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Irish Sea Science
Mr. Congdon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further progress has been made by the Irish sea science co-ordinator in reviewing Irish sea science. [35987]
Mr. Clappison: The co-ordinator, a joint UK-Irish appointment, has submitted his final report to the UK and Irish Governments as the "Third Report of the Irish Sea Science Co-ordinator". Building on the two previous reports, it proposes a set of studies to fill important gaps in scientific knowledge of the area and to form the basis of a structured and integrated programme to enhance abilities to protect the Irish sea and manage its resources. Further discussions between sponsoring Departments are proceeding to consider implications for research requirements and future marine policies. I am placing copies in the Library of the House today.
Special Areas of Conservation
Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 20 June, Official Report , columns 140 43 , if he will list for each proposed special area of conservation (a) the relevant parliamentary constituency and (b) the relevant European parliamentary constituency. [35880]
Mr. Clappison: The relevant constituencies for the candidate special areas of conservation submitted to the European Commission are as follows:
|European
Proposed special |Parliamentary |parliamentary
area
of conservation |constituency |constituency
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amat Woods |Caithness and Sutherland |Highlands and Islands
Ardmeanach |Argyll and Bute |Highlands and Islands
Ballynahone Bog |East Londonderry |Northern Ireland
Barry Links |Angus East |Scotland North East
Beer Quarry and Caves |Honiton |Dorset and East Devon
Benacre to Easton Bavents Lagoons |Waveney |Suffolk and South West Norfolk
Berwyn |Meirionydd Nant Conwy Montgomery, Clwyd South West |(1) Mid and West Wales
|(2) North Wales
Birklands and Bilhaugh |Sherwood |Nottinghamshire North and Chesterfield
Black Bog |Mid-Ulster |Northern Ireland
Black Wood of Rannoch |Tayside North |Scotland North East
Blawhorn Moss |Livingston |Lothians
Blean Complex |Canterbury |Kent East
Borrowdale Woodland |Workington, Penrith |Cumbria and
Complex |and the Border |Lancashire North
Braehead Moss |Clydesdale |South Scotland
Bredon Hill |Worcestershire South |Worcestershire and South Warwickshire
Cilfach Burry: Twyni/Burry Inlet: Dunes |Gower and Carmarthen |Mid and West Wales
Cannock Extension |Aldridge Brownhills, |Birmingham West,
Canal |Cannock and |Staffordshire East and
|Burntwood, |Derby, Staffordshire
|Staffordshire South |West and Congleton
Carrine Common |Truro |Cornwall and West Plymouth
Castle Eden Dene |Easington |Durham
Castle Hill |Lewes |East Sussex and Kent South
Chilmark Quarries |Westbury |Wiltshire North and Bath
Chilterns Beechwoods |Wycombe, Aylesbury, Henley |Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire East
Cockinhead Moss |Cunninghame North |Strathclyde West
Coed y Cerrig |Monmouth |South Wales East
Coedydd a Cheunant, Rheidol/Rheidol Woods |Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire North |Mid and West Wales
Coedydd Derw, Meirion/Merionnyd Woods |Meririonydd Nant Conwy |Mid and West Wales
Coleg Glynllifon |Caernarfon |North Wales
Cors Caron |Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire North |Mid and West Wales
Cors Fochno |Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire North |Mid and West Wales
Corsydd Mon/Angelsea Fens |Ynys Mon |North Wales
Cothill Fen |Oxford West and Abingdon |Hampshire North and Oxford
Craigengar |Linlithgow |Lothians
Cranley Moss |Clydesdale |South Scotland
Creag nan Gamhainn |Moray |Highlands and Islands
Cors Crymlyn/Crymlyn Bog |Swansea West |South Wales West
Cuileagh Mountain |Fermanagh and South Tyrone |Northern Ireland
Culbin Bar |Moray |Highlands and Islands
Culm Grasslands |Devon West and Torridge |Devon
