Written Answers
Prisoners: European Commission Of Human Rights Reports
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will have copies of documents published by the European Commission of Human Rights on prisoner cases in every library in the prisons of England and Wales.
No. General guidance about the European Convention of Human Rights is already available in prison libraries. We do not consider it necessary to provide copies of published Commission documents on individual cases, which are often voluminous, in every prison library. Prisoners may, of course, approach the Commission directly if they wish to obtain these documents.
Wandsworth Prison: Visits
asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the practice regarding visits at Wandsworth prison, and why this differs from the practice at other long term prisons.
Prisoners at Wandsworth Prison who have served less than 12 months receive one visit every four weeks. Prisoners who have served 12 months or more, and in certain circumstances those who have been transferred from other establishments, may receive two visits every four weeks. Extra visits under Prison Rule 34(3) are granted where this is thought necessary for the welfare of an individual prisoner or his family. Shortage of resources prevents the granting of more frequent visits.
Albany Prison: Rooftop Demonstration
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will hold an inquiry into the causes of the rooftop demonstration at Albany prison in May.
The Governor of Albany has now submitted a full report and we are considering what further action, if any. is required.
Prisoners In Police Custody: Doctors' Fees
asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the system of remuneration of doctors who treat patients who are prisoners in police custody, and how this compares with the remuneration of prison medical officers.
Police surgeons examining prisoners held in police custody on behalf of the prison service are remunerated in the same way and at the same level as when examining other persons for the police. They are paid either a sessional fee or for each individual examination as appropriate.Prison medical officers, whether full or part-time, are salaried employees. Part-timers are paid the appropriate proportion of the full-time salary plus an on-call fee.
Prison Standing Orders
asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to publish further prison standing orders.
We hope to publish further prison standing orders later this year.
Prison Sentences: Location Of Service
asked Her Majesty's Government:Since when it has been the Home Office assumption that sentences should be served in the jurisdiction in which they were given; what are the grounds for this assumption; and whether it does not arbitrarily divide up the United Kingdom contrary to the intention of Prison Rule No. 31.
There has always been a presumption that a prisoner should serve his sentence in the jurisdiction in which it was imposed, unless there are good reasons otherwise. The maintenance of family contacts is one such reason, and sympathetic consid- eration is given to requests under the Criminal Justice Act 1961 for transfer between different parts of the United Kingdom for that purpose. However, neither that Act nor the Prison Rules confer a right to be transferred, and many other considerations have to be taken into account.
Homicides: Statistics
asked Her Majesty's Government:How many (
a)women and ( b)children are known to have been murdered over each of the last five years up to 30th June 1983.
The numbers of offences currently recorded as homicide, by age and sex of victim, are published annually in Criminal statistics, England and Wales (Table 4.6 of the latest issue for 1981, Cmnd. 8668). Figures for 1982 will be published later this year.
Nationalised Industries
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will list those industries presently nationalised.
Industries customarily treated as being nationalised are listed in Part 3 of the latest Public Expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 8789—II).
Capital Gains Tax And Rented Accommodation
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, with a view to encouraging more private landlords, they would consider allowing "roll over" for capital gains purposes of the proceeds of rented property sold by private landlords.
The Finance Act 1980 introduced a new relief which exempts a maximum of £10,000 of capital gains arising from the disposal of a home in which the owner has let spare rooms or which has been let for part of the period of ownership. Private landlords have also benefited from the other measures to alleviate the burden of the capital gains tax and the investment income surcharge. We shall continue to keep the position of this important sector under review.
Pensioners Retired Abroad: Up-Rating Of Pensions
asked Her Majesty's Government:Why United Kingdom pensioners who retire abroad are entitled to receive up-ratings subsequent to their leaving the United Kingdom if they retire to the United States, but not if they retire to Canada or Australia.
