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HOME DEPARTMENT
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times during the 1993 94 Session information requested in parliamentary questions has been refused on the grounds of commercial confidentiality.
Charities
Mr. Alan Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what charities and voluntary organisations the Government appoints, or has power to approve or veto the appointment of, trustees or board members or senior executives.
Mr. Nicholas Baker: This information is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
St. Helena
Sir David Steel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to recommend to Parliament the right of entry for the people of the island
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of St. Helena into the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Nicholas Baker: We have no plans to do so.
Mother and Baby Units
Ms. Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the 1994 social services inspection report on prison mother and baby units in England and Wales.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: I have arranged for a copy of the report to be placed in the Library of the House.
Videos
Miss Lestor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department is funding on the effects of video viewing on the behaviour of young offenders; and when its results will be available for publication.
Mr. Maclean: My right hon. learned Friend is currently considering a research proposal. It is too early yet to say when the results will be available if he decides to fund the project.
Civil Defence
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultation exercises his Department has carried out as to the future structure of local or other statutory authorities having competence in the field of civil defence or emergency planning.
Mr. Nicholas Baker: Guidance on the requirement for civil defence planning was given to the Local Government Commission. In addition, we have recently consulted local authorities on possible arrangements for the delivery of emergency planning after local government reorganisation.
Police Forces
Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table showing the (a) number and (b) percentage of (i) men and (ii) women at each level in the police forces in England and Wales at the latest available date.
Mr. Maclean: At the end of August 1994 there were 49 chief officers in the police service covering England and Wales, all of whom were men. Tables showing the distribution of men and women in all the other ranks in each force, including those on central service and with regional crime squads, have been placed in the Library of the House.
Nuclear Materials
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals on the control of nuclear materials smuggling were put forward by the United Kingdom; and what proposals from other EU member states were agreed to by the United Kingdom at the Home Office and Justice Ministers Council meeting in Brussels on 7 and 8 September.
Mr. Howard: The United Kingdom representatives played a full part in the informal Justice and Home Affairs
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Council of 7 September and in the ministerial conference non drugs and organised crime between the European Union and the countries of central and eastern Europe in Berlin on 8 September. The conference unanimously agreed a declaration which called for the following matters to be examined relating to the theft and illegal trade of radioactive and nuclear material: the preparation of a joint comprehensive assessment of the situation; co-operation regarding the protection and safeguarding of nuclear stocks; setting up rapid reporting channels; mutual assistance of prosecuting authorities; intensification of border controls; penalties provided for, and regulations on the forfeiture of illicit proceeds from, such crimes.Metropolitan Police
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out in respect of each London borough for the financial year 1993 94, the amount paid by each to the Metropolitan police, the appropriate sum per head for each inhabitant, the increase or decrease relative to the sum paid in 1983 84, discounted at the appropriate RPI, together with equivalent hours for Greater London as a whole, excepting the City of London, and the proportion of such payments to all income received.
Mr. Maclean: The information requested by the hon. Member is set out in the table.
Authority |Precept Payable in|Precept/head of |1993-94 precept |1983-84 precept |Increase/decrease
|1993-94 |population |discounted |compared
|to 1983-84 prices |with 1983-84
|£ |£ |£ |£ |£
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Barking & Dagenham |5,958,975 |38.84 |3,677,707 |2,936,430 |+25.2
Barnet |15,446,177 |51.11 |9,532,933 |6,613,880 |+44.1
Bexley |10,380,790 |47.29 |6,406,724 |3,407,586 |+88.0
Brent |10,967,589 |42.13 |6,768,879 |5,518,940 |+22.6
Bromley |16,125,370 |55.04 |9,952,112 |5,507,880 |+80.7
Camden |11,230,818 |53.75 |6,534,418 |12,276,600 |-46.8
Croydon |15,163,989 |47.39 |9,378,217 |7,520,800 |+24.7
Ealing |12,939,433 |47.01 |7,985,844 |6,138,300 |+30.1
Enfield |12,266,646 |46.91 |7,570,619 |5,364,100 |+41.1
Greemwich |9,882,660 |40.84 |5,746,501 |3,483,900 |+64.9
Hackney |8,398,260 |40.60 |4,883,362 |3,981,600 |+22.6
Hammersmith & Fulham |9,802,406 |57.41 |5,699,835 |4,047,960 |+40.8
Haringey |9,842,688 |48.68 |6,076,623 |3,915,240 |+55.2
Harrow |9,925,730 |49.63 |6,125,873 |3,782,520 |+62.0
