Written Answers Written Answers Phenols And Sheep Dips The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will confirm that the reason why companies manufacturing organophosphate sheep dips which include phenol disinfectants withdrew the disinfectants in 1994 was because the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food required additional data on maximum residue levels in meat. Lord Lucas As part of its review of organophosphorus dips under Directive 81/851/EEC in 1991/92, the Veterinary Products Committee considered the question of phenols in dips. Subsequently, the companies involved were all asked to provide additional consumer and operator safety data on phenols. This data, as one aspect, included toxicological data which would have enabled maximum residue limits to be determined. With the exception of one product, which was reformulated to remove the phenols, the companies decided to voluntarily withdraw the phenol containing dips from the market. Sales ceased on 30 September 1993. These were commercial decisions by the companies concerned, and we cannot confirm whether or not this particular requirement led to the products' withdrawal. Farm Incomes Lord Brougham and Vaux asked Her Majesty's Government:What farm incomes were in 1995. Lord Lucas Total income from farming is estimated to have risen by 22 per cent. in real terms in 1995 compared with 1994. This increase is partly due to agrimonetary developments and to unusual weather conditions which, on balance, had a favourable effect on agricultural incomes. However, the Government's success in creating the right conditions for growth also played an important part. Detailed estimates of the income, output and productivity of United Kingdom Agriculture in 1995 were published this morning and have been placed in the Library of the House. Bosnia: Military Deployment Lord Gainford asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will give further details of military deployments to the former Yugoslavia. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Earl Howe) The deployment of British Armed Forces to the NATO-led peace implementation force (IFOR) in Bosnia is now complete.By carefully matching the manpower required to the tasks which have emerged, we have been able to deploy a smaller number of troops than the estimate of over 13,000 reported by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence in another place on 12 December. The actual figure is some 11,500. The United Kingdom's contribution remains, by a substantial margin, second only to that of the United States.We shall keep the force level under review as planning develops for the reduction of IFOR numbers and the completion of its task. NATO is also reviewing the maritime and air forces required to support operations in the Adriatic theatre. Force levels can in any case be expected to fluctuate. The "Marchioness" Inquest Lord Gainford asked Her Majesty's Government:What are their views on the recommendations of the "Marchioness" inquest jury. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Viscount Goschen) I have placed a paper setting out the Government's views on the recommendations of the "Marchioness" inquest jury in the Library of the House. The Government agree with the majority of the jury's 12 recommendations. In many cases, existing rules and guidelines already meet the jury's proposals. In those cases where recommendations are aimed at other agencies, the Government are pursuing the recommendations with the agencies in question.The jury endorsed the earlier recommendations of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report into the "Marchioness" sinking, together with the recommendations of the report of the inquiry into river safety by Mr. John Hayes. All of the recommendations in the MAIB' s report have since been implemented. Action has also been taken on the recommendations of the Hayes report and an updated statement of the position is included in the paper published today. Health Education And Social Care Initiatives Lord Rix asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will provide further support for those local authorities currently undergoing reorganisation which are unable to resolve locally the major difficulties in planning and budgeting on an integrated basis for meeting the health education and social care needs of children and adults with severe learning disabilities. The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Lord Henley) New unitary authorities, having responsibility for health, education and social services, will be able to plan on an integrated basis in ways that may not have been possible previously. Where costs are incurred as a direct result of reorganisation, authorities may apply to the Department of the Environment for additional supplementary credit approvals. Some £50 million of extra funding was made available in this way in 1995–96, and some £100 million has been allocated for 1996–97.The Department of Health will shortly be issuing guidance to local education and health authorities and social service departments entitled Child Health in the Community: A Guide to Good Practice; my department and the Department of Health have agreed jointly to fund research to establish models of effective co-operation in dealing with children with special educational needs, including those with severe learning disabilities; and will also shortly be issuing a joint guidance document about the transition from school to FE, training or employment of young people with disabilities. All of these initiatives will offer guidance on roles and responsibilities and emphasise the need for effective collaboration. