Written Answers To Questions
Thursday 18th May 1978
Government Employees (Birmingham)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are employed by his Department in the city of Birmingham; how many of these employees are under the age of 18 years; and what steps are being taken to increase this number in line with the Government's policy of reducing youth unemployment.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people are employed by his Department in the city of Birmingham; how many of these employees are under the age of 18 years; and what steps are being taken to increase this number in line with the policy of Her Majesty's Government to reduce youth unemployment.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many people are employed by his Department in the city of Birmingham; how many of these employees are under the age of 18 years; and what steps are being taken to increase this number in line with the policy of Her Majesty's Government to reduce youth unemployment.
asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many people are employed by his Department in the city of Birmingham; how many of these employees are under the age of 18 years; and what steps are being taken to increase this number in line with the policy of Her Majesty's Government to reduce youth unemployment.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are employed by his Department in the city of Birmingham; how many of these employees are under the age of 18 years; and what steps are being taken to increase this number in line with the policy of Her Majesty's Government to reduce youth unemployment.
asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many people are employed by his Department in the city of Birmingham; how many of these employees are under the age of 18 years; and what steps are being taken to increase this number in line with the policy of Her Majesty's Government to reduce youth unemployment.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people are employed by his Department in the city of Birmingham; how many of these employees are under the age of 18 years; and what steps are being taken to increase this number in line with the policy of Her Majesty's Government to reduce youth unemployment.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are employed by his Department in the city of Birmingham; how many of these employees are under the age of 18 years; and what steps are being taken to increase this number in line with the policy of Her Majesty's Government to reduce youth unemployment.
asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are employed by his Department in the city of Birmingham; how many of these employees are under the age of 18 years; and what steps are being taken to increase this number in line with the policy of Her Majesty's Government to reduce youth unemployment.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people are employed by his Department in the city of Birmingham; how many of these employees are under the age of 18 years; and what steps are being taken to increase this number in line with the policy of Her Majesty's Goverment to reduce youth unemployment.
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many people are employed by her Department in the city of Birmingham; how many of these employees are under the age of 18 years; and what steps are being taken to increase this number in line with the policy of Her Majesty's Government to reduce youth unemployment.
asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many people are employed by his Department in the city of Birmingham; how many of these employees are under the age of 18 years; and what steps are being taken to increase this number in line with the policy of Her Majesty's Government to reduce youth unemployment.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are employed by the Inland Revenue in the city of Birmingham; how many of these employees are under the age of 18 years; and what steps are being taken to increase this number in line with the policy of Her Majesty's Government to reduce youth employment.
I have been asked to reply.The table below shows for the Departments my hon. Friend is concerned with the total number of non-industrial staff, and the number under 18 years of age, recorded centrally as being in post in the city of Birmingham on 10th May 1978.Because there are always a number of clerical vacancies in Government offices in Birmingham, the Civil Service local recruitment unit in the city has a continuous scheme for the recruitment of staff of all ages which is advertised in the local Press at least quarterly and timed when appropriate to provide opportunities for school leavers. Arrangements are also made from time to time for those lacking the educational qualifications normally required to be considered after taking a short clerical test. There are at present well over 100 clerical vacancies and it has not, therefore, been thought necessary to consider any further arrangements to provide opportunities for employment in the Civil Service in Birmingham for those under 18 years of age. Publicity about the opportunities open to young people of employment in the Civil Service generally together with details of local clerical vacancies are also provided to schools by the Civil Service regional adviser through the local authority careers service.
Departments | Under 18 | Total |
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | — | 6 |
Defence | 1 | 261 |
Education and Science | — | 22 |
Employment Group | 20 | 2,002 |
Energy | — | 7 |
Environment | 5 | 802 |
Foreign and Commonwealth Office | — | — |
Health and Social Security | 51 | 2,450 |
Home Office | — | 564 |
Industry | 1 | 90 |
Inland Revenue | 37 | 1,656 |
Prices and Consumer Protection | — | — |
Transport | 5 | 264 |
Total | 120 | 8,124 |
Note: Excludes casuals; part-time staff counted as whole units.
Scotland
Teacher Training
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has taken decisions on the numbers of students to be admitted to courses of teacher training in session 1978–79; and if he will make a statement.
I have carefully considered the latest available information on all the factors involved in determining levels of intake to teacher training courses in session 1978–79. I have also taken the views of the General Teaching Council for Scotland, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Joint Committee of Colleges of Education in Scotland on overall levels of intake for next session, the distribution of intake among the colleges and the priority to be given to individual subjects in the selection of students for secondary training.As a result, I have decided that the total intake to pre-service courses of teacher training should not exceed 700 students for the primary diploma course, 150 for the primary postgraduate course and 1,600 for secondary courses, including BEd courses. These figures take account of the provision which is made in the rate support grant settlement for 1978–79 and in the Government's expenditure plans for later years for the employment of more teachers than are required to meet the school staffing standards recommended in SED Circular No. 819 and the Red Book, and also of the extent to which staffing levels in the schools are already in excess of these standards.
Primary Intake | |||||||
Diploma | Post-Graduate | Secondary Intake | |||||
Quota | Proposed Quota | Quota | Proposed Quota | Quota | Proposed Quota | ||
College | 1977–78 | 1978–79 | 1977–78 | 1978–79 | 1977–78 | 1978–79 | |
Aberdeen | … | 75 | 100 | 20 | 20 | 170 | 210 |
Callendar Park | … | 65 | 55 | 10 | 10 | — | — |
Craigie | … | 55 | 50 | 10 | 10 | — | — |
Craiglockhart | … | 50 | 50 | 10 | 10 | 35 | 60 |
Dundee | … | 75 | 50 | 10 | 10 | 85 | 130 |
Dunfermline | … | — | — | — | — | 110 | 100 |
Hamilton | … | 85 | 60 | 10 | 15 | 30 | 25 |
Jordanhill | … | 130 | 120 | 45 | 30 | 640 | 545 |
Moray House | … | 115 | 125 | 30 | 25 | 380 | 350 |
Notre Dame | … | 100 | 90 | 25 | 20 | 200 | 180 |
Total | … | 750 | 700 | 170 | 150 | 1,650 | 1,600 |
I am required to consult the governing body of each college before issuing directions regarding the number of students of different categories to be admitted to the college. For session 1978–79 I am proposing to the colleges that the allocation of the total intake to pre-service courses of teacher training should be as in the following table, which also shows the quotas for session 1977–78 for comparison:
highest priority to applicants for admission to courses leading to a teaching qualification — secondary education — in business studies, mathematics, music, physics and technical education, and to give lowest priority to applicants for training in geography, history and modern studies. I am also suggesting to the colleges that they should consult the education authorities in their areas with a view to ascertaining whether any departures from this general advice might be necessary in the light of local school staffing needs.
Emigration
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the total number of people emigrating from Scotland in each of the last six years.
The information available does not provide accurate figures of total emigration from Scotland. There are, however, some sample figures available on emigration from Scotland to countries overseas derived from the international passenger survey. Grossed-up estimates based on these sample figures are shown in the table below, as are figures of the number of patients on doctors' lists moving from Scotland to the rest of the United Kingdom as recorded through the National Health Service central register.
Emigration to overseas from Scotland International Passenger Survey | Patients on doctors' lists moving from Scotland to rest of United Kingdom | |
1971–72 | 22,800 | 69,400 |
1972–73 | 20,000 | 61,700 |
1973–74 | 20,400 | 52,800 |
1974–75 | 26,000 | 61,900 |
1975–76 | 19,000 | 57,000 |
1976–77 | 17,900 | 55,500 |
Fishing Regulations (Net Attachments)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, East on 11th May 1978, he will list in the Official Report the fishing organisations referred to and the steps that were taken to notify net manufacturers.
The fishing organisations referred to are the British Fishing Federation and the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, whose secretary also acts for the Herring Producers' Association and the Scottish White Fish Producers' Association. The Scottish Fishermen's Organisation Limited has also received a copy of the regulations from my Department. It is for the fishermen themselves to instruct their net manufacturers.
Household Incomes
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the average income per household at the latest available date on a regional basis throughout Scotland.
