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Column 723
Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 25 July 1991
NORTHERN IRELAND
Inward Investment
Sir Eldon Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much investment has been made in Northern Ireland by American- controlled companies in each of the past five years ; and to what extent these investments have been made as a result of the support made available from United States public funds.
Mr. Needham : The table shows the investment made in Northern Ireland by American-controlled companies in each of the past five financial years. Two of these investments involved support from United States public funds.
Year |Total |No. of
|investment |investments
|(£ ,000)
------------------------------------------------
1986-87 |40,335 |6
1987-88 |21,541 |5
1988-89 |103,933 |8
1989-90 |212,674 |12
1990-91 |74,659 |7
Eastern Health and Social Services Board
Mr. A. Cecil Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland since the introduction of privatisation into services provided for the Eastern health and social services board, what proportion of financial savings have been allocated to actual patient care and improvement of medical services.
Mr. Hanley : The health and personal social services in Northern Ireland have not been subject to a privatisation policy. There is, however, a requirement on health and social services boards to test the efficiency of their domestic, catering and laundry services through competitive tendering. All financial savings arising from competitive tendering contribute to the overall resources available to each unit of management to deliver its operational plan, the emphasis of which is actual patient care and improvement of medical services.
Stevens Inquiry
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent on the Stevens inquiry to date ; and which Department is meeting the cost.
Dr. Mawhinney : I understand that, up to 3 July, the cost of the Stevens inquiry has been £868,480. As is normal for such inquiries, the Police Authority for Northern Ireland is meeting the cost.
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons were arrested as a
Column 724
result of the Stevens inquiry ; how many have been charged ; how many have been brought to trial ; how many of those tried have been found guilty ; how many have been released from custody and of them how many are on bail ; and how many are still in custody.Dr. Mawhinney : I shall write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.
Hazardous Waste
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will now seek to have made available to his Department copies of the environmental audits carried out by companies in Northern Ireland which produce (a) toxic and (b) hazardous and special wastes.
Mr. Needham : Where such audits are carried out by companies in Northern Ireland, it is the Department of Environment for Northern Ireland's intention to seek to have copies made available.
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East of 17 July, Official Report, column 212, on information on environmental impact assessments, if he has obtained copies of the published information referred to for his departmental library.
Mr. Needham : Copies of the published information referred to are not held in the departmental library ; they are held by the environment service where they are readily available to officials who may require access to them.
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East, Official Report, 17 July, column 212-13, what steps were taken by the councils through whose areas the hazardous waste referred to passed to ensure that it is being transported in accordance with current regulations.
Mr. Needham : The transport of hazardous waste by road in Northern Ireland is subject to the provisions of regulations for which the enforcing authority is the Department of Economic Development.
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East, Official Report, 17 July, column 212 , if he will list the types of hazardous waste imported into Northern Ireland from the Irish Republic in 1988-89 and 1989-90 ; by what means it was disposed of ; and whether those council areas through which it passed monitored its passage within their areas, and its disposal.
Mr. Needham : The information requested is given in the table. In most cases, the substances are chemically treated and sludge wastes which arise as a result of this treatment are landfilled under the close supervision of the relevant district councils. The passage through a district council area is not monitored by district councils.
Substances |Method of disposal
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acqueous solution/Suspension |Treated in plant for disposal to
of low level pesticides | landfill in Northern Ireland.
washings).
Ammonia corrosive liquid. |Treated with sulphuric acid in
| plant.
Empty plastic containers of |Repacked and sent to England
Escadulent material | for treatment and disposal.
containing Esthyl
methacrylate,
Hydroxypropyl,
Polyurethane, Iscoynate,
Acrylic acid.
Cupid acid. |Sent to England for re-cycling.
Printed circuit board effluent |Treated in plant and precipitate
sludge. | sent for disposal to landfill
| in Northern Ireland.
Mercury contaminated waste. |Treated in plant-Mercury
| extracted for re-use.
Copper hydroxide. |Sent to England for re-cycling.
Chlorinated solvents. |Sent to England for re-cycling.
Non-chlorinated solvents. |Sent to England for re-cycling.
