Written Answers To Questions
Tuesday 12 June 1990
Agriculture, Fisheries And Food
Quarantine
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for which diseases quarantine restrictions on animals can operate; and if he will make a statement.
Quarantine restrictions on imported animals are currently applied in relation to foot and mouth disease, Newcastle disease and rabies. Considerable importance is attached to quarantine and the Government believe that such measures should be maintained as long as they are necessary to prevent the introduction of disease.
Caseous Lymphadenitis
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the countries where caseous lymphadenitis is found.
Caseous lymphadenitis is known to occur in many parts of Africa, south America, Asia, Europe, United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of (a) sheep and (b) goats affected by restrictions for caseous lymphadenitis by county.
Restrictions are at present imposed on (a) one flock in Buckinghamshire and one consignment undergoing post import on-farm isolation in Nottinghamshire (b) two herds in Buckinghamshire, two herds in Oxfordshire, and one herd each in Berkshire, Surrey and Lancashire. The flock of sheep in Buckinghamshire and one of the two goat herds in Buckinghamshire are on the same premises and subject to the same restriction notice.
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from which country the current outbreak of caseous lymphadenitis originated; and if he will make a statement.
The current outbreak of caseous lymphadenitis appears to be associated with the import of goats from West Germany.
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to prevent further cases of caseous lymphadenitis from being imported into the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
We continue to rely on certification by exporting countries that sheep and goats sent to the United Kingdom come from premises which are free from caseous lymphadenitis and the herd of origin has shown no clinical serological or pathological signs of the disease in the previous three years. Animals should also be examined immediately prior to export. Ministry veterinary officers, local veterinary surgeons and producers have been asked to be vigilant for any signs of the disease and have found infection in April in a group of sheep which were undergoing post import on-farm isolation.
Contaminated Pigfeed
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields of 9 May, Official Report, column 132, if he will list the contaminants now found in pigfeed; and if he will make a statement.
No present problems with contaminants have been reported and feedingstuffs associated with recent contaminants have been withdrawn.
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many pigs have now been slaughtered as a result of the contaminated pigfeed; from which counties they came; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will list the up-to-date information concerning the number of farms and pigs affected by contaminated pigfeed on a county-by-county basis.
The total number of pigs that to date have been slaughtered for welfare reasons and the number of farms where pigs were affected by contaminated pigfeed, county by county, is as follows:
Pigs | Farms | |
Devon | 3 | 1 |
Hampshire | 15 | 1 |
Humberside | 85 | 7 |
Durham | 126 | 5 |
Nottinghamshire | 5 | 1 |
Yorkshire | 1,100 | 62 |
1,334 | 77 |
Scrapie
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether there is any evidence of the scrapie agent being present in sheep milk.
No transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, including sheep scrapie, has been shown to transmit through milk. Scientific studies on scrapie have shown that the agent is not found in milk.
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the frequency of infections by (a) the scrapie agent in the muscle (meat) of scrapie-affected sheep and (b) the BSE agent in the muscle (meat) of BSE-affected cows.
Scientific studies have shown that the scrapie agent is not found in the muscle (meat) of sheep naturally affected by scrapie. By analogy with scrapie, a very similar disease to BSE, the BSE agent is not expected to be found in the muscle of affected animals. Studies are nevertheless under way to confirm this.
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide a summary of the results of any research work on whether the scrapie agent can be vertically transmitted by an infected ram.
There has been much work carried out in this area, all of which has shown that the scrapie agent is not found in the reproductive organs or semen of scrapie-infected rams.
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there is any restriction on the use for human consumption of sheep meat and offals including those from scrapie-infected sheep.
No specific controls apply since scrapie is not a risk to human health.
British Cattle Exports
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the countries that have now banned the import of all live British cattle.
Australia, Austria, Canada, Finland, Israel, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey, USA and the USSR.
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will take action against France and Germany under article 170 of the treaty of Rome for their banning of beef imports from the United Kingdom in contravention of article 30 of the treaty of Rome;(2) if he will formally join with the European Commission in proceedings against France and Germany for their banning of beef imports from the United Kingdom in contravention of article 30 of the treaty of Rome.
The action taken by France and Germany to ban imports of beef from the United Kingdom offended Community rules and I supported the Conmmission's intention to institute legal proceedings should these bans remain in place. However, as I announced in the House on 7 June, those bans were lifted following discussion in the special Agricultural Council.
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list the names and number of cases of BSE detected at each abattoir;(2) how many cases of BSE were
(a) volunteered by farmers, (b) detected at cattle markets, (c) detected at abattoirs by veterinary inspectors and (d) detected at abattoirs by other personnel.
Over 98 per cent. of suspect cases of BSE have been reported on farm. Up to 31 March 1990, 133 suspect cases had been reported in markets (of which 92 were confirmed) and 203 suspect cases reported at abattoirs (of which 149 were confirmed). A breakdown of abattoirs involved is not available.
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether the Government will initiate a programme to look for the possible occurrence of spongiform encephalopathy in dogs;(2) if he will investigate the incidence of canine spongiform encephalopathy among breeding bitches in licensed and unlicensed puppy farms;
(3) if he will investigate the incidence on puppy farms of proprietors feeding their dogs on (a) dead sheep which have may have died of scrapie, (b) condemned meat and (c) beef infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy; and if he will make it his practice to advise all puppy farmers to avoid feeding any meat which contained offal.
There have been no reports of naturally occurring or laboratory-induced spongiform encephalopathy in dogs. Nevertheless, as recommended by the Tyrrell committee, the health of dogs is being monitored by veterinary surgeons and a study is being planned on hounds, which are traditionally fed fallen livestock.
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food who is responsible for the disposal of the carcases of BSE-affected cattle; and what proportion are (a) incinerated, (b) disposed of in toxic waste tips and (c) disposed of in domestic refuse tips.
The disposal of carcases of BSE-affected cattle is the responsibility of the Ministry. Nationally about two thirds are incinerated and one third are disposed of by burial on licensed waste disposal sites approved by local authorities for this purpose. Information on the classification of individual sites is not held centrally.
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made in developing a test for identifying BSE in live cattle; and how soon he expects such a test to be available.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) on 21 May at column 86.
Drift Nets
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what regulations are currently in force to prevent the use of drift nets of over 5 km in length on United Kingdom boats; and if he will make a statement.
I understand that no United Kingdom vessel uses drift nets as long as 5 km and indeed the substantial proportion are between 200 and 400 m in length. There is no general length restriction in force but there are several regulations which limit drift nets in specific fisheries or areas to well within 5 km in length.
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the annual accidental catch of birds and marine mammals by United Kingdom drift net boats is reported to him; and if he will make a statement.
It is known that fishermen in the United Kingdom may accidentally catch mammals and birds in their nets, but there is no evidence that this occurs on a significant scale. The drift net fisheries around our coast are quite modest and do not give rise to the sort of environmental problems associated with the very large-scale drift netting operations in the Pacific, about which there has been justified concern.
Veterinary Products
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure that the use of veterinary products that are likely to affect the wider environment, whether licensed or not, are recorded, regulated and monitored; and if he will make a statement.
All veterinary medicinal products must be licensed under the Medicines Act. They are assessed for safety, quality and efficacy before any licence is issued. The likely impact on the environment is taken into account by independent scientific experts on the Veterinary Products Committee as part of that assessment process. My Department is currently carrying out a review to ensure that all licensed veterinary medicinal products meet up-to-date standards. Any person who causes or knowingly permits veterinary products to pollute any controlled waters is liable to prosecution by the National Rivers Authority under the Water Act 1989. Under the Animals and Fresh Meat (Examination for Residues) Regulations 1988 farmers must keep records of medicines administered to animals and these are subject to checks by members of the state veterinary service.
Fish Farms
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has received from the Veterinary Products Committee regarding the review of the licence for Aquaguard for use on salmon farms; and if he will make a statement.
I hope to make a statement shortly.
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has measured the quantity of antibiotics released into the marine environment as treatment for diseases of farmed fish; and if he will make a statement.
All veterinary medicines including antibiotics used for treating fish diseases are assessed for safety, quality and efficacy under the Medicines Act before a licence is issued. Any likely impact on the marine environment is taken into account by independent scientific experts on the Veterinary Products Committee as part of that assessment process. When a licence for such a product is due to expire, evidence of environmental impact is carefully assessed before any decision is made to renew the licence. Antibiotics used for treating fish disease are available only on prescription from a veterinary surgeon.
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research has been conducted by him into antibiotic residues in farmed salmon; and when and where the results will be published.
Surveillance for antibiotic residues in farmed salmon is in progress and the results will be published in the food surveillance paper series once the work has been completed. It would be premature at this stage to make a statement.
British Beef Exports
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the countries that have now banned all imports of British beef.
The following countries have notified a ban on imports of British beef: Austria, Bahrain and Turkey.
Hound Ataxia
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will instruct veterinary surgeons to conduct post mortem investigations in cases of hound ataxia to ensure that it is not unrecognised canine spongiform encephalopathy.