Nursery | Primary | Secondary | Special | Total | |||
Argyll and Bute | … | — | 6 | 1 | — | 7 | |
Ayr | … | … | — | 26 | 5 | — | 31 |
Dunbarton | … | … | — | 29 | 2 | — | 31 |
Glasgow | … | … | — | 109 | 26 | — | 135 |
Lanark | … | … | — | 68 | 20 | — | 88 |
Renfrew | … | … | 6 | 54 | 24 | 4 | 88 |
Total | … | … | 6 | 292 | 78 | 4 | 380 |
The estimated average weekly income per household for Scotland in 1976, the latest year for which information is available, was £80·35. This information is not available for regions within Scotland, but average weekly earnings of full-time manual and non-manual workers for each region in Scotland in April 1977 were as follows:
Full-time workers whose pay was not affected by absence | ||
Local Government Region | Men (21 and over) | Women (18 and over) |
£ | £ | |
Borders | N.A. | N.A. |
Central | 81·7 | 45·9 |
Dumfries and Galloway | 68·7 | N.A. |
Fife | 75·9 | 49·5 |
Grampian | 81·0 | 51·1 |
Highland | 78·3 | N.A. |
Lothian | 78·2 | 47·4 |
Strathclyde | 79·4 | 49·3 |
Tayside | 72·6 | 49·1 |
Islands | N.A. | N.A. |
Scotland | 78·3 | 48·9 |
Source: Department of Employment New Earnings Survey April 1977, as published in Scottish Economic Bulletin No. 14. | ||
The estimates are subject to sampling errors. | ||
N.A.=Not available. |
Teachers (Strathclyde)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many additional teachers have been employed in (a) nursery, (b) primary, (c) secondary and (d) special schools in areas of urban deprivation in each division of the Strathclyde Region since 13th September 1977.
The numbers of additional teachers appointed by Strathclyde Regional Council under the scheme which my right hon. Friend announced last July for the employment of additional teachers in schools serving urban areas of deprivation are set out in the following table:the East End of Glasgow with the assistance of grants under the urban programme.
Agriculture, Fisheries And Food
Badgers
12.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the extermination of badgers suspected of carrying bovine tuberculosis.
Efforts to clear up the disease in certain areas of South-West England are continuing. The results are encouraging: there has been a marked reduction in the incidence of bovine tuberculosis among cattle in these areas.
Green Pound
13.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present disparity between the green pound and the market rate of the £ sterling.
The current difference between the new rate for the green pound and the market rate used for MCA purposes is 30·8 per cent. This already applies to pigmeat when it gives an applied MCA percentage of 29·3. The new rate will be applied for the beef and milk sectors from 22nd May and for the other sectors from the start of the relevant marketing year.
25.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current difference between the green pound and the £ sterling.
I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today to the hon. Member for Bromsgrove and Redditch (Mr. Miller).
Farmers
17.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to help part-time farmers farming less than 30 acres; and if he will make a statement.
All farmers, irrespective of the area they farm, benefit from commodity support arrangements and can obtain assistance under the Ministry's grant schemes provided they satisfy the conditions.
National Farmers' Union
14.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he plans next to meet representatives of the National Farmers' Union.
I keep in close touch with the National Farmers' Union but have no specific plans for a meeting.
European Community
18.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will next meet Commissioner Gundelach of the EEC Commission.
When it is necessary to do so.
23.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what he expects to discuss when he next meets EEC leaders and if he will make a statement.
I expect discussions in the coming weeks to deal with fisheries questions, the proposals for EEC sheep-meat and potatoes regimes, and further measures to meet the problems of agriculture in the Mediterranean area.
Wheat
19.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated cost to the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund of export subsidies for wheat.
There are currently no export subsidies for wheat and therefore no cost to the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund.
Potatoes
21.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on potato supplies and the likely trends in retail prices over the next year.
Supplies of both old and new potatoes are sufficient to meet demand for the rest of the current season at reasonable prices. It is too early to forecast supplies and prices for the next crop.
38.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that the supply of potatoes on the market is adequate.
Yes. A significant proportion of remaining supplies from the 1977 potato crop is contracted to the Potato Marketing Board under the joint support buying programme. Increasing quantities of these potatoes are now being released back on to the market supplementing the reducing supplies still available from uncontracted stocks.
40.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the current arrangements for the marketing of potatoes.
Yes. The current arrangements have served the country well over a number of years, although we may need to make some changes in the future mainly as a result of our membership of the EEC. The Government are considering this whole question in consultation with the industry.
Food Manufacturers' Federation
24.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the Food Manufacturers' Federation.
I have accepted an invitation from the president of the Food Manufacturers' Federation to open the federation's new offices some time in the next few weeks.
Bacon And Meat Manufacturers Association
22.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the British Meat Manufacturers Association.
I maintain regular contact with the chairman of the Bacon and Meat Manufacturers Association but I have no immediate plans for a meeting.
Milk Marketing Board
26.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arangements he has concluded for the future of the Milk Marketing Board.
33.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what stage he has reached in his further discussions with the Commission on the proposals affecting the United Kingdom Milk Marketing Board arrangements.
37.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements he has concluded for the future of the Milk Marketing Board.
I would refer the hon. Members to the statement I made to the House on 12th May.—[Vol. 949, c. 1605–20.]
Irish Beef (Imports)
27.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much Irish beef has been imported into the United Kingdom during the past year compared with the previous two years.
United Kingdom imports of beef and veal from the Irish Republic in 1975, 1976 and 1977 were 96,000 tonnes, 80,000 tonnes and 129,000 tonnes respectively.
Council Of Ministers
28.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next expects to meet his EEC colleagues.
35.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends next to meet the EEC Agriculture Ministers.
I refer my hon. Friends to the reply given earlier today to the hon. Member for Melton (Mr. Latham).
Potato Marketing Board
29.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about future plans for the Potato Marketing Board, following the meeting of the Council of Ministers (Agriculture) on 25th and 26th April.
There was no discussion on potatoes at the Council on 25th-26th April.
Government policy on the agricultural marketing boards remains unchanged: it is to seek to maintain those powers of the boards which are essential to the orderly marketing of the products concerned.
Milk
30.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average annual per capita consumption of milk in the Unied Kingdom and in the European Economic Community as a whole during the last five years.
1976 | 1977 | 1978 January-March) | ||
Live cattle including calves (thousand head) | ||||
Imports from the EEC | … | 229·6 | 304·1 | 105·3 |
Exports to the EEC | … | 293·1 | 506·7 | 106·2 |
Carcase beet and veal (thousand tonnes) | ||||
Imports from the EEC | … | 165·9 | 215·1 | 48·6 |
Exports to the EEC | … | 97·5 | 85·1 | 27·1 |
Source: Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom. |
Sheepmeat
32.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received from the New Zealand Prime Minister about the working of an EEC sheepmeat regime, regulating the import and sale of lamb and mutton.
The New Zealand Prime Minister on his recent visit expressed concern about the proposals for a common market organisation for sheepmeat, and my right hon. Friend and I share his views on the need to ensure that continued access for imported supplies to the United Kingdom is recognised in any EEC sheepmeat regime.
39.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on recent movement towards an EEC sheepmeat regime.
44.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on negotiations for an EEC sheepmeat regime.
The EEC Commission issued its proposals in April. Preliminary technical examination is in progress, but the proposals have not yet been discussed by the Council of Agriculture Ministers.
151 and 89 kgs per head respectively, including both liquid milk and fresh products.
Live Cattle And Carcases
31.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the levels of imports and exports of live cattle to the EEC, and carcases from the EEC, in 1976, 1977 and 1978, respectively.
The information for the United Kingdom is as follows:
Fisheries Policy
34.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current state of negotiations concerning the development of the internal fisheries regime of the EEC.
41.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the latest situation in the renegotiation of the common fisheries policy.
I refer the hon. Members to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull, West (Mr. Johnson) on 28th April and to the statement I made to the House on 12th May.—[Vol. 948, c. 710; Vol. 949, c. 1605–20.]
Common Agricultural Policy
42.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has made in plans for the restructuring of the common agricultural policy along the lines indicated in the Prime Minister's letter to Mr. Ron Hayward.
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Mr. Jenkins).
Agricultural Land
36.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what acreage of agricultural land including rough pasture is lost to other uses; and how the annual losses compare with those of 30 years ago.
Thousand acres (thousand hectares) | ||
1969–70 to 1974–75* | 1946–47 to 1950–51 | |
Urban, industrial and recreational development, including mineral workings | 34·6 (14·0) | 36·6 (14·8) |
Defence and other government departments | 0·1 (0·1)† | 30·7 (12·4)† |
Forestry Commission and private woodlands | 3·8 (1·6) | 13·3 (5·4) |
Land not previously recorded and other adjustments | 23·4 (9·4) | 23·7 (9·6)† |
Total‡ | 61·6 (24·9) | 4·5 (1·8)† |
The estimates are based on returns by farmers in the agriculture census at June each year, adjusted to discount changes in the coverage. | ||
* Six year period. | ||
† Transfer to agriculture. | ||
‡ Totals may not agree due to rounding. |
45.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to preserve good land so that it is used for agriculture, and only sparingly used for urban development.
