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Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 14 March 1990
EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
Open University
Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the cost of Open university foundation courses in constant prices over the past 21 years.
Mr. Jackson : Information is not available at this stage in the form requested. The table provides information at constant 1989 prices (using the GDP deflator) on the average total cost of a full credit course, broken down by the cost to the Exchequer from grant, and the cost to the student from the undergraduate tuition fee and the summer school fee.
Cost of an Open University full credit course 1989 prices
Student Loans
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the total expenditure to date on and by the Student Loans Company Ltd.
Mr. Jackson : The Student Loans Company Ltd. has spent some £3,127, 000 inclusive of VAT on preparatory work on the student loans scheme since its formation on 20 November 1989. This expenditure has been funded by the Department of Education and Science in accordance with the estimate approved by Parliament.
Teacher Training
Mr. Andrew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on the increase in numbers recruited to the university education departments of Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff and
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Swansea in each of the past five years, expressed in numbers and percentage terms ; and in which subject areas the increase has taken place.Mr. Alan Howarth : The tables show intakes to courses in column (a) and in columns (b) and (c) the relative yearly increase in numbers recruited, expressed in numbers and percentage terms, respectively, for the university education departments of Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff and Swansea for the academic years 1985-86 to 1989-90.
Initial teacher training recruitment (1985 to 1989) to university education departments Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff and Swansea 1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
|Intake |+/- |per cent.
Aberystwyth
Primary |116.0 |48.0 |70.6
Secondary:
Drama |8.0 |0.0 |0.0
History |11.0 |0.0 |0.0
Music |4.0 |-6.0 |-60.0
RE |3.0 |0.0 |0.0
English |10.0 |-1.0 |-9.1
Language |15.0 |-4.0 |-21.1
Geography |13.0 |1.0 |8.3
Mathematics |7.0 |-1.0 |-12.5
Biology |14.0 |1.0 |7.7
Chemistry |5.0 |3.0 |150.0
Physics |3.0 |-3.0 |-50.0
Other Science |3.0 |-1.0 |-25.0
|------- |------- |-------
Total Secondary |96.0 |-11.0 |-10.3
Bangor
Primary |0.0 |0.0 |0.0
Secondary:
History |0.0 |0.0 |0.0
RE |5.0 |3.0 |150.0
English |9.0 |3.0 |50.0
Language |13.0 |-4.0 |-23.5
Geography |0.0 |-7.0 |-100.0
Mathematics |7.5 |-1.5 |-16.6
Biology |10.5 |-0.5 |-4.5
Chemistry |11.5 |3.5 |43.7
Physics |4.5 |-5.5 |-55.0
Other Science |7.0 |7.0 |-
TEFL |17.0 |-2.0 |-10.5
PE |0.0 |-8.0 |-100.0
Other |8.0 |8.0 |-
|------- |------- |-------
Total Secondary |93.0 |-4.0 |-4.1
Cardiff
Primary |46.0 |8.0 |21.0
Secondary:
Art |0.0 |0.0 |0.0
History |7.0 |-5.0 |-41.6
Music |11.0 |-4.0 |-26.6
RE |9.0 |5.0 |125.0
English |17.0 |1.0 |6.2
Language |17.0 |-8.0 |-32.0
Geography |9.0 |1.0 |12.5
Mathematics |13.0 |-7.0 |-35.0
Biology |7.0 |-4.0 |-36.4
Chemistry |9.0 |-2.0 |-18.2
Physics |8.0 |-1.0 |-11.1
Home Economics 23.0 5.0 27.7
Other |0.0 |0.0 |0.0
|------- |------- |-------
Total Secondary |130.0 |-19.0 |-12.7
Swansea
Primary |44.0 |14.0 |46.6
Secondary:
History |14.0 |1.0 |7.7
RE |8.0 |5.0 |166.6
Mr. Andrew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on University college, Swansea's recruitment for its 1990-91 teacher training course.
Mr. Alan Howarth : These data will not be available until after the beginning of the academic year 1990-91.
Special Educational Needs
Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his best estimate of the additional costs which will fall on local education authorities in (a) England and (b) Devon in the financial year 1990-91 arising from his Department's circular 22/89 concering children with special educational needs ; and on what date such additional costs were first calculated and passed to the Department of the Environment.
