House of Commons Hansard Debates for 27 Apr 1995

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Written Answers to Questions

Thursday 27 April 1995

PRIME MINISTER

Turkey

8. Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit Turkey to discuss the situation of Kurdish people. [19645]

The Prime Minister: I have no plans at present to visit Turkey.

Local Education Authorities

Mr. Fisher: To ask the Prime Minister if he will identify the evidence in Social Trends for his figures on the ratio of local education authority administrators to teachers in schools. [21570]

The Prime Minister: The source is more appropriate and relevant for this issue than Social Trends . The figures are published by the Local Government Management Board, revealing that there are more than two non- teaching staff for every three teachers.

The figures show that in June 1994 local education authorities in England employed 376,665 full-time equivalent teachers and lecturers and 316,244 full-time equivalent other manual and non-manual staff involved in education.

This makes a ratio of 2.5 non-teaching staff to three teachers.

Lockerbie

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Linlithgow from the Lord President of the Council, 3 April 1995, Official Report, column 1388 , whether it is Her Majesty's Government's policy to eschew further inquiry into the Lockerbie crime. [21402]

The Prime Minister: No. The criminal investigation into the Lockerbie bombing remains open.

Regency Act 1937

Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Prime Minister what is the parliamentary timetable for consideration of the proposal of the Law Commission to amend section 2(2) of the Regency Act 1937; what consultations have been held with the governments of other countries of which Her Majesty the Queen is head of state; and if he will make a statement. [20837]

The Prime Minister [holding answer 25 April 1995]: The Statute Law (Repeals) Bill received its Second Reading in the House of Lords on 20 April and has been referred to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills in accordance with the usual procedure for consolidation Bills.

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No consultations have been held with the Governments of other countries of which Her Majesty the Queen is head of state.

Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the implications of amending the Regency Act 1937 in relation to the provisions of the Statute of Westminster Act 1931. [20854]

The Prime Minister [holding answer 25 April 1995]: The proposed repeal of the words "and to the Government of India" in section 2(2) of the Regency Act 1937 has no implications in relation to the Statue of Westminster 1931. The reference to the Government of India in section 2(2) of the 1937 Act is there because India did not fall within the term "dominions" as defined by section 1 of the Statute of Westminster 1931.

TRANSPORT

Public Bodies

Dr. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department are under a statutory requirement to (a) publish their advice to the Government, (b) publish an annual report and (c) lay an annual report before Parliament; and if he will list those bodies with a statutory base. [21155]

Mr. Norris: The information is as follows:

(a) None.

(b) The Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC). (c) DPTAC.

DPTAC has a statutory base.

Marine Safety Report

Mr. Neil Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider making available the final report of the National Marine Safety Steering Committee. [21575]

Mr. Norris: Copies of the report are being placed in the Libraries of both Houses and are also available from the Marine Safety Agency, Marine Information Centre, Spring Place, 105 Commercial Road, Southampton, SO15 1EG, Tel: 01703 329297.

Ferry Inspections

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will place in the Library copies of the inspection reports of the roll-on roll-off ferries inspected at the port of Folkestone over the last six months; [19386]

(2) if he will place in the Library copies of the inspection reports of roll-on roll-off ferries inspected at the port of Dover over the last six months. [19385]

Mr. Norris: The Government believe that there is no benefit to the travelling public to be gained from the release of the results of routine inspections. The technical content of the report would not be easily comprehensible and could be open to misinterpretation. Moreover, to release information only on inspections carried out in an individual port could unfairly disadvantage operators to that port.

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In cases where an inspection of a foreign registered roll-on roll-off ferry reveals serious deficiencies which lead to its detention, the details would be included in the list of ships detained in UK ports, which is published monthly by the Marine Safety Agency.

EMPLOYMENT

Public Bodies

Dr. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department are under a statutory requirement to (a) publish their advice to the Government, (b) publish an annual report and (c) lay an annual report before Parliament; and if he will list those bodies with a statutory base. [21164]

Miss Widdecombe: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the then Minister of State for Employment to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Kilfoyle) on 27 June 1994, Official Report, column 452.

ENVIRONMENT

Single Regeneration Budget

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will publish the recommendations from each Government office on bids to the single regeneration budget challenge fund in 1995 96; [20395]

(2) which bids for single regeneration budget monies in 1994 95 were recommended for acceptance by the relevant Government office but were rejected by the government. [20401]

Sir Paul Beresford: In line with established practice in relation to documents which are the subject of Cabinet Committee proceedings, there are no plans to publish the internal advice to Ministers from the directors of the Government offices for the regions on bids for support from the single regeneration budget challenge fund in 1995 96.

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how the latest criteria for judging bids to the single regeneration budget challenge fund have been influenced by the experiences of the 1995 96 bidding round. [20396]

Sir Paul Beresford: Following the success of the first round of the single regeneration budget challenge fund there have only been a few detailed, positive changes to the bidding guidance. Copies have been placed in Library of the House.

