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Mr. Nelson [holding answer 3 April 1995]: No specific public information telephone inquiry lines operate in the Treasury. Calls are handled by the public inquiry room or the press office as appropriate.
VAT (Services)
Sir John Hunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration has been given to the fixing of different VAT thresholds for businesses supplying services as opposed to those supplying goods; and if he will make a statement. [17696]
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: The application of different thresholds for businesses supplying services as opposed to businesses supplying goods has been considered on a number of occasions. Where mixed supplies are involved the introduction of different thresholds would create significant operational problems and therefore the preferred option is to maintain the simplicity of a single threshold.
Income Tax
Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Attercliffe (Mr. Betts) of
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3 November 1994, Official Report , columns 1283 84 on the tax liabilities of taxpayers in different income bands, giving figures for 1995 96 and estimates for 1996 97 based on the assumption of statutory indexation and including measures announced in the 1994 budget. [15677]Sir George Young [holding answer 23 March 1995]: I regret that the earlier reply contained an incorrect table for 1995 96. An updated version of this table is as follows. The 1987 88 income tax regime has been indexed to 1995 96 levels by reference to the statutory formula and allowing for the effect of independent taxation of husbands and wives. Average earnings have increased by nearly 15 per cent. in real terms since 1987 88. Etimates for 1996 97 are not available.
Average reduction or increase (-) in 1995-96 compared with
1987-88 indexed regime
Range of |Income Tax and
(£) |(£) |(£)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under 5,000 |50 |60
5,000 to 10,000 |140 |180
10,000 to 15,000 |150 |220
15,000 to 20,000 |160 |180
20,000 to 25,000 |210 |180
25,000 to 30,000 |250 |170
30,000 to 40,000 |-190 |-280
40,000 to 50,000 |-180 |-270
50,000 to 70,000 |1,040 |940
70,000 to 80,000 |3,440 |3,330
Over 80,000 |17,300 |17,200
Average |280 |290
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
Indonesian Police
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 March, Official Report , column 84, on what date he asked for assurances prior to scholarship awards being granted to officers of the Indonesian police force that none of those officers had previously served in East Timor. [16661]
Mr. Baldry: No assurances were sought.
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 13 March, Official Report , column 367 , regarding his Department's funding of training and scholarship awards for members of the Indonesian police force if the biographical details required by his Department reveal as a matter of routine (i) whether the applicant has ever served in East Timor and (ii) whether the applicant will serve East Timor after training; on which date officials in his Department last conducted an assessment of the work performance of applicants; to what extent this assessment was dependent on information provided by the Indonesian police force; on which date officials in his Department last conducted interviews with applicants prior to their leaving Indonesia to test their suitability to take part in the Indonesian police training project; and what specific questions applicants were asked about their past activities with regard to human rights considerations. [16513]
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Mr. Baldry: Candidates for United Kingdom scholarships under the police project submit biographical details which cover their employment history. These would normally but not invariably include the locations in which the officer has served, but would not include the locations of prospective employment once involvement in the project is complete.
Interviews are conducted by the UK project consultants at the outset when applicants join the consultancy unit. Their approach to policing and commitment to public service is assessed. Candidates for UK training are subsequently and independently re-assessed by the consultants in further interviews on the basis of work performance. The last date that this was done was during the visit by the UK consultants between 8 and28 January 1995.
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 March, Official Report , column 84 , if the commitment given by the Indonesian police force to his Department that officers who receive scholarship awards under the police project will remain with the project for a minimum of five years includes the assurance (a) that no such officer will be eligible to serve in East Timor during that time and (b) that no such officer will be eligible to serve in East Timor after their five years in the project is complete. [16663]
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 21 March, Official Report , column 111 , what sources other than the Indonesian national police force have provided information that no officer who has received any form of training paid for or provided with assistance from his Department has subsequently gone on to serve in East Timor either during that period of training or after it has concluded. [16509]
Mr. Baldry: The project managers have also provided this information about trainees financed under the police project.
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 March, column 85 , if the biographical material provided to his Department about Indonesian police officers who have received scholarship awards or other training paid for by his Department reveal the dates when officers served in East Timor; and if they were based within that country. [16662]
Mr. Baldry: This information is no longer available.
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 March, Official Report , column 85 , what sources other than the Indonesian national police force provided information to the United Kingdom managers of the Indonesian national police project that Indonesian police officers who have received scholarships or training paid for by his Department have not subsequently served in East Timor. [16660]
Mr. Baldry: From their own knowledge of the project and the trainees, the UK managers of the police project were able independently to confirm this information about trainees financed under the police project.