Mr. Alan Howarth : The purpose of circular 22/89 is to review, and advise local education authorities (LEAs) and others on, the implementation of the provisions in the Education Act 1981 on the making of assessments and statements of special educational needs, in the light of subsequent experience and events. The circular does not of itself impose substantial new burdens on LEAs ; and, as paragraph 2 of the circular states, the new elements it contains are not intended to require additional expenditure.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Rates
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the percentage increase in the district rates for each of the 26 councils in Northern Ireland for the years 1990-91 and 1989-90.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The information is set out in the table :
1990-91
1989-90
1. Antrim BC |2.83 |3.92
2. Ards BC |13.04 |6.48
3. Armagh DC |7.95 |7.32
4. Ballymena BC |6.82 |2.68
5. Ballymoney BC |7.46 |6.91
6. Banbridge DC |7.65 |0.00
7. Belfast CC |4.91 |0.00
8. Carrickfergus BC |5.70 |5.20
9. Castlereagh BC |17.12 |5.01
10. Coleraine BC |0.00 |3.77
Local Government Finance
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the research carried out into the possible introduction of the poll tax in Northern Ireland, and the conclusions reached.
Mr. Cope : The arrangements for local government finance in Northern Ireland are significantly different from those in the rest of the United Kingdom. Since 1973, the services provided by local government account for only some 10 per cent. of total spending in Northern Ireland on services similar to those provided by local authorities in Great Britain. The remaining 90 per cent. is administered by central Government or their agencies subject to the scrutiny of Parliament. The circumstances in Northern Ireland are, therefore, different from those in Great Britain and there are no plans at present to replace the existing rating system in Northern Ireland.
Suicides
Mr. McNamara : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many suicides in Northern Ireland occurred during 1989 at (a) prison establishments, (b) remand establishments and (c) young offenders centres ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Cope : During 1989 there was one suicide in a Northern Ireland prison establishment. There was none at young offenders centres and there are no remand establishments.
Suicide prevention in the Northern Ireland prison service establishments is being examined by a working group and as a result of the group's deliberations a comprehensive suicide prevention manual is in the course of preparation and will be issued shortly.
Equal Opportunities
Mr. McNamara : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what grade is his Department's equal opportunities officer.
Mr. Cope [holding answer 5 March 1990] : The equal opportunities unit of the Northern Ireland Civil Service is headed by a grade 7. The Home civil service group of the Northern Ireland Office also has an equal opportunities unit, headed by a grade 7.
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Internal Audit
Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many internal auditors are employed in his office and the departments for which he is responsible and at what cost ; how many internal audit reports were produced in 1989 ; how many of these were drawn to the attention of a Minister in his Department ; and what internal audit work is subcontracted to private firms and at what cost.
Mr. Cope [holding answer 7 March 1990] : The following information covers the Northern Ireland Office and the Police Authority (NI) as well as the six Northern Ireland Civil Service departmental internal audit groups. The full staffing complement at 1 March 1990 was 90. Departmental running costs for 1989-90 are £1,315, 000.
There were 190 internal audit reports produced in 1989, of which one was brought to the attention of a Minister.
No internal audit work has been subcontracted to the private sector. However, one department has made extensive use of consultants in an advisory capacity at a cost of £54,000 in 1989.
Gaelic Athletic Association
Mr. A. Cecil Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what level of grant in financial terms has been provided for the Gaelic Athletic Association in each of the last three years.
Dr. Mawhinney [holding answer 7 March 1990] : Grants paid by the Department of Education and Sports Council for Northern Ireland to the Gaelic Athletic Association and its affiliated clubs were as follows :
Club equipment grants
Labour Statistics
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average length of time a person is unemployed in Northern Ireland ; and how many are at present unemployed for less than (1) one year, (2)
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two years, (3) three years, (4) four years, (5) five years and (6) more than five years ; and, in each group, how many are (a) male and (b) female.Mr. Peter Bottomley [holding answer 13 March 1990] : The estimated average durations of unemployment for those unemployed at 11 January 1990 were as follows :
<1> Average duration is taken as the median duration i.e. the spell of unemployment which divides the unemployed into two halves; one half with durations greater than the median and the other half with durations less than the median.
Unemployment by sex and duration at 11 January 1990 :
One year or less |32,066 |15,225 |47,291
Two years or less<2> |42,397 |18,758 |61,155
Three years or less<2> |48,706 |20,404 |69,110
Four years or less<2> |53,599 |21,555 |75,154
Five years or less<2> |57,759 |22,432 |80,191
Over five years |17,808 |2,414 |20,222
<2> These figures are not mutually exclusive. For example, the numbers unemployed three years or less are included in the numbers
unemployed four years or less.