I am not aware that any cases of hound ataxia have occurred in Britain in recent years. No cases of spongiform encephalopathy have been identified in canines but the state veterinary service investigates suspect cases in various species referred to it.
Live Horses (Export)
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy not to allow the export of live horses to Europe for slaughter to start again.
The Government's policy is to maintain controls to prevent the export of horses for slaughter.
Casualty Animals (Slaughter)
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he will consider the introduction of a certificate of receipt system for the slaughter of casualty animals;(2) whether he will consider a review of the Slaughterhouses (Hygiene) Regulations 1977, to prevent the slaughter of casualty animals without a veterinary officer's certificate.
The Slaughterhouses (Hygiene) Regulations 1977 already require a veterinary health certificate for animals known or suspected to be injured or diseased, and for carcases of such animals, intended to be presented at the slaughterhouse, subject to certain exceptions. These relate to injuries of recent origin, such as during transit when a veterinarian will not be available, and for welfare reasons to sheep and lamb carcases, where a declaration by the owner is acceptable.It is an offence to allow casualty animals or their carcases to enter a slaughterhouse uncertified under any other circumstances.I am already considering whether any changes to the regulations may be desirable.
Bovine Head Meat
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he will introduce regulations to ban the removal of meat from a bovine head until the skull and brain of the head have been removed from the head by an authorised boning plant;(2) whether he will introduce regulations to ensure that the trimming of meat from bovine heads is allowed only after the removal of the skull and brain.
Cattle which show signs of BSE, or are suspected of having the disease, are slaughtered and do not go for human consumption. The ban on brains and other specified offal is an ultra-precautionary measure applying to clinically healthy animals.Nevertheless, we are aware of concerns about particular methods of brain removal. Wherever possible, head meat should be removed before the skull is opened so that brain tissue does not come into contact with the meat. We have conducted studies into the methods employed for removing brains where this is not feasible. The Tyrrell committee has been asked to review our findings and I shall consider whether any further action is desirable having regard to the committee's advice. In the meantime, the state veterinary service is ready to give advice if needed.
Beef Cattle (Slaughter)
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will ban the slaughter of beef cattle presented for slaughter at a slaughterhouse, where those cattle have been transported more than 20 miles.
I have no plans to do so.
Wales
Project 2000
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will reconsider the contents of his circular of 27 April, reference DGM/90/32, concerning the phasing in of Project 2000 in Wales; and if he will take urgent steps for full implementation of Project 2000 throughout Wales at the earliest possible date, if possible by autumn 1991 in line with the original proposals.
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the replies I gave to the hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Mr. Michael) on 24 May.
a. Perinatal mortality1 | 1986 Number | 1986 Rate | 1987 Number | 1987 Rate | 1988 Number | 1988 Rate | 1989 Number | 1989 Rate |
Wales | 384 | 10·3 | 351 | 9·2 | 334 | 8·6 | 318·0 | 8·3 |
DHA/Management Units Clwyd DHA | 52 | 10·2 | 46 | 8·8 | 40 | 7·6 | 45 | 8·5 |
North Clwyd | 26 | 12·4 | 21 | 9·8 | 13 | 25·8 | 15 | 27·1 |
South Clwyd | 26 | 8·7 | 25 | 8·1 | 27 | 28·9 | 20 | 9·4 |
East Dyfed DHA | 32 | 12·5 | 28 | 10·1 | 25 | 9·1 | 25 | 9·5 |
Ceredigion | 5 | 27·5 | 11 | 215·1 | 6 | 28·2 | 9 | 212·3 |
Carmarthen-Dinefwr | 10 | 213·2 | 11 | 213·1 | 6 | 27·2 | 6 | 27·3 |
Llanelli-Dinefwr | 17 | 215·0 | 6 | 25·0 | 13 | 211·0 | 10 | 09·2 |
Pembrokeshire DHA | 11 | 28·0 | 12 | 28·2 | 19 | 213·4 | 13 | 28·9 |
Gwent DHA | 58 | 9·6 | 65 | 10·7 | 56 | 8·7 | 52 | 8·3 |
North Gwent Hospitals | 15 | 210·1 | 17 | 211·4 | 11 | 27·1 | 12 | 27·6 |
Pontypool and West Gwent Hospitals | 21 | 10·4 | 23 | 11·1 | 26 | 11·6 | 17 | 281 |
Newport and Chepstow Hospitals | 22 | 8·8 | 25 | 9·9 | 19 | 27·1 | 23 | 8·9 |
Gwynedd DHA | 37 | 13·1 | 29 | 10·2 | 23 | 7·6 | 19 | 26·4 |
Anglesey | 12 | 213·6 | 11 | 212·0 | 6 | 26·4 | 4 | 24·2 |
Meirionnydd | 3 | 28·5 | 5 | 212·6 | 2 | 25·4 | 4 | 210·2 |
Aberconwy | 5 | 29·3 | 3 | 25·6 | 4 | 26·4 | 3 | 24·8 |
Arfon | 13 | 217·1 | 7 | 29·9 | 6 | 27·5 | 5 | 26·5 |
Dwyfor | 4 | 213·6 | 3 | 210·6 | 5 | 216·4 | 3 | 211·5 |
Mid Glamorgan DHA | 75 | 10·0 | 56 | 7·2 | 71 | 9·0 | 77 | 10·1 |
Ogwr | 15 | 28·4 | 19 | 210·7 | 15 | 27·8 | 18 | 29·8 |
Taff Ely | 11 | 28·1 | 4 | 22·9 | 15 | 210·8 | 14 | 210·4 |
Rhondda | 10 | 29·3 | 8 | 27·1 | 7 | 26·4 | 12 | 211·0 |
Merthyr-Cynon | 21 | 12·1 | 12 | 26·7 | 18 | 210·0 | 21 | 11·3 |
Rhymney Valley | 18 | 211·6 | 13 | 27·9 | 16 | 29·6 | 12 | 27·9 |
Powys DHA | 12 | 29·5 | 20 | 14·9 | 17 | 212·2 | 8 | 25·7 |
Montgomery | 6 | 210·8 | 12 | 219·1 | 8 | 211·6 | 4 | 260 |
Brecknock and Radnor | 6 | 28·5 | 8 | 211·3 | 9 | 212·9 | 4 | 25·4 |
South Glamorgan DHA | 59 | 10·1 | 50 | 8·6 | 43 | 7·1 | 44 | 7·5 |
West Glamorgan DHA | 48 | 10·1 | 45 | 9·5 | 40 | 8·4 | 35 | 7·6 |
Herbal Remedies
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will seek to ensure that dispensation is achieved from European Community harmonisation regulations in order to safeguard the right of people in Wales to continue to use herbal remedies.
European Community legislation applies equally in all member states. Herbal remedies currently available are controlled by the Medicines Act 1968 and subject to the provisions of the EC directive 75/319/EEC for the regulation of proprietary medicinal products. We are not aware of any proposals for further harmonisation directives concerning herbal remedies.
Steel Industry
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to maintain employment in the steel industry.
I am naturally anxious to maximise employment throughout the Welsh economy, including the steel industry. However, employment in any individual sector must take account of demand for products.
Mortality Rates
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the amount of (a) perinatal and (b) neonatal mortality in each district health authority and management division in Wales in each of the years 1986 to 1989.
The information is given in the tables. Care should be taken in interpreting mortality rates derived from fewer than 20 events, and these are marked in the tables with 2.
a. Perinatal mortality1
| 1986 Number
| 1986 Rate
| 1987 Number
| 1987 Rate
| 1988 Number
| 1988 Rate
| 1989 Number
| 1989 Rate
|
East District Hospitals | 17 | 211·3 | 18 | 212·2 | 14 | 29·5 | 12 | 28·7 |
North and West District Hospitals | 31 | 9·5 | 27 | 8·2 | 26 | 7·9 | 23 | 7·2 |
Source: O.P.C.S.
1 Perinatal deaths are stillbirths and deaths in the week after birth; rates are the number of perinatal deaths per 1,000 total (live and still) births.
