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Fisheries Conservancy Board

Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the members of the Northern Ireland Fisheries Conservancy Board; on what date each was appointed; on what date each is due to retire from membership of the Board; if on the basis of attendance at board meetings, all existing members comply with the requirements of membership; and if she will make a statement. [75053]

Mr. Paul Murphy: The current members of the Fisheries Conservancy Board for Northern Ireland and their appointment and cessation dates are set out in the table. The table includes a list of vacant posts which will be filled during April 1999.

The attendance of one current member at meetings of the Board is in breach of the requirements of Schedule 2 of the Fisheries Act (NI) 1966. This matter is being pursued and an explanation has been sought from the member for his non-attendance.

Name	Period of appointment
	Fisheries Conservancy Board--Membership of the Board
Chairman: Dr. J. Parsons	1 May 1996-31 December 1999
Deputy Chairman: Mrs. C. M. Kennedy	1 May 1998-31 December 1999
	Commercial Fishing Company Representatives
Mr. F. G. Conlon	15 May 1996-14 May 2002
Mr. F. Tennyson	15 May 1996-14 May 2002
Sir P. Macnaghten	15 May 1996-14 May 2002
	Commercial Fishermen's Representatives
Rev. O. P. Kennedy BA, BD	15 May 1996-14 May 2002
Mr. R Shaw	15 May 1996-14 May 2002
	NIAAC Representatives
Mr. R. J. Haughey	15 May 1996-14 May 2002
Mr. J. Tisdall	15 May 1996-14 May 2002
	Ulster Farmers' Union
Mr. R. Farrell	15 May 1996-14 May 2002
Mr. Brian H. Johnston	22 June 1997-14 May 2002
	Independent Anglers
Mr. A. Hanna	15 May 1996-14 May 2002
	CBI Representative Sport and Recreation Representative
Dr. Caro-Lynne Ferris	20 April 1998-19 April 2001
	Tourism Representative
Mrs. Annie Courtney	21 April 1998-30 June 2000
	District Council Representative
Mr. Sean McGirr	12 December 1997-30 May 2001
	Department of Agriculture Representative
Mr. J. D. Houston	15 May 1996-14 May 1999
	Current vacancies
1 post vacant from 20 February 1999
	Northern Ireland Angling Advisory Council Representatives
2 posts vacant from 20 February 1999
	Ulster Farmers' Union Representatives
1 post vacant from 20 February 1999
	Independent Anglers
1 post vacant from 20 February 1999
	CBI Representative
1 post vacant from 20 February 1999

10 Mar 1999 : Column: 289

Police Complaints

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current staffing of (a) the Independent Commission for Police Complaints and (b) the RUC's Complaints and Discipline Department; and what is the planned staffing for the Police Ombudsman's Office. [74568]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 8 March 1999]: The Independent Commission for Police Complaints currently has 17 ¹ members of staff and a full time Chairman and deputy Chairman and five part time members. The RUC's Complaints and Discipline Department has 115 ² staff. The Government's initial estimate, produced for the purpose of advertising the post of Police Ombudsman, is a staff of about 60. The precise figure is being considered in working groups which include my officials and representatives of the RUC and the Independent Commission for Police Complaints. In addition, we will be consulting the Police Ombudsman when appointed.

¹ (this includes a job share post)

² (this includes an ACC who covers two departments and officers temporarily seconded to assist with particular investigations)

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the annual financing of (a) the Police Ombudsman's Office, (b) the Complaints and Discipline Department of the RUC and (c) the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for the next three years. [74567]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 8 March 1999]: The available information is as follows. The Independent Commission for Police Complaints is to be replaced by the Police Ombudsman's Office and, therefore, there is no forecast for the next three years. The current budget for the Independent Commission for Police Complaints is £883,000.

Although a figure of £3 million has been produced for the Police Ombudsman's office, this was a preliminary estimate for the advertisement of the post of Police Ombudsman. The precise budget of the Police Ombudsman has still to be determined, as have the financial implications of the changes on the Complaints and Discipline Department. (Figures for it were given in answer to my hon. Friend on 25 February 1999, Official Report, column 360.) Both matters are being considered in working groups which include my officials and representatives from the RUC, the Independent Commission for Police Complaints and the Police Authority for Northern Ireland.

The Government have made it clear that they are committed to making the necessary resources available for the office of Police Ombudsman.

TREASURY

Securities Legislation

Ms Lawrence: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes he intends to make to the Public Offers of Securities Regulations 1995 and the Companies Act 1985 following the consultation on securities legislation announced on 20 August 1998; and if he will make a statement. [76235]

10 Mar 1999 : Column: 290

Ms Hewitt: The Treasury had today made Statutory Instruments amending the Public Offers of Securities Regulations 1995 and commencing certain repeals of provisions in the Companies Act 1985. It is intended that these changes will have effect from 10 May 1999.