Cwm Cadlan |Cynon Valley |South Wales Central
Derryleckagh |South Down |Northern Ireland
Drostre Bank |Brecon and Radnor |Mid and West Wales
East Hampshire Hangers |East Hampshire |South Downs West
Eastern Mournes |South Down |Northern Ireland
Ebernoe Common |Chichester |South Downs West
Eilean na Muice Duibhe |Argyll and Bute |Highlands and Islands
Elenydd |Montgomery |Mid and West Wales
Eryri/Snowdonia |Conwy |North Wales
Fairy Water Bogs |Mid-Ulster |Northern Ireland
Fenland |Cambridgeshire South, East Huntingdon |Cambridgeshire
Feur Lochain |Argyll and Bute |Highlands and Islands
Flow of Dergoals |Galloway and Upper Nithdsale |South Scotland
Gang Mine |West Derbyshire |Peak District
Garron Plateau |East Antrim/North Antrim |Northern Ireland
Garry Bog |North Antrim |Northern Ireland
Garry na Criche |Argyll and Bute |Highlands and Islands
Glannau Mon: Cors heli/ Angelesa Coast: Saltmarsh |Ynys Mon |North Wales
Glannau Mon: Twyni/ Anglsea Coast: Dunes |Ynys Mon |North Wales
Glanau Ynys Gybi/Holy Island Coast |Ynys Mon |North Wales
Glen Coe |Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber |Highlands and Islands
Godrevy Head to St. Agnes |St. Ives, Falmouth and Cambourne, Truro |Cornwall and West Plymouth
Pen Y Gosgarth/ Great Orme's Head |Conwy |North Wales
Great Yews |Salisbury |Itchen Test and Avon
Helvellyn and Fairfield |Penrith and the Border, Workington |Cumbria and Lancashire North
Hascosay |Orkney and Shetland |Highlands and Islands
Hill of Towanreef |(1) Banff and Buchan |(1) Scotland North East
|(2) Moray |(2) Highlands and Islands
Holme Moor and Clean Moor |Taunton |Somerset and North Devon
Hoy |Orkney and Shetland |Highlands and Islands
Inchnadamph |Caithness and Sutherland |Highlands and Islands
Invernaver |Caithness and Sutherland |Highlands and Islands
Isle of Wight Downs |Isle of Wight |Wight and Hampshire South
Keen of Hamar |Orkney and Shetland |Highlands and Islands
Cynffig/Kenfig |Bridgend |South Wales West
Kilhern Moss |Galloway and Upper Nithsdale |South Scotland
Kingley Vale |Chichester |South Downs West
Kirkcowan Flow |Galloway and Upper Nithsdale |South Scotland
Lewes Downs |Lewes |East Sussex and Kent South
Clogwyni Calenfaen De-Orllewin Cymru/ |Pembroke and Gower |(1) Mid and West Wales
Limestone seacliffs of South West Wales |(2)South Wales West
Lismore Lochs |Argyll and Bute |Highlands and Islands
Llyn Syfaddan/Llangorse Lake |Brecon and Radnor |Mid and West Wales
Loch Watten |Caithness and Sutherland |Highlands and Islands
Lydden and Temple Ewell Downs |Dover |Kent East
Magheraveely Marl Loughs |Fermanagh and South Tyrone |Northern Ireland
Merrick Kells |(1) Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (2) Galloway and Upper Nithsdale |(1) South Scotland (2) South Scotland
Minsmere to Walberswick Heaths and Marshes |Suffolk Coastal |Suffolk and South West Norfolk
Mochrum Lochs |Galloway and Upper Nithsdale |South Scotland
Monadh Mor |Ross, Cromarty and Skye |Highlands and Islands
Monawilkin |Fermanagh and South Tyrone |Northern Ireland
Moniack Gorge |Ross, Cromarty and Skye |Highlands and Islands
Morrone Birkwood |Kincardine and Deesside |Scotland North East
Mound Alderwoods |Caithness and Sutherland |Highlands and Islands
Newham Fen |Berwick upon Tweed |Northumbria
Norfolk Valley Fens |Norfolk North West, Norfolk South West and Mid Norfolk |Norfolk
North Northumberland Dunes |Berwick upon Tweed |Northumbria
North Pennines Dales Meadows |Richmond, Skipton |Northumbria, Cumbria
|and Ripon, Hexham, |and Lancashire North,
|Durham North West, |Durham, Cleveland
|Bishop Auckland, |and Richmond, North
|Penrith and the |Yorkshire
|Border, Westmorland
|and Lonsdale
Oak Mere |Eddisbury |Cheshire West and Wirral
Oldshoremore and Sandwood |Caithness and Sutherland |Highlands and Islands
Oxford Meadows |Oxford West and Abingdon |Hampshire North and Oxford
Pasturefields Salt Marsh |Stafford |Staffordshire West and Congleton
