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Written Answers to Questions
Friday 17 February 1995
NORTHERN IRELAND
Police Discipline Procedures
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his proposals for the reform of police discipline procedures in Northern Ireland.
Sir Patrick Mayhew: I issued a consultation paper on police discipline procedures on 26 August 1993. The consultation paper proposed a new system for dealing with unsatisfactory performance, as well as suggesting improvements to existing disciplinary procedures. I have carefully considered the responses which I received, the majority of which were supportive of the reforms.
The changes which I have decided to make will create a more streamlined and up-to-date system for dealing with unsatisfactory performance and instances of misconduct. The reforms will take the form of new regulation-making powers on the conduct, efficiency and effectiveness of police officers and the maintenance of discipline, and will not prevent the pursuit of disciplinary action, when appropriate, if an officer has been acquitted of a criminal charge. There will be a new appeals tribunal, to replace the right of appeal to the Secretary of State. The right of officers to be legally represented when facing the most severe penalties will continue. Consistency will be maintained with Great Britain on the standards of proof for police disciplinary breaches.
These changes will establish a flexible framework for reform in this important area and maintain consistency across the United Kingdom.
Emergency Provisions Act
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will now publish the report of Mr. J. J. Rowe's fundamental review of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991; and what arrangements he has made to review the operation of the Act in 1994.
Sir Patrick Mayhew: I announced on 24 May 1994 that Mr. J. J. Rowe QC would be undertaking a fundamental review of the provisions of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991. This review would assist the Government in reaching decisions about what to do when the present Act reaches the end of its life in August 1996. Mr. Rowe's report is being published in full today as a Command Paper. I am most grateful to Mr. Rowe for his valuable work.
As Mr. Rowe himself makes clear, most of his work was completed before the Provisional IRA cessation of violence and it was wholly completed before the Loyalist cessation. His recommendations do not, therefore, take full account of the new situation which these events created, nor of the Government's working assumption that
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the ceasefires are intended to be permanent. The Government's hope is that a lasting peace will prove to be established and that the need for the exceptional powers provided by this Act will accordingly be removed. In the meantime, the Government will keep the need for such powers under continuing review.Mr. Rowe has also accepted my invitation to prepare a report on the operation of the Act during 1994. As the temporary provisions of the Act will lapse on 15 June 1995 unless continued in force by order, I have asked Mr. Rowe to submit his report in sufficient time to facilitate Parliament's consideration of the Emergency Provisions Act.
At the same time, and as part of the Government's continuing review of the use of powers under emergency legislation, I have concluded on the basis of security advice that there is no longer a need to maintain those exclusion orders for which I am responsible and which are in force under the Prevention of Terrorism Acts. I have, therefore, directed the revocation of those orders. My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary will announce in due course the outcome of a review of the 56 exclusion orders for which he is responsible.
Planning Applications
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what requirement there is for alterations in the number of dwellings in a planning application from that first advertisment to be advertised in the press.
Mr. Moss: There is no requirement to advertise alterations to planning applications. However, where an amended proposal would significantly alter the character or description of the original proposal, it would normally be the practice to re-advertise.
Belfast Urban Area Plan
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many trees have been removed from the sites identified as site 8 Beechill in the document, "Belfast Urban Area Plan 2001: development of suburban housing sites: Development Control Guidance Note. DOE (NI), June 1991", since June 1991;
(2) how many healthy trees identified as to be protected in site 8 Beechill in the document entitled, "Belfast Urban Area Plan 2001: development of suburban housing sites: Development Control Guidance Note. DOE (NI)", dated June 1991, have been removed.
Mr. Moss: The information requested is not immediately available. I will write to the right hon. Gentleman once it is.
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what was the estimated total cost of producing the document, "Belfast Urban Area Plan 2001: development of suburban housing sites: Development Control Guidance Note DOE(NI)", dated June 1991;
(2) if he will make a statement of the place of the document entitled "Belfast Urban Area Plan 2001: development of suburban housing sites: Development Control Guidance Note DOE(NI), June 1991" in the Belfast urban area plan 2001;
(3) what is the legal status of the document entitled, "Belfast Urban Area Plan 2001: development of suburban housing sites: Development Control Guidance Note DOE(NI), June 1991"; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Moss: The cost of producing the document is not available. The BUAP 2001 committed the Department to the publication of this document. The document is a material planning consideration.
