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Written Answers to Questions
Friday 3 November 1995
ENVIRONMENT
Planning Policy Guidance
Mr. Chris Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the revised guidance paper No. 6 will be published. [40684]
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Sir Paul Beresford: There have now been over 500 responses to the draft revised planning policy guidance note on town centres and retail developments. These are now being considered carefully. I hope to publish the final version on PPG6 early next year.
Local Government Debt, Manchester
Mr. Thurnham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current level of debt for each local authority in Greater Manchester; what was the figure for each year since 1988 89; and what are the equivalent figures for the whole of the Greater Manchester metropolitan area. [41099]
Sir Paul Beresford: The information from 1991 to 1995 is as follows:
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Level of debt for each local authority in Greater Manchester
£ million
|At 31 March 1991|At 31 March 1992|At 31 March 1993|At 31 March 1994|At 31 March 1995
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bolton |215 |216 |146 |152 |157
Bury |117 |115 |82 |80 |87
Manchester |1,275 |1,382 |1,326 |1,277 |1,173
Oldham |274 |274 |242 |242 |258
Rochdale |248 |278 |212 |204 |209
Salford |450 |467 |403 |376 |425
Stockport |165 |156 |116 |104 |123
Tameside |248 |262 |186 |183 |188
Trafford |113 |109 |81 |82 |89
Wigan |276 |278 |250 |237 |244
Greater Manchester |3,381 |3,538 |3,045 |2,937 |2,953
1. The amounts include long-term borrowing undertaken in accordance with approvals issued under local authority capital
finance legislation, and also temporary debt (less than one-year) to cover cash flow shortages.
2. Outstanding amounts for longer term borrowing are not collected regularly. There have been three surveys-in 1991,
1993 and 1994. Figures for 1992 and 1995 have been estimated using data on flows of longer term borrowing collected
quarterly.
3. Part of the decrease in debt between 1992 and 1993 can be attributed to the commutation of the PWLB debt which took
place in October 1992.
Trust Councils
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to introduce trust councils into local authority management. [41013]
Sir Paul Beresford: We have no plans for a trust councils initiative.
English Nature
Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which members of the council of English Nature have management agreements with English Nature; and where. [41475]
DEFENCE
Laser Weapons
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many laser weapons that (a) have the potential to blind enemy troops and (b) the potential to disrupt their eyesight temporarily are possessed by the United Kingdom forces; and what development plans his Department has in this area.
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Mr. Arbuthnot: I have nothing to add to the information contained in the letter from my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence to the hon. Member dated 17 August 1995, a copy of which I have placed in the Library of the House.
Ministerial Transport
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost of ministerial transport in each of the past five years; what allowance has been paid to Ministers who use their own vehicles; and what has been the cost in each of the past five years. [40737]
Mr. Arbuthnot: I shall write to the hon. Member.
Salaries
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the (a) lowest and (b) highest full-time salary paid to any employee in his (i) Department, (ii) agencies and (iii) non-departmental public bodies in (1) 1994 95 and (2) 1995 96. [40865]
Mr. Arbuthnot [holding answer 1 November 1995]: It is the Government's normal policy to publish civil servants' salaries in bands. Accordingly, the lowest full-time civilian salaries in the Department, agencies and NDPBs fell within the band:
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1994 95: Less than £5,0001995 96: Less than £5,000
The highest full-time civilian salary in the Department fell within the band:
1994 95: £95,000--£99,999
1995 96: £95,000--£99,999
The highest full-time civilian salary in agencies fell within the band:
1994 95: £145,000--£149,999
1995 96: £145,000--£149,999
The highest full-time civilian salary in NDPBs fell within the band:
1994 95: £85,000--£89,999
1995 96: £85,000--£89,999
The highest military salary fell within the band:
1994 95: £115,000--£119,999
1995 96: £120,000--£124,999
and the lowest military salary fell within the band:
1994 95: £5,000--£9,999
1995 96: £5,000--£9,999
Annual Remuneration
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many individuals in (a) his Department, (b) agencies and (c) non- departmental public bodies received annual remuneration including benefits in kind exceeding (i) 100,000, (ii) 200,000 and (iii) 300, 000 in each year since 1985 86. [40864]
Mr. Arbuthnot [holding answer 1 November 1995]: Those who received annual remuneration above the sums specified, excluding pension benefits, in the years in question were:
(i) Exceeding £100,000
|Department|Agencies |NDPBs |Military
------------------------------------------------------------------
1985-86 to
1990-91 |0 |0 |0 |0
1991-92 |0 |1 |0 |1
1992-93 |0 |1 |0 |2
1993-94 |0 |1 |0 |2
1994-95 |0 |1 |0 |2
(ii) and (iii)-no staff in the Department, agencies, NDPBs or the
armed forces received remuneration in excess of £200,000 in the
years in question.
