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Mr. Atkins : We understand from the European Commission that the following non-OECD parties to the Basel convention have said that they do not wish to receive shipments of any "green list" waste from the European Community :
Chile
Indonesia
Maldives
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
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SeychellesSt. Lucia
Tanzania
Brazil and the Republic of Korea have said that they would allow imports of some green list wastes. The following non-OECD parties to the Basel convention have said that they wish amber or red list procedures to apply to shipments of green list waste from the European Community :
Argentina
Czech Republic
Estonia
India
Malaysia
Mexico
Poland
Trinidad and Tobago
Discussions are taking place within the European Community on appropriate action.
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment with which parties and non-parties to the Basel convention the United Kingdom has established bilateral agreements for the import or export of hazardous waste ; and what steps he has taken to prohibit imports of hazardous waste from (a) the United States and (b) other non-parties under article 4.5 of the Basel convention.
Mr. Atkins : The United Kingdom has concluded no bilateral agreements under article 11 of the Basel convention. Imports of hazardous waste into the United Kingdom from non-parties to the convention, other than imports of waste destined for recovery from OECD countries, are prohibited by Council regulation (EEC) No. 259/93. It is for competent authorities to ensure compliance with the provisions of the regulation.
Colchester (Officials' Visits)
Mr. Jenkin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment for what reasons the EC paid for the mayor of Colchester, the town clerk and the community services director of Colchester borough council to visit Argos in Greece ; under what programme this expenditure was made ; who authorised it ; how much is to be spent on such trips in the current year ; which EC official is responsible ; and to which director general in the Commission he is answerable.
Mr. Curry : I understand that the visit was made under the EC's exchange of experience programme, which is run by DG XVI of the Commission. In the United Kingdom, the programme is managed by the Local Government International Bureau, which is sponsored by the local authority associations. Participation in the programme is a matter for individual authorities.
British Waterways Board
Lady Olga Maitland : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the British Waterways Board has responded to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report on the service provided by the BWB ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : I have today placed in the Library of the House the British Waterways Board's initial response to the report by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, which was published in January 1994.
I am grateful to the commission for the extensive review of the British Waterways Board which it has undertaken. I
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am happy to report that, in addition to meeting its statutory duties, the MMC found an organisation which has been transformed by devolving responsibility from the centre to individual waterways, the overall performance of which has been improved, and which is developing a strong commercial outlook. The enthusiasm and dedication of staff and their substantial achievements since the MMC's last report in 1987 have been commended. The commission concluded that the BWB must aim to strike the right balance between sustaining the considerable progress already made in developing its commercial ethos and discharging its wider responsibilities, especially for conservation. It made 48 recommendations aimed at securing further improvements in the BWB's performance, in particular in expanding its share of the leisure market. I welcome and endorse the commission's recognition of the BWB's achievements and its constructive recommendations for the future.I also welcome the BWB's positive response to the MMC's report, which demonstrates a firm commitment to improving the efficiency of the business. Most of the commission's recommendations have been accepted in whole or in part and many have already been implemented. Where appropriate, the board has embarked upon further work as recommended by the MMC. I am satisfied that the BWB has addressed fully those recommendations which have not been accepted. I support the board's programme of seeking increased private sector involvement in the business through market testing and contracting out and I am pleased that the BWB has taken steps to explore potential in the leisure market and to improve relations with its customers. A number of recommendations would require action either by the Government or jointly by the Government and the BWB. We are keen that the BWB should develop its commercial approach and, with the new chairman, Mr. Bernard Henderson, will be reviewing the board's strategy during 1994-95, in particular the prospects for increasing private sector--including voluntary sector-- participation in the BWB's business. This will include consideration of the criteria against which strategic options for the future should be assessed and corporate planning and targets. In the light of the MMC's recommendations we shall also look at appointments to the board and the time that the chairman needs to spend on board matters. We have already confirmed arrangements with the BWB over the treatment of proceeds from property disposals. We are taking into account, as the opportunity arises, the MMC's recommendations on radio communications, development of the BWB's property, development control, dredging tips, wayleaves and inland waterway commercial transport. I shall continue to monitor the BWB's progress in implementing the MMC's recommendations and will report to the House in due course.
Warrington Borough Council
Mr. John Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has decided to take against Warrington borough council following the notice served on the authority on 17 February, under section 13 of the Local Government Act 1988, in respect of street cleaning work.