Mr. Hume : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will outline the consideration given by any Government Department in Northern Ireland to the EC draft directive on the incineration of hazardous wastes and indicate what consultations there have been between Government officials and the European Commission on the implications of such a directive for any proposals for a hazardous waste incinerator in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Needham : Proposals for a directive on the incineration of hazardous waste have yet to be placed before the European Council, although it is understood that a submission will be made shortly. Officials in the Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland have been kept informed of the details of discussions on the draft directive. Any proposals for a hazardous waste incinerator in Northern Ireland would have to comply fully with emission standards and controls set out in any such new directive.
Mr. Hume : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any Northern Ireland Government Department has been briefed or sought information on the study by the small area health statistics unit at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine on possible links between pollution from waste incinerators and ill health in the community.
Mr. Hanley : The Department of Health and Social Services is represented on the steering committee which oversees the work of the small area health statistics unit. It is therefore aware of all studies being undertaken by the unit.
Maydown Incinerator
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to ensure that the slag to be produced by the proposed incinerator at Maydown, Londonderry, will be harmless to the environment.
Mr. Needham : Details of the slag to be produced by the proposed incinerator and proper safeguards for the handling of such material will become available only if and when Du Pont (UK) Ltd. submits a planning application and accompanying environmental statement.
Column 726
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what types of (a) toxic, (b) hazardous and (c) other special wastes the proposed incinerator at Londonderry will burn ; and what is the temperature needed and for what periods to destroy each of those wastes.
Mr. Needham : The specific types of waste which will comprise the feedstock material for the proposed incinerator and the design details of the plant capable of safely handling such waste will have to be contained in any environmental impact assessment. The requirements set by the Government will ensure the degree of burn-out achieved at any such incinerator will be sufficient properly to destroy all material for which the plant is designed.
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East, of 17 July, Official Report, column 210, on the expected lifetime of the Maydown incinerator, what is his estimate of the amount of waste which could be burnt in the incinerator over its lifetime.
Mr. Needham : Until the company submits details of the intended plant capacity that may be proposed for any incinerator, it is not possible to estimate the total quantity of material which might be burnt at any such incinerator over its lifetime.
Mr. Hume : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the IDB or the Department of Economic Development have any plans to provide funding for the Du Pont company's proposed hazardous waste incinerator ; and what discussions they have had with the company about possible funding for such a project.
Mr. Needham : The company has approached the Industrial Development Board about possible financial assistance for its proposed hazardous waste incinerator. Negotiations have not yet been concluded.
Flood Damage
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table showing the sums of public money expended in (1) Strabane area, (2) Ballycastle area and (3) the rest of Northern Ireland after the floods of 1987 and last year ; how many persons received such sums and for what purposes ; for Department of Health and Social Security payments what sums were paid in (a) grants and (b) loans and how much of the loans have been repaid to the latest available date ; and whether there are any differences in Government action in the different situations.
Dr. Mawhinney : I shall write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.
Racial Discrimination
Mr. Hume : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has concluded his consideration of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights' recommendation that racial discrimination be made unlawful in Northern Ireland ; and if he will make a statement.
Dr. Mawhinney : The recommendation that racial discrimination be made unlawful in Northern Ireland was
Column 727
contained in the SACHR second report on religious and political discrimination in Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State wrote to the chairman of SACHR on 23 July proposing a meeting between officials and the commission to discuss the Government's response to this and a number of other recommendations contained in the report.Voluntary Grammar Schools
Mr. Hume : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the category B expenditure grants paid to each of the voluntary grammar schools and their numbers of fee paying and non-fee paying pupils for each school year since 1988.
