| Previous Section | Home Page |
Public Expenditure Survey
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to arrange for the annual public expenditure survey to be formally announced in the House and then subject to a subsequent debate in Parliament; and if he will make a statement.
Sir John Wheeler: My right hon. and learned Friend sets out the allocations to individual programmes within the Northern Ireland programme in a written answer. There are no plans at present to change this practice.
Mr. Dermott Nesbitt
Mr. Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all the respondents to the fair employment actions commenced by Mr. Dermott Nesbitt.
Mr. Ancram: The respondents in the first of two applications to the fair employment tribunal made by Mr. Dermot Nesbitt are the Queen's university of Belfast and Professor T.F. Barrett and in the second is the Queen's university of Belfast. This information is in the registers which are available for inspection by members of the public without charge at the Office of the Industrial Tribunals and the fair employment tribunal, Long Bridge house, 20-24 Waring street, Belfast BT1 2EB.
Single Programme Monitoring Committee
Mr. Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all the members of the Northern Ireland single programme monitoring committee, indicating the interests each represents.
Sir John Wheeler: In addition to Government and European Commission officials, the Northern Ireland single programme monitoring committee also includes outside members drawn from various key sectors. These are Mr. Sean Curran, industry sector, Professor Wallace Ewart, training sector; Mr. Desmond Mitchell, district councils; Mr. Norman Shaw, agriculture sector, and a member to be drawn from the voluntary sector.
Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights
Mr. Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made in implementing the report of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights on legislative procedures for Northern Ireland.
Sir Patrick Mayhew: The Government's response to the commission's report was published in July 1993. The Government continue to consider carefully all proposals for legislation for Northern Ireland so as to choose the most appropriate legislative route and allow sufficient time for consultation. It remains the Government's policy to promote the return of responsibility, including responsibility for legislation, to a locally accountable body which would command widespread support in the community and take account of the wider relationships.
Water
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to identify sensitive areas as required by the urban waste water treatment directive; and if he will make a statement.
Column 739
Mr. Moss: I have today placed in the Library of the House a map of the two areas in Northern Ireland, namely Upper and Lower Lough Erne and Lough Neagh, which, on the advice of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland, have been identified as sensitive areas on the basis of their eutrophic status. I have also placed in the Library a list of the sewage treatment works in these areas at which the installation of phospherous removal plants will be required by the end of 1998 in accordance with the directive. These decisions will make a significant contribution to safeguarding Northern Ireland's fresh waters.
The map and list will also be available for inspection at the headquarters offices of the environment service and water executive of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland.
Mr. Brandreth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to identify high natural dispersion
areas--less-sensitive ares--as required by the urban waste water treatment directive; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Moss: I have today placed in the Library of the House a map showing three areas in Northern Ireland identified as high natural dispersion areas. The map shows the location of these areas, at Portrush, County Antrim; Bangor, County Down; and Kilkeel, County Down. On the basis of the information available, the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland considers that the provision of primary treatment for the named discharges into these areas will be sufficient and that no further environmental benefit will accrue from the provision of additional levels of treatment. I have accepted this advice.
Comprehensive studies will now be carried out at each location. The Department must be satisfied that the study demonstrates that the proposed discharge of primary treated effluent will not adversely affect the environment. The comprehensive studies will have to take into account the proximity of bathing waters identified under the EC bathing water directive.
These decisions will ensure that sewage will continue to receive proper treatment and the quality of Northern Ireland's coastal waters and estuaries will improve in accordance with the directive's timetable.
The map will also be available for inspection at the headquarters offices of the environment service and water executive of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland.
Policing in the Community"
Mr. Brandreth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what responses he has received to the consultation document "Policing in the Community"; and if he will make a statement.
Column 740
Sir Patrick Mayhew: The consultation paper "Policing in the Community" was published on 29 March, and widely distributed. More than half the bodies which received copies responded. Ministers and officials held constructive meetings with representatives of some 30 organisations, including the representatives of members of constitutional political parties.
The process of consultation on policing issues was warmly welcomed. The consultation paper was necessarily cast in general terms, and some respondents called for more detail on major proposals. There was a clear agreement on the need for some reform and an evident wish for the continuation of a tripartite structure, with attention addressed to the respective roles and responsibilities of the Secretary of State, the Chief Constable and of the Police Authority. The operational independence of the Chief Constable was valued, and the integrity and efficiency of the RUC was widely recognised. Respondents stressed the importance of responsive, effective, impartial and fair policing in the development of a peaceful and harmonious society. The need for a balanced and careful approach to this end in a changing society was widely recognised.