The cost of up-rating increases falls mainly on current contributors and employers in the United Kingdom, and the amount of each increase is calculated having regard to the change in the cost of living in the United Kingdom. For these reasons United Kingdom pensioners who retire abroad are entitled to receive up-ratings subsequent to their leaving the United Kingdom only where this is specially provided for under EC regulations or under a bilateral convention on social security between the United Kingdom and the host country.Whether a bilateral convention is entered into and, if so, whether it provides for pension increases to be paid, depends on the situation when the convention is being negotiated. Among the factors to be taken into account are the benefits available under the other country's scheme, how far reciprocity is possible and the extent to which the advantages to be gained by an agreement outweigh the additional expenditure likely to be incurred by the United Kingdom. The agreement between the United Kingdom and the United States of America, entered into in 1969, provides for our pensioners in the United States to receive increases coming into effect after the date of the agreement. On the other hand, there is no such provision in our conventions with Australia or Canada, dating from 1958 and 1959 respectively. To bring all our pensioners in Australia and Canada up to the level of pension they would receive in the United Kingdom would cost an additional £63 million and £32 million a year respectively. Such expenditure is out of the question in the present financial situation.
Health Visiting And School Nursing: Inquiry Request
asked Her Majesty's Government:What proposals are envisaged for a full-scale inquiry into the work and conditions of health visitors, the development of health visiting training and school nursing.
We are giving careful consideration to the request from the Health Visitors' Association for a national inquiry into health visiting and school nursing, and have sought the profession's view. We will reply to the Health Visitors' Association in due course.
Hospital Patients: Charges
asked Her Majesty's Government:How much revenue would be raised if all NHS hospital patients, other than children, pensioners and others entitled to free NHS prescriptions, were charged a nominal £6 per day for board and lodging.
The Government are committed not to introduce such charges, so we have made no estimates of their yield.
Housing Benefit
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are satisfied with the implementation of the housing benefits procedure; and what increase in local authority staff has been involved.
Housing benefit was implemented in two stages. The first stage, last November, was implemented successfully. Over 5½ million claimants were involved in the second stage this April, and the great majority of claimants were transferred to the new scheme on time. But the size of the task was such that many authorities encountered at least some problems. My honourable friend made a detailed statement about the latest position in another place on 26th July 1983. It will not be possible to make firm estimates of local authority staffing requirements or administrative costs until the new scheme has begun to settle down.
Stoke Mandeville Hospital Young Disabled Unit
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are aware that the capacity of that part of the National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, which is housed within the residential Sir Ludwig Guttmann Unit for Young Disabled has been reduced from 30 to 20 beds.
The young disabled unit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital is not part of the spinal injuries centre. The assignment of beds in the unit is a matter for the Aylesbury Vale Health Authority.
Stoke Mandeville Hospital: Funding
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will ensure that the National Spinal Injuries Centre, including that part which is housed within the Sir Ludwig Guttmann Unit for Young Disabled, receives sufficient funding to fulfil its function of treatment and care of severely paralysed patients who need somewhere to live in the long term or who need short term support.
Spinal injuries services, including the work in the spinal injuries centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, has been recognised as one of the services suitable for supra-regional funding, and this is being considered by the working group on supra-regional services. The young disabled unit at the hospital is not part of the spinal injuries centre.
Mental Hospitals: Kitchen Inspections
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will consider amending the relevant regulations so as to enable local environmental health inspectors to enter and inspect kitchens in hospitals for mentally handicapped persons.
Health authorities are expected to invite local authority environmental health departments to visit, inspect and report on all areas within their premises where food is stored, processed or consumed. There is no reason to believe that these arrangements are not working, and amendment of regulations is therefore unnecessary.
Mental Hospitals: Food Poisoning
asked Her Majesty's Government:How many patients have died in hospitals for mentally-handicapped persons in England and Wales as a result of food poisoning during the latest period of twelve months for which figures are available.
In 1981, the last year for which figures are available, two patients in hospitals for mentally handicapped persons in England died from intestinal infectious diseases, but a special analysis of the data will be required to establish whether these deaths were food poisoning cases. A special analysis of the data for Wales is also needed. I will write to the noble Lord with the results.
Disabled Persons: Supply Of Aids
to ask Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have received reports (
a) that in some cases disabled persons are being refused equipment such as environmental controls and communication aids to help overcome their disabilitis: ( b) that in other cases such persons are being deprived of such equipment after it has been supplied: and, if so. whether they will take steps to remedy the situation.
I am unaware of suitable patients being refused or deprived of environmental control or related aids provided directly by the department. If my noble friend has a particular case in mind, I shall be glad to look into it.
