Written Answers
Air Weapons:Campaign Against Misuse
asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress they have made with their consultations with interested organisations about their proposed publicity campaign to combat the misuse of air weapons, whether they have yet consulted the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals about their proposed campaign, and if not why not, and when they expect their consultations to be completed.
Consultations with interested organisations on the proposed campaign to combat the misuse of air weapons will begin as soon as outline proposals can be put to them. We hope to be able to make a further announcement soon.
Forestry: Select Committee Report
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are ready to respond to the recommendations in the report of the Select Committee on Science and Technology on the Scientific Aspects of Forestry published on 10th December 1980.
Yes. Copies of the response have been deposited in the Library of the House and in the Printed Paper Office. Arrangements have also been made for copies to be deposited in the Library and the Vote Office of the House of Commons.
Industrial Building Allowances
asked Her Majesty's Government:
(i) In his reply on 18th January in another place to my honourable friend the member for Lichfield and Tamworth (Mr. Heddle) my honourable friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury said that the Statement of Practice outlined a simplified system of administering capital allowances for estates of small industrial workshops constructed for separate letting to small businesses and that the final sentence, to which my noble friend's question relates, explained that this arrangement will not apply where, exceptionally, several units in one estate are let to the same or connected tenants, or where the estate is to a significant extent used for trades which do not attract industrial buildings allowance. In such circumstances, inspectors of taxes have to judge on broad lines on the facts of each individual case.
(ii) Initial allowances at the rate of 100 per cent. can be claimed in respect of the construction costs of business buildings in enterprise zones and buildings which qualify as small industrial workshops within the terms of Section 75 Finance Act 1981. Section 7 Capital Allowances Act 1968 contains the definition of an industrial building or structure for capital allowance purposes.
(iii) Lack of data means that only very approximate figures can be given, and then only on the assumption that sufficient profits were available, in the years in which the expenditure was incurred, to absorb the allowances in full. The cost for each of the three years up to 26th March 1980 is estimated to be about £20 million to £25 million. The actual cost will have been below this maximum figure but cannot be more precisely estimated.
(iv) With the same provisions as in (iii) the cost in 1980–81 is estimated to be about £30 million and in 1981–82 £35 million.
(v & vi) Insufficient data are available upon which to base any estimates of cost.
(vii & viii) The estimates of cost are as follows:—
| 1977–78 | 1978–79 | 1979–80 | 1980–81 | 1981–82 |
| £190m | £200m | £240m | £320m | £350m |
The above figures are based upon the assumption that sufficient profits were available, in the years in which the expenditure was incurred, to absorb the allowances in full. The actual cost will have been below this maximum figure but cannot be more precisely estimated.
(ix) As stated in the 1981–82 PSBR the additional cost of raising the initial allowance from 50 per cent. to 75 per cent. was negligible in the first year. The anticipated cost is therefore £350 million, as above.
(x & xi) There are no data available from which to provide such figures.
(xii) Industrial buildings allowances, including those for small industrial workshops, are an important element of the capital allowances system. That system is relevant to the taxation of incorporated as well as unincorporated businesses. It is right, therefore, that where the capital allowances generally are being reviewed in the Green Paper, that review should cover the allowances for small workshops.
(xiii) I cannot anticipate the Budget Statement of my honourable and learned friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Rugby Injuries: Spinal Unit Admissions
asked Her Majesty's Government:How many patients have been admitted to spinal units in hospital in the United Kingdom, who have sustained broken necks resulting in permanent paralysis as a result of playing rugby football, for each of the last five calendar years.
This information is not held centrally, nor is it readily available in comparable form from the spinal units.
Copyright Law Reform
asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to introduce the legislation forecast in their Green Paper of July 1981,
Reform of the Law relating to Copyright, Designs and Performances' Protection.
The Government have no firm timetable for legislation on copyright and related topics. Responses are now being received from interested organisations and individuals, and the period of consultation can be expected to continue for some time, especially in view of the difficulty of some of the issues. It would be impractical to set a limit to it at this stage, but once this process is complete it is the Government's intention to legislate on copyright when the parliamentary timetable permits.
Poland: Nato Members' Consultations
asked Her Majesty's Government:If they will make a statement on the outcome of the allied consultations on Poland in the North Atlantic Council on 3rd February.
