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Mr. Hanley: The UAE Government are well aware of the international concern over Sahara Balabagan. The judicial process has still not been exhausted, and we will continue to follow the case.
Afghanistan
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the implications for Her Majesty's Government's policy of the recent attack on the Pakistan embassy in Kabul. [41711]
Mr. Hanley: We condemn the attack by demonstrators on the Pakistan embassy in Kabul in September. We continue to support the efforts of the UN Secretary- General's special representative to broker a peace agreement. Permanent peace in Afghanistan will be achieved only if the major Afghan leaders and their supporters genuinely want it.
Peru
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings have been held by her Majesty's embassy in Peru with the Government of Peru to discuss the operation of the emergency provisions and human rights; and if he will make a statement. [41825]
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Sir Nicholas Bonsor: Meetings are held regularly, most recently on 25 October with the director general for human rights in the Peruvian Foreign Ministry.
Correspondence
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his letter of 14 July, ref. 132969, when he expects to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Ealing, North of 13 July relating to the case of Mr. Neil McGowan. [41710]
Mr. Hanley: An interim reply has been sent to the hon. Member for Ealing, North from the migration and visa correspondence unit. A substantive reply will follow as soon as possible. The delay is regretted.
SCOTLAND
Pollution (Loch Lomond)
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to reduce pollution in Loch Lomond. [40478]
Mr. Kynoch: The Clyde River Purification Board is responsible for monitoring and controlling pollution in Loch Lomond.
Scottish Natural Heritage
Mr. Galbraith: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the amounts awarded by SNH in 1994 under section 15 agreements for each owner and occupier. [40311]
Mr. Kynoch: This is a matter for Scottish Natural Heritage. I have asked the chief executive to reply to the hon. Member.
Mr. Galbraith: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the current review of SNH to be completed; if he will make a statement on its remit; and if its findings will be published. [40312]
Mr. Kynoch: My right hon. Friend will make a statement on the conclusions of the study group on SNH shortly.
Incapable Adults (Legislation)
Mr. Galbraith: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the legislation proposed by the Scottish Law Commission on incapable adults. [41356]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: My right hon. Friend welcomes the publication of this very important report, which contains a number of far- reaching proposals in relation to incapable adults. He is giving careful consideration to these proposals.
Forestry Grants
Mrs. Ray Michie: To ask the Secretary of State for
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Scotland if he will list the current recipients of forest access grants, the value of the grant for each year and the total value for Scotland. [41704]Mr. Kynoch: I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.
Respite and Continuing Care Beds
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) NHS and (b) private respite care beds were available (i) by region and (ii) by health authority in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [41406]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The information requested is not available centrally.
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many NHS continuing care beds have been available in each (a) region and (b) district in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [41421]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The information requested is available for regions only and is shown in the table.
National Health Service Hospitals in Scotland-Average
available
staffed beds in the specialties of mental handicap,
psychogeriatrics and geriatric long stay:
Years ending 31 March
|1991 |1992 |1993 |1994 |1995
--------------------------------------------------------
Region
Scotland |19,378|19,594|18,305|16,910|15,878
Borders |375 |349 |308 |301 |292
Central |1,607 |1,530 |1,454 |1,451 |1,384
Dumfries and
Galloway |553 |562 |547 |550 |511
Fife |1,474 |1,430 |1,301 |1,238 |1,152
Grampian |2,271 |2,269 |1,928 |1,711 |1,612
Highland |580 |559 |531 |525 |598
Lothian |2,571 |2,492 |2,378 |2,200 |2,202
Orkney |64 |78 |69 |47 |51
Shetland |87 |87 |87 |86 |81
Strathclyde |8,099 |8,568 |8,134 |7,340 |6,604
Tayside |1,597 |1,584 |1,475 |1,371 |1,308
Western Isles |98 |87 |93 |89 |83
Financial Reserves
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what financial reserves have been held (a) by trusts and (b) health authorities in each region in each of the last three years; [41418] (2) if he will itemise the financial reserves of each (a) trust and (b) health authority in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [41425]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: NHS trusts and health boards, in the interests of sound financial planning and management, do maintain financial reserves, for use in year. The total involved will vary throughout the year. Detailed information on these constantly changing amounts is not held centrally.