Wildlife And Countryside Act: Registered Birds
asked Her Majesty's Government:If they will list: (
a) the number and species of captive birds of prey registered under Section 7 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and ( b) the number of registered birds of prey of the following species: peregrine, merlin, goshawk and golden eagle that laid eggs in captivity in 1983, and the number of young that were raised.
Approximately 6,500 adult hawks have been registered with the department under Section 7 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is estimated that a further 1,500 to 2,000 young birds will have been registered by the end of the 1983 season. Specific statistics will not be available until later this year.
Lawn Mower Noise: Eec Directive
asked Her Majesty's Government:When they anticipate the 1978 proposal for a Council Directive about noise emitted by lawn mowers is to be adopted and if they will make a statement about the reasons for the delay in adopting this proposal.
It is not possible at this stage to say what the timetable will be for further consideration of the draft directive. Negotiations on this and a number of other draft directives are in abeyance pending determination of the arrangements relating to certification of products from third countries. This wider question is still under consideration by the Council of Ministers.
Safety Glass: Eec Directive
asked Her Majesty's Government:When they anticipate the 1972 proposal for a Council Directive on safety glass for use in motor vehicles to be adopted and whether they will make a statement about the reasons for the delay in adopting this proposal.
This proposal was shelved many years ago because some member states, including the United Kingdom, found the Commission's proposals unacceptable. The Commission have not shown any sign that they intend bringing forward their proposals again either in the original or in an amended form. In the Government's view the case for the Commission's original proposals is now much weakened by the greater use of seat belts, and the consequent reduction in windscreen injuries.
Department Of Transport: Publicity Material
asked Her Majesty's Government:In view of the need to curb expenditure, what is the cost of sending leaflets DD 8299180 Pro 18625 and DD 8333503 Pro 18857 to motor vehicle owners with the Road Tax Renewal Form.
The cost of printing and dispatch of 23 million copies of each of these leaflets was about £140,000. £130,000 of this is printing costs. At a cost of less than a third of a penny per leaflet, this is a highly cost-effective way of informing the motoring public about fuel saving, and about helping the disabled motorist.
Public Road Bridges
asked Her Majesty's Government:
(a) Accurate numbers of public road bridges belonging to the different highway authorities and nationalised transport industries are not available, but a sample survey undertaken in 1981 indicates the following figures:
| (i) British Rail and London Transport | 12,000 |
| British Waterways Board | 1,000 |
| (ii) Local highway authorities | 129,000 |
| Her Majesty's Government | 13,000 |
| (i.e. on motorways and trunk roads) | |
b) No estimate of the cost of rehabilitating those bridges that would be affected by the proposed new code can be made before the assessments have been done. The need for the new assessment code arises primarily from the volume and loading of heavy vehicles permitted before the introduction of the new 38 tonne lorry, the axle spacings of which are restricted so that, except for a marginal 3 per cent. increase on some short-span bridges, no greater loading is imposed.
( c) Her Majesty's Government is discussing with the local authority associations how any additional expenditure by local authorities on their bridges will be decided upon. It will be open to British Rail to include bridge rehabilitation expenditure on their annual Public Service Obligation grant claim or to make a case for separate treatment.
British Library, Museums And Galleries: Grants
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to cut the annual grants to the British Library, the national museums and galleries, and the Arts Council, and, if so, by how much in terms of percentages and round figures.
In the light of the Government's announcement on7th July, the 1983–84 cash limits on the relevant Votes will be adjusted in line with the following reductions in planned provision:—
| 1983–84 Reduction | ||
| Institution | £million | Percentage of 1983–84 Estimate% |
| British Museum | 0.125 | 1.0 |
| Science Museum | 0.077 | 1.0 |
| V and A Museum | 0.104 | 1.0 |
| Imperial War Museum | 0.041 | 1.0 |
| National Gallery | 0.068 | 1.0 |
| National Maritime Museum | 0.041 | 1.0 |
| National Portrait Gallery | 0.018 | 1.0 |
| Tate Gallery | 0.054 | 1.0 |
| Wallace Collection | 0.008 | 1.0 |
| Arts Council | 0.920 | 1.0 |
| South Bank Theatre Board | 0.006 | 2.0 |
| British Film Institute | 0.072 | 1.0 |
| Museums and Galleries Commission | 0.050 | 2.0 |
| British Library | 1.022 | 2.2 |
Hereditary Peerages: Female Succession
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether in view of the fact that:—
It should not now be possible for the revived creation of hereditary Peerages to provide generally for succession through the female line.