Safleodd Ystlumod, Penfro/Pembrokeshire bat sites |Pembrokeshire |Mid and West Wales
Pettigoe Plateau |Fermanagh and South Tyrone |Northern Ireland
Pewsey Downs |Devizes |Wiltshire North and Bath
Pitmaduthy Moss |Ross, Cromarty and Skye |Highlands and Islands
Prescombe Down |Salisbury |Itchen Test and Avon
Preseli |Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire North |Mid and West Wales
Queendown Warren |Mid Kent |Kent West
Reidside Moss |Banff and Buchan |Scotland North East
Rex Graham Reserve |Bury St. Edmunds |Suffolk and South West Norfolk
Rhinog |Meirionydd Nant Conwy |Mid and West Wales
Rhos Goch |Brecon and Radnor |Mid and West Wales
Rhos Llawr-cwrt |Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire North |Mid and West Wales
Rooksmoor |Dorset North |Dorset and East Devon
Rum |Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber |Highlands and Islands
Slieve Beagh |Fermanagh and South Tyrone |Northern Ireland
TY Ddewi/St. Davids |Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire North |Mid and West Wales
Staverton Park and the Thicks, Wantisden |Suffolk Coastal |Suffolk and South West Norfolk
Strath |Ross, Cromarty and Skye |Highlands and Islands
Stromness Heaths and Coast |Orkney and Shetland |Highlands and Islands
Safleodd Ystlumod Tanat ac Efyrnwy/ |Montgomery, Clywd |(1)Mid and West
Tanat and Vyrnwy Bat Sites |South West |Wales (2) North Wales
Taynish Woods
Teal Lough |Mid-Ulster |Northern Ireland
The Mens |Chichester |South Downs West
The New Forest |New Forest |Itchen Test and Avon
The Stiperstones and the Hollies |Ludlow |Herefordshire and Shropshire
Thorne Moor |Doncaster North and Boothferry |Yorkshire South and Humberside
Thrislington |Sedgefield |Durham
Tingon |Orkney and Shetland |Highlands and Islands
Tregonning Hill |Cornwall South East |Cornwall and West Plymouth
Trotternish Ridge |Ross, Cromarty and Skye |Highlands and Islands
Tulach Hill and Glen Fender Meadows |Tayside North |Scotland North East
Tyne and Allen River Gravels |Hexham |Northumbria
Upper Lough Earne |Fermanagh and South Tyrone |Northern Irleand
Wasdale Screes |Copeland |Cumbria and Lancashire North
West Midland Mosses |Eddisbury, Stafford, Crewe and Nantwich, North Shropshire |Cheshire West and Wirral, Staffordshire West and Congleton, Herefordshire and Shropshire
Whitlaw and Branxholme |Tweeddale, Etterick and Lauderdale |South Scotland
Windsor Forest and Great Park |Windsor and Maidenhead, Surrey North West, Berkshire East |Thames Valley, Surrey
Wye and Crundale Downs |Ashford |Kent East
Urban Development Areas
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many permanent jobs have been created in each urban development area net of losses and relocations since the inception of each urban development corporation. [36123]
Sir Paul Beresford: Reliable data on net employment in urban development areas are not available. Gross jobs created by each urban development corporation up to 31 March are as follows:
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|Number
--------------------------------------
London Docklands |63,025
Merseyside |14,458
Teesside |7,682
Black Country |13,357
Trafford Park |16,197
Tyne & Wear |19,649
Bristol |3,830
Sheffield |11,328
Central Manchester |4,909
Leeds |9,066
Birmingham Heartlands |1,773
Plymouth |0
Total |165,274
Skin Disease
Mr. Congdon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment what plans his Department has to examine skin disease in the context of health and safety at work. [35969]
Sir Paul Beresford: Since 1993, the Health and Safety Executive--HSE --has been funding a surveillance scheme for occupational skin disease--EPI -DERM--to determine the major causes of work related skin disorders and to identify the occupations most at risk. The initial findings confirm that occupational dermatitis is still the most widespread form of work related skin disease.