Havering |10,453,195 |45.55 |6,451,410 |4,169,620 |+54.7
Hillingdon |11,416,499 |49.29 |7,045,933 |6,525,400 |+8.0
Hounslow |9,724,205 |50.28 |6,001,498 |5,386,220 |+11.4
Islington |9,177,882 |46.33 |5,336,691 |5,695,900 |- 6.3
Kensington & Chelsea |11,956,815 |71.32 |6,952,566 |7,631,400 |- 8.9
Kingston-upon-Thames |7,229,710 |54.36 |4,461,968 |3,096,800 |+44.1
Lambeth |12,889,597 |43.64 |7,494,954 |6,337,380 |+18.3
Lewisham |11,553,750 |43.71 |6,718,195 |3,716,160 |+80.8
Merton |8,597,056 |51.48 |5,305,855 |3,318,000 |+59.9
Newham |7,741,028 |37.40 |4,777,539 |3,852,198 |+24.0
Redbridge |10,469,086 |44.99 |6,461,217 |4,003,720 |+61.4
Richmond-upon-Thames |9,785,162 |59.76 |6,039,119 |3,492,748 |+72.9
Southwark |10,378,324 |39.60 |5,975,247 |6,271,020 |-4.7
Sutton |8,573,235 |49.86 |5,291,153 |3,207,400 |+65.0
Tower Hamlets |7,569,022 |39.36 |4,401,183 |4,910,640 |-10.4
Waltham Forest |8,751,619 |40.24 |5,401,246 |3,351,180 |+61.2
Wandsworth |14,527,012 |47.87 |8,447,067 |4,612,020 |+83.1
City of Westminster |15,580,451 |73.20 |9,059,613 |34,175,400 |-73.5
Notes
1 The average precept per head of population in London Boroughs in 1993-94 was £48.14;
2 The total precept received from London Boroughs in 1993-94 was £328,153,964, equivalent to £207,960,100 at 1983-4 prices. This
represents a real terms increase of 10.5 per cent. over the actual precept for 1983-4 (£188,l248,942);
3 Precept income from London Boroughs in 1993-4 represented 17.7 per cent. of total income, compared with 23.6 per cent. in 1983-4.
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Mental Health
Mr. McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prisoners with identified mental illness are awaiting to move to medium secure units;
(2) what is the average delay time for those prisoners waiting for a medium secure bed; and if he will give a breakdown by number and category the reasons for transfer delays.
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Mr. Michael Forsyth: Responsibility for these matters 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 Derek Lewis to Mr. Ian McCartney, dated 17 October 1994:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the transfer of mentally disordered offenders, and the delays surrounding such transfers.
The most up-to-date information on the number of transfers held centrally is for 27 June 1994. On that day there were 174 mentally
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disordered prisoners awaiting transfer to NHS psychiatric facilities of all types--local psychiatric hospitals, medium secure units and Special Hospitals. Of these approximately forty per cent. would have been awaiting transfer to a medium secure unit.I regret that the detailed information you request on the delays surrounding transfers is not collected centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
PC Rhys Trigg
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give his reasons for reinstating PC Rhys Trigg after his dismissal by the Police Commissioner.
Mr. Maclean: Mr. Trigg exercised his right, under section 37 of the Police Act 1964 as substituted by section 103 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, to appeal against the decision by the Metropolitan Police Commissioner to uphold the finding and punishment imposed by a disciplinary board that he was guilty of a disciplinary offence of abuse of authority and dismissed.
In accordance with paragraph 3 of schedule 5 to the Police Act 1964 as so substituted, a tribunal was set up to inquire into the case and report to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State. The tribunal had a full rehearing of the evidence and witnesses which were heard by the disciplinary board. The tribunal was unanimous in finding that Mr. Trigg was not guilty of the offence and recommended that the appeal should be allowed and Mr. Trigg reinstated. My right hon. Friend accepted this recommendation.
Civil Defence
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table showing the total expenditure for 1993 94 on emergency planning for (a) fire and civil defence authorities, (b) county councils, (c) district and borough councils, (d) industry acting on the Government's behalf including nationalised and privatised bodies and (e) other statutory bodies.
Mr. Nicholas Baker: The information sought is not available centrally. Civil defence grant is made available to local authorities as a contribution towards their total expenditure.
Civil Defence
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision his Department will make for emergency planning in the event of the establishment of unitary local authorities.
Mr. Nicholas Baker: Local authorities in England and Wales, together with the principal associations representing them, have been consulted on the delivery of emergency planning following the outcome of the local government review. We are considering those responses and hope to make an announcement later this year.
Today"
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the occasions when he has contributed to the BBC Radio 4 "Today" programme
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since August 1993, stating the date and topic of each of his contributions.Mr. Howard: No records are kept on such matters.
Medical Research
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures currently exist in law to deal with persons who deliberately disrupt medical research; and what assessment he has made of the current adequacy of these measures.
