Written Answers
Hm Customs And Excise: Uniformed Strengths
asked Her Majesty's Government:What were the uniformed strength of the Customs and Excise on 1st July 1985, the strength of the investigation branch on that day, and the comparable figures for each year since 1977.
I regret that figures for the uniformed strength of HM Customs and Excise are not available for 1977 or for 1st July in each year, but at 1st April for each year since 1978 they were as follows:
| 1978 | 4,595 |
| 1979 | 4,665 |
| 1980 | 4,382 |
| 1981 | 4,162 |
| 1982 | 3,959 |
| 1983 | 3,746 |
| 1984 | 3,497 |
| 1985 | 3,418 (provisional) |
| 1978 | 401 |
| 1979 | 429 |
| 1980 | 443 |
| 1981 | 514 |
| 1982 | 555 |
| 1983 | 592 |
| 1984 | 587 |
| 1985 | 599 |
Hm Customs And Excise: Seizures Of Drugs
asked Her Majesty's Government:How much heroin and cocaine was seized by the Customs and Excise in the first six months of 1985, what was its street value, and what were the comparable figures for the first six months of each year since 1977.
The provisional six-month figures for 1985 will not be available until next month. I shall ask HM Customs and Excise to write to the noble Lord then.
The volume of heroin and cocaine seized by Customs and Excise in the first six months of each year since 1977, together with its then street value, is as follows:
Heroin Kg
| Estimated Street value£m
| Cocaine Kg
| Estimated Street value £m
| |
| 1977 | 21.77 | 4.06 | 9.109 | 1.78 |
| 1978 | 17.936 | 3.34 | 9.272 | 1.81 |
| 1979 | 24.93 | 4.65 | 18.214 | 3.55 |
| 1980 | 12.077 | 2.25 | 9.816 | 1.91 |
| 1981 | 23.518 | 3.29 | 9.783 | 1.91 |
| 1982 | 81.04 | 15.13 | 2.277 | 0.44 |
| 1983 | 77.68 | 9.32 | 45.71 | 8.91 |
| 1984 | 186.715 | 28 | 19.351 | 4.06 |
Government Forms: Review
asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made on revising Government forms since April 1984.
Cabinet Office (MPO) recently submitted a report summarising progress on the review of administrative forms to the Prime Minister and me. The report is published today and a copy has been placed in the Library.The report shows that over 35,100 forms in national use were reviewed last year. Over 8,900 were improved and over 6,300 abolished. Standards of best practice in design and control of government forms have been adopted which will guarantee progressively better forms in the future.
New Scotland Yard: Scaffolding Structure
asked Her Majesty's Government:How long the scaffolding structure outside New Scotland Yard has been in place, whether the reason for this erection has yet been ascertained, and how much longer it is to remain.
The protective fan around the New Scotland Yard building was erected in March 1981 for public safety reasons when cracks began to appear in its granite cladding. Work on recladding the building is in progress and should be completed within two years. As the work progresses, the protective fan will progressively be dismantled.
Grendon Prison: Report Of Advisory Committee
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the report of the Advisory Committee on the therapeutic regime at Grendon Prison.
The committee's first report is published today and has been placed in the Library. We welcome the report and accept the broad thrust of its proposals, in particular the central recommendation that Grendon should continue to concentrate in the main on group therapy, with the therapeutic community constituting the predominant form of therapy. The committee has also recommended that the arrangements for referral and induction of inmate patients should be improved; that the prison hospital should be reorganised and one floor converted to use as a small unit for the temporary care of inmates who suffer acute pysychiatric breakdown elsewhere in the prison system; and that a research strategy and programme should be established with links with external academic departments. My right honourable friend the Home Secretary has asked the Prison Department to consider how, and at what speed, the objectives of the committee can be met having regard in particular to their resource implications.
Helsinki Final Act: Eastern Bloc Commitments
asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made in the implemenation by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Eastern European countries of the provisions of the Helsiki Final Act during the last six months.
During the six-month period to 30th June 1985 implemenation by the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries of their commitments under the Helsinki Final Act remained generally unsatisfactory although the pattern varied from country to country. In the Soviet Union, in particular, attitudes towards human rights and fundamental freedoms remained negative.