Where applications for non-agricultural development do not accord with development plans, local planning authorities are required by Article 15(1)(i) of the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1977 to refer to my Department all proposals which involve the development of 10 acres or more of agricultural land, or where the direct loss is less than 10 acres and further loss might follow that development.My Department's replies to such references are in accordance with Government policy for the protection of agricultural land. This is to ensure that, as far as possible, land of a higher agricultural quality is not taken for development where land of a lower quality is available and that the amount of land taken is no greater than is reasonably required for carrying out the development in accordance with proper standards. This applies equally to land acquisition under the Community Land Act.
Agricultural Workers
43.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many workers were employed
The annual average net transfer of land out of agriculture, including rough grazings, in England to other uses for the period 1969–70 to 1974–75, the latest information available, compared with those in the period 1946–47 to 1950–51 is estimated to be:in the United Kingdom agriculture industry in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
The number of workers employed in agriculture in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years was as follows:
1973 | 416,000 |
1974 | 398,000 |
1975 | 382,000 |
1976 | 377,000 |
1977 | 373,000 |
Animals (Exports)
46.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many representations he has so far received against the export of live animals.
48.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has received any further representations regarding the export of live food animals; and if he will make a statement.
50.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further representations he has received on the export of live animals.
I refer my hon. Friends to the reply given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, North-West (Mr. Thomas).
Farm Incomes
47.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what he now expects to be the percentage growth in farm income for the year 1978–79.
As my right hon. Friend made clear in his statement to the House on 12th May—[Vol. 949, cc. 1605–20]—we expect farm income in 1978–79 to benefit from the green pound devaluation announced earlier this year and the CAP price settlement agreed last week. The change in farm income cannot be forecast as it will be affected by a number of unpredictable factors, including the weather.
Fishery Protection
49.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the current state of the fishery protection service operating within 200 miles of the British coast; and if he will make a statement.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member of Kingston upon Hull, West (Mr. Johnson) on 25th April 1978—[Vol. 948, c. 510.]
Fishing Agreements (Third Countries)
51.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current state in the negotiations concerning third country fishing agreements.
Reciprocal fishing agreements for 1978 have been worked out in the course of consultations between the EEC and Norway, Sweden and the Faroe Islands respectively. The arrangements have not yet been confirmed by the Council of Ministers and are meanwhile being implemented provisionally. Fishing rights have been accorded to Spanish vessels pending the negotiation of a framework fisheries agreement between the Community and Spain. Negotiations are continuing with Canada and a number of West African countries but these do not involve reciprocal access to waters under the jurisdiction of EEC member States.
Trade
Footwear (Imports)
asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is satisfied with the operation of Her Majesty's Government's policy on imported footwear originating in South Korea, Portugal, Sweden, India, Malaysia and the Philippines; and if he will make a statement.
While imports from these countries have been higher so far this year than in the corresponding period last year, they cannot be considered in isolation from imports of footwear as a whole. Total imports of footwear in the first quarter of 1978 were in fact lower than those in the same period in 1977. Imports of footwear from South Korea, Malaysia and India are subject to surveillance licensing. In response to representations from a number of EEC member States, including the United Kingdom, the European Commission has embarked on discussions with three of the Community's main low cost suppliers—South Korea, India and Spain—about their future forecasts of sales to the Community.
Oil Pollution (East Anglian Coast)
asked the Secretary of State for Trade to what extent the practice of using detergents to break up the continuing oil slicks, as now being used off the Norfolk coast, has damaged or may damage the sea bed and marine life; and whether he has made or will make, urgently, a thorough investigation into such matters.
Our objective in dealing with oil spillages is to protect our coasts and important concentrations of sea birds without damaging sea bed and marine life.The dispersants used to combat oil pollution have to be approved by the Mininstry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to ensure that they are unlikely to increase significantly damage to the marine biota beyond that resulting from the untreated oil.
Some oil from "Eleni V" has reached the sea bed and has fouled some trawling gear. However, this is not attributable to the use of dispersants.
Fish (Import Duties)
asked the Secretary of State for Trade why the EEC import duties on Norwegian wetfish, roundfrozen fish and shellfish are only being reduced to 10 per cent.; why this reduction is only for six months in view of the inadequate supplies of such fish in the United Kingdom; what is the justification for any import duties at all; and if he will make a statement.
The recent decision by the EEC Council temporarily to reduce the duties on fresh, chilled, or frozen cod, haddock, hake and hake fillets imported for use by the processing industry to 10 per cent. for the last six months of 1978 was taken against the background of continuing discussions about the Community's internal and external fishery regimes. The agreement reached takes account of the interests of both the fish processing and fishing industries in the Community. In view of the uncertainties facing these sectors, the reductions were made for an initial period of six months only. The position for the first half of 1979 will be reviewed in the autumn, when it will be possible to reassess the demand and supply situation.
Film Industry
asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he is satisfied that the sums raised by the Eady levy on cinema tickets is being used for the purposes intended; and if he will make a statement.
The Eady levy is distributed, as was intended, to the makers of qualifying films and to certain bodies that support the British Film Industry. The Interim Action Committee on the future of the British Film Industry has its operation under review.
Tourism
asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will set out in the Official Report his estimates of the revenue in foreign currency from foreign and overseas visitors and tourists, and the corresponding amount of expenditure by British visitors to other countries for each of the last 10 calendar years.
This information is given in Table 1A of "M6 Business Monitor, Overseas Travel and Tourism, Fourth Quarter 1977", a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library.
Motor Vehicle Imports
asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will now take steps to introduce import controls over motor car imports in the light of British Leyland's recent decision to import Minis from Belgium; and if he will make a statement.
I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
Portugal (Textiles)
asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if the EEC Commission has negotiated a new provisional agreement with Portugal on global ceilings for cotton yarn and synthetic cloth; and, if so, if he will give full details of the agreement;(2) if he will take steps to oppose the provisional agreement between the EEC Commission and Portugal to increase the global ceilings for certain textile imports;(3) if the new provisional agreement with Portugal on textile imports is within the global ceilings given in his undertakings to the textile industry;(4) if the EEC Commission has negotiated a new provisional agreement with Portugal concerning all textile imports; and, if so, whether he will give full details of the agreement.
Following discussions with Portugal, the EEC Commission has submitted to the EEC Council proposals for an agreement with Portugal which would involve a number of increases in the quotas, including the global ceilings, agreed by the Council of Foreign Ministers on 20th December 1977. For the United Kingdom there would be increases in the quotas for cotton yarn, synthetic cloth, cordage and some clothing items. There would be decreases in the quotas for cotton cloth and jerseys. We and other member States are now considering these proposals and I expect the matter to be discussed at the next EEC Council of Ministers.
Environment
Dog Wardens
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities employ dog wardens; and how many dog wardens in each case.
No information is kept centrally. Available evidence suggests that about 80 district councils in Great Britain employ dog wardens, of which the majority employ one full or part time warden.
National Parks
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on the use of the national parks for sports activities, particularly water ski-ing.
I informed the House on 12th January 1976 of the conclusions of my right hon. Friend and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales on national park policies following the Sandford Report and they are recorded in Circular DOE 4/76.—[Vol. 903, c. 9–10.] Future policies for the recreational use of the national parks should be related to the particular qualities and capacities of different types of area—paragraph 49 of the circular. They did not dissent from the Sandford Committee's view that noisy pursuits should only exceptionally be provided for in the national parks, and agreed that the national park authorities should include suitable proposals in their national park plans. They pointed out that they could study the suitability of various measures in particular instances and that they had the power to make byelaws prohibiting or restricting traffic on lakes in the parks—paragraph 51 of the circular. It is for the national park authorities to proceed accordingly in consultation with appropriate bodies including the regional councils for sport and recreation.
Park Hall, Oswestry
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to ensure that the public utility services of the Ministry of Defence houses at Park Hall, Oswestry, have been fully restored prior to the houses being offered for public purchase; what is the estimated cost of such restoration; and if he will make a statement.
