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Mr. Sainsbury : We have received representations from four local groups of the women's institute drawing attention to a resolution passed at the annual general meeting of their national federation on 7 June.
Somalia
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department has on recent civil disturbances in Somalia and reports of deaths caused by actions by Government forces ; and what representations have been made to the Government of Somalia.
Mr. Waldegrave : We understand that at least 50 people were killed and many more wounded when security forces guarding President Barre opened fire on an unruly crowd at Mogadishu football stadium on 6 July. Our charge d'affaires has been instructed to raise our strong concern with the Somali Government.
Nuclear Non-proliferation
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, pursuant to the reply given to the hon. Member for Stockton, North (Mr. Cook), Official Report, 2 July, column 402, any matters regarding nuclear non-proliferation controls were discussed at the Turnberry meeting of the NATO Ministers.
Mr. Waldegrave : NATO Foreign Ministers did not discuss the issue of nuclear non-proliferation controls at the North Atlantic Council meeting at Turnberry.
Mr. Salmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on
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the outcome of his most recent meeting with non-governmental organisations where the nuclear non-proliferation treaty was discussed ; and if he will give details of any further plans he has for meetings with non-governmental organisations on nuclear non-proliferation before the start of the nuclear non-proliferation forum review conference on 20 August.Mr. Waldegrave : I last met non-governmental organisations on 3 April, when a wide range of topics, including the non-proliferation treaty, was discussed. The next such biannual meeting will be held in the autumn after the NPT fourth review conference.
Brian Tristram
Sir Trevor Skeet : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for how long Brian Tristram has been in the Peruvian gaol San Pedro de Lurigancho without trial ; whether it is possible to extradite him for trial in the United Kingdom ; what is his current state of health ; when British embassy staff last saw him in the gaol ; and what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken to ensure that proceedings in Peru against Brian Tristram are either expedited or discontinued.
Mr. Sainsbury : Mr. Tristram was arrested at Jorge Chavel airport, Lima on 6 December 1988, allegedly with a suitcase containing 772 grams of cocaine. On 27 December 1988 he was formally charged with illicit trafficking in drugs and remanded in custody to Lurigancho prison. His case has been submitted to the fifth Callao provincial court for trial. I am not aware that Mr. Tristram has committed any offence in the United Kingdom for which his extradition might be sought.
He was last seen by British consular officials on 22 June 1990. He was comparatively cheerful during that visit. He has no specific complaints about his health, other than that his epilepsy pills had earlier been stolen. They have since been replaced. The British embassy in Lima has made representations to the Peruvian authorities in an effort to have the case brought to trial.
Sir Trevor Skeet : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the breakout recently from the maximum security prison, the Canto Grande, in Peru has had any effect upon the conditions in which Brian Tristram is held at San Pedro de Lurigancho gaol.
Mr. Sainsbury : We have consulted the British embassy at Lima, which has seen no evidence that conditions in Lurigancho prison have been affected by events at Canto Grande.
EC Relations
Mr. Bell : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has received from the Government of the Republic of France in the last two days concerning relations between the republic and the United Kingdom ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) what representations he has received from the Federal Republic of Germany in the last two days concerning relations between the republic and the United Kingdom ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Maude : There has been comment, much of it public, from a number of sources on Britain's relations with her EC partners. But we have received no representations on the subject.
Mr. Bell : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Government of the Republic of Ireland in the last two days concerning relations between the republic and the United Kingdom ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hurd : There has been comment, much of it public, from a number of sources on Britain's relations with her EC partners. But I have received no representations on the subject.
Angola
Mr. Day : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is being taken to ensure that the Angolan peace corridors are put in place as soon as possible in order that international aid may reach the areas devastated by drought.
Mr. Waldegrave : The "corridors of peace" are a UNITA proposal which has not yet been accepted by the Angolan Government. But the International Committee of the Red Cross is discussing with the Angolan Government arrangements for supplying emergency famine relief to all drought-affected areas of Angola.
NATO (Japanese Delegation)
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) by the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Official Report, 21 June, column 650, the meeting in Belgium between NATO officials and the Japanese political delegation discussed nuclear non- proliferation matters.
Mr. Waldegrave : Nuclear non-proliferation matters were not discussed at the meeting in Belgium between NATO officials and the Japanese political delegation on 17 to 19 June.