Dr. Mawhinney : The information is as follows :
1988-89 school year
School |Category|Fee |Non-fee
|B grants|paying |paying
|paid £ |pupils |pupils
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Armagh Royal |243,713 |43 |458
Armagh St. Patrick's Grammar |293,463 |51 |669
Ballymena Academy |405,227 |18 |1,113
Ballymena, St. Louis Grammar |282,040 |2 |912
Ballymoney, Dalriada |294,737 |15 |771
Ballynahinch Assumption |248,335 |9 |691
Bangor Grammar |314,472 |36 |865
Belfast, Bloomfield Collegiate |179,891 |22 |520
Belfast, Campbell College |440,606 |106 |478
Belfast, Christian Brothers |426,443 |34 |1,096
Belfast, Dominican College |275,287 |14 |782
Belfast High School |272,463 |12 |730
Belfast, Hunterhouse College |212,320 |129 |560
Belfast, Methodist College |773,910 |138 |1,458
Belfast, Our Lady and St. |361,991 |12 |904
Patrick's
Belfast, Royal Academical |489,258 |45 |858
Institution
Belfast, Royal Academy |636,237 |46 |1,250
Belfast, St. Dominic's High |349,958 |15 |900
School
Belfast, St. Malachy's College |392,487 |11 |911
Belfast, Strathearn |219,177 |6 |598
Belfast, Victoria College |262,184 |65 |600
Coleraine Academical Institution |366,046 |134 |834
Coleraine, Loreto College |248,859 |10 |697
Donaghmore, St. Joseph's |99,981 |16 |263
Grammar
Downpatrick, St. Patrick's |183,965 |13 |589
Grammar
Dungannon Royal |303,152 |29 |549
Dungannon, St. Patrick's Boys' |197,028 |11 |690
Dungannon, St. Patrick's Girls' |183,699 |13 |672
Dunmurry, Rathmore Grammar |350,238 |23 |1,041
Enniskillen Convent |219,193 |1 |746
Enniskillen, Portora Royal |231,547 |27 |314
Enniskillen, St. Michael's |240,806 |17 |664
Garron Tower, St. Macnissi's |205,749 |21 |529
College
Holywood, Sullivan Upper |348,720 |18 |984
Kilkeel, St. Louis High |128,174 |21 |266
Larne Grammar |237,915 |17 |614
Lisburn, Friends' School |301,811 |46 |820
Lisburn, Wallace High |394,991 |20 |1,060
Londonderry, Foyle College |289,168 |35 |757
Londonderry, St. Columb's |536,879 |7 |1,537
College
Londonderry, Thornhill College |429,111 |20 |1,289
Lurgan, St. Michael's Senior |167,043 |5 |403
High
Magherafelt, Rainey Endowed |211,321 |8 |536
Magherafelt, St. Mary's |289,582 |11 |940
Convent
Newry, Abbey Grammar |233,459 |6 |705
Newry, Our Lady's Grammar |184,307 |12 |755
Newry, Sacred Heart Grammar |226,906 |9 |769
Newry, St. Colman's College |237,829 |26 |748
Omagh Christian Brothers' |227,145 |9 |754
Omagh, Loreto Convent |264,875 |9 |808
Portstewart Dominican College |150,428 |46 |317
Strabane Convent Grammar |164,192 |12 |444
1989-90 school year
School |Category|Fee |Non-fee
|B grants|paying |paying
|paid £ |pupils |pupils
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Armagh Royal |258,771 |58 |442
Armagh St. Patrick's Grammar |309,385 |36 |667
Ballymena Academy |435,680 |22 |1,098
Ballymena, St. Louis Grammar |319,190 |3 |946
Ballymoney, Dalriada |323,114 |14 |763
Ballynahinch Assumption |266,720 |17 |704
Bangor Grammar |354,824 |37 |830
Belfast, Bloomfield Collegiate |202,529 |22 |570
Belfast, Campbell College |412,396 |131 |502
Belfast, Christian Brothers |478,402 |31 |1,084
Belfast, Dominican College |310,162 |13 |788
Belfast High School |278,303 |33 |672
Belfast, Hunterhouse College |238,407 |94 |511
Belfast, Methodist College |833,236 |147 |1,491
Belfast, Our Lady and St. |410,559 |21 |945
Patrick's
Belfast, Royal Academical |519,440 |46 |846
Institution
Belfast, Royal Academy |699,557 |28 |1,243
Belfast, St. Dominic's High |390,899 |12 |865
School
Belfast, St. Malachy's College |433,089 |15 |864
Belfast, Strathearn |248,988 |3 |636
Belfast, Victoria College |281,805 |62 |554
Coleraine Academical Institution |402,220 |96 |764
Coleraine, Loreto College |278,461 |9 |709
Donaghmore, St. Joseph's |110,646 |14 |262
Grammar
Downpatrick, St. Patrick's |210,594 |8 |629
Grammar
Dungannon Royal |331,810 |44 |545
