Written Answers
Telecommunications Equipment: Ec Policy
asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their policy on the communication from the EEC Commission to the Council on progress in Community telecommunications policy (EEC Consultative Document 7095/85).
The Government attach priority to progress towards a truly common market in telecommunications equipment, particularly terminal equipment. The UK has already moved far in this direction by liberalising the terminal market and by privatisation. Thus we strongly support those measures outlined in the Commission's communication aimed at developing intra-Community trade. We support also the implementation of the definition phase of a programme for the development of advanced telecommunications technologies (RACE).We do, however, have some doubts about the Community's role in certain other areas discussed by the Commission. In particular, we must ensure that infrastructure projects are market-led and do not make unacceptable demands on the Community budget. On international matters, we are generally content with the existing forums and mechanisms for consultation and would not wish to see them duplicated.
Lawbreaking And The Broadcasting Authorities
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether following the showing on BBC Television news of 8th July of masked vandals breaking into the Oxford University Park Farm to release animals kept there for quarantine and for purposes of medical research, they will discuss with the broadcasting authorities the propriety of their organisations so colluding with those responsible for breaches of the criminal law.
The Government deplore the activities of those who seek to achieve their objectives—however deep their convictions—by illegal means and deplore any encouragement of such organisations to continue their illegal acts, in the Annex to the licence and Agreement between the BBC and my right honourable friend the Home Secretary, the Board of Governors accept that so far as possible programmes for which they are responsible should not encourage or incite to crime. I understand that the BBC was not involved in filming the scenes in question, and had no prior knowledge that a criminal offence was to occur. I understand nevertheless that the BBC has serious reservations about using material which might be considered to publicise or to glamorise illegal activities and that similar material will not in future be used without senior editorial decision.
Regional Crime Squads
asked Her Majesty's Government:What increases in police establishments the Home Secretary proposes to authorise following his announcement of increased manpower for regional crime squads; andWhat is the establishment, and present strength, of each regional crime squad in England and Wales; and what will be the strength of each squad following the Home Secretary's announcement of increased resources to counter the growth of drug trafficking.
On 30th June 1985 the authorised establishments and strengths of regional crime squads in England and Wales were as follows:—
| Squad Number and Region | Authorised Establishment | Strength |
| 1. North West | 183 | 181 |
| 2. North East | 74 | 74 |
| 3. Yorkshire/East Midlands | 141 | 132 |
| 4. West Midlands | 118 | 119 |
| 5. Home Counties (North) | 116 | 116 |
| 6. South East | 94 | 95 |
| 7. South West | 87 | 87 |
| 8. South Wales | 44 | 45 |
| 9. London | 54 | 51 |
Video Recordings Classification Authority
asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will designate persons as the authority responsible for making arrangements for the classification of video works under the Video Recordings Act 1984.
Pursuant to the proposals for designation laid before Parliament on 14th June 1985, my right honourable friend the Home Secretary has today designated, under Section 4(1) of the Video Recordings Act 1984, the Earl of Harewood, the Lord Birkett and Miss Monica Sims, respectively the President and Vice-Presidents of the British Board of Film Classification, as the authority responsible for making arrangements for the matters set out in that section of the Act. The board will be responsible for determining whether or not video works are suitable to be classified and for carrying out the other arrangements specified in Section 4(1) of the Video Recordings Act.My right honourable friend has today written to each member of the authority attaching a copy of the notice of designation and a copy of the letter has been placed in the Library. Also attached to the letter are the Video Appeals Committee Provisions containing the arrangements for appeals, in accordance with Section 4(3) of the Act, against determinations by the board, with which we are satisfied, and the tariff of fees which has been approved for the purposes of Section 4(5) and (6) of the Act.
Works Of Art: Acceptance In Lieu Of Tax
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will now make a statement regarding their new policy for payment in lieu of tax on works of art following their assurance given to the House.
As I indicated to the House on 24th April, the Government have looked again at the arrangements whereby provision for acceptance in lieu is carried on the Votes of OAL and DoE. We have concluded that a basic provision of £2 million a year for acceptance in lieu should continue as a present, for the ordinary run of smaller cases. But, recognising the difficulty of absorbing the unpredictable cost of large and important offers within a fixed annual provision, we intend in future that there should be recourse to the public expenditure Reserve, over and above the basic acceptance in lieu provision, for such cases as are justified on merits.