Mr. Baldry : My right hon. Friend has given careful consideration to the response which Warrington borough council has made to the notice served earlier this year and
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has today given a direction under section 14 of the Local Government Act 1988. The effect of the direction is to require the authority to seek the Secretary of State's consent if it wishes to award street cleaning work to their Direct Service Organisation again when the current arrangements expire in 1997.Local Government Earnings
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish for each local authority area and for England as a whole, for the latest available date, the average earnings of local government employees.
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 29 June 1994] : Information on the earnings of employees in local government is available from the "New Earnings Survey". The table gives the average weekly earnings of all employees in the local government sector for each county area for London boroughs and for England as a whole. The figures include employees of both district and county councils. Information on individual county and district councils is not held centrally.
Average gross weekly earnings of full time employees on adult
rates-
pay unaffected by absence: April 1993
Local government |£
sector
------------------------------------------------------------------
England |340.8
South East Region
Greater London |389.0
City of London |<1>-
Barking |369.3
Barnet |406.3
Bexley |<1>-
Brent |354.7
Bromley |366.0
Camden |415.9
Croydon |350.5
Ealing |389.0
Enfield |<1>-
Greenwich |362.0
Hackney |387.8
Hammersmith |383.2
Haringey |354.2
Harrow |377.0
Havering |<1>-
Hillingdon |346.9
Hounslow |339.5
Islington |381.1
Kensington and Chelsea |<1>-
Kingston-upon-Thames |407.3
Lambeth |<1>-
Lewisham |362.9
Merton |<1>-
Newham |349.6
Redbridge |396.5
Richmond-upon-Thames |<1>-
Southwark |413.8
Sutton |<1>-
Tower Hamlets |420.6
Waltham Forest |<1>-
Wandsworth |<1>-
City of Westminster |451.9
Remainder of South East Region
Bedfordshire |334.0
Berkshire |368.0
Buckinghamshire |343.0
East Sussex |331.8
Essex |338.9
Hampshire |355.0
Hertfordshire |353.2
Isle of Wight |<1>-
Kent |341.6
Oxfordshire |344.9
Surrey |356.1
West Sussex |326.8
East Anglia Region
Cambridgeshire |323.4
Norfolk |345.5
Suffolk |349.0
South West Region
Avon |333.3
Cornwall |319.4
Devon |345.8
Dorset |319.3
Gloucestershire |326.7
Somerset |323.7
Wiltshire |362.1
West Midlands Region
West Midlands MC |328.9
Hereford and Worcester |332.1
Shropshire |310.9
Staffordshire |304.2
Warwickshire |339.5
East Midlands Region
Derbyshire |311.9
Leicestershire |324.8
Lincolnshire |346.9
Northamptonshire |334.0
Nottinghamshire |302.7
Yorkshire and Humberside Region
South Yorkshire MC |320.7
West Yorkshire MC |326.9
Humberside |305.8
North Yorkshire |328.6
North West Region
Greater Manchester MC |321.1
Merseyside MC |326.6
Cheshire |360.8
Lancashire |329.1
North Region
Tyne and Wear MC |306.4
Cleveland |257.5
Cumbria |352.9
Durham |313.5
Northumberland |335.7
Source: "New Earnings Survey".
<1> Denotes sample too small and/or standard error too large for
reliable estimate.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Northern Ireland Tourist Board
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are (a) the names of all members of the Northern Ireland tourist board, (b) the organisation each member represents, (c) the perceived religious affiliation of each member, (d) the date of appointment and the period of such appointment, (e) the political party affiliation of each member and (f) the council area of Northern Ireland in which each member resides.
Mr. Tim Smith : Members do not represent an organisation, but are appointed on merit. Personal information on religious and political affiliation cannot be disclosed. The other information requested is as follows.
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Northern Ireland Tourist Board
Name |Date of Appointment |Period of |Northern Ireland
|Appointment |Council Area
|in which Member
|Resides
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hon. Hugh O'Neill (Chairman) |1 July 1994 |2 Years |Ballymena Borough Council
Mr. Brian Adgey |1 April 1993 |3 Years |Ards Borough Council
Mr. Roy Bailic |1 July 1994 |3 Years |Antrim Borough Council
Mr. Gerry Burns, MBE |1 July 1994 |3 Years |Fermanagh District Council
Mrs. Annie Courtney |1 July 1994 |3 Years |Derry City Council
Mr. Tony Hopkins |1 April 1992 |3 Years |North Down Borough Council
Mr. Alan Lambert |1 April 1994 |3 Years |Great Britain Resident
Mr. William McGinnis |1 July 1994 |3 Years |Magherafelt District Council
Dr. Mary Peters, CBE |1 April 1993 |3 Years |Lisburn Borough Council
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria he applies when selecting persons for appointment to the Northern Ireland tourist board.