Dungannon, St. Patrick's Boys' |222,558 |10 |691
Dungannon, St. Patrick's Girls' |213,209 |11 |725
Dunmurry, Rathmore Grammar |396,293 |14 |1,093
Enniskillen Convent |245,074 |6 |734
Enniskillen, Portora Royal |252,344 |19 |308
Enniskillen, St. Michael's |261,543 |12 |676
Garron Tower, St. Macnissi's |225,173 |23 |517
College
Holywood, Sullivan Upper |388,198 |17 |990
Kilkeel, St. Louis High |134,699 |26 |227
Larne Grammar |249,192 |26 |568
Lisburn, Friends' School |328,602 |52 |816
Lisburn, Wallace High |429,965 |19 |1,084
Londonderry, Foyle College |327,808 |22 |763
Londonderry, St. Columb's |582,500 |25 |1,503
College
Londonderry, Thornhill College |463,990 |30 |1,245
Lurgan, St. Michael's Senior |174,205 |7 |392
High
Magherafelt, Rainey Endowed |223,617 |18 |541
Magherafelt, St. Mary's |324,724 |10 |957
Convent
Newry, Abbey Grammar |263,235 |10 |677
Newry, Our Lady's Grammar |206,559 |12 |761
Newry, Sacred Heart Grammar |257,504 |6 |809
Newry, St. Colman's College |261,195 |23 |754
Omagh Christian Brothers' |258,129 |15 |758
Omagh, Loreto Convent |303,213 |12 |840
Portstewart Dominican College |161,779 |52 |338
Strabane Convent Grammar |181,566 |8 |451
Column 729
1990-91 school yea
(8-month period)
School |Category|Fee |Non-fee
|B grants|paying |paying
|paid £ |pupils |pupils
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Armagh Royal |187,701 |47 |501
Armagh St. Patrick's Grammar |239,073 |2 |738
Ballymena Academy |332,780 |11 |1,148
Ballymena, St. Louis Grammar |248,949 |0 |959
Ballymona, Dalriada |239,696 |2 |777
Ballyneyhinch Assumption |205,914 |0 |780
Bangor Grammar |265,360 |13 |870
Belfast, Bloomfield Collegiate |162,989 |8 |620
Belfast, Campbell College |302,079 |93 |597
Belfast, Christian Brothers |351,263 |4 |1,137
Belfast, Dominican College |240,567 |0 |867
Belfast High School |214,612 |1 |706
Belfast, Hunterhouse College |172,623 |62 |547
Belfast, Methodist College |609,615 |100 |1,549
Belfast, Our Lady and St. |302,409 |0 |994
Patrick's
Belfast, Royal Academical |379,070 |14 |911
Institution
Belfast, Royal Academy |509,946 |15 |1,274
Belfast, St. Dominic's High |279,433 |2 |871
School
Belfast, St. Malachy's College |308,918 |0 |876
Belfast, Strathearn |191,777 |3 |648
Belfast, Victoria College |207,479 |42 |609
Coleraine Academical Institution |298,475 |58 |790
Coleraine, Loreto College |215,095 |0 |745
Donaghmore, St. Joseph's |89,104 |0 |312
Grammar
Downpatrick, St. Patrick's |158,743 |0 |638
Grammar
Dungannon Royal |238,446 |30 |569
Dungannon, St. Patrick's Boys' |183,396 |1 |728
Dungannon, St. Patrick's Girls' |177,033 |0 |769
Dunmurry, Rathmore Grammar |308,664 |2 |1,206
Enniskillen Convent |195,484 |0 |765
Enniskillen, Portora Royal |174,606 |12 |331
Enniskillen, St. Michael's |204,249 |1 |688
Garron Tower, St. Macnissi's |174,779 |7 |568
College
Holywood, Sullivan Upper |294,377 |1 |1,012
Kilkeel, St. Louis High |104,106 |11 |266
Larne Grammar |187,641 |6 |622
Lisburn, Friends' School |259,282 |37 |830
Lisburn, Wallace High |320,445 |6 |1,133
Londonderry, Foyle College |245,472 |13 |814
Londonderry, St. Columb's |440,508 |2 |1,553
College
Londonderry, Thornhill College |362,556 |7 |1,289
Lurgan, St. Michael's Senior |131,061 |0 |431
High
Magherafelt, Rainey Endowed |172,436 |1 |571
Magherafelt, St. Mary's |252,610 |0 |990
Convent
Newry, Abbey Grammar |196,665 |2 |664
Newry, Our Lady's Grammar |162,707 |3 |791
Newry, Sacred Heart Grammar |196,045 |3 |810
Newry, St. Colman's College |210,270 |0 |782
Omagh Christian Brothers' |201,664 |0 |777
Omagh, Loreto Convent |226,334 |1 |861
Portstewart Dominican College |128,331 |23 |368
Strabane Convent Grammar |133,922 |2 |449
Mr. Hume : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the amount of category A expenditure admitted for each of the voluntary grammar schools in Northern Ireland for each school year since 1989.