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Sierra Leone
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Secretary General of the Commonwealth about actions that should be taken to improve the situation in Sierra Leone. [17821]
Mr. Baldry: While we have received no representations, we are in regular contact with the Commonwealth Secretariat and strongly support the efforts of Chief Anyaoku to encourage peace talks between the Government of Sierra Leone and the Revolutionary United Front.
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what joint discussions have taken place with other European Governments about action that should be taken to improve the situation in Sierra Leone. [17823]
Mr. Baldry: We keep in close and regular contact with our EU partners about developments in Sierra Leone. EU aid to Sierra Leone covers a wide range of humanitarian and development projects. In addition 15 million ECU has been allocated so far this year for democratisation, rehabilitation of war-affected areas, and demobilisation of soldiers.
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recommendations he has received from the UN Secretary-General about action that should be taken to improve the situation in Sierra Leone. [17822]
Mr. Baldry: While we have received no recommendations, we are in regular contact with the UN Secretariat to discuss the situation in Sierra Leone. We are also providing some logistical support for the UN Secretary- General's special representative in Freetown.
Sri Lanka
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to ensue that (a) British aid for Sri Lanka designated for the north and the east of the island is able to get through; and (b) aid is used for the rehabilitation of refugees and repair of the infrastructure. [16755]
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 3 April 1995]: UK aid for the north and east is being delivered as intended. A consignment of medical equipment was delivered to Jaffna hospital at the end of last year and equipment for the University of Jaffna is due to arrive there this week. UK support for the relief and rehabilitation of displaced communities from the north and east is managed by Oxfam and the Save the Children fund using local Sri Lankan non-governmental organisations. Contributions have additionally been made through the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with the Government of Sri Lanka about the restoration of transport systems, gas and electricity supplies for the whole country and about the lifting of the economic embargo by the Sri Lankans on food and medicines. [16756]
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 3 April 1995]: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, was briefed on the peace process, including relief measures for the people of
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Jaffna, by President Kumaratunga when she visited London in March. Many items have been removed from the embargo list. Food and medicines are not on the list. We have said that the British Government could offer consultancy assistance regarding power reconstruction requirements for Jaffna to help identify the scope of work likely to be necessary.European Development Fund
Miss Lestor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EU Foreign Ministers meeting on 18 and 19 March in relation to the size of the eighth European development fund for 1995 to 2000. [18212]
Mr. Baldry: EU Foreign Ministers had a short discussion on 18 and 19 March on the size of the eighth European development fund, but reached no decision. There will be further discussions at the Foreign Affairs Council on 10 11 April.
Nuclear Reactor, Slovakia
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment the Government has made of whether the European bank for reconstruction and development has established that detailed and satisfactory plans have been made for the safe storage of radioactive waste produced during the proposed operation of the nuclear power plant at Mochovce, Slovakia. [16108]
Mr. Baldry: The bank's project documentation indicates that adequate technical, environmental and financial provision has been made for the short and medium-term safe storage of spent fuel and other radioactive wastes. The Slovak Government are considering plans for final storage facilities, provision of which would be covenanted in a project agreement between the bank and Slovenske Elektrarne, the Slovak power utility.
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's position on the projections for gas prices, decommissioning costs, discount rates and variable currency exchange rates for Mochovce nuclear power plant in Slovakia contained in the least cost study prepared for the European bank for reconstruction and development's directors. [16109]
Mr. Baldry: We are examining the least cost study and comments made on it by a number of organisations.
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether the recurring problems relating to fire protection and essential operational, emergency and control systems associated with Soviet VVER-440/213 nuclear reactor design can be resolved by superimposing other technologies as proposed for the completion of the Mochovce nuclear power plant in Slovakia. [16110]
Mr. Baldry: The safety review of the Mochovce plant undertaken by Riskaudit examined these aspects and made recommendations for their improvement. It confirmed that the standards applied for the management and operation of the plant are fully in line with the fundamental principles set out in relevant International Atomic Energy Agency documents. It also confirmed that the proposed project safety measures, including the recommendations
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included in the safety review, would make the Mochovce plant acceptable under good western practices.Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made as to whether the specification for the proposed Mochovce nuclear plant would satisfy the environmental and safety standards required for equivalent plant operating in the United Kingdom. [16111]
Mr. Baldry: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Truro (Mr. Taylor) on 21 February at column 130 .
