Written Answers To Questions
Monday 29 October 1979
Home Department
Absent Voting Procedures
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the regulations regarding the open-ended validity of applications for postal votes from persons whose qualifications for such postal votes are only temporary.
I am reviewing all absent voting procedures in the light of experience of the elections of 3 May and 7 June.
Interrogations (Code Of Conduct)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will ensure that in the training of law enforcement personnel and prison officers, and in written instructions issued to them, mention is made of the prohibition against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, as provided by the declaration on the protection of all persons from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 3452 (xxx) of 9 December 1975.
The Prison, Borstal and Detention Centre Rules and the Police (Discipline) Regulations and all other codes and instructions governing the professional conduct of prison officers and police officers are entirely consistent with the United Nations' declaration, and training of staff reflects this fact.
Young Offenders (Imprisonment)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a study of the proposals of the Swedish committee on the abolition of youth imprisonment, providing among other things for close supervision in community where required, and consider whether some of these proposals might be suitable for dealing with young adult offenders in the United Kingdom.
We are at present reviewing the whole question of the sentencing of young adult offenders. The proposals of the Swedish committee, which bear a close resemblance to suggestions made here during the past decade, will certainly be taken into account in the course of this review.
Custodial And Non-Custodial Facilities
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence he has to suggest that the absence of adequate non-custodial resources and the consequent increase in the imposition by the courts of custodial sentences leads to an over-estimate of the demand for prison places and an under-estimate of the demand for non-custodial facilities.
Although there has recently been a small proportionate increase in custodial sentences, there is no evidence to suggest that this is due to an absence of adequate non-custodial resources. While we intend to make every effort to improve and develop the non-custodial alternatives available to the courts, it must be recognised that the demand for prison places is determined largely by the number of crimes which the courts consider merit a custodial sentence.
South African Rugby Team
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from the chief constable of Gwent and South Wales on the operation and cost of policing the matches held at Llanelli and Newport on 24 and 27 October in which the South African Barbarians took part.
No.
Prison Service
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what approaches he has had regarding the publication and implementation of the May report on the prison service, from organisations representing people employed in that service; and if he will make a statement.
I have received a small number of representations, mostly passed to me by hon. Members about an apparent delay in the publication of the report of the committee of inquiry into the United Kingdom prison services. These appeared to be founded on a confusion between the date of delivery of the report by the committee to me and the date of its publication, which I expect to be 31 October.
Latin America (Refugees)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards refugees from Latin America.
I have reviewed the policy relating to refugees from Latin America. The programme, which was introduced by the Conservative Government in 1973 following events in Chile, has resulted in the admission of over 3,000 refugees. The number of applicants and people admitted under the programme has dwindled over the past year and other pressing demands on our capacity to absorb refugees have grown, in particular with our commitment to resettle a large number of Vietnamese refugees.I am therefore closing the special programme for Latin American refugees. But I will continue to consider individual cases where there is a strong indication that the United Kingdom is the natural choice of country for resettlement and the Government will continue to pay close attention to the question of human rights in Latin America.
Chief Constables (Disciplinary Arrangements)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he proposes to implement the changes in the disciplinary arrangements for chief constables set out in the consultative document issued by the Home Office last December; and whether he will make a statement.
Having taken account of the comments which have been received from the Association of County Councils, the Association of Metropolitan Authorities and the Association of Chief Police Officers of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, I am not convinced of the need for legislation on the lines indicated in the consultative document. I am, however, asking the associations to let me know of any changes or improvements in the disciplinary arrangements for chief constables which they would regard as desirable within the existing statutory framework.
Civil Service
Advisory Council For Applied Research And Development
asked the Minister for the Civil Service when he proposes to appoint a chairman of the Advisory Council for Applied Research and Development.
ACARD is one of the organisations included in the current review of non-departmental bodies. No appointment will be made until that review is complete. Meanwhile the council continues to operate under its two deputy chairmen.
Education And Science
Cleveland County Council
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from Cleveland county council arising from the cuts in public expenditure affecting the education service; and what reply he has given.
My right hon. and learned Friend has received no such representations.
Handicapped Children
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek to exclude severely handicapped children from the effects of actual and projected cuts in educational spending; and if he will make a statement.
It is for each local education authority to decide on the allocation of available resources both as between the services they provide and between the different sectors of the education service. My right hon. and learned Friend has no say in this. I am confident that, as in the past, authorities will be sensitive to the special needs of severely handicapped children in reaching their decisions.
Travel-To-School Costs
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will review those items included in the assessment of eligibility for free school meals to include the cost of travel to school of the pupil concerned.
No.
Maintained Schools
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in respect of how many maintained schools with more than 40 pupils he has approved proposals for closure since 4 May, in cases where the schools were not being replaced by new buildings on alternative sites.
Since 4 May 1979 my right hon. and learned Friend has approved proposals to cease to maintain 17 schools with more than 40 pupils on roll, in cases where the schools were not being replaced by new buildings on alternative sites.
School Crossing Wardens
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many school crossing wardens there are in the area covered by Mansfield and district council; and if he will list those that are to be affected by the Nottinghamshire county council's proposals to cut expenditure.
I have been asked to reply.Arrangements for school crossing patrols in Nottinghamshire are entirely at the discretion of the county council. The service is a valuable safety measure for young children and I am confident that the council will bear this in mind in making any changes. The patrols likely to be affected by, expenditure cuts could best be ascertained from that authority.
Higher Education (Grants)
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the number of grants for universities, polytechnics and all other purposes, given by all metropolitan education authorities, and give comparative expenditure figures for these grants per head of population for each of the metropolitan education authorities.
Following is the information, which covers all mandatory student awards and other awards designed to cover the full cost of maintenance and fees in the academic year 1977–78.
Authority | Number of awards | Expenditure per head of population (maintenace and fees) £ |
WEST MIDLANDS | ||
Birmingham | 6,672 | 8·3 |
Coventry | 2,464 | 9·7 |
Dudley | 1,641 | 6·8 |
Sandwell | 1,221 | 5·6 |
Solihull | 1,970 | 11·2 |
Walsall | 1,487 | 7·1 |
Wolverhampton | 1,764 | 8·4 |
MERSEYSIDE | ||
Knowsley | 892 | 6·2 |
Liverpool | 3,769 | 9·7 |
St. Helens | 1,394 | 9·0 |
Sefton | 3,097 | 13·5 |
Wirral | 3,349 | 12·6 |
GREATER MANCHESTER | ||
Bolton | 1,991 | 9·9 |
Bury | 1,563 | 10·9 |
Manchester | 3,379 | 9·2 |
Oldham | 1,245 | 7·1 |
Rochdale | 1,448 | 8·6 |
Salford | 1,488 | 7·3 |
Stockport | 3,005 | 13·0 |
Tameside | 1,231 | 7·1 |
Trafford | 2,614 | 14·2 |
Wigan | 1,740 | 7·0 |
SOUTH YORKSHIRE | ||
Barnsley | 1,139 | 6·5 |
Doncaster | 2,023 | 8·4 |
Rotherham | 1,298 | 6·5 |
Sheffield | 3,626 | 7·9 |
WEST YORKSHIRE | ||
Bradford | 3,752 | 9·7 |
Calderdale | 1,371 | 9·2 |
Kirklees | 2,851 | 9·8 |
Leeds | 5,051 | 8·8 |
Wakefield | 1,840 | 7·4 |
TYNE AND WEAR | ||
Gateshead | 1,168 | 6·6 |
Newcastle upon Tyne | 2,323 | 9·9 |
North Tyneside | 1,677 | 10·3 |
South Tyneside | 1,112 | 8·6 |
Sunderland | 1,649 | 7·0 |
Wales
Welsh Lamb (Exports To France)
asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to facilitate the export of Welsh lamb to France.
In addressing the Council of Agriculture Ministers on 18 September I emphasised the strength of feeling amongst sheep farmers in Wales about French discrimination against United Kingdom exports of sheepmeat.My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has strongly impressed on the French Government the need to comply with the European Court of Justice's ruling which declared illegal France's import controls. My right hon. Friend has received a communication from the French Minister of Agriculture announcing some relaxation of import controls, but the French Minister has since made it clear that he is not prepared to allow full and unrestricted access to the French market for British lamb.This decision is incompatible with the judgment of the Court and my right hon. Friend is pressing Commissioner Gundelach to take action with the French to ensure compliance.
Further Education
asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion and how many 16-year-olds stay on at school in the East Flint constituency; and what proportion enter full-time further education in the county.
Figures are not compiled on a constituency basis. In September 1978 there were 1,529 pupils in maintained schools in Clwyd who had attained school leaving age in the immediately preceding academic year, a staying on rate of approximately 27 per cent.On the basis of a sample survey it is estimated that about 13 per cent. of 16-year-olds who left maintained schools in Clwyd in the academic year 1977–78 went on to full-time further education, not necessarily in Clwyd.
District Authorities (Dwellings)
asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing the proportion of the population who live in (a) owner-occupied properties, (b) council accommodation and (c) privately rented accommodation, respectively, for each of the 37 district authorities in Wales.
The information on an all-Wales basis is contained in the Digest of Welsh Statistics No. 24 1978, table 2.33, a copy of which is in the Library.
A detailed breakdown by districts is being prepared in the context of the Welsh Housing and Dwelling Survey and will be published early in the New Year.
Council Housing Stock
asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the total replacement value of the council-owned public housing stock in Wales.
Probably between £4 billion and £4·5 billion.
Seiont Bridge, Caernarfon
asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now make a statement on the route of the new Seiont bridge at Caernarfon.
I expect to announce my decision in mid-November.
Nuclear Waste (Disposal)
asked the Secretary of State for Wales what precise locations in Wales are currently being considered as possible sites for the dumping of nuclear waste.
There are no proposals for sites for the dumping of nuclear waste in Wales. The Government have announced a geological research programme into the possibility of disposing of radioactive waste underground. After any necessary preliminary reconnaissance, and subject to the grant of planning permission, this will involve drilling test boreholes, including some in Wales, but it is too soon to identify precisely where these will be. An announcement will be made of the sites before any reconnaissance takes place.
Public Sector Employees
asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many persons were employed in public sector administration in Wales on 1 May 1979, or the nearest available date; and what is the latest figure for employment in this sector.
The number of non-industrial civil servants in post in Wales at 1 July 1979, the latest date for which information is available, was 31,750; and at June 1979, some 6,800 administrative and clerical staff were employed by the National Health Service.
Figures for the local government sector do not distinguish administrative employees. If, however, certain groups of non-administrative staff—notably, lecturers and teachers, police and fire personnel, library staff, and non-administrative staff in social services departments—are excluded from the total, non-manual employment in this sector is estimated to have totalled some 33,000 in June this year.
Comparable figures for other parts of the public sector are not readily available.
Petrol Stations (Closures)
asked the Secretary of State for Wales approximately how many petrol stations have closed down since the commencement of the year 1978 in the counties of Clwyd, Gwynedd, Powys and Dyfed; and approximately what proportion of those closures occurred in the rural areas of those counties.
This information is not available.
Energy
Coal Industry
13.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy when next he will take part in the tripartite talks on the coal industry.
I held a meeting with the National Coal Board and the mining unions on Monday 22 October. No date has yet been fixed for the next tripartite meeting.
North Sea Oil
15.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy how long he expects the stock of North Sea oil to last.
The current estimate, as published in the 1979 Brown Book, is that recoverable oil reserves originally in place on the United Kingdom continental shelf lie between 2,400 and 4,400 million tonnes. Production from the UKCS is expected to continue into the twenty-first century.
Pressurised Water Reactor
16.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has received an application for permission to construct a pressurised water reactor at Druridge Bay, Northumberland.
No.
23.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the increased supply of electrical power from pressurised water reactors.
The Government believe that we must develop the option of adopting the pressurised water reactor system in the early 1980s.
Solar Energy
17.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what estimate his Department has made of the possible contribution of solar energy to the United Kingdom's total energy requirement by the year 1995.
My Department's latest energy projections to the year 2000 do not incorporate any contribution to United Kingdom energy supplies from solar energy or other renewable sources. This is because, on present evidence, they are unlikely to make a significant contribution or be economically preferable to other fuels over that period. However, if the Government's solar energy research and development programmes are successful in accelerating the development of cost effective systems, solar energy might be contributing a few million tons of coal equivalent annually by the end of the century.
Oil Consumption
18.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the percentage change in (a) industrial and (b) domestic consumption of oil over the past six months compared with the previous year.
In the six-month period ending July 1979, compared with the same period last year, the figures for inland deliveries show an increase of about ½ per cent. in the industrial sector, including deliveries to power stations, and an increase of 4 per cent in the domestic sector.
Nuclear Energy
19.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the role of nuclear energy in the United Kingdom's long-term energy programme.
We believe that nuclear power has a vital role to play in our energy policy and that nuclear power station orders are essential for meeting this country's long-term energy requirements.
Energy Conservation
21.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a further statement on energy conservation.
We shall continue to pursue vigorous policies to promote greater energy efficiency in all sectors of the economy, and to emphasise the positive aspects of energy conservation.