The continuance of the basic provision does not indicate an absolute limit on what may be accepted in any one year. The Government will therefore also give the most serious consideration to all offers made, where they cannot be funded from the basic provision, provided that in the judgment of heritage Ministers and their expert advisers the heritage items on offer are of national importance so that a call on the Reserve may be merited. It will therefore be possible to accommodate these items in future without imposing an offsetting reduction in or detriment to the rest of the arts budget.
It is not possible to give an exact estimate of what might be accepted on such a basis in any one year, as too many unpredictables are involved. Looking simply at recent and current levels of acceptance in lieu offers, we would expect to call on the Reserve for around £10 million or so a year, taking one year with another. I must emphasise strongly that this is an estimate; it is neither a target nor a limit, as in any given year the demand could be either less or more. I believe however that this arrangement will allow the intentions of the acceptance in lieu scheme to be given proper effect.
Civil Service Unified Grading
asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress they have made in extending unified grading in the Civil Service and whether they will make a statement.
At the beginning of last year a major simplification of the pay and grading structure in the senior management levels of the Civil Service took place with the introduction of unified grading down to the Senior Principal level (Grade 6).After careful examination, the Government have concluded that it would be right and worthwhile to extend unified grading to the Principal level. This would remove formal demarcations between occupational groups, and make it easier to get the right people into the jobs for which they are best fitted, at a level at which it is particularly important to broaden experience and develop senior management talent.The new unified Grade 7 will contain over 11,000 staff who are currently in some 100 different grades. The positions of fringe bodies which normally follow Civil Service practice will again be considered on their merits.The unions will be fully consulted about the implementation of this change and a good deal of preparatory work will need to be done. The Government hope, however, that it will be possible to implement this significant further reform by the end of the year. The necessary cost of aligning the pay of the grades concerned, including appropriate transitional arrangements, will be met from within departments' planned public expenditure provisions.
National Museums And Galleries: Income
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will make changes in the rules governing the handling of income generated by national museums and galleries.
As foreshadowed in its observations (Cmnd. 9127) on the Eighth Report, Session 1981–82, from the Education, Science and Arts Committee of another place, the Government have reviewed the present system for the treatment of revenue generated by the nine national museums and galleries funded from the arts and libraries programme.Broadly speaking, under the present system, an estimate is prepared of the gross provision to be made for each institution for its general running costs in the coming financial year; another estimate is made of the likely level of its receipts; and the second is subtracted from the first to produce the new Vote provision. If the institution earns more than the expected receipts, it may spend the excess provided that it does so before the end of the financial year. Any excess money then remaining unspent must however be surrendered to the Exchequer. It may be "revoted" to the institution in a later year, but such revotes have to be met from within the arts and libraries programme determined for that year.The Government intend to change this system to provide greater incentives for the national museums and galleries both to maximise their receipts (whether by the operations of their Vote-financed trading activities such as shops, by charging for admission where appropriate, or in other ways) and to use these more effectively. This also should improve the institutions' ability to respond flexibility to the needs of their visitors, in hours of opening and other matters.I shall consult the nine national museums and galleries for which I am responsible in the course of the Parliamentary Recess about proposals for a new system. The main features of these proposals are:—
These changes should markedly improve the ability of the institutions to help themselves. When the consultations are complete, I will present my detailed proposals to Parliament. It will be my aim to introduce new arrangements at the start of the earliest practicable financial year, subject to any legislative or other administrative measures that may be necessary.
Main Beam Headlights: Use In London
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have any plans to ban the use of main beam headlights in London, in view of concern at safety aspects expressed by cab drivers; and if not, why not.
My right honourable friend has received no such representation from cab drivers. The use of main beam headlights is illegal when meeting or following other road users. The introduction of dim-dip headlight systems on new vehicles from 1st October 1986 will help to reduce dazzle in lit streets at night.
Sea-Going And Coastal Ships: Statistics
asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the (
a) sea-going, and ( b) coastal ships available to them and to local, port and other authorities, for such purposes as research, education, fishery protection, hydrography, meteorology, surveying, environmental monitoring, inspection, law enforcement (including customs, excise), cable-laying and repair, etc.; and, in each case, under whose financial control they are: and which, if any, are laid up.
This information is not readily available in the form requested. I will write to the noble Lord.