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what conclusions the Government's review of its policy on the European bank for reconstruction and development's proposed funding for the Mochovce nuclear power plant in Slovakia, has reached; and what assessment he has made as to whether the completion of the plant or alternative supply and demand-side measures represent the least cost option. [16112]
Mr. Baldry: We have not yet finalised our position on this project.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Police Patrol Vehicles (Accidents)
Ms Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many road traffic accidents involving police patrol vehicles have been reported to the Metropolitan police for each year since 1991; and how many people have sustained injuries as a result. [16408]
Mr. Maclean: I understand from the Commissioner that the following is the information requested.
|Number of |Number of
Year |accidents |injuries
------------------------------------------------
1991 |4,150 |1,037 (366)
1992 |4,143 |1,028 (710)
1993 |4,246 |1,203 (831)
1994 |4,063 |1,179 (855)
The figures shown in parenthesis in the last column are the numbers of civilians injured; the remainder of the total in each case are police officers.
Prison Service
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women who are currently imprisoned have their babies with them in prison. [18007]
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 Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 4 April 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about how many women who are currently imprisoned have their babies with them in prison.
On 31 March 1994 51 women had their babies with them in the three prison mother and baby units.
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Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if the rules applying at Her Majesty's prison Full Sutton allow prisoners and relatives to talk in (a) Irish and (b) their first language; [17663]
(2) what rules apply in Her Majesty's prisons in the United Kingdom about prisoners, whose first language is not English, being allowed to converse in their first language with visitors. [17666]
Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 3 April 1995]:
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. Max Madden, dated 4 April 1995: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the rules which apply to prisoners, whose first language is not English, being allowed to converse in their first language with visitors and if the rules applying at Full Sutton Prison allow prisoners and relatives to talk in Irish and their first language. Under the provisions of Prison Service Standing Order 5, which applies to all prisons in England and Wales, prisoners and their visitors may speak in the language of their choice. If it is necessary to do so for security reasons, the Standing Order provides either for communication to be in English or for an interpreter to be present or for communications to be tape recorded.
Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports he has received about prisoners at Her Majesty's prison Whitemoor complaining about verbal and physical abuse. [17664]
Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 3 April 1995]:
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. Max Madden, dated 4 April 1995: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about complaints made by prisoners of physical and verbal abuse. Prisoners make allegations about verbal or physical abuse from time to time in many prison establishments. Depending on the nature and seriousness of the allegations these are investigated either by the police or internally within the Prison Service, and where they are substantiated, appropriate action is taken.
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Simpson) on 15 March, Official Report , column 573 , in which adult female Prison Service establishment the females under 18 years of age were being held. [18003]
Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 3 April 1995]:
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 Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 4 April 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question (following my answer to the honourable member for Nottingham South of 15 March, Official Report, column 573) in which adult female Prison Service establishments the females under 18 years of age were being held.
The information requested is given in the attached table.
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Females aged under 18 years held in adult
female establishments
on 31 January 1995, by Prison Service
establishment
Establishment |Number
-----------------------------------------------
Remand
Holloway |5
Low Newton |3
New Hall |2
Pucklechurch |2
Risley |2
Sentenced
Askham Grange |1
Holloway |5
Low Newton |5
New Hall |3
Pucklechurch |1
All establishments |29
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) women and (b) men are currently imprisoned in British prison service establishments. [18032]
Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 3 April 1995]:
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 Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 4 April 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking, how many (a) women and (b) men are currently imprisoned in British prison service establishments.
On 24 March 1995 there were 57,254 persons (55,068 men and 2,186 women) in prison establishments in England, Wales and Scotland.
Ms Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men served custodial sentences in each year since 1989, broken down by type of offence committed. [17207]
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 Ms Janet Anderson, dated 4 April 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many men served custodial sentences in each year since 1989, broken down by type of offence committed.
Information for 1989 to 1992 is published in Prison Statistics England and Wales [Cm 2581, Tables 3.7 (young offenders) and 4.9 (adults) of the 1992 edition] a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Provisional information for 1993 and 1994 is contained in the attached table.
Number of men received into Prison Service custody for immediate
custodial sentences in 1993 and 1994, by type of offence<1>
Offence group |1993 |1994
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Violence against the person |7,213 |8,275
Sexual offences |1,882 |1,888
Burglary |9,441 |10,624
Robbery |3,067 |2,800
Theft and handling |8,314 |10,098
Fraud and forgery |1,573 |1,794
Drugs offences |2,890 |3,091
Other offences |11,879 |15,605
Offence not recorded |3,445 |4,131
All offences |49,704 |58,306
<1> Excluding fine defaulters.