I am not aware of any proposals to change existing conventions in this matter.
International Development Associations: Tokyo Meeting
asked Her Majesty's Government:What contribution the United Kingdom proposed to make to the International Development Association at the recent Tokyo meeting; and on what basis that proposed contribution was calculated.
The IDA Deputies meeting in Tokyo was one in a series of negotiations about the Seventh Replenishment, and the question of contributions did not fall to be settled there. In the circumstances, no proposal was made.
Helsinki Final Act: Implementation By Ussr And Eastern Europe
asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been 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 up to 30th June 1983. implementation by the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries of their commitments under the Helsinki Final Act showed no improvement.SECURITY IN EUROPE: PRINCIPLES GUIDING RELATIONS BETWEEN PARTICIPATING STATES: CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES AND CERTAIN ASPECTS OF SECURITY AND DISARMAMENT (BASKET I)
Principles
Implementation of Principle VII which is concerned with respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief was affected by the suspension of martial law in Poland on 30th December 1982.
In spite of suspension of martial law in Poland, several features of its regulations are still in force, a number of associations are still suspended and Solidarity and other pre-martial law trade unions have been dissolved. Travel abroad is still restricted, and censorship of the press and media continues.
A number of Polish citizens are still imprisoned for their political beliefs. Polish official statements admit to a figure of between 100 and 200 with some 450 people pending trial; unofficial sources place this much higher. Several former leaders of Solidarity and leaders of the Workers Defence Committee (KOR) are still awaiting trial. Sentences handed down by the courts vary in their severity. Zbigniew Romaszewski was sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment and his wife to three years for operating Radio Solidarity.
Anna Walentynowicz, a prominent solidarity member in Gdansk, was convicted in March of illegal trade union Activity under martial law. She received a suspended sentence. Edmund Baluka, an independent trade unionist, has now been sentenced to five years' imprisonment for seeking to overthrow Poland's socio-political system.
Former Solidarity activists are liable to various forms of harassment including dismissal from their jobs. A new law, which came into effect in January 1983. required that men aged 18–45, not employed for at least three months and not registering as job seekers, should provide an explanation. An unsatisfactory explanation, could result in compulsory labour at the state's discretion. Under new regulations introduced on 30th December 1982, workers in some sectors of industry are not free to leave their place of employment or seek new jobs without the consent of their employers.
The Soviet Union's record in the field of human rights remains poor. Soviet action against human rights, religious and other activists of various kinds continues. Despite hopes that Academicain Andrei Sakharov might be allowed to take up one of the invitations he has received from Western European academic institutions, TASS stated on 11th May that he was unable to go abroad for reasons of national security. He has also been refused permission to visit Moscow for hospital treatment. Anatoly Shcharansky ended his hunger strike in February. Yuri Orlov has again been placed in the internal prison in his labour camp at Perm, allegedly for breaking camp regulations. A prominent human rights activist, Alexander Lavut, was not released after completing his sentence in April, and new charges are reported to have been brought against him. This practice of resentencing of dissidents is becoming increasingly widespread. Action has also been taken against the "Solzhenitsyn Fund", which provides aid to Soviet prisoners of conscience and their families. Its administrator, Sergei Khodorovich, was arrested on 7th April. Attempts to repress the unofficial Group for the Establishment of Trust between the USSR and USA also persist. Alexanger Shatravka and Vladimir Mishchenko, who had collected signatures on the group's behalf, were sentenced on 26th March to three and one year respectively.
Members of the unofficial trade union, the Free Inter-Professional Association of Soviet workers (SMOT), have also been the targets for criminal proceedings. Valery Senderov was sentenced on 28th February to a maximum penalty of seven years in labour camp and five years' exile. A founder-member of SMOT, Vladimir Skvirsky, was tried for the third time and sentenced on 18th February to three and a half years. On 24th May, Lev Volokhonsky was sentenced to five years in labour camp and four years' exile for anti-Soviet activity.
Vyacheslav Bakhmin, a founding member of the Working Committee for Investigating Psychiatry for Political Purposes, was at the end of his labour camp term immediately resentenced on 4th March to a further one year in a labour camp. Following pressure for Soviet expulsion from the World Psychiatry Association, the Soviet Union resigned from the association in February.