Mr. Tim Smith : Appointments are made on the basis of an individual's experience and expertise and potential to contribute to the functions of the tourist board.
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which of the current members of the Northern Ireland tourist board have a career background in (a) the hotel, (b) the catering and (c) the tourist sectors.
Mr. Tim Smith : The NITB chairman, the hon. Hugh O'Neill, and Mr. Brian Adgey have a career background in these fields. Other members bring further experience in financial and business matters, local/regional issues and PR/events management.
Fair Employment Commission
Mr. Trimble : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what were the conclusions of the Fair Employment Commission on the areas from which the work force of Howden Sirocco is drawn ; which of those areas were omitted from the catchment area on which the quotas were set for applications and appointees ; and what was the reason for the omission of each of those areas ;
(2) how many of the employees of the Sunblest bakery at Orby Link, Castlereagh, were found by the Fair Employment Commission to be drawn from the district council areas of North Down and Ards ;
(3) in how many of the cases setting the quotas for applicants and appointees specified in the affirmative action programmes published by the Fair Employment Commission in June, the commission omitted the requirement that all appointments will be made on the basis of merit ; and for what reasons in each case ;
(4) which district council areas were omitted in the affirmative action programme published by the Fair Employment Commission in June for the Sunblest bakery at Orby Link, Castlereagh from the catchment area on which the quotas set for applications and appointees are based ; and for what reason in each case.
Mr. Tim Smith : This is primarily a matter for the Fair Employment Commission. I am satisfied that in agreeing affirmative action programmes with firms, the Fair Employment Commissioin acts with due regard to all the circumstances of each particular case. The content of those agreements and the data upon which they are based are a matter for the Commission and the firms concerned. Under fair employment legislation, quotas are unlawful but there
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is provision for setting goals and timetables--that is, targets that firms would expect and should make good faith efforts, to reach within a certain time scale.Neil Latimer
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress there has been in the review of the conviction of Neil Latimer ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Patrick Mayhew : In my reply of 22 April, Official Report, columns 721-22, I explained the criterion for the exercise of my statutory power to refer a case to the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland. I pointed out that so far none of the representations received had fulfilled that criterion.
Since then, I have given consideration to the points raised about Mr. Latimer's conviction during an Adjournment debate on 23 February and have requested further material. When I have received and considered it I shall write to all those hon. Members who have made representations to me in recent months about this case.
Lisnevin Training School
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of children who are currently being held in Lisnevin training school, by (a) age, (b) sex, (c) ethnic origin and (d) legislation under which they are being held ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir John Wheeler : The number of children detained in Lisnevin training school on Friday 24 June 1994 is as follows :
Age |Special|Remand |PACE |Total
|unit |unit |orders
------------------------------------------------
13 |1 |nil |nil |1
14 |nil |3 |nil |3
15 |3 |11 |nil |14
16 |4 |7 |nil |11
17 |1 |2 |nil |3
18 |nil |nil |nil |nil
|-------|-------|-------|-------
Total |9 |23 |nil |32
Note:
All children detained in the School on 24 June
1994 are (a) male; (b) white; and (c) detained
under the provisions of the Children and Young
Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968.
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of children who were received into Lisnevin training school, by (a) age, (b) sex, (c) ethnic origin and (d) legislation under which they were held, for each year since 1985 ; and if he will make a statement.
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Sir John Wheeler : The number of children received into Lisnevin training school in the (a) special unit ; (b) remand unit ; and (c) PACE remand categories are given in the tables.
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Special Unit
Year Age Total
|11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |17 |18
----------------------------------------------------
1985 |- |- |1 |2 |8 |5 |2 |- |18
1986 |- |- |1 |2 |4 |2 |- |1 |10
1987 |- |- |1 |1 |4 |2 |1 |- |9
1988 |- |- |2 |4 |3 |2 |- |- |11
1989 |- |- |1 |2 |7 |1 |2 |- |13
1990 |- |- |- |3 |6 |- |- |- |9
1991 |- |- |2 |4 |5 |1 |- |- |12
1992 |- |- |- |4 |3 |3 |- |- |10
1993 |- |- |2 |1 |3 |1 |- |- |7
------- |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
Total |- |- |10 |23 |43 |17 |5 |99
------- |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
Grand Total |99
Note: All children included in this table are (a)
male, (b) white and (c) detained under the
provisions of the Children and Young Persons Act (
Northern Ireland) 1968.