The HSE is therefore to focus on reducing the incidence of occupational dermatitis as part of its "Good Health is Good Business Campaign". This phase of the campaign, which will be launched in the spring next year, aims to raise awareness of the causes of work-related dermatitis and the steps employers need to take to prevent it.
The HSE is also acting to reduce the harm that can be caused by exposure to ultra-violet light at work. It has published guidance for outdoor workers alerting them to the dangers of over-exposure to the sun and advising them of the precautions that they should take to protect their skin.
Planning Inspectorate Agency
Mr. Patrick Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what performance targets he has set for the Planning Inspectorate agency for the financial year 1995 96. [36397]
Sir Paul Beresford: The key objectives for the agency in 1995 96 continue to be to preserve the impartiality and quality of the inspectorate's work while seeking further to improve efficiency. I have set the following key targets for the agency's work in England: Timeliness
(a) 80 per cent of planning appeals by written representations to be decided within 18 weeks;
(b) to provide an Inspector for local plan inquiries on request within 26 weeks of the end of the objection period;
Financial:
(a) unit costs of planning appeals decided by written representations not to exceed £690;
(b) recover 90 per cent. of receipts due within 8 weeks of invoice date;
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Efficiency(a) generate a 3 per cent. efficiency improvement in the use of running costs compared with 1994 95;
Quality:
(a) the number of justified complaints about the way inspectors have carried out their duties, and the number of High Court challenges, should be less than one in every one hundred decisions issued;
(b) the number of justified complaints about the way the Inspectorate have handled the procedural aspects of casework should be less than one every hundred new cases received;
Volume:
to determine 14,900 appeals, subject to intake not declining.
Latent Defects Liability and BUILD Insurance
Mr. Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what responses he has received to his Department's consultation document on latent defects liability and BUILD insurance. [36398]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: The Department received a total of 109 responses to the consultation paper on latent defects liability and BUILD insurance which it published on 12 April. The paper put forward proposals for legislation resulting from recommendations in the report by Sir Michael Latham, "Constructing the Team". The responses will be taken into account in making decisions on any future legislation.
A list of the 99 non-confidential responses received has been placed in the Library of the House, together with a summary. Copies of individual responses and a report on the response may be obtained through the Library.
An analysis of responses to a second consultation document on fair construction contracts is now being prepared. A total of 135 responses have been received. A list of non-confidential responses received together with a summary will be available from the Library shortly.
Town Centres
Mr. Robert Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to issue for consultation his revision of planning policy guidance note 6 on town centres and retail developments; and if he will make a statement. [36399]
Mr. Gummer: Following the strong support given by the Environment Committee for the Government's policy on town centres and retail developments, I undertook to revise or planning policy guidance, PPG6, to clarify various issues. I have today issued for consultation revised guidance on this subject. Comments on the revised draft PPG6 are invited by 2 October 1995. I have arranged for copies of the draft revised PPG6 to be placed in the Library of the House. The Government are strongly committed to urban regeneration and many of its policies are directed to this end. As part of this, the guidance reflects the Government's determination to revitalise our town centres by encouraging developers to invest in town centres. This applies not only to shopping developments, but to
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other uses such as offices and other businesses, entertainment, leisure, and higher education. We are determined that town centres should be attractive and competitive locations for investment. The draft guidance encourages local planning authorities, consulting business interests and the wider community, to draw up strategies for retail developments in their local development plans. This should provide greater certainty for investors. The draft advocates the sequential approach, whereby retail developments should look first to town centres, next edge-of-centre sites and only then out-of-centre sites, if not suitable sites are available. It advises local planning authorities to plan positively and identify suitable sites in their local plans. This does not mean a complete ban on out-of-centre shopping developments, but such proposals will continue to need to be assessed against the tests of impact on existing centres, accessibility by a choice of means of transport and impact on overall car travel.The main changes to this guidance are:
(i) on planning for town centres and retailing:
emphasis on a plan-led approach to promoting development in town centres, both through policies and the identification of locations and sites for development;
emphasis on the sequential approach to selecting sites for development, whether for food or comparison shopping; and
support for local and neighbourhood centres.