Child Abuse and Rape Allegations
Rev. Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) child abuse and (b) rape allegations have been made against teachers in each of the last five years; how many cases have not been proceeded with; and in how many cases the teacher has been found guilty.
Sir John Wheeler: The RUC does not hold any statistics relating to allegations as there may be many which are never investigated because no formal complaint is made.
In cases where a prosecution ensues, RUC statistics show persons proceeded against but, in normal circumstances occupation is not recorded.
Housing Executive
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the policy of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive on allocating grant aid as regards religious belief, what considerations underlay the questions as to the religious and political affiliation of households; and if he will ban the practice of seeking to obtain this information
Mr. Moss: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. I am advised by its chief executive that completion of the religious affiliation question on the Executive's preliminary inquiry form for grants is optional and has no bearing whatsoever on either the executive's decision to accept or reject an application or the payment of any grant aid, which is made entirely on the basis of house condition and other eligibility factors. The question was introduced following a recommendation by the Standing Advisory Committee on Human Rights that the executive should monitor the impact of its policies and practices on each of the main sections of the community. The collection of this information has a valuable and important role to play in the promotion of equality of opportunity and equity for all the people of Northern Ireland. There are no questions about an applicant's political affiliation on the form.
Water and Sewerage Service
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were employed by the water and sewerage service in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.
Mr. Moss: The information, at 31 March of each financial year, is as follows:
Number of Water Executive Employees Year |Number ---------------------- 1989-90 |2,569 1990-91 |2,598 1991-92 |2,633 1992-93 |2,543 1993-94 |2,533
HEALTH
999 Telephone Calls
Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measure her Department is taking to reduce the number of non-urgent 999 telephone calls.
Mr. Sackville: The new patients charter, launched on 18 January, advises the public on how they can help the national health service by remembering that the emergency ambulance service is there for people in the most urgent need of hospital treatment. Improvements in primary care should reduce the incidence of non-urgent calls. Further action is best taken by local initiatives.
London Ambulance Service
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account is taken of the closure of the accident and emergency departments at St. Bartholomew's, Guy's and other units within their operational area in the financial provisions for the London Ambulance Service recommended in the report to her from the chairman of the South Thames health authority.
Mr. Sackville: The future work load and configuration of accident and emergency departments are taken into account in the forward planning of the London Ambulance Service. The funding of the LAS is a matter for the purchasers of its services.
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence she has that desirable standards in respect of London Ambulance services can be achieved by (a) unified and (b) fragmented service with equivalent resources.
Mr. Sackville: I look to the London Ambulance Service to improve its performance to the standards achieved by other ambulance services and believe that it should remain as a single unit provided it does so.
Anti-Malarial Tablets
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if anti- malarial tablets are available on prescription on the NHS; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Malone: Anti-malarial tablets for prophylaxis when travelling to endemic areas are available from travel clinics or from general practitioners on private prescription. Anti-malarial drugs may be prescribed on the national health service if they are being used for the treatment of malaria or for other medical conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Female Circumcision
Mrs. Golding: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many girls have been admitted to hospitals in England suffering from complications following female circumcision in each year since such records were kept.
Mr. Sackville: This information is not available centrally.
Alzheimer's Disease
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures she proposes to assist younger people suffering from Alzheimer's disease; and if she will make a statement.
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Mr. Bowis: Purchasers have been advised in "The Health of the Nation" key area handbook to take account of the needs of particular groups and conditions; this includes those suffering from pre-senile dementia.
Abortions
Mrs. Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list by age the numbers of women who become pregnant within 12 months of abortions performed upon them in the latest year for which such figures are available.
Mr. Sackville: The information requested is not collected.
Organ Donor Register
Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when the NHS organ donor register was launched; and when the first advertisements appeared inviting potential donors to register; (2) how many people have registered with the NHS organ donor register since its launch;
(3) when the NHS organ donor register will be fully operational; (4) when the registration forms for the NHS organ donor register were first available.