Chemical and Biological Weapons
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what agreements exist between Britain and the United States of America for the exchange of information about chemical and biological weapons.
Mr. Waldegrave : There are no formal bilateral agreements between the two Governments for the exchange of such information.
NATIONAL FINANCE
Running Cost Control
Mr. Rost : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those Government agencies and bodies which are exempted from gross running cost control ; what conditions are imposed on such agencies as a result of the exemption ; and what are the procedures whereby such exemption is granted.
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Mr. Norman Lamont : The gross running costs control system was introduced in April 1986. As explained in paragraph 3.10 of Cm 1021, exemption from such control may be agreed for bodies whose costs are fully met by their receipts, provided suitably robust monitoring and management control systems apply. Such cases are considered in the annual public expenditure survey, and those approved have been identified in the relevant public expenditure White Paper and summary and guide to supply estimates. There are currently 19 bodies for which exemption has been approved. They are :1. Building Research Establishment (DOE)
2. Central Office of Information
3. Civil Service College (OMCS)
4. Companies House (DTI)
5. Department of the Registers of Scotland
6. Driving Standards Agency (DTp)
7. Her Majesty's Land Registry
8. Historic Royal Palaces Agency (DOE)
9. Laboratory of the Government Chemist (DTI)
10. Medicines Control Agency (DH)
11. Natural Resources Institute (ODA)
12. Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (HSE)
13. PSA Services
14. QEII Conference Centre (DOE)
15. Radiocommunications Executive Agency (DTI)
16. Social Survey Division (OPCS)
17. Vehicle Certification Agency (DTp)
18. Vehicle Inspectorate (DTp)
19. Warren Springs Laboratory (DTI).
Manufacturing
Mr. Allen : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of gross domestic product, was accounted for by the manufacturing sector (a) currently, (b) at the highest level since 1979 and (c) at the highest level since 1960.
Mr. Norman Lamont : In 1988, the latest year for which data are available, the manufacturing sector accounted for 24 per cent. of gross domestic product, much the same level as in the preceding five years. The corresponding percentage shares in 1960 and 1979--36 and 28 per cent. respectively--were, in both cases, higher than in all subsequent years.
Exports
Mr. French : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the value of total United Kingdom exports for the most recent year for which figures are available ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norman Lamont : The information is available in table A3 of the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics" which is available in the Library of the House, or on the Central Statistical Office database, which may be accessed through the Library.
Interest Rates
Mr. Allen : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his reply of 10 July, Official Report, column 112, what are the other main domestic and international influences on United Kingdom long-term interest rates.
Mr. Ryder : Long-term interest rates are integrally bound up with monetary conditions generally. The factors bearing on monetary conditions are discussed in chapter 2 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report".
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Government Accountancy Service
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the heads of the Government accountancy service for the last 10 years.
Mr. Norman Lamont : Mr.--later Sir--Kenneth Sharp from 1975 to October 1983, Sir Anthony Wilson from October 1984 to December 1988, Mr. A. J. Hardcastle from January 1989 to date.
Fishing Vessels
Mr. Steen : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his answer of 6 July, Official Report, column 729, when he hopes to make a statement about whether and how changes will be made to the present arrangements for payment of value added tax on duty-free fuel by British fishing vessels.
Mr. Ryder : While the Government are considering whether and how changes to the present arrangements should be made, temporary measures have been introduced which broadly continue the VAT zero-rating of duty-free fuel supplied to British fishing vessels. A full review of the treatment of fuels supplied as stores to shipping and aircraft is to be undertaken. The trade will be consulted. My right hon. and noble Friend the Paymaster General hopes to make a statement on the subject by the end of the year.
CHURCH COMMISSIONERS
Church of England (Assembly) Powers Act
34. Mr. Skinner : To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what recent representations he has received about the operation of the procedures of the Church of England (Assembly) Powers Act 1919, as amended by the Synodical Government Measure 1969.
St. Marks, North Audley Street
35. Mr. Cormack : To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what plans the Church Commissioners have for the future of St. Marks, North Audley street.
Mr. Alison : A proposal to use this redundant church for open-plan offices is at present under consideration.
TRANSPORT
Manchester Ship Canal
Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress of the Manchester Ship Canal Harbour Revision Order 1990.
Mr. McLoughlin : I made this order on 26 February 1990. Because opponents of the order gave notice that they maintained their opposition, the order became subject to special parliamentary procedure and it was laid before Parliament on 18 April. Petitions against it have been referred to the Chairman of Committees and the Chairman of Ways and Means.