Economic and Monetary Union

Mr. Maclean: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the report on Information Requirements in Economic and Monetary Union, as agreed by Ecofin, with regard to its effects on the operation of statistical research in the United Kingdom; what effect the changes in Intrastat will have on the figures for imports and exports between the United Kingdom and the rest of the EU; and what the operational costs of the changes will be. [75057]

Ms Hewitt: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. David Maclean, dated 10 March 1999:

In the absence of the Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question regarding the Report on Information Requirements in Economic and Monetary Union.

The ONS welcomes the recommendations in the report, which are in line with the priorities and work programmes of the UK, other Member States and the Commission/Eurostat.

The UK already produces quarterly national accounts, public finance statistics and most short-term statistics in line with the Economic and Financial Committee (EFC) recommendations. Work is in hand to meet requirements for labour market statistics.

Officials at HM Customs and Excise have provided the following information on the changes in Intrastat. The changes proposed for Instrastat would reduce the level of detail currently required on arrivals and dispatches between Member States participating in the euro-area. This would, in principle, allow the present Instrastat system to be simplified and other methods explored to arrive at a suitable output. It is not possible at this stage to say what impact such simplifications might have on the statistics of UK trade with the rest of Europe or what the cost of such changes would be. However, the proposed simplifications are intended to meet the needs of users of information at a European level--many other users, including the UK government and UK business, are likely to continue to need detailed UK trade data. The needs of these users, and of the providers of this data, will be fully taken into account when changes to Intrastat are discussed.

The ONS has in place a system of announcing in advance the release of key statistical outputs. This is in line with the EFC recommendations.

Winter Deaths

Dr. Godman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will breakdown the excess winter deaths in England and Wales for each of the last three years by socio- economic class, indicating (a) all ages, (b) those aged 60 to 70 years and (c) those aged 70 years and over. [75451]

Ms Hewitt: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Tim Holt to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 10 March 1999:

As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on the breakdown of excess winter deaths.

10 Mar 1999 : Column: 291

The information requested is shown in the attached table.

Excess winter deaths are defined as the difference between the number of deaths during the four winter months (December to March) and the average number of deaths during the preceding autumn (August to November) and the following summer (April to July).

10 Mar 1999 : Column: 292

Social Class of the deceased is not available for deaths to those aged over 75. However, around 75 per cent. of excess winter deaths occur in this age group. Children under 16 can be assigned to a Social Class at death on the basis of their parent(s) occupation. Deaths in this age group have been excluded. Figures are shown separately for men and women as the distribution of deaths by Social Class differs markedly; this is because occupation is poorly recorded for women at death registration.

10 Mar 1999 : Column: 291

Excess winter deaths (17), England and Wales, 1994/95-1996/97

		Winter 1994/95		Winter 1995/96		Winter 1996/97
Social Class		men	women	men	women	men	women
Ages 16-74
I	Professional	190	0	80	20	100	10
II	Managerial and technical occupations	820	140	1,030	370	860	460
IIInm	Skilled occupations--non-manual	230	260	340	590	490	710
IIIm	Skilled occupations--manual	1,810	180	2,130	190	1,660	280
IV	Partly skilled occupations	1,110	100	1,160	370	1,270	520
V	Unskilled occupations	400	180	520	340	600	340
	Armed forces	10	10	60	0	-20	0
	Inadequately described occupations	30	-20	30	10	-20	0
	Unoccupied	210	1,900	110	2,490	300	2,330
	Total	4,810	2,750	5,470	4,380	5,230	4,660
Ages 60-69
I	Professional	30	-10	10	10	40	0
II	Managerial and technical occupations	250	80	400	120	430	180
IIInm	Skilled occupations--non-manual	110	70	110	160	150	270
IIIm	Skilled occupations--manual	670	60	860	90	700	120
IV	Partly skilled occupations	390	60	400	160	570	210
V	Unskilled occupations	230	60	220	160	180	160
	Armed forces	0	10	30	0	-10	0
	Inadequately described occupations	20	-20	20	10	-10	-10
	Unoccupied	50	570	30	850	70	940
	Total	1,750	870	2,090	1,550	2,120	1,880
Ages 70-74
I	Professional	70	10	50	10	50	-10
II	Managerial and technical occupations	270	40	350	150	260	120
IIInm	Skilled occupations--non-manual	50	130	170	170	220	280
IIIm	Skilled occupations--manual	580	50	790	80	570	110
IV	Partly skilled occupations	320	50	380	140	510	160
V	Unskilled occupations	160	70	150	70	280	130
	Armed forces	10	0	10	0	10	0
	Inadequately described occupations	10	-10	20	10	-10	10
	Unoccupied	50	740	60	940	60	860
	Total	1,510	1,090	1,970	1,580	1,940	1,660

(17) As the number of excess winter deaths is a crude measure of the increase in mortality associated with winter conditions, the numbers of excess deaths have been rounded to the nearest 10.

10 Mar 1999 : Column: 293

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