2 Denotes a Rate calculated from fewer than 20 events.
b. Neonatal Mortality1
| 1986 Number
| 1986 Rate
| 1987 Number
| 1987 Rate
| 1988 Number
| 1988 Rate
| 1989 Number
| 1989 Rate
|
Wales | 207 | 5·6 | 190 | 5·0 | 183 | 4·7 | 180 | 4·7 |
DHA/Management Units Clwyd DHA | 26 | 5·1 | 23 | 4·4 | 20 | 3·8 | 32 | 6·1 |
North Clwyd | 9 | 24·3 | 9 | 24·2 | 7 | 23·1 | 6 | 22·8 |
South Clwyd | 17 | 25·7 | 14 | 24·6 | 13 | 24·3 | 26 | 8·2 |
East Dyfed DHA | 15 | 25·9 | 17 | 26·2 | 13 | 24·8 | 7 | 22·7 |
Ceredigion | 3 | 24·5 | 5 | 26·9 | 5 | 26·9 | 2 | 22·8 |
Carmarthen-Dinefwr | 4 | 25·3 | 6 | 27·2 | 2 | 22·4 | 2 | 22·5 |
Llanelli· Dinefwr | 8 | 27·1 | 6 | 25·0 | 6 | 25·1 | 3 | 22·8 |
Pembrokeshire DHA | 7 | 25·1 | 8 | 25·5 | 14 | 29·9 | 7 | 24·8 |
Gwent DHA | 39 | 6·5 | 36 | 6·0 | 31 | 4·8 | 27 | 4·3 |
North Gwent Hospitals | 9 | 26·1 | 8 | 25·4 | 8 | 25·2 | 6 | 23·8 |
Pontypool and West Gwent Hospitals | 15 | 27·4 | 13 | 26·3 | 18 | 28·1 | 8 | 23·8 |
Newport and Chepstow Hospitals | 15 | 26·0 | 15 | 26·0 | 5 | 21·9 | 13 | 25·0 |
Gwynedd DHA | 20 | 7·1 | 17 | 26·0 | 17 | 25·6 | 12 | 24·0 |
Anglesey | 8 | 19·1 | 8 | 28·8 | 5 | 25·3 | 4 | 24·2 |
Meirionnydd | 1 | 22·9 | 4 | 210·1 | 4 | 210·8 | 3 | 27·7 |
Aberconwy | 2 | 23·7 | 1 | 21·9 | 2 | 23·2 | 4 | 26·5 |
Arfon | 6 | 28·0 | 4 | 25·7 | 3 | 23·8 | 1 | 21·3 |
Dwyfor | 3 | 210·2 | 0 | 20·0 | 3 | 29·9 | 0 | 20·0 |
Mid Glamorgan DHA | 35 | 4·7 | 27 | 3·5 | 28 | 3·6 | 42 | 5·5 |
Ogwr | 6 | 23·4 | 8 | 24·5 | 8 | 24·2 | 10 | 25·5 |
Taff Ely | 5 | 23·7 | 2 | 21·4 | 4 | 22·9 | 9 | 26·7 |
Rhondda | 5 | 24·7 | 5 | 24·4 | 1 | 20·9 | 5 | 24·6 |
Merthyr-Cynon | 10 | 25·8 | 8 | 24·5 | 10 | 25·6 | 11 | 26·0 |
Rhymney Valley | 9 | 25·9 | 4 | 22·5 | 5 | 23·0 | 7 | 24·6 |
Powys DHA | 2 | 21·6 | 7 | 25·3 | 8 | 25·8 | 4 | 22·9 |
Montgomery | 2 | 23·6 | 3 | 24·9 | 5 | 27·3 | 3 | 24·6 |
Brecknock and Radnor | 0 | 20·0 | 4 | 25·7 | 3 | 24·3 | 1 | 21·4 |
South Glamorgan DHA | 39 | 6·7 | 29 | 5·0 | 27 | 4·5 | 30 | 5·1 |
West Glamorgan DHA | 24 | 5·1 | 26 | 5·5 | 25 | 5·3 | 19 | 24·1 |
East District Hospitals | 11 | 27·3 | 10 | 26·8 | 8 | 25·5 | 10 | 27·2 |
North and West District Hospitals | 13 | 240 | 16 | 24·9 | 17 | 25·2 | 9 | 22·8 |
Source: O.P.C.S.
1 Neonatal deaths are deaths within the first 4 weeks of birth; rates are the number of neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births.
2 Denotes a rate calculated from fewer than 20 events.
Acid Rain
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will review the co-ordination between the National Rivers Authority in Wales and the Forestry Commission with a view to overcoming the acid rain problem affecting rivers and lakes in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
The Forestry Commission is in close touch with the National Rivers Authority about the problem of acid rain affecting rivers and lakes in Wales, and I see no need to review the arrangements.
Farm Woodland Schemes
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications have been approved for farm woodland schemes in 1988–89 and 1989–90 for (a) Carmarthen district, (b) Dyfed, (c) Wales and (d) Britain.
The number of applications approved under the farm woodland scheme since its inception on 1 October 1988 is as follows:
1 October 1988— 30 September 1989 | 1 October 1989— 31 May 1990 | Total | |
(a) Carmarthen District | 1 | — | 1 |
(b) Dyfed | 5 | 5 | 10 |
(c) Wales | 17 | 14 | 31 |
Nhs Nursing Staff
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total number of nursing staff employed (a) at 31 March 1989 and (b) at 31 March 1983 in national health service hospitals, homes and clinics in Wales; what were the corresponding whole-time equivalents; and how many of them had nursing qualifications.
The available information which relates to total nursing and midwifery staff, employed by the NHS, and in post as at 30 September is given in the table:
1983 | 1989 | |
Numbers | 30,328 | 33,236 |
Whole-time equivalents | 25,981 | 28,037 |
Numbers with qualifications1 | 18,056 | 19,533 |
1 State enrolled and state registered. |
Ambulance Service
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will issue guidelines to health authorities in Wales to ensure that when regulations regarding the ambulance service are being drawn up, or amended, prior consultation takes place with the local medical committee representing general practitioners in the area; and if he will make a statement.
No. The management of the service at a local level is the responsibility of the relevant district health authority. It is for the health authority concerned to determine whether consultation is appropriate when changes in operational policy are being considered.
Beef Producers
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what special measures he is taking to assist beef producers in Wales.
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) on Thursday 7 June.
Local Government Finance
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of people who have not so far paid the poll tax; and if he will make a statement.
Gross capital expenditure on schools1 | |||||||||
£000 | |||||||||
1980–81 | 1981–82 | 1982–83 | 1983–84 | 1984–85 | 1985–86 | 1986–87 | 1987–88 | 1988–89 | |
Clwyd | 4,236 | 4,179 | 4,002 | 3,659 | 4,071 | 4,830 | 5,603 | 6,664 | 5,959 |
Dyfed | 2,461 | 2,672 | 3,635 | 4,093 | 3,268 | 2,569 | 3,557 | 5,365 | 5,315 |
Gwent | 4,682 | 3,029 | 4,155 | 4,932 | 4,735 | 4,937 | 5,020 | 5,888 | 6,896 |
Gwynedd | 2,060 | 1,648 | 1,220 | 1,179 | 1,301 | 1,801 | 1,709 | 2,238 | 2,299 |
Mid Glamorgan | 4,465 | 5,831 | 5,567 | 5,737 | 5,370 | 3,096 | 4,395 | 6,255 | 6,260 |
Powys | 1,164 | 1,388 | 1,693 | 2,241 | 1,619 | 1,090 | 2,720 | 2,452 | 1,699 |
South Glamorgan | 2,142 | 1,469 | 2,557 | 1,849 | 1,967 | 1,384 | 2,138 | 1,920 | 3,980 |
West Glamorgan | 4,589 | 3,759 | 4,241 | 3,292 | 2,331 | 3,230 | 3,907 | 5,059 | 5,160 |
Total counties | 22,254 | 23,976 | 27,068 | 26,982 | 24,662 | 22,937 | 29,049 | 35,841 | 37,568 |
1 Includes nursery, primary, secondary and special schools. |
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was current spending on (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Wales local education authorities for each of the years from 1980, inclusive and county by county.
I have made no such estimate. I have every confidence that the vast majority of Welsh charge payers are law-abiding and will pay their community charge.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average cost in Wales per person of collecting the poll tax.
The average cost in Wales per person of collecting the community charge will be about £7 in 1990–91 based on local authority budget returns.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received seeking changes in the poll tax legislation; and if he will make a statement.
I have received representations on a variety of matters. The Government are reviewing the operation of the community charge system. It is too early to say what changes might be made or whether legislation will be needed.
Water Pollution
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on the presence of toxic algae from the dumping of sludge and chemicals in Liverpool bay; and if he will make a statement.
I am advised by the National Rivers Authority that it has not detected the presence of any potentially toxic algae in the Liverpool bay area.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has of illnesses and viral infections in Wales following swimming in the Irish sea; and if he will make a statement.
This information is not collected centrally.
Education
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was capital spending on Wales local education authority schools for each of the years from 1980 and county by county.