Dr. Mawhinney : The information is as follows :
Column 730
Category A expenditure admitted for grant
|1989-90 |1990-91<1>
|(School year)|(Eight month
|period)
|£ |£
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Armagh Royal |751,589 |516,078
Armagh St. Patrick's |937,720 |653,788
Grammar
Ballymena Academy |1,499,902 |1,053,189
Ballymena, St. Louis |1,075,497 |782,492
Grammar
Ballymoney, Dalriada School |1,083,466 |773,908
Ballynahinch, Assumption |868,418 |635,563
Grammar
Bangor Grammar |1,156,739 |816,750
Belfast, Bloomfield Collegiate |741,887 |542,722
Belfast, Campbell College |839,106 |625,730
Belfast, Christian Brothers' |1,399,839 |972,402
Belfast, Dominican College |962,192 |695,087
Belfast High School |992,910 |687,535
Belfast, Hunterhouse College |949,744 |642,172
Belfast, Methodist College |2,302,121 |1,673,818
Belfast, Our Lady & St. |1,138,880 |828,994
Patrick's
Belfast, Royal Belfast |1,292,245 |910,409
Academical Institution
Belfast Royal Academy |1,740,888 |1,208,832
Belfast, St. Dominic's High |1,177,290 |791,986
School
Belfast, St. Malachy's College |1,144,269 |796,050
Belfast, Strathearn |869,980 |624,987
Belfast, Victoria College |1,038,563 |732,448
Coleraine Academical |1,168,740 |808,465
Institution
Coleraine, Loreto College |889,970 |665,440
Donaghmore, St. Joseph's |385,694 |279,930
Grammar
Downpatrick, St. Patrick's |704,574 |520,821
Grammar
Dungannon Royal |794,732 |563,270
Dungannon, St. Patrick's |849,395 |600,398
Boys'
Dungannon, St. Patrick's |773,625 |571,787
Girls'
Dunmurry, Rathmore |1,291,737 |962,553
Grammar
Enniskillen, Convent |849,899 |606,986
Grammar
Enniskillen, Portora Royal |472,958 |322,231
Enniskillen, St. Michael's |804,585 |554,063
College
Garron Tower, St. Macnissi's |650,414 |472,663
College
Holywood, Sullivan Upper |1,271,642 |938,112
Kilkeel, St. Louis Grammar |424,290 |305,462
Larne Grammar School |866,543 |619,832
Lisburn, Friends' School |1,204,948 |840,527
Lisburn, Wallace High |1,375,556 |1,007,965
Londonderry, Foyle College |1,019,844 |736,727
Londonderry, St. Columb's |1,780,366 |1,267,940
College
Londonderry, Thornhill |1,550,162 |1,107,787
College
Lurgan, St. Michael's Senior |655,700 |462,716
High
Magherafelt Rainey Endowed |763,579 |542,845
Magherafelt, St. Mary's |1,146,756 |828,314
Convent
Newry, Abbey Grammar |819,377 |593,304
Newry, Our Lady's Grammar |864,763 |631,933
Newry, Sacred Heart |919,539 |693,272
Grammar
Newry, St. Colman's College |861,770 |635,856
Omagh, Christian Brothers' |916,202 |675,480
Omagh, Loreto Convent |916,969 |660,344
Portstewart, Dominican |517,616 |380,137
College
Strabane, Convent Grammar |547,553 |393,677
<1> Prior to 1990-91 the funding of voluntary grammar schools was
determined on a school year basis (August to July). In 1990-91 the
funding period was reduced to a eight months (August to March) so
that, when local management of schools was introduced on 1 April
1991, funding would be on the same basis as for other schools (ie
April to March).
Schools (Capital Work)
Mr. Hume : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the primary and secondary schools which have had tenders for major capital work approved and the amount involved in each case in 1989, 1990 and 1991.
