Written Answers
Radio Regulatory Department Andmembers Of Parliament
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether an opportunity could be provided for Members of Parliament to learn about the functions of the Radio Regulatory Department of the Home Office.
Yes, and my right honourable friend the Minister of State who has particular responsibility for the work of the department will be writing to my noble friend.
"Science And Government":Government Response
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are now in a position to respond to the Report of the Science and Technology Committee on
Science and Government.
We are publishing today our response to the First Report of the Select Committee of the House of Lords on Science and Technology, on "Science and Government", Cmnd. 8591. The response emphasises our gratitude to the Select Committee for a valuable and stimulating review, and we accept the main thrust of its report that we have a responsibility to ensure that scientific and technological issues are taken properly into account in policy-making.Among the measures announced in the White Paper are broader terms of reference for the Advisory Council for Applied Research and Development (ACARD); closer links between ACARD and the Advisory Board for the Research Councils (ABRC); the introduction of periodic reports on science and technology; the establishment of a Committee of Departmental Chief Scientists; improved links between those responsible for civil and for defence research; and the introduction of a system of Annual Reviews of Research, intended to make our research effort more effective.In their report, the Select Committee recommended the establishment of a Council on Science and Technology, but we consider that our objectives can be achieved by the better co-ordination of the work of ACARD and ABRC (which will be facilitated by the arrangements summarised above). The Committee also recommended that a Cabinet Minister should be designated to speak for science and technology. But the improvements outlined in our response, taken together with the Prime Minister's personal coordinating role, mean that scientific and technological issues will be given proper attention. We are therefore satisfied that the present ministerial arrangements will continue to work well and will meet the Select Committee's objectives.
Firearms: Numbers And Sales
asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the quantity of firearms in circulation
in England and Wales in the years 1970 and 1980; and
What was the quantity of firearms sold
in England and Wales in the years 1970 and 1980.
The number of firearms, other than shotguns, legally held and sold is not recorded centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost. There is no limit to the number of shotguns that may be legally possessed by holders of shotgun certificates and information about the numbers sold and in circulation is not available either centrally or locally. Although we have no information on the quantities of weapons involved, the numbers of firearm and shotgun certificates in force in England and Wales on 31st December 1980 were 168,047 and 781,854 respectively. Equivalent statistics for 1970 were not collected, but the corresponding figures for 1971 were 190,649 and 715,453. We have no information on which to base estimates of the number of illegally held firearms in circulation.
"Racial Attacks":Study And Action
asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they have taken as a result of the Home Office study published in November 1981,
Racial Attacks.
Progress has been made as follows on the lines of action set out by my right honourable friend the Home Secretary in the foreword to the report of the Racial Attacks study.
(i) Collection at local level by the police and others of information about the incidence of racial attacks.
A number of police forces have already instituted new and improved systems for recording and dealing with racial attacks. Officials are to meet representatives of the Association of Chief Police Officers soon to assess progress. An early meeting is planned with representatives of local authority associations to discuss the responsibilities of local authorities in this field.
(ii) Arrangements in all areas with significant ethnic minority population for liaison between the police, local authorities and ethnic minority communities.
Guidance on the procedure and best practice for local consultation arrangements was issued on 16th June.
(iii)Training of police officers which will enable them to develop a greater sensitivity towards the phenomenon of racial attacks.
(iv) (a)Assistance to the police by ethnic minority groups with "on the job "training for police officers.
The Police Training Council has established a working party to review community and race relations training for the police service as a whole. The working party's terms of reference require it to take account of the Home Secretary's foreword to the report of the Racial Attacks study. The working party will report in the autumn.
(iv) (b)Provision of opportunities for the police to explain matters of evidence and law to community leaders.
(v) The immediate and direct reporting to the police of all racial attacks.
These questions have been discussed with the Commission for Racial Equality. At the commission's invitation officials have discussed with representatives of ethnic minority communities and community relations councils the need for quick and comprehensive reporting and for the police to be given the opportunity to explain their procedures. These questions will also be discussed with the Association of Chief Police Officers.
(vi) Ways of combating racialist activity and propaganda among young people, particularly in schools and at football grounds.
Discussions about racialist activity and propaganda in schools are continuing and we are in contact with the Football League and the police about the extent of racialist activity at football grounds.
The Seriously Handicapped:Nhs Units
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will give details of the units for the seriously handicapped which are in existence in the hospital service of the National Health Service.
I would refer the noble Baroness to the reply given by my noble friend Lord Elton on 2nd February 1982.
The Multi-Handicapped:Nhs Special Services
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will give details of any future developments which will provide better services for the deaf and blind who suffer their disabilities in addition to mental handicap or physical handicap;
Whether they have any plans for encouraging the establishment of special services for the 4 per cent. of residents in hospitals for the mentally handicapped who are blind or almost blind.
While there is specialised provision available within the NHS for multi-handicapped blind people, the voluntary sector also plays a key role in providing services for this group and my department has accordingly given financial assistance towards two residential centres for the deaf and blind multi-handicapped recently completed by voluntary bodies. Officials from my department are at present studying the special service needs of mentally handicapped people with additional disabilities, including those who are hearing or sight-impaired, to consider what further guidance would be helpful.
Derris Treatment: Warble Fly
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will state the scientific evidence on which they have based their decision to refuse to accept treatment with Derris as a method of eradicating Warble Fly.
The successful treatment of warble fly necessitates the application of appropriate insecticides to entire herds, who may not exhibit any symptoms of infection. While Derris is effective in the limited circumstances when the larvae are at the skin surface of an individual animal, it cannot deal with deep-seated infection for which a systemic insecticide is necessary.House adjourned at twenty-six minutes past four o'clock.