(ii) on town centres:
promotion of mixed-use development and retention of key town centre uses, including cinemas;
emphasis on the importance of a coherent town centre parking strategy in maintaining urban vitality, through a combination of location, management and pricing or parking for different user groups--it clarifies the relationship between PPG6 and PPG13; promotion of town centre management to develop clear standards of service and improve quality for town centre users; and
promotion of good urban design, including attractive and secure car parks.
(iii) on assessment of retail proposals:
clarifying the three key tests for assessing retail developments: impact on vitality and viability of town centres; accessibility by a choice of means of transport; and impact on overall travel and car use;
how to access out-of-centre developments; and, finally
how certain new types of retail developments should be assessed.
Development Quality
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what role planning conditions can play in improving the quality of development; and if he will make a statement. [36401]
Mr. Gummer: The Government consider that the sensitive use of conditions can improve development control and enhance public confidence in the planning system. If used properly, planning conditions can play a valuable role in enhancing the quality of development.
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Advice to this effect is contained in Department of the Environment circular 11/95--Welsh Office 35/95--which was published today. The circular updates policy advice and guidance on the use of planning conditions. Among other things, the circular reflects guidance in planning policy guidance notes on the use of conditions in respect of transport, retail development, contaminated land, noise, and affordable housing. The circular also gives additional advice on the use of conditions in respect of design and landscape, access for disabled people, nature conservation and endangered species; and contains many more examples of "model" conditions.Local Government Reorganisation
(Staff Compensation)
Mr. David Nicholson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he will put in place to compensate staff who suffer a reduction in salary as a result of local government reorganisation. [36402]
Sir Paul Beresford: We are today launching a consultation on draft regulations which will give effect to the scheme for detriment compensation which my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Environment announced on 30 March, Official Report, column 733. The scheme provides for compensation of staff who suffer a drop in salary as a result of local government reorganisation. Such staff will, in effect, have their salary maintained for a transitional three-year period if they work in a reorganised authority and are appointed to a job at a lower salary with a relevant authority during the prescribed period. By avoiding the need for redundancy payments and encouraging councils to retrain existing employees in new jobs, the scheme should benefit staff, employers, and the taxpayer. There will be a period of eight weeks in which local authorities, local authority associations and other interested parties will be able to make comments on these draft regulations.
Public Income and Expenditure, London
Mr. Tracey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to publish statistics quantifying public income and expenditure in London. [36403]
Mr. Gummer: I propose to publish "London: Facts and Figures 1995", later this month. It will provide, in a single source, data on a wide range of London issues and activities.
During the preparation of this publication, we asked our consultants to examine data on public spending and revenues to see if it is possible to calculate the position for London. More work needs to be done before a firm conclusion can be reached and, through the Government office for London, I will be issuing a consultation paper shortly on the subject.
Regional Boundaries
Mr. Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 26 June, Official Report , columns 541 42, if he has completed his consideration of the recommendations of the Environment Agency advisory committee on regional boundaries. [36549]
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Mr. Gummer: I have today confirmed the Government's acceptance of the regional boundaries of the Environment Agency proposed by the Environment Agency advisory committee, modified so that the region covered by the Welsh regional environment protection advisory committee corresponds to Wales alone. These proposals build on the successful river catchment based approach developed by the National Rivers Authority, while ensuring integration of pollution control functions in a way which maximises continuity and scope for close and responsive relationships at a local level. For those who deal with the agency, it will ensure the full benefits of bringing together the different environmental regulators while enabling continuation of the best features of existing arrangements. The agency will keep its boundaries under review, so that adjustments can be made in the light of experience if necessary.