Religious activists continue to attract considerable persecution. By June, some 180 Baptists were serving or awaiting sentence. Christian activists were among those to be rearrested and resentenced. Fr. Alfonsas Svarinskas, a Lithuanian priest, was sentenced on 6th May to seven years in a strict regime camp and three in exile. Iosif Terelya is awaiting trial after announcing the establishment of a group to defend the rights of believers in the banned Ukrainian Uniate Church. Zoya Krakhmalnikova, the editor of an unofficial Russian Orthodox spiritual journal, was sentenced on 1 st April to one year in labour camp and five years' internal exile. Action against Jewish activists and attempts to suppress Jewish cultural and religious freedoms persist. Yuri Tarnopolsky was arrested in March and sentenced to three years on 30th June for libelling the state, while Simon Shnirman and Lev Elbert were sentenced on 14th February and 31st March to one and three years in the camps respectively for alleged offences connected with the call-up. On 19th January Boris Kanevsky, a mathematician who had gathered evidence of discrimination against Jewish students, was sentenced to five years' internal exile for slandering the Soviet state.
Members of national minorities also continue to be arrested and tried, including the prominent Georgian acitivist, Valentine Pailodze in May and Lagle Parek, an Estonian, in March.
The human rights record in other Eastern European countries also shows no signs of change. In Czechoslovakia, 20 Franciscan friars were arrested in May and some still remain in detention on the charge of illegal religious activities. In January. Ladislav Lis, one of the spokemen of Charter '77 was arrested for alleged "incitement to rebellion". He has not yet been tried.
Confidence and Security-Building Measures
Military exercises took place in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe during the last six months. Most involved fewer than 25,000 men: prior notification was therefore voluntary and was not made. Examples of such exercises were Danube 83 in Hungary in January and Soyuz 83, a Warsaw Pact Joint Command and staffexercise taking place from the end of May to early June on the territory of the German Democratic Republic, Poland and Czechoslovakia. However, the Soviet Union, in accordance with the Final Act, has notified CSCE countries of an unnamed Soviet military exercise which took place between 29th June and 4th July and which involved Soviet military and naval forces amounting to a total of about 50,000 men. Observers from other CSCE participating states have not been invited to any of these exercises.
CO-OPERATION IN THE FIELD OF ECONOMICS, OF SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY, AND OF THE ENVIRONMENT (BASKET
II)
There has been little progress in the field of economic co-operation during the last six months. Lack of foreign exchange and high foreign debt in most Eastern European countries have restricted economic and trade relations.
High hotel rates are being charged to visiting businessmen in hard currency. In the German Democratic Republic, hotel rates for foreigners payable in hard currency rose 25 per cent. in January. These rates are now more than twice as high as those charged to nationals. In Czechoslovakia, hotel rates are twice as much as those paid by nationals and in Romania high rates are charged for hotels, housing and medical care in comparison with those charged to nationals.
The USSR has reiterated its interest in a high-level meeting on co-operation in transport, and in the establishment of an integrated European power grid. Statistical information remains poor in most East European countries. The German Democratic Republic continues to refuse to publish data on balance of payments, foreign debt and foreign trade, with detailed breakdowns according to countries and goods exchanged. The Soviet Union continued to withhold important economic statistics.
CO-OPERATION IN HUMANITARIAN AND OTHER FIELDS
(BASKET III)
The deterioration in Soviet and Eastern European performance in the field of human contacts has continued over the past six months. In the Soviet Union there have been reports of potential Jewish emigrants being told that exit visas had been refused for life, and other means have been used to discourage applications for emigration. For example, some people have been told that the requisite invitations from close relatives abroad can now be accepted only for a single exit visa application. If the application is refused, it cannot then be renewed until a new invitation is received. Jewish, ethnic German and Armenian emigration has been drastically reduced. In the first five months of this year the total number of Soviet Jews emigrating via Vienna was only 537. A few individuals have been allowed to leave, including a Pentecostalist family some of whose members sought refuge in the United States Embassy in Moscow in 1978; Sergei Batovrin, a member of the Group to Establish Trust between the USSR and USA; and the writer Georgy Vladimov.
