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Community Education Service
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on the value of the community education service in Strathclyde region.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: I attach considerable importance to the work of the community education service throughout Scotland, as an integral part of the statutory provision for education made by local authorities. Total expenditure on community education by local authorities in Scotland in 1992 93 was almost £79 million, including over £37 million by Strathclyde region.
Royal Scottish National Hospital and Community NHS Trust
Mr. Gallie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial arrangements are being made for the Royal
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Scottish national hospital and community NHS trust which was dissolved on 30 September 1994.Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Pursuant to the dissolution of the Royal Scottish national hospital and community NHS trust, on 30 September 1994, and its reconfiguration with Forth Valley Healthcare a directly managed unit, as Central Scotland Healthcare NHS trust on 1 October 1994, my right hon. Friend proposes to create new originating capital debt for the new trust equal to the net assets transferred to it and therefore to remit the outstanding debt of the dissolved trust.
The operations consequent on the reconfiguration involve no loss to the Exchequer. Her Majesty's Treasury has today presented a minute to the House giving the particulars and circumstances of the proposed remission which it has approved in principle.
Fatal Accident Inquiries
Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 8 February, Official Report, Scottish Grand Committee , column 18, in how many of the fatal accident inquiries were the managers or the owners, judged by the sheriff to have been negligent of the interests and well-being of the resident who died; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 27 February 1995]: It could be misleading to summarise the determinations of sheriffs on complex cases. I will therefore write to the hon. Member, enclosing copies of the relevant determinations.
Although the Government deplore the circumstances surrounding the "Glenglova" case, I would emphasise that an inquiry following the death of a resident in residential or nursing home care is not necessarily indicative of poor standards of care in such establishments.
Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 8 February, Official Report, Scottish Grand Committee , column 18, what proposals he intends to introduce in response to the recommendations of the sheriffs who conducted fatal accident inquiries into the deaths of several elderly residents of privately owned residential homes; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 27 February 1995]: I shall write to the hon. Member to clarify my earlier answer. This will indicate that there has in fact been only one fatal accident inquiry related to a private residential care home. The remaining six inquiries concerned private nursing home residents.
A working group is being set up to consider the registration and inspection issues concerning private and voluntary residential care establishments following the recent "Glenglova" FAI. The group will consist of Scottish Office officials and representatives from local authorities, independent providers and user groups. It is anticipated that recommendations will be put to Ministers this autumn. Following discussion with the Department's health policy and public health directorate about the effectiveness of the Nursing Homes (Registration) (Scotland) Act 1938, health board general managers have funded a project to establish a nationally agreed and implemented set of core standards for the registration and inspection of nursing homes. The project steering group, which is chaired by the Scottish Office and includes
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representatives of health boards, local authorities, residents and nursing home owners, will ensure that all relevant information, including the determination of FAIs following deaths in nursing homes, are considered by the project team.These developments demonstrate the Government's commitment to protecting the more vulnerable groups in society who require either residential or nursing home care.
DEFENCE
Defence Export Services Organisation
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff of the Defence Export Services Organisation were on short-term secondments from defence contractors in each year from 1988; and what proportion of the total staff they represented in that time.
Mr. Freeman: The information requested is set out in the table.