Coal Use (Advanced Technology)
22.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the present position in regard to the development of advanced technology in the use of coal: and if he will make a statement.
Advanced coal technology developments are taking place in the fields of fluidised bed combustion, gasification to yield substitute natural gas and fuel gas, and in the production of oil from coal. In fluidised bed combustion, the NCB and private industry are pressing forward with the development of industrial boilers and furnaces; my Department is supporting NCB participation in the IEA pressurised combustion project at Grimethorpe aimed at power generation applications. In gasification, British Gas is developing processes to manufacture substitute natural gas, and the NCB is working on fuel gas production for use in advanced power generating systems. Design and feasibility studies for the pilot plant development of two NCB oil-from-coal processes are being supported by Government.
Oil (Sale)
24.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the average dollar price per barrel at which the British National Oil Corporation has been selling oil during 1979.
This is a commercial matter and I shall ask the chairman of the British National Oil Corporation to write to my hon. Friend.
European Community (Council Of Energy Ministers)
25.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will seek to place on the agenda at the next meeting of the European Economic Commission Energy Ministers the question of coal, oil and gas prices, with a view to obtaining comparable energy prices throughout the Community.
No.
British National Oil Corporation
25.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what proposals he has for modifying the dual role of the British National Oil Corporation.
As my right hon. Friend previously announced to the House, the Government have decided that the Corporation's statutory role as adviser to the Government should be ended. As to the Corporation's commercial activities, the trading activity is to continue, with the Corporation's access to oil through participation options retained. We intend also that the British public should be given the chance to participate directly in BNOC's oil producing business. A statement will be made in due course.
Industrial Users (Gas Supply)
27.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, in view of the difficulties caused to prospective new industries intending to build plant on industrial estates, such as that at Grundwell Farm, Wiltshire, of the derogation of the British Gas Corporation's statutory duty to supply industrial customers, he will bring forward proposals to end the derogation.
There has been no derogation of the British Gas Corporation's statutory obligation to supply. It intends to continue to meet its statutory obligations.
Urenco
asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the review by Urenco, promised in June, of its detailed security arrangements; what action the Governments of Great Britain, Holland and West Germany, as partners in the centrifuge project, are taking to strengthen the tripartite arrangements; and if he will make a statement.
As requested by the joint committee of the three Governments at their meeting in June, Urenco has reviewed its security procedures; and has made a number of recommendations. In addition the implementation of existing Troika security procedures in the United Kingdom has been reviewed and an assurance given to the joint committee that they are being fully observed.The joint committee considered the Urenco report at its meeting on 19 September. The joint committee concluded that the existing tripartite security rules and procedures were in principle adequate, but agreed on a number of detailed points on which improvements needed to be considered. It has arranged for these to be studied urgently by security experts of the three Governments.The joint committee also noted that effective security depended on the thorough and continued application of the present tripartite rules and procedures. It agreed to reinforce the arrangements for monitoring the application of these rules, and for the submission to the joint committee of regular reports by the appropriate security authorities of the three countries of the results of such monitoring.A report from the Netherlands authorities on their investigation of the Khan incident was not available to the joint committee at its last meeting. The joint committee is due to meet again on Friday 16 November and will again review Urenco security in the light of any further information then available.
Coking Coal
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the amount per tonne and method of support given by each of the members of the EEC to their respective steel industries in respect of coking coal.
We are not aware of any aid which member States pay to their steel industries in respect of coking coal. But ECSC decision 287/73 allows member States to pay a production subsidy to the coal producers to cover the difference between cost of production and either the selling price or an indicative price whichever is the higher. The indicative price is the average price of imports on term contracts from Australia and the United States; it reflects world price. Thus the directive aims to allow Community coal to compete with third country coal but does not allow member States to subsidise sales of indigenous coking coal to the Community's steel industries at prices below the indicative price.
Gas (Industrial Consumers)
asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will bring forward legislation to seek to provide for regulation of contracts between the British Gas Corporation and industrial users, and to provide for the publication of the terms of such contracts.
No. The regulation of contracts for the sale of gas is a matter for the British Gas Corporation. The terms of individual contracts are commercially confidential and it would be inappropriate to publish them.
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (Expenditure)
asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much is being spent by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority in (a) 1979–80 and (b) 1980–81 on information and public relations on behalf of the nuclear industry; and what share of these sums is being spent in Scotland.
The UKAEA estimates that its expenditure on the distribution of information about nuclear power to the public will amount to about £350,000 in 1979–80 and about £650,000 in 1980–81. It is not possible to say how much of these sums will be spent in Scotland.
Fuel Charges
asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report, from information available to him, the range of prices expressed in pence per therm at which heating oil, gas and coal are available to domestic and industrial users, respectively, in the United Kingdom and each other EEC country, indicating the element in the prices accounted for by taxation.
Information on the range of prices for heating oil, gas and coal is shown in the following table.The figures for heating oil relate to the United Kingdom while those for gas and
Pence per therm and consumption in therms | ||||
Heating Oils (1) | ||||
Standard Grade Burning Oil | ||||
Including (2) | Excluding | |||
Hydrocarbon oil duty | Hydrocarbon oil duty | |||
Inner (3) zone | General zone | Inner zone | General zone | |
Deliveries of about 1,000 litres | ||||
Domestic Consumers | 35·4 | 35·7 | 34·8 | 35·1 |
Deliveries of 12,500 litres | ||||
Industrial Consumers (4) | 34·6 | 34·1 | 34·0 | 34·1 |
Gas Oil | ||||
Including (2) | Excluding | |||
Hydrocarbon oil duty | Hydrocarbon oil duty | |||
Inner zone | General zone | Inner zone | General zone | |
Deliveries of about 1,000 litres | ||||
Domestic Consumers | 34·4 | 34·6 | 32·6 | 32·8 |
Deliveries of 12,500 litres | ||||
Industrial Consumers (4) | 33·5 | 33·7 | 31·7 | 31·9 |
Gas (2) | Coal(2) | |||
Great Britain | ||||
Consumption in Therms per annum | ||||
Domestic consumers | 80(5) | 25·7–31·7 | House Coal (7) | 14·4–22·6 |
Group 2 | ||||
Anthracite | ||||
Grains 1A | 19·4–24·0 | |||
1200 | 17·8–18·6 | Anthracite | ||
stove nuts | 22·3–27·7 | |||
Industrial consumers (4) | 1200(6) | 25·5–25·7 | Scotland (8) | 12·1–14·3 |
Lancashire | 11·3–13·3 | |||
100,000 | 24·0 | Elsewhere in England | 11 13 | |
Sources: | ||||
Scheduled prices of oil products, BGC tariffs and information from the NCB. | ||||
Notes: | ||||
(1) These are typical prices for the deliveries stated and were applicable as from early July 1979. | ||||
(2) There is no value added tax on these fuels. | ||||
(3) The "inner zone" includes areas within 40 miles or so of refineries while the "general zone" covers less accessible areas usually from a 100 miles or so of refineries. There is also a " special zone " covering the North West of Scotland and various Scottish islands where prices are somewhat higher than those shown in the table. | ||||
(4) Subject to market conditions many medium and large scale consumers can often obtain substantial "discounts" from the scheduled prices. Standard grade burning oil (kerosene) is not extensively used in industry; where appliances permit fuel oils are burnt but these are rarely purchased for domestic consumption. The following table indicates the influence of rebates and similar agreements on prices. Deliveries to large industrial consumers are also influenced by contracts made in earlier periods. |
coal are on a Great Britain basis because for these fuels the Northern Ireland figures are not on a comparable basis.
The detailed information for other EEC countries is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Delivered to large industrial consumers
| Realised in New and Renewed contracts at a Changed Price
| |||
Including Hydrocarbon Oil duty
| Excluding Hydrocarbon Oil duty
| Including Hydrocarbon Oil duty
| Excluding Hydrocarbon Oil duty
| |
Gas oil | 22·0 | 20·2 | 24·7 | 22·9 |
Heavy fuel oil | 14·3 | 12·6 | 16·0 | 14·3 |
(5) The tariffs are domestic pre-payment and domestic credit for consumptions of 80 and 1200 herms per annum respectively. The tariffs were introduced in June 1979. | ||||
(6) Prices for industrial consumers are in accordance with the non-domestic tariff introduced in September 1979. Industrialists consuming more than 100,000 therms per annum normally negotiate a contract in place of the tariffs. During the second quarter of 1979 prices in respect of high industrial consumptions averaged about 12.6 pence a therm but this included business under contracts made in } earlier times. The British Gas Corporation's estimate of the average price for new and renewed contracts (including commercial consumers) during the second quarter of 1979, including firm and interruptible supplies, was 15.8 pence a therm. | ||||
(7) This is the range of merchants typical retail prices. | ||||
(8) These are the ranges of prices charged at the pit head by the National Coal Board. They do not include transport costs to the purchaser's premises which are the responsibility of the buyer. |
Nuclear Waste (Reprocessing)
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the Government's view on the return to the country of origin of foreign nuclear waste which has been reprocessed in Great Britain.
The Government, endorsing a requirement introduced by the previous Administration in 1976, has agreed that BNFL should, in negotiating new processing contracts with overseas utilities, ensure that these contain an option enabling BNFL to return the highly active waste remaining after reprocessing to the customer. This option also has to be supported by an intergovernmental exchange of notes in which the customer Government agrees to facilitate this option. Copies of notes already exchanged have been placed in the library of the House.BNFL has some reprocessing contracts which do not contain such an option because they were concluded before the Government introduced this requirement. The waste from these contracts will therefore remain in the United Kingdom. However, the amount of waste involved is small in comparison to that arising from the United Kingdom civil nuclear programme and its relative significance in terms of quantity will reduce over time.
Nuclear Power Stations
asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects the Central Electricity Generating Board to announce its plans for the siting of the next series of nuclear power stations.
The CEGB is considering a number of sites to assess their potential for nuclear power stations but any announcement about its intentions is a matter for the Board to decide.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is satisfied with the safety record of the existing nuclear power stations; and if he will publish details of any fatal accidents which have taken place since the first station came into operation.
The safety record of nuclear power stations in England and Wales is and has been throughout the period of their operation an excellent one. I am satisfied that continuing effort on safety is being maintained.Three fatal accidents have occurred in CEGB nuclear power stations since they started operating in 1962. These have been due to non-nuclear causes; two involved falls and the third, scalding by steam. They were reported by the CEGB to the Health and Safety Executive.Power stations in Scotland are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the sites under consideration as possible locations for further nuclear power stations in Wales.
The Central Electricity Generating Board has applied to renew planning permissinn for an advanced gas-cooled reactor power station at Portskewett, Gwent. No other sites in Wales are currently under consideration for early development.
Oil Supplies
asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will make a statement on the supply of fuel such as petrol and paraffin to garages.
Provided that there is no further disruption of oil supplies, supplies of petrol and paraffin to all retail outlets should be adequate to meet requirements this winter.
Fuel Prices
asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the Government are moving towards the parity rating of fuel prices.
I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Preston, North (Mr. Atkins) on Monday 9 July (Official Report, c. 21–22).
Electricity Generation
asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will authorise the Central Electricity Generating Board to invest in pumped storage electricity generating capacity in advance of requirement for such capacity, in order to take advantage of the technical and physical infrastructure currently available at locations of construction of such projects.
Identification of prospects for hydroelectric pumped storage projects in England and Wales is in the first instance a matter for the Central Electricity Generating Board.
NEW ORDERS PLACED FOR UNITED KINGDOM REGISTRATION MERCHANT SHIPS (100 gross tons and over) | |||
1978 | 1979 | ||
Total | First half | Quarter 3 | |
In United Kingdom Yards | |||
'000 gross tons | 100 | 68 | 48 |
'000 compensated gross tons | 128 | 127 | 52 |
In Overseas Yards | |||
'000 gross tons | 125 | 233 | N.A. |
'000 compensated gross tons | 179 | 188 | N.A. |
Total'000 gross tons | 225 | 301 | N.A. |
Total '000 compensated gross tons | 307 | 315 | N.A. |
International Computers Ltd
asked the Secretary of State for Industry what assistance has been
Lead
asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) whether he intends to publish the contents of the Government working party on the effects on the public of the lead content of petrol; and if he will give in the Official Report a summary of its conclusions.(2) what is the lead ingested from (
a) food, ( b) water and ( c) the atmosphere.
I have been asked to reply.I intend that the working party's report shall be published and its contents made known to Parliament in the most appropriate way.I understand that the working party expects to be in a position to make a final report before the end of this year. I expect the report to include an up-to-date evaluation of evidence on the relative importance of food, water and the atmosphere as sources of lead which might be ingested.
Industry
Shipbuilding (Orders)
asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the total in gross tons, and in compensated gross tons if available, of new orders by United Kingdom shipowners in 1978 and in the first six months of 1979, or up to a later date if available, and the total of new orders given by United Kingdom shipowners to United Kingdom shipyards.
