Written Answers
Thursday, 22nd January 1998.
Zimbabwe Land Acquisition: Compensation
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will bring pressure on the Government of Zimbabwe to compensate farmers adequately if their farms are being confiscated or redirect any aid to Zimbabwe to those farmers. [HL171]
We have already told the Government of Zimbabwe that we expect any acquisition of land to proceed in accordance with Zimbabwe's laws, its constitution and its international obligations. Zimbabwe's 1992 Land Acquisition Act requires the Government to pay compensation, and provides access to the courts if the amount of compensation is disputed.
asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their response to the widely forecast El Nino emergency in Southern Africa, and the projected loss of life and damage to homes and crops in the region during the coming months. [HL135]
We are closely monitoring the possible effect of El Nino and weather abnormalities in Southern Africa. The expected severe drought has yet to materialise in the region, with favourable rains occurring in most countries and surface water reserves higher than for many years. Governments in the region are well sensitised to the potential threat and have instigated contingency plans including planting drought-resistant crops, agricultural input distribution programmes and the adoption of water conservation measures. Many farmers have responded to the forecast of drought by planting early. We have helped individual governments through a variety of projects, including development of early warning systems, rural water supply programmes and the offer of administrative and logistical support for relief programmes if needed.
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend, in the light of recommendations from the Southern African Development Community, to support preventive actions in the region in advance of any damage to agriculture as a result of the El Nino emergency. [HL136]
The Department for International Development (DFID) contributed to the cost of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional drought policy conference in Gaborone last November and a DFID professional adviser attended. We are supporting the SADC food security, training and advisory unit in Harare and have offered further support in the event of any emergency.
Asia: Financial Difficulties
asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the likely effects on the economy that will arise from the financial crisis in the Far East; and what steps they have in mind to mitigate these effects. particularly on employment, either separately or jointly within the European Union. [HL116]
Financial difficulties to date in Asia are not expected to have a major direct impact on the UK economy, but the situation is still evolving and is being kept under close scrutiny. The Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England will continue to take account of developments in setting interest rates. The UK is playing an important role in helping resolve Asia's financial problems, co-operating closely with Asian countries and fully supporting the IMF in seeking to restore confidence in the region.
Workers In Financial Markets: Gnp Estimates
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the activities of those working in financial markets count as productive "work" to be included in measurements of gross national product for use either within the United Kingdom or by international organisations; and how recent activities in financial markets in East Asia figure in measurements of national "growth". [HL41]
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter to Lord Kennet from the Director of the Office for National Statistics, Dr. Tim Holt, dated 22 January 1998.
I have been asked to reply, as Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), to your recent question on financial markets.
The UK's estimates of gross national product (GNP), which are compiled to international standards and definitions, do include estimates for the output of those working in financial services including the financial markets. In accordance with these definitions, the estimates include financial companies' gross trading profits but these exclude securities dealers holding gains and losses from trading in securities. Therefore, the fall in the value of the East Asian stock markets should not affect GNP estimates directly.
Economic activity which takes place outside of the United Kingdom will only be reported indirectly via the balance of payments. These accounts cover trade in goods and services, investment income from foreign direct or portfolio investment and interest from bank loans and depositis, as well as the financial transactions underlying such trade and in vestment. However, no estimates exist on the llikely impact of recent events in East Asian financial markets on the UK's balance of payments.
Economically Significant Work
asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 5 November
(WA 295) in relation to the work currently being done in the Office of National Statistics on economically significant unpaid work, whether they are content to use as a definition of "working":
"All those who are
and of "not working" (Written Answer by Mr. Keith Bradley on 10 December (HC Deb. WA 600) those who are:
and, if so, what is their definition of the word "inactive", and whether it includes mothers looking after small children and other carers caring for their families. [HL39]
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter to Lord Kennet from the Director of the Office for National Statistics, Dr. Tim Holt, dated 22 January 1998.