A declaration by the Foreign Ministers of the member states of NATO was made at their meeting on 11th January, and a copy placed in the Library of the House. Since then the North Atlantic Council has met twice to review the situation. At the second of these meetings, held on 3rd February, it was noted with regret that the Polish military regime had not taken any of the three steps to which the Foreign Ministers attached particular importance—lifting of martial law, release of those arrested and resumption of a dialogue with the Church and Solidarity—nor has the Soviet Union ceased to bring pressure to bear upon Poland. In the circumstances, it was agreed to pursue and as necessary strengthen actions along the lines set out in the ministerial declaration of 11th January.These measures are as follows. With respect to Poland, Her Majesty's Government:
With respect to the Soviet Union Her Majesty's Government:
Czechoslovakia: Uk Claims
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any agreement has been reached on the settlement of United Kingdom claims against Czechoslovakia.
An agreement between the United Kingdom and Czechoslovakia on the settlement of certain outstanding claims and financial issues was signed in Prague on 29th January. After taking into account the value of certain Czechoslovak assets in the United Kingdom, the net amount to be paid by the Czechoslovak Government in settlement of United Kingdom claims is £24,266,619. Upon implementation of this agreement, Her Majesty's Government will consent to the release by the Tripartite Commission for the Restitution of Monetary Gold to the Czechoslovak Government of 10,397.3164 kg of gold coin and 8,002.6836 kg in bars. The agreement will be published as a command paper.
Helsinki Final Act: Soviet Union And Eastern Europe
asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress was made in the implementation by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Eastern European countries of the provisions of the Helsinki Final Act during the last six months.
During the last six month period until 31st December 1981 implementation by the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries of their commitments under the Helsinki Final Act became gradually worse. There were major violations after the imposition of martial law in Poland on 13th December. Before then, implementation in Poland had improved. Events in Poland seem to have made the Soviet Union and other East European countries less willing to carry out their obligations.The Soviet Union, and to a lesser degree Czechoslovakia and the German Democratic Republic (GDR), sought earlier to influence events in Poland in a manner contrary to the Final Act. This pressure took various forms and was exercised by the governments of these countries and by officially-controlled organisations.
Basket I: Security In Europe: Principles Guiding Relations Between Participating States: Confidence-Building Measures And Certain Aspects Of Security And Disarmament
Principles
The imposition of martial law and suspension of civil rights in Poland (notably the policy of large-scale internment and detention) contravenes the principle of "respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms". The consistent pressure by the Soviet Union on the Polish authorities to counter the process of reform and renewal, and particularly the formation of an independent trades union organisation, was a clear violation of the principles of respect for the sovereignty of independent states and of non-interference in the internal affairs of states. The Soviet Union continues to try to subjugate Afghanistan by force in breach of most, if not all, of the principles of the Final Act. There has been no sign of a Soviet willingness to withdraw from that country.
The repression of dissidents in Czechoslovakia and in the Soviet Union has continued. In the Soviet Union there were further arrests of members of the Helsinki Monitoring Groups. The Soviet authorities have continued to repress religious activists, non-Russian minorities including Jews, and others. There has been a further marked drop in the numbers of Jews, Armenians and ethnic Germans permitted to emigrate.
Confidence-Building Measures
Exercise Zapad 81 took place in the western part of the Soviet Union from 4th to 12th September. Notification of this exercise was only in the most general terms. It did not contain the detail specified in the Final Act for prior notification of major military manoeuvres (that is, manoeuvres involving 25,000 or more troops) although Soviet press reports suggested that approximately 100,000 troops were involved. Nor were observers invited. No further elucidation has been provided in response to western requests. No other major military exercises in Eastern Europe were notified.
Basket Ii: Co-Operation In The Field Of Economics, Of Science And Technology, And Of The Environment
The world recession, coupled with increasing economic difficulties faced by East European countries, has continued to hamper the development of trade relations. East European countries have increasingly resolved to counter-trade as a means of easing some of their problems. There has been little overall improvement in business contacts and facilities, although the situation continues to vary both between and within countries. In the Soviet Union the withdrawal of certain privileges has made more difficult the day-to-day life of the resident western business community. In Hungary, however, there have been signs of increased flexibility in dealings with foreign business representatives. There has been no significant improvement in the availability or quality of economic and commercial information published by the Soviet Union and other East European countries.