The following is the available information.given to International Computers Limited by way of regional development grant since 1969 and under the provisions of the Industry Act 1972; and how much of this assistance was in respect of the factories at Ardwick and Ashton-under Lyne.
Information is no longer available of the total payments of investment grant made since 1969 to International Computers Limited under the Industrial Development Act 1966. The investment grants scheme was discontinued from 26 October 1970. Regional development grants were introduced in March 1972 under part I of the Industry Act 1972. Further assistance is provided to industry under sections 7 and 8 of that Act. Regional development grants totalling £198,984, and interest relief grants under section 7 amounting to £550,000 have been paid to International Computers Limited. Included in these amounts are regional development grants totalling £9,614 in respect of Ashton-under-Lyne and interest relief grants of £350,000 relating to Ashton-under-Lyne and £200,000 relating to Ardwick. They do not include payments made to subsidiaries of International Computers Ltd., as information about these is not readily available.
British Leyland (Model Promotion)
asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he was consulted prior to British Leyland making its decision to spend £1 million on the promotion of its new model.
asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he was consulted by the management of British Leyland Ltd. prior to the announcement of its intention to spend £1 million on a cruise from Merseyside to promote its new model; and if he will make a statement.
No. This is a matter for the BL management.
Textile Industry (West Yorkshire)
asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will provide special assistance for the textile industry in West Yorkshire, in view of the serious decline which is taking place in the industry.
While I appreciate that the industry has its problems, with varying causes, I am not satisfied that special assistance would be the right means of dealing with them so soon after the ending of the schemes of assistance under section 8 of the Industry Act. Firms can apply for assistance within the general rules for regional assistance under the Industry Act. Modernisation by the industry and the success of the Government's economic policies provide the best means of checking further decline.
Public Bodies (Dividend Capital)
asked the Secretary of State for Industry what payments by the National Enterprise Board and the Scottish and Welsh Development Agencies he expects to receive in reduction of their respective public dividend capital in (a) the year 1979–80 and (b) the year 1980–81; and if he will make a statement.
There is at present no statutory authority for any reduction in the NEB's public dividend capital, although a limited power is proposed in clause 3(1) of the Industry Bill. When the Bill is enacted the NEB will make payments reducing its public dividend capital consequent upon the share disposals it makes. My right hon. Friend has asked that these should be to the value of £100 million in 1979–80, but he has as yet made no stipulation as to the amount in 1980–81.The affairs of the Scottish and Welsh Development Agencies are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales.
British Shipbuilders
asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the capital structure of British Shipbuilders.
The Government have decided, subject to the approval of a Supplementary Estimate, that British Shipbuilders will be financed by public dividend capital, and that advances will be made to allow the Corporation to repay loans drawn from the national loans fund on a temporary basis, presently standing at £135 million. The Corporation will not pay dividends on public dividend capital until they are profitable.As I announced in my statement of 23 July, the Corporation has been given a nil commencing capital debt.
Regional Development Grant
asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether the date already announced for the withdrawal of regional development grants in intermediate assisted areas will be extended for those companies whose building development will only be partially completed.
There is no intention to vary the transitional arrangements for the withdrawal of regional development grant from the intermediate areas.
Agriculture, Fisheries And Food
Lamb (Deficiency Payments Scheme)
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he plans to abolish the guaranteed deficiency payments scheme for lamb; and if he will make a statement.
No. In the absence of an agreement on an EEC common market organisation for sheepmeat, the fat sheep guarantee scheme will continue in operation under United Kingdom legislation.
French Apples (Dumping)
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has that French farmers are dumping low grade apples within the United Kingdom to the detriment of home producers.
I have no evidence that French farmers are dumping low grade apples in the United Kingdom, but I would immediately examine any evidence of dumping by any country.
Sheepmeat
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the Farmers Union of Wales, and the National Farmers Union in Wales regarding a sheepmeat regime; and if he will make a statement.
Through my colleague the Secretary of State for Wales I am in regular contact with the Farmers Union of Wales and the National Farmers Union in Wales. I am fully aware of their concern about the effects of the French restrictions on exports of United Kingdom sheepmeat, which have been condemned by the European Court, and I am naturally concerned that any sheep-meat regime should meet the essential interests of our producers, as well as of our consumers and our New Zealand suppliers of frozen lamb.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what retaliatory action the Government are considering in the event of French nonobservance of the recent decision of the European Court, declaring illegal the French ban on sheepmeat imports from the United Kingdom.
I do not believe that retaliatory action by the United Kingdom is the right response if France continues to ignore the judgment of the European Court. The European Commission is responsible for upholding the treaties of the European Communities, and I am pressing the Agriculture Commissioner to take immediate action with the French Government to ensure that the judgment of the European Court is respected.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will order an investigation into sheepmeat distribution margins.
No.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to persuade the French Government to abide by the decision of the European Court and allow the import of Welsh lamb into France.
I have received a letter from the French Minister of Agriculture about imports of United Kingdom sheepmeat into France. The letter does not state clearly or categorically that the French Government propose to comply with the recent decision of the European Court. I have asked the Minister whether he intends permanently to allow free access to the French market free of all levies and restrictions. From the information I have received it appears that this is not the case and, if so, the Community remains in a situation of crisis. I wrote to Commissioner Gundelach on 26 October asking him to intervene again to seek French compliance with the court's ruling. I shall continue to press this matter by every possible means.
Lead In Food Regulations
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the lead in food regulations have not yet been implemented; and if he will make a statement.
The Lead in Food Regulations 1979, SI 1254, for England and Wales, were laid before Parliament on 12 October and come into operation six months later on 12 April 1980. This is in accordance with usual practice which allows time for those affected to make any arrangements necessary in order to comply with the law. My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Northern Ireland will shortly be laying similar regulations.
Land Acquisitions (Essex)
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much agricultural land in Essex has been acquired by Dutch and other foreign purchasers during the past five years.
The purchase of land by foreign nationals was one of the matters which were considered by the Northfield committee of inquiry into the acquisition and occupancy of agricultural land.The committee concluded that foreign ownership accounted for just over 1 per cent. of the total area of agricultural land in Great Britain but it did not give any figures for Essex.
Marginal Land Fanning
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he will make available to farmers of marginal land compensatory allowances in a fixed proportion to those currently available to hill farmers;(2) what is his policy with regard to marginal land, with particular reference to compensatory allowances and capital grants.
My right hon. Friend's study into the possibility of further help for the marginal land farmer outside the hills is continuing.
Vivisection
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the cost to the taxpayer of vivisection.
The law relating to the performance of experiments on living animals, as contained in the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876, is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department.The cost of animal experiments that arise in the course of the diagnostic and research work of my Department forms part of the total cost of that work and is not separately identifiable. The same is true of work commissioned by the Ministry with external contractors.
Trade
Consumer Councils
28.
asked the Secretary of State for Trade what consideration has been given to transferring to citizens' advice bureaux the functions of the 29 consumer councils to which he appoints members.
As my right hon. Friend the Minister of State said in the House on 22 October, the effectiveness of the present arrangements for protecting the consumer interest in the nationalised industries is now under review. I must point out to my hon. Friend that the citizens' advice bureaux are autonomous bodies and the Secretary of State has no power to transfer functions to them.
Turkey (Yarn Imports)
asked the Secretary of State for Trade why Turkey has been allowed to exceed the import quota of yarn by importing 3,540 tonnes to the end of June when the agreed ceiling was 2,940 tonnes.
I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
Registry Of Business Names
asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he hopes to be in a position to make a statement concerning the future of the Registry of Business Names.
When we have completed our review of functions to determine the scope for reductions in the size of the Civil Service.
Ussr
asked the Secretary of State for Trade what he estimates will be the level of trade between the United Kingdom and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1979; and how this compares with the level of trade between France and Russia.
Details of United Kingdom and French exports to, and imports from, the Soviet Union at the latest available dates are shown in the tables below. I prefer not to venture estimates for 1979 as a whole.
I. TRADE BETWEEN UNITED KINGDOM AND THE SOVIET UNION IN THE PERIOD JANUARY-AUGUST 1979* | |
£ million | |
Imports (cif) | 473·4 |
Exports (fob) | 260·9 |
II. TRADE BETWEEN FRANCE AND THE SOVIET UNION IN THE PERIOD JANUARY-JULY 1979† | ||
million | £ million | |
US dollars | equivalent | |
French Imports (cif) | 875·3 | 419·5 |
French Exports (fob) | 1148·0 | 551·0 |
Source | (*) Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom. | |
(†) OECD Series A—Statistics of Foreign Trade. |
Marine Surveyors
asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement concerning the effect of operating cuts by his Department on work undertaken by the Department's marine surveyors.
Various proposals to reduce the functions and staffing of the Department of Trade—and other Government Departments—are being considered but no decisions on these proposals have yet been reached.
Bath Manufacturers
asked the Secretary of State for Trade if, in view of the difficulties created for British bath manufacturers resulting from the current policy of an EEC manufacturer, which appears to contravene article 86 of the EEC Treaty, he will investigate this matter with a view to taking action in the Community.
The United Kingdom industry concerned has submitted an application under article 86 of the Treaty of Rome to the European Commission, which is investigating the complaint.
Employment
Disabled Persons
asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will give an assurance that there will be no reduction in allocated spending on the fares-to-work, job introduction, capital grant and special aids schemes for the employment of disabled people;(2) if he will give an assurance that employment rehabilitation centres will not be closed;(3) if he will give an assurance that job training for the disabled at specialist residential colleges will not be reduced;(4) if he will give an assurance that the number of employment advisers will be maintained;(5) if he will give an assurance that the disablement resettlement service will not be reduced;(6) if he will give an assurance that plans to increase sheltered employment places will not be abandoned or revised to reduce the number of extra places proposed;(7) if he will give an assurance that disablement advisory committees will not be abolished;
(8) if he will give an assurance that the national advisory council for the employment of disabled people will not be abolished;
(9) if he will exempt services designed to aid the employment of disabled people from planned public spending cuts in the budgets of his Department and the Manpower Services Commission;
(10) if he will maintain the timetable for consultation on review of the quota scheme for the employment of disabled people regardless of public expenditure considerations;
(11) if he will withdraw the document sent to members of the national advisory council for the employment of disabled people asking for the council's advice on ways to cut public spending on the employment of disabled people.
I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the level of public expenditure on the employment of disabled people for the years 1974 to 1979; and what proposals he has for 1980–81.
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission, which is responsible for employment services for disabled people, that information on the level of public expenditure is not available in the form or for the period requested. Estimated Commission expenditure on these services since the financial year 1977–78 is:
1977–78 | £53,200,000 |
1978–79 | £52,600,000 |
1979–80 | £54,600,000 |
Working Mothers
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many mothers of children under 5 years there are in the United Kingdom; and how many of these mothers take paid employment outside the home (a) for 12 hours or fewer per week, (b) for 12 hours up to and including 20 hours, (c) for 20 hours up to and including 30 hours and (d) for more than 30 hours.
It is estimated that in Great Britain in 1978 there were some 2¾ million mothers with children under 5 years of age. About ¾ million of these were in paid employment, of whom fewer than 200,000 worked full-time, that is 30 hours or more a week, and nearly 600,000 worked part time, that is fewer than 30 hours a week. A more detailed breakdown of those working fewer than 30 hours a week is not available. Comparable information for Northern Ireland is not available.
Health And Safety At Work Etc Act
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to revise thoroughly the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act in relation to agriculture.
I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
Homeworkers
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will propose giving homeworkers employee status.
My Department is engaged in a programme of research into homeworking, and I shall be reviewing the matter as more information becomes available.
Times Newspapers Limited (Dispute)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will appoint a commission of inquiry into The Times newspaper dispute.
I welcome the ending of the dispute. I have no plans to appoint an inquiry.
Wages Councils (Awards)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in rank order from lowest to highest the wages councils' awards currently in operation, as they apply to the main categories of workers in each trade.
It is not possible to list all current rates laid down for the large number of categories of workers covered by wages councils without disproportionate cost. However, for typical adult grades—for example shop assistant in retail trades, "other workers" in other trades—the current weekly rates are shown in the following table. Where area rates are set, the rates shown are for large towns outside London.
