Written Answers
Pop Festival, Darwen: Police Procedures
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will confirm that a road block was set up on the approach road to the festival near Darwen, Lancashire, between 23rd July and 25th July 1980, and that at this road block people were stopped and questioned when they were not suspected of having committed any criminal offence.
I understand from the Chief Constable of Lancashire that check points were set up on the approach roads to the pop festival at Darwen. This is an operational matter which is the responsibility of the chief constable. It is open to any person who considers that he has ground for complaint about the conduct of the officers concerned to make a complaint to the chief constable, who will arrange for it to be investigated in accordance with the statutory procedures.
Pop Festival, Darwen: Road Signs
asked Her Majesty's Government:Why an accident sign was placed on the B6232 near Darwen, opposite the Grey Horse public house, between 23rd July and 25th July 1980 when no accident had occurred.
I understand from the Chief Constable of Lancashire that road signs were used by his officers in connection with road checks at the pop festival at Darwen. This is an operational matter which is the responsibility of the chief constable.
Police Officers: Wearing Of Numbers On Epaulettes
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will confirm that a number of uniform police officers involved in clearing a group of people from Shawforth Tip, Whitworth, Lancashire on 24th July 1980 were not displaying their numbers on their epaulettes.
I understand from the Chief Constable of Lancashire that it is a general requirement in his force for uniformed officers of the rank of sergeant and constable, other than motor-cyclists and dog handlers when wearing protective clothing, to wear numbers on their epaulettes. Any allegation that officers were not complying with the requirement on a particular occasion would be a matter for the chief constable.
Bail Hostels
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether consideration is being given to the use of empty houses belonging to the Ministry of Defence and to local authorities as bail hostels for persons of no fixed address who are awaiting trial, thus relieving some of the pressures on the prisons, and if so, with what results.
Four more bail hostels are in preparation. We keep the provision required under review but the existence of vacancies in almost all such hostels, as well as in those probation hostels which cater for persons on bail, does not suggest that we should be planning yet further bail hostels at present.
Probation Officers: Arbitration Award
asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will approve the arbitration award for probation officers made by ACAS on 24th October 1980.
My right honourable friend hopes to be able to announce his decision before the House rises for Christmas.
Civil Defence: Harnessing Of Voluntary Effort
asked Her Majesty's Government:When it is proposed to make an appointment of someone to harness volunteer effort in the Civil Defence field, in England and Wales, as announced in the Home Defence Review statement of 7th August 1980.
The person appointed will have terms of reference requiring him to advise on, co-ordinate and stimulate the harnessing of voluntary effort at all levels in relation to civil home defence preparedness, by liaison with appropriate voluntary organisations and with local authorities and their staff. He will work closely with the appropriate Home Office officials, and will have direct access to my right honourable friend the Home Secretary and the Minister of State.To this post it has been decided to appoint Air Marshal Sir Leslie Mayor, KCB, AFC, DL, FRAeS, RAF (Retd), the present Principal of the Home Defence College at Easingwold. Sir Leslie's present appointment will terminate on 31st December, and he will take up his new duties on 1st January. A new Principal for the Home Defence College will be appointed.Sir Leslie's close involvement with civil defence planning during the last seven years makes him exceptionally well qualified for his new post, and I know he can count on the fullest support from the voluntary organisations and local authorities and their staff.
Building Societies: Inspection Of Registers
asked Her Majesty's Government:
(i) In circumstances described in Section 63(1) of the Building Societies Act a member of a building society has a right of access to the register of members of his society without the need to apply to the Chief Registrar. The number of occasions on which that right has been exercised is not known. So far as can be traced there have been three occasions since 1970 when members have had access to the register of members of their societies under the procedure referred to in Section 63(2) of the Act. The societies involved were (a) Bournemouth and Christchurch Building Society, (b) Anglia Hastings and Thanet Building Society and (c) Bexhill-on Sea Building Society.(
ii) So far as can be traced, three applications to inspect registers of members of building societies have been made to the Chief Registrar since 1970, and all were granted. The three societies involved are
mentioned above; the respective purposes for which access was granted were in order that the applicants might communicate with members about ( a) a proposed transfer of the society's engagements to another society ( b) the candidature of the member concerned for election as a director and ( c) the composition of the society's board of directors and the society's rules relating to the board.
( iii) Section 63 of the Building Societies Act 1962 appears to the Government to operate satisfactorily.
The Unemployed: Diversion To Constructive Work
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in view of the Written Answer given on 12th November 1980 that the financial cost to the Government of an unemployed family man with two children is on average £500 per month, or £6,000 a year, consideration has been given to the economic effect of devoting £3 billion (the financial cost of 500,000 unemployed) to constructive work, such as essential railway development or housing, which would necessitate the supply of materials by the private sector, and if such a review has been undertaken whether the relevant document will be published.