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Correspondence
Mr. Mudd : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Minister for Aviation and Shipping will be writing to Mr. A. P. Lambert of Armor House, Carlidnack road, Mawnan Smith, Falmouth, Cornwall, in reply to that gentleman's letter to him of 3 April regarding retired staff travel facilities with Sealink UK Ltd.
Mr. Freeman : My hon. Friend will be aware of the complicated background to this correspondence. We will be sending Mr. Lambert a reply to his latest letter very shortly.
Channel Tunnel
Mr. Speed : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what new money, excluding money already committed, would have been required for the Eurorail proposal to have proceeded for the fast rail link from the channel tunnel to London.
Mr. Freeman : British Rail plans investment of over £1 billion to enable passenger services to commence in 1993. Under Eurorail's proposals this investment expenditure would not have been reimbursed at the time the assets transferred to the joint venture : instead a combination of leasing and a low interest deferred loan of £1 billion was proposed. The joint venture further required a capital grant of £500 million toward the use of the new line by commuter services and British Rail investment of up to £400 million, mainly in commuter terminals.
Disabled Travellers
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to encourage major transport groups to pay more attention to the specific needs of disabled travellers.
Mr. Freeman : The Department of Transport is in regular contact, both directly and through the disabled persons transport advisory committee, with transport authorities and operators throughout the country to promote a better understanding of the transport needs of people with disabilities and to provide practical advice and information on how best to meet them.
Railway Development
Sir Trevor Skeet : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received any proposals for further development of the railway system north of Bedford.
Mr. Freeman : I have received a copy of the summary report of a study commissioned by the midland main line consortium of local authorities, advocating electrification north of Bedford, which I have read with interest. It is for British Rail to consider any worthwhile proposals that meet its normal investment criteria.
SCOTLAND
Junior Hospital Doctors
Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many junior hospital doctors are currently working more than 72 hours per week ;
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(2) what is the average number of hours worked by junior hospital doctors ;(3) when he expects to reduce to 72 hours per week the average number of hours worked by junior hospital doctors.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Information on the number of hours actually worked by junior hospital doctors is not collected centrally. As at 30 September 1989 there were 2,567 junior hospital doctors in Scotland contracted for more than 72 hours per week. The average number of contracted hours for all junior doctors was 80.2. The objective is to reduce junior doctors' hours to 72 per week as soon as practicable.
Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to reduce the hours worked by junior hospital doctors.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : In 1989 we introduced measures aimed at eliminating junior doctors' rotas more onerous than one night and one weekend in three in Scotland. Health boards have forecast that this initiative will result in the number of juniors on such rotas being reduced to around 32 per cent. by September this year. Health boards have recently been requested to improve on their September 1990 targets.
Charities
Sir Nicholas Fairbairn : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many complaints of criminality have been made against an officer or committee member of a registered charity in Scotland since 1979 ; what was the nature of the complaints ; what action was taken ; and what convictions, if any, were obtained.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : This information is not centrally held and cannot be made available since hitherto such complaints have been dealt with no differently from other complaints of criminality and cannot be differentiated from them.
Sir Nicholas Fairbairn : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many complaints have been made since 1979 of non-registered charities in Scotland holding themselves out to be charities ; and what action was taken.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : At present charities operating in Scotland are not required to become recognised as charities for the purposes of section 505 of Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988. Where persons falsely and dishonestly hold themselves out to be acting as or on behalf of charities the ordinary criminal law applies and I would refer to my previous answer.