The information requested is shown in the following table:
The information requested is given in the table:
Current Expenditure on Primary and Secondary Schools in Wales (£000)
| |||||||||
1980–81
| 1981–82
| 1982–83
| 1983–84
| 1984–85
| 1985–86
| 1986–87
| 1987–88
| 1988–89
| |
Nursery and Primary
| |||||||||
Clwyd | 22,129 | 24,803 | 25,844 | 26,943 | 27,320 | 29,337 | 31,664 | 34,562 | 38,208 |
Dyfed | 20,276 | 22,057 | 22,650 | 23,205 | 23,962 | 25,282 | 28,228 | 32,512 | 36,264 |
Gwent | 25,342 | 27,700 | 29,382 | 30,614 | 30,373 | 32,136 | 35,893 | 39,531 | 45,729 |
Gwynedd | 12,763 | 14,520 | 15,545 | 14,750 | 15,892 | 16,362 | 18,066 | 20,034 | 22,010 |
Mid Glamorgan | 34,815 | 36,907 | 39,836 | 42,707 | 43,684 | 46,888 | 50,355 | 56,677 | 63,068 |
Powys | 7,711 | 8,454 | 8,920 | 9,450 | 9,760 | 10,044 | 10,845 | 12,026 | 14,356 |
South Glamorgan | 19,234 | 20,941 | 21,868 | 22,986 | 23,421 | 24,948 | 29,263 | 32,274 | 35,960 |
West Glamorgan | 22,601 | 24,810 | 25,769 | 26,964 | 26,453 | 28,786 | 32,455 | 35,590 | 39,802 |
Total Wales | 164,961 | 180,192 | 189,816 | 197,617 | 200,867 | 213,782 | 236,769 | 263,205 | 295,397 |
Secondary
| |||||||||
Clwyd | 25,969 | 29,785 | 32,099 | 34,284 | 35,435 | 37,216 | 40,265 | 43,711 | 47,445 |
Dyfed | 22,610 | 25,548 | 27,109 | 28,380 | 29,333 | 30,898 | 33,668 | 37,339 | 39,276 |
Gwent | 32,438 | 36,440 | 38,879 | 40,987 | 41,904 | 42,731 | 46,506 | 49,767 | 53,221 |
Gwynedd | 15,211 | 17,270 | 18,527 | 19,947 | 20,979 | 21,839 | 23,982 | 25,796 | 27,168 |
Mid Glamorgan | 38,527 | 41,701 | 44,773 | 48,514 | 49,960 | 52,193 | 56,422 | 59,642 | 63,307 |
Powys | 8,164 | 8,987 | 9,477 | 10,235 | 10,676 | 11,209 | 11,945 | 13,057 | 15,057 |
South Glamorgan | 25,372 | 27,526 | 29,703 | 30,790 | 31,260 | 32,155 | 36,377 | 37,686 | 40,469 |
West Glamorgan | 26,933 | 30,804 | 32,505 | 34,331 | 33,650 | 35,183 | 39,238 | 42,734 | 46,216 |
Total Wales | 195,224 | 218,061 | 233,072 | 247,457 | 253,207 | 263,424 | 288,404 | 309,733 | 332,159 |
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were pupil numbers in (a) primary and (b) secondary local education authority schools in Wales and in each county including the percentage change, year on year, for each of the years since 1980 inclusive.
Primary | |||||||||
Clwyd | Dyfed | Gwent | Gwynedd | Mid Glamorgan | Powys | South Glamorgan | West Glamorgan | Wales | |
1980 | |||||||||
Pupil numbers | 42,415 | 32,881 | 46,398 | 24,316 | 61,371 | 11,198 | 37,659 | 38,989 | 295,227 |
1981 | |||||||||
Pupil numbers | 40,857 | 31,771 | 44,280 | 23,398 | 58,655 | 10,822 | 36,247 | 37,505 | 283,435 |
Percentage change | -3·7 | -3·4 | -4·6 | -4·2 | -4·4 | -3·4 | -3·7 | -3·8 | -4·0 |
1982 | |||||||||
Pupil numbers | 39,012 | 30,816 | 42,438 | 22,482 | 56,291 | 10,534 | 35,075 | 36,554 | 273,202 |
Percentage change | -4·5 | -3·0 | -4·2 | -3·5 | -4·0 | -2·7 | -3·2 | -2·5 | -3·6 |
1983 | |||||||||
Pupil numbers | 37,793 | 29,909 | 40,268 | 21,545 | 53,757 | 10,262 | 33,649 | 35,386 | 262,569 |
Percentage change | -3·1 | -2·9 | -5·1 | -4·2 | -4·5 | -2·6 | -4·1 | -3·2 | -3·9 |
1984 | |||||||||
Pupil numbers | 37,141 | 29,469 | 39,642 | 20,989 | 52,669 | 10,154 | 33,496 | 35,082 | 258,642 |
Percentage change | -1·7 | -1·5 | -1·6 | -2·6 | -2·0 | -1·1 | -0·5 | -0·9 | -1·5 |
1985 | |||||||||
Pupil numbers | 37,265 | 29,313 | 39,642 | 20,377 | 52,242 | 10,073 | 33,522 | 34,861 | 257,295 |
Percentage change | +0·3 | -0·5 | 0 | -2·9 | -0·8 | -0·8 | +0·1 | -0·6 | -0·5 |
1986 | |||||||||
Pupil numbers | 37,174 | 29,435 | 39,623 | 19,972 | 52,139 | 9,807 | 33,886 | 34,762 | 256,798 |
Percentage change | —0·2 | + 0·4 | 0 | -2·0 | -0·2 | -2·6 | +1·1 | -0·3 | -0·2 |
1987 | |||||||||
Pupil numbers | 37,225 | 29,989 | 39,818 | 19,718 | 52,113 | 9,786 | 34,375 | 34,975 | 257,999 |
Percentage change | +0·1 | +1·9 | +0·5 | -1·3 | -0·1 | -0·2 | +1·4 | +0·6 | +0·5 |
1988 | |||||||||
Pupil numbers | 37,581 | 30,671 | 40,400 | 19,710 | 52,859 | 9,932 | 35,141 | 35,407 | 261,701 |
Percentage change | +1·0 | +2·3 | +1·5 | 0 | +1·4 | +1·5 | +2·2 | +1·2 | +1·4 |
1989 | |||||||||
Pupil numbers | 38,680 | 31,895 | 41,428 | 19,991 | 54,118 | 10,198 | 35,980 | 36,198 | 268,488 |
Percentage change | +2·9 | +4·0 | +2·5 | +1·4 | +2·4 | +2·7 | +2·4 | +2·2 | +2·6 |
The information as at January of each year is given in the tables:
Secondary
| |||||||||
Clwyd
| Dyfed
| Gwent
| Gwynedd
| Mid Glamorgan
| Powys
| South Glamorgan
| West Glamorgan
| Wales
| |
1980
| |||||||||
Pupil numbers | 32,987 | 27,414 | 39,586 | 19,038 | 47,857 | 9,173 | 33,437 | 31,279 | 240,771 |
1981
| |||||||||
Pupil numbers | 33,310 | 27,360 | 39,321 | 19,182 | 47,650 | 9,162 | 33,007 | 30,649 | 239,641 |
Percentage change | + 1·0 | -0·2 | -0·7 | +0·8 | -0·4 | -0·1 | -1·3 | -2·0 | -0·5 |
1982
| |||||||||
Pupil numbers | 33,178 | 27,258 | 38,557 | 19,428 | 47,210 | 9,009 | 32,517 | 29,999 | 237,156 |
Percentage change | -0·4 | -0·4 | -1·9 | + 1·3 | -0·9 | -1·7 | -1·5 | -2·1 | -1·0 |
1983
| |||||||||
Pupil numbers | 33,261 | 27,215 | 37,722 | 19,896 | 46,962 | 9,036 | 32,375 | 29,158 | 235,625 |
Percentage change | +0·3 | -0·2 | -2·2 | + 2·4 | -0·5 | + 0·3 | -0·4 | -2·8 | -0·6 |
1984
| |||||||||
Pupil numbers | 32,874 | 26,779 | 36,823 | 19,725 | 46,316 | 9,003 | 31,634 | 28,358 | 231,512 |
Percentage change | -1·2 | -1·6 | -2·4 | -0·9 | -1·4 | -0·4 | -2·3 | -2·7 | -1·7 |
1985
| |||||||||
Pupil numbers | 32,400 | 26,386 | 35,445 | 19,642 | 45,407 | 8,976 | 30,618 | 27,572 | 226,446 |
Percentage change | -1·4 | -1·5 | -3·7 | -0·4 | -2·0 | -0·3 | -3·2 | -2·8 | -2·2 |
1986
| |||||||||
Pupil numbers | 31,330 | 25,654 | 33,864 | 19,045 | 43,889 | 8,738 | 29,646 | 26,212 | 218,378 |
Percentage change | -3·3 | -2·8 | -4·5 | -3·0 | -3·3 | -2·7 | -3·2 | -4·9 | -3·6 |
1987
| |||||||||
Pupil numbers | 30·121 | 24,787 | 32,406 | 18,335 | 42,129 | 8,537 | 28,457 | 25,137 | 209,909 |
Percentage change | -3·9 | -3·4 | -4·3 | -3·7 | -4·0 | -2·3 | -4·0 | -4·1 | -3·9 |
1988
| |||||||||
Pupil numbers | 28,647 | 23,924 | 30,509 | 17,268 | 39,419 | 8,217 | 27,279 | 24,016 | 199,279 |
Percentage change | -4·9 | -3·5 | -5·9 | -5·8 | -6·4 | -3·7 | -4·1 | -4·5 | -5·1 |
1989
| |||||||||
Pupil numbers | 27,367 | 23,682 | 29,227 | 16,357 | 37,539 | 7,986 | 26,627 | 23,214 | 191,999 |
Percentage change | -4·5 | -1·0 | -4·2 | -5·3 | -4·8 | -2·8 | -2·4 | -3·3 | -3·7 |
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been expenditure per pupil in real terms for each year from 1980 inclusive, in Wales and by county,in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools.