Security in Europe: Principles guiding relations between participating states: Confidence building measures and certain aspects of security and disarmament (Basket I):
Principle VII, which is concerned with "respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief", continued to be violated by all Eastern European countries. The posture of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact countries at the CSCE Expert Meeting on Human Rights in Ottawa gave no hope for any immediate improvement in the human rights performance of the countries concerned.
In the Soviet Union, repression of human rights monitors and those active on behalf of religious or minority rights continued unabated. Particular pressure was put on unregistered religious sects, such as Baptists, Pentecostalists and, in the Ukraine, the banned Uniates. In March, Vasyl Kobryn, a leading member of the "Initiative Group for the Defence of Believers in the Ukraine", was sentenced to 3 years' labour camp on charge of "disseminating anti-Soviet fabrications" Victor Walter, pastor of an unregistered Pentecostalist church in the far east of the Soviet Union received a 5-year labour camp sentence in April; several other members of the church were also arrested and sentenced. A Lithuanian, Vladas Lapienis, was sentenced in March to 6 years in the camps and internal exile just before his 79th birthday, while the following month a prominent Ukrainian activist, Mykola Horbal, recieved a sentence totalling 11 years.
Within the Jewish community there were a number of arrests and sentencing of teachers of Hebrew in what appears to be an attempt by the authorities to stop the spread of the Hebrew language in the Soviet Union. Pressures on refuseniks continued.
Action was also taken against various unofficial groups including the "Trust" group in Moscow and the Georgian "Phantom" group. The practice of resentencing political prisoners and the political abuse of psychiatry continued.
There was no sign of any significant improvement in the position of well-known individuals such as Anatoly Shcharansky or Andrei Sakharov. In early 1985, Dr. Sakharov announced that he would resign from the Soviet Academy of Sciences if his wife were not allowed to travel to the West for necessary medical treatment. Although it is not clear whether he carried out his threat to go on hunger strike, Dr. Sakharov's family believe that he did and that he might have been hospitalised as a result. At the end of June, the authorities released two films of Dr. Sakharov, alledgedly taken in Gorky, which suggested that he was in poor health but receiving medical attention. There is, however, no means of checking the authenticity of the films.
In Bulgaria, the Government continued to respect Principles I to VI whilst overlooking the others. The period under review was dominated by reports of an intensification of the persecution of the ethnic Turkish minority in Bulgaria. According to the reports a campaign was launched at the end of 1984 to force ethnic Turks to adopt Bulgarian names. Evidence suggests that there was resistance in some areas and that this may have led to a large number of deaths. Repression of religious activity heightened during the review period.
Czechoslovak implementation of Principle VII continued to be unsatisfactory. This was illustrated by the use of "protective supervision" in the case of some released prisoners, and a series or arrests and trials resulting from Government attempts to restrict religious practice. A positive development was the amnesty announced on 9th May which benefited a number of people sentenced for political offences.
In Poland, Church-State relations remained poor in the wake of the murder of Father Popieluszko despite the Government's proclaimed desire for national reconciliation. Harassment and criticism of priests associated with the opposition continued. The number of political prisoners rapidly increased over the period and a tightening of the criminal code made it easier to punish those taking part in demonstrations. In mid-February, the authorities broke up a meeting of several Solidarity leaders in Gdansk and arrested three individuals: Bogdan Lis, Adam Michnik and Wladyslaw Frasyniuk. All three were later given sentences ranging from 2½ to 3½ years, subject to appeal.
In general, Romania and the GDR continued to pay scant regard to the humanitarian provisions of the Helsinki and Madrid documents. By contrast, despite one or two disturbing developments, Hungary's record on human rights remained comparatively good.
Confidence and security-building measures:
No observers were invited by the USSR or Czechoslovakia to a joint exercise held in May 1985 in Czechoslovakia. In mid-June, notice was given, with minimum details, of a joint Soviet/GDR exercise involving more than 25,000 troops to be held in July in the GDR. No observers were invited. Observers from certain countries (including smaller NATO countries) were, however, invited by the Soviet Union at the end of June to an exercise to be held from 15th to 21st July in the south of the USSR.
Co-operation in the field of economics, of science and technology and of the environment (Basket II):
There were no major developments in this field over the period. There were, however, some encouraging signs of a renewed interest in expanding trade. Hungary and Poland still provided the easiest access to business contacts and to economic and commercial information.