Other than pension contributions, benefits in kind are not normally paid to staff in the Department, agencies and NDPBs. As members of the principal civil service pensions scheme or armed forces pensions scheme, staff receive benefits in accordance with the rules which have been deposited in the Library of the House.
PRIME MINISTER
Opposition Parties (Civil Service)
Mr. Alfred Morris: To ask the Prime Minister what are the conventions whereby civil service Departments take steps to consult the Opposition about their policies towards the end of a Parliament; and when such steps are
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planned to be taken before the end of the currentParliament. [40883]
The Prime Minister: The convention has been that, by authority of the Prime Minister, towards the end of a Parliament or when a general election has been called, Opposition parties may arrange, with the authority of their party leaders and through the head of the civil service, contacts with senior civil servants. These arrangements are designed to allow briefing on factual questions on departmental organisational changes which Opposition parties have in mind or which may result from Opposition party policies. Any exchanges would be confidential. Following the last general election, I told the leader of the Opposition that I would be content to authorise confidential exchanges between senior civil servants and Opposition spokesmen from January 1996.
Copex Arms Exhibition
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Prime Minister what (a) financial and (b) other assistance is given by Her Majesty's Government to the Copex arms exhibition. [40094]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 27 November 1995]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given yesterday by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board Trade.
Duke of Windsor (Papers)
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 26 October, Official Report, column 747 , how many other documents relating to the conduct of the Duke of Windsor during world war two are held by Her Majesty's Government. [40678]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 2 November 1995]: British official papers in question have been released to the Public Record Office with the exception of a few items, which will be re-reviewed under the open government initiative and released at the appropriate time.
Lockerbie
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations Her Majesty's Government have received from the Arab League in relation to Libyan sanctions and Lockerbie. [39290]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 2 November 1995]: None.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Temporary and Part-time Staff
Mr. Ian McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff are currently employed in his Department and in related agencies on (a) temporary or casual employment contracts and (b) part-time employment contracts, given as an actual figure and as a proportion of the total work force; and what were the corresponding figures for five years ago. [41123]
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Mr. Hanley: Breakdowns by Department and executive agency for 1 April 1995 of the number of permanent staff, the number of casual staff-- normally those engaged for a period of up to 12 months, but exceptionally up to two years--and of the number of part-time staff are presented in the civil service staff in post summary table for 1 April 1995, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Estimates on a comparable basis for 1 April 1990 have also been placed in the Library of the House.
Hong Kong Overseas Public Servants
Mr. Gallie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Hong Kong overseas public servants. [41764]
Mr. Hanley: We plan to introduce legislation as soon as time allows. Copies of a draft Hong Kong (Overseas Public Servants) Bill are being made available in the Libraries of both Houses.
Foreign Affairs Council
Mr. Congdon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council on 30 October. [41696]
Mr. David Davis: The A points listed in document 11057/95, which will be deposited in the Library of the House as soon as it is available, were adopted unanimously.
The Council took note of resolutions in documents 9914/95 (PE-RE 61) and 10679/95 (PR-RE 67). A copy of these documents will be deposited in the Library of the House as soon as they are available. An Association Council with Turkey took place. The Council decided on the implementation of the EU/Turkey Customs Union agreement. The presidency noted Latvia's application to join the EU, lodged in Madrid on 27 October. The Council agreed on a formal acknowledgment referring to the procedure laid down in article 0 of the treaty. The Council reached agreement on participation in the Euro-Mediterranean conference at Barcelona on 27 November. The Council discussed a draft association agreement with Morocco. A special Foreign Affairs Council is to be convened on 10 November with the aim of reaching final agreement, preceded by discussion in the Committee of Permanent Representatives.