Sir Nicholas Fairbairn : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many complaints of misconduct or mismanagement have been made against an officer or committee member of a registered charity in Scotland since 1979 ; what was the nature of the complaints ; and what were the names of the charities.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : There is at present no machinery for the receiving and investigation of complaints where the complaint or evidence available fall short of an inference of criminality. Such misconduct or mismanagement has from time to time been brought to the attention of the Secretary of State and other agencies but
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these have not been recorded. In the absence of any investigative machinery actively seeking out misconduct or mismanagement, it is impossible to say how many complaints have been made since 1979.Maternity Services
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the hospitals in Scotland which had consultant obstetric and/or general practitioner maternity
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beds in 1980, 1985 or the most recent year for which information is available and the numbers of beds of each type in each hospital in each year.Mr. Michael Forsyth : The number of average available staffed beds for specialist obstetrics and GP obstetrics by hospital in Scotland for the years ending 31 March 1980 and 31 March 1990--the latest available figures- -are as follows :
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Average available staffed beds
year ending March 1980 year ending March 1990
(provisional)
Hospital |Specialist |GP Obstetrics|Specialist |GP Obstetrics
|Obstetrics |Obstetrics
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Argyll and Clyde Health Board
Carlton |- |8 |- |8
Dunoon and District General |- |11 |- |10
Islay |- |2 |- |3
Mid Argyll |- |3 |- |3
The Maternity Hospital, Oban |- |10 |- |9
Victoria Hospital, Rothesay |- |3 |- |3
Vale of Leven District General |54 |- |37 |-
Rankin Memorial |42 |9 |38 |-
Paisley Maternity |99 |- |80 |-
|------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |195 |46 |155 |37
Ayrshire and Arran Health Board
Isle of Arran War Memorial |- |4 |- |4
Lady Margaret |- |2 |- |-
Thornyflat Maternity |- |18 |- |18
Davidson Cottage |- |4 |- |2
Ayrshire Central |129 |- |132 |-
Kilmarnock Maternity |- |19 |- |-
Buckredden Maternity |- |29 |- |-
Lady Margaret |- |2 |- |-
|------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |129 |76 |132 |24
Borders Health Board
Coldstream Cottage |- |4 |- |-
Knoll |- |- |- |-
Borders General |- |- |39 |-
Galashiels |- |10 |- |-
Kelso Cottage |- |5 |- |-
Sister Margaret's Cottage |- |2 |- |-
Haig Maternity |- |12 |- |-
|--- |--- |--- |---
Total |- |33 |39 |-
Dumfries and Galloway Health Board
Cresswell Maternity |70 |- |46 |-
Dalrymple |- |8 |- |8
|--- |--- |--- |---
Total |70 |8 |46 |8
Fife Health Board
Craigtoun Maternity |12 |- |- |-
Forth Park Maternity |66 |17 |87 |1
Maternity Hospital, Dunfermline |50 |- |44 |-
|--- |--- |--- |---
Total |128 |17 |131 |1
Forth Valley Health Board
Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary |67 |- |56 |-
Stirling Royal Infirmary |80 |- |54 |-
|--- |--- |--- |---
Total |146 |- |110 |-
Grampian Health Board
Aberdeen Maternity |94 |- |92 |-
Fonthill Maternity Home |17 |- |16 |-
Summerfield Maternity Home |30 |- |30 |-
Peterhead Cottage |- |11 |- |10
Fraserburgh Hospital |- |12 |- |8
Huntly Jubilee |- |10 |- |7
Chalmers Hospital, Banff |- |13 |- |10
Seafield Hospital, Buckie |- |11 |- |7
Turner Hospital, Keith |- |7 |- |5
Inverurie |- |10 |- |-
Leanchoil Hospital, Forres |- |12 |- |9
Maryhill Hospital, Elgin |- |17 |- |13
Kincardine O'Neill War Memorial |- |5 |- |8
Insch War Memorial |- |4 |- |4
Turriff Cottage |- |10 |- |-
Arduthie |- |7 |- |-
Stephen Hospital, Dufftown |- |2 |- |-
|--- |--- |--- |---
Total |141 |129 |138 |81
Greater Glasgow Health Board
Glasgow Royal Maternity |148 |- |99 |-
Stobhill |75 |- |52 |-
Rutherglen Maternity |100 |- |82 |-
Southern General |99 |13 |83 |-
The Queen Mother's |110 |- |103 |-
|--- |--- |--- |---
Total |532 |13 |419 |-
Highland health board
Belford Hospital, Fort William |- |8 |- |8
Mackinnon Memorial Hospital, Broadford |- |1 |- |1
Portree |- |2 |- |1
Dunbar Hospital, Thurso |14 |5 |- |-
Caithness Central |- |- |15 |-
Raigmore Hospital, Inverness |67 |- |72 |-
Town and County Hospital, Nairn |7 |- |7 |-
Ross Memorial Hospital, Dingwall |14 |- |12 |-
Ian Charles Hospital, Grantown |- |3 |- |-
|--- |--- |--- |---
Total |102 |20 |106 |10
Lanarkshire health board
Alexander |- |24 |- |-