Restoration of public utility services to the surplus MOD houses at Park Hall, Oswestry is not required as all the houses are currently connected to electricity, gas, water and sewage mains.The gas and electricity services do not need modification. Some water mains and service pipes require replacing before the houses can be offered for sale individually. It is possible that some work will be required to bring the sewage mains to the adoption standards of the Severn Trent Water Authority. The roads, verges etc. and street lighting need improving to bring them to the highway authority's adoption standards.The PSA plans to arrange for all the necessary work to be done at an estimated cost of £75,000.
New Town Dwellings
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average cost of building a new town dwelling completed in 1977.
The average cost of a new town dwelling, including land, that was completed in England during 1977 was a bout £13,500.
Bailiffs
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will undertake discussions with local authority associations with a view to persuading local authorities to abandon the employment of private bailiffs in distraint actions over rent arrears;(2) if he will issue guidelines to local authorities relating to abuses perpetrated by private bailiffs, retained by local authorities in distraint cases concerning rent arrears, as outlined in "In Distress over Rent", recently published by Shelter;(3) if he will list those local authorities which are known to employ private bailiffs to distrain in instances of rent arrears; and if he will make a statement.
My right hon. Friend's views on the use of distraint generally have already been made clear to my hon. Friend. My right hon. Friend will consider whether advice is required on the whole complex subject of rent arrears when current research has been completed and account can be taken of experience in the new Housing Services Advisory Unit. He would certainly expect to discuss the content of any advice with the local authority associations beforehand. Particulars of which authorities employ private bailiffs in the exercise of their management responsibilities are not available.
Wessex Water Board
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the salary bill of the Wessex Water Board in its first year following reorganisation; what was then the number of staff employed; and how these figures compare with those for the current year.
The Wessex Water Authority's first year of operation was 1974–75, but, as I explained in my reply to the hon. Member on 11th May, the effects of reorganisation were still being absorbed in that year.—[Vol. 949, c. 614–5.] The total cost of salaries and wages, excluding employers contributions for National insurance and superannuation for the following year 1975–76 was £7,365,000 and the estimated cost for 1978–79 is £9,148,000.Total staff was 2,210 at 31st March 1976 and 2,291 at 31st March 1978.
Fibre Glass
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied there is sufficient capacity of domestic production of fibreglass to avoid undue reliance on imports in any home insulation scheme.
The major manufacturers of insulation materials assure us that they have sufficient capacity to
DERBYSHIRE CONSTABULARY | ||||||||
Establishment | Strength | Vacancies | Percentage | |||||
Date | Men | Women | Men | Women | Men | Women | Deficiency | |
1st January 1973* | … | 1,446 | 67 | 1,280 | 68 | 166 | — | 10·97 |
1st January 1974* | … | 1,454 | 102 | 1,292 | 85 | 162 | 17 | 11·50 |
1st January 1975 | … | 1,457 | 102 | 1,336 | 98 | 121 | 4 | 8·02 |
1st January 1976 | … | 1,559 | 1,434 | 127 | — | — | ||
1st January 1977 | … | 1,709 | 1,420 | 139 | 150 | 8·77 | ||
1st January 1978 | … | 1,709 | 1,339 | 150 | 220 | 12·87 | ||
* These figures relate to the former Derby County and Borough force. |
meet the increased demand which could be expected from schemes introduced under the Homes Insulation Bill.
Civil Service
Management By Objectives
asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many management by objectives schemes have been introduced by his Department; how many are still operating; and what was the date of introduction of the last.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, as part of its dissemination of the principles of management by objectives, this Department helped to introduce over 40 systematic management by objective schemes covering over 100,000 managers and staff in 10 departments. The underlying concepts have now been absorbed as part of the management approach in these areas of work. They have also been applied more generally within the service informing a wide range of management services and training activities. In the light of experience gained, a national agreement between the official and staff sides of the National Whitley Council on procedures for improving management systems was concluded in 1976; further development work continues in the regional and local offices of the Department of Health and Social Security, Inland Revenue and the Manpower Services Commission.
Home Department
Police (Derbyshire)
52.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what percentage the Derbyshire Constabulary was below its establishment, excluding civilian employees, on 1st January 1973, 1st January 1974, 1st January 1975, 1st January 1976, 1st January 1977 and 1st January 1978.
The figures are as follows:
Havering (Election Candidate's Death)
53.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why neither he nor his Department has replied to the letter sent by the hon. Member for Paddington on 24th April concerning the position on the London Borough of Havering Council following the death of one of tie candidates in the Gooshays Ward; and what steps are required in order to elicit a prompt reply from his Department.
My hon. Friend the Minister of State has now replied to my hon. Friend.
Birching (Isle Of Man)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juveniles have been birched in the Isle of Man in each of the last five years; and, of these, how many have previously received this punishment.
I am asking the Isle of Man Government to provide me with the information requested by the hon. Member, to whom I shall send it when I have their reply.
Drug Addicts
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many registered drug addicts there are in the United Kingdom; and what is the estimated number of non-registered addicts.
PERSONS FOUND GUILTY OF OFFENCES OF POSSESSION OF DRUGS CONTROLLED UNDER THE MISUSE OF DRUGS ACT 1971 | ||||
UNITED KINGDOM | ||||
Number of persons | ||||
Offence and type of drug | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | |
Unlawful possession— | ||||
Cannabis* | … | 8,486 | 7,955 | 8,592 |
Controlled drugs other than cannabis | … | 2,340 | 2,269 | 2,247 |
Possession with intent to supply unlawfully— | ||||
Cannabis* | … | 199 | 276 | 330 |
Controlled drugs other than cannabis | … | 112 | 170 | 165 |
* Cannabis, cannabis resin, cannabinol and controlled cannabinol derivatives, alone or with other controlled drugs. |
Prisoner—Warder Ratios
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the prisoner to warder ratio at Her Majesty's Prison, Sudbury, Derbyshire; and what was the average prisoner to warder ratio for open prisons in England and Wales at 31st December 1977.
There is no system of registration of addicts in the United Kingdom. There is, however, an obligation imposed on every doctor by the Misuse of Drugs (Notification of and Supply to Addicts) Regulations 1973 to notify to the Chief Medical Officer at the Home Office details of persons whom he considers, or has reasonable grounds to suspect, to be addicted to any one, or more, of 14 specified narcotic drugs. The official statistics derived from these notifications show 1,879 addicts in the United Kingdom known to the Home Office to be receiving narcotic drugs as at 31st December 1976.Reliable estimates of other addicts are not available.
Drug Convictions
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions for the possession of (a) cannabis resin and its derivatives and (b) other drugs have been made in United Kingdom courts during each of the last three years.
Information in the form requested is not available except at disproportionate cost. The information available is given in the following table. Some of the persons shown in the table may have been convicted both of unlawful possession of, and of possession with intent to supply unlawfully, a controlled drug. Figures for 1977 are not yet available.
The ratio of prison officers to inmates on 31st December 1977 was 1:5·97 at Her Majesty's Prison, Sudbury and 1:5·75 at all open prisons in England and Wales.
Shot-Gun Licences
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what were the numbers of shot-gun licences renewed and issued to new applicants, respectively, in 1977;(2) how many applications for shot-gun licences were refused in 1977 in England and Wales.
Records of applications for shot-gun certificates are not maintained centrally, and I regret that the information could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.
Cypriot Refugees
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, South may expect a final reply to her letter of 1st August 1977 about the position of Cypriot refugees from the Turkish invasion now in the United Kingdom.
I have now myself carefully reviewed each of the 36 individual cases raised by my hon. Friend. A number of complicated and difficult issues were involved, but I expect to be able to send a final reply to her shortly.
Community Service
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many community service orders were made in England and Wales in 1977.
1976 is the latest period for which figures are available from records of criminal court proceedings; those figures are given on page 58 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1976".
Bus crews | Train crews | Station staff | Police | ||||
1976— | |||||||
Assaults reported | … | … | … | 972 | 19 | 163 | 56 |
Prosecutions | … | … | … | 131 | 83 | ||
1977— | |||||||
Assaults reported | … | … | … | 1,026 | 31 | 166 | 90 |
Prosecutions | … | … | … | 138 | 120 |
Employment
Wrongful Dismissal Cases
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what information
Corresponding figures for 1977 will be published later this year. Four-monthly returns made by the probation service record 12,133 persons given a community service order in England and Wales during the period 1st December 1976 to 30th November 1977.
Television Licences (Retirement Pensioners)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will end the situation whereby only some retirement pensioners receive TV licences at a reduced rate, whereas others in no better financial situation do not.