The Commission presented a communication on strengthening EU-Mexico agreement. This was remitted to COREPER for further discussion. The Commission presented a draft Council decision for conclusion of the EU/Mercosur inter-regional framework agreement, which was remitted to COREPER.
The presidency reported on the Troika visit to the middle east. The head of the EU electoral unit reported on preparations for election monitoring. The Commission's communication on relations with the Palestinians was remitted to COREPER for detailed examination.
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The Council discussed the setting up of the World Trade Organisation appellate body.The Council discussed EU/US relations in preparation for the EU/US summit on 3 December.
The Council adopted a policy paper on former Yugoslavia, covering civilian aspects of implementation of an eventual peace settlement. The Council reaffirmed its support for the EU Mostar administrator's continuing efforts to unify the city.
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Official Solicitor
Mr. David Nicholson: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the present Official Solicitor commenced his appointment; by what mechanism the appointment is (a) made and (b) terminated; and what is the official address of the post. [40702]
Mr. John M. Taylor: The present Official Solicitor commenced his appointment on 1 August 1993, following an open competition. The appointment is statutory and is made by the Lord Chancellor under section 90 of the Supreme Court Act 1981. Under the provisions of the 1981 Act, as amended by the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990, the postholder has tenure until the completed year of service in which he or she attains the age of 62. In addition, the 1981 Act provides that the Lord Chancellor may remove the appointee from office on account of misbehaviour or on account of inability to perform the duties of the office. The official address of the post is:
The Official Solicitor to the Supreme Court
Official Solicitor's Department
81 Chancery Lane
London WC2 1DD
Acts of Parliament
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list those Acts of Parliament since 1979 which have not been brought into force either fully or in part. [40481]
Mr. John M. Taylor: On the basis of information available up to 27 October 1995, the following are the Public General Acts of Parliament since 1979, which, as at 1 November 1995, have not been brought into force either fully or in part:
Antarctic Minerals Act 1989 (c.21)
Smoke Detectors Act 1991 (c.37)
Osteopaths Act 1993 (c.21)
Road Traffic (Driving Instruction by Disabled Persons) Act 1993 (c.31)
Civil Evidence (family Mediation) (Scotland) Act 1995 (c.6) Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 (c.10)
Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995 (c.13)
Land Registers (Scotland) Act 1995 (c.14)
Geneva Conventions (Amendment) Act 1995 (c.27)
Landlord and Tenant (Covenants) Act 1995 (c.30)
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The following Acts are not yet in force but are due to come into force fully or in part on fixed dates in 1996:Motor Cycle Noise Act 1987 (c.34)
Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995 (c.12)
Merchant Shipping Act 1995 (c.21)
Shipping and Trading Interests (Protection) Act 1995 (c.22) Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995 (c.23)
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
Afghanistan
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further assistance he proposes to give to Afghanistan, in light of recent developments in that country and following the new inter-agency consolidated appeal from the United Nations. [41959]
Mr. Hanley: Following a detailed review of aid to Afghanistan by an ODA-led mission earlier this summer and in light of the UN appeal launched in October, my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development has approved a package of further assistance amounting to £3.5 million, which will be provided through a number of UN agencies, as well as the International Red Cross and some UK-based non governmental organisations.
HEALTH
Retirement Ages
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average retirement age of national health service employees, per professional group, in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [40437]
Mr. Sackville: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the NHS Pensions Agency under its chief executive, Mr. A. F. Cowan. I have asked him to reply to the hon. and learned Member. Letter from A. F. Cowan to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 3 November 1995:
The Secretary of State for Health has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question as it falls within my area of responsibility.