These responses and the widening of the debate since the cessation of violence by the IRA and the loyalist paramilitaries have reinforced the need for reform, approached in a careful and measured way. In particular, I consider it important to strengthen the statutory protection for the impartiality, integrity and freedom from partisan influence of the police, and to create stronger and more effective statutory accountability mechanisms. These will encourage dialogue between the police and the community, as well as give the Chief Constable greater freedom to manage and deploy efficiently the considerable resources devoted to policing.
Accordingly, work is in hand to develop ideas, with the benefit of continued consultation, for legislation which will meet these objectives, clarify and strengthen the respective roles of the Secretary of State, the Police Authority and the Chief Constable, and help to enhance the provision of an efficient, effective and responsive police service, enjoying the wholehearted support and partnership of the entire society it exists to serve. I look forward over the coming months to further valuable and wide- ranging dialogue.
Labour Statistics
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) males and (b) females were in full-time employment in the latest month for which figures are available and for the same month in each of the last 10 years indicating, in each case and for each year, the proportion of this figure as a percentage of the total population.
Mr. Ancram [holding answer 14 December 1994]: The information requested is as follows:
Column 739
|Total male
|population <3>
|full-time
|Full-time employees |and self employed
|Male |Self employed |per cent.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
September 1984 |245,600 |51,700 |39.1
September 1987 |239,500 |58,900 |38.6
September 1989 |244,300 |59,900 |39.1
September 1991 |244,300 |63,500 |39.4
September 1993 |238,300 |62,400 |37.8
September 1994 |239,200 |n/a |n/a
----------------------------------------------- September 1984 |147,300|9,100 |19.8 September 1987 |149,300|11,500 |20.1 September 1989 |154,000|12,200 |20.6 September 1991 |158,300|13,400 |20.9 September 1993 |157,400|12,100 |20.3 September 1994 |157,100|n/a |n/a Notes to Tables: <1> Prior to December 1992, a full-time/part-time breakdown of employees in employment is only available from the Northern Ireland census of employment which from 1979 was conducted only every two or three years. <2> Self-employment figures are at June of each year and are not available on a full-time/part-time basis. Self-employment estimates for Northern Ireland in respect of June 1994 are not yet available. <3> General register office mid-year population estimates are not yet available for 1994.
EMPLOYMENT
Legal Minimum Wage
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries have a legal minimum wage; and what has been the rate of job creation of each for the periods (a) 1970 to 1980, (b) 1989 to 1990 and (c) 1990 to the present day.
Column 742
Mr. Oppenheim: The following table gives Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries which have some minimum laws at a national level, and their rate of employment growth and average unemployment for the periods concerned. It should be noted that some of the countries quoted have very low levels of minimum wages, well below national average wage levels; and in some cases the minimum levels vary between administrative areas and different industries.
Column 741
Type and coverage Rate of employment Average
growth (percentage) unemployment rate
(percentage)
|1970-80 |1980-90 |1990-93 |1970-80 |1980-90 |1990-93
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Belgium |Legally binding central agreement; lower rates for 16-20 year-olds|2.1 |1.8 |N/A |4.5 |10.9 |9.4
France |SMW-single adult rate |4.8 |3.4 |-1.7 |4.0 |9.0 |10.0
Greece |Statutory central agreement |7.1 |10.9 |N/A |2.4 |6.7 |7.4
Luxembourg |SMW |12.7 |19.8 |N/A |0.6 |1.4 |1.1
Netherlands |SMW; reduced rates for 15-22 year-olds |6.0 |N/A |N/A |3.8 |9.6 |7.1
Portugal |SMW |N/A |17.3 |-5.6 |4.9 |7.1 |4.6
Spain |SMW-single adult rate |-7.4 |7.3 |-5.9 |5.3 |17.4 |18.1
United States |SMW-single adult rate; state minimum wages; low levels |24.8 |18.4 |1.2 |6.2 |7.0 |6.5
Canada |SMW-set provincially; low levels |34.6 |17.4 |-1.4 |6.7 |9.2 |10.2
Australia |Federal/state minimum wages; low levels |15.3 |25.4 |-2.6 |4.1 |7.4 |9.5
New Zealand |SMW |16.8 |N/A |1.1 |0.7 |4.8 |9.4
Japan |System of minimum rates; low levels |8.7 |12.9 |3.3 |1.7 |2.5 |2.2
Notes:
SMW = statutory minimum wage; final column gives average unemployment rate for 1990 to 1993 except for Belgium and Netherlands 1990 to 1992-and Greece and Luxembourg-1990-1991.