|Contractor |Period
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1988
Sir Colin Chandler |British Aerospace |1985 to September
| 1989
H. L. Myers |Rolls Royce |November 1986 to
| July 1989
D. J. Hastie |British Aerospace |April 1988 to October
| 1989
S. Brett |British Aerospace |August 1988 to
|August 1989
1989
Sir Colin Chandler |British Aerospace |1985 to September
| 1989
H. L. Myers |Rolls Royce |November 1986 to
| July 1989
D. J. Hastie |British Aerospace |April 1988 to October
| 1989
S. Brett |British Aerospace |August 1988 to
| August 1989
S. Barker |Westland Helicopters |July 1989 to July
| 1991
A. Thomas |Raytheon |July 1989 to
| September 1994
1990
S. Barker |Westland Helicopters |July 1989 to July 1991
A. Thomas |Raytheon |July 1989 to September 1994
1991
S. Barker |Westland Helicopters |July 1989 to July
| 1991
A. Thomas |Raytheon |July 1989 to
| September 1994
1991
S. Barker |Westland Helicopters |July 1989 to July
| 1991
A. Thomas |Raytheon |July 1989 to September 1994
1992
A. Thomas |Raytheon |July 1989 to
1993
Sir Alan Thomas |Raytheon |July 1989 to
| September 1994
D. Mitchell |British Aerospace |October 1993 to date
1994
Sir Alan Thomas |Raytheon |July 1989 to
| September 1994
D. Mitchell |British Aerospace |October 1993 to date
C. Masefield |British Aerospace |September 1994 to
| date
1995
D. Mitchell |British Aerospace |October 1993 to date
C. Masefield |British Aerospace |September 1994 to
| date
1. In all years, the number of secondees represented less than 1 per cent. of the total DESO staff numbers.
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many former members of staff of the three Defence Export Services Organisation project offices have advised of business or employment interests relevant to the work of Defence Export Services Organisation; and in how many cases clearance was refused.
Mr. Freeman: Since January 1990, members of the Defence Export Services Organisation have made 33 applications to accept employment with defence-related companies. All were approved; 31
unconditionally; one subject to a waiting period; and one subject to a ban on the applicant's involvement in a specific area of work of the prospective employer.
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff of the Defence Export Sales Organisation are covered by performance bonuses; and what aspects of performance are so rewarded.
Mr. Freeman: In line with arrangements applying across the civil service, the majority of civilian staff within the Defence Export Service Organisation are subject to performance-related pay arrangements, which can include bonuses. Performance criteria are intended to reflect the individual's contribution to the overall performance of the organisation.
The pay of service personnel within the organisation is not performance related.
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of staff of the Defence Export Services Organisation since 1979 have left the service and subsequently taken up duties for, or on behalf of, a defence-related contractor; and whether the staff of the Defence Export Services Organisation are required to notify him of such duties.
Mr. Freeman: The information is not available for the period before January 1990. Since then, 13 members of the Defence Export Services Organisation have made 33 applications to accept employment with, or on behalf of, a defence-related contractor. The rules do not require staff to notify my Department of whether appointments are taken up.
Jordan
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what occasions prior written agreement was sought by the kingdom of Jordan to dispose of items exported to
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it under the Government-to-Government Jordan defence packages; and whether the United Kingdom Government acceded to such requests.Mr. Freeman: This is a confidential matter between Governments.
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is (a) the purpose of and (b) the statutory authority for payments under the subhead vote 2 H7 for the years 1988 89 to 1992 93; and in respect of which countries these payments were made.
Mr. Freeman [holding answer 17 February 1995]: The main purpose of these payments has been to provide interest rate support for Jordan. Additionally, in the years 1986 87 to 1988 89, payments were made to the Export Credits Guarantee Department from within the figures given to the House on 13 February 1995, Official Report, column 544, to provide interest rate support for Oman. Contributions were made by the Ministry of Defence under the class I Supply estimates and confirming Appropriation Act.
Global Positioning System
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what payments, either in cash or by the provision of facilities of services, are made by the United Kingdom under any of the successive moves between the United Kingdom and the US for access to the global positioning system.
Mr. Soames: The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence makes no payments either in cash or in kind for access to the United States global positioning system.
International Military Services Ltd.
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 December 1994, Official Report, column 1189, on which occasions IMS Ltd. (a) applied for approval to seek business in new markets, (b) made applications which involved novel features and (c) made applications which were significantly different from previous business; if these guidelines were in written form; and on what date these guidelines were first issued to the management of IMS.
Mr. Freeman: The policy guidelines for International Military Services Ltd. were set out in writing by the Ministry of Defence in March 1979 and made available to the Public Accounts Committee. Consultations under the guidelines remain confidential between the Ministry and the company.