TRANSPORT
Transport Supplementary Grant
Mr. Jack : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in the Official Report for each county highway authority the total net present value of those road projects qualifying for transport supplementary grants in the financial years 1989-90 and 1990-91.
Mr. Atkins : The table below lists all county council highway schemes supported by transport supplementary grant (TSG) in 1989-90 and 1990-91 for which a net present value is available. It is not possible to produce an aggregate total for each authority because the costs and benefits are often based on, and discounted to, different years. A number of other schemes for which economic costs and benefits are not available is also supported with TSG.
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Known NPUs for County Council TSG schemes
Rail Travel Improvements
Mrs. Gorman : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the progress made on the plans to improve rail travel outlined in his answer of 16 November 1989, Official Report, column 398, in respect of the Westminster area.
Mr. Portillo : The LRT has now deposited a Bill in respect of the extension of the Jubilee line from Green Park to dockands and Stratford. The Bill provides for a Jubilee line station to be constructed at Westminster with a new ticket hall and interchange links to the existing District and Circle Lines. Detailed discussions are in progress with all relevant authorities and interested parties on this proposal and the impact of the construction works on the surrounding area.
My right hon. Friend recently gave the go-ahead for a contract worth over £50 million to refurbish 101 trains on London's Underground including all 44 on the Victoria line. London Underground also has an enormous programme of improvements which will increase the capacity and improve the environment of many of its stations, including Victoria.
Departmental Property
Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many houses are in the ownership of his Department in each district in Greater Manchester ; and what percentage of them are empty.
Mr. Atkins : The information is as follows :
Channel Tunnel
Mr. Speed : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the additional expenditure schemes earmarked for Channel tunnel related roads in the county of Kent.
Mr. Atkins : Following are local road schemes, proposed by Kent county council in the context of the Channel tunnel, which my Department is supporting under the transport supplementary grant system with grant over and above that attracted by the county council's ordinary road building programme :
A2070 Ashford South Orbital
A2070 Beaver Road Diversion
A2070 Hamstreet Bypass
A2070 South Ashford to Hamstreet
A2070 Stockbridge to Brenzett
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A256 Whitfield BypassA256 Whitfield to Eastry
A256 Eastry Bypass
A260 Denton/Selsted Bypass
A260 Densole/Hawkinge Bypass
Our very substantial trunk road programme in Kent, valued at about £678 million (November 1987 prices) would be necessary with or without a Channel tunnel.
Mr. Speed : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the Channel tunnel working group's forecasts and report on traffic data and the effects of the Channel tunnel on traffic demand, together with the assumptions upon which they are based.
Mr. Atkins : I am making arrangements for copies of the Channel tunnel traffic working group's report, dated June 1986, to be placed in the Library.
Mr. Speed : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies are being undertaken in his Department on estimating road traffic growth following the Channel tunnel opening in summer 1993.
Mr. Atkins : The net extra traffic resulting from the completion of the Channel tunnel is not expected to be significant compared with forecast traffic growth generally. Therefore, no specific studies relating to the opening of the tunnel are planned. However, my Department has established the cross-Channel traffic group to produce an up-to-date estimate of all cross-Channel traffic in 1993 and beyond on the main road network in the south-east. General traffic growth will continue to be monitored in the normal way.
Traffic Counts
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines his Department issues for the inclusion of cyclists in traffic counts.
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 13 March 1990] : For the purposes of the national traffic census the Department's standard rules on traffic counting are those published in statistics bulletin (88)32 "Description of Vehicles for Traffic Counting Purposes"--a copy is in the Library. Pedal cycles and motor cycles are included as separate categories of vehicle.
The same guidelines are used in the Department's traffic appraisal manual, though for most cost-benefit analyses prepared for the Department data on cycle and motor cycle traffic are not required and, therefore, may not be collected.
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department undertakes traffic counts at weekends.
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 13 March 1990] : Yes. In particular, regular weekend counts classified by type of vehicle are carried out at 163 sites throughout Great
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Britain for the national traffic census. A number of other sites are monitored at weekends by automatic traffic data counting systems which collect unclassified data on the total flow of vehicles.THE ARTS
Art Treasures
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will give details of items currently included on the decided list of art treasures ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Luce [holding answer 12 March 1990] : I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Mr. Fisher) on 28 February 1990, Official Report, column 200.