Dr. Mawhinney : The information is as follows :
|Tender amount
|approved
|£ million
----------------------------------------------------------------
1989
Primary Schools
All Saints (Tattysallagh) Omagh |0.437
Grange, Kilkeel |0.223
St. Anne's, Finaghy |1,229
St. Anne's, Strabane |0.691
St. Mary's, Aughnacloy |0.329
St. Patrick's, Dungannon |1.626
Secondary Schools
Banbridge Academy |4.400
Drumcree High, Portadown |1.800
Dundonald Boys' High |2.400
Friends' School, Lisburn |1.235
Glengormley High |3.100
Loreto College, Coleraine |2.200
Movilla High, Newtownards |4.250
Omagh Academy |3.200
Our Lady's Grammar, Newry |4.299
Victoria College, Belfast |0.378
1990
Primary Schools
Hollybush, Londonderry |0.709
Langfield, Drumquin |0.320
Secondary Schools
Drumcree High, Portadown |0.218
Lagan College, Belfast |2.788
Larne Grammar |3.126
Loreto Convent Grammar, Omagh |1.450
Orangefield High, Belfast |3.443
St. Mark's High, Warrenpoint |2.899
St. Mary's Girls' High, Downpatrick |2.216
St. Michael's Grammar, Enniskillen |3.051
1991
Primary Schools
Star of the Sea, Belfast |0.986
St. Joseph's Belfast |0.760
St. McCartan's, Loughinisland |0.370
St. Patrick's Mullinahoe |0.406
St. Tierney's Roslea |0.422
Secondary Schools
Ballyclare |3.443
Castelderg |2.100
St. Columb's College, Londonderry |3.051
St. Mary's High, Limavady |0.199
Prisoners (Searches)
Mr. McNamara : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of strip searches made on female persons in Her Majesty's prison
Column 732
Maghaberry monthly since March 1991 ; what were the numbers of persons involved and the number of times each person was searched ; what prison contraband, smuggled item, or illegal correspondence was discovered in any search ; in how many cases prisoners refused to be searched and had to be restrained while the search was being conducted ; and what were the reasons for each search.Dr. Mawhinney : Details of the number of, and reasons for, strip searches of female prisoners in Her Majesty's prison Maghaberry from June 1990 to March 1991 have already been provided, Official Report, columns 428 -29, 7 May 1991. Details from April 1991 are as follows :
|April 1991|May 1991 |June 1991
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Searches
Total number of searches
carried out |35 |25 |33
Total number of inmates
searched |26 |19 |24
Number of prisoners
searched once |17 |15 |18
Number of prisoners
searched twice |9 |3 |4
Number of prisoners
searched more than
twice |Nil |1 |2
Reasons for search
First admission on
remand/awaiting trial |6 |5 |5
First admission on
sentence/final
discharge |16 |8 |13
Attending remand court |Nil |1 |Nil
Attending trial |2 |Nil |Nil
Inter-prison visits |4 |4 |8
Following prison visits |1 |Nil |Nil
Pre-release home leave |4 |6 |7
Compassionate home
leave |Nil |Nil |Nil
Visits to outside hospital |Nil |Nil |Nil
Returning from bail
application |Nil |Nil |Nil
Attendance at court for
bail |Nil |1 |Nil
Fines paid |2 |Nil |Nil
Working out scheme |Nil |Nil |Nil
Bail granted |Nil |Nil |Nil
No prohibited article was found during these searches. One prisoner refused to be searched.
Written Questions
Mr. Nellist : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many parliamentary questions for written answer have been answered by his Department so far this Session, and in the comparable period for the last Session ; and if he will publish a table of how many answers (a) do not give the information requested because of (i) disproportionate cost or (ii) other reasons, (b) give an undertaking to write to the hon. Member who asked the question and (c) were referred for answer to the chief executive of each next steps agency.
Dr. Mawhinney : The information requested is as follows :
|Total |Disproportionate|Undertaking to |Other reasons |Referred to next
|cost |write |steps agency
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
November 1989 to
October 1990 |1,140 |24 |23 |16 |0
November 1990 to 25
July 1991 |1,030 |21 |25 |22 |7
Teaching Costs
Mr. Hume : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were (a) the sums allocated to each secondary school in Northern Ireland to fund teaching costs in each school year since 1989, (b) the numbers of pupils in each school in each year and (c) the numbers of approved teaching posts.