As was explained at the time, the figures quoted in the Written Answer to which the noble Lord refers are not typical of the unemployed and no such inference of the kind stated by the noble Lord can be drawn from them.An increase in public expenditure of the kind proposed by the noble Lord would increase inflation, increase interest rates and ultimately lead to a higher, not lower, rate of unemployment. The Government regard the proposition as so unrealistic that they see no point in conducting a review of the kind suggested by the noble Lord.
Chile: Un Vote On Human Rights
asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the result of the vote at the United Nations General Assembly on a motion condemning the Government of Chile for a "deterioration of human rights" following a report by the United Nations Human Rights Commission that the security agencies "use torture during their interrogation"; and how the British delegation voted.
The recent resolution on human rights in Chile was passed in the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly by 90 votes to eight with thirty-seven abstentions. The United Kingdom delegation voted in favour. The resolution is expected to be considered by the General Assembly in plenary session soon.
The Falkland Islands: Visit Of Dr Martinez De Hoz
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they invited Dr. Martinez de Hoz to visit the United Kingdom at the beginning of June 1980, and whether he then met the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Minister of Agriculture and the Secretary of State for Trade or any of them; and in which of those discussions, if any, Ministers took soundings of Dr. de Hoz on the political options for the future of the Falkland Islands including the transfer of sovereignty to Argentina with an arrangement for simultaneous lease back to Britain.
The Argentine Minister of the Economy, Dr. Martinez de Hoz, visited the United Kingdom privately in June, as part of a tour of European countries. At his own request he called on the Prime Minister, the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for Trade, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and the Ministers of State for Trade, Industry, Energy and Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. Discussions focused largely on economic affairs but covered a range of matters of mutual interest. The Falkland Islands dispute was naturally discussed during his calls at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. There was, however, no question of our taking soundings on political options.
Magallanes Este Block: Ypf Advertisement
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have reached any agreement with the Government of Argentina on the demarcation of the boundary between the exclusive economic zones of the Falkland Islands and Argentina; whether they are aware that the Argentina state petroleum company (YPF) advertised in the 6th November
Herald Tribune for tenders to drill for oil on the Magallanes Este Block, Tender No. 14048/80, and that this Block is well over the Falkland Islands side of any putative median line; and whether they will circulate a notice to all potential bidders making it clear that the United Kingdom does not recognise Argentina's sovereignty over this Block and will reserve its rights to take legal action for the recovery of damages against any company which drills there.
No agreement has been reached between the United Kingdom and Argentine Governments on the delimitation of the continental shelf as between the Falkland Islands and Argentina. In the absence of an agreed boundary, neither party, in Her Majesty's Government's view, would be entitled to exercise continental shelf rights beyond the median line between the Falkland Islands and Argentina. We have protested to the Argentines about the YPF tender which does indeed go beyond the median line. We are continuing to keep the situation under review and will take further action as necessary to preserve our legal position.
Blood Donors: Publicising Facilities
asked the Leader of the House:What he will do to give greater publicity to the facilities available to Members of this House for giving blood; and in particular, whether he will arrange to give details of these arrangements on the Peers' notice board.
Facilities available to Members of this House for giving blood are provided by the South-West Region of the Blood Transfusion Service at Caxton Hall about eight times a year and by the North London Centre of the Service in the Treasury in Whitehall. Both these sections of the service would be glad to hear from Members of this House. Once Peers had enlisted to a particular area panel, they would be registered and invited to attend every six months to give blood. Notices of forthcoming visits by the teams will be given on the Peers' notice board. Subject to discussions with another place, I will see whether information can also be given on the All Party Notices circulated with the whip.It is regretted that there is no room in the Palace of Westminster for a special facility to be made available for Members and staff of both Houses.
Foreign Flag Service Vessels In Uk Waters
asked Her Majesty's Government:What is standing in the way of the full application of port state jurisdiction over service vessels operating from British ports to British licensed installations on the United Kingdom continental shelf, or, alternatively, of their requiring licensee companies operating on the United Kingdom continental shelf to undertake that service vessels contracted to them will accept full British jurisdiction during the life of the contract, and what is the practice concerning foreign flag service vessels in Norway, in the USA, in Canada and in Australia.