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TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Fireworks
Mr. Burden: To ask the President of the Board of Trade when Kanash Ltd. imported consignments of Red Lion fireworks to the United Kingdom; how many container loads were included; what checks were undertaken at the port of entry; and the number of container loads the location of which the Health and Safety Executive is now aware. [41726]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: I understand from Customs and Excise and the Health and Safety Executive that the fireworks in question were imported through Southampton in September 1995. A total of seven container loads were brought in. Existing arrangements do not specifically require analytical tests to be carried out on each consignment of fireworks at the port of entry and none was undertaken in this instance. Such tests do, of course, require specialised equipment and facilities. I understand that some fireworks remain at the importer's leased deport at Chorley but the bulk were distributed to various parts of the United Kingdom. The importer is co-operating with the Health and Safety Executive in providing full details and is recalling all its imported fireworks.
Mr. Burden: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what provision of the Explosives Act 1875 may be enforced by trading standards officers in metropolitan areas. [41767]
Mr. Evans: Enforcement of the majority of the provisions of the Explosives Act 1875 is provided for by the Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations 1989. In metropolitan counties, enforcement is a matter for fire authorities or, depending upon the provision in question, the Health and Safety Executive. The regulations do not, however, provide for enforcement of a number of specific provisions of the 1875 Act. These include, for example, section 31--sale of gunpowder and explosives to children. My Department takes the view that trading standards departments are able to bring prosecutions under this section in cases where the police have not become involved or have decided not to proceed.
My Department draws no distinction between metropolitan and other areas in this respect.
Research Councils
Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will name the members of the two appointments panels set up to select the new chief executives of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and the Medical Research Council. [41883]
Mr. Ian Taylor: The membership of the recruitment boards for the appointment of new chief executives to the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and the Medical Research Council is as follows:
The permanent secretary, Department of Trade and Industry (board chairman);
The chief scientific adviser, Office of Science and Technology; The Director General of Research Councils, Office of Science and Technology;
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The chairman of the relevant research council;Two independent members--one from academe, and one from the relevant industry.
Campbell's Soups
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to meet representatives of Campbell's Soups to discuss competition in the production of soup. [39715]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: I have no such plans.
Dounreay (Reprocessing of Nuclear Fuel)
Mr. Chisholm: to ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to hold consultation exercises to assess the opinion of the Scottish people with regard to the reprocessing of American spent fuel rods at Dounreay. [41627]
Mr. Page: Reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel at Dounreay is an established industrial process which has been undertaken at Dounreay for more than 30 years. It is carried out subject to nuclear installations inspectorate and Her Majesty's industrial pollution inspectorate regulation. There is no reason to engage in public consultation about the continuation of such a well-established and well-regulated activity.
Commercial reprocessing will be an important factor in maintaining employment levels in the Dounreay area. The DTI will continue to support it provided that the appropriate regulatory requirements continue to be met and there is a commercial return.
Mr. Chisholm: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what correspondence he has received from the United States Government concerning opposition to the reprocessing of American spent fuel rods at Dounreay. [41626]
Mr. Page: The US Department of Energy has sent my officials two copies of letters they have received opposing reprocessing at Dounreay.
Home Brewery, Nottingham
Mr. Heppell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what representations he has received on the future of the Home Brewery, Nottingham; [41963]
(2) what information he has on the effect the merger of Scottish and Newcastle Ltd. and Courage Ltd. will have on Home Brewery, Nottingham. [41969]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: The Department received a number of representations about the Scottish and Newcastle/Courage merger including the future of the Home Brewery in Nottingham. In giving his advice to me on the merger, the Director General of Fair Trading took account of all relevant factors, as I did in making my decision on the case. Any information about the commercial operations of the parties supplied to the DGFT or myself under merger control procedures, including about the future of the Home Brewery, must remain confidential.