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff of International Military Services have been transferred to other companies during the winding down of the company; and whether the normal Government rules of conflict of interest and business advantage have applied to the staff of International Military Services.
Mr. Freeman: The staff of International Military Services Ltd. were not public servants and consequently were not covered by Government regulations on future employment. When the company ceased trading in 1991, most staff were made redundant and made their own arrangements for future employment where appropriate.
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when IMS discontinued its practice of reporting quarterly
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to its board of its use of, and remuneration to, agents and consultants in furtherance of defence-related export sales.Mr. Freeman: The internal reporting arrangements to the board are a matter for the company.
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the legal or international arbitration action between the government of Iran and IMS Ltd. has now been resolved; and if he will make a statement on the settlement reached.
Mr. Freeman: Any discussions or proceedings between International Military Services Ltd. and its former customers remain commercially confidential.
Royal Marines School of Music
Mr. David Martin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will be announcing his decision on the future of the Royal Marines school of music at Deal and the proposal to relocate it at Portsmouth.
Mr. Soames: A consultation document on our proposal for the future relocation of the Royal Marines school of music was issued on 17 October 1994 and the consultation period ended on 16 December 1994. We are currently considering very carefully all the many representations made during this period before deciding on the way forward.
Overseas Contracts
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if all commitments made in memoranda of understanding signed with Nigeria prior to June 1993 have subsequently been honoured;
(2) on what dates in the last 10 years memoranda of understanding relating to defence have been signed with Nigeria.
Mr. Freeman: A detailed search of records has revealed that the MOU referred to in previous answers--24 February 1994, Official Report , column 383 , and 9 March 1994, Official Report , column 254 --between the Governments of the United Kingdom and Nigeria was never signed, although negotiations were conducted over a number of months in 1981. No defence MOU has since been signed with Nigeria.
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 8 February 1985, Official Report, column 323 , what were the exact dates of the memoranda of understanding concerning defence contracts with the Government of Indonesia on September 1983, March 1984, April 1986 and November 1991.
Mr. Freeman: The exact dates are as follows: 21 September 1983, 30 March 1984, 12 April 1986 and 18 November 1991.
Aircraft Controllers
Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft controllers have left to join civilian airports in the last two years; and what were the companies involved and the numbers joining each company.
Mr. Soames: Departmental records of those air traffic controllers who leave Crown service do not include their eventual employment in civil life.
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Navy Personnel (Private Companies)
Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many Royal Navy (a) nursing officers, (b) surgeons, (c) medical consultants, (d) occupational therapists, (e) pharmacists, (f) physiotherapists and (g) dentists, have left to join private health care companies in the last two years; and what were the companies involved and the numbers joining each company.
(2) how many Royal Navy (a) engineers and (b) metallurgists have left to join defence or defence-related companies in the last two years; and what were the companies involved and the numbers joining each company.
Mr. Soames: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Nuclear Weapons Convoys
Mrs. Golding: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the emergency services which are informed when nuclear warheads are transported by road.
Mr. Soames: Civil police forces are always notified at least 24 hours in advance of nuclear weapon convoy movements through their area of jurisdiction.
Subcontractors
Mr. Nicholls: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what requirements are placed upon main contractors to the Ministry of Defence to make timely payments to subcontractors.
Mr. Freeman: The following term has been included in MOD contracts on main contractors since March 1992.
Where the contractor enters a subcontract with a supplier or contractor for the purpose of performing the contract, he shall cause a term to be included in such subcontract which requires payment to be made to the supplier of contractor within a specified period not exceeding 30 days from receipt of valid invoice as defined by the subcontract requirements.
Russian Armed Forces
Mr. Elletson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all planned military co-operation programmes, conferences and exchanges with the Russian armed forces.