Co-operation in humanitarian and other fields (Basket III):
With the exception of Hungary and Poland, Eastern European countries continued to take a restrictive attitude to family visits or reunification, and binational marriages. Emigration remained generally low although in the Soviet Union a slight increase in the permitted level of Jewish emigration was recorded in April 1985, but this increase was not sustained. In the first four months of the year, 5,800 people were allowed to leave the GDR legally to settle in the Federal Republic of Germany, fewer than in the corresponding period in 1984. Tourist travel outside Warsaw Pact countries remained very limited, again with the exception of Hungary and, to a lesser extent, Poland.
In the field of information, restrictions on access to Western sources of information continued, as did jamming of several Western vernacular services (except in the GDR, Hungary and Romania).
Co-operation and exchanges in the field of culture:
Existing agreements and projects were generally implemented in a satisfactory manner. Bureaucratic and financial constraints were the main obstacles to the development of new programmes of exchanges and co-operation. For example, the Soviet Union failed to grant visas under the Cultural Agreement to enable British teachers to visit their students, and modest proposals on increased exchanges, which the British side made to the Romanians in February, were not taken up.
Eggs Authority: Review Committee Report
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have received the report from Lord Peyton of Yeovil's Review Committee on the future of the Eggs Authority and what is their attitude to its recommendations.
The report is now available and will be published today. Copies are available in the Library. We are grateful to Lord Peyton and his colleagues for having so promptly completed their difficult task.The committee's principal recommendation is that the authority should be dissolved, though not before the end of 1986—which they consider would give all sections of the industry an opportunity to evolve alternative arrangements for continuing those of the authority's functions which are thought to be necessary for the future.My right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and our colleagues will now be inviting comments on the report and will reach conclusions on its recommendations in the light of those comments.
Sheepmeat: Special Export Certification Arrangements
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will make a statement on the future of the special export certification arrangements for ewe meat.
In negotiations we have strongly opposed any idea that clawback might be chargeable on presentations of sheepmeat on which premium has not been paid. As part of the price-fixing agreement in May, the Commission undertook to make every effort to secure agreement between the member states concerned on the arrangements to apply beyond October. We have repeatedly urged the Commission to initiate the necessary discussions. I regret to say that the Commission has so far failed to follow up the commitment it gave. This is clearly unsatisfactory. My right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has written personally to Mr. Andriessen to express our concern and to underline the importance of avoiding any further delay.
Norman Shaw South Building: Report On Water Supply Contamination
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the report on the contamination of the water supply in the Norman Shaw South building has been completed, and if he will make a statement.
In his Statement to the House on 6th June, my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State said that he had ordered a full investigation into the matter, and that he would publish the report. He also assured the House that the lessons learnt from this unfortunate incident will be vigorously pursued.The investigation was carried out by Mr. M. J. Dudding, a Principal in the Parliamentary Works Office, assisted at relevant times by one of HM Inspectors of Factories of the Health and Safety Executive, a member of the staff of the Serjeant-at-Arms' Department or a Safety Officer of the Property Services Agency's London Region. His report has been completed and a copy has today been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Copies have also been sent to the appropriate trade unions and staff associations; and to all occupants of the Norman Shaw South building.We are satisfied that Mr. Dudding's investigation has been detailed, thorough and impartial. His report was prepared in full consultation with the authorities of the two Houses, and with the Health and Safety Executive. Each of these bodies has expressed itself satisfied with the investigation and the findings of the report.The investigation has established that anti-corrosion chemicals were accidentally poured into the wrong tank in Norman Shaw South on two occasions, on 4th May 1985 and 4th June 1985. The report reveals weaknesses in the management of the Parliamentary Works Office, and in communications within both that office an the Serjeant-at-Arms' Department, and between these two bodies.The main recommendations are that:
We accept these recommendations as far as the Parliamentary Works Office is concerned, and shall be in touch with my right honourable friends the Lord Privy Seal and the Lord President of the Council about those recommendations which relate to the Serjeantat-Arms' Department and Black Rod's Office respectively.
The following measures have already been taken in Norman Shaw South:
Similar masures are also being implemented in other parliamentary buildings. Additional drinking water taps are being installed during the recess in Norman Shaw South. Management and control procedures in the Parliamentary Works Office will be urgently reviewed in the light of both this report and a District Management review of the Office which was carried out in May as part of PSA's planned programme of checks to ensure the proper maintenance of the estate and the effectiveness of its District Works Offices.