CIVIL SERVICE
Disabled Employees
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Minister for the Civil Service how many Government Departments ensure that at least 3 per cent. of their employees are registered disabled people.
Mr. Luce : All Government Departments aim to employ at least a 3 per cent. quota of people who are registered as disabled. On 1 June 1989 five Departments had met this target. A further four Departments employed over 2.5 per cent. of people registered as disabled. Figures showing the proportion of staff who are registered as disabled in each Department are presented annually in the civil service magazine Independent, copies of which I am placing in the Libraries of the House.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Property Law
Mr. French : To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received about the effects of section 2 of the Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1989.
The Attorney-General : The Lord Chancellor has received four representations from practitioners and an academic about the effect of section 2 of the Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1989. In general terms these raised the following matters : (1) options (2) security documents (3) equitable charges (4) contracts by exchange of correspondence. The Lord Chancellor is satisfied that no amendment to section 2 is required in the light of these representations.
Mr. French : To ask the Attorney-General if he will bring forward amendments to section 2 of the Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1989 so that it does not apply to the exercise of an option on property granted after 27 September 1989.
The Attorney-General : The Lord Chancellor has no plans to bring forward amendments to section 2 of the Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1989.
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OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT
Poland
Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now list the projects so far approved from the know-how fund for Poland.
Mrs. Chalker : The information is as follows :
Activities approved under the know-how fund for Poland as at 8 March 1990
Title: Foreign Investment agency
Description: Four seminars on corporate finance, and financial and management accounting
Status: Completed
Cost: £56,000
Title: Bank Handlowy
Description: Two seminars on Treasury management and an introduction to capital markets
Status: Completed
Cost: £34,000
Title: Banking and finance sector mission
Description: Project identification
Status: Completed
Cost: £10,000
Title: Finance and the City of London
Description: Course in financial institutions for 20 Polish visitors
Status: Completed
Cost: £61,000
Title: Accountancy sector mission
Description: Project identification
Status: Completed
Cost: £19,000
Title: Privatisation conference
Description: Conference
Status: Completed:
Cost: £33,000
Title: Job Ownership
Description: Study tour of United Kingdom employee-owned businesses Status: Completed
Cost: £10,000
Title: Warszawskie Zaklady Telewizyjne (WZT)
Description: Pilot consultancy on employee ownership
Status: Underway
Cost: £12,000
Title: Management Study tour
Description: Directors of Polish management education schools to undertake two-week United Kingdom study tour
Status: Completed
Cost: £31,000
Title: Management seminars
Description: Seminars on marketing and export promotion Status: Completed
Cost: £20,000
Title: Young management graduates
Description: Two month programme at British Institute of management plus attachments
Status: Underway
Cost: £222,000
Title: Management educators
Description: Training of trainers at various institutions Status: Underway
Cost: £251,000
Title: Visiting lecturers
Description: Tours of Polish management schools by invited British specialists
Status: Underway
Cost: £56,000
Title: Fishery management
Description: Three month programme at Hull for Polish fishery managers plus study tour by senior managers
Status: Underway
Cost: £133,000
Title: Farmer/Co-operatives training
Description: Identification and implementation of training programme for managers of cooperatives
Status: Underway
Cost: £20,000
Title: English for management
Description: Project identification
Status: Completed
Cost: £10,000
Title: Management libraries
Description: Provision of management books and videos to key Polish educational institutions
Status: Underway
Cost: £125,000
Title: Industrial consultancy
Description: Assessment of potential productivity improvements at three Polish plants and substantive work at FSO car manufacturing plant
Status: Underway
Cost: £75,000
Title: Financial seminars
Description: Increasing awareness of how Western financial institutions and markets work
Status: Completed
Cost: £172,000
Title: Translation of key management texts
Description: Two consultants to identify needs in relation to the translation and publication of selected texts and the potential establishment of a publishing house
Status: Underway
Cost: £10,820
Title: Electricity sector
Description: Reconnaissance mission
Status: Completed
Cost: £10,000
Title: IBRD social security mission