Labour Statistics
Mr. Geoffrey Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will list the proportions of full-time adult manual workers, full -time adult non-manual workers and all full-time adult workers with earnings, including overtime, less than £208.53 per week in (i) Great Britain, (ii) west midlands region, (iii) West Midlands metropolitan County, (iv) Hereford and Worcester, (v) Shropshire, (vi) Staffordshire and (vii)
Column 742
Warwickshire for 1994; and if he will break down the figures into those for (a) male and (b) female workers;(2) if he will publish a table giving proportions of full-time adult manual workers, full-time adult non-manual workers and all adult workers with earnings, excluding overtime, less than £208.53 per week in (i) Great Britain, (ii) west midlands region, (iii) West Midlands metropolitan county, (iv) Hereford and Worcester, (v) Shropshire, (vi) Staffordshire and (vii)
Column 743
Warwickshire for 1994; and if he will break down the figures into those for (a) male and (b) female workers.Mr. Oppenheim: Information available from the new earnings survey showing the proportions of employees with earnings below the amount requested at April 1994, is given in the following tables:
Full-time employees on adult rates--pay unaffected by absence: April 1994.
Proportion with gross weekly earnings including overtime below £208.53.
|Per cent.
-------------------------------------------
Manual men
West Midlands Region |27.0
West Midlands MC |23.8
Hereford and Worcester |34.4
Shropshire |31.0
Staffordshire |31.9
Warwickshire |20.6
Great Britain |26.0
Non-manual men
West Midlands Region |12.8
West Midlands MC |11.4
Hereford and Worcester |12.8
Shropshire |15.5
Staffordshire |17.6
Warwickshire |10.8
Great Britain |11.5
All men
West Midlands Region |20.0
West Midlands MC |17.5
Hereford and Worcester |24.2
Shropshire |24.1
Staffordshire |25.2
Warwickshire |15.4
Great Britain |18.0
Manual Women
West Midlands Region |75.0
West Midlands MC |71.8
Hereford and Worcester |79.0
Shropshire |81.2
Staffordshire |76.2
Warwickshire |76.9
Great Britain |73.4
Non-manual women
West Midlands Region |43.4
West Midlands MC |41.8
Hereford and Worcester |40.7
Shropshire |52.4
Staffordshire |46.7
Warwickshire |43.2
Great Britain |34.7
All women
West Midlands Region |50.4
West Midlands MC |47.6
Hereford and Worcester |49.9
Shropshire |59.1
Staffordshire |54.5
Warwickshire |51.4
Great Britain |41.5
Manual adults
West Midlands Region |36.0
West Midlands MC |32.1
Hereford and Worcester |43.3
Shropshire |40.1
Staffordshire |41.4
Warwickshire |32.8
Great Britain |34.7
Non-manual adults
West Midlands Region |26.8
West Midlands MC |25.2
Hereford and Worcester |25.8
Shropshire |33.0
Staffordshire |31.2
Warwickshire |24.9
Great Britain |22.2
All adults
West Midlands Region |30.6
West Midlands MC |27.9
Hereford and Worcester |33.3
Shropshire |36.2
Staffordshire |35.7
Warwickshire |28.0
Great Britain |26.5
Full-time employees on adult rates - pay unaffected by absence: April 1994.
Proportion with gross weekly earnings excluding overtime below £208.53.
|Per cent.
-------------------------------------------
Manual men
West Midlands Region |41.6
West Midlands MC |36.6
Hereford and Worcester |49.9
Shropshire |51.7
Staffordshire |48.5
Warwickshire |34.4
Great Britain |39.5
Non-manual men
West Midlands Region |15.4
West Midlands MC |13.5
Hereford and Worcester |15.4
Shropshire |19.8
Staffordshire |20.7
Warwickshire |13.3
Great Britain |13.6
All men
West Midlands Region |28.6
West Midlands MC |24.9
Hereford and Worcester |33.6
Shropshire |37.5
Staffordshire |35.6
Warwickshire |23.2
Great Britain |25.2
Manual women
West Midlands Region |81.9
West Midlands MC |79.2
Hereford and Worcester |92.4
Shropshire |87.5
Staffordshire |80.7
Warwickshire |79.5
Great Britain |79.9
Non-manual women
West Midlands Region |45.6
West Midlands MC |44.0
Hereford and Worcester |42.5
Shropshire |56.2
Staffordshire |48.3
Warwickshire |44.9
Great Britain |36.8
All women
West Midlands Region |53.6
West Midlands MC |50.9
Hereford and Worcester |54.5
Shropshire |63.5
Staffordshire |56.9
Warwickshire |53.3
Great Britain |44.4
Manual adults
West Midlands Region |49.2
West Midlands MC |44.0
Hereford and Worcester |58.4
Shropshire |58.2
Staffordshire |55.4
Warwickshire |44.2
Great Britain |46.9
Non-manual adults
West Midlands Region |29.2
West Midlands MC |27.4
Hereford and Worcester |28.1
Shropshire |37.1
Staffordshire |33.6
Warwickshire |27.0
Great Britain |24.2
All adults
West Midlands Region |37.3
West Midlands MC |33.8
Hereford and Worcester |41.0
Shropshire |46.5
Staffordshire |43.2
Warwickshire |33.7
Great Britain |32.1
Source:
New Earnings Survey
Civil Servants
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many civil servants have been transferred to training and enterprise councils and local enterprise companies on a three-year secondment; how many were at grade (a) senior information officer, (b) higher information officer, (c) higher executive officer and (d) senior executive officer; how many in each grade returned to the civil service upon completion of their secondment; how many of those in each grade have since left the civil service on early retirement, voluntary redundancy or similar schemes; and how many of those remaining in the civil service by grade are below the age of 58 years.