I have been asked to reply, as Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), to your recent question on the definitions of working used in analyses recently undertaken in relation to time use.
The internationally standard International Labour Organisation (ILO) categories of economic activity which are generally used by ONS are defined as follows:
| Employed: | people aged 16 or over who did some paid work for more than one hour, those who had a job that they were temporarily away from (on holiday for example); those on government-supported training and employment programmes; and those doing unpaid work for a family business. |
| ILO unemployed: | people without a job who were available to start work in two weeks and who had either looked for work in the previous four weeks or who were waiting to start a job they had already obtained. |
"Economically active" people are those who are either employed or ILO unemployed.
| Economically inactive: | people who are neither in employment nor ILO unemployed (which might include mothers looking after small children and other carers caring for their families if they were neither doing paid work nor were ILO unemployed). |
The exploratory work currently being undertaken by ONS on time use, recently reported on the amount of paid and unpaid work. The results of this are based on a range of activities undertaken by all respondents over a 24 hour period, divided into 15 minute slots. The respondents were selected to be representative of society at large and will have included both economically active and inactive individuals.
The results in terms of time spent on paid and unpaid work refer to the complete sample. Within this sample mothers with young children, and carers caring for other family members typically registered a range of paid and unpaid activities during the day.
Proposals are currently being developed for a major time use survey to be undertaken, which would enable a more detailed assessment of the scale and nature of unpaid work.
Varicose Vein Treatments: Comparative Trials
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether trials have been conducted by the NHS in order to establish comparative rates of morbidity and mortality following the treatment of varicose veins by:
and, if not, whether they will encourage the carrying out of such trials. [HL180]
As part of our national programme for research and development the health technology assessment programme is to commission a three year trial at the University of Sheffield to assess the cost-effectiveness of the treatment of varicose veins. Patients will be randomised to three groups—conservative treatment (lifestyle advice, compression hosiery, etc), injection sclerotherapy, and surgery.
Advance Refusal Of Fluids: Guidance
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether in the case of persons who are suffering from a stroke rendering them unable to swallow, but who are not terminally ill, a previously executed advance refusal of fluids administered via a tube would lead to a protracted and distressing death; and whether they will issue guidance accordingly for persons contemplating such an advance refusal. [HL102]
An advance refusal of artificial hydration made by a person who has suffered a stroke will only be applicable if the person is no longer able to decide whether to accept or refuse such treatment, and the circumstances match those envisaged by the advance refusal. In these circumstances, appropriate medical care would be provided to ensure that the dignity of the patient was maintained and any suffering or distress was minimised.A range of guidance is available for people contemplating making an advance refusal of treatment. At present we have no plans to issue additional guidance. In December 1997 we issued a Green Paper
Who Decides? which asks a number of questions on decision making for those who have lost capacity including whether advance refusals of treatment should be put on a statutory basis. The consultation closes in March 1998.
Vitamin B6 Safety: Cot Reviews
asked Her Majesty's Government:How many of the 10,000 scientific papers on vitamin B6 mentioned in the annex to the letter from Professor Arnold Beckett to the chairman of the Committee on Toxicity were taken into account by that committee prior to its decision to recommend restrictions on the retail sale of vitamin B6 supplements; and what plans they now have, if any, to ask that committee to consider the remaining papers. [HL141]
The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) has considered the safety of vitamin B6 on two separate occasions and we are confident that it has reviewed all the relevant papers on toxicity of vitamin B6 as well as unpublished papers supplied by interested parties.The Government have every confidence in the rigour with which the COT reviewed the data and we have no plans to ask the COT to consider the issue for a third time.
Asylum Seekers: Stopping Of Benefit Payments
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will ensure that, where asylum seekers are refused asylum, the stopping of benefit payments does not predate the refusal of asylum. [HL17]
The administration of Social Security Benefits is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. I have asked him to write to you.
Letter to Earl Russell from the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, Mr. Peter Mathison, dated 21 January 1998.