Implementation in the field of information remains unchanged. Western radio stations, including the BBC Russian and Polish services, continue to be jammed by the Soviet Union; some East European countries are also jamming Western broadcasts.
There has been no change in implementation in the fields of culture and education.
Palestinian Refugees In Lebanon
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in view of the presence of between 5,000 and 7,000 Palestinian refugees, of whom 75 per cent. are women and children, in the four villages of Barja, Chhime, Wadi Zeni and Siblin, all of which are north of the Awali river, they will do their best to ensure that, in the event of an Israeli withdrawal to the Awali river line, no power vacuum will ensue; and whether they will impress upon all appropriate authorities the necessity of providing immediate physical protection for these refugees.
We share the noble Lord's concern about the safety of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. The Presidency of the European Community has recently made representations on behalf of the Ten to the Lebanese and Israeli Governments asking them to take any measures which may be necessary to ensure the protection of Palestinians in areas under their control. We shall continue to monitor the situation closely.
Relief Organisations: Aid To Palestinians
asked Her Majesty's Government:In what ways and by whom the efforts of international organisations to relieve the distress of the Palestinian people are still being hindered; what improvements there have been, or can be anticipated, since the European Council expressed its serious concern in Stuttgart more than a month ago; and what initiatives are being taken to this end.
We remain concerned about the safety of Palestinian civilians in Lebanon. The Presidency of the European Community recently made representations on behalf of the Ten to the Israeli and Lebanese Governments asking them to ensure the protection of Palestinians in areas under their control. I am glad to say that we have had no recent reports that relief organisations are being hindered in their work, but we continue to monitor the situation closely.
Brandt Commission Memorandum: White Paper
asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to lay the White Paper on the Brandt Commission's Memorandum before the House.
The White Paper on the Brandt Commission's Memorandum will be laid before the House on Thursday, 28th July, and pubished the following day.
Bracken Research
asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have in mind for further research into the utilisation of bracken in Scotland.
Her Majesty's Government have no plans in mind to fund further research into the utilisation of bracken in Scotland. I understand, however, that the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, which has been investigating the potential of vegetation, including bracken, as an alternative source of energy, is seeking a research grant from the European Community for a project on bracken in south-west Scotland.
Badger Carcases: Research
asked her Majesty's Government:What data are being recorded on badger carcases which have been sent to MAFF by members of the public or which have been collected during the Ministry's control operations, whether other researchers have been allowed access to these carcases, and what results have been obtained by MAFF.
The data cover details of location, physical features and disease status. Results are published in the Ministry's reports on bovine tuberculosis in badgers. Within the constraints imposed by health and safety regulations, collaborative work has been undertaken with the Royal Holloway and Imperial Colleges, the Middlesex Hospital, London, the Universities of Reading and Surrey and the Natural Environment Research Council.
Pigs: Tb Infection
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether all pigs with access to pasture on TB infected farms are tuberculin tested and slaughtered if reactors.
No. Although all pigs slaughtered for human consumption are subjected to full meat inspection examinations, the causal agent for bovine tuberculosis has been isolated from pigs in this country in a Ministry laboratory on only four occasions in the last 10 years. There is therefore no evidence of a significant involvement of pigs in the epidemiology of the disease in this country.
Bovine Tuberculosis: Cattle Densities
asked Her Majesty's Government:What advice on stocking densities for cattle is given by MAFF officials to farmers in areas where there is evidence of persistent infection of bovine tuberculosis.
There is, at present, no justification for giving such advice.
Nationalised Industries' Consumer Councils
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will list those nationalised industries having a consumer council together with the actual title of the main consumer council concerned.
The information is as follows:
| INDUSTRY | CONSUMER COUNCIL |
| Electricity (England & Wales) | Electricity Consumers' Council (plus 12 Area Electricity Consultative Councils) |
| British Gas Corporation | National Gas Consumers' Council (plus 12 Regional Gas Consumers' Councils) |
| British Railways Board | Central Transport Consultative Committee (plus 11 Transport Users' Consultative Committees) |
| Post Office | (Post Office Users' National Council (plus 3 County Councils) |
| British Telecommunications | |
| National Coal Board | Domestic Coal Consumers' Council |
| South of Scotland Electricity Board | South of Scotland Electricity Consultative Council |
| North of Scotland Hydro-Electricity Board | North of Scotland Hydro-Electricity Consultative Council |
| British Airports Authority | A separate Airport Consultative Committee exists for each BAA airport |
| Civil Aviation Authority | Airline Users' Committee |
| British Waterways Board | Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council |
| Scottish Transport Group (Shipping Services) | Transport Users' Consultative Committee for Scotland |
Insolvency Act Applications
asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the sources of information used by the Secretary of State and the Official Receiver to influence whether to make an application under the Insolvency Act 1976.