Council | Current statutory minimum |
£ | |
Fur | 27·50 |
*Hairdressing undertakings—other worker | 31·35 |
*Hairdressing undertakings—operative hairdresser | 37·00 |
*Ostrich and fancy feather, etc. | 38·00 |
Rope twine and net | 39·50 |
Cotton waste reclamation | 40·00 |
Made-up textiles | 40·00 |
Lace finishing | 40·00 |
*Licensed residential establishment and licensed restaurant | 40·40 |
Laundry | 41·00 |
Licensed non-residential establishmen—bar staff | 41·00 |
Hat, cap and millinery | 41·20 |
Aerated waters—England and Wales | 41·60 |
†Retail newsagency tobacco and confectionery—Scotland | 41·70 |
Corset manufacture | 42·00 |
Dressmaking and womens light clothing—England and Wales | 42·00 |
Dressmaking and womens light clothing—Scotland | 42·00 |
Linen and cotton handkerchief, etc. | 42·00 |
†Retail bread and flour confectionery—England and Wales | 42·00 |
†Retail bread and flour confectionery—Scotland | 42·00 |
†Retail food trades—England and Wales | 42·00 |
†Retail food trades—Scotland | 42·00 |
Ready-made and wholesale bespoke tailoring | 42·00 |
Rubber-proofed garment making | 42·00 |
Sack and bag | 42·00 |
Shirt manufacture | 42·00 |
Wholesale mantle and costume | 42·00 |
‡*Retail bookselling and stationery | 42·50 |
‡*Retail furnishing and allied trades | 42·50 |
Licensed non-residential establishment—club stewards | 43·10 |
General waste materials reclamation | 43·20 |
†Retail newsagency, tobacco and confectionery — England and Wales | 43·20 |
Boot and shoe repairing | 43·50 |
Retail bespoke tailoring | 43·50 |
Toy manufacturing | 43·60 |
Unlicensed place of refreshment | 44·00 |
Pin, hook and eye and snap fastener | 44·50 |
Coffin furniture and cerement making | 44·80 |
‡*Retail drapery outfitting and footwear | 45·00 |
Flax and hemp | 45·73 |
Perambulator and invalid carriage | 46·00 |
Button manufacture | 46·00 |
Aerated waters—Scotland | 48·00 |
*These councils have issued proposals for increased rates. | |
†These councils have been amalgamated into one council as from 1 September 1979. The |
new council is the Retail Food and Allied Trades Wages Council (Great Britain). |
†These councils have been amalgamated into one council as from 1 September 1979. The new council is the Retail Trades (Non-Food) Wages Council (Great Britain). |
Low-Paid Persons
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the number of adults, distinguishing between men and women, with a basic wage of less than (a) £50 and (b) £45.
The following estimates relate to gross weekly earnings—excluding overtime earnings.
Number of full-time employees whose pay in April 1979 was not affected by absence | |
Gross weekly earnings (excluding overtime earnings) of men aged 21 and over: | |
Millions | |
Less than £45 | 0·2 |
Less than £50 | 0·3 |
Gross weekly earnings (excluding overtime earnings) of women aged 18 and over: | |
Less than 45 | 0·9 |
Less than £50 | 1·5 |
New Earnings Survey, Department of Employment Gazette, October 1979, Table 14.
Wages Inspectorate (Form W150)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the purpose of the circulation of the form W150 by the Wages Inspectorate; in what way this additional work is of assistance to small business men who may be required to complete the form; and whether he intends to make any changes therein.
The form W150 is sent to employers in the retail distributive trades who have not previously been known to the Wages Inspectorate to inquire whether they employ workers within scope of whichever wages council applies. In appropriate cases the employer's name is added to the list for the receipt of wages notices issued by the wages council concerned. If such inquiries were to cease many employers would not be aware of their obligations and would be in breach of the law. I have no plans to change the system.
Job Experience Scheme
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to tighten up regulations surrounding the job experience scheme in order to avoid the scheme being used by employers to obtain publicly subsidised cheap labour.
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that all employers are required to declare that their trainees on work experience schemes are not taking the place of permanent employees, and there are arrangements to make periodic visits to a proportion of schemes. The MSC has recently reviewed its arrangements for monitoring schemes and will continue to keep them under review.
Redundancies
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies have been notified since the beginning of May 1979 by firms in the United Kingdom as a whole, and in Scotland.
The number of proposed redundancies which have been notified to my Department in the period May-September 1979 is as follows:
Great Britain | Scotland |
196,631 | 28,514 |
—3,251 establishments—404 establishments |
asked the Secretary of State for Employment in how many instances his Department's local offices have been notified of (a) industrial redundancies and (b) factory closures in Wales since 1 May 1979; and how many employees have been affected by these notifications, respectively.
Separate figures on industrial redundancies are not available. The total number of proposed redundancies in Wales notified to my Department in the period May to September 1979 was 13,773–204 establishments. For the same period the number of redundancies, where closure of the establishment was involved was 8,678–101 establishments.
Blind Persons
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what consideration he is giving to the results of the recent investigation by a working party into growing unemployment among the blind, particularly machine operators; and if the Manpower Services Commission will be making efforts to follow up some of the proposals.
I welcome the report and the careful work which has gone into it. I have asked the Manpower Services Commission to examine its recommendations and senior officials are to meet officials of the Royal National Institute for the Blind—RNIB—to discuss the report in more detail. I am informed by the MSC that it is in agreement with the vast majority of the recommendations in the report and welcomes the emphasis in the report on continuing the close co-operation that has developed between the MSC and the RNIB in their joint efforts to promote employment opportunities for blind people. I shall be watching with interest the MSC's further consideration of the report within the overall context of its policies for disabled people.
Jobcentres
asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the proposed expansion of jobcentres to a total of 800 by 1981–82 will affect current cash limits for the Manpower Services Commission.
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, following the reduction of £1 million in expenditure on the jobcentre programme in the current financial year, the programme now aims to have approximately 1,000 jobcentres operational by 1985–86. Of this number, approximately 662 will have been completed by the end of the current financial year and 800 by the start of 1981–82.The Government are reviewing expenditure on the jobcentre programme in the light of their plans and priorities on public expenditure generally. The MSC confidently expects that expenditure on the jobcentre programme will be held within agreed cash limits.
Pneumoconiosis (Compensation)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will ensure that the Government's public expenditure restrictions will in no way limit the compensation payable under the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers Compensation) Act 1979.
No single item of public expenditure can be uninfluenced by the overall availability of resources; but there is no intention to reduce the provision already made for those payments in my Department's estimates.
Retail Price Index
asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he has requested the retail prices index advisory committee to examine any changes in, or weighting of, the matters affecting the make up of the retail price index since 3 May; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will publish in the
Official Report the present membership of the retail prices index advisory committee, showing any changes which have been made since May.
The retail prices index advisory committee is convened and its membership established at such times as the Secretary of State for Employment wishes to seek its advice on matters relating to the index. Since 3 May 1979 there have been no plans to change the method of constructing the index and therefore no matters to put to the committee. When it was last convened in November 1977 the membership was:
Mr. A. R. Thatcher, CB—Director of Statistics, Department of Employment (Chairman).
Mr. S. H. Ainsworth—Co-operative Union Ltd.
Professor Sir Roy Allen, CBE—Professor of Statistics, London University.
Professor A. J. Brown—Professor of Economics, Leeds University.
Mr. R. F. Fowler, CBE—Former Director of Statistical Research, Department of Employment.
Professor A. R. Ilersic—Professor of Social Studies, London University.
Alderman Mrs. P. Jacob, JP—National Federation of Women's Institutes.
Mr. D. E. Lea—Trades Union Congress General Council.
Lady Morris, OBE.
Dr. J. F. Pickering—Consumers' Association.
Mr. B. T. Ramm—Retail Consortium.
Mr. T. A. Swinden—Confederation of British Industries.
Professor Brinley Thomas, CBE—Director, Manpower Research Unit, University College, Cardiff.
Mr A. H. J. Baines—Chief Statistician, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
Miss M. P. Brown—Under Secretary (Economics), H.M. Treasury.
Mr. A. G. Carruthers—Deputy Director of Statistics, Department of Employment.
Mr. P. Duncan—Statistician, Scottish Office.
Mr. J. Hibbert—Assistant Director, Central Statistical Office.
Mr. O. T. Hooker—Senior Economic Adviser, Welsh Office.
Mr. M. Neifield—Chief Statistician, Department of Trade, Industry and Prices and Consumer Protection.
Dr. A. T. Park—Director, Statistics and Economics Unit, Department of Finance. Northern Ireland.
Mr. A. R. Smith—Director of Statistics and Research, Department of Health and Social Security.
Mr. W. H. Stott—Chief Statistician, Department of the Environment and Transport.
Mr. E. Hunter—Secretary, Department of Employment.
Mr. D. J. Sellwood—Assistant Secretary, Department of Employment.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment to what extent his Department is assisting the 1979 campaign to inform employers of how to meet their responsibilities for the employment of disabled people; and if he will make a statement.
[pursuant to his reply, 26 October 1979, c. 335]: My Department is giving its fullest possible support to the Manpower Services Commission's 1979 "Fit for Work" campaign. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment formally launched the campaign and the MSC's new award scheme when opening the mobile train exhibition on 17 September at Marylebone, and my noble Friend the Minister of State closed the exhibition at Leicester on 18 October after it had successfully completed its five-week tour of 12 major cities. The Department issued press notices publicising and supporting the campaign. I am glad to say that the campaign has also had the personal support of my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Industry and the Minister of State with responsibility for the disabled.The object of the campaign is to promote constructive attitudes by employers, trades unions and workers towards the employment and career development of disabled people and to encourage the use of MSC's facilities to help them in this. The campaign already has the support of a wide range of influential people and the MSC is seeking to ensure the co-operation of employers and trade unionists to make it a success in the short term by getting them to look afresh at their policies and practices, and in the long term by providing a climate in which equal opportunities are given to disabled people at work, both in respect of the numbers in jobs and, through promotion and career developments, in the quality of the work they do.I am informed by the MSC that the campaign has been widely publicised in the press and on radio and television and that over 200 local presentations to employers and trade unionists throughout the country will also be taking place to help promote its theme that "disabled workers are good workers". The MSC is also hoping to arrange a display in the Upper Waiting Room of the House for the benefit of hon. Members.The MSC's new award scheme for firms who do most to implement exemplary employment policies towards disabled people has secured the patronage of 19 leading employers and trade unionists, including the director general of the CBI—Sir John Methven—and the general secretary of the TUC, Mr. Len Murray.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will seek to establish a system of public commendation to employers who pursue successful policies in the employment of disabled people and if he will make a statement.
[pursuant to his reply, 26 October 1979, c. 335]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam) on 4 July, which announced the intention of the Manpower Services Commission to establish a scheme of annual awards to firms for exemplary policies and practices in the employment of disabled people. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment formally opened the award scheme when he launched the MSC's "Fit for Work" campaign on 17 September.I am informed by the MSC that the purpose and scope of the award scheme, which has secured the patronage of 19 leading employers and trade unionists, has been widely published in the course of its current "Fit for Work" campaign on behalf of disabled people in the employment field. In particular, full details, together with guidance on the application of positive policies on the employment of disabled people and information on how the services available through MSC can help, have been sent to over 75,000 firms nationwide.
Firms may apply direct for one of the 100 available awards that will be presented annually to those who, in the 12 months ended 31 March, have done most to further the employment prospects of disabled people. Nominations can also be made by local chambers of commerce, employers' associations, trades unions and voluntary bodies. The first awards will be made in the second half of 1980. The grant of an award will last for three years.
Applications will be judged by an independent committee which will include representatives of CBI, TUC, the national advisory council on employment of disabled people—NACEDP—and will be chaired by Mr. Geoffrey Gilbertson, chairman of NACEDP and of the "Fit for Work" award scheme.
House Of Commons
Morning Sittings
33.
asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will now introduce morning sittings of the House of Commons.
No.
Friday Sittings
36.
asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will initiate discussions with representatives of all parties in the House with a view to implementing the recommendation of the Select Committee on Procedure that the House should sit on Fridays from 9.30 am to 2.30 pm.
There will be an opportunity for the House to come to a decision on this matter on Wednesday during the debate on procedure.
Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs
Works Of Art
asked the Lord Privy Seal in which year the issue of Government certificates of indemnity for loss of, or damage sustained by, works of art lent to British Council exhibitions was commenced; and what has been the total sum paid since that year in satisfaction of claims under such certificates of indemnity.