Mr. Soames: The United Kingdom's military co-operation with Russia is at present confined to three main areas.
a. To assist in the removal of nuclear warheads and
intercontinental ballistic missiles from places of deployment to destruction sites, we are providing 20 armoured transport vehicles and 250 armoured containers. A meeting of the Anglo-Russian steering group, which oversees this project is scheduled to take place at the end of 1995.
b. To UK has also offered modest assistance with the resettlement in civilian life of Russians leaving the armed forces. This would include training resettlement instructors, and equipping and maintaining a resettlement centre in Moscow for three years. Discussions on this proposal are continuing.
c. To meet the obligations of arms control treaties and agreements, there is an ongoing programme of military contacts and inspections in which the UK participates.
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Routine defence staff talks are planned to take place in London towards the end of 1995. A Russian hydrography ship will visit the UK in March. A Royal Navy ship will visit St. Petersburg in May, to help commemorate victory in Europe. Agreement has also been reached in principle to hold a joint UK-Russian exercise, but no firm plans have been made, and no dates set for this.Fertiliser
Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions since 1 January HMS Brazen transported fertiliser from the United Kingdom to Gibraltar for use in the gardens at the official service residence; what was the quantity of fertiliser carried; and what was the cost involved.
Porton Down
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the ethics committee overseeing the service volunteers programme at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down was set up; for what reasons it was established; what is the purpose and nature of the committee's work; how often it meets; how many members sit on the committee; how many of these members are drawn from outside Porton Down; and who is the current chairman.
Mr. Soames: This is a matter for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down under its framework-document. I have asked the chief executive, CBDE to write to the hon. Member. Letter from Graham Pearson to Dr. David Clark, dated 1 March 1995:
1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking when the Ethics Committee overseeing the Service volunteers programme at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down was set up; for what reasons it was established; what is the purpose and nature of the committee's work; how often it meets; how many members sit on the committee; how many of these members are drawn from outside Porton Down; and who is the current chairman has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to ensure that the UK Armed Forces have effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. In order to carry out this work, it is necessary to use Service volunteers to:
a. Assess the ability of Service personnel to function with new equipment and procedures.
b. Develop medical countermeasures to protect Service personnel and,
c. Evaluate the effects of very low and medically safe concentrations of CW agents on the ability of unprotected personnel to operate normally.
No studies involving volunteers are carried out unless there is a clear military need and a detailed protocol has been reviewed and approved by an independent Ethics Committee in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Royal College of Physicians.
3. The creation of an independent Ethics Committee at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment followed the publication of guidelines from the Royal College of Physicians. The CBDE Ethics Committee was established in July 1991. The Ethics Committee has subsumed previous arrangements for the ethical review of proposed volunteer studies. For some 30 years, a committee on the safety of human experiments had been set up at this Establishment involving all the medical officers on the staff of the Establishment whose task was to review all the protocols for
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proposed volunteer studies to ensure that they were as safe as possible; this committee had the right of veto. Following such reviews, protocols were then considered by an ethical sub group of the Medical Committee of the Defence Scientific Advisory Council which involved independent experts.4. The purpose of the CBDE Ethics Committee is to consider the medical- ethical aspects of all proposed studies involving human volunteers. Its role is to review and approve detailed protocols for any studies carried out involving the use of volunteers. Such studies are only carried out if there is a clear military need and the protocol has been designed to ensure that any possible risks, however slight, are minimised. The protocol also includes a full explanation in lay terms of the study which will be read to the volunteer by a military officer unconnected with the study so that informed consent based on the volunteer's complete understanding of the nature of the study and any perceived hazards can be sought.
5. The CBDE Ethics Committee consists of 11 members of whom 9 are drawn from outside of the Ministry of Defence. It meets four times a year although there is provision to meet on a more frequent basis if required. The Committee is chaired by Professor Hugh Dudley, CBE, ChM, FRCSE, Professor Emeritus of Surgery, University of London.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the nature of the guidelines and rules provided by the Royal College of Physicians, London and the British Psychological Society with regard to the service volunteers programmes at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down; and when these guidelines were adopted by the establishment.