Total expenditure per pupil in primary and secondary schools: 1988–89 prices1 (£ per pupil) | |||||||||
1980–81 | 1981–82 | 1982–83 | 1983–84 | 1984–85 | 1985–86 | 1986–87 | 1987–88 | 1988–89 | |
Primary | |||||||||
Clwyd | 963 | 1,021 | 1,021 | 1,033 | 1,007 | 1,030 | 1,093 | 1,142 | 1,143 |
Dyfed | 1,084 | 1,127 | 1,106 | 1,090 | 1,052 | 1,051 | 1,150 | 1,244 | 1,229 |
Gwent | 965 | 985 | 1,058 | 1,083 | 1,028 | 1,031 | 1,129 | 1,195 | 1,284 |
Gwynedd | 943 | 972 | 1,023 | 971 | 1,010 | 1,002 | 1.075 | 1,139 | 1,169 |
Mid Glamorgan | 982 | 995 | 1,047 | 1,111 | 1,102 | 1,106 | 1,144 | 1,228 | 1,230 |
Powys | 1,204 | 1,180 | 1,272 | 1,363 | 1,317 | 1,288 | 1,342 | 1,404 | 1,505 |
South Glamorgan | 919 | 911 | 940 | 935 | 915 | 919 | 1,043 | 1,068 | 1,106 |
West Glamorgan | 1,073 | 1,083 | 1,064 | 1,093 | 1,033 | 1,035 | 1,123 | 1,202 | 1,243 |
Wales | 997 | 1,018 | 1,047 | 1,067 | 1,039 | 1,042 | 1,121 | 1,188 | 1,217 |
Secondary | |||||||||
Clwyd | 1,340 | 1,392 | 1,390 | 1,421 | 1,425 | 1,487 | 1,620 | 1,753 | 1,819 |
Dyfed | 1,391 | 1,415 | 1,450 | 1,499 | 1,485 | 1,480 | 1,609 | 1,796 | 1,787 |
Gwent | 1,451 | 1,452 | 1,483 | 1,528 | 1,550 | 1,571 | 1,676 | 1,777 | 1,848 |
Gwynedd | 1,364 | 1,391 | 1,317 | 1,344 | 1,365 | 1,421 | 1,556 | 1,701 | 1,734 |
Mid Glamorgan | 1,388 | 1,403 | 1,395 | 1,436 | 1,430 | 1,422 | 1,558 | 1,707 | 1,780 |
Powys | 1,538 | 1,645 | 1,560 | 1,608 | 1,545 | 1,540 | 1,822 | 1,892 | 1,976 |
South Glamorgan | 1,255 | 1,254 | 1,298 | 1,294 | 1,296 | 1,278 | 1,465 | 1,491 | 1,566 |
West Glamorgan | 1,562 | 1,611 | 1,681 | 1,678 | 1,564 | 1,632 | 1,852 | 2,062 | 2,117 |
Wales | 1,400 | 1,425 | 1,437 | 1,465 | 1,452 | 1,472 | 1,624 | 1,755 | 1,812 |
1 Adjusted to a constant price basis using the GDP deflator. |
The information requested is shown in the table:
Employment Training
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the amount of cash in real terms for employment training in Wales for each of the years from 1980 including the current year and the proposed amounts for 1991; and if he will make a statement.
Employment training commenced on 5 September 1988. The budgets for 1988–89 and 1989–90 were £13·671 million and £32·741 million respectively. For 1990–91 the budget is £30·279 million. This is a reflection of the overall decline in unemployment.
Deeside High School
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will visit Deeside high school, Queensferry, and meet members of staff;(2) if he will visit Deeside high school and meet the parent-teachers association and school governors to discuss with them school closure plans.
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on Thursday 8 February 1990.
Cancer Patients
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to make a decision on his report concerning treatment for cancer sufferers in north Wales.
Responses to recent consultation on the comprehensive review of cancer treatment services to north Wales patients are presently being studied. I will make an announcement when these have been considered.
Health Boards
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are his criteria for appointments to health boards in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
Members will be appointed on the strength of the skills and experience they can bring to an authority's work.
Beaches
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the beaches in Wales that meet the blue flag award standards, and those which do not.
One beach in Wales, Cefn Sidan, has been awarded a 1990 blue flag.
Ophthalmic Clinics
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the figures for new out-patient attendances at ophthalmic clinics in (a) South Glamorgan and (b) Wales for the quarter ended December 1989 and the quarter ended March 1990.
The number of new ophthalmology out-patients recorded in NHS hospitals during the quarter ending December 1989 is given in the table. Information for the quarter ending March 1990 is not yet available.
South Glamorgan
| Wales
| |
New out-patient attendances | 1,952 | 11,415 |
Welsh Water
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the individuals in respect of whom Welsh Water, in the 12 months prior to the sale of shares, paid for overseas travel together with the capacity in which they were engaged, the purposes of each visit and the cost involved.
This was a matter for the Welsh water authority prior to 1 September 1989 and subsequently for Welsh Water plc.
Diabetes And Glaucoma
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were suffering from diabetes and glaucoma in (a) Wales and (b) each county in Wales during 1988–89 and 1989–90, respectively.
The information requested is not available centrally.
Insulation
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of loft insulation jobs completed so far in the current year and completed in the equivalent periods of 1987, 1988 and 1989; and what were the full-year figures for 1987, 1988 and 1989 for Wales.
Information on the number of dwellings for which home insulation grants were given in the periods requested is shown in the table:
Home insulation grants—Wales1 | |
Number of dwellings | |
1987 1st quarter | 7,087 |
1988 1st quarter | 5,667 |
1989 1st quarter | 3,184 |
1990 1st quarter | 1,326 |
1987 | 19,990 |
1988 | 14,016 |
1989 | 7,180 |
1 Includes grants given for loft insulation. Data on specific insulation works are not collected separately. |
Railway Service, Maesteg
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will ensure that British Rail implements fully the scheme approved by the Welsh Office in November 1989 to reopen a passenger service to Maesteg.
I met the chairman of British Rail recently and he is aware of the importance of the Maesteg project to the economic regeneration of south Wales. The provision of rolling stock for the line is for resolution between British Rail and Mid Glamorgan county council.
History Committee For Wales
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has received the final report of the history committee for Wales; and if he will make a statement.
I am publishing the report of the national curriculum history committee for Wales today. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library.I am very grateful to the members of the committee, and to its chairman Professor Rees Davies, for the hard work they have undertaken in completing their task, and for the comprehensive report they have produced.The report sets out their recommendations for the history course for pupils from age five to 16 in the schools of Wales, and has been prepared in the light of the final report of the history working group which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science published on 3 April.The report is being distributed to local education authorities and maintained schools in Wales, and to other interested bodies. I shall publish later my proposals for attainment targets and programmes of study for history within the national curriculum in the schools of Wales. These will be subject to statutory consultation as required by the Education Reform Act 1988.
Hiv
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report for each health authority in Wales, the number of persons infected with HIV; and if he will separately distinguish these numbers by age.
[holding answer 7 June 1990]: To safeguard confidentiality and in line with reporting procedure under the AIDS (Control) Act, actual numbers between one and nine—inclusive—diagnosed in individual health authorities are not published. Distribution by age is therefore shown for all Wales.
Table 1: Number of Reported HIV Infections by Health Authority Cumulative to 31 March 1990 | |
Number | |
Clwyd | 14 |
East Dyfed | 1 |
Gwent | 15 |
Gwynedd | 16 |
Mid Glamorgan | 1 |
Pembrokeshire | 1 |
Powys | Nil |
South Glamorgan | 69 |
West Glamorgan | 27 |
Wales | 157 |
1 Less than 10. |
Table 2: Age Distribution of Reported HIV Infections Cumulative to 31 March 1990 | |
Number | |
0–141 | 2 |
15–24 | 38 |
25–34 | 57 |
35–44 | 34 |
45 + | 18 |
Not known | 2 |
Total | 157 |
1 Age group as at when first tested positive. | |
2 Less than 10. |
Opencast Mine, Buckley
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet Alyn and Deeside council and Buckley town council to hear their views concerning the opencast executive's proposals for mining coal in the Buckley area.
In view of my statutory planning role it would not be appropriate for me to do so.
Prime Minister
Environmental Co-Operation
Q35.
To ask the Prime Minister whether she will raise with President Gorbachev technical co-operation between the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom on environmental problems, including cellulose-related pollution of Lake Baikal.
I was not able to raise environmental questions in any great detail with President Gorbachev in the time available. We are of course aware that the environmental problems of the Soviet Union are serious and we are at present considering what role we might best play in the ecological research centre that it is proposing to establish at Lake Baikal.
Housing (London)
38.
To ask the Prime Minister what further representations she has had calling for the alleviation of the housing crises in London.
The Government receive many representations about the housing situation in London.