Applications under Section 9 of the Insolvency Act 1976 are made by the Secretary of State or Official Receivers on the basis of information obtained from the directors, creditors, liquidators and receivers or from the books of account and other papers of the companies concerned.
Insolvency: Disqualification Orders
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Seven disqualification orders have been made under the provisions of Section 9 of the Insolvency Act 1976. Since 15th June 1982, the date of the implementation of Section 93 of the Companies Act 1948, 91 orders have been notified to the Secretary of State as having been made under Section 188 of the Companies Act 1948 as amended by Section 93 of the Companies Act 1981.
Eec And Non-Tariff Barriers
asked Her Majesty's Government:To what extent non-tariff barriers impede free trade within the European Economic Community and what steps they and the Community are taking to eliminate them.
The Government believe that the great majority of intra-Community trade proceeds normally, without unreasonable non-tariff hindrances. But we recognise that much still needs to be done before the Community internal market for both goods and services is fully completed.We have played a full and constructive part at the council meetings specifically devoted to internal market issues which have been held this year. We will continue to press for the adoption of measures which will strengthen free intra-Community trade to the benefit both of the economy of the United Kingdom and of the Community as a whole.
Cider: Imports From European Community
asked Her Majesty's Government:How much cider from other member states of the Community has been imported into the United Kingdom in each month during the last five years.
The information which can be provided within acceptable limits of cost is as follows, and relates to imports from the rest of the European Community of both cider and perry:
| Thousand litres) | |
| 1978 | 136 |
| 1979 | 39 |
| 1980 | 89 |
| 1981 | 110 |
| 1982 | 907 |
Source: Data corresponding to tariff code numbers 2207–2050, 4150 and 4550 in the United Kingdom Overseas Trade Statistics under SITC (R2) Sub-group 112.2.
Exports Of British Cider
asked Her Majesty's Government:How much British cider has been exported in each of the last five years; and to which countries.
The available information relates to exports of both cider and perry and is as follows:
| (Thousand litres) | |||||
| 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | |
| Total exports | 4,286 | 2,870 | 2,970 | 2,929 | 2,078 |
| of which country of destination:— | |||||
| Belgium—Luxembourg | 410 | 446 | 435 | 428 | 315 |
| Federal Republic of Germany | 215 | 243 | 256 | 214 | 315 |
| Irish Republic | * | 31 | * | * | 187 |
| Botswana | — | — | — | * | 167 |
| Netherlands | * | 33 | 83 | 326 | 149 |
| Malta | 56 | 107 | 178 | 80 | 148 |
| Mauritius | 31 | — | 49 | 418 | 126 |
| Gibraltar | * | 82 | 195 | 61 | 80 |
| Canada | 185 | 286 | 128 | 347 | 51 |
| South Africa | 50 | 75 | 56 | 144 | 45 |
| Hong Kong | 93 | 58 | 65 | 30 | 39 |
| Nigeria | 1,434 | — | 156 | 178 | 35 |
| Kenya | 194 | 152 | 145 | 35 | * |
| Sierra Leone | 112 | 80 | 62 | 96 | * |
| USA | 580 | 301 | 464 | 106 | * |
| Sudan | 345 | 321 | 227 | * | — |
| Sub-total | 3,743 | 2,214 | 2,511 | 2,522 | 1,732 |
| Other countries | 543 | 656 | 459 | 407 | 346 |
| Source: Data corresponding to tariff code numbers 2207–2050, 4150 and 4550 in the UK Overseas Trade Statistics under SITC (R2) Sub-group 112.2 | |||||
| Notes: (a) Figures may include re-exported foreign cider and perry. | |||||
| (b) *Denotes trade less than 30,000 litres; — indicates nil trade. | |||||