The Government are currently considering the question of television licence concessions in the light of the Annan Committee's recommendation that the concessionary licence available to residents in old people's homes should be phased out and that no further concessions should be introduced.
London Transport Staff (Assaults)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many assaults on bus crews, train crews and station staff on London Transport were recorded in 1976 and 1977; and, in each case, how many prosecutions were successfully completed.
I have been asked to reply.British Transport Police statistics show the position to have been as follows:he has of the legal costs to the employers who have defended themselves against charges of wrongful dismissal under the Employment Protection Act, and of the cost of insuring against such costs and possible compensation payable.
I have no information on these matters other than that available in the Press.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many appeals against wrongful dismissal have been made under the Employment Protection Act in the past year; how many were successful; in how many cases compensation was paid by the employer to the employee; what the average amount of compensation paid; and if he will give this information for the United Kingdom and Cornwall, respectively.
The information requested is not available for the United Kingdom or Cornwall. Figures giving the outcomes of unfair dismissal applications in 1977 for Great Britain will be
Scotland | England | Wales | ||||||
March 1976 | … | … | … | … | … | 3,304 | 31,430 | 3,143 |
April 1976 | … | … | … | … | … | 8,920 | 41,932 | 4,548 |
May 1976 | … | … | … | … | … | 8,222 | 34,161 | 2,780 |
June 1976 | … | … | … | … | … | 5,942 | 42,505 | 2,855 |
July 1976 | … | … | … | … | … | 6,351 | 48,098 | 3,473 |
August 1976 | … | … | … | … | … | 4,189 | 39,937 | 1,655 |
September 1976 | … | … | … | … | 8,076 | 35,159 | 1,991 | |
October 1976 | … | … | … | … | … | 7,243 | 45,300 | 4,540 |
November 1976 | … | … | … | … | 7,026 | 28,365* | 2,781 | |
December 1976 | … | … | … | … | … | 12,277 | 14,309* | 2,758 |
January 1977 | … | … | … | … | … | 9,456 | 36,511 | 2,553 |
February 1977 | … | … | … | … | … | 5,353 | 41,262 | 3,529 |
March 1977 | … | … | … | … | … | 5,477 | 45,062 | 3,475 |
April 1977 | … | … | … | … | … | 10,483 | 37,068 | 3,300 |
May 1977 | … | … | … | … | … | 5,808 | 43,929 | 3,680 |
June 1977 | … | … | … | … | … | 10,601 | 46,380 | 5,919 |
July 1977 | … | … | … | … | … | 6,010 | 47,403 | 1,897 |
August 1977 | … | … | … | … | … | 6,577 | 33,646 | 1,750 |
September 1977 | … | … | … | … | 4,137 | 39,140 | 2,653 | |
October 1977 | … | … | … | … | … | 7,202 | 34,785 | 3,020 |
November 1977 | … | … | … | … | 7,107 | 38,073 | 4,703 | |
December 1977 | … | … | … | … | … | 6,223 | 38,569 | 2,786 |
January 1978 | … | … | … | … | … | 5,547 | 38,772 | 2,948 |
February 1978 | … | … | … | … | … | 4,657 | 47,176 | 2,458 |
March 1978 | … | … | … | … | … | 6,636 | 47,794 | 2,991 |
April 1978 | … | … | … | … | … | 4,577 | 40,435 | 2,759 |
Total | … | … | … | … | … | 177,401 | 1,017,201* | 80,945 |
Scotland | 55,655 |
England | 323,765* |
Wales | 26,787 |
*Owing to industrial action complete figures are not available here and could be calculated only at disproportionate cost. |
Her Majesty's Dockyards (Semi-Skilled Workers)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average take-home pay of a semi-skilled worker in Her Majesty's Dockyards; and how this compares both with the wage of a
published in the May edition of the Department of Employment Gazette.
Redundancies
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies have been notified to him in Scotland, England and Wales, respectively, for each month since the appropriate provisions of the Employment Protection Act came into operation.
For each month from March 1976 to April 1978 proposed redundancies in all industries in Scotland, England and Wales have been notified to my Department as follows:semi-skilled worker in the motor industry, and with the national average wage.
I regret the information requested is not available.
Industry
Ferrous Foundries
asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will make a statement about future prospects for the ferrous foundry industry.
There are no official forecasts of the output of the ferrous foundry industry. As the overall economic activity of the United Kingdom recovers, particularly in the engineering, construction and vehicle industries, so the overall demand for ferrous castings will increase, although the level of activity will vary between sectors of the industry and companies within sectors.The Government's ferrous foundry assistance scheme, which is contributing towards expenditure up to 31st August 1980 on approved capital projects, is helping to put the industry into a better position to meet such an increase in demand.
Redundant Steelworkers (Wales)
asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) how redundancy payments payable to British Steel Corporation workers at Ebbw Vale and East Moors compare with payments being made to Dupont steelworkers at Briton Ferry;(2) what representations he has received from representatives of redundant Dupont steelworkers from Briton Ferry; and whether he will make a statement.
I, with my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Employment, received a deputation of Dupont steelworkers recently.I understand that redundant BSC workers and redundant Briton Ferry workers receive from their employers a supplement of about 50 per cent. above the statutory lump sum payable under the Redundancy Payments Act 1965. In addition, both groups may be eligible for income support benefits—for periods of up to two and a half years depending on age—under the joint United Kingdom Government—ECSC readaptation scheme. Following an application by Her Majesty's Government, the European Commission has already allocated funds to readaptation benefits for Briton Ferry workers, and applications are being made for similar treatment for BSC workers at Ebbw Vale and East Moors. Thus redundant Dupont steelworkers will receive equivalent payments to those normally made to redundant BSC workers.Unlike the closure of the Briton Ferry works, the dates of the closure of East Moors and part of Ebbw Vale works have been brought forward from dates announced and agreed as part of the Beswick review. In order to compensate for the loss of expected employment thereby caused, BSC has agreed with the unions concerned to make ex gratia payments representing 26½ weeks' normal earnings at Ebbw Vale and 42 weeks' at East Moors.
British Steel Corporation (Shotton)
asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he considers the steel-making facilities at Shotton to be a "high cost plant" within the terms of paragraph 9 of the recent White Paper on steel entitled "British Steel Corporation: the Road to Viability", Command Paper No. 7149.
The cost competitiveness of individual works is a matter for the British Steel Corporation.
National Enterprise Board
asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the firms in the North-West Region of England, excluding Merseyside, in which the National Enterprise Board has an investment.
The Board has investments in the North-West Region, excluding the Merseyside special development area, in the following companies:—
- British Leyland Ltd
- British Tanners Products Ltd
- Data Recording Instrument Co Ltd
- Fairey Engineering Holdings Ltd
- Ferranti Ltd
- Francis Shaw & Co Ltd
- Hird Brown Ltd
- ICL Ltd
- Twinlock Ltd.
asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the firms on Merseyside in which the National Enterprise Board has an investment.
The Board has investments in the Merseyside special development area in British Leyland Ltd. and in Hemmings Plastics Ltd.I am sure that the NEB's regional board for the North-West would welcome, and consider seriously, any further proposals from companies in the area for investment by the Board.
asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many applications from firms in the North-West of England, excluding Merseyside, asking the National Enterprise Board to participate in the company's activities have been rejected by the National Enterprise Board.
This is a matter for the Board.
asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many applications from firms in Merseyside asking the National Enterprise Board to participate in the company's activities have been rejected by the National Enterprise Board.
This is a matter for the Board.
National Research Development Corporation
asked the Secretary of State for Industry why he has raised the limits on investment without the approval of the Secretary of State by the National Research Development Corporation by such a substantial amount as from £20,000 to £250,000.
Following a request by the Corporation, based on their experience of investing successfully in the development or exploitation of inventions, it was agreed that an upper limit of £250,000 was now the appropriate figure.
Industry Act Grants
asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether his Department is now attaching pay policy conditions to all offers of grants to industry under Sections 1, 7 and 8, respectively, of the Industry Act 1972; what is his authority in law for attaching such conditions to offers; and whether he will set out the precise terms of the undertakings that are being sought.