The British Council's indemnity scheme for works of art borrowed from national institutions and private collections commenced in 1948. In the time available it has not been possible to obtain details of all payments since 1948, but over the past 10 years
BRITISH COUNCIL |
1979–80, Class II, 4 |
Notes: |
1. The Council's estimated total expenditure on its own activities in 1979–80 is £63,625,000 (£55,683,000 in 1978–79). Of this expenditure £22,493,000 (£20,112,000 in 1978–79) is in respect of the Council's activities for which provision is made in other Votes (See Appendix), Receipts, Y(1). In addition, expenditure by the Council as agents for the activities of other Government Departments in 1979–80 is estimated to amount to £37,502,000 and for international and other organisations to £5,500,000. Expenditure will be accounted for in detail by the British Council to the Comptroller and Auditor General, who is responsible for auditing the Council's accounts. Sums will be issued as necessary to meet estimated expenditure and to maintain a working balance of about £500,000 at the end of the year. The unexpended balance remaining at the end of the year will not be liable to surrender to the Consolidated Fund. |
2. Certain objects are borrowed by the British Council on a short-term basis from national institutions and private collections for particular exhibitions overseas. Indemnities are given to the owners against loss or damage to the objects while in the custody of the British Council. The approximate value of these indemnities at 1 January 1979 was £1,853,000. |
CLASSIFICATION AND PROGRAMME ATTRIBUTION OF EXPENDITURE BORNE ON THIS VOTE | |
Nature of Expenditure | Programme 2.2 Overseas Information £ |
Public Expenditure: | |
Current | 26,977,000 |
Capital | 1,413,000 |
Total | 28,390,000 |
CASH LIMITS | |||
This Vote is treated as a cash limit. | |||
APPENDIX | |||
BRITISH COUNCIL SUBHEAD DETAILS | |||
1978–79 | 1979–80 | ||
£ | £ | £ | |
20,243,000 | A Salaries &c. | 24,603,000 | |
20,243,000 | (1) Salaries &c. of 2,576 staff in overseas countries | 24,601,000 | |
— | (2) Loans to locally engaged staff for car and bicycle purchase and other assistance | 2,000 | |
7,419,000 | B General Expenses (Overseas) | 7,326,000 | |
3,674,000 | (1) Office rent, furniture, equipment and maintenance | 3,468,000 | |
3,745,000 | (2) Official transport, communications and miscellaneous expenses | 3,858,000 | |
11,394,000 | C Salaries &c. of 1,890 staff in London and United Kingdom Area Offices | 12,140,000 | |
5,671,000 | D General Expenses (Home) | 6,528,000 | |
2,216,000 | (1) Office rent, furniture, equipment and maintenance | 2,431,000 | |
3,455,000 | (2) Official transport, communications and miscellaneous expenses | 4,097,000 |
Consular Services
asked the Lord Privy Seal what arrangements are being made to look after the interests of British subjects in each of the towns from which consular services are to be withdrawn and to
approximately £24,000 has been paid in compensation for loss or damage. The total value of outstanding indemnities as at 1 January each year is published in the notes to the British Council Estimates—Supply Estimates, Class II Vote 4—attached.
what extent local citizens will be appointed as consuls.
United Kingdom nationals requiring assistance in those places where consular offices are to be closed will be able to call on the services of the nearest British consular office. In some of the places affected by closures we intend to appoint honorary consuls to provide essential assistance in cases of emergency.
Kampuchea
asked the Lord Privy Seal, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Edge Hill on 25 October, what criteria the Heng Samrin would need to satisfy in order to qualify for recognition by the United Kingdom as the Government of Kampuchea.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Burton (Mr. Lawrence) on 26 June in which he set out the criteria for recognition which have been applied by successive British Governments.—[Vol. 969, c. 152–3.]
Overseas Development
E1 Salvador
asked the Lord Privy Seal if Her Majesty's Government will now step up their technical assistance programme to E1 Salvador in the light of the new E1 Salvadorean Government's announced programmes of rural reform and urban development.
We shall consider the future development of the programme over the coming weeks in the light of our financial resources and of political and security developments in E1 Salvador. Meanwhile, although there has been some rundown over recent months, on-going projects in soil and water conservation, self-help urban housing, technical education and veterinary services are expected to continue as well as a programme of training for Salvadoreans in the United Kingdom.
Science Policy
asked the Prime Minister which Minister or Ministers are responsible for science policy; and if she will specify their responsibilities in detail.
My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science takes the lead on science policy issues arising out of his responsibilities for the research councils, on which he is assisted by my hon. Friend the Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Macfarlane), the universities, and other parts of the education system.Ministers in charge of other Departments are responsible for policy in connection with research and development within their own areas of concern. In appropriate cases I should play a co-ordinating role myself.
Scotland
Rate Support Grant
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in the 1980–81 rate support grant settlement, he will ensure that the Government will pay their full share of any pay awards including comparability payments made from November 1979 onwards.
This is one of the details of the 1980–81 rate support grant settlement which I shall announce at my meeting with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities in November.
Local Government Elections
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he collects information centrally concerning local government elections and by-elections in Scotland, covering details of candidates and results; and, if not, if he will arrange for such details to be collected.
This information is not collected centrally, nor is it proposed to do so in future. Much information on these lines is, however, published from time to time by the department of political science at Dundee university.
Housing Associations
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he plans to take to assist the housing association movement in Scotland to maintain the programme of housing for the elderly, physically and mentally handicapped, especially in regard to the years 1980–82 when many projects for these special needs are due for completion.
While decisions have still to be announced about the level of resources to be made available to housing associations in future, the associations will continue to be encouraged to give priority to the housing needs of special groups, and I do not expect that projects related to these needs which are due to be completed by 1982 will be delayed by resource constraints.
Local Authorities (Statutory Obligations)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland of what statutory obligations he intends to relieve Scottish local authorities in the coming year.
The Education (No. 2) Bill, published today, provides for the relaxation of statutory obligations in relation to school milk, school meals and transport. As announced in Cmnd. 7634 "Central Government Controls over Local Authorities," my right hon. Friend
DUNDEE DISTRICT COUNCIL | ||
Project | Capital £ | Revenue £ |
1977–78— | ||
Claypotts Sports Pavilion | 115,000 | — |
Lochee High Street Playground | 15,000 | — |
Maxwelltown Playground | 18,000 | — |
Wellgate Environmental Treatment | 35,000 | — |
Whitfield Bowling Green | 18,000 | — |
Peddie Street/Annfield Row Industrial Site | 40,000 | — |
Whitfield Branch Library | 53,000 | — |
1978–79— | ||
Whitfield Sports Pavilion | 88,383 | — |
Lochee Baths and Library (Phase I) | 118,719 | — |
Dighty Valley Sports Pavilion | 56,431 | — |
Douglas Lads Club | 3,000 | — |
Dundee Cyrenians Shelter for Homeless Adults | — | 27,356 |
Dundee Womens Aid Group | — | 11,850 |
Enterprise Workshop, Dundee | 26,438 | 8,300 |
1979–80— | ||
Lochee Baths (Phase II) | 198,000 | — |
TAYSIDE REGIONAL COUNCIL | ||
Project | Capital £ | Revenue £ |
1976–77— | ||
Youth and Community Worker, Midcraigie Church of Scotland, Dundee | — | 4,450 |
1977–78— | ||
Linlathen High School Library, Dundee | 20,000 | — |
Costs quoted are total costs of approved projects, on which grant is payable at the rate of 75 per cent. In the case of revenue projects, grant is payable for three years. |
Electricity Disconnections
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many disconnections were carried out by South of Scotland Electricity Board and North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board in the quarters up to June 1979 and September 1979; and how many disconnections in each quarter since 1979 were carried out for (a) sums of up to £20, (b) sums of up to £40, (c) sums up to £60, (d) sums up to £80, (e) sums up to £100 and (f) sums over £100.
is also discussing with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities a number of proposals to relieve authorities of the obligation to seek his approval before taking action in discharge of a number of their other powers and duties. Any further proposals for relaxation of statutory obligations will be discussed with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.
Urban Aid Programme
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the projects sponsored under the urban aid programme in Dundee in the past three years, stating the cost of funding each project.
The information is set out in the table below:
The infortion requested relates to matters within the statutory responsibilities of the Electricity Boards. I am therefore asking the chairman of the Boards to write to the hon. Member.
Births And Deaths
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish, from the vital statistics of the Registrar-General for Scotland, the tables of the postcode sector line prints for Dundee district for each of the past two available years showing (a) deaths by age and sex, (b) death by 12 selected causes-ICD B ' list—and, (c) births by age of mother, sex and parity, and social class.
Postcode-based tables of vital statistics covering the whole of Scotland for 1974, 1975 and 1976 were designed to test the demand for data in this form and are available from the General Register Office for Scotland at a copying cost. Following a favourable reaction from users, arrangements are being made to produce similar tables for 1977 and 1978 in the near future.
Housing Associations (Dundee)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many housing associations related to the Housing Corporation are currently operating in Dundee; and if he will name them.
The undernoted 10 housing associations registered with the Housing Corporation are currently operating in Dundee:
Tay Valley Housing Association Limited
Hillcrest Housing Association Limited
Bield Housing Association Limited
Margaret Blackwood Housing Association Limited
North Fife Housing Association Limited
Dundee Housing Association Limited
Church Army Housing Association Limited
Gowrie Housing Association Limited
Servite Housing Association Limited
Cleghorn Housing Association Limited
Environment
Walsall
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of Walsall being a housing stress area, whether he intends to make any special provision to assist the borough with its housing position.
Walsall's housing needs were taken into account, alongside those of all local authorities, when revised housing investment programme allocations for 1979–80 were determined in August of this year.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the total sum allocated to Walsall council for the housing investment programme for the current financial year; and if he will make a statement.
The information is included in the revised housing investment programme allocations for 1979–80 for individual authorities, copies of which were placed in the Library of the House on 5 September.
Departmental Directives
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report all the circulars, regulations or other forms of directives to local authorities which he has rescinded, discontinued or otherwise rendered null and void.
The following is the information requested, in respect of the period 3 May 1979 to date:
Numbered Circulars which have been cancelled
(i) Ministry of Town and Country Planning Circulars: Nos. 4, 15, 19, 22, 30, 33, 39, 43, 49, 57, 58, 67, 72, 83, 86, 93.
(ii) Ministry of Local Government and Planning Circular: No. 6/51.
(iii) Ministry of Housing and Local Government Circulars:Nos. 45/52, 88/52, 41/53, 43/53, 61/53, 1/54, 40/54, 60/54, 78/54, 22/55, 34/55, 40/55, 19/56, 9/57, 2658, 58/58, 22/59, 40/59, 48/59 (in part), 30/60, 52/60, 61/60, 34/61, 47/61, 52/61, 36/62, 38/62, 56/62, 44/63, 63/63, 68/63, 10/64, 42/64, 56/64, 62/64, 9/65, 16/65, 19/65, 56/65, 64/65 (in part), 60/66, 61/66, 17/67, 13/69, 23/69, 38/69, 98/69, 46/70, 76/70.
(iv) Department of the Environment circulars: Nos. 13/72, 80/72, 4/75, 27/75, 32/75, 106/75, 50/76, 91/77, 43/78, 60/78 (in part).
Other Department of the Environment Communications which have been cancelled
Community Land Scheme Guidance Notes: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12–17 inclusive.
Department of the Environment Communications which have been discontinued
New And Small Firms (Research)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied that there will be adequate research strength in the area of new and small firms when his decision to withdraw his Department's funding of the centre for environmental studies is implemented.
Yes. The Department is funding very little work in this field at the centre for environmental studies.
Departmental Research
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money is spent within his Department on research of the type undertaken by the centre for environmental studies; and by how much he is cutting the support to research internally undertaken.
We have yet to announce final decisions on the research work of the department. But we are reviewing it critically in the light of policy requirements.
Rate Support Grant (Cash Limits)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider postponing the determination of cash limits on rate support grant until later in the financial year, or set them by reference to a general index of movement in wages and prices, as suggested by the centre for environmental studies in its latest review, in order to reduce the uncertainty facing local authorities because of high inflation.
No. The cash limits that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will announce on 20 November will be firm and realistic. Local authorities will then be in no doubt how much grant they can expect to receive. That is the best way to reduce uncertainty.
Modernisation And Restructuring (Research)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of his intention to withdraw funds from the centre for environmental studies, whether he is satisfied that there will be adequate independent research on the employment implications of industrial modernisation and restructuring.
Funding of work in this field at the centre for environmental studies was in any case to be phased out in the near future as no longer of primary concern to this Department. Future research needs are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry.
Hartlepool
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to approve the structure plan for Hartlepool; and if he will indicate the powers which the Hartlepool council will have, following approval, to modify or alter within its boundaries the areas of land designated for light and heavy engineering, the boundaries of those areas, and the provision of green zones to meet the needs of the residential environment.
As soon as possible before the end of the year. Hartlepool borough council will then be able to consider and adopt a local plan to replace the old development plan for its area.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the total sum allocated to the Hartlepool council for housing investment in the current financial year programme; and how this compares with the financial year 1978–79 in real terms.
Hartlepool's 1979–80 housing investment programme allocation of £6·105 million is about 10 per cent. more, in real terms, than the authority's 1978–79 allocation.
Nuclear Waste
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the safety record of the current programme for the disposal of nuclear waste; and if he will give details of any fatal accidents which have occurred as a result of its operation.
We are completely satisfied that nuclear waste is disposed of safely. There have been no fatal accidents from any disposal operations.
Palace Of Westminster (Central Heating)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will implement a major reduction in the excessive level of central heating in the Palace of Westminster.
I have nothing to add to the replies I gave to my hon. Friend on 19 and 29 June 1979.—[Vol. 968, c. 476; Vol. 969, c. 357.]
Heathrow Airport
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he has not yet announced his intentions with regard to the proposed fourth terminal at Heathrow.
This major proposal raises important and difficult issues which deserve careful study. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade hope to announce a decision soon.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he received the inspector's report on the proposed fourth terminal at Heathrow.
The report was submitted on 18 May this year.
Fluoridation
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he intends to take to safeguard those consumers of water who do not wish to ingest fluoride against their will and judgment as to its medical effects.
Fluoride is naturally present, at various levels, in nearly all the drinking water in this country. Even if it were technically possible to supply fluoride-free water there would be no justification for the heavy expenditure which would be needed. Artificial fluoridation consists only of adjusting the natural fluoride level to that recommended by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services as most beneficial to dental health.