Remand Unit
Year Age Total
|11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |17 |18
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1985 |- |- |1 |21 |38 |48 |16 |- |124
1986 |- |- |10 |30 |60 |62 |5 |- |167
1987 |- |5 |12 |29 |50 |67 |7 |- |170
1988 |- |2 |10 |22 |34 |62 |- |- |130
1989 |- |2 |5 |21 |42 |88 |4 |- |162
1990 |- |- |4 |19 |40 |66 |4 |- |133
1991 |- |- |7 |21 |47 |75 |14 |- |164
1992 |- |4 |12 |27 |35 |82 |14 |- |174
1993 |1 |5 |8 |35 |62 |92 |4 |1 |208
------- |--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |---
Total |1 |18 |69 |225 |408 |642 |68 |1 |1,432
------- |--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |---
Grand Total |1,432
Note: All children included in this table are (a) male, (b) white and (
c) detained under the provisions of the Children and Young Persons Act (
Northern Ireland) 1968.
PACE Remands Year |Total ------------------ 1990 |69 1991 |31 1992 |61 1993 |96 ---- |---- Total |257
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the occupancy rate of Lisnevin training school (a) as a total and (b) broken down by age for each month since January 1990 ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir John Wheeler : Lisnevin training school is registered to accommodate up to 40 children--15 special unit places and 25 remand unit places.
The average occupancy figure for each month since January 1990 is shown in the table.
|1990|1991|1992|1993
-----------------------------------
January |28 |20 |21 |22
February |30 |25 |25 |31
March |30 |26 |28 |34
April |28 |29 |34 |37
May |28 |26 |38 |36
June |27 |25 |40 |31
July |20 |24 |37 |25
August |17 |25 |28 |21
September |20 |28 |28 |25
October |24 |26 |32 |23
November |18 |28 |28 |19
December |15 |23 |23 |25
Note: Breakdown by age could only
be provided at disproportionate
cost.
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current re-offending rate for children leaving Lisnevin training school ; if he will place a copy of research into this matter in the Library ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir John Wheeler : Research into reconviction rates for those young persons who had been at Lisnevin was commissioned by the Northern Ireland Office in 1990. The draft report was submitted in October 1993. It contains information which would suggest that the average reconviction rates for those leaving the special unit at Lisnevin after one year is 37 per cent. which rises to 85 per cent. after three years. The latter figure should not be attributed to the effects of the secure environment because the young person has long since returned to the crimogenic environment from whence he originally came. The
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researcher is presently working on a final version of the report, a copy of which, when it is published, will be placed in the Library.Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the riot which occurred in Lisnevin training school over Easter 1994, with particular reference to (a) how the incident started, (b) how long it lasted, (c) how many children were involved, (d) how many children were hurt in the riot and (e) how much damage was caused by the riot.
Sir John Wheeler : There was no riot, but an incident did occur at 7.30 pm on 5 April when young men, evacuated to the dining room following the activation of the fire alarm, took advantage of the situation and caused damage estimated at £29,000 to that area. There were 32 young men in the establishment at that time. Control was restored at approx 10.15 pm. Two young men received hospital treatment as a result of injuries received during the disturbance.
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement regarding the current inquiry into the riot at Lisnevin training school, the inquiry's terms of reference, the inquiry team's members, the progress of the report to date and the expected completion and publication dates for the inquiry report ; and if he will place a copy of the inquiry report in the Library when it is available.
Sir John Wheeler : I requested an investigation into the unrest at Lisnevin on 5 April 1994. Its terms of reference were
"To examine the circumstances leading up to and surrounding the unrest at Lisnevin over the Easter period in April 1994 and report to the Minister lessons to be learnt".
Membership was drawn from the criminal justice services division of the Northern Ireland Office, the social services inspectorate of the Department of Health and Social Services and the Lisnevin management board.
The report of the investigation, which is now complete, will be with me on 1 July 1994. The investigation, as is normal in such circumstances, is internal. A report therefore will not be placed in the Library.
Compensation Agency
Mr. Roger Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the business plan for 1994-95 for the Compensation Agency will be published.
Sir John Wheeler : The Compensation Agency's business plan will be published today. The plan explains the agency's business and organisation and sets out assumptions about work loads and resources which underpin the plans and targets identified for this year. I have made arrangements for copies to be placed in the Library.