In accordance with the policy set out in paragraph 16 of the White Paper "The Attack on Inflation after 31 July 1977", and following the practice in earlier phases of pay policy, in considering applications for discretionary assistance under Sections 7 and 8 of the Industry Act 1972 account is taken of the company's pay settlements in deciding whether assistance should be provided. Offer letters reserve the right to refuse payment if at the time for payment pay policy has not been complied with. This procedure does not apply to the provision of regional development grants under Section 1 of the Act, since these do not normally involve the exercise of the Secretary of State's discretion. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has been advised that such conditions are relevant to the purposes of the legislation and, consequently, it is proper for them to be included. The precise terms of individual offers are negotiated in each case with the applicant company and are not disclosed.
Planning Agreements
asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many statements he has issued on planning agreements under Section 21 of the Industry Act 1975.
My right hon. Friend has issued one, on 9th March 1977 in respect of Chrysler UK Ltd.
National Finance
Finance Bill Amendments
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the loss to the Exchequer as a result of the recent amendments to the Finance Bill.
If the amendments passed in Committee on 8th and 10th May 1978 were to be enacted, the estimated loss of revenue would be about £445 million in 1978–79, and £520 million, at 1978–79 income levels, in a full year.
Nedc Committee On Finance For Industry
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current membership of the National Economic Development Corporation's Committee on Finance for Industry.
The current membership of the committee on Finance for Industry which was recently reconstituted is as follows:
Chairman
Lord Roll of Ipsden, KCMG, CB—Chairman, S. G. Warburg & Co. Ltd.
Members
- Mr. B. Asher—Director General, National Economic Development Office.
- Mr. J. C. Burgh, CB—Deputy Secretary, Department of Prices and Consumer Protection.
- Mr. I. Bonas—Chairman, Bonas Machines.
- Mr. A. G. Christopher—General Secretary, Inland Revenue Staff Federation.
- Mr. A. H. A. Dibbs—Deputy Chairman, National Westminster Bank.
- Mr. G. Drain—General Secretary, National & Local Government Offices.
- Mr. J. S. Fforde—Executive Director, Bank of England.
- Mr. I. J. Frazer, CBE, MC—Deputy Chairman, Lazard Brothers & Co. Ltd.
- Mr. J. Gormley, OBE—President, National Union of Mineworkers.
- Mr. W. G. Haslam—Chief General Manager, Prudential Assurance Co. Ltd.
- Mr. F. Jones, CBE—Deputy Secretary, HM Treasury.
- Sir Arthur Knight—Chairman, Courtaulds Ltd.
- Mr. D. E. Lea, OBE—Assistant General Secretary, Trade Union Congress.
- Mr. A. J. Lippitt—Deputy Secretary, Department of Industry.
ANNUAIJSED GROWTH RATE | ||||||
(percentage) | ||||||
M1
| Sterling M3
| |||||
Three months to mid-April 1978 | … | … | … | … | +19·3 | +24·4 |
Six months to mid-April 1978 | … | … | … | … | +21·4 | +21·0 |
Three months to mid-February 1974 | … | … | … | … | +5·3 | +30·1 |
Six months to mid-February 1974 | … | … | … | … | +5·1 | +28·4 |
Over the 12 months to mid-April 1978 sterling M3 grew by 16·3 per cent. compared with an increase of 24·7 per cent. in the 12 months to mid-February 1974.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the growth of the money suuply in the past financial year exceeded his estimates; what were the main causes of this excess; and what he estimates as its effects on the real economy in general and the rate of inflation in particular.
Over the 12 months to mid-April, sterling M3 grew by about 16¼ per cent., 3¼ percentage points above the upper end of the Government's 9 per cent. to 13 per cent. preferred growth range. The growth over the past financial year reflects in substantial measure the inflow of external funds to the non-bank private sector. This inflow corresponded to about 40 per cent. of the total increase in £M3; together with non-resident purchases of sterling assets, it may also have had an effect through its impact in reducing domestic interest rates. The linkages between short-term movements in
Sir Donald MacDougall, CBE—Chief Economic Adviser, Confederation of British Industry.
Mr. K. G. Smith—Director of Pensions, Reed International.
Mr. E. S. Swainson—Managing Director, Imperial Metal Industries Ltd.
Money Supply
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a table showing the annual rates of growth of both M1 and £ sterling M3, on a seasonally adjusted basis, over the three months and six months to mid-April 1978, and similarly over the three months and six months to end-February 1974.
Money supply figures for end-February 1974 are not available. On a mid-monthly basis, the information is as follows—all figures seasonally adjusted:the monetary aggregates and the development of output and prices are not well established, and it is therefore not possible to make any precise deduction about the specific effects of the increase in sterling M3 last year. The inflows were, however, associated with a large increase in the bank deposits of industrial and commercial companies, particularly in the last quarter of 1977, which seem to have reflected in part a change at that time in portfolio preferences in favour of sterling and away from other currencies. Personal sector deposits grew much more slowly. It seems unlikely that the increase in company sector bank deposits will have any significant effect on companies' United Kingdom expenditure; but to a much greater degree than financial institutions and private individuals, companies are likely to keep their funds in liquid form against future commitments, rather than invest in longer-term financial assets such as gilts. The excess of monetary growth above my right hon. Friend's preferred range may, therefore, have relatively little direct effect on the real economy or on inflation. For the future, the Government intend to maintain firm control over the growth of the money supply; the increases in interest rates since mid-March, particularly short-term rates, reflect the Government's determination to keep sterling M3 within the 8 per cent. to 12 per cent. target for the year to mid-April 1979.
Income Tax Debts (Pensioners)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ask the Inland Revenue to write off income tax debts caused by errors made by the Inland Revenue, in the case of retirement pensioners earning £3,000 or less per annum.
, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15th May 1978; Vol. 950, c. 71], gave the following answer:Arrears of tax which have arisen because the Inland Revenue has failed to
1977 | 1978 | |||
£ | £ | |||
The Queen's Civil List | … | … | 1,903,000 | 1,950,000 |
(estimated) | ||||
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother | … | … | 155,000 | 175,000 |
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh | … | … | 85,000 | 93,500 |
HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon | … | … | 55,000 | 59,000 |
HRH The Princess Anne, Mrs. Mark Phillips | … | … | 50,000 | 60,000 |
HRH The Prince Andrew | … | … | — | 17,262 |
HRH Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester | … | … | 25,000 | 30,000 |
HRH The Duke of Gloucester | … | … | 26,000 | 39,000 |
HRH The Duke of Kent | … | … | 48,000 | 60,000 |
HRH Princess Alexandra, Mrs. Angus Ogilvy | … | … | 50,000 | 60,000 |
HRH Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone | … | … | 6,000 | 6,500 |
2,403,000 | 2,550,262 | |||
Notes: | ||||
1. These figures combine the sums payable directly from the Consolidated Fund with the supplements provided by the Royal Trustees from the grant made to them in the Vote for Economic and Financial Administration: Treasury (Class XIII, 4). With the exception of the allowance to HRH The Prince Andrew all the increases are directly linked to increased expenses incurred in carrying out the Royal duties. | ||||
2. A sum of £20,000 a year is payable from the Consolidated Fund in respect of HRH The Prince Andrew from 19th February 1978 when he attained the age of 18. It is Her Majesty's intention to make an Order under section 4 of the Civil List Act 1952 limiting the amount to be paid to him initially to £600 a year; the balance will be accumulated by the Royal Trustees. | ||||
3. Her Majesty paid £130,000 into the Consolidated Fund in 1977 in respect of the payments made to the last four members of the Royal Family, whose expenses are met under section 3 of the Civil List Act 1972; a payment of £165,500 will be made similarly in 1978. |
Personal Incomes
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a revised table showing the total annual net incomes for each of the categories make proper and timely use of information supplied by the taxpayer may be remitted in certain circumstances if the taxpayer's gross income is less than £3,000 a year. The practice, which applies to pensioners and non-pensioners on a similar footing, is set out in a White Paper of July 1971 (Cnmd. 4729). Account is also taken of any significant capital resources the taxpayer may have in deciding whether remission is appropriate.
Civil List
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the total amounts payable to the Royal Family under the Civil List Acts in the calendar years 1977 and 1978.
The information is as follows:of people at each of the income levels and on the same assumptions as those given in the Written Answer to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North, (Mr. Howell)
Official Report, 27th April, columns 669–701.
, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 17th May 1978] gave the following information:
Single person | Married couple | Married couple with 1 child aged 13 | ||||||
Annual income | Net income in 1977–78 | Net income following budget changes | Net income in 1977–78 | Net income following budget changes | Net income in 1977–78 | Net income following budget changes | ||
£ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
£1,000 | … | … | 923·80 | 931·25 | 942·50 | 935·00 | 994·50 | 1,054·60 |
£1,500 | … | … | 1,225·05 | 1,273·75 | 1,398·45 | 1,402·50 | 1,465·75 | 1,522·10 |
£2,000 | … | … | 1,526·30 | 1,592·40 | 1,699·70 | 1,753·75 | 1,830·24 | 1,907·10 |
£2,500 | … | … | 1,827·55 | 1,889·90 | 2,000·95 | 2,076·90 | 2,131·49 | 2,242·40 |
£3,000 | … | … | 2,128·80 | 2,187·40 | 2,302·20 | 2,374·40 | 2,432·74 | 2,539·90 |
£3,500 | … | … | 2,430·05 | 2,484·90 | 2,603·45 | 2,671·90 | 2,733·99 | 2,837·40 |
£4,000 | … | … | 2,731·30 | 2,782·40 | 2,904·70 | 2,969·40 | 3,035·24 | 3,134·90 |
£5,000 | … | … | 3,333·80 | 3,377·40 | 3,507·20 | 3,564·40 | 3,637·74 | 3,729·90 |
£6,000 | … | … | 3,967·35 | 3,972·40 | 4,140·75 | 4,159·40 | 4,271·29 | 4,324·90 |
£7,000 | … | … | 4,624·05 | 4,616·80 | 4,800·75 | 4,803·80 | 4,931·29 | 4,969·30 |
£8,000 | … | … | 5,221·30 | 5,275·90 | 5,428·05 | 5,463·80 | 5,572·45 | 5,629·30 |
£9,000 | … | … | 5,768·55 | 5,875·15 | 6,000·80 | 6,095·90 | 6,156·75 | 6,269·50 |
£10,000 | … | … | 6,265·80 | 6,424·40 | 6,523·55 | 6,672·65 | 6,691·05 | 6,853·00 |
£12,000 | … | … | 7,113·05 | 7,373·65 | 7,419·05 | 7,676·15 | 7,609·65 | 7,870·00 |
£15,000 | … | … | 8,207·55 | 8,547·15 | 8,541·80 | 8,904·65 | 8,743·95 | 9,112·00 |
Married couple with 2 children aged 10 and 13 | Married couple with 3 children aged 10, 13 and 15 | Married couple with 4 children aged 8,10,13 and 15 | ||||||
Annual income | Net income in 1977–78 | Net income following budget changes | Net income in 1977–78 | Net income following budget changes | Net income in 1977–78 | Net income following budget changes | ||
£ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
£1,000 | … | … | 1,072·50 | 1,174·20 | 1,150·50 | 1,293·80 | 1,228·50 | 1,413·40 |
£1,500 | … | … | 1,543·75 | 1,641·70 | 1,621·75 | 1,761·30 | 1,699·75 | 1,880·90 |
£2,000 | … | … | 1,966·03 | 2,051·70 | 2,092·99 | 2,205·05 | 2,171·00 | 2,348·40 |
£2,500 | … | … | 2,267·29 | 2,394·20 | 2,414·99 | 2,547·55 | 2,550·78 | 2,692·15 |
£3,000 | … | … | 2,568·54 | 2,693·50 | 2,716·24 | 2,859·00 | 2,852·03 | 3,012·60 |
£3,500 | … | … | 2,869·79 | 2,991·00 | 3,017·49 | 3,156·50 | 3,153·28 | 3,310·10 |
£4,000 | … | … | 3,171·04 | 3,288·50 | 3,318·74 | 3,454·00 | 3,454·53 | 3,607·60 |
£5,000 | … | … | 3,773·54 | 3,883·50 | 3,921·24 | 4.049·00 | 4,057·03 | 4,202·60 |
£6,000 | … | … | 4,407·09 | 4,478·50 | 4,554·79 | 4,644·00 | 4,690·58 | 4,797·60 |
£7,000 | … | … | 5,067·09 | 5,122·90 | 5,214·79 | 5,288·40 | 5,350·58 | 5,442·00 |
£8,000 | … | … | 5,718·45 | 5,782·90 | 5,874·79 | 5,948·40 | 6,010·58 | 6,102·00 |
£9,000 | … | … | 6,311·25 | 6,429·10 | 6,478·45 | 6,602·70 | 6,624·45 | 6,762·00 |
£10,000 | … | … | 6,854·05 | 7,017·60 | 7,031·50 | 7,197·95 | 7,186·00 | 7,362·30 |
£12,000 | … | … | 7,789·65 | 8,044·60 | 7,987·60 | 8,238·45 | 8,159·10 | 8,412·80 |
£15,000 | … | … | 8,932·45 | 9,296·60 | 9,143·70 | 9,503·95 | 9,332·20 | 9,688·30 |
Social Services
National Insurance Fund
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give
On the basis of the proposals in the Budget, the figures are as follows:
the main factors which have led to an estimated surplus of £648 million in the National Insurance Fund for 1977–78.
The contribution review for 1977–78 resulted in increases in the floor and ceiling for class 1 and 4 contribution liability, but no change in the rates of contribution except for class 2 and 3. In commending the contributions order to the House on 11th January 1977—[Vol. 923, c. 1346–55]—I explained the national insurance arguments against reducing contributions in that year only to raise them for the start of new pensions in April 1978, the need to build up the National Insurance Fund in relation to its benefit commitments, and the need to take into account the possibility of sharper than previous fluctuations in the economic factors affecting benefit expenditure. I also explained that although national insurance is a self-contained system its impact could not be considered in isolation from the needs of the economy as a whole.
1981 Census
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to ensure that the census of 1981 includes provision for establishing the number of Welsh-speaking persons who are resident in England, tabulated by age group.
No. To do so, a question would have to be added to the census form for every household in England.Evidence suggests that Welsh-speakers in England are a relatively small group: in the 1971 census persons born in Wales—not all of whom may be Welsh-speakers—accounted for less than 1·5 per cent. of the enumerated population of England. Similar information is expected to be available from the next census.
Geriatric Beds
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many additional geriatric beds are planned for the area health authorities in Leicestershire; when these are likely to be available; and how many, if any, are planned for closure.
Trent Regional Health Authority plans that from 1986–87 168 beds at Leicester Royal Infirmary will be used temporarily for geriatric patients until about 1990 when 200 new geriatric beds and complementary day places are likely to become available as part of phase IV of the hospital's redevelopment. The RHA also has plans for provision of a community hospital in South-West Leicestershire health district. This will include a number, as yet unspecified, of beds for the elderly and elderly severely mentally infirm and is likely to be available by about 1985. Development of community hospitals in other centres will also be considered. Any consequential closures will be subject to full public consultation at the appropriate time.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many geriatric beds there are in the area health authorities in Leicestershire; how this compares with the national average; and how many of these are supported by full medical and other facilities.
At 31st December 1976 there were 863 geriatric beds, representing 7·9 beds per 1,000 population aged 65 years and over, compared with a national average figure of 8·3. Of these beds, 178 are situated at a district general hospital with ready access to full diagnostic and therapeutic facilities.
Cigarettes (Health Warnings)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps through the World Health Organisation to ensure that health warnings are printed on all duty-free packets of cigarettes sold within the British Isles or on United Kingdom based ships and aircraft.
A suggestion of this kind, to have international effect, has been put to the World Health Organisation, which has recently sought the views of its members. The United Kingdom Government are considering their response.
Unemployment Benefit
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will review the regulations concerning the payment of unemployment benefits in the case of a person taking up employment which is paid in arrears, whereby such a person is denied unemployment pay during the period up to securing his first pay packet, and is again denied unemployment pay on leaving the job since he then has an equivalent number of weeks pay in hand.
Unemployment benefit is payable only for days on which a claimant is unemployed and available for work. It therefore ceases when the claimant starts work, and becomes payable again when he becomes unemployed. Supplementary benefit is paid to bring a person's resources up to the level at which his requirements are assessed. Payment of supplementary benefit may continue until the claimant receives his first wages, but benefit will not usually be payable for the period covered by the wages which the claimant receives when his employment ceases. I have no plans at present to review the conditions under which these benefits are paid.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if employment benefit offices are required not to pay unemployment benefit to a person who has lost his job for a number of days equivalent to any holiday pay to which the person was entitled on the termination of his employment; and, if so, whether they will pay unemployment benefit to the same person if he subsequently finds a job in which he is required to take a holiday but is not paid for such a period because he has not accrued adequate entitlements.