Bellshill Maternity |118 |- |116 |-
William Smellie Maternity |50 |- |50 |-
Lady Home |- |1 |- |-
Lockhart |- |3 |- |-
Motherwell Maternity |36 |- |- |-
Hairmyres Hospital |- |24 |- |-
|--- |--- |--- |---
Total |204 |51 |166 |-
Lothian health board
Eastern General |50 |- |50 |-
Western General |46 |- |47 |-
Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion |177 |- |126 |-
Bangour General |56 |- |27 |-
St. John's Hospital at Howden |- |- |21 |-
Elsie Inglis |68 |- |- |-
|--- |--- |--- |---
Total |397 |- |271 |-
Orkney health board
Balfour |- |11 |- |8
|--- |--- |--- |---
Total |- |11 |- |8
Shetland health board
Gilbert |- |11 |- |11
|--- |--- |--- |---
Total |- |11 |- |11
Tayside health board
Ninewells Hospital, Dundee |115 |14 |99 |4
Perth Royal Infirmary |52 |- |41 |-
Arbroath Infirmary |- |19 |- |18
Fyfe Jamieson Maternity Home, Forfar |- |12 |- |12
Montrose Royal Infirmary |- |- |- |9
Blairgowrie and Rattray Cottage |- |8 |- |7
Aberfeldy Cottage |- |5 |- |-
Charleton Maternity Home, Montrose |- |19 |- |-
|--- |--- |--- |---
Total |167 |77 |140 |50
Western Isles Health Board
Lewis Hospital, Stornoway |13 |- |13 |-
Daliburgh |- |4 |- |3
|--- |--- |--- |---
Total |13 |4 |13 |3
|--- |--- |--- |---
Scotland total |2,224 |496 |1,865 |233
Heart Transplants
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland where and when the Scottish heart transplant centre is to be developed ; and for how many patients each year it is to have funding.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The Scottish heart transplant centre will be established during 1991-92 with a capacity, when fully operational, to undertake 50 transplants per year. The decision on the location of the centre may be expected in the autumn.
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in which hospitals Scottish residents received heart transplants in each year since 1985 ; how many Scottish residents were treated in each hospital ; and what transfers of revenue allocation were subsequently made to other national health service regions within the United Kingdom.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Information about the number of Scottish residents receiving heart transplants and hospitals where such treatment was provided is not held centrally. No transfers of revenue allocation were made from Scotland in respect of such treatment which is funded as as supra -regional service.
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Orthopaedic Beds
Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will intervene to prevent the 65 per cent. reduction in orthopaedic beds in the south-east district of Glasgow proposed by the Greater Glasgow health board's strategy review ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 12 July 1990] : I understand that the board proposes to reduce the number of orthopaedic beds in the south-east of Glasgow from 188 to 68, to reflect reductions in both the population of the area and the number of patients transferred from other boards, along with improved efficiency in the service. The board reached this decision following extensive consultation over a four-month period.
Police Manpower
Mr. Hood : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the Scottish police authorities, indicating if their manpower is up to the levels agreed with the chief constables and the police authorities, and indicating the shortfall where applicable.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 12 July 1990] : As at 31 March 1990 the information requested was as follows :
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Police Civilian Staff
(Traffic Wardens, Clerical and
Technical Staff)
Force |Authorised |Actual |Shortfall<1> |Authorised |Actual |Shortfall
|Establishment|Strength |Establishment|Strength
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central |638 |630 |-8 |139 |126 |-13
Dumfries and Galloway |344 |348 |+4 |92 |82 |-10
Fife |754 |755 |+1 |182 |173 |-9
Grampian |1,116 |1,103 |-13 |335 |325 |-10
Lothian and Borders |2,441 |2,482 |+41 |812 |793 |-19
Northern |631 |631 |- |199 |183 |-16
Strathclyde |6,954 |6,886 |-68 |1,423 |1,322 |-101
Tayside |1,001 |1,012 |+11 |258 |253 |-5
Scotland |13,879 |13,847 |-32 |3,440 |3,257 |-183
<1> Authorities are permitted to recruit in excess of authorised establishment to replace officers on Scottish Crime
Squad secondment etc.
Bypass Operation
Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what statistics he holds in respect of the number of patients who had been identified as requiring a coronary artery bypass operation but who died prior to receiving surgery.
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