Mr. Sackville: The national health service organ donor register was launched on 6 October 1994. Registration forms were available from that date. Over 4 million have been issued since that date and have been available in main post offices, libraries, chemists and other public places. The first advertisements appeared in the national press the following week. About 250,000 people have registered with it at present and numbers are growing rapidly.
Correspondence
Mr. Chris Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 2 February, Official Report , column 843 , when she now expects to respond to the open letter from the Islington Gazette , about the planned closure of St. Bartholomew's hospital and the future of health services for the people of Islington, a further copy of which was sent to her on 10 February.
Mr. Malone: A reply from the chairman of Camden and Islington health authority was printed in the Islington Gazette on 2 February. I have nothing further to add to that reply.
Prescribing Costs
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her answer of 3 February, Official Report , column 874 , what was the average prescribing costs per 1,000 patients in (a) fundholding and (b) non- fundholding practices on each of dates specified; and what comparable information she has on the prescribing costs of non-fundholding practices participating in incentive prescribing schemes at those dates.
Mr. Malone: Available information is shown in the table. Practice- based prescribing incentive schemes did not commence until 1993 94; comparable information is not available centrally.
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Average prescribing cost per 1,000 patients (net
ingredient cost)
|1991-92|1992-93|1993-94
|£ |£ |£
-------------------------------------------------
Fundholders: |51,000 |56,000 |61,000
Non-fundholders: |54,000 |61,000 |67,000
Note:
Net ingredient cost refers to the cost of the
drugs before discounts and does not include any
dispensing costs or fees.
GP Training
Mr. David Porter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what are the numbers of GP doctors currently in training who are from a member state of the European Union beside the United Kingdom; how their training costs are being met; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Malone [holding answer 30 January 1995]: Figures are not available centrally on the number of general practitioner doctors from European Union member states training in this country. The costs of training both in the general practice setting and in hospitals are met by the national health service.
NHS and Departmental Staff
Mrs. Beckett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will give the number of general and senior managers in (a) regional health authorities, (b) district health authorities, (c) family health services authorities, (d) trusts, (e) general practitioner practices, (f) the national health service executive and (g) her Department in each year since 1989 90.
(2) if she will give the salary costs of general and senior managers in (a) regional health authorities, (b) district health authorities, (c) family health services authorities, (d) trusts, (e) general practitioner practices, (f) the national health service executive and (g) her Department in each year since 1989 90.
Mr. Malone [holding answer 30 January 1995]: The available information is shown in the tables.
The increase in the number of managers in health authorities and trusts and therefore in costs, is largely due to the reclassification of administrative and professional staff--including many senior nurses--as general and senior managers. In family health services authorities, the increase is due to new or greater managerial responsibilities for primary care development, including medical audit advisory groups, budgetary control and health promotion monitoring, and developments in community care.
Information is not available centrally on general practitioner practice managers. The national health service executive and the Department of Health do not categorise staff in terms of general and senior managers in any way which permits comparison with those defined in this way in health authorities and trusts. Numbers of general and senior managers for 1991 and 1992 cannot be provided because the figures were collected on an aggregate basis and it is not possible to identify such staff in regional and district health authorities and FHSAs separately. The number of general and senior managers in DHAs cannot be provided for 1989, 1990 and 1993 because the aggregate figures collected for those years do not identify such staff in DHA headquarters separately. Information on salary costs is not available centrally for managers in FHSAs because their accounts and financial returns do not contain any breakdown of expenditure between staff groups.
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Table 1
General and senior managers within regional health
headquarters or headquarter units, family health services
authorities and trusts-
whole time equivalents at 30 September
|1989 |1990 |1993
-----------------------------------------------------------
Regional health authorities |360 |1,010|1,400
Family health services authorities |30 |640 |1,060
Trusts |- |- |9,210
Source:
Department of Health non-medical workforce census.
Table 2
Salary costs of general and senior managers 1989-90 to 1993-94
|1989-90|1990-91|1991-92|1992-93|1993-94
|£000s |£000s |£000s |£000s |£000s
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regional health authorities |11,145 |24,142 |46,922 |58,560 |58,984
District health authorities |145,337|223,221|277,179|287,987|229,765
Trusts |- |- |54,296 |143,145|313,704
Source:
Annual accounts-1989-90 and 1990-91-and annual financial returns-1991-92 to
1993-94-of regional and district health authorities. Annual financial
returns of NHS trusts-1991-92 to 1993-94.