Terminal payments of holiday pay do not affect a person's title to unemployment benefit; but these payments may remove the need for supplementary benefit for the period they cover. Unemployment benefit is not usually payable for days recognised as customary holidays in the claimant's employment, whether he receives holiday pay or not; but supplementary benefit may be payable during a period of unpaid holiday if the person's resources are not sufficient for his requirements.
Cystic Fibrosis
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services upon what information and from what source he based his statement in reply to the hon. Member for Gloucestershire, West (Mr. Watkinson) of 14th April that for cystic fibrosis sufferers life expectancy beyond early adulthood is minimal.
Upon professional advice. The most recently published work in this country indicates that, in spite of improved treatment, most of those who have cystic fibrosis die before the age of 40 and many, unfortunately, in their teens and twenties.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he last consulted the Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust for information about the incidence of cystic fibrosis and related matters.
I shall always be glad to hear from the Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust whenever it has new information of interest to my Department.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what figures are available to him of the number of current sufferers from cystic fibrosis over the ages of 18, 21, 25, 30, 40, and 60 years.
Information on the number of people suffering from cystic fibrosis is not collected centrally. In 1975, the latest year for which information is available, it is estimated that there were 1,530 spells in National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales in the following age-bands:
0–14 | 1,080 |
15–24 | 350 |
25–34 | 30 |
35–44 | 20 |
45 and over | 50 |
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what guidance he gives to general practitioners, hospitals or health authorities about the diagnosis, treatment, or compilation of statistics or information relating to cystic fibrosis.
The diagnosis and treatment of cystic fibrosis is a clinical, not an administrative, matter. As I said in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucestershire, West (Mr. Watkinson) on 19th April, the general medical training of all doctors includes knowledge of cystic fibrosis and it is then the responsibility of the individual doctor to keep his knowledge up to date from the various sources available to him: this applies to hospital doctors as well as to general practitioners. Numbers of hospital in-patient spells of cystic fibrosis sufferers are estimated from the report on the hospital in-patient inquiry. The inquiry is based upon a one in 10 sample of in-patient records from National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales other than those confined to psychiatric diseases. Health authorities are issued with detailed instructions designed to achieve a complete and unbiased sample.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the sources that he used for the statistics contained in his answers to the hon. Member for Gloucestershire, West (Mr. Watkinson) of Friday 14th April.
The statistics of death contained in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucestershire, West (Mr. Watkinson) on 14th April refer to those registered with an underlying cause of cystic fibrosis (ICD 273.0). They were published in Table 17 of Part IA of the Registrar General's Statistical Review for 1973 and in Table 2 of OPCS Series DH2 for 1974 and 1975. The figures for subsequent years will be published in Series DH2 in due course.The figures of cases of cystic fibrosis treated in National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales given in my other reply on 14th April were derived from the report on hospital in-patient inquiry which is based on a one in 10 sample of in-patient records from non-psychiatric National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if his Department is spending money on or contributing funds directly to research for cystic fibrosis into all aspects of the treatment.
, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 14th April 1978], gave the following information:I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science that the Medical Research Council supports a number of projects relevant to cystic fibrosis though none is aimed specifically at treatment for the condition. In the financial year 1976–77 the cost of this support amounted to 117,000.
Kidney Machines
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress is being made in increasing the supply of kidney machines; and if the machines currently being purchased were manufactured in Great Britain.
My Department is discussing with health authorities how the additional money for the 400 extra kidney machines, whose purchase my right hon. Friend has authorised, may best be utilised by the National Health Service. In the meantime we are increasing the orders to the two British firms under contract to my Department.
Ex-Service Men (Pensions)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current rate of pension payable to invalided ex-Service men who served during World War One in the Armed Forces.
The 100 per cent. war disablement pension payable to a private soldier in respect of service in the Armed Forces during the First World War and after 2nd September 1939 is £28·60 a week and will be increased to £31·90 from 13th November. Pro rata rates are payable for lower assessments of disablement. Other allowances may be payable as well as rank additions for higher ranks.
Disabled Persons (Equipment Proposals)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has studied the proposals of the Lucas Aerospace workers in their corporate plan which deal with equipment for disabled people, including "sight for the blind" devices, control systems for prosthetic limbs, and the Hob-cart for spina bifida children; and if he has any plans regarding this equipment.
While I am very interested in all research and development of aids for the blind and of control systems for artificial limbs, I have no information about proposals by Lucas Aerospace in these fields. I know my hon. Friend will be glad to know however, that the Hobcart is already available through my Department's artificial limb and appliance centres.
Defibrillation Unit
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will indicate his support for development work on a defibrillation unit which can be carried in ambulances to reduce the mortality rate during the transit of heart attack victims, bearing in mind that this is one of the proposals of the Lucas Aerospace workers in their corporate plan.
Defibrillators are used already in some ambulances but only in a few areas. I have no information concerning the proposed manufacture of such machines by Lucas Aerospace.
Disabled Persons (Services)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy in cases under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act where a local authority withdraws a service from a disabled person without any diminution in need; and if he will make a statement.
In the interests of disabled people, I have obtained legal advice on the effect of the Act on the duties of authorities in determining and meeting need.I am advised that local authorities have a clear statutory duty under the Act to meet identified and accepted needs in respect of all the services in Section 2.I am further and unequivocally advised that services given under this Section may not be withdrawn in the absence of a reduction of need. Thus any authority which sought, for example, to withdraw a telephone provided under the Act, solely on the grounds of financial expediency, would be breaking the law.I have instructed my officials to make inquiries in any case where there is reason to think that a local authority may be in breach of its statutory duty. If my hon. Friend has a particular case raised with him, I shall be glad to have it fully and urgently examined.
Vaccine And Drug Damage (Compensation)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish guidelines on compensation for future drug and vaccine-damaged persons to obviate long delays and unjustified expectations.
The future position will depend on the outcome of the Government's consideration of the wider recommendations made by the Pearson Commission. So far as the vaccine damage payments scheme is concerned, I draw the hon. Gentleman's attention to my statement and answers to supplementary questions in the House on 9th May—[Vol. 949, c. 973–85.]
International Year Of The Child
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action is being taken by the Government to help promote activities in the United Kingdom for the International Year of the Child 1979.
I am glad to say that the Government have agreed to make a grant of £100,000 for this purpose. Preparations for the year are being made by the Non Government Organisations' Liaison Group for the IYC (United Kingdom) 1979 acting on behalf of a wide range of voluntary organisations throughout the United Kingdom. It has agreed to assume responsibility for the main direction of the response in the United Kingdom to the International Year of the Child 1979 and the Government are grateful to the group for its willingness to do this.The grant will be phased over two years and will enable the group, with help from voluntary organisations, to set up a secretariat in London with representation in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to work under the auspices of the United Kingdom Committee for the IYC 1979, whose task it will be to prepare a programme in detail and rally support for carrying it out. So far as we can, we shall also be ready to help the secretariat with some facilities and advice.
Children (Respiratory Conditions)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he allocates any funds for research into respiratory conditions in children; and, if so, what funds are so spent on which conditions.
, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 14th April 1978], gave the following information:I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science that, in the financial year 1976–77, the Medical Research Council's expenditure on research into respiratory conditions amounted to £3,413,000 made up as follows:
£000 | |
Measles, rubella, poliomyelitis and meningococcal infections, vaccination | 105 |
Asthma | 210 |
Bronchitis | 273 |
Influenza and common cold | 414 |
Tuberculosis | 350 |
Other respiratory | 2,061 |
3,413 |
Homoeopathy
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, after consulting his medical advisers, he will express a view as to whether training in homoeopathy is not of sufficient relevance to modern medical practice to warrant financial support for courses for general practitioners; and whether his Department recognises homoeopathy as a branch of medicine together with the clinical freedom of qualified practitioners to practise homoeopathy.
, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15th May 1978; Vol. 950, c. 45], gave the following information:The scope and content of postgraduate medical education are matters for the professional educational bodies concerned, especially the Council for Postgraduate Medical Education. The council's view is that training in homoeopathy is not of sufficient relevance to modem medical practice to warrant financial support for courses for general pracititioners, and it has so advised the postgraduate medical deans of universities upon whose approval financial support for courses depends. I and my medical officers accept the council's advice on this matter.I and my predecessors have accepted that homoeopathic treatment should remain available within the National Health Service for as long as there are doctors willing to practice it and patients seeking to receive it. While qualified practitioners have the clinical freedom to practice homoeopathy, very few doctors choose to prescribe homoeopathic remedies.