Bristol Development Corporation
Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Bristol development corporation will be wound up; and if he will make a statement. [36550]
Mr. Curry: Statutory orders will be laid before Parliament later this year to effect the wind-up and dissolution of Bristol development corporation. Subject to parliamentary approval, the corporation will cease to act from 1 January 1996, except for the purpose of preparing its final accounts and report and winding up its affairs. The corporation will be dissolved on 1 April 1996. Urban development corporations were set up, with finite lifetimes, to regenerate their designated areas. Since designation on 30 June 1988, Bristol development corporation has provided major infrastructure investment which has already revitalised much of east Bristol.
The corporation expects its activities to lead, in total, to the reclamation of 81 hectares of land, the creation of 450,000 sq m of commercial floorspace and 1,220 housing units, the creation of 16,500 permanent jobs and the attraction of £650 million of private sector investment. Bristol will continue to reap the benefits of the corporation's activities well into the new millennium.
Countryside Commission Chairman
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce the appointment of a new chairman of the Countryside Commission. [36601]
Mr. Gummer: Selection of a new chairman of the Countryside Commission has been made by following a new process, involving advertisement of the post in the national press and the employment of executive search consultants. More than 120 candidates were produced by these methods, form whom we are able, with the advice and assistance of the consultants, to identify a shortlist of names of a high standard meriting serious consideration. Mr. Richard Simmonds clearly emerged from that shortlist as the best candidate and I am pleased to announce his appointment as the new chairman of the Countryside Commission to take effect from 1 October.
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Richard Simmonds has all the qualities which are needed for this post: in particular, he has wide and relevant experience, a considerable knowledge of countryside matters, leadership skill and the clear vision and sense of purpose required. He will make an excellent chairman.2 Marsham Street
Mr. Thomason: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about progress on the 2 Marsham street development. [36659]
Mr. Gummer: The dreadful towers of the DOE's headquarters building have set a poor example to the nation. We now have a welcome opportunity to put right past mistakes and I am determined that the redevelopment of this site will set a better standard.
We need a development which will underpin the continuing regeneration of this part of Westminster by creating a welcoming environment, by attracting more life and providing for a mixture of uses. We also need to show how new and viable city centre redevelopment can complement its neighbourhood and fit in more closely with the existing urban fabric.
I have decided that these aims can best be secured through an open competition in which designers and architects will be invited to devise a new urban design framework for this site, which will make the most of the opportunity we now have. This competition will throw the field open to fresh and creative ideas for an urban design which will be attractive to those who live or work in the area. The competition will concentrate initially on urban design rather that the architecture of individual buildings. We need a broad and flexible masterplan, not a detailed blueprint. There are several reasons for this: Many aspects of urban design on a specific site can be considered independently of detailed decisions about the use of individual buildings. This is currently often overlooked in developments on this scale; The Government are still considering whether it wishes to occupy part of the redevelopment, and if so how much; I want to keep the option of having the individual buildings which make up the redevelopment designed by different architects within the agreed urban design framework.
Concentrating on urban issues will have an important additional advantage. Since detailed architectural issues will not be considered at this stage, designers will be able to prepare competition entries more easily and at less expense. I hope that this will make it easier for smaller design practices to compete with the giants, that many young architects, from the UK and abroad, will therefore be encouraged to enter. The best entries to the competition will be exhibited to the public next year.
The next step will be to prepare the brief for this competition. This we shall do with the help of professional advisers and in consultation with the local community. In particular, our advisers will be asked to prepare an urban context study of the area which will form part of the brief for the competition. I will announce further details about this shortly.
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HOME DEPARTMENT
Police (Civilian Support Staff)
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the ratio of police officers to civilian support staff in (a) each police force in England and i(b) overall in England. [34302]
Mr. Maclean: The ratio of police officers to civilian support staff in each police force in England as at 31 March 1995 is set out in the table. Overall in England the ratio is 2.2:1.