Residential Institutions (Change of Use)

Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received to change the C2 class of the 1987 Use Classes Order to allow local authorities control of change of use of residential institutions; and if he will make a statement. [20468]

Sir Paul Beresford: Since 1 January 1995, we have received two representations to change class C2--residential institutions--of the Town and Country

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Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987. Present arrangements reflect the assessment that a change from one kind of residential institution to another does not fundamentally affect the nature of the use of the site.

Leigh Mill, Wigan

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he hopes to announce the results of the public inquiry held in November in respect of Leigh Mill, Wigan; and if he will make a statement. [20726]

Sir Paul Beresford: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State issued on 8 February his decision to refuse listed building consent for the removal of a mill engine from Leigh Mill.

Butterflies

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he taking about the decline in numbers of the (a) swallowtail, (b) large blue, (c) pearl-boarded fritillary, (d) high brown fritillary and (e) marsh fritillary butterflies; and if he will make a statement. [20896]

Sir Paul Beresford: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave on 27 October 1994, Official Report, column 816 , in which I advised on the development of targets for species conservation, announced in "Biodiversity: The UK Action Plan."

English Nature is already part-funding a three-year project by Butterfly Conservation, preparing conservation plans for the scarcer butterfly species, including the five about which the hon. Member is concerned.

The Biodiversity Steering Group is also considering a number of scarce butterfly and other species as candidates for action plans to improve their conservation status. The group will report later this year.

Public Bodies

Dr. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department are under a statutory requirement to (a) publish their advice to the Government, (b) publish an annual report and (c) lay an annual report before Parliament; and if he will list those bodies with a statutory base. [21163]

Sir Paul Beresford: My Department sponsors the following advisory non-departmental public bodies which have a statutory base: Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council,

Advisory Committee on Hazardous Substances,

Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment,

Buildings Regulations Advisory Committee,

Local Government Commission for England, and

Local Government Staff Commission

The following advisory bodies have a statutory requirement to publish their advice to Government on certain matters: the Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council and the Local Government Commission for England. The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment has a statutory requirement to maintain a public register containing specific information.

None of the advisory bodies has a statutory requirement to publish an annual report or lay it before Parliament.

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Ordnance Survey

Mr. Sykes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish a new framework document for the Ordnance Survey Executive Agency. [21783]

Mr. Atkins: The framework document for Ordnance Survey has been published today and copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Parliamentary Broadcasting

Mr. Allen: To ask the Lord President of the Council, pursuant to his answer of 9 March, Official Report , columns 283-84 , when the parliamentary channel stopped being available to electors with a moveable satellite dish; when United Artists digitalised the parliamentary channel signal in order to share the transponder with wire TV; and if he will request that the Parliamentary Broadcasting Unit Ltd. consider selling decoders to electors to enable then to have access to the televised proceedings of Parliament. [19115]

Mr. Newton: Until June 1994, the parliamentary channel was distributed to cable-head ends via the Intelsat transponder, from which it was possible for viewers with large rotatable satellite dishes to pick up the signal directly rather than via a local cable service. From that date, the parliamentary channel switched its delivery mechanism to a different transponder and at the same time digitalised and compressed the signal. Although it was not the intention behind the change in the delivery system, one consequence was that those viewers with moveable satellite dishes who had previously been able to receive the signal were no longer able to do so.

At a meeting on 27 June 1994, the Select Committed on Broadcasting considered a number of complaints from viewers who were no longer able to receive the channel. While regretting the understandable disappointment of those affected, the Committee noted that the parliamentary channel was established as a cable service. Even though, quite fortuitously some people had been able, prior to the change to digitalisation, to eavesdrop on the signal via the distribution satellite, this did not seem to the Committee grounds for questioning United Artists' fulfilment of its original undertaking regarding the availability of the signal.

As a result of the savings achieved by digitalisation, the parliamentary channel is extending its service to include coverage of Committees at weekends from 7 May 1995.

Decoders which enable the digitalised signal to be unscrambled are available only to cable-head ends for cable distribution. They are manufactured specifically for that market and are not otherwise sold.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

National Lottery

Mr. Chris Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what directions he has issued under section 26(1) of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993; if he

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will make a statement on their content; and if he will place copies in the Library. [20983]

Mr. Dorrell: My predecessor issued directions under section 26(1) and (2) of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 on 20 June last year. Copies were placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Chris Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to the answer given by the Director-General of Oflot on 28 March in his letter to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury, what proportion of the £3 million cost of Oflot is recovered from (a) the national lottery distribution fund and (b) licencing fees. [20992]

Mr. Dorrell: In the 1994 95 financial year, £2,910,000 or 97 per cent. of the expenditure of the Office of the National Lottery will have been recovered from the national lottery distribution fund and £90,000 or 3 per cent. will have been from the payment of licence fees.

Mr. Chris Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage on what grounds the draft guidelines issued by the National Lottery Charities Board allowed for the exclusion of charities concerned with environmental matters. [20984]

Mr. Nicholas Baker: I have been asked to reply.