Notes to tables:
1. The number of general and senior managers in trusts in 1993 differs from
that published in October 1994 in table E of the Statistical Bulletin-the
latter erroneously included some 280 staff from Wales.
2. Salary costs are based upon gross pay costs including employers'
national insurance and superannuation contributions.
3. Salary costs for 1992-93 differ from those given previously due to
validation work carried out in 1994.
4. Salary costs for 1993-94 are provisional.
5. First wave trusts did not become operational until 1 April 1991.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Illegal Residents
Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the main provisions of the specimen treaty produced by the K4 group of the European Union; when he approved this specimen treaty; when he intends to report his approval of the specimen treaty to the House; if he will place a copy of the specimen treaty in the Library; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholas Baker: The standard bilateral readmission agreement adopted by the Justice and Home Affairs Council at its meeting on 30 November and 1 December 1994, provides a standard format and text as a basis for the negotiation of bilateral agreements between individual member states and third countries governing the readmission to their country of origin of those found to be illegally resident in the territories of the contracting parties. A copy of the document has been placed in the Library.
Prevention of Terrorism
Sir Nicholas Bonsor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish the report from Mr. J. J. Rowe QC on the operation in 1994 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989.
Mr. Howard: I have today arranged for copies of Mr. Rowe's report to be placed in the Library. The Government are considering Mr. Rowe's recommendations on the future of the legislation and will shortly be arranging for debates in both Houses.
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Firearms Licensing
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make available the report by the Association of Chief Police Officers on firearms licensing.
Mr. Maclean: A copy of the report on firearms administration produced by the Association of Chief Police Officers has been placed in the Library.
Bulgarian Vessel (Detention)
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to ensure that the crew of the Rotalia are fed by the Bulgarian state while the vessel remains under Marine Safety Agency detention in United Kingdom waters in Lerwick harbour.
Mr. Nicholas Baker: The provision of food for the crew of the Rotalia is a matter between them and their employers and not something in which the immigration service can become involved. However, it is my understanding that the crew are in possession of sufficient provisions on board the vessel.
Mr. Neil Jones
Mr. Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what inquiries he has commissioned into the circumstances which led to Mr. Neil Jones being placed on probation; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholas Baker: I understand that Mr. Jones was sentenced to probation on 21 July 1994 at Chester magistrates court. It was for the court to decide on the appropriate sentence in the circumstances of that case, and I cannot comment on that decision.
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Anthony Charles Jeffs
Mr. Mike O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimated date of release has been given to Anthony Charles Jeffs; when he is to be released on licence; and what warnings have been given to him to avoid making statements after release which may be offensive to the victim's family or colleagues.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: No estimated date of release has been given to Anthony Charles Jeffs. My right hon. and learned Friend has no power to consider the release of this prisoner unless the Parole Board so recommends. The next review of Mr. Jeffs's case by the Parole Board is not due to begin until March 1996.
Mr. Jeffs is detained in closed prison conditions where specific attention is being paid to his attitude and behaviour towards his victims' families or their colleagues.
Prisoners, Wales
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the number of convicted and remand prisoners resident in Wales who were detained in prisons outside Wales in (a) 1994 and (b) 1993; if he will express (a) and (b) as a percentage of the prison population who were, prior to their incarceration, residing in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
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. Elfyn Llwyd, dated 17 February 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking, if he will give the number of convicted and remand prisoners resident in Wales who were detained in prisons outside Wales in (a) 1994 and (b) 1993; if he will express (a) and (b) as a percentage of the prison population who were, prior to their incarceration, residing in Wales; and if he will make a statement. No information is available centrally regarding the principal address of those committed to custody. The available information on where prisoners originate from is for the court first committing to custody. The table shows the provisional number of receptions recorded centrally into Prison Service establishments in England who were first committed into custody by a Welsh Court in 1993 and 1994.