Description: Secondment of three United Kingdom experts to an IBRD mission to look at the social aspects of economic adjustment Status: Completed
Cost: £39,000
Title: Blood plasma
Description: Feasibility study for establishment of a blood fractionation plant
Status: Underway
Cost: £154,000
Title: Data Processing
Description: Adaptation of Polish econometric model to meet IMF specifications
Status: Completed
Cost: £22,000
Title: Economic Adviser
Description: Appointment of a macro-economic adviser to the Ministry of Finance
Status: Underway
Cost: £60,000
Title: Equipment for Ministry of Finance
Description: Provision of office machinery
Status: Completed
Cost: £20,000
Title: Equipment for Ministry of Education
Description: Provision of office machinery to the Task Force for co- ordination
Status: Completed
Cost: £20,000
Title: Coal industry training
Description: Training in colliery management techniques Status: Underway
Cost: £49,000
Title: Cracow tourism study
Description: Recommendation of immediate measures to help Cracow cope with the coming tourist season, and development of longer-term proposals
Status: Underway
Cost: £37,000
Title: Agros dried vegetables
Description: Recommendations for productivity improvements Status: Underway
Cost: £55,000
Title: Company doctor training
Description: Seven courses in training Polish consultants in techniques of company analysis
Status: Underway
Cost: £97,000
Title: Conference on demonopolisation
Description: Discussion of methods and experiences of demonopolisation in relation to the process of economic and political decision taking
Status: To be implemented
Cost: £11,000
Title: Book industry training
Description: Pilot project to assess the training needs of the Polish book industry
Status: To be implemented
Cost: £17,200
Title: Post-experience training for journalists
Description: Four courses including academic and practical attachments
Status: Underway
Cost: £240,000
Title: Local government assistance
Description: Project to combat environmental pollution involving Carlisle and Slupsk
Status: To be implemented
Cost: £30,000
Title: Seminars for Polish MPs
Description: Introduction to British parliamentary concepts Status: Completed
Cost: £15,000
Title: Media training
Description: Seven courses organised by BBC World Service Status: Underway
Cost: £225,000
Title: Establishment of capital markets
Description: Familiarisation trip by Ministry of Finance officials to the London Stock Exchange
Status: Completed
Cost: £7,600
Title: AIDS training
Description: Training for Polish doctors and nurses on how to handle AIDS patients
Status: To be implemented
Cost: £21,500
Title: Railway training
Description: Attendance at signalling and telecommunications course for three railway engineers
Status: To be implemented
Cost: £15,800
Title: New banks mission
Description: Technical assistance for the establishment of new banks
Status: To be implemented
Cost: £25,000
Title: Agricultural sector mission
Description: Project identification
Status: Completed
Cost: £25,000
Title: Pharmaceutical sector
Description: Mission to assess pharmacy training needs and joint venture possibilities
Status: To be implemented
Cost: £2,300
Title: Foreign trade training
Description: Secondment from the Polish Chamber of Foreign Trade to the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce
Status: To be implemented
Cost: £2,200
Title: Scholarships programme
Description: Non project-related training awards administered by the British Council
Status: To be implemented
Cost: £500,000 per year
Title: Academic links programme
Description: Finance to allow two-way exploratory visits between institutions which will be administered by the British Council Status: To be implemented
Cost: £100,000 per year
Title: IBRD banking mission
Description: Secondment of two United Kingdom experts to an IBRD mission to look at project preparatory work in the banking sector Status: Completed
Cost: £16,900
Title: Assistance to local government
Description: Provision of equipment for the Foundation of Local Democracy centre in Lodz
Status: To be implemented
Cost: £20,000
Title: Research Programme
Description: Assessment of the competitiveness of the industrial sector in Poland
Status: To be implemented
Cost: £27,000
Title: Privatisation and market research centre in Gdansk Description: Assistance to the Centre
Status: To be implemented
Cost: £38,000
Title: Legal training
Description: Three month placements for 13 Polish lawyers with United Kingdom firms
Status: To be implemented
Cost: £40,000
Title Energy Audit
Description: Detailed analysis of the Power and Brown Coal Board by a team of 12 United Kingdom utility personnel
Status: To be implemented
Cost: £403,000
Title: Economic Adviser
Description: Appointment of a second Economic Adviser to the Ministry of Finance
Status: Underway
Cost: £7,000
Title: Financial Markets Adviser
Description: Appointment of an Adviser to the Ministry of Finance Status: Underway
Cost: £70,000
Title: Assistance to local government
Description: Three courses for newly elected local government councillors and officials based at Leicester Polytechnic
Status: To be implemented
Cost: £190,000
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