Dr. Mawhinney : I shall write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.
Heart Operations
Rev. Ian Paisley : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many emergency heart operations have been carried out at the Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast in the past six weeks ; and if he will break down these by how many operations were performed by each specialist surgeon.
Mr. Hanley : The information requested is not held centrally. The hon. Gentleman may wish to contact Mr. Norman Ferguson, the chairman of the Eastern health and social services board.
Roe Valley Hospital
Rev. Ian Paisley : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on proposals for the future of Roe Valley hospital, Limavady.
Mr. Hanley : There are no proposals at present to change the services currently provided at the Roe Valley hospital.
I understand that the Western board is presently undertaking a review of health and social care provisions in the Limavady area. When this is completed any proposals affecting services at the hospital will be the subject of full consultation with all interested parties.
Power Station Sales
Mr. Temple-Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when Her Majesty's Government intend to initiate the sale of the four power stations to trade purchasers ; and when he expects the sale to be completed.
Mr. Needham : The first step in the process is being taken today with the issue of the preliminary memorandum. Prospective bidders will be afforded a period of four weeks in which to register an interest. Following the screening of responses, the information memorandum, on which the firm bids will be based, will issue to competing bidders at the beginning of September 1991. On the basis of the present programme all bids will require to be entered by the end of October. Completion of the sale of the power stations will, of course, be subject to Parliament's consideration of the draft Electricity (NI) Order and I hope to bring this before the House before the end of the year.
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Advice Agencies
Mr. McNamara : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures he is taking to ensure voluntary legal advice-giving agencies in Northern Ireland can continue to provide their services.
Dr. Mawhinney [holding answer 17 July 1991] : There are no plans to change the funding arrangements of legal advice-giving agencies in Northern Ireland.
UDR Four
Mr. Stanbrook : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about his consideration of the case of the Ulster Defence Regiment Four.
Mr. Brooke : I have decided to use my power under the Criminal Appeal (Northern Ireland) Act 1980 to refer the cases of Winston Allen, Noel Bell, James Hegan and Neil Latimer to the Court of Appeal.
TRANSPORT
Anti-spray Devices
Mr. Allason : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in the introduction of anti-spray devices on heavy lorries.
Mr. Chope : There have been regulations requiring spray suppression devices to be fitted to vehicles and trailers in the United Kingdom since 1984. Largely as a result of the United Kingdom's initiative the European Community has now reached an agreement on an EC directive 91/226 EEC for spray suppression based closely on the British standard. There is a commitment written into the directive to develop more effective vehicle tests to reduce spray and research is continuing at the Transport and Road Research Laboratory, which should result in improvements in the future.
Chelsea-Hackney Line
Mr. Sedgemore : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the development of the Chelsea-Hackney tube line ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : The Government remain of the view that the Chelsea- Hackney line will be needed to cater for current and forecast demand on the rail networks serving central London. It is also very conscious of the benefits which the line would have in terms of improving access to and from Hackney. The alignment is accordingly being protected through the planning system so that it can be taken forward when resources permit.
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Noise Prevention
Sir Dudley Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money was spent on noise prevention where the M40 motorway is concerned (a) before its original opening and (b) since its full implementation between Birmingham and London.
Mr. Chope : To date more than £2.7 million has been spent on specific noise mitigation measures on the M40 as a whole. It is not possible to give precise figures as noise amelioration measures are often an integral part of earthworks design and are not separately costed.
MOT Test
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he intends to introduce into the MOT test carbon monoxide emission limits of 3.5 per cent. or within 0.5 per cent. of manufacturer's specifications, for cars made after 1986 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Chope : The carbon monoxide limits in the amendment to the Construction and Use Regulations, which were introduced on 4 July, are 4.5 per cent. for a vehicle first used on or after 1 August 1983 and 6 per cent. for a vehicle first used between 1 August 1975 and 31 July 1983. It is expected the exhaust emmission standards will become more stringent in future years, to reflect improved technology and stricter European Community requirements for new vehicles, particularly the introduction of catalytic converters on a large scale.
British Rail Engineering Ltd.