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Data is held centrally on the average age at retirement for the members of the NHS Pension Scheme in England and Wales over the period 1 April 1989 to 31 March 1994, split by broad professional groups. A more detailed breakdown by year of retirement is only available at disproportionate cost. The first table shows the average age at retirement in normal health excluding redundancies; the second table shows the average age on retirement in ill-health only.Average age on normal retirement 1989-1994, excluding redundancies Professional group |Male |Female --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Administrative staff and hospital medical staff (excluding female nurses) |64 |62 Mental health officer (non manual) |60 |60 Manual workers (excluding MHO's) |64 |61 Mental health officer (manual) |56 |60 Medical Practitioner |63 |63 Dental Practitioner |63 |63 Female nurse, physiotherapist, midwife or health visitor |- |60
Average age on ill-health retirement only Professional Group |Male |Female --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Administrative staff and hospital medical staff (excluding female nurses) |51 |51 Mental health officer (non manual) |49 |49 Manual workers (excluding MHO's) |53 |52 Mental health officer (manual) |50 |50 Medical Practitioner |54 |52 Dental Practitioner |51 |49 Female Nurse, Physiotherapist, midwife, health visitor |- |50
GP Fundholding
Ms Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the amount of money being held on behalf of fundholders at regional level by region for (a) 1992 93, (b) 1993 94 and (c) 1994 95. [36797]
Mr. Malone: The information requested is shown in the table. By 1994 95 there were 8,889 general practitioner fundholders covering 34 per cent. of the population, with budgets totalling £2.8 billion. Savings available for spending totalling £84 million--equivalent to 3 per cent. of 1994 95 budgets.
In any one year, a large proportion of the retained savings will date from the previous year and will not therefore be available for use until the final audit of fundholders' accounts has been completed. Savings may be retained for up to four years to be used for the benefit of patients of the practice.
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1992-93 1993-94 1994-95
|Net cumulative |Net cumulative |Net cumulative
|savings available |savings available |savings available
|Number of GP |for spending |Number of GP |for spending |Number of GP |for spending
Region |fundholders |(£ million) |fundholders |(£ million) |fundholders |(£ million)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern and Yorkshire |596 |1.9 |1,023 |7.2 |1,236 |16.9
Trent |312 |1.5 |740 |3.0 |1,045 |7.2
Anglia and Oxford |363 |1.8 |722 |5.0 |1,067 |10.4
North Thames |349 |1.7 |705 |3.6 |894 |7.2
South Thames |387 |2.3 |749 |3.5 |1,345 |8.6
South and West |442 |1.3 |755 |4.5 |1,103 |9.1
West Midlands |322 |2.5 |687 |5.7 |1,098 |14.7
North West |388 |1.8 |759 |4.3 |1,101 |10.2
England |3,159 |14.8 |6,140 |36.7 |8,889 |84.4
Source:
Regional offices.
Notes:
Savings spent in previous years or voluntarily returned to health authorities during the audit process are not included in the figures.
Grants
Mr. Chris Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what grant-giving funds his Department is responsible, requiring a private sector contribution, where the use of national lottery funds is not allowed to count towards that private sector portion. [38601]
Mr. Bowis: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of National Heritage on 31 October, Official Report , columns 186-87 .
NHS Trusts
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, for each NHS trust in the Trent region, those (a) chairmen and (b) non-executive directors who currently reside outside the boundaries of the district health authority in which that trust is situated. [38975]
Mr. Malone: For the latest information I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave to the hon. Member for Sherwood (Mr. Tipping) and the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) on 2 November 1994, Official Report , columns 1231-32 . This information is not routinely collected. In order to provide the answers given on 2 November 1994, a special exercise was conduced. To update this information would mean repeating that exercise and incurring a disproportionate cost of approximately £7,000.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make it his policy to collate centrally the names of NHS trust chief executives who resign, or whose contracts are terminated together with the name of the trust involved and the amounts paid for loss of office; and if he will make a statement; [39545]
(2) if he will make it his policy to hold centrally records on how many employees of NHS trusts have been (a) dismissed, (b) made redundant, (c) given early retirement and (d) had their contracts revoked with compensation in
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excess of (i) the NHS redundancy provision, (ii) £100,000 gross and (iii) £250,000 gross; and if he will make a statement. [39543]
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