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Health has responsibility for adults with severe learning difficulties. Cold Weather Payments Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:In which areas of the United Kingdom cold weather payments from the social fund were triggered between Christmas and New Year 1995. The Minister of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish) Northern Ireland and the following Meteorological Office weather stations within Great Britain triggered Social Fund Cold Weather Payments between 25 December 1995 to 1 January 1996: ----------------------------------- |Aberdeen (twice)|Heathrow | ----------------------------------- |Aberporth |Kinloss | ----------------------------------- |Aughton |Kirkwall (twice)| ----------------------------------- |Aviemore |Leeds | ----------------------------------- |Bedford |Lerwick | ----------------------------------- |Birmingham |Leuchars | ----------------------------------- |Boscombe Down |Lyneham | ----------------------------------- |Boulmer |Machrihanish | ----------------------------------- |Bournemouth |Manchester | ----------------------------------- |Braemar |Marham | ----------------------------------- |Brize Norton |Shawbury | ----------------------------------- |Capel Curig |Stansted | ----------------------------------- |Carlisle |Stornoway | ----------------------------------- |Cardiff (Rhoose)|Tynemouth | ----------------------------------- |Coltishall |Tulloch Bridge | ----------------------------------- |Cilfynydd |Waddington | ----------------------------------- ------ | | ------ |1991| ------ |1992| ------ |1993| ------ |1994| ------ |1995| ------ ----------------------- |Dunkeswell |Wattisham| ----------------------- |Edinburgh |Whitby | ----------------------- |Eskdalemuir|Wick | ----------------------- |Eskmeals |Wilsden | ----------------------- |Gatwick |Yeovilton| ----------------------- |Glasgow | | ----------------------- Details of the postcode areas within Great Britain covered by each weather station are listed in the schedules to the Social Fund Cold Weather Payments Regulations, a copy of which is held in the Library. Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:In how many weeks, Cold Weather Payments have been made in at least one area of the United Kingdom. Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish Cold weather payments have been triggered in five of the weeks since 1 November, when the scheme commenced this winter. Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:What has been the average annual cost of cold weather payments since their introduction. Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish Since the regulated cold weather payment scheme began in 1986, the average annual amount awarded has been £10.4 million. The annual amount paid is dependent on the severity of the winter weather conditions. In addition, a number of changes have been made to the entitlement criteria since the scheme began. Lone Parents Receiving Benefit Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:How many single parents were on benefit on 1 April in each year from 1991–95. Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table. Figures relate to the total number of lone parents, who may be single, separated/divorced, or widowed. Lone Parents Ceasing To Receive Benefit Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:How many single parents stopped claiming benefit in (a) 1988–89 (b) 1989–90 (c) 1991–92 (d) 1992–93 (e) 1993–94 (f) 1994–95. Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table. Figures relate to the total number of lone parents, who may be single, divorced/separated or widowed. ---------------- |Financial Year| ---------------- |1988–89 | ---------------- |1989–90 | ---------------- |1990–91 | ---------------- |1991–92 | ---------------- |1992–93 | ---------------- |1993–94 | ---------------- |1994–95 | ---------------- Absent Parents: Maintenance Collection Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to Miss Ann Chant's evidence to the Public Accounts Committee (Q160) that cases in which there is no co-operation with the Child Support Agency "are the ones where probably both parents are on benefit, and therefore there is going to be very little to gain or lose for either party", whether they believe the collection of maintenance from absent parents on income support to be cost effective; andWhat is the average cost per case of collecting maintenance from absent parents on income support. Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish It is a fundamental principle of the Child Support Act that every parent is responsible for maintaining his or her children wherever they can afford to do so, thus keeping the burden on the general taxpayer to a minimum. The minimum contribution to maintenance, which will increase to £4.80 in April 1996, underpins this responsibility.The principle is that both parents are responsible for their children, and absent parents should not escape all their financial responsibilities simply because they are on income support. A deduction from benefit will demonstrate an absent parent's liability, and will establish a pattern of contributing to the maintenance of children that will continue when the absent parent commences employment.The average cost per case of collecting maintenance from absent parents on income support could be established only at disproportionate cost. Child Support Agency: Report Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:When the report from the Department of Social Security referred to in paragraph 32 of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee's Report on the Child Support Agency (1995–96 HC Paper 31) on "things that went wrong and lessons to be learned" will be completed and whether it will be published. Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish As was explained to the Public Accounts Committee, various studies were underway. The Government will be responding to the Committee's report in due course. Child Support Agency:Maintenance Assessments Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to paragraphs 3–7 of the Comptroller and Auditor-General's report on the Child Support Agency (PAC 141), what action, if any, they intend to take on interim maintenance assessments which cannot be legally enforced because they have been given incorrect effective dates. Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish The Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1995, which enable the correction of interim maintenance assessments imposed with incorrect effective dates, came into force on 16 February 1995. The Child Support Agency is using this legislation to correct affected cases. Child Support Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the evidence to the Public Accounts Committee on the Child Support Agency (1st Report 1995–96 HC Paper 31) (Q.225), whether anyone who gave up his job because payment of maintenance under the Child Support Act 1991 left him unable to afford the fares to work would be held to have given up his job "for no good reason". Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the noble Lord. Letter to The Earl Russell from Miss Ann Chant, Chief Executive, Child Support Agency dated 31 January 1996. I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to Her Majesty's Government asking what the effect on benefit entitlement would be if an absent parent claimed to have given up a job because they could not afford their fares to work after paying legally due child maintenance. There should be no basis for such a claim. The protected income element of the maintenance formula ensures that there is a cap on the amount of maintenance that an absent parent will be asked to pay. This currently stands at 30 per cent. of net income for regular maintenance and 33 per cent. where an absent parent also has arrears of maintenance to pay. Moreover, the Child Support Act 1995 made provision for absent parents with high travel to work costs to have this taken into account in their maintenance assessment. In brief, an allowance of £0.10 is made for every mile over 150 miles travelled weekly. This change was made specifically to address the problems faced by absent parents who incurred high travel costs to and from work. Nagorny Karabakh Dispute Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the reported starting-up of an unsafe nuclear power station by the Armenian Government is related to the Azerbaijian Government's blockade of Armenia, and what encouragement are Her Majesty's Government giving to the lifting of this blockade. Lord Chesham Her Majesty's Government is supporting measures to achieve a peaceful settlement of the Nagorny Karabakh dispute. This would bring to an end the economic blockade imposed by some of Armenia's neighbours which has contributed to the current shortage of fuel in the country. Lack of alternative sources of energy was the reason for the decision to reopen Unit 2 of the Medzamor nuclear power plant. Caspian Sea: Pollution Control Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether an oil pollution control regime is in place in the Caspian Sea, and if not whether all firms participating in oil exploitation are explicitly committed to the prevention of oil pollution, and in the event of pollution, to the polluter pays principle. Lord Chesham We understand that most, if not all, of the Caspian littoral states have legislation covering environmental pollution and protection. Questions on the pollution control policies of companies involved in oil exploitation should be addressed to the companies concerned. Oda: Funded Police Training Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:What research they have conducted to establish the extent to which British military and police training programmes have a positive influence in encouraging professional standards of conduct and proper respect for human rights in states where the human rights performance of the police and military has been subject to criticisms. Lord Chesham Regular monitoring of ODA-funded police projects generally confirms that they are improving the management and skills of the police forces assisted. A full evaluation of such projects is planned for 1996–97. Although there has been no systematic assessment, we have no reason to doubt that British military training programmes have anything other than a positive effect on human right practices and professional standards in other countries. Turkey: Human Rights Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:What initiatives the Chairman-in-Office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe took during 1995 to persuade the Turkish authorities to comply with their obligations under paragraph 36 of the code of conduct on politico-military aspects of security of the Budapest Declaration of December 1994 in dealing with the Kurdish armed opposition. Lord Chesham The OSCE Chairman-in-Office did not, we understand, raise with Turkey her obligation under the code of conduct. The wider issues of Turkey's human rights obligations and the Turkish operation against the Kurds in Iraq have been raised in the OSCE Permanent Council by a number of OSCE states. Pervomaskoye Crisis: Osce Initiative Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:What initiatives the Chairman-in-Office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe took during the Pervomaskoye crisis, to persuade the Russian authorities to comply with their obligations under paragraph 36 of the code of conduct on politico-military aspects of security of the Budapest declaration of December 1994. Lord Chesham During the Pervomaskoye crisis, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office kept in close touch with the Russian authorities and offered mediation assistance. The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, the UK and other OSCE partners have urged Russia to ensure that its military operations in Chechnya fully conform with the OSCE code of conduct.