Council Houses (Sale)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to publish his legislative proposals for dealing with the sale of council houses.
A paper setting out these proposals was published on 18 October, and deposited in the Library of the House.
Houses Of Parliament
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total cost of recent work on the heating system and on re-carpeting the Houses of Parliament.
The total cost of the second phase of the heating modernisaton programme carried out during the Summer Recess is estimated to be £650,000. Carpet replacement costs for this year are expected to be in the region of £100,000.
Greater London (Housing)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to lay an order authorising the transfer of Greater London Council housing to London boroughs.
I expect that an order will be laid in February 1980 providing for transfer on 1 April 1980 of GLC housing stock to those boroughs and districts which are willing to accept it.
Environmental Pollution
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the conclusion of the sixth report of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution and its influence upon the public debate on nuclear power in Great Britain, he will issue a paper giving the Government's views on the sixth report.
I have been asked to reply.This Government have not made an announcement about a nuclear programme, but we believe that continuing nuclear orders will be needed to meet the country's long-term energy requirements. The last Government replied to the sixth report of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution in the White Paper "Nuclear Power and the Environment " (Cmnd. 6820), and many of the recommendations have already been implemented. We shall take account of the sixth report in developing our policy towards nuclear power.
Transport
Tachographs
asked the Minister of Transport if he will publish in the Official Report the number of prosecutions of lorry drivers in which a tachograph has been cited in evidence against the accused, in each member country of the EEC, in each year since July 1975.
I regret that this information is not available.
Road Traffic Regulations (Public Transport)
asked the Minister of Transport if he has plans for the relaxation of road traffic regulations in respect of public transport; when the scheme will commence; what areas have been specified for pilot experiment and if he will make a statement.
Yes. I shall shortly be introducing legislation to reform the bus licensing system. That legislation will include power to designate trial areas within which road service licensing will no longer apply.
Trunk Road Inquiries
asked the Minister of Transport whether he has drawn the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Bushell v. Secretary of State for the Environment to the notice of inspectors at trunk road inquiries.
1976–77 | |||
£ million at 1979 survey prices | |||
Cmnd. 6393 | Actual | Percentage Shortfall | |
Motorway and trunk road construction | 459 | 420 | -9 |
Motorway and trunk road maintenance | 88 | 78 | -11 |
Local authority road maintenance | 538 | 491 | -9 |
1977–78 | |||
£ million at 1979 survey prices | |||
Cmnd. 6721 | Actual | Percentage Shortfall | |
Motorway and trunk road construction | 346 | 279 | -19 |
Motorway and trunk road maintenance | 76 | 78 | +3 |
Local authority road maintenance | 492 | 472 | -4 |
1978–79 | |||
£ million at 1979 survey prices | |||
Cmnd. 7049 | Estimated | Percentage Shortfall (-) or Overspend (+) | |
Motorway and trunk road construction | 364 | 280 | -23 |
Motorway and trunk road maintenance | 84 | 89 | +6 |
Local authority road maintenance | 474 | 518 | +9 |
Economic Development Committee For Transport (Establishment)
asked the Minister of Transport whether he proposes to continue consultations about the establishment of
The attention of the inspectors holding the current major trunk road inquiries has been drawn to the judgment in this case.
Departmental Administration
asked the Minister of Transport what recommendations Sir Derek Rayner has made concerning the administration of the Department of Transport.
None as yet. The study of road construction units, which is being carried out in consultation with Sir Derek Rayner, is still in progress.
Public Expenditure (Roads)
asked the Minister of Transport if he will provide a table showing the actual expenditure in England and the expenditure planned in the appropriate public expenditure White Paper, all at 1979 survey prices, and the shortfall as a proportion of the planned budget for motorway and trunk road maintenance, local road construction and local road maintenance for each of the years 1976–77, 1977–78 and 1978–79.
The information is as follows:an economic development committee for transport.
I am considering whether this would be the best way to involve the main interests concerned in the development of transport policy.
Ridgeway Path
asked the Minister of Transport whether he has received from the Countryside Commission a recommendation under section 32 of the Countryside Act 1968 for the making of a traffic regulation order for part of the Ridgeway long-distance path; if he will undertake to consult interested bodies before taking a decision on this recommendation; and if he will make a statement.
We have not received such a recommendation.
M23
asked the Minister of Transport of he will make a statement on the latest position regarding the future of the proposed extension of the M23 north of Hooley.
As my hon. Friend knows from our correspondence, I am anxious to remove as soon as possible the long-standing uncertainty in the area. But the issues raised by the response to the previous Government's proposal not to proceed with the motorway north of Hooley are complex and we are still considering how best to carry matters forward.
Agricultural Implements (Road Use)
asked the Minister of Transport (1) if he will bring in statutory provisions to ensure that agricultural implements which obscure rear lights and indicators on a carrying or towing tractor should be fitted with a full portable lighting system;(2) when he proposes to bring all agricultural tractors and trailers using public roads under the same strict regulations for lighting, braking, power and axle loads as commercial and private vehicles.
Agricultural tractors and trailers are limited to a speed of 20 mph and usually travel on rural roads over comparatively short distances. It is accordingly not thought necessary that they should satisfy all the lighting and braking requirements applying to commercial and other private vehicles of comparable weight and power. So far as lighting is concerned, such vehicles are required to have at the rear two red lights and two red reflectors; and it is an offence not to display the lights or to obscure the reflectors. Whether the requirements of the law are met by the use of portable lighting systems is a matter for the owner or user.An EEC Council directive has recently been published on the installation of lighting and light signalling devices on agricultural tractors. We shall shortly be considering what changes need to be made in the regulations, not only to meet our Community obligations, but to improve the situation in respect of lighting and signalling equipment on other agricultural vehicles that may use public roads.
asked the Minister of Transport if he will give favourable consideration to giving statutory power to health and safety inspectors (agriculture) to examine tractors, trailers and other implements used on public roads in relation to the Road Traffic Act.
No. Enforcement of road traffic regulations governing the condition of agricultural vehicles on public roads is primarily a matter for the police, who are supported in appropriate cases by the Department's vehicle examiners. Health and safety inspectors already have powers to take action where the condition of vehicles or equipment used is such as to prejudice the safety of people at work.
Defence
Private Contractors
asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has to offer any of the services for which he is responsible for disposal to private enterprise contractors.
The Ministry of Defence already procures a wide range of services from private industry under contract; and will continue to do so wherever it is efficient and economical. I have commissioned a number of studies which will consider, where appropriate, the existing balance between services provided by direct labour and commercially. Before any firm decisions are taken the Department's staff associations and trade unions will be consulted fully.
Royal Ordnance Factories
asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the sales, depreciation payments, interest payments, profit after interest and payments to the Consolidated Fund for the Royal ordnance factories in the year to the end of March 1979; and what is the total number of employees of the Royal ordnance factories and their total remuneration.
The provisional figures are as follows:
Sales | £284 million |
Provision for depreciation | £10·4 million |
Interest payments | £2·7 million |
Surplus after interest | £33·6 million |
Proposed dividend payment to the Consolidated Fund | £11·5 million |
Average total number of ROF employees | £23,235 |
Their total remuneration | £90 million |
Tornado Aircraft
asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of building a Tornado multi-role combat aircraft.
The unit production cost of the GR1 aircraft is estimated to be £9 million, and of the F2—air defence variant—£11 million, both at September 1978 economic conditions. In accordance with normal practice these costs include the amortised value of the tooling and other production investment required to build these aircraft.
Campaign Medals
asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he intends to issue a new campaign medal for those who served with the convoys to the USSR during World War II; and if he will make a statement.
This issue has been raised with my Department on several occasions in recent months. Although I am conscious of the vital contribution made to the war effort by those who served in the Arctic convoys, I cannot agree that the recognition given to them has been inadequate or that a new award should be introduced.The Government of the day, recognising that awards for all the campaigns and operations involving British Servicemen in World War II would have involved a very large number of separate medals being struck, decided that they would follow tradition and preserve the value of the country's awards by limiting their number. To this end a small number of basic campaign stars were struck, each covering a wide geographical area. Service in Arctic waters was covered by the Atlantic Star.Those who devised the system of campaign awards in the immediate post-war years did so in full awareness of the conditions which existed in all the theatres of war. I do not believe there are grounds for reversing this judgment.
War Widows' Pensions
asked the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the cost of altering the qualifying date for war widows' pensions under the Army Pension Warrant Act from 31 August 1950 to 31 August 1930.
I shall write to my hon. Friend.
Royal Navy (House Purchases)
asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will consider reviewing the policy of not permitting single men in the Royal Navy the opportunity to obtain a loan for house purchase.
Single men and women are eligible for an advance of pay to assist house purchase when they are nearing the end of their Service careers. The question of allowing them to participate in the more wide-ranging naval in-Service scheme is now under review. I cannot yet predict the outcome.
Gibraltar
asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost to the British taxpayer of maintaining Gibraltar as a British protectorate and military base.
Expenditure on Gibraltar by the United Kingdom Government in 1979–80 is estimated to be about £40 million at 1979 survey prices.
Northern Ireland
Irish Republican Army (Arms Supplies)
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, from the evidence available to him, to what extent arms and ammunition reaching the Irish Republican Army are coming from Communist countries; and how high a percentage this represents.
Some of the arms and ammunition captured by the security forces from the Provisional IRA are manufactured in Communist countries. The indications are that these reach the Provisional IRA indirectly. It is not possible to give an estimate of the proportion
1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | Total | |
Escaping from custody | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 5 |
Armed robbery | — | 1 | 7 | 2 | 5 | — | — | — | 15 |
Murder | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 |
Attempted murder | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 |
Possession of firearms | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 |
Possession of explosives | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 |
Arson | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 |
Theft and associated offences | 5 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 36 |
Dangerous driving | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Grievous bodily harm | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 3 |
Drunken driving | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | 3 |
Assault | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
TOTAL | 6 | 4 | 20 | 5 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 72 |
Taxes And Prices Index
asked the Paymaster General if he will bring to the attention of the broadcasting authorities the existence of the taxes and prices index as a proper measurement of the underlying rate of inflation, unaffected by the method of raising tax revenue.
The broadcasting authorities were fully informed of the nature and purpose of the tax and price index when it was first published. Each month the index is sent, with explanatory notes, to a wide range of broadcasters.
National Finance
Short-Time Workers Scheme
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is the practice of the Inland Revenue to tax as income payment received under the short-time workers scheme, which replaced temporary employment subsidy.
of the arms available to the Provisional IRA which such arms represent.
Extradition
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons were extradited from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland in each of the years 1969 to 1978, inclusive; and on what charges.
The information is not available for 1969 and 1970. From 1971 to 1978 inclusive a total of 72 persons were returned to the Republic of Ireland from Northern Ireland as a result of arrest warrants forwarded from the Republic. The details by type of offences are as follows:
I shall let the right hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.
European Community (Value Added Tax)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated annual contribution which Great Britain will now make to the EEC from the proceeds of a 15 per cent, rate of value added tax is by comparison with the annual amount payable when value added tax was levied at 8 per cent, and 12½ per cent.
I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.
Sterling Area Guarantee
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost of implementing the sterling area guarantee to holders of certain official sterling reserves in each year since the guarantees were given.
Payments to official holders under the sterling guarantee
arrangements amounted to £59 million in 1973 and £75 million in 1974. The guarantees expired in December 1974.
Exchange Control
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the removal of exchange control will facilitate the payment of salaries, commissions or fees to tax havens.
The transfer of funds from the United Kingdom to places outside the scheduled territories will be facilitated by the removal of exchange controls. The scheduled territories still comprise the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, the Republic of Ireland and Gibraltar. But salaries, commissions or fees which are liable to United Kingdom tax because they arise from United Kingdom sources will remain so liable even if they are remitted to tax havens.
Premium Bonds
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individual complaints he has received following the change in value of prizes offered to premium bond holders.
So far 706 letters and telephone calls have been received objecting to the two changes announced this year in the premium savings bond prize structure. Only a small number of these are objections to the new prize structure to operate from January 1980; the majority refer to the temporary prize structure to apply to the September to December 1979 prize draws. There are 25.6 million premium savings bond holders.
Capital Funds
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the level of capital funds placed out of the United Kingdom for the latest date for which figures are available.
The stock of the United Kingdom's external assets at the end of 1978 is estimated to have been £52 billion. Of this, £39 billion represented assets of the private sector and £13 billion assets of the public sector. Details are given in table 12.1 of the United Kingdom balance of payments 1979 edition—the Pink Book. The figures exclude the claims of United Kingdom banks in overseas currencies, which are instead netted off their liabilities in overseas currencies in the presentation adopted in the Pink Book; at the end of 1978 these claims totalled £99 billion.
Government Expenditure (International Comparisons)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the percentage value of Government expenditure of the gross national product in 1970 and at the latest available date in: West Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and the United Kingdom.