Human Rights
Mr. Dunn : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has received the nineteenth report of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Patrick Mayhew : The report for the period 1 April 1993 to 31 March 1994 has been published today, and copies have been laid before Parliament.
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The Commission has considered a wide and varied range of matters during the period under review. They include important questions relating to the findings of the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice and how they could be applied to Northern Ireland and a conclusion to the Commission's examination of the problems of under- achievement in schools. I welcome also its careful and considered views on security-related issues. They raise a number of issues which I shall keep under review.I very much value the advice and insight which the Commission gives me on a wide range of human rights issues. The Commission's recommendations have influenced the evolution of a number of important policy proposals affecting the rights of children. I look forward to the outcome of its work on disability, and to the important contribution that it will make to the employment equality review.
Copies of my response to the Commission's 19th report and the report itself have been placed in the Library.
TRANSPORT
Driving Test Centres
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) pursuant to his answer of 24 February, Official Report, column 333, if he will list how each driving test centre in the United Kingdom scored on the criteria listed as marked A to D in the chief executive's reply ;
(2) if he will list by driving test centre the number of driving tests conducted during 1993 ;
(3) if he will list the driving test centres that are being considered for closure by the Driving Standards Agency.
Mr. Key : Responsibility for the subject of these questions has been delegated to the Driving Standards Agency under its chief executive, Dr. S. J. Ford. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given. An annex of figures on total tests conducted by region will be placed in the Library.
Letter from John Ford to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 20 June 1994 :
Driving Standards Agency
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to the questions you raised about certain of DSA's operations.
PQ 2552/93/94
You asked about the driving test centres currently being considered for closure.
Although the Agency will continue to keep its estate under review, there are no driving test centres, in addition to the 22 announced recently, that are currently being considered for closure. PQ 2596/93/94
You also asked by driving test centre for the number of tests conducted during 1993.
The figures are in the attached annex for the second half of the year, the first being for car tests and the second for LGV/PCV. Because of changes in the way statistics were compiled, the information for the last six months of 1993 is more readily available. Those tests conducted at occasional centres are included in the those for the main centre. I hope this will be satisfactory.
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PQ 2560/93/94Finally, you asked, pursuant to Mr. Key's reply of 24 February to Mr. Brian Donohoe, Official Report, column 333, about how each driving test centre in the United Kingdom scored on the criterion I listed as marked A to D in my reply.
In reviewing its test centre estate, the Agency did not score each and every test centre individually against the criteria quoted in my reply of 24 February. Centres were identified for consideration against the criteria based upon the experience of our Regional staff.
Road Schemes
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements have been made by his Department for private investigators to gather data on protesters against road schemes, other than the contract awarded to Bray's detective agency regarding Twyford down.
Mr. Key : As the information requested relates to operational matters of the Highways Agency, I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 28 June 1994 :
I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about whether any arrangements have been made for the use of private investigators, other than at Twyford Down, to gather data on protestors against road schemes.
In addition to the contract awarded to Brays Detective Agency for the M3 extension at Twyford Down, the Highways Agency have made arrangements for the gathering of information about protestors against road schemes at three other locations.
The Agency will be using the information gathered to ensure that the progress of these particular schemes, which have all successfully completed the statutory procedures, is not unduly disrupted and that they can be completed as quickly as possible.
Salisbury Bypass
Mr. Nigel Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding the Salisbury bypass ; and what are (a) the current estimated costs, (b) the planned commencement date and (c) expected completion date of the project.
Mr. Steven Norris : The question is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. The chief executive, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Nigel Jones, dated 29 June 1994 :
A36 Salisbury Bypass I am writing in response to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Transport about the A36 Salisbury Bypass. This is a matter for which the Highways Agency is responsible.
In response to the published proposals, the Highways Agency received 296 objections, 39 letters of support and 26 other representations. At the public inquiry, which ran from April 1993 to April 1994, there were 87 personal appearances. The need for the bypass and the published route is supported by Wiltshire County Council, Salisbury District Council and Salisbury's Civic Society and Chamber of Commerce. There were no objections from the statutory environmental bodies, ie the Countryside Commission, English Nature, the National Rivers Authority and English Heritage.
The estimated cost of the scheme is approximately £65M for works excluding VAT, and land. The start of construction depends upon the outcome of the recent public inquiry, the subsequent decision of the Secretaries of State for Environment and Transport and the continuing availability of funds.
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