Miss Widdecombe: Approximately 4,000 staff volunteered to second to training and enterprise councils and local companies on three-year secondments, including some 21 SIOs, 144 HIOs, 855 HEOs and 178 SEOs. About 10 SIOs, 77 HIOs, 526 HEOs and 128 SEOs returned to the Department. Some five SIOs, 43 HIOs, 71 HEOs and 12 SEOs left on early retirement schemes. Most of those remaining are below 58 years of age.
Pesticide Monitoring
Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people within the Health and Safety Executive are employed in connection with its pesticide monitoring function; and at what locations.
Column 746
Mr. Oppenheim: No Health and Safety Executive staff are employed specifically to monitor pesticides. HSE inspectors based in a national network of 20 area offices undertake a programme of preventative inspection, including premises where pesticides are used, and investigate reported incidents. Trends are monitored and summaries of investigated incidents are published annually.
Benefit Claimants
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what flexibility he allows in the 21-hour per week rule for those engaging in education or training while claiming benefit.
Mr. Roger Evans: I have been asked to reply.
The 21-hour rule is itself a special concession to the normal availability for work conditions, which enables income support claimants who are unemployed to spend their time usefully in part-time study whilst continuing their search for work. They must continue, however, to make a sustained effort each week to find a job and be prepared to leave the course immediately a suitable vacancy becomes available.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Foreign Prisoners
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) male and (b) female foreign inmates were held in prisons in England and Wales on 8 December.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: 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 Derek Lewis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 15 December 1994: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many (a) male and (b) female foreign inmates were held in prisons in England and Wales on 8 December.
The latest available provisional information is for 30 September 1994. On that date there were 3,850 non-British citizens (3,535 males and 315 females) in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales. This includes 620 male and 30 female nationals from the Irish Republic. A further 440 persons had no nationality recorded.
Immigrant Detainees
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women were being held in either prisons or immigration detention centres in England and Wales on 8 December.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: On 9 December 1994, there were 48,512 males and 1,927 females held in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales. A further 110 males were held in police cells. Information on immigration offenders relates to those detained on 12 December and shows that there were 382 males and 49 females detained in immigration service accommodation. A further 32 males and four females were held in police cells for immigration offences on that date.
Column 747
Pepper
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what research he has (a) undertaken and (b) commissioned into pepper foam and pepper spray;
(2) what assessment he has made of the dangers of the public use of pepper foam and pepper spray.
Mr. Maclean: The Home Office police scientific development branch has reviewed all the available information about the effects of incapacitant products containing oleoresin capsicum. My right hon. and learned Friend has commissioned research into the possible carcinogenic effects of oleoresin capsicum's main incapacitating ingredient, capsaicin. He expects to receive the final results of the research very shortly.
Immigration Officers (Airports)
Mr. McAllion: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those United Kingdom airports receiving schedules flights from abroad open to the public for normal ticket purchase which are not covered by immigration service staff on arrival in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Nicholas Baker: The airports are as listed in my reply to a question from the hon. Member on 29 November 1994, column 553 .
Sexual Offences
Mrs. Liddell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce legislation to enable the prosecution in United Kingdom courts of British nationals and residents for sexual offences against children abroad.
Mr. Maclean: The Government consider that it should be the responsibility of the country where the alleged offence has occurred to enforce its own law.
Unlike some countries which claim a wide extra-territorial criminal jurisdiction over their citizens, the United Kingdom is willing to extradite its nationals to stand trial in the places where they are alleged to have offended, subject to the usual safeguards. We are also willing to provide legal assistance to other countries under the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990. We are currently considering ways in which it may be possible to improve liaison between our police and foreign enforcement agencies.