Brewery Mergers
Mr. Heppell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many public houses Scottish and
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Newcastle Ltd. owned or supplied before the merger with Courage Ltd.; [41967](2) how many public houses Scottish Courage currently own; and how many Scottish Courage will own or supply after fulfilling the undertakings given to prevent reference of the merger between Scottish and Newcastle Ltd. and Courage Ltd. to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. [41968]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: At the time of giving his advice to me on the Scottish and Newcastle/Courage merger, the Director General of Fair Trading estimated that the parties would between them have owned or supplied about 7,500 pubs, which included some 4,350 pubs owned by Inntrepreneur Estates Ltd. and supplied by Courage. This figure is not complete as it does not include all supply agreements entered into by the parties as part of their normal commercial activities. The undertakings provide for the reduction in Scottish and Newcastle's tied estate to a maximum of 2,624--115 pubs fewer than its maximum permitted tied estate under the beer orders--and for the early release of 1,000 pubs from the supply agreement with IEL. It is not possible to say how many public houses the merged company, Scottish Courage, will supply in total in the future since that will depend on how successful the company is in competing for supply agreements in the competitive beer market.
Mr. Heppell: To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what percentage of the United Kingdom's final beer sales is Scottish Courage's share after the merger of Scottish and Newcastle Ltd. and Courage Ltd.; [41965]
(2) what percentage of the United Kingdom's beer sales was Scottish and Newcastle Brewery Ltd.'s share before the merger with Courage Ltd.; [41964]
(3) what percentage of the United Kingdom's final beer sales will be Scottish Courage's share after the merger of Scottish and Newcastle Ltd. and Courage Ltd. [41966]
Mr. Evans: At the time of giving his advice to me on the Scottish and Newcastle/Courage merger, the Director General of Fair Trading estimated the parties' combined share of final beer sales in the UK to be about 30 per cent., of which Scottish and Newcastle had 11 per cent.
Walker Wingsail Systems, Plymouth
Mr. Jamieson: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what financial assistance has been given by his Department to Walter Wingsail, Plymouth, since 1987. [41336]
Mr. Page: I believe that the hon. Member is referring to Walker Wingsail Systems plc. My Department has not provided any financial assistance to the company in question since 1987, with the exception of a small contribution of some £4,000 towards some consultancy work under the enterprise initiative.
Ministerial Transport
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the cost of ministerial transport in each of the past five years; what allowance has been paid
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to Ministers who use their own vehicles; and what has been the cost in each of the past five years. [40734]Mr. Jonathan Evans: The total cost, excluding VAT, of ministerial transport provided from the government car service and under private contract for the financial years:
1990 91: £165,724
1991 92: £178,982
1992 93: £272,524
1993 94: £349,520
1994 95: £362,167
These figures reflect structural and ministerial changes within the Department resulting from machinery of government changes. Ministers who use their own vehicles on official business are entitled to claim the standard motor mileage allowance, which currently ranges from 19p to 46p depending on engine size and distance travelled. A breakdown of such claims could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Regional Selective Assistance
Mr. Morgan: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his latest outturn forecast for regional selective assistance offers and expenditure in England in 1995 96; and how it relates to planned expenditure. [41784]
Mr. Eggar: The forecast outturn for offers of RSA in 1995 96, in England, is £140 million. Expenditure in 1995 96 is expected to be close to our estimate of £103.7 million. Grants are paid in instalments against progress on the project, typically over a period of three to five years. Most of the expenditure on grants offered in 1995 96 will be spread over future years.
Small Firms Conference
Mrs. Roche: To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will list the organisations which have been invited to participate in next year's conference on small firms; [41518]
(2) when he expects next year's UK conference on small firms to take place; who will fund it; how much he expects it to cost; how much of the cost will be met from public funds; and what topics he expects it to cover. [41517]
Mr. Page: The "Your Business Matters" series of conferences, the majority of which will take place in 1995, are being run by a team of leading business organisations--the Institute of Business Directors, the CBI, the British chambers of commerce, the TEC National Council, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Forum of Private Business. The timing and funding of the conferences is the responsibility of the organisers.
I understand that the topics likely to be covered will be a reflection of the issues raised at the regional conferences.
Total Access Communications System
Mr. William Ross: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library copies of all issues of his specifications for a total access communications system including extended total access communications
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system and BABT--British Approvals Board for Telecommunications--six special investigation test schedules and relevant specifications for authentication. [41386]Mr. Ian Taylor [holding answer 3 November 1995]: I have arranged for the information to be placed in the Library of the House. Detailed specifications for authentication are subject to commercial confidentiality provisions.