I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary Question asking if we will ensure that, where asylum seekers are refused asylum, the stopping of benefit payments does not predate the refusal of asylum.
As soon as the Benefits Agency (BA) is notified of the Home Office's decision on an asylum application an adjudication officer reviews the customer's entitlement to income support, from the date the Home Office's decision is recorded. The customer is notified of the results of the review.
If, following contact from the customer, it appears that notification of the decision to refuse asylum has reached the BA and benefit has been stopped, before the decision has been served on the asylum applicant, BA staff will advise the person to contact the Home Office urgently.
The Home Office are responsible for notifying the asylum seeker of the Home Secretary's decision on their asylum application.
I hope you find this reply helpful.
Parliamentary Constituencies: Numbers Of Electors
asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the latest available figures for the average size, in terms of numbers of electors, of parliamentary constituencies in—(a) Wales; (b) Scotland; and (c) England. [HL128]
Based on the 1997 register and the current distribution of constituencies, the average size, in terms of electors, of parliamentary constituencies is as follows:
Colchester Young Offenders Institution
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to continue the operation of the experimental regime at Colchester Young Offenders Institution. [HL276]
The Government are determined to pursue an active regime in young offender institutions (YOIs) as part of their commitment to focus the youth justice system on the prevention of offending by young people. Statutory provision for this is contained in the Crime and Disorder Bill.We are therefore continuing the experimental "high intensity training" regime which the previous Administration established at Thorn Cross YOI. Although at £22,700 per place, this regime is more expensive than the cost of a typical YOI regime at £17,300 per place, the Thorn Cross programme has been shown to have a more sharply focused and better integrated set of activities. We believe therefore that Thorn Cross represents value for money.However, we have been unable to reach the same conclusion with Colchester. Colchester Y01 opened on 20 February 1997 initially for one year. The costs per place at Colchester, at £31,300, have been running at nearly twice those for a typical YOI and nearly £9,000 more than those at Thorn Cross. The Colchester regime has encouraged positive change in attitudes among young offenders but the available evaluation has not supported the contention that it has been more effective in preventing re-offending than other initiatives.In view of this, and of the very high costs, we have concluded that Colchester YOI does not represent value for money. It will therefore close on 31 March 1998.This decision in no way reflects on the hard work and commitment of the staff who have been involved with the experiment and to whom we pay tribute. Their work will assist us in improving regimes at other YOls. We shall be using for this purpose the resources which we have saved from the closure of Colchester.
Armed Forces' Married Quarters
asked Her Majesty's Government:How much of the £100 million earmarked for the refurbishment of the Armed Forces' married quarters has so far been spent, and by when the remainder will be expended. [HL12]
£28 million will have been spent by the end of the financial year 97–98. The expenditure of the balance has been programmed as follows:
| £ million | ||||
| 98–99 | 99–00 | 00–01 | 01–02 | 02–03 |
| 20 | 20 | 20 | 10.4 | 1.6 |
Armed Forces: Ethnic Composition
asked Her Majesty's Government:What targets the Ministry of Defence sets in respect of the recruitment of ethnic minority personnel into the Armed Forces. [HL275]
We have made clear on a number of occasions our determination that the Armed Forces should better reflect the ethnic composition of our society. As part of this commitment, I am pleased to announce that, for the year starting in April 1998, the goal for each Service will be that 2 per cent. of new recruits should be from the ethnic minorities, with that figure rising annually by 1 per cent. so that it reaches 5 per cent. by the end of the financial year 2000–02 and, in time, reflects the proportion of people from ethnic minority communities in the wider population.These recruiting goals represent a major challenge for all in the Services, especially recruiting personnel, and will be reflected in the Ministry of Defence departmental plan. I am confident that they are realistic and provide a strong indication of our wish to make real, tangible progress in this area.