Receptions<1> into a Prison Service establishment in England from a
Welsh Court, 1993-1994
|Number
|committed to an |As percentage of
|establishment in|total committed
Type of custody |England |by Welsh courts
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1993
remand<2> |1,400 |40
sentenced<3> |1,000 |34
1994
remand<2> |1,900 |49
sentenced<3> |1,150 |33
<1> Provisional figures.
<2> Includes convicted unsentenced prisoners.
<3> Excludes fine defaulters and person held in police cells;
includes some prisoners previously held on remand.
Prisons
Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has
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received concerning the International Labour Organisation convention on forced labour in prisons; and if he will make a statement.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. George Howarth, dated 17 February 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question on what representations he has received concerning the International Labour Organisation convention on forced labour in prisons.
We have received from the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) Committee of Experts observations on representations submitted by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) concerning ILO Convention 29 on forced or compulsory labour.
Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the technical and practical difficulties of compulsory drug testing in Her Majesty's prisons; and if he will make a statement.
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. George Howarth, dated 17 February 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question concerning representations received on the technical and practical difficulties of compulsory drug testing in prisons.
No specific representations have been received on this matter by the Secretary of State. Two organisations raised issues concerning the potential operational and practical difficulties associated with drug testing within prisons at routine meetings with Ministers last year. I have received recently one letter which highlights similar concerns.
The difficulties associated with drug testing within prison have been examined in depth by the project team set up to implement mandatory drug testing for prisoners. Procedures developed for this are currently being introduced initially in eight prison establishments. Lessons learnt during this phase will help ensure the effective implementation of the drug testing programme in the remaining establishments.
Commercial Gambling (Advertising)
Mr. Couchman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to relax the press and other media advertising restrictions on licensed bingo clubs in line with recent relaxation of restrictions in the broadcast media for football pools; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: We are currently reviewing restrictions on the advertising of bingo and other forms of commercial gambling and hope to go out to consultation in May.
Prisoners (Tariffs)
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were sentenced pursuant to (a) section 53(1) and (b) section 53(2) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 have now been notified of their tariff; how many of them have been given tariffs of (i) five years or less, (ii) six to 10 years,
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(iii) 10 to 15 years, (iv) 15 to 20 years, (v) over 20 years and (vi) life; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 16 January 1995]: Some 217 persons in Prison Service custody and sentenced under section 53(1) have been notified of their tariff. The details are as follows:
2
|Number
--------------------------------------------------
Five years or less |2
Six to nine years<1> |33
10 to 14 years<1> |139
15 to 20 years |43
Over 20 years, less than whole life |0
Whole life |0
<1> These bands have been given to avoid the
double counting of 10 and 15 year tariffs.
Some 21 persons in Prison Service custody and sentenced under section 53(2) have been told the relevant part--the tariff--of their sentence. The details are as follows:
2
|Number
--------------------------------------------------
Five years or less |7
Six to nine years<1> |8
10 to 14 years<1> |6
15 to 20 years |0
Over 20 years, less than whole life |0
Whole life |0
<1> These bands have been given to avoid the
double counting of 10 and 15-year tariffs.
ENVIRONMENT
Local Government Reorganisation
Mr. Frank Cook: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the functions for which further orders will be required to give full effect to structural change in Cleveland, together with when these orders will be laid before the House.
Mr. Curry: No further orders are required to give full effect to structural change in Cleveland. Depending on our decision on the county area of Cleveland, there may be further provision to redefine the county area and to address ceremonial functions, such as the Lord Lieutenancy. My right hon. Friend and colleagues in other Government Departments may wish to make regulations or issue guidance in due course in relation to the provision of services where there is to be unitary local government.
Mr. Frank Cook: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which bodies have commented on the draft Avon, Humberside and North Yorkshire (Structural Change) Orders and the Selby District (Boundary Change) Order; and if he will place copies of those comments in the Library.
Mr. Robert B. Jones: My answer to the hon. Member for Kingswood (Mr. Berry) on 3 February 1995, Official Report, column 911, listed the bodies consulted on the draft orders. We have also received comments from other bodies such as parish councils as well as individuals. We will make available copies of comments from official bodies on request unless we are asked not to do so.
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