3-Dimensional Pharmaceuticals
Sir Trevor Skeet: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the effect that granting a patent upon combinatorial chemistry 3 Dimensional Pharmaceuticals will have on restricting the scope and availability of basic science research. [41980]
Mr. Ian Taylor: My officials in the Patent Office have been unable to identify any patent granted to an organisation called 3-Dimensional Pharmaceuticals. However, the grant of a patent would not prevent others from doing acts for experimental purposes relating to the subject matter of the invention. If that research were to lead to a new invention which fell within the scope of the patent, it would be necessary to obtain a licence under the patent before it could be commercialised. If the invention were such as to make a substantial contribution to the art and three years had elapsed since the grant of the patent, a licence could not be refused.
Deregulation
Mr. Steen: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what regulations his Department proposes to repeal by the end of 1995; if he proposes to conduct a compliance cost assessment on each regulation repealed; and what is the estimated cost of undertaking a compliance cost assessment to assess the advantages or disadvantages of such a repeal. [41562]
Mr. Lang: There are no plans to repeal any further regulations by the end of 1995. However, four proposals for deregulatory amendments to company and competition law are currently before the Select Committee on Deregulation.
The requirement to carry out a compliance cost assessment applies to regulations which impose additional burdens on business while the programme of repeals and amendments is concerned with reducing the burden. However, it is estimated that cost savings of at least £100, 000 a year will result from the amendments currently proposed.
Mr. Steen: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated saving to the Exchequer by the repeal of each rule and regulation which has so far been the subject of a reference to the Deregulation Committee from his Department; and in how many cases a compliance cost assessment has been carried out. [41547]
Mr. Lang: My Department has laid four draft deregulation proposals to date. The savings to the Exchequer as a result of these orders are virtually impossible to quantify but are likely to be very small.
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However, it is estimated that they will result in savings to business of at least £100,000 a year.The explanatory document which is presented to the Committee alongside each draft order is required to contain an assessment of the cost savings to business and any other persons whom the draft order is intended to benefit.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Deportations
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if M15 is to work with the immigration service in respect of deportations. [39934]
Mr. Howard: It remains the case that the Security Service may provide information to assist in the exercise of powers under immigration legislation in cases involving national security.
Mr. Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to amend the regulations regarding deportation of those who leave their employers because of mistreatment and abuse. [39947]
Mr. Kirkhope: None. The immigration laws are applied firmly but fairly to all persons liable to deportation. However, full consideration is always given to the compassionate circumstances of each case before any decision is taken.
Foreign Workers
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the possible outcome for foreign domestic workers suffering abuse from their employers. [39933]
Mr. Kirkhope: Domestic workers who are abused by their employers are advised to contact the police. Information about this is set out in the leaflet issued to domestic workers before arrival in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to act vigorously against employers who mistreat foreign domestic employees. [39935]
Mr. Kirkhope: The Government deplore all abuse of foreign domestic workers. The procedures in place guard against abuse as far as is possible. Any employer who uses violence towards an employee would be subject to the criminal law.
Mr. Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the extent to which immigration procedures may contribute to an increase in the number of individuals working in domestic service but unregistered as such. [39963]
Mr. Kirkhope: None. Current procedures are designed to ensure that only those domestic workers entitled to work as such in the United Kingdom are admitted or allowed to remain.
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Mr. Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are allowed to remain in the United Kingdom only because they have a contract of employment. [39946]
Mr. Kirkhope: None. A person subject to immigration control needs to qualify for leave to remain under the immigration rules, or, in the case of overseas domestic workers, under the terms of the relevant concession.
Mr. Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of (a) the numbers of those people brought into the United Kingdom as domestic employees and (b) the percentage of those who suffer mistreatment and abuse. [39948]
Mr. Kirkhope: Comprehensive information on domestic workers admitted to the United Kingdom is not available. There are some entry clearance data for the 21 posts abroad which are likely to deal with the vast majority of applications by domestic workers. In the first six months of this year, nearly 6,300 visas were issued at these posts to domestic workers.
Asylum Seekers
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will inform in-country asylum seekers from countries who have undergone events likely to give rise to a well-founded fear of persecution that their entitlement to social security benefits will not cease on 8 January 1996. [41036]
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