Mr. Maclean: The Government attach great importance to the continuation of medical research, subject to the strict controls set out in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, and are committed to ensuring an environment in which such research can flourish. I am satisfied that existing provisions of the criminal law give the police and the courts a wide range of powers for dealing with the activities of persons who deliberately disrupt medical research. I am, however, keeping the position under review, in consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers.
Ethnic Minorities
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what cash resources were made available to education authorities in London from section 11 grants devoted to the teaching of English as a second language in the last financial year for which these grants were paid; and what plans Her Majesty's Government have to sustain such teaching by other means in 1995-96.
Mr. Nicholas Baker: The table shows the level of section 11 grants payable in respect of local education authorities' expenditure in 1993-94 on approved projects concerned entirely or primarily with teaching English as a second language in schools, or at pre-school level.
The projects continue to attract such funding in the current financial year. Since 1 April 1994, grant has been paid to the first group of authorities from the new single regeneration budget for which the Department of the Environment has lead responsibility, while authorities in the second group have continued to receive grant from the Home Office under section 11. Over 40 per cent. of the relevant projects were originally approved until 31 March 1997, and we have made it clear that existing commitments will be honoured. As to new additional funding from 1995-96, such activity was within the scope of the bidding guidance for the single regeneration budget published in April, and applications have also been invited for section 11 grant.
Authority |£
-----------------------------------------
Brent |1,456,511
Greenwich |1,572,728
Hackney |3,466,412
Hammersmith & Fulham |582,028
Haringey |2,630,865
Islington |1,593,722
Kensington & Chelsea |1,060,465
Lambeth |1,062,702
Lewisham |1,823,386
Newham |1,964,612
Southwark |2,037,848
Tower Hamlets |7,228,566
Wandsworth |1,762,389
Barking & Dagenham |285,412
Barnet |866,982
Bexley |144,987
Camden |1,432,780
Croydon |1,108,480
Ealing |3,359,869
Enfield |1,324,482
Harrow |726,718
Havering |50,636
Hillingdon |303,153
Hounslow |1,576,105
Kingston-upon-Thames |123,861
Merton |636,479
Redbridge |1,084,599
Richmond |69,014
Sutton |37,447
Waltham Forest |1,552,590
Westminster |1,774,619
Human Rights
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what publicity his Department has undertaken in respect of Her Majesty's Government's report on human rights in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Nicholas Baker: We have announced in reply to questions in both Houses that we submitted the United Kingdom's fourth periodic report under the International Covenant on Civil and Polictical Rights to the United Nations on 7 October and that copies of the report were that day placed in the Library. In accordance with the policy that the report should be freely available outside Parliament for those who wish to receive a copy; on 8 October we sent copies to those non-governmental organisations with a particular, established interest in the report, and we have since supplied copies on request.
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he submitted to the United Nations the British Government's report on human rights in the United Kingdom required under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Mr. Nicholas Baker: The United Kingdom's fourth periodic report under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights was submitted to the United Nations on 7 October 1994. On the same day copies of the report were placed in the Library.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Equine Population
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated current equine population of Northern Ireland; for what principal purposes horses, ponies, donkeys and mules are used in the Province; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Ancram: It is estimated that there is a current equine population of 25,000 animals in Northern Ireland. Horses are used mainly for hunting, show jumping, eventing and racing; ponies are used for leisure activities; donkeys are kept mainly as pets; there is no record of any mules kept in Northern Ireland.
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Health and Social Services Trusts
Ms Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria are used in making appointments to the boards of Northern Ireland health and social services trusts; and whether a list of suitable appointees exists.
Mr. Ancram: Non-executive directors of health and social services trusts, including chairmen, are appointed to act in a personal rather than a representative capacity. Although there are no specific qualifications, those appointed are likely to have some or all of the following attributes:
to have interest and concern for health and social services; to possess a specialist skill or knowledge;
to have experience of the voluntary sector, preferably including operational matters;
to live or work in the area to be served by the trust;
to bring a sense of independence and objectivity to the deliberations of the trust;
to have an understanding of management structure and performance;
to be willing to give the necessary time commitment to the post--a minimum of up to 1.5 days a months for non-executive directors and up to 2.5 days a week for chairman.
In addition, the Department seeks to achieve equality of representation in terms of gender and community background and encourage more young people to participate.
There is a central databased containing background details of all those who have expressed interested in public appointments, while Baroness Denton holds receptions for those expressing an interest in public appointments for the first time.
Ms Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how potential appointees to Northern Ireland health and social services trusts may indicate to those responsible for making such appointments their willingness to become board members.
Mr. Ancram: It is open to any member of the public to make it known that he or she is interested in being considered for apointment to an HSS trust. Anyone so interested should write to the Department of Health and Social Services or directly to the HSS trust in question. Local community organisations are also encouraged to nominate.