Mr. Soames: This is a matter for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, CBDE to write to the hon. Member. Letter from Graham Pearson to Dr. David Clark, dated 1 March 1995:
1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking if he will make a statement on the nature of the guidelines and rules provided by the Royal College of Physicians (London) and the British Psychological Society with regard to the Service volunteers programmes at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down; and when these guidelines were adopted by the Establishment has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment. 2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to ensure that the UK Armed Forces have effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. In order to carry out this work, it is necessary to use Service volunteers to:
a. Assess the ability of Service personnel to function with new equipment and procedures.
b. Develop medical countermeasures to protect Service personnel and,
c. Evaluate the effects of very low and medically safe concentrations of CW agents on the ability of unprotected personnel to operate normally.
3. Studies and tests at CBDE which involve Service volunteers are only carried out where there is a clear military need and a detailed protocol has been reviewed and approved by an independent Ethics Committee in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Royal College of Physicians and British Psychological Society. 4. In 1984 the Royal College of Physicians published Guidelines on the practice of Ethics Committees in medical research which were subsequently updated in 1990 and taken into account when the CBDE Ethics Committee was established in July 1991. These guidelines provide advice inter alia on terms of reference, membership, methods of working, application, responsibilities, consent, definition and classes of research and payments. The British Psychological Society guidelines were taken into account shortly after their publication in 1993. These provide inter alia advice on
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the code of conduct for psychologists and the ethical principles for work with human participants.5. Although these guidelines have only recently been published, there has been an ethical review of proposed volunteer studies at CBDE for over 30 years. Prior to the establishment of the CBDE Ethics Committee there was a committee on the safety of human experiments which had been set up at this Establishment involving all the medical officers on the staff of the Establishment whose tasks was to review all the proposals for proposed volunteer studies to ensure that they were as safe as possible; this committee had the right of veto. Following such reviews, protocols were then considered by an ethical sub group of the Medical Committee of the Defence Scientific Advisory Council which involved independent experts.
RAF Bentwaters
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the RAF Bentwaters site was sold to the highest bidder; what consideration he gave to environmental factors in reaching a decision over the sale of the RAF Bentwaters site; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Soames: I can confirm that the RAF Bentwaters site has been sold to the highest bidder; the proposal from the Maharishi Foundation complies fully with the agreed planning brief.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Maharishee Foundation provided a detailed business plan as part of its purchase bid for the RAF Bentwaters site.
Mr. Soames: It is not my Department's policy to divulge details or information provided by prospective purchasers of redundant military sites. However, it can be confirmed that the Maharishi Foundation provided full and sufficient information on which to assess the bid.
Attack Helicopters
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated in-service date for the Army's attack helicopter.
Mr. Freeman: The attack helicopter is expected to enter service with the Army at the end of the decade. It is not at present possible to be precise; the in-service date will depend on which of the contenders we choose to meet the Army's requirement.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts concerning the procurement of attack helicopters.
Mr. Freeman: My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has not held any formal discussions with his foreign counterparts concerning the procurement of attack helicopters. Discussions continue with officials of the contender nationals and other Governments with requirements similar to our own.
EDUCATION
College Fees
Mr. Merchant: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans she has for the future settlement of college fees.
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Mr. Boswell: My officials have written today to the Higher Education Funding Council for England asking it to advise my right hon. Friend on the annual adjustment of the average college fee at the Oxford and Cambridge colleges from 1995 onwards. The council has been asked to base its advice on the annual movement in public funding at universities with a similar mission. In this way, the annual adjustment of college fees with reflect trends in public funding per student elsewhere in higher education. The Department will no longer engage in negotiations with the Oxford and Cambridge colleges. The funding council has also been asked to advise on future arrangements for the setting of college fees at the universities of Durham, Kent, Lancaster and York.
Higher Education Funding Council
Mr. Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the level of underspend in the 1994 95 budget of the Higher Education Funding Council.
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