Nuclear Material
To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government concerning the transfer of nuclear materials, and in particular enriched uranium, to countries which have not signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
The transfer of nuclear materials, including enriched uranium, is authorised in accordance with the policy set out in 1976 by the then Foreign Secretary, the right hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth, Mr. Callaghan; that is to say:
"When considering the export of nuclear equipment, material, or technology, we shall study each case on its merits. Our first consideration will always be the provisions of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, the Euratom Treaty, and whether or not the prospective customer has concluded a Safeguards Agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Our detailed requirements will include the application of IAEA safeguards or comparable safeguards which are verified by the IAEA to exported nuclear equipment and material; an assurance that whatever we export will not be used to manufacture nuclear explosives for any purpose; an assurance that our exports will be adequately protected against the possibility of theft or sabotage; and assurances that if the equipment or material that we export is re-exported, then the new purchaser will be required to give the same assurances of safeguards, non-explosive use and physical protection as were given by the original customer."
Management Consultants
To ask the Prime Minister if she will list the studies conducted inside the Cabinet Office and Prime Minister's offices by management consultants over the last 10 years, naming the consultancy, the cost, the subject and the outcome in each instance.
There has been no expenditure on management consultants by my office over the last 10 years. Until 1988–89 financial information about management consultancies engaged by the Cabinet Office was not identified separately from other types of consultancy. Expenditure on management consultants in that year and in 1989–90 was as follows:
£ | |
1988–89 | 70,608 |
1989–90 | 51,500 |
Firm and Assignment
- Chinal Management Services Ltd.
- Specialised training.
- Communication Audit
- Review of written guidance to promotion boards.
- Coopers and Lybrand Associates1
- (i)Management/Staff communications
- (ii) Policy work and the financial management initiative.
- Diane Bailey Associates
- (i) Training material on staff appraisal: training workshops
- (ii) Trainers' resource pack on equal opportunities
- (iii) Specialised training.
- Hay-MSL Management Consultants1
- (i) Evaluation of performance bonus experiment
- (ii) Means of assessing the potential and management development needs of staff at junior levels.
- Business Research Unit
- Evaluation of staff attitudes to the new staff appraisal system.
- Keith Robertson
- Consultancy for the 'Managing Absence' project.
- Diane Bailey Associates
- Survey on presentation of Occupation Welfare Service to management and staff in the Civil Service.
- Institute of Manpower Studies
- Advice on manpower planning and computers in personnel.
- John Rowley
- Production of guidelines for managers and trade unionists on job satisfaction projects and a summary of the guidelines for staff.
- W. O'Keefe
- Study of purchasing and stores activities.
- Hay Management Consultants
- A study of the feasibility of short service assignments in the Science Group.
- Purchasing Index (UK) Ltd1
- Development of the Central Unit of Purchasing Database.
- Frank Griffiths Associates 1
- Advice in connection with the Institute of Civil Engineers' review of conditions of contract.
- R. W. White1
- Review of arrangements for Purchasing and Supply Function in Government.
- E. R. Farnbridge and C. Evans1
- Review of Supply and Service Agreements between departments and the Central Purchasing Agencies.
- D. F. Collins1
- Advice on Written Guidance.
- Training Development Approaches Ltd
- Design of manual in support of the Young People Programme.
- Industrial Training Service Ltd
- Production of a guide on conducting training needs analyses.
- WRM Ltd
- Training information and communications study.
- PA Personnel Services
- Analysis of Executive Officer and fast stream recruitments.
- Imitax Ltd.
- Workshops on job satisfaction employee involvement.
- Imitax Ltd.
- Local Office network conference.
- Inbucon Management Consultants Ltd.
- Case study on personnel and financial management.
- Industrial Training Services Ltd.
- (i) Measuring training activity
- (ii) Specialised training.
- Intra Systems Ltd. (1)
- Pilot study on the use of interactive video.
- KMG Thomson McLintock
- Review of office automation pilot programme in a government department.
- OD (Management Consultancy) Ltd.
- Review of a productivity scheme.
- PA Personnel Services Ltd.
- Study of the provision of information advice and guidance on matters of employment law within the Civil Service.
- Peter Saunders Associates
- Self instruction package on Government Accounting.
- Transform
- Specialised training.
- BGM Consultants Ltd.
- Identification of core skills for the young people project.
- Business Research Unit
- Evaluation of staff appraisal scheme.
- Centre for Training and Evaluation Studies
- Evaluation of staff appraisal material.
- Coopers and Lybrand Associates (1)
- Development of policy evaluation.
- Diane Bailey Associates
- (i) Training material on staff appraisal and training workshops
- (ii) Preparation of information pack on stress management.
- DWJ Consulting Services Ltd. (1)
- Functions review of the Crown Suppliers.
- Ernst and Whinney
- Specialised training.
- Frank Griffiths Associates Ltd.
- Review of the purchasing and supply organisation in a government department.
- IMS
- (i) Study of mobility1
- (ii) Specialised training
- (iii) Advice on working patterns.
- Inbucon Management Consultants Ltd.
- Preparation of a training package.
- Pergamon Infotech
- Specialised training.
- Peat, Marwick Mitchell1
- Development of policy evaluation.
- Psychometric Research and Development Ltd.
- Analysis contributing to the Civil Service Commission review of executive officer recruitment.
- Systems Concepts Ltd.
- Identification of information management needs.
- BGM Consultants
- Identification of core skills in clerical grades.
- Diane Bailey Associates
- Preparation of a Stress Management Training Pack. ITS Ltd.
- Guide to conducting Training Reviews.
- Systems Concepts Ltd.
- Training Information Communications Study—feasibility study.
- John Childs
- Training Information Communications Study—customer needs survey.
- Anne Hughes Hallet
- Research on undergraduate attitudes to a career in Her Majesty's Tax Inspectorate.
- B. O'Connor
- Selection procedure design (engineer recruitment).
- National Foundation for Educational Research
- Aptitude test analysis.
- Centre for Training and Evaluation Studies
- Evaluation of self instruction training package for the new staff appraisal system.
- Richard Williams
- Equal Opportunities monitoring project.
- Questel Qualitive Studies Ltd.1
- Audit of recruitment publicity.
- Anne Hughes Hallett1
- Research into careers attitudes.
- Human Assets Ltd.
- Study of Information Officers recruitment procedures.
- Equalities Associates
- Guidelines for trainers on equal opportunities issues.
- Ashbridge Management College
- Study of Women's National Commission.
- Coopers and Lybrand Associates
- Pilot study on evaluation.
- National Children's Bureau
- Advice on the London Childcare Project.
- Peter Williams Associates
- Advice on the London Childcare Project.
- Price Waterhouse
- Advice on performance indicators and management information systems.
- Shaista Faruqi
- Design of recruitment monitoring system.
1 Costs for these studies were shared with other Government Departments.
Child Sex Abuse
To ask the Prime Minister what progress the interdepartmental group on child sexual abuse has made since her answer of 4 May 1989, Official Report, column 211.
Since May 1989 the interdepartmental group on child abuse has met four times and has made good progress in addressing a wide range of issues in relation to child care matters, including research.
International Whaling Commission
To ask the Prime Minister who will represent the United Kingdom at the International Whaling Commission meeting in the Netherlands in July.
As is usual the United Kingdom will be represented by the United Kingdom's commissioner for whaling, a senior official from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
Acost (Chairmanship)
To ask the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement on the chairmanship of the Advisory Council on Science and Technology.
I have appointed Sir Robin Nicholson to succeed Lord Tombs of Brailes as chairman of the Advisory Council on Science and Technology (ACOST) after the council meeting on 11 July.Lord Tombs of Brailes has chaired the Advisory Council on Science and Technology since it was formed in 1987 and also chaired its predecessor the Advisory Council for Applied Research and Development from 1985 to 1987. The Government are very grateful to him for the very valuable service he has given in these posts.
Engagements
To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.
To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.
To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.
This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty the Queen.
Home Department
Open University
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding the consequences of forthcoming radio wavelength changes on the work of the Open university.
Our attention has recently been drawn to deficiencies in AM radio reception in parts of Scotland. This would have affected reception of the BBC's Open university and other educational programmes following their transfer to the new Radio 5 service in August of this year. In the areas concerned the BBC will continue transmitting these programmes on FM until the AM problem is resolved.
Crime Statistics
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the latest crime figures for Basildon.
Crime figures are published annually in the report of the chief constable of Essex. The latest figures are given in his annual report for 1989 when 14,559 notifiable offences were recorded in the Basildon division.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the crime figures in the west Lancashire district in 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989.
Information for the southern "C" division (which includes the west Lancashire district) is published in the annual report of the chief constable of Lancashire. Statistics of notifiable offences recorded in the Lancashire police force area are published in table 2·4 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales 1988" and in table 7 of "Home Office Statistical Bulletin 10/90"; copies of these publications are available in the Library.
Badgers
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been under the Badgers Act 1973 and the Wildlife and Countryside Acts 1981 and 1985 for taking or destroying a badger; and what was the percentage of convictions.
No figures are available for specific types of offences under these Acts. However in 1988 there were a total of 74 prosecutions for offences under the Badgers Act 1973 and 41 convictions. That is a conviction rate of 55·4 per cent.
Fire Service
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on nationally recommended minimum standards to maintain fire service cover.