Ms. Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will consider creating a register of interests of the board members of Northern Ireland health and social services trusts.
Mr. Ancram: In line with developments in the rest of the United Kingdom my noble Friend Baroness Denton has decided that HPSS bodies must establish and maintain a publicly available register of interests for chairmen and board members. Guidance will be published shortly in the form of codes of practice on conduct and accountability which will require significant interests to be published in the organisation's annual report.
Ms. Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Norther Ireland if he will list the name of each board member of the Northern Ireland health and social services trust with (a) the occupation of non-executive directors, (b) the levels of the remuneration paid to non-executive directors and (c) the date of appointment of each director and the length of term of office in each case.
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Mr. Ancram: The information requested in respect of the 13 HSS trusts in Northern Ireland has been placed in the Library.
Trainee Doctors
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from what central source funding is made available for flexible training schemes for trainee doctors wishing to pursue a career in general practice; how many places each year are made available on such schemes; how many who have completed their pre-registration year and have been selected for general practice training are on a waiting list; what proportion of these are women; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Ancram: Funding for flexible training of trainee doctors wishing to pursue a career in general practice is provided by the Department of Health and Social Services through the Central Services Agency. The number of places available for flexible training is not fixed. There is no waiting list. There are currently 27 females and 19 males in vocational training for general practice of whom one person, a female, is currently in flexible training.
The Department are committed to encouraging flexible training and funds initiatives particularly in specialities with female under-representation. The Northern Ireland Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education ensures that all trainees are aware of the option for flexible training.
Dystonia
Dr. Hendron: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many cases of dystonia have been diagnosed in the Southern health board area;
(2) how many cases of dystonia have been diagnosed in the Northern health board area;
(3) how many cases of dystonia have been diagnosed in the Western health board;
(4) how many cases of dystonia have been diagnosed in the Eastern health board area.
Mr. Ancram: This information is not collected.
Dr. Hendron: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if dystonia is recognised as a specific disease in relation to social security benefits.
Mr. Ancram: The only social security benefits which are paid in respect of specified diseases are industrial injuries benefits, which provide preferential benefits for employed earners disabled by accidents and prescribed diseases arising out of employment. Dystonia is not prescribed for the purpose of industrial injuries benefits. All other benefits paid in respect of sickness or disablement do not depend on a specific condition but rather on the effects to which that condition gives rise.
Dr. Hendron: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research is currently being carried out on dystonia in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Ancram: No research into the condition of dystonia is being directly funded by the Department of Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland at present. The Department has not received any applications for support for research into dystonia in recent years.
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Making Belfast Work
Rev. Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list expenditure by wards in Belfast under the Making Belfast Work initiative from its inception.
Mr. Tim Smith: The information is not currently available and could be collected only at disproportionate cost. However, work is on-going on a project monitoring database which will allow such requests to be dealt with in future.
Sex Discrimination
Rev. Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all councils which have sex discrimination cases lodged against them.
Mr. Tim Smith: The following councils currently have sex discrimination cases lodged against them before the industrial tribunals:
Belfast City Council
Ards Borough Council
Armagh District Council.
Rev. Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have lodged sex discrimination claims against local government employers in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Tim Smith: Since 1 January 1989, 35 people have lodged sex discrimination claims against local government employers before the industrial tribunals.
Electricity Interconnector
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what review has been made since 30 August of the different cost benefits of (a) the proposed Scotland-Northern Ireland electricity interconnector and (b) a revised interconvector between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Mr. Tim Smith: None. These are matters for the parties concerned-- NIE plc, Scottish Power plc and the Electricity Supply Board in the Republic of Ireland.
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the cost of reinstating the electricity interconnector between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Mr. Tim Smith: The decision to restore the electricity interconnector between Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland is a matter for NIE plc and the electricity supply board. I am told that the cost is of the order of £1.2 million.
Foyle Fisheries Commission
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons are employed by the Foyle Fisheries Commission on (a) a part-time basis and (b) a full-time basis; and how many in each category are perceived to be (i) protestants and (ii) catholics.
Mr. Ancram: The Foyle Fisheries Commission employs four persons on a part-time basis and 23 persons on a full-time basis. Of the part-time employees two are perceived to be Protestant and two are perceived to be Catholics. Of the full-time staff 13 are perceived to be Protestants and 10 are perceived to be Catholics.
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AbattoirsMr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many licensed (a) red meat and (b) poultry abattoirs there were in each of the last five years.
Mr. Ancram: The information is given in the table.
Licensed Abattoirs in Northern Ireland 1990-994 Number in operation |Red meat |Poultry meat at: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 January 1990 |23 |11 1 January 1991 |20 |11 1 January 1992 |20 |12 1 January 1993 |19 |10 1 January 1994 |16 |10
Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the prevalence and use of mobile abattoirs.
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