The issue of these guidelines is a matter for the board. I understand, however, that their purpose is to indicate only those areas to which the board intends to give priority. It must consider all applications from all eligible bodies, including charities concerned with environmental matters, on their merits and can not wholly exclude any. Decisions in individual cases are a matter for the board.

Mr. Chris Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the National Heritage what is the legal basis for the issuing of draft guidelines for the disbursement of funds by the National Lottery Charities Board. [20982]

Mr. Nicholas Baker: I have been asked to reply.

Section 26(1) of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 provides that the National Lottery Charities Board, inter alia, shall comply with any directions given to it by the Secretary of State as to the matters to be taken into account in determining the persons to whom, the purposes for which and the conditions subject to which it distributes any money. The board is currently being consulted on the proposed directions as required by section 26(5) of that Act. The issue by the board of guidelines to applicants on how, in the light of the directions, it intends to set about the disbursement of the funds available to it, is a matter for the board.

Rugby Football

Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what consultation he has had with the chairman of the Sports Council concerning discrimination by the rugby league authorities against the Australian rugby league in international matches; and if he will make a statement in relation to the principle of discrimination within rugby league and between rugby union and rugby league. [21327]

Mr. Sproat: I have had no such consultation. I have, of course, read the National Heritage Select Committee's report on relations between rugby union and rugby league and will be responding to the issues raised, including discrimination, in due course.

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Public Bodies

Dr. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department which are subject to (a) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (b) scrutiny by the Audit Commission (c) scrutiny by the National Audit Office, (d) statutory provisions for open government, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens charter. [20661]

Mr. Dorrell [holding answer 25 April 1995]: My Department's executive non-departmental public bodies are listed in "Public Bodies 1994". The functions and responsibilities of each body are specified in its founding legislation or charter. The information requested is as follows:

(a) Bodies subject to the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration are listed in schedule 2 to the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 as amended. This includes: Arts Council of Great Britain

British Film Institute

British Library Board

Crafts Council

English Tourist Board

Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission (English Heritage) Museums and Galleries Commission

Trustees of the National Heritage Memorial Fund

Sports Council

(b) None.

(c) All of my Department's executive NDPBs are subject to scrutiny by the Comptroller and Auditor General with the exception of the national film development fund.

(d) There are no statutory provisions on open government which apply to executive NDPBs, although all NDPBs subject to the jurisdiction of the PCA will be covered by the non-statutory code of practice on access to Government information.

(e) Performance indicators for my Department's executive NDPBs can be found in their annual reports.

(f) The principles of the citizens charter apply to all the Department's executive NDPBs.

HEALTH

Dental Services

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what funds were provided to Derbyshire family health services authority for reallocation to the other family health service authorities in Trent for dental peer group review in each year since 1991; [20674] (2) what amounts were reallocated by each family health service authority within Trent regional health authority by Derbyshire family health services authority of the funds provided for dental peer group review in each year since 1991. [20675]

Mr. Malone: Since the start of the peer review scheme in August 1991, the Department has reimbursed Derbyshire family health services authority the amounts as shown, for payment to dentists who participated in peer review. Derbyshire family health services authority has

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been nominated to make all peer review payments to dentists in the Trent region and no reallocation of funds by it to other family health services authorities is required.


1991-92 |1992-93|1993-94|1994-95|Total          

£       |£      |£      |£      |£              

------------------------------------------------

3,965   |44,736 |127,176|223,096|398,973

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action she intends to take to improve value for money in the community dental service; [20704]

(2) what out of hours emergency service she intends to require the community dental service to provide to cover shortfalls in the general dental service. [20679]

Mr. Malone: The community dental service is the responsibility of health authorities and national health service trusts. It is for these authorities to ensure that the service is run efficiently and meets the needs of people in the locality, who cannot get treatment in the general dental service. The Government have recently announced their intention to strengthen the "safety net" role of the CDS. Health authorities and trusts will be considering all aspects of this, including the provision of emergency service.

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recommendations in the Bloomfield dental report (a) have been implemented and (b) are planned for implementation. [20691]

Mr. Malone: Sir Kenneth Bloomfield was not asked to make recommendations but rather to identify the options for change. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Mr. Forman) on 5 April at cols. 1213 15, on the package of reforms which was consistent with Sir Kenneth's report.

Manchester Family Health Services Authority

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she is taking to remove the chairman and non-executive directors of Manchester family health services authority following their unlawful use of funds when promoting fundholding general practitioners. [20682]

Mr. Malone: None. The chairman and chief executive of Manchester family health services authority who were in post during the events which led to the judicial review left the authority in 1992.

Information for Patients

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will require all NHS trusts to display prominently at the accident and emergency reception and at the main reception the name and telephone number of the duty manager. [20700]

Mr. Malone: The patients charter sets out the right for patients to be given information on local health services. It is for trusts to decide locally how to make this information available.

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