The conclusions and recommendations in the report of the joint committee on standards of fire cover, which was published in 1985, were recommended to fire authorities by fire service circular No. 4/1985 on 22 May 1985, copies of which are in the Library.
Correspondence
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letter dated 2 May from the hon. Member for Worsley with regard to information about possible terrorist activity.
I wrote to the hon. Member, after consulting the police, on 5 June.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth will be sent a reply to his letter dated 12 March referring to Mrs. Frances Bennett of Rugby.
I replied to my hon. Friend on 26 March. I have today sent him a further copy of that letter.
Mr John Harker
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will now make a statement about the case of John Harker, prisoner R69121, HM prison Kirkham, Preston, Lancashire;(2) if he will make a statement as to the outcome of the inquiry into the case of John Harker, prisoner R69121, HM prison Kirkham, Preston, Lancashire.
I will be writing to my hon. Friend shortly about this case.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why John Harker, prisoner R69121, Her Majesty's prison Kirkham, Preston, Lancashire, has not yet heard from the parole review board held in January 1990.
Mr. Harker's case is still under consideration. We expect the outcome to be known around the end of June.
Teacher Vetting
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he will take to speed up teacher vetting.
I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that four additional civilian staff have been deployed on this work since April. I am not aware of general delays outside London.
Arson
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to increase the maximum penalty available to the courts for arson involving damage to property, where no personal injury has occurred.
All offences of arson, whether or not they involve personal injury, already carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Parole
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of cases in England and Wales in which a prisoner has not been given the opportunity to be interviewed by a member of the local review committee as part of the process of parole review for the last year for which figures are available.
Figures are not recorded centrally. On those rare occasions when an interview is inadvertently denied, our policy is to offer a fresh review.
Police Complaints Authority
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out for each police force in England and Wales the total number of inquiries in which a Police Complaints Authority member supervised the investigation during the most convenient recent 12-months period, the total number of hours spent on such investigations, and assuming the necessity of the Police Complaints Authority to employ its own investigators at executive officer, senior executive officer and higher executive officer grade, and working a normal home civil service week, what would be the cost implications for the Police Complaints Authority.
I will write to my hon. Friend.
Strangeways Prison
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest estimate of the cost of repairing the damage recently caused by disturbances at Strangeways prison.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is now able to give the total cost of the destruction and the policing following the prison riot at Strangeways prison.
I announced on 17 May at columns 489–90 plans for the refurbishment of Strangeways prison to provide a range of new and improved facilities, including integral sanitation at a cost of £60 million. This work will also include repair of the damage done during the recent disturbances, which amounts to about £30 million.The Greater Manchester police authority advises that the additional cost of policing as a result of the disturbances was £580,000.
Sunday Trading
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made in considering Sunday trading.
Since the defeat of the Shops Bill, the Government have made it clear that they are prepared to consider reform short of total deregulation if a solution can be found which is widely accepted, enforceable, practicable and likely to command a parliamentary majority. No such solution has yet emerged and I see no prospect of sufficient support to enable us to put forward legislation in the near future.
Dangerous Dogs
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he now expects to bring forward proposals to strengthen the law on dangerous dogs.
My right hon. and learned Friend is considering whether to do so.
Dog Fighting
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the priority given to prosecuting those involved in dog-fighting activities.
My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to do so.
Open Banking
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received representations regarding the security aspects of open banking; and if he will make a statement.
No. A working group appointed by the standing conference on crime prevention to look into commercial robbery mentioned in its 1986 report the increasing popularity of open-plan offices in bank branches. The working group found no evidence that the move towards open plan increased the risk of attack, but the matter is being kept under review by the Home Office, the Metropolitan police and the banks themselves.
Trevi Group
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (I) what subjects of discussions by the Trevi group the Minister expects to be resolved during the Italian Presidency of the European Economic Community;(2) what areas of United Kingdom law are being looked at with a view to changes to meet the needs for common European Economic Community action as identified by the Trevi group;(3) if he will list all the meetings of the Trevi group, and the subject discussed at each meeting and decisions arrived at; and if he will indicate the future areas of work the Trevi group will be addressing.
During each presidency of Trevi a number of working groups meet to further co-operation against terrorism, drug trafficking and other serious crimes, reporting their conclusions to senior officials and Ministers. I and my colleagues will be reviewing the work done under the Irish presidency in Dublin next week, and I shall report the outcome to the House. The declaration made at our last meeting in Paris on 15 December 1989, a copy of which is in the Library, sets out a programme of work which is likely to be further progressed during the Italian presidency. No changes in United Kingdom law are currently being considered as a result of work in Trevi, which is concerned with practical police co-operation.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what discussions the Trevi group has had about passing information from the United Kingdom, held on the central police computer, relating (a) to criminal records and (b) suspected crime and suspects; and what protection the group intends to provide to protect the civil rights of any individual so identified;(2) what discussions the Trevi group of Ministers has had about setting up a European Economic Community-wide database; and what consideration has been given in such discussions to the laws relating to privacy in such countries.
Trevi Ministers agreed at their meeting in Paris on 15 December 1989 to initiate a study of a possible common information system among member states, designed to combat the most serious forms of crime. The protection of data and of personal privacy is among the considerations to be addressed in this study, which is at an early stage. No decisions have yet been taken on whether to set up such a system and, if so, on what information it should contain or how it should work.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Trevi group of Ministers has agreed with regard to political asylum refused by one European Economic Community state; how applications will be considered in other European Community states; and what steps are being taken to harmonise the grounds for granting political asylum.
At their last meeting in Paris on 15 December 1989, EC Immigration Ministers adopted a declaration relating, among other subjects, to measures on asylum. A copy of the declaration is in the Library. The next meeting is to be held in Dublin on 14 and 15 June and the outcome will be reported to the House in the usual way.
Overseas Voters
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of the leaflets printed and distributed encouraging overseas electors to enrol in the United Kingdom; how many were distributed; and through what channels in (a) South Africa, (b) Zimbabwe, (c) Australia, (d) Canada, (e) New Zealand and the EC.
Two million copies of the leaflet "Keeping your vote when living abroad" have been printed at a cost of £30,000. Of these, 1,023,000 have been sent to diplomatic posts and missions abroad; the remainder have been sent to electoral registration officers, or to United Kingdom organisations with overseas connections, or have been retained for future use.Distribution of the leaflets by British diplomatic posts abroad began in May and is continuing by various means, including mailshots to expatriates, inclusion with renewed passports, and in response to direct requests from individuals, firms and organisations. Details of the precise means of distribution in specific countries could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Prisoners (Disability)
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what facilities are provided for disabled prisoners who are (a) physically disabled, (b) blind, (c) mentally ill or (d) deaf.
As indicated in the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East (Mr. Barnes) on 16 May 1990 at column 411, prison establishments seek to meet the needs of those with disabilities on an individual basis. Their requirements are assessed by medical and other staff as part of the reception procedure.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has commissioned into the needs of disabled people in prison.
A survey was undertaken last year into the accessibility of prison establishments for people with disabilities, including inmates, staff and visitors. The survey focused on the problems of those with physical disabilities.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is any extra support for disabled prisoners' rehabilitation needs on discharge.
The probation service should be informed by the prison authorities of any medical matters relating to the discharge of inmates, with particular attention given to the individual needs of blind or otherwise handicapped prisoners. This procedure will become a requirement with the issue of prison department standing order 1I later this year.With regard to the provision of after care, the home probation officer can arrange contacts with relevant social services departments and other bodies that are able to offer support and guidance.
Prison Service (Disabled Employees)
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many disabled employees there are in the prison service.
On 1 March 1990, the prison service employed 45 people who had declared that they were registered disabled.
Child Abuse
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to obtain a transcript of the speech of Commander Richard Monk of the Metropolitan police on 7 June, on child abusers, for study by his Department; and if he will make a statement.
My right hon. and learned Friend asked for a transcript of the speech which Commander Monk made on 7 June.
Polling Stations
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to ensure that all electors arriving at their polling station during the last 30 minutes before the doors of the polling station are closed are not denied their right to vote.
Polling hours at parliamentary, European parliamentary and local government elections are laid down in the relevant legislation. We have no reason to believe that the statutory requirements are not being complied with, but if the hon. Member knows of a particular difficulty, perhaps he would write to me about it.
Nuclear Accidents
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to w hat plans or studies have been made or commissioned by the Metropolitan police to assess the measures that would have to be taken in the event of contamination by airborne plutonium resulting from a nuclear weapons accident aboard a Royal Navy ship docked at Greenwich.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces to questions from the hon. Members for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) and for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 8 June at column 724.
Life Imprisonment
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report, the recommendations from the House of Lords Select Committee on Murder and Life Imprisonment which have been accepted wholly or in part by Her Majesty's Government; indicating which, if any, have already been implemented.
The White Paper "Crime, Justice and Protecting the Public" (Cm 965) announced our decision that the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment for the crime of murder should remain to mark the heinous nature of this crime. We are carefully considering the Select Committee recommendations on the release of prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment made by the House of Lords Select Committee on Murder and Life Imprisonment. I welcome the recommendations to improve the arrangements for victims' families, and the recent victims' charter endorses this approach.