The question of possible disciplinary action against any of the PSA's staff concerned in this case, which is a matter for the Agency's management, is being considered in the light of the report.
I can assure you that the recommendations of this report will be vigorously pursued.
Duich Moss: Designation As Special Protection Area
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will confirm that the Eilean na Muice Dubh Site of Special Scientific Interest, Duich Moss, Islay was notified as an SSSI on 19th July 1984 under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and why it will take until September 1985 for consultations on making Duich Moss a Special Protection Area to be completed.
I confirm that the Eilean na Muice Dubh Site, which includes Duich Moss, was notified as a site of special interest on 19th July 1984. The NCC expect to start consultations to prepare for designation of the site as a Special Protection Area in September 1985. SSSI notification is a necessary preliminary to the listing of any site as a Special Protection Area.The NCC have been unable to make an earlier start to the consultations in this case because of the need to give priority to the renotification of other sites of special scientific interest.
Duich Moss Sssi: Extraction Of Peat
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they agree that their apparent insistance that the Nature Conservancy Council (NCC) and other conservation organisations provide "specific evidence" that the extraction of peat from the Duich Moss Site of Special Scientific Interest on Islay in Scotland will damage the site, could only be satisfied by actually extracting peat from the site to demonstrate damage, or by carrying out a full hydrological survey of the site before extraction of peat takes place, and whether they will confirm that they effectively rejected the second, non-destructive option when they rejected the NCC's request for time to carry out an environmental impact analysis.
My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland did not insist on any evidence being provided by the Nature Conservancy Council or other parties involved in the consideration of the planning application from Scottish Malt Distillers Limited to extract peat from Duich Moss. If any evidence, based on more than general research, as to the likely effect of the proposals on the nature conservation interest had been produced by any party, it would have been taken into account by my right honourable friend before reaching his decision. The letter of 18th December 1984, by means of which my right honourable friend granted planning permission, nevertheless noted that Scottish Malt Distillers Limited had indicated that they would have no objections to a hydrological survey of the Moss being undertaken simultaneously with the extraction of peat from Phase 1, which is limited in area to some 44 acres, with the costs being shared equally between the company and the Nature Conservancy Council. My right honourable friend stipulated, first, that no drainage of the remaining area covered by the permission may be carried out until at least 12 years after cutting operations in Phase 1 have begun and, secondly, that before any drainage work for Phase 2 is begun all the conditions relating to the method of operation should be reviewed by the planning authority in consultation with Scottish Malt Distillers Limited and the Nature Conservancy Council. I understand that so far the Nature Conservancy Council has not made any approach to Scottish Malt Distillers Limited on this matter.
Conservation: Academically Qualified Employees In Scottish Agriculture Department
asked Her Majesty's Government:How many people with academic qualifications in countryside or nature conservation or ecology are currently employed by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Scotland).
At present information to answer this Question could only be produced at disproportionate cost.
Us Threat Of Economic Sanctions
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have requested the Government of the United States of America to disown the attempt by their Chief of Staff at SHAPE, General Dalton, to influence the policies of a future British Government by threat of economic sanctions against the United Kingdom.
No.
Northern Ireland: Proposed Impartial Facilitator
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have considered the option of an impartial facilitator from outside Britain and Ireland to assist the process of political accommodation between the parties in Northern Ireland.
The Government are aware that this idea has been put forward from time to time. The Government do not believe, however, that it would be helpful to introduce a further outside participant into trying to resolve the situation in Northern Ireland. There is no realistic prospect that those involved in Northern Ireland would be prepared to take a different attitude in response to approaches by such a person, even if they were to accept his appointment, than they have in discussion with the Government. The Government will therefore continue to seek arrangements for a devolved administration in Northern Ireland which are widely acceptable throughout the community.
Endangered Species: Proposed Designated Entry Venues
asked Her Majesty's Government:When action will be taken under the endangered species legislation to designate ports and airports for the entry of live animals.
Regulations designating ports and airports for the entry of live animals have been made today. They will be laid before the House shortly. These regulations will fulfil a promise made by the Government during the passage of the Wildlife and Countryside Act in 1981. The regulations will help to implement the rules governing trade in endangered species more effectively, and have been made following extensive consultations with traders and conservation bodies.