It is a clear principle of international law that, save in exceptional cases, a ship on the high seas is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the flag state. Flag states are under an obligation to take effective measures to ensure safety at sea, with regard, inter alia, to the prevention of collisions; manning and labour conditions; and construction, equipment and seaworthiness.Foreign supply boats operating from United Kingdom ports to installations on the United Kingdom's continental shelf subject themselves to United Kingdom jurisdiction while in United Kingdom ports in the same fashion as other foreign vessels, and we seek to exercise that jurisdiction in a manner appropriate to the context. Foreign ships may also subject themselves to United Kingdom law in certain respects by virtue of being engaged in operations for the exploration and exploitation of the United Kingdom's continental shelf; in this connection the noble Lord's attention is drawn to the Submarine Pipelines (Diving Operations) Regulations 1976, the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (Application outside Great Britain) Order 1977, and the Employment Protection (Offshore Employment) Order 1976 as amended.Neither the rules of international law regarding jurisdiction over vessels nor the provisions of the applicable United Kingdom legislation are capable of being overriden by contract. If the noble Lord would care to write to me indicating the specific aspect of foreign practice concerning non-national supply boats he has in mind, I will endeavour to provide the information.
The "Christos Bitas"
asked Her Majesty's Government:What information they have solicited or received from the Greek Government concerning any inquiry that may have been held in Greece concerning the "Christos Bitas" pollution incident, whether charges have been brought, and if so, with what result.
The Greek tanker "Christos Bitas" grounded off the coast of South Wales on 12th October 1978. Responsibility for the conduct of shipping casualty inquiries rests primarily with flag states and the Greek authorities commenced a public inquiry in Piraeus on 13th February 1979, in which the United Kingdom participated.The investigating court gave its judgment on 24th September 1979 in a published report. A copy of the court's report was sent to the Department of Trade and I am arranging for a translation to be placed in the Library. It is understood that the Greek Authorities are contemplating proceedings arising from the findings of the Court of Inquiry, but charges have not yet been brought.
Ddt, Dieldrin And Allied Compounds
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will state their policy regarding the production and use of DDT, dieldrin and allied compounds in view of their known toxic effects.
The Advisory Committee on Pesticides recommended in their 1964 and 1969 reports that use of these persistent organochlorine compounds should be phased out as and when suitable alternatives became available. As with previous Administrations it is the Government's policy to implement the recommendations of this committee, and many uses in agriculture and food storage of these products have already ceased. Most of the remaining plant protection uses will be phased out from 1st January 1981 under the terms of European Community Directive 79/117.
The major industrial uses of dieldrin are in wood preservation and moth-proofing. I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that its use is still permitted in these areas, which are also subject to the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act. Under the Pesticides Safety Precautions Scheme, uses of these compounds are kept under review. We are considering a recommendation by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution that there should be a review of the total agricultural and industrial use of these materials.
Economists Employed In The Ministry Of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food
asked Her Majesty's Government:How many economists are employed in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and its associated bodies.
My department employs 25 economists, members of the Economist Group, in a professional capacity. A considerable number of staff in other occupational groups hold degrees in economics. The number of economists who are employed in public bodies associated with the Ministry's work is not readily available.
Estimates Of Demand For Foodstuffs
asled Her Majesty's Government:Whether estimates are ever prepared of the future demand for any variety, sort or kind of British agricultural produce by the economists employed by them, and whether these estimates allow for any possible change in relative price.
Estimates of the possible development of demand for foodstuffs of various kinds are frequently prepared within the Ministry. These take account of assumed relative prices using the results of analyses of recent changes in consumption patterns and prices which have been recorded by the National Food Survey. The Report of the National Food Survey Committee provides estimates of demand parameters.
Kew Gardens: Receipts From Admissions
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any estimates were made by their economists or otherwise of the likely effect on prices and receipts of the recent alterations in the price of admission to Kew Gardens.
The admission charge to Kew Gardens was kept at the nominal rate of 1p for many years. It was expected that the increase to 10p, which was introduced from 1st January 1980, would not make any significant difference to the attendance figures. It was estimated, therefore, that receipts in 1980 would increase some tenfold. This is broadly what has happened.
Mr David Evans
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have any comment to make on the appointment of Mr. David Evans, Under-Secretary at the Ministery of Agriculture, as economic and policy adviser to the National Farmers' Union, and if not, why not.
Yes. We have already commented on Mr. Evans's appointment as Chief Economic and Policy Adviser to the National Farmers' Union in the following terms:
House adjourned at twenty-five minutes before ten o'clock."Mr. Evans has been Director of Establishments since January 1980 and has had no policy contacts with the National Farmers' Union, nor been concerned with questions of agricultural policy, during that period. The Minister has considered the propriety of the appointment and has consulted the Civil Service Department. He has given his approval without qualification".