Criminal Damage and Violence
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance is given to police authorities on whether incidents of criminal damage or violence should be recorded as crimes.
Mr. Maclean: When recording offences, police consult Home Office rules for classification and counting of crimes which are standard for all the police forces in England and Wales. The classification of crimes is determined by precise statutory definitions. It includes all offences of criminal damage, as well as offences of violence against the person, sexual offences and robbery, as defined in Appendix 3 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales 1993", a copy of which is available in the Library.
Column 748
Domestic Violence
Ms Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the co-ordinated Government strategy aimed at reducing the incidence of domestic violence; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Coventry, South East (Mr. Cunningham) on 1 December, Official Report , column 841 . Working groups have been set up at both official and ministerial level to enhance inter-departmental co- operation in tackling all facets of domestic violence.
Immigration Policy
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his oral answer of 24 November, Official Report , column 716 , when the Government will allow qualified majority voting provided for in article K, otherwise than in subsection (9) on matters that affect immigration policy.
Mr. Nicholas Baker: There is no provision for qualified majority voting in article K, except under article K3.2(b) in relation to measures implementing joint action. No joint action requiring implementing measures has been adopted on matters of immigration policy. When such joint action is proposed, we shall consider on their merits both the substance of the proposal and whether it would be appropriate to adopt the implementing measures by a qualified majority.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many parliamentary questions tabled in the last Session of Parliament were not answered on the grounds that the information sought was not held centrally by the Department.
Asylum Seekers
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total cost in 1993 94 to the Prison Service of holding persons detained under Immigration Act powers.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: 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 Derek Lewis to Mr. Robert Ainsworth, dated 15 December 1994:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the total cost in 1993 94 to the Prison Service of holding persons detained under Immigration Act powers.
Most detainees are held in local prisons and remand centres, in which the average annual cost per place in 1993 94 was £21,373. We do not collect details of the costs for different types of prisoners.
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons detained under Immigration Act powers were held in Prison Service established in 1993.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison
Column 749
Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given. Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Robert Ainsworth, dated 15 December 1994:The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent question asking how many persons detained under Immigration Act powers were held in Prison Service establishments in 1993.
Provisional information shows that in 1993 1,840 persons were received into Prison Service establishments in England and Wales under Immigration Act powers.
On average 430 such persons were held in Prison Service establishments during the year.
Erlestoke Prison
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what occasions he has intervened with the governor of Erlestoke prison to suspend day release arrangements in the case of prisoners.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: 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 Derek Lewes to Mr. D. N. Campbell-Savours, dated 15 December 1994:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about temporary release arrangements for prisoners from Erlestoke Prison.
The Home Secretary has not intervened with the governor of Erlestoke prison to suspend day release arrangements in the case of any prisoners.
Telephone Tapping
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to facilitate the use of the British Telecom caller identification initiative to preventing telephone tapping and to use similar technology at telephone exchanges to detect third party connections.
Mr. Howard: None. I understand that the BT caller display facility could not support such applications.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the Official Secrets Acts to ensure that an individual disclosing possible unethical or illegal actions, including telephone wire tapping, would be allowed a public interest defence.
Mr. Howard: We have no such plans.
Police Resources (Wales)
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide details of the calculation used by his Department in determining appropriate provision for the Dyfed-Powys police; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean: The calculation used by the Home Office determined allocations of police grant for 1995 96. Details of that calculation are provided in the draft "Police Grant Report (England and Wales 1995 96", a copy of which was placed in the Library by my right hon. and learned Friend on 1 December.
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy that Welsh police forces are able to maintain funding levels
Column 750
comparable with those of similar English forces; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Maclean: My right hon. and learned Friend announced on 1 December, Official Report, columns 544 45, his provisional police grant allocations to police authorities in England and Wales for 1995 96. The provisional standard spending assessment allocations to Welsh police authorities are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the cost of pension provision to the budget of the Dyfed-Powys police for each year from 1987 to date; if he will give an estimate of the commensurate figures for 1995 96 and 1996 97; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean: Net pension payments by the Dyfed-Powys police authority, as derived from the annual police revenue grant claim forms submitted by the authority, for the period 1987 88 to 1993 94 were as follows.
Year |£ ------------------------------ 1987-88 |3,008,079 1988-89 |2,693,674 1989-90 |3,528,776 1990-91 |3,509,717 1991-92 |4,222,518 1992-93 |4,025,892 1993-94 |5,253,417
Figures for 1994 95 are not yet available. It will be for Dyfed-Powys police authority, in setting their budget requirements for 1995 96 and 1996 97, to decide the appropriate provision to be set aside to meet pension costs.
| Next Section | Home Page |