The information requested is given in the table below:
GENERAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE* AS A PERCENTAGE OF GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT AT MARKET PRICES | ||
1970 | 1977 | |
West Germany | 35·9 | 44·4 |
Italy | 35·2 | 46·2 |
France | 38·3 | 43·.9 |
Belgium | 36·2 | 46·1 |
Austria | 37·9 | 45·1 |
Netherlands | 44·2 | 55·7 |
Ireland | 37·4 | 47·2† |
Denmark | N.A. | N.A. |
Sweden | 43·2 | 60·5 |
Norway | 41·1 | 52·3 |
United Kingdom | 37·6 | 44·2 |
* Expenditure by central and local government combined, excluding capital transfers, loans and expenditure on the acquisition of company securities, for which figures on an internationally comparable basis are not available. | ||
†1976. |
Source: National accounts of OECD countries 1960–77 volume II.
Tax Evasion
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will increase the number of Inland Revenue staff employed in investigating and stopping large-scale income tax evasion.
The deployment of its staff is a matter for the Board of Inland Revenue, but we have said that we intend to undertake a thorough review of enforcement procedures.
Public Sector Borrowing Requirement
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current value of the public sector borrowing requirement of the United Kingdom; and if he will express the public sector borrowing requirement per head of population.
The United Kingdom public sector borrowing requirement for the three months April to June of this year, the latest period for which figures are available, was £3,382 million. This was £61 per head of population in that quarter.
Gross National Product
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the
TAXES AS A PERCENTAGE OF GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT AT FACTOR COST IN 1977 | ||||||
Direct taxes | Indirect taxes | Taxes on capital | Total taxes | Social security contributions | Total taxes and social security contributions | |
West Germany | 15·4 | 14·0 | 0·1 | 29·4 | 15·8 | 45·2 |
Italy | 10·2 | 12·8 | 0·1 | 23·1 | 14·8 | 37·9 |
France | 9·4 | 15·5 | 0·2 | 25·1 | 18·6 | 43·8 |
Belgium | 18·7 | 13·0 | 0·4 | 32·1 | 14·0 | 46·0 |
Austria | 13·7 | 19·9 | 0·1 | 33·7 | 12·1 | 45·8 |
Netherlands | 17·8 | 13·8 | 0·2 | 31·8 | 19·9 | 51·7 |
Republic of Ireland | 12·9* | 22·1* | 0·2* | 35·3* | 7·8* | 43·1* |
Denmark | NA | 20·9 | 0·2 | NA | NA | NA |
Sweden | 27·8 | 18·2 | 0·1 | 46·2 | 15·6 | 61·8 |
Norway | 19·3 | 22·0 | 0·1 | 41·4 | 15·3 | 56·6 |
United Kingdom— | ||||||
1977 | 17·0 | 15·6 | 0·3 | 32·9 | 7·5 | 40·5 |
1978 | 16·3 | 15·7 | 0·3 | 32·3 | 7·0 | 39·3 |
* Percentages relate to 1976 | ||||||
Sources: | ||||||
United Kingdom: National income and expenditure 1979 edition, adjusted to international definitions. | ||||||
Other countries: National accounts of OECD countries 1960–77, supplemented by data on taxes on capital from revenue statistics of OECD member countries 1965–78. |
Departmental Expenditure
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the level of expenditure for each of the last 10 years for each major Department of State expressed at constant prices both overall and per client, child in school, where appropriate; and what are the projections for the next three years.
I am writing to my hon. Friend.
European Community (Budget)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take to ensure that Great Britain will not be compelled to pay £915 million more into the EEC budget than it receives from the Community.
gross national product of the following countries is taken up by taxation, direct and indirect, and social security contributions: West Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and the United Kingdom.
Details for 1977, the latest year for which information is available from international sources, are given in the table below. No corresponding figures are yet available for 1978 from international sources but the United Kingdom figures derived from domestic sources and adjusted to international definitions are given in the table.
[pursuant to his reply, 26 October 1979, c. 358]: The European Council has already asked the European Commission to look into the arrangements for financing the Community budget and to bring forward proposals for solving any problems that these create in time for it to take a decision when it next meets on 29–30 November. The Commission's estimates of net contributions to the Community budget in 1980 fully support Her Majesty's Government's view that present arrangements impose a quite inequitable burden on the United Kingdom.As the Prime Minister' and I have both emphasised at successive meetings with our Community colleagues, Her Majesty's Government are now looking to the Commission to propose a remedy that will restore, and thereafter maintain, a "broad balance" between the United Kingdom's contribution to the Community budget and its receipts from it. My right hon. Friends and I will continue to press this case.
Government Holdings
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the arrangements for offering for sale to the public holdings in companies at present partly or wholly owned by Her Majesty's Government or agencies controlled by Her Majesty's Government.
[pursuant to his reply, 26 October 1979, c. 359]: The arrangements for selling shares owned by the Government and by the National Enterprise Board, and shares in companies which were formerly nationalised industries, will depend on the particular circumstances of each case.
National Savings
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the increase or decrease in national savings over the most recent three-month period for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures in the same period of the previous five years.
[pursuant to his reply, 26 October 1979, c. 358]: The most recent three-month period for which figures are available is July to September 1979. The net changes in balances, including accrued interest, administered by the department for national savings for the period of July to September in the last six years are:
£ million | |
1974 | - 1·1 |
1975 | + 93·2 |
1976 | + 150·9 |
1977 | + 371·4 |
1978 | + 93·4 |
1979 | *+ 237·4 |
* Provisional |
Gold
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the quantity of gold which was seized at the end of the war, and which had previously belonged to the pre-war Albanian Government, now held in the United Kingdom;(2) what gold is now held by the United Kingdom, either generally or with other Allied Governments as a result of seizure at the end of the Second World War; and if he will make a statement.
[pursuant to his reply, 25 October 1979, c. 290]: Gold seized at the end of the war, including gold formerly belonging to the pre-war Albanian Government, is held in the United Kingdom and the USA on behalf of the Tripartite Commission on Restitution of Monetary Gold. This gold is in the custody of the Commission, and I am not in a position to give details of the amounts held in the United Kingdom as this information is confidential between the Bank and the Commission.
Telephone Bills (Value Added Tax)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rate of value added tax is to be charged on telephone call and rental charges until 30 October and after 1 November; and if he will make a statement.
[pursuant to his reply, 25 October 1979, c. 291]: The effect of section 1(3) of the Finance (No. 2) Act 1979 is that the 8 per cent. rate of VAT will apply to all charges on a Post Office telephone bill which includes a rental charge for a rental quarter beginning before 1 November 1979. The 15 per cent. rate will apply to subsequent bills. These arrangements should ensure that calls made before 18 June 1979 will not attract the 15 per cent. rate.
Day Care Charges (Tax Relief)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he proposes to introduce tax relief for the charges working single parents have to pay for the day care of children.
[pursuant to his reply, 24 October 1979, c. 209]: The additional personal allowance, which gives extra tax relief for those with single-handed responsibility for children, reflects the fact that such parents may incur expenses for child care. I have no plans to introduce any additional tax relief for such expenses.
Social Services
Electricity Discount Scheme
29.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to make a statement about the future of the electricity discount scheme.
I refer the hon. Member to the statement made to the House by my right hon. Friend on 22 October.—[Vol. 972, c. 35–46.]
National Health Service (Administration)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the approximate number of persons employed in the administration of the National Health Service at the latest available date, a year ago and two years ago.
The information requested is as follows:
Date | Staff (Whole Time Equivalents) |
30.6.77* | 49,751 |
31.3.78 | 48,903 |
31.3.79 | 48,680 |
* Information at 31.3.77 is not available. |
Supplementary Benefits Commission (Report)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals he has to deal with all those cases which fall into the category of poverty defined by the Supplementary Benefits Commission in its annual report as a standard of living so low that it cuts people off from normal community life; and what assessment he has made to ensure that the Commission's concern that benefits should keep people warm, reasonably fed and well enough dressed to maintain self-respect is met.
I will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to meet the observation of the Supplementary Benefits Commission that the new heating allowances do not meet the needs of the poorest and that many will be priced out of the fuel market.
I think that the hon. Member has somewhat misread the Commission's remarks in chapter 5 of its annual report for 1978—Cmnd. 7725. As my right hon. Friend said in his statement to the House on 22 October, the Government are aware of the need to take the cost of energy into acount in developing their social policies, and will keep under review the range of help available to assist poor consumers with their fuel bills.
Child Benefit
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will extend the scope of child benefit increases to include people other than parents who are bringing up children alone.
Yes. People other than parents who are bringing up children alone are in a similar situation to lone parents. It is right, therefore, that, subject to satisfying the relevant conditions, they should be eligible for the additional help provided by child benefit increase. Regulations will be introduced to make this effective as early as possible in 1980.
Buckinghamshire Area Health Authority
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the approximate number of persons employed in the area of the Buckinghamshire area health authority at the latest available date, a year ago and two years ago.
The number of persons employed by the Buckinghamshire area health authority at 30 September 1979 was 7,779; corresponding figures for 1978 and 1977 are 7,541 and 7,462 respectively. Source: SHA. 53 England and Wales.
Family Income Supplement
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest estimate of the take-up of family income supplement in relation to those numbers thought to be eligible.
The most recent reliable estimate for the take-up of family income supplement—FIS—is for 1975, when about three-quarters of those estimated to be eligible were in receipt of FIS awards. It is hoped that the family finances survey, now in progress, will yield better information on take-up based on a larger sample of low-income families than is available from the family expenditure survey—the source of the 1975 estimate.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report (a) the proportion of the unemployed who are receiving family income supplement and (b) for how long, on average, once unemployed they continue to receive it.
I regret that information is not available in the form requested.
Family Income
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many families with children are in receipt of social security; and what proportion of these receive less than half of the average manufacturing wage.
I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.
Departmental Telephone Number (Newcastle)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the telephone number of the Department of Health and Social Security in Newcastle is now ex-directory.
I am having inquiries made into the matter raised by my hon. Friend and will provide a full reply as soon as possible.
Dental Services (Worthing)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many dentists in the Worthing constituency are prepared to provide dentures under the National Health Service.
As independent contractors, dentists are free to choose whether to accept any particular person requiring any particular treatment. I am unable, therefore, to say how many of the 33 dentists providing general dental services in the Worthing area would be prepared to accept patients requiring dentures under the National Health Service. Any patient who has difficulty should contact the family practitioner committee, which will do its best to help.
Benefits And Earnings
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the percentage increase in supplementary benefits and in average industrial earnings, respectively, over the past 10 and five years, respectively.
I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
Blind Persons (Benefits)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish tables showing the additional benefits available to the blind in the United Kingdom and in the other eight countries of the European Community.
I assume the hon. Member is referring to social security benefits. Comparative social security tables for member States of the European Communities, showing the position at 1 January 1978, have been prepared by the Department and a copy placed in the Library. These tables include benefits available to handicapped people, including those who are blind, and I refer the hon. Member particularly to pages 8 to 21 and 42 to 50. New tables, showing the position at 1 January 1979, are expected to be available shortly.
Supplementary Benefit (Heating Costs)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many pensionres over 75 years of age already gain an additional supplementary benefit payment towards their heating costs; and if he will classify this data according to the number receiving 85p, £1·70p and £2·55p as well as those receiving an allowance towards their central heating costs;(2) how many supplementary benefit claimants with children under five years of age receive an additional payment towards their heating costs; and if he will classify this information according to the number receiving 85p, £1·70p and £2·55p as well as those receiving an allowance towards their central heating costs.
It is estimated that some 650,000 supplementary pensioners over 75, and some 85,000 claimants with children under five years of age are already receiving a heating addition. It is not possible to produce reliable estimates of the further information requested except at disproportionate cost.
Northern Regional Health Authority
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the increased cost to the Northern regional health authority of the rise in value added tax from 8 per cent. to 15 per cent.
I refer the hon. Member to my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Price) on 22 October.—[Vol. 972, c. 96.]
Telford District General Hospital (Site)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the site for the new Telford district general hospital has been purchased; when the hospital will be started and when it will be due to open.
The site for the Telford district general hospital has not yet been purchased. Officials are currently discussing with West Midlands RHA its plans, which envisage a start date of autumn 1983 and completion of phase I in spring 1987.
Warren Farm Road Health Clinic (Birmingham)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the delay in transferring the Warren Farm Road health clinic, Birmingham, from the area health authority to the city council social services department.
I understand that the scheme has now received all the necessary approvals and conversion work on the building is about to start. Birmingham city council social services department expects that the centre will open early in the new year.
Compulsory Medication
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state his policy on compulsory medication.
Treatment of patients should normally be with their consent, or with consent of parents in the case of children. There are certain circumstances in which doctors may given treatment without consent—for example in the case of patients detained for treatment under the Mental Health Acts. If the hon. Member has a particular instance in mind, perhaps he would send me details.
Fluoridation
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has knowledge of any country in Western Europe having abandoned fluoridation of public water supplies; and if so what are the reasons for such abandonment.
Fluoridation was introduced in Holland but it had to cease because of a legal decision on a technicality, and not for any medical or dental reason. A limited scheme was also stopped in Sweden for similar reasons.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which countries in Western Europe operate a policy of compulsory fluoridation of public water supplies.