Ratio of police officers to
civilians support staff<1> in
each police
force in England as at 31
March 1995
Force |Ratio
-------------------------------
Avon and Somerset |2.3:1
Bedfordshire |2.2:1
Cambridgeshire |2.6:1
Cheshire |3.0:1
Cleveland |2.6:1
Cumbria |2.5:1
Derbyshire |2.7:1
Devon and Cornwall |2.3:1
Dorset |2.0:1
Durham |2.7:1
Essex |2.2:1
Gloucestershire |2.8:1
Greater Manchester |2.4:1
Hampshire |2.5:1
Hertfordshire |2.2:1
Humberside |3.1:1
Kent |2.6:1
Lancashire |2.6:1
Leicestershire |2.4:1
Lincolnshire |2.3:1
Merseyside |2.7:1
Norfolk |2.6:1
Northamptonshire |2.4:1
Northumbria |2.6:1
North Yorkshire |2.4:1
Nottinghamshire |2.4:1
South Yorkshire |2.5:1
Staffordshire |2.8:1
Suffolk |2.2:1
Surrey |2.1:1
Sussex |2.5:1
Thames Valley |2.1:1
Warwickshire |2.6:1
West Mercia |2.0:1
West Midlands |2.5:1
West Yorkshire |2.4:1
Wiltshire |2.6:1
City of London |2.6:1
Metropolitan |1.7:1
Overall in England |2.2:1
Child Care Facilities
Ms Armstrong: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spends on (a) child care provision for under-fives and (b) out-of-school provision for the over-fives, both directly, excluding provision for departmental staff, and indirectly through resources made available to local authorities and other organisations; what form of provision is provided; and how many full-time and part-time places are provided. [35554]
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Mr. Howard: The information is not available precisely in the form requested. However, I can advise the hon. Member that the following kinds of provision are funded:
(i) Ethnic minority grant (Wales)--there is a project in Wales which meets the costs of providing child care facilities for children of people attending training courses. For 1995-96, this amounts to £5,798.
(ii) Section 11 grant--the costs of providing child care facilities are met in 12 projects. Some 14.75 posts are funded at an estimated cost of £77,000.
(iii) Facilities for children in prisons--some creche and play scheme facilities exist in prisons for the benefit of children accompanying visitors. These are normally funded by the Governor's operational budget, but precise details of how much is spent are not held centrally and to compile them would incur disproportionate costs.
Civil Servants
Ms Armstrong: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each civil service grade in his Department the number of (a) male and (b) female (i) full-time and (ii) part-time employees. [35460]
Mr. Howard: The numbers of permanent industrial and non-industrial staff on 1 April 1995 on a head count basis for the main Home Office and its agencies were as follows. Figures for the Prison Service shown are as from 17 July 1995.