Child Prostitutes (Bosnia)
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce measures to make it a criminal offence for citizens of the United Kingdom to make use of child prostitutes in Bosnia; and if he will make a statement. [17695]
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 3 April 1995]: The Government condemn the sexual exploitation and abuse of children wherever it occurs. There would, however, be considerable practical difficulties in implementing any system of extended jurisdiction over such offences.
British Transport Police
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussion his department has had with the Department of Transport on extending the powers and jurisdiction of the British Transport police and if he will make a statement. [17470]
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 3 April 1995]: The Transport Police (Jurisdiction) Act 1994 confines the jurisdiction of the British Transport police to railway property or to railway matters. During the passage of the legislation, an undertaking was given that officials from the Department of Transport and the Home Office would look again at this issue. This is being pursued.
Irish Prisoners
Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what obstacles there are preventing Irish nationals, convicted to serve custodial sentences in United Kingdom prisons, from being transferred to prisons in the Irish Republic; how many such prisoners there are in Her Majesty's prisons in Britain; how many have been transferred to prisons in the Irish Republic since 1 September 1994; and if he will make a statement. [17662]
Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 3 April 1995]: There are 703 prisoners currently imprisoned in England and Wales who gave their nationality on reception into prison as Irish. The transfer of prisoners between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland is not possible. The United Kingdom ratified the Council of Europe convention on the transfer of sentenced persons in 1985. The Republic of Ireland is a signatory to the convention but has yet to ratify it.
Deregulation
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that his ministerial management information system for establishing objectives for his Department includes deregulation objectives (a) for him and (b) for each of the Ministers within his Department. [15566]
Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 27 March 1995]: I am the Minister responsible for deregulation in the Home Office, and as such ensure that progress is maintained on deregulation. In the last 12 months, changes have been made to legislation affecting shopping hours, liquor licensing, charities, and betting and gaming and further changes are planned.
Against this background, the Department's planning systems give proper prominence to our deregulation programme.
Column 1021
Turkish Asylum Applicants
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the total numbers of asylum applications received from Turkish nationals for each of the last 24 months; and what was the outcome of these applications. [18306]
Mr. Nicholas Baker: The available information on asylum applications by Turkish nationals and on decisions made, for the last 24 months, is given in the table.
Decisions on applications for asylum received from nationals of Turkey in
the United Kingdom, excluding dependants,
March 1993 to February 1995
number of principal applicants
|Total |Granted |Granted
|Applications<2>|decisions |asylum |ELR<4> |Refused<5>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1993
March |130 |255 |60 |150 |45
April |105 |210 |50 |115 |45
May |150 |130 |15 |55 |60
June |125 |160 |30 |65 |60
July |125 |100 |20 |35 |45
August |85 |70 |15 |5 |55
September |115 |80 |10 |* |70
October |105 |60 |5 |5 |50
November |115 |105 |25 |15 |65
December |135 |105 |10 |0 |95
1994
January |175 |95 |15 |15 |65
February |120 |135 |25 |10 |95
March |160 |95 |15 |5 |75
April |205 |100 |5 |* |95
May |190 |90 |5 |* |85
June |185 |90 |5 |* |85
July |155 |95 |10 |* |85
August |165 |115 |5 |* |110
September |165 |80 |5 |5 |70
October |220 |90 |5 |10 |75
November |180 |95 |0 |* |95
December |125 |70 |5 |* |65
1995
January |100 |110 |5 |5 |100
February |165 |80 |* |0 |80
<1> Provisional figures rounded to the nearest 5, with * = 1 or 2.
<2> Figures exclude information on applications made overseas.
<3> Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same month.
<4> Usually granted for a year in the first instance, subject then to further review.
<5> Refusals include those made after full consideration, refusals under para 180F for failure to provide
evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period, and refusals on the grounds that the applicant
had arrived from a safe third country.
<6> The Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993 came into force on 26 July 1993.
Passport Requirements (Ireland)
Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to review the common travel area between the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic with a view to requiring those travelling between both countries to show their passports; and if he will make a statement. [18423]
Mr. Nicholas Baker: I have no plans to review the operation of the common travel area between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
Column 1022
Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to require those travelling between Britain and Northern Ireland to show their passports; and if he will make a statement. [18424]
Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Foreign Minister of the Irish Republic about the effects on the future of the common travel area between the United Kingdom and the Republic following the Republic signing the Schengen agreement; and if he will make a statement. [18422]
Mr. Nicholas Baker: None. The Republic of Ireland is not a signatory to the Schengen agreement.
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