The Republic of Ireland.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many adults are likely to benefit by way of better dental health as a result of adding fluoride to the public water supply.
Fluoridation of water supplies reduces the prevalence of dental decay throughout life in all those who consume fluoridated water during the years of tooth formation—from birth to 14 years. Eventually, therefore, all those who have lived during these years in fluoridated areas will benefit from the consequent improvement in dental and general health.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost to public funds of fluoridating all public water supplies in the United Kingdom.
The cost of extending the fluoridation of water supplies in the United Kingdom would be spread over a number of years depending on the availability of public funds. Costs would vary from place to place, according to such factors as the amount of fluoride already present naturally in particular water supplies, the type of fluoridation equipment required to supplement it, and the distribution of sources. The technical problems have not yet been fully assessed for all supply sources.Owing to these circumstances the overall cost has not been calculated. However, experience has shown that fluoridation is a most effective and economical method of protecting the whole community against dental decay.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what evidence has recently been put before him as to the incidence of cancer in areas where the public water supply has been fluoridated.
We are aware of a recent re-examination of data from a paper published in 1974 about differences in cancer incidence in various organs between certain fluoridated areas and certain similar control areas, and between sets of areas with varying levels of fluoride naturally in their water supplies. I am advised that differences reported in this paper could have arisen by chance and do not indicate an association between cancer incidence and fluoride in drinking water, whether present naturally or added artificially. I am advised that substantial parts of the procedures in the recent re-examination are statistically invalid and hence that no reliance can be placed on any deductions drawn from them.My right hon. Friend's advisers will continue to study any properly documented claims on this subject but I have not so far seen any valid evidence of a link between fluoridation and cancer incidence.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has given further consideration to the introduction of legislation to compel water authorities to add fluoride to the public water supply.
The Government are considering this issue in the context of the report of the Royal Commission on the National Health Service—Cmnd. 7615.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which countries in the EEC artificially fluoridate their public water supplies.
Five of the nine EEC countries at present permit fluoridation of water supplies and, of these, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland have introduced it.
Emergency Dental Treatment
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what discussions he has had with the British Dental Association in connection with Government support for voluntary services for emergency dental treatment at weekend periods; and whether he will make a statement;(2) if he will make a statement on the establishment of emergency dental services at weekends.
My hon. Friend has had discussions with representatives of the British Dental Association and has reached general agreement on the profession's participation in the provision of emergency dental services at weekends and bank holidays where health authorities consider them necessary to supplement existing services. A number of details remain to be settled but he hopes soon to issue guidance to health authorities.
Reception And Resettlement Centres
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the name, location and capacity of the reception and resettlement centres administered by the Supplementary Benefits Commission for homeless single (a) men and (b) women; if he considers the number of places to be sufficient; and what steps he is taking to increase the number.
It is assumed that the question refers to all reception centres, including resettlement units, administered by the Supplementary Benefits Commission for people without a settled way of living; these are listed. I consider that
RECEPTION CENTRES INCLUDING RESETTLEMENT UNITS | ||
Provincial | Location | Bed capacity |
Alvaston | Derby | 104 |
Brighton | Sussex | 38 |
Crown Quay Lodge | Sittingbourne, Kent | 76 |
Fazakerley | Liverpool | 61 |
Glasgow | Bishopbriggs, Glasgow | 63 |
Leeds | Leeds | 96 |
Leicester | Wigston, Leicester | 100 |
Newbury | Berkshire | 68 |
Plawsworth | Chester-le-Street, Co. Durham | 112 |
Southampton | Southampton | 80 |
South Wales | Bridgend, Mid-Glamorgan | 64 |
Walkden | Worsley, Manchester | 84 |
West Midlands | Stourbridge, Worcestershire | 123 |
Winterbourne | Bristol | 112 |
Woodhouse | Sheffield | 96 |
London | ||
Camberwell | Peckham, SE15 | 550 |
Camden | Birkenhead Street, WC1 | 35* |
Cedars Lodge | Cedars Road, SW4 | 30* |
70† | ||
Bridge House | Kingsdown Close, W10 | 120 |
Hither Green | Ennersdale Road, SE13 | 150 |
Pound Lodge | Pound Lane, NW10 | 80 |
Lancelot Andrewes House | Great Guildford Street, Southwark, SE1 | 60 |
West End House | Dean Street, Soho, W1 | 80 |
Total | 2,452 | |
* Women. | ||
† Men. |
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of homeless single (a) men and (b) women who used the reception and resettlement centres administered by the Supplementary Benefits Commission; what is the last year for which figures
Under 17 | 18–24 | 25–34 | 35–44 | 45–54 | 55–59 | 60–64 | 65 & over | |
Male | 21 | 1,766 | 3,452 | 3,237 | 3,011 | 1,331 | 801 | 736 |
Female | 1 | 193 | 158 | 124 | 79 | 43 | 27 | 8 |
[This information is not available for earlier periods]. |
Health Education (Dental Care)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how much his Department has spent in each of the five years 1974 to 1978 on health education relating to dental care;(2) how much his Department has spent in each of the five years 1974 to 1978 on health education specifically related to the care and preservation of children's teeth.
The Health Education Council, which is funded by the Department and responsible for health
the number of places provided in such centres is adequate and have no plans to increase the overall number.
are available; and, if available, if he will give an age breakdown.
14,355 men and 633 women used the Supplementary Benefits Commission's reception centres, including resettlement units, in the 12 months ended 31 July 1979. Their ages were:education on a national scale in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, has spent the following sums on dental health campaigns and research in the last five financial years:
£ | |
1974–75 | 10,610 |
1975–76 | 34,679 |
1976–77 | 26,085 |
1977–78 | 27,216 |
1978–79 | 164,403 |
Homeless Persons
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many homeless single persons using the reception and resettlement centres administered by the Supplementary Benefits Commission in the last year and falling within section 2 of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act, were found permanent homes:(2) how many persons in the last year for which figures are available left reception and resettlement centres for (
a) local authority accommodation, ( b) housing association accommodation and ( c) part III accommodation.
It is not possible to say how many persons who used the Supplementary Benefits Commission's reception centres, including resettlement units, in the last year were found permanent homes; many left without stating their destination. But it is known that of those who left in the 12 months ended 31 July 1979, 42 went into local authority accommodation, 15 into housing association accommodation and 82 into part III accommodation.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what administrative arrangements exist between the Supplementary Benefits Commission and other organisations so as to enable the homeless single persons who fall within section 2 of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act to find permanent accommodation.
The SBC has no responsibility for finding permanent accommodation for anyone, but in reception centres—including resettlement units—temporary accommodation is provided for people "without a settled way of living". And, while in reception centres and local offices we try to be as helpful as possible to homeless single persons who seek our help, we do not undertake to find permanent accommodation for anyone.
Hospital Admissions
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many admissions were made to National Health Service hospitals in the last year for which figures are available.
Hospital in-patient activity is measured in discharges and deaths rather than admissions. In 1978 there were approximately 5,350,000 inpatient discharges and deaths from National Health Service hospitals in England.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people were awaiting admission to hospital and how many of those were urgent cases at the latest available date; and what was the average length of wait for both categories.
On 31 March 1979, 752,450 people were awaiting admission to National Health Service hospitals in England, of whom 52,950 were awaiting "urgent" admission. Average waiting times are not available.
Surgical Waiting Lists
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what surgical specialty has (a) the longest waiting list, with numbers, and (b) the longest waiting time, with average length of wait.
The surgical specialty with the largest number of people awaiting in-patient admission to National Health Service hospitals in England on 31 March 1979 was general surgery, with 195,845 people on the list.Average waiting times by specialty are not available.
Hospitals (Patients)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases were dealt with in National Health Service hospital accident and emergency units, and how many were dealt with in out-patients clinics in the last year for which figures are available.
In 1978 there were 9,137,000 new out-patients and 13,300,000 total attendances at accident and emergency departments of National Health Service hospitals in England. In the same year over 7,676,000 new out-patients attended hospital out-patient departments and there was a total of 33,700,000 outpatient attendances.
Ambulance Service
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to publish the report of the conference on future training in the ambulance service and its effect on the structure of the service, held at Harrogate in June; and when he expects to formulate proposals for training in the light of the views expressed at the conference.
Papers given at the Harrogate seminar are expected to be published in the next month or so. The views expressed at the seminar will be considered along with other relevant matters such as possible changes in the structure and management of the National Health Service.
Official Visit (Nottinghamshire)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will pay an official visit to Forest Road hospital, Mansfield, in order personally to assess the effects of expenditure cuts in the area.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make an official visit to the Central Nottinghamshire health district, in view of the financial difficulties being experienced there.
My hon. Friend the Minister of State has agreed that a ministerial visit to Nottinghamshire, including central Nottinghamshire district, should be arranged as soon as our programme permits.
Surgical Operations (Central Nottinghamshire)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are waiting for operations under the main surgical specialties at the hospitals covered by the central Nottinghamshire community health council.
On 30 June 1979 the numbers of people awaiting admission were as follows:
General surgery | 806 |
Ear, nose and throat | 849 |
Orthopaedic | 2,154 |
Ophthalmology | 54 |
Gynaecology | 574 |
Geriatric Beds (Mansfield)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many geriatric beds are now available in the Mansfield area covered by the central Nottinghamshire community health council; and how many beds would be required to cater for the patients requiring such accommodation.
In the year ended 31 December 1978 there were, on average, 252 geriatric hospital beds available in the Mansfield/Ashfield part of the central Nottinghamshire health district. On average, 198 of those beds were occupied—a rate of 78·5 per cent.
Rochdale Area Health Authority
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the total spending budget allocated to Rochdale area health authority for the current year, the previous financial year and the next financial year;(2) what is the (
a) nursing establishment, ( b) administrative establishment and ( c) ancillary workers establishment of the Rochdale area health authority for the last full financial year, the current year and the next year;
(3) what was the amount spent on salaries and wages by the Rochdale area health authority for the last complete financial year; what it is in the current year; and what the figure is intended to be budgeted for in the next financial year, each of those figures, if possible, being broken down between ( a) salaries and wages and ( b) medical staff, administrative staff and ancillary workers;
(4) what was the amount of money spent on administration by the Rochdale area health authority in the last full financial year; what is the amount for the current year; and what is proposed for next year;
(5) if he will list the posts, and salaries attached thereto, in the Rochdale area health authority, of all those receiving salaries in excess of £5,000 per annum;
(6) what was the capital cost and what are the running costs of the child assessment centre, Birch Hill hospital in the Rochdale area health authority; and whether any representations against building it were received by the authority;
(7) what is the current cost of a hydrotherapy pool similar to the one at Nendon children's hospital now proposed for clossure by the Rochdale area health authority;
(8) what has been the cost to date of providing the plastic surgery unit at the Rochdale infirmary of the Rochdale area health authority.
We do not have centrally the information needed to answer these questions. I suggest that the hon. Member seeks the information direct from the Rochdale area health authority.
Medical Examination (Member's Complaint)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when a full reply will be sent to the letter dated 2 September from the hon. Member for Goole to the Minister for Social Security, about the complaint of one of the hon. Member's constituents about rough treatment during a medical examination by a doctor appointed by the Department of Health and Social Security.
I wrote to the hon. Member on 25 October.
Retirement Pensions (Method Of Payment)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has now considered the report of the joint working party of officials of his Department and representatives of National Giro, the Inter-Bank Research Organisation and Bankers Automated Clearing Services Ltd. into the question of the payment of retirement pensions direct to the beneficiary bank account when the beneficiary so desires; and if he will make a statement.
Payment of retirement pensions directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries has become part of a much wider study of the arrangements for paying social security benefits. I expect to receive shortly a report on this wider study and my right hon. Friend will announce our conclusions as soon as possible.
Supplementary Benefit
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will update to May 1978 the answer given to the hon. Member for Birkenhead,Official Report, 21 May, c.49–50.
[pursuant to her reply, 27 July 1979, c. 668]: In May 1979, 564,000 unemployed persons—46 per cent. of all the registered unemployed—were receiving supplementary benefit.
Special Fuel Discount Schemes
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many families were assisted in each of the past three winters by the special fuel discount schemes; and at what cost.
I have been asked to reply.The number of families assisted is not known. The total numbers helped under each of the three electricity discount schemes—the majority of whom were householders—and the respective costs are as follows:
NUMBERS RECEIVING | |||
£5 payment | Discounts | Cost (£m) | |
1977 | — | 1·6m | 12 |
1978 | 3·2m | 0·7m | 23 |
1979 | 3·1m | 2·25m | 38 |
Winter Fuel Costs (School Leavers)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many school leavers were included in the schemes for help with winter fuel bills in each of the past three years.
I have been asked to reply.The £5 lump sum paid under the 1978 and 1979 electricity discount schemes went automatically to all recipients of supplementary benefit. As the ½ million non-householders among them could not be separately identified they also received the £5. These included school leavers on supplementary benefit but the actual numbers are not known.