(a) Male (b) Female
|(i) |(ii) |(i) |(ii)
|Full-time|Part-time|Full-time|Part-time
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Home Office Main
(includes IND) |4,605 |34 |3,739 |705
UKPA |538 |10 |825 |150
FSS |339 |0 |249 |116
FSC |109 |2 |74 |7
Prison Service |31,715 |280 |6477 |1,014
Total |37,306 |326 |11,364 |1,992
(b) Female
(i) Full-time (ii) Part-time (i) Full-time (ii) Part-time Home Office Main (includes IND) 4,605 34 3,739 705
UKPA 538 10 825 150
FSS 339 0 249 116
FSC 109 2 74 7
Prison Service 31,715 280 6477 1,014
Total 37,306 326 11,364 1,992
The breakdown by grade of non-industrial staff was as follows:
Prison service staff: Administrative and other staff shown by grade
equivalent. Prison service grades shown separately
Grade level (a) Male (b) Female
equivalents
|(i) Full-time |(ii) Part-time|(i) Full-time |(ii) Part-time
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Administrative grades
Grade 1 |0 |0 |0 |0
Grade 2<1> |0 |0 |0 |0
Grade 3<1> |0 |0 |0 |0
Grade 4 |9 |0 |2 |0
Grade 5 |53 |0 |9 |8
Grade 6 |98 |5 |14 |0
Grade 7 |132 |86 |17 |4
Senior Executive Officer |332 |97 |71 |25
Highest Executive Officer |373 |1 |244 |15
Executive Officer |1,413 |6 |885 |56
Administrative Officer |529 |15 |1,512 |329
Administrative Assistant |1,672 |38 |853 |457
Total |4,611 |248 |3,536 |886
Prison service grades
Gov 1 |45 |0 |2 |0
Gov 2 |72 |0 |5 |0
Gov 3 |111 |0 |16 |0
Gov 4 |282 |0 |41 |0
Gov 5 |395 |0 |23 |0
Gov 5 (APS) |25 |0 |10 |0
Principal Officer |1,265 |0 |46 |0
Principal Officer (APS) |29 |1 |22 |0
Senior Officer |3,369 |0 |169 |1
Prison Officer |17,320 |20 |2,016 |22
Prison Aux |1,499 |3 |354 |12
Total |24,412 |24 |2,703 |35
Grand total |29,023 |272 |6,241 |921
<1> Posts at these levels are centrally managed and the staff concerned are included within the
figures for Home Office staff.
Home Office staff by grade equivalents (including agencies other
than the prison service
(a) Male (b) Female
Grade level |(i) |(ii) |(i) |(ii)
equivalents |Full-time |Part-time |Full-time |Part-time
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grade 1 |1 |0 |0 |0
Grade 2 |7 |0 |0 |0
Grade 3 |24 |0 |4 |0
Grade 4 |7 |0 |0 |0
Grade 5 |61 |2 |10 |5
Grade 6 |76 |0 |9 |4
Grade 7 |354 |0 |106 |20
Senior Executive
Officer |475 |3 |123 |31
Higher Executive
Officer |948 |2 |413 |91
Executive Officer |2,081 |13 |1,487 |227
Administrative
Officer |786 |14 |1,565 |302
Administrative
Assistant |675 |11 |1,171 |295
Total |5,495 |45 |4,888 |974
Prisoners (Repatriation)
Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans there are for arranging to transfer prisoners held in the United Kingdom, who are Irish citizens, to serve out their sentences in the Irish Republic under the convention on the transfer of sentenced persons. [35585]
Miss Widdecombe: The United Kingdom ratified the Council of Europe convention on the transfer of sentenced persons in 1985. The Republic of Ireland has not ratified the convention and repatriation of prisoners between the two jurisdictions is not therefore possible.
Metropolitan Police (Uniforms)
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the current costs of police uniforms in the Metropolis; how many officers are involved; and if he will make a statement. [33727]
Mr. Maclean: I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the current cost of a standard police uniform is £500 plus VAT. All 27,909 officers in
Column 1437
the Metropolitan police are issued with a uniform: 23,900 are assigned to uniformed duties.Wrongful Convictions
Mr. Maclennan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the number of personnel engaged in work relating to allegations of wrongful
conviction. [35725]
Mr. Nicholas Baker: The relevant section of the Department deals with allegations of wrongful conviction and with other casework elated to miscarriages of justice. Staffing levels are kept under review in the light of work load, which may fluctuate. There are currently 20 staff engaged on this work and the number is expected shortly to rise to 23.
Asylum Seekers
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 26 June, Official Report, column 491, how many of those applying for asylum upon arrival at Waterloo station since 1 January have subsequently withdrawn their asylum applications and made a voluntary departure from the United Kingdom. [35757]
Mr. Nicholas Baker: Of the 173 principal applications for asylum received from people arriving at Waterloo station during the period 1 January to 19 June 1995, as at 17 July six had withdrawn their applications and departed from the United Kingdom prior to a decision being made.
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 4 July, Official Report, columns 284 86, how many of those asylum seekers detained under Immigration Act powers and held in criminal prisons are held in such accommodation because their current behaviour or past history indicates that they require a greater level of control or medical observation than can be provided in immigration service detention accommodation. [35758]
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