Basket Iii: Co-Operation In Humanitarian And Other Fields
Human Contacts
In Eastern European countries and the Soviet Union older people have in general a far greater chance of emigration and travel than young people. For everyone, it is hard and expensive to get the necessary documents. In the field of human contacts, the performance of Poland (before December) and Hungary remained rather liberal but the restrictions on travel imposed in Poland since the imposition of military rule contravened the Human Contacts provisions of the Final Act. In Czechoslovakia and Romania there has been no significant change since the last review period. In Bulgaria there was no improvement as regards family meetings and re-unifications or bi-national marriages, though there has been a slight improvement in tourism and travel. In the GDR there has been some improvement in family reunification. In the Soviet Union however in all matters of human contacts the situation has got markedly worse.
Information
Until the imposition of severe restrictions in Poland, the implementation of commitments under the Final Act had again remained virtually unchanged. East European governments maintained strict control over the dissemination of information coming from the West, and very few commercial western newspapers, periodicals, books and films were available to the general public.
Jamming by the Soviet Union of almost all broadcasts in Russian and other Soviet languages by the BBC, Voice of America, Deutsche Welle and Radio Liberty continued through the period. Since late December, following the imposition of martial law in Poland, Polish language broadcasts, including those of the BBC, have been jammed from stations in the Soviet Union. During the period, transmissions to Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia by Deutsche Welle and Radio Free Europe were also jammed. There were no significant improvements in the working conditions of Western journalists during the period under review, and conditions in Poland deteriorated sharply after 13th December.
Culture and Education
Cultural relations with the Soviet Union narrowed in the period under review. Elsewhere in Eastern Europe, no significant changes in implementation occurred in the fields of culture and education.
Technology Transfer: Cocom Agreement
asked Her Majesty's Government:What measure of agreement now exists among members of COCOM, and with our NATO allies, about the need to apply without further delay more rigorous and effective curbs on the export of high technology equipment and know-how to the Soviet Union.
A high-level meeting recently reviewed means to ensure that the operations of COCOM are adapted to changing circumstances and particularly to developments in technology of strategic importance. There was unanimous agreement on the steps to be taken. NATO, too, is monitoring closely the transfer of technology to Warsaw Pact countries.
Unesco Conference: Proposal For News Agencies
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, at the UNESCO Conference on an International Programme for the Development of Communications, they supported the proposal to establish news agencies in Africa, Asia and Latin America; whether they are contributing to the fund for this purpose; and which other Governments are contributing or not contributing.
The United Kingdom is not an elected member of the Inter-Governmental Council of the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) and attends meetings as an observer only. Consequently, the question of Her Majesty's Government's support, or otherwise, for council proposals did not arise. My written reply of 1st February to the noble Lord set out Her Majesty's Government's general attitude towards the programme and details of those Governments which have offered financial support.
Law Of The Sea Conference
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it is probable that the Law of the Sea Conference will resume in the light of President Reagan's reported statement that the United States was willing to participate; and if so, when.
The next session of the United Nations Law of the Sea Conference will be held in New York from 8th March to 30th April. We welcome the statement by President Reagan that the United States will return to the negotiations and work with other countries to achieve an acceptable treaty.
Vehicle Registration Number System
asked Her Majesty's Government:If they will now announce their decision on the future vehicle registration number system when the current series has been completed in 1983.
My right honourable friend has been pleased by the very full response to the consultation which began in 1980. Some ingenious ideas were put forward, but the majority of the motoring public and the motor trade overwhelmingly wanted a simple system which would minimise the cost of change. They favoured straightforward reversal of the present format, ie, a single letter, three figures then three letters instead of the present lay-out. Such an arrangement would also be acceptable to the police, and my right honourable friend has accordingly decided to accept this advice and reverse the present format in 1983.My right honourable friend is arranging for his officials to consider with the motor trade two issues which remain unresolved. The first concerns the choice of August as the month in which the year letter changes. It causes problems for some organisations as did January before the month was changed in 1967. The second concerns the question of whether the present age letter is appropriate for all vehicles, particularly imported used vehicles and rebuilt vehicles. In both these cases, the year letter identifies the date of registration rather than the age of the vehicle, and this can cause confusion. My right honourable friend will announce his decisions on these two points later.
Multi-Handicapped Blind People
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any progress has been made as a result of the International Year of Disabled People on national policies for the multi-handicapped blind.
Government initiatives to mark the International Year of Disabled People covered a wide range of policy interests. These were aimed at promoting the year's objectives and generally improving attitudes and awareness towards disabled people. Most of the initiatives were broadly based, although in some instances they were concerned with a particular disability, for example blindness, deafness, mental handicap. Some of them will certainly have benefited multi-handicapped blind people.House adjourned at eight minutes before eight o'clock.