House Of Commons
Telephone Facilities
To ask the Lord President of the Council whether he will make it his policy to ensure before 1992 that hon. Members enjoy the same international line telephone facilities to Strasbourg and Brussels which are available to Members of the European Parliament.
The provision of such facilities is under active consideration at present and I hope proposals will be brought before the Services Committee in the near future.
To ask the Lord President of the Council how many hon. Members are provided with telephones in accommodation in London not owned by the state outside the House where the cost of calls arising from the use of that equipment is paid for by public funds.
No hon. Members are provided with such telephones by the authorities of the House.
Committees (Televising)
To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list the number of times and the dates when each Select Committee of the House has been televised since the introduction of television.
The information requested, which covers the period up to the Whitsun adjournment, is as follows:
Committee and dates on which televised | Total1 |
Agriculture | |
29 November 1989 | |
17 January 1990 | |
24 January 1990 | |
21 March 1990 | |
2 April 1990 | |
23 May 1990 | 6 |
Defence | |
8 November 1989 | |
20 December 1989 | |
11 January 19902 | |
7 February 1990 | |
21 February 1990 | |
28 March 1990 | |
1 May 1990 | |
16 May 1990 | 8 |
Education, Science and Arts | |
28 November 1989 | |
9 May 1990 | 2 |
Employment | |
7 March 1990 | |
14 March 1990 | |
18 April 1990 | |
25 April 1990 | |
2 May 1990 | 5 |
Energy | |
22 November 1989 | |
7 February 1990 | |
28 February 1990 | |
7 March 1990 | |
14 March 19902 | |
25 April 1990 | 6 |
Environment | |
22 November 1989 | |
17 January 1990 | |
31 January 1990 | |
14 February 1990 | |
28 February 1990 | |
14 March 1990 | |
20 March 1990 | |
21 March 1990 | |
28 March 1990 | 9 |
Foreign Affairs | |
6 December 1989 | |
13 December 1989 | |
7 February 1990 | |
4 April 1990 | |
25 April 1990 | 5 |
Home Affairs | |
31 January 1990 | |
7 February 1990 | |
21 February 1990 | |
21 March 1990 | |
9 May 1990 | 5 |
Social Services | |
10 January 1990 | |
17 January 1990 |
Committee and dates on which televised
| Total1
|
24 January 1990 | |
31 January 1990 | |
7 March 1990 | |
21 March 1990 | |
4 April 1990 | |
25 April 1990 | 8 |
Trade and Industry | |
6 December 1989 | |
13 December 1989 | |
17 January 1990 am | |
17 January 1990 pm | |
28 February 1990 | |
7 March 1990 | |
28 March 1990 | 7 |
Transport | |
29 November 1989 | |
6 December 1989 | |
28 March 1990 | |
25 April 1990 | |
16 May 1990 | |
23 May 1990 | 6 |
Treasury and Civil Service | |
22 November 1989 | |
27 November 1989 | |
4 December 1989 | |
28 February 1990 | |
12 March 1990 | |
28 March 1990 | |
3 April 1990 | 7 |
Welsh Affairs | |
29 November 1989 | |
13 December 1989 | |
24 January 1990 | |
21 February 1990 | |
2 May 1990 | |
9 May 1990 | |
15 May 19902 | 7 |
Select Committee on European | |
Legislation | |
1 February 1990 | |
1 March 1990 | 2 |
Select Committee on Procedure | |
13 December 1989 | |
7 February 1990 | 2 |
Public Accounts Committee | |
4 December 1989 | |
18 December 1989 | |
24 January 1990 | |
12 February 1990 | |
14 February 1990 | |
21 February 1990 | |
30 April 1990 | 7 |
Select Committee on Televising of Proceedings of the House | |
23 April 1990 | 1 |
1 Total number of meetings. | |
2 Denotes meeting away from Westminster. |
To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list the number of times and the dates when each Standing Committee of the House has been televised since the introduction of television.
The information requested, which covers the period up to the Whitsun adjournment, is as follows:
Standing Committees on Bills (by reference to title of Bill committed)
| ||
Dates on which televised
| Total number of sittings televised
| |
National Health Service and Community Care Bill | 19 December 1989 | 6 |
11 January 1990 | ||
23 January 1990 am | ||
23 January 1990 pm | ||
20 February 1990 am | ||
20 February 1990 pm | ||
Broadcasting Bill | 9 January 1990 | 16 |
16 January 1990 am | ||
16 January 1990 pm | ||
18 January 1990 am | ||
18 January 1990 pm | ||
23 January 1990 am | ||
23 January 1990 pm | ||
25 January 1990 am | ||
25 January 1990 pm | ||
6 February 1990 am | ||
6 February 1990 pm | ||
8 February 1990 am | ||
8 Feburary 1990 pm | ||
6 March 1990 am | ||
6 March 1990 pm | ||
8 March 1990 | ||
Education (Student Loans) Bill | 30 January 1990 | 1 |
War Crimes Bill | 20 March 1990 | 3 |
3 April 1990 am | ||
3 April 1990 pm | ||
British Nationality (Hong Kong) Bill | 1 May 1990 | 1 |
Protection of Badger Setts Bill | 9 May 1990 | 2 |
23 May 1990 | ||
Courts and Legal Services Bill [Lords] | 8 May 1990 | 1 |
Scottish Grand Committee | 19 March 19901 | 2 |
22 May 1990 | ||
Welsh Grand Committee | 10 January 1990 am | 4 |
10 January 1990 pm | ||
14 March 1990 am | ||
14 March 1990 pm | ||
1Denotes meeting away from Westminster. |
Oral Questions
To ask the Lord President of the Council what estimate he has made of the saving in cash and paper if the proposals of the Procedure Committee on oral questions, in its first report of the current Session, HC 379, are accepted.
If the proposals are accepted it is estimated that savings to the public purse of around £1 million annually will arise. Over 10 million sheets of A4 paper will be saved.
Vote Bundle
To ask the Lord President of the Council, pursuant to his answer of 24 May, Official Report, column 297, what is the total cost to public funds for the supply of the Vote bundle as a whole since the 1987 general election and the volume of paper consumed in production of the Vote bundle for the same period.
The total cost to public funds for sittings supply of the Vote bundle as a whole since the 1987 general election is estimated at £17·5 million, to the end of April 1990. The volume of paper consumed in production of the Vote bundle for the same period is estimated at 800 tonnes.
Recycled Paper
To ask the Lord President of the Council, pursuant to his answer of 23 May, Official Report, column 297, whether the items mentioned will be made from 100 per cent. recycled paper from low-grade paper waste; whether orders for the non-recycled versions have ceased; and when he expects present stocks to be exhausted.
I understand that the items mentioned will contain more than 50 per cent. pre-consumer recycled waste but will not be produced from recycled low-grade waste. Orders for the non-recycled versions have ceased and present stocks are likely to be exhausted by autumn this year.
Management Consultants
To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list the studies conducted inside his Department by management consultants over the last 10 years, naming the consultancy, the cost, the subject and the outcome in each instance.
No study of this nature has been undertaken by the Privy Council Office in the last 10 years.
House Of Commons Commission
Services (Administration)
To ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, answering for the House of Commons Commission, when he expects Sir Robin Ibbs to complete his report on the administration of House of Commons services.
A timetable for the completion of the review which I announced on 23 May, Official Report, column 179 has yet to be agreed with Sir Robin Ibbs. It is hoped, however, that the Commission will be able to consider any advice from Sir Robin before the end of the year.
Attorney-General
Vehicle Test Certificates (Northern Ireland)
To ask the Attorney-General, in 1987, 1988 and 1989, how many persons were convicted in Northern Ireland of not having a vehicle test certificate.
I regret that this information could not be made available except at disproportionate cost.
Television Licences (Northern Ireland)
To ask the Attorney-General, in 1987, 1988 and 1989, how many persons were convicted in Northern Ireland of not having a television licence.
I regret that this information could not be made available except at disproportionate cost.
Anton Piller Orders
To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his written answer of 5 June to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East, which problems the intended changes in the regulations on Anton Piller orders are designed to overcome.
The civil justice review recommended that as a general rule the same remedies should be available in both the High Court and the county courts, but that the power to grant Anton Piller orders should normally be reserved to the High Court judiciary in view of the draconian nature of these orders. The Government have accepted this recommendation, which will be taken forward in clause 3 of the Courts and Legal Services Bill and in regulations under clause 3.
Trade And Industry
Recycled Paper
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his Department is doing to encourage a market for recycled paper and to expand industrial capacity to process waste paper; and if he will make a statement.
There is already a strong market for paper products which contain recycled fibre. Government Departments generally are important and reliable customers in this market buying general notepaper, index books, graph paper and brown stationery manufactured from recycled fibre. The letterhead paper used in my Department, including that used by Ministers and senior officials, contains recycled fibre and we are increasing the use of recycled paper in our publications.Following a successful pilot scheme, my Department will by the end of this month be collecting separately, from eight of our London buildings, high-grade office waste paper which is currently used in the production of higher-grade recycled paper.