Armed Forces: Married Quarters
asked Her Majesty's Government:What were the findings of the survey of married Armed Forces personnel concerning their satisfaction or otherwise with their married quarters; and what steps the Ministry of Defence is taking to address the situation. [HL13]
The Defence Housing Executive commission's detailed independent surveys covering the full range of its housing management responsibilities. The first such survey was undertaken in 1995 during the transitional period leading to the assumption of full management responsibility for housing by DHE from the Services and showed that overall 55 per cent. of respondents were satisfied with the general condition of their accommodation compared with 25 per cent. who were dissatisfied. The MoD embarked on a major upgrade programme for its housing stock and is planned to spend a total of £470 million by 2004.The second survey was undertaken in late 1997 so that trends in satisfaction levels could be measured. The results are currently being compiled by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency and will be available in the spring when I will write to the noble Lord and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Nato: Strategic Concept
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether NATO's new strategic concept will be available before NATO enlargement is presented for ratification to NATO governments and parliaments.
Recommendations based on the forthcoming examination of NATO's strategic concept will be presented to NATO heads of state and government when they next meet in Washington in 1999. By that time it is expected that the process of ratifying the protocols relating to the accession to NATO of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland will have been completed.
asked Her Majesty's Government:What strategic concept for NATO has been guiding the assessment of the military and financial implications of NATO enlargement. [HL100]
NATO's approach to enlargement has been guided by Article 10 of the North Atlantic Treaty and by current NATO decisions and policies including the 1991 strategic concept.
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether NATO's strategic concept is being reviewed; if so by whom, and guided by what criteria; and whether a wider range of expert and experienced advisers will be consulted than was the case with the original NATO enlargement document. [HL99]
As directed by NATO heads of state and government at Madrid last July, NATO defence and foreign ministers at their meetings last December agreed terms of reference for an examination, and update as necessary, of NATO's strategic concept to: (i) ensure that the strategic concept is fully consistent with NATO's new security situation and challenges; (ii) confirm the allies' commitment to the core function of alliance collective defence and the indispensable transatlantic link; (iii) preserve those aspects of the strategic concept that are consistent with the existing and foreseeable strategic environment and other NATO decisions and declarations since 1991; (iv) take account of the changes in the European security environment since 1991; and (v) take into account the internal and external adaptation of the alliance and its assumption of new roles and missions, including all relevant ministerial decisions since 1991, while recognising that the process of transformation is an ongoing one and that the alliance must be prepared to meet the risks and challenges of the future. NATO's policy co-ordination group will begin work, taking into account advice from the NATO military authorities and other relevant NATO bodies, later this year for presentation to NATO heads of state and government when they next meet in Washington in 1999.
Drunken Pedestrians
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether drunken pedestrians are included in the drink driving accident statistics. [HL46]
Drunken pedestrians are not normally included in the drink driving accident statistics. They would only feature if the accident in which they were involved was one in which one or more of the drivers or riders of motor vehicles involved refused to give a breath test specimen or failed either:
Some information about the blood alcohol levels of pedestrians killed in road accidents is however available from data supplied to the department of coroners in England and Wales and procurators fiscal in Scotland. The following table shows the percentage of pedestrian fatalities above given blood alcohol levels for a sample of 353 of the 897 adult pedestrians who died in road accidents in 1995. It is not known whether there is any bias in the selection of this sample.
Blood alcohol levels of fatalities aged 16 and over
| |
Blood alcohol level (mg/100m1)
| Percentage of pedestrian fatalities over this level
|
| 9 | 40 |
| 50 | 33 |
| 80 | 31 |
| 100 | 30 |
| 150 | 25 |
| 200 | 16 |
Ni Public Service Alliance: Dispute
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are satisfied that the Labour Relations Agency in Northern Ireland has followed agreed procedures in attempting to resolve its current dispute with the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance. [HL54]
The appropriate procedure to be invoked has itself been a dimension of this dispute. Management is seeking discussions with staff representatives on how, in such circumstances, all the issues in the dispute can be independently adjudicated.