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, under the terms of BREL's privatisation, what restrictions were placed on the extent of its liability for defects in design and manufacture ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : These were commercial decisions for British Rail, which negotiated the details of the sale.
Railway Crossings (Scotland)
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many open railway crossings there are in Scotland ; and if he will list all those which are still to be fitted with barriers in accordance with the Stott recommendations.
Mr. McLoughlin : The Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate has records of 24 open crossings in Scotland. The only crossing to be dealt with under Professor Stott's recommendations is the automatic open crossing at Rosarie, in the Grampian region, which is to be converted to an automatic half barrier crossing. No other changes, including reductions to the speed of trains over crossings, were required in Scotland.
Northern Ireland (Rail Links)
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are for improving Northern Ireland's rail links with the rest of Britain and Europe through routes in Scotland.
Mr. McLoughlin : It is for British Rail to come forward with any proposals.
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M12
Sir Robert McCrindle : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if it remains his intention that the proposed M12 should be a toll motorway.
Mr. Chope : Yes. My right hon. and learned Friend intends to hold a competition once he has identified a preferred route. Privately financed proposals will be invited and, if such a proposal proves to be the best option, the successful tenderer will be awarded a concession under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.
Sir Robert McCrindle : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has re-examined the justification for the proposed M12 between Chelmsford and the M25 in the light of recent traffic forecasts ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Chope : The justification for each motorway and trunk road scheme is kept under review throughout its development in the light of economic, environmental, traffic and other factors. That will happen in this case. As part of that process, roadside traffic interviews were held in June. They will also assist decisions about the capacity of the proposed motorway.
Railway Rolling Stock
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the late delivery by British Rail Engineering Ltd. of the new class 158 diesel trains has cost ScotRail in (a) lost revenue and (b) additional running costs in having to use old stock longer than planned for.
Mr. Freeman : This is a matter for the British Railways Board.
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how much faults of design and construction on the class 158 diesel trains have cost ScotRail in (a) lost revenue and (b) extra maintenance costs ;
(2) if he will instruct British Rail to take legal action against British Rail Engineering Ltd. to recover its financial losses caused by faults on, and the late delivery of, the new class 158 diesel trains.
Mr. Freeman : This is a contractual and commercial matter for British Rail.
Mr. Prescott : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the British Rail Board will announce its decision on the tenders it has received for building a further 47 class 465 electrical multiple unit four- car sets.
Mr. Rifkind : I will write to the hon. Member.
Seafarers
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to ascertain (a) the total number of British seafarers, (b) the number of British seafarers employed on United Kingdom- registered ships and (c) the total number of seafarers of all nationalities employed on United Kingdom-registered ships.
Mr. McLoughlin : The Department of Transport last year commissioned a study into the demand for, and supply of United Kingdom and Irish seafarers worldwide.
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This includes detailed information about manning levels, of United Kingdom, Irish, and foreign seafarers, both on UnitedKingdom-registered vessels and on those registered abroad. I announced receipt of the report of that study on 11 June this year, in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Wealden (Sir G. Johnson-Smith). Summaries of the report are available in the Library.
Virgin Airlines (Narita Airport, Tokyo)
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning Virgin's application for British Airways slots at Narita airport, Tokyo.
Mr. McLoughlin : None. Virgin Atlantic has made an application to the Civil Aviation Authority to vary British Airways' licence to serve Tokyo. In accordance with usual procedures the CAA has published the application, on 16 July, and has invited objections within 21 days.
A Bus Strategy for London"
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Mr. Forman) of 22 July, on the responses received to the document, "A Bus Strategy for London" ; how many respondents commented unfavourably on the Government's policy to deregulate and privatise the London bus services ; and how many favourably.
Mr. Freeman : Approximately 60 per cent. of respondents, including the hon. Lady, commented unfavourably on the Government's plans to deregulate bus services in London. Although a number of respondents commented on the timing and method of implementing privatisation, few expressed a view on the merits or demerits of the policy.
Duty-Free Goods
Sir Barney Hayhoe : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the benefit derived from the duty free concession to transport operators of air and sea routes during each of the last five years ; and whether he will make a statement.
Mr. McLoughlin : My Department's estimates of the impact of the abolition of duty-free allowances on air and sea transport have been based on commercially confidential information. My right hon. Friend will understand that in these circumstances I am unable to provide the information he is seeking.
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