| Previous Section | Home Page |
Column 174
Mr. Aitken : The RFA Green Rover is a replenishment ship for fresh water, fuel and refrigerated goods. She has no offensive capability. There are no grounds for reviewing the decision to sell the ship.
Defence Export Services Organisation
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will close the Defence Export Services Organisation in Indonesia.
United Nations Forces
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what British service personnel have been deployed with the United Nations peace-keeping force in Yugoslavia ; and what other units have been deployed with this force.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : At the United Nations' request, the United Kingdom is providing three military observers and a field ambulance unit of some 260 personnel for the United Nations peacekeeping force in Yugoslavia. Of these, 41 personnel, including the three military observers, are already in theatre ; the main United Kingdom contingent is expected to be deployed by the first week in June. Additionally a platoon of some 40 Royal Engineers may deploy with the field ambulance for about the first two months, to prepare accommodation and services. The total United Nations force of around 14,000 should comprise 12 infantry battalions, 100 military observers, 500 civilian police monitors and service and civilian support personnel.
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what additional pay or allowances service personnel deployed on United Nations duties in (a) Yugoslavia and (b) Cambodia will receive.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Military personnel deployed in support of the United Nations do not receive additional pay and allowances other than the standard daily separation payment for those married unaccompanied personnel who qualify under normal service regulations. It is normal practice for the United Nations to meet service men's in-country costs direct but where this cannot be done, a United Nations mission subsistence allowance is paid either to the unit or, as in the case of Cambodia, direct to the individual to meet the extra cost of living in-theatre. The daily United Nations subsistence rate for Cambodia is US$110 per man.
Ceremonial Duties and Uniforms
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to acquire further information about the costs of (a) ceremonial duties and (b) ceremonial uniforms.
Equipment Orders
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy relating to the release of information on in-service dates for equipment currently on order.
Mr. Aitken : The forecast in-service date of equipment will normally be unclassified. Although it is my
Column 175
Department's policy to be as open as possible about these matters, there are two categories of exception to this rule. The first is when the release of a forecast in-service date may constitute an intelligence advantage to a potential enemy. The second is when the release of the in-service date of equipment procured collaboratively is the subject of an international agreement with our partners.North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his United States counterpart regarding the strengthening of the European contribution to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : My right hon. and learned Friend met his United States counterpart in Washington on 11 and 12 May. They discussed a wide range of current defence topics.
Ethnic Monitoring
Mr. Heald : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's review of the policy relating to ethnic monitoring within the armed forces has been completed ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The armed forces are equal opportunity employers under the Race Relations Act 1976 and have undertaken a range of measures to increase recruitment from ethnic minority communities. To underline our commitment to equal opportunities for all ethnic groups, we have now decided to extend to serving personnel our present practice of monitoring the ethnic origins of applicants to join the armed forces. The information gathered will be used solely for monitoring our equal opportunity policy and individual's ethnic records will be guaranteed confidentiality. We have set further work in hand to draw up detailed proposals for a monitoring scheme. We intend that this will be implemented as soon as practicable.
EDUCATION
National Curriculum
Mr. Bermingham : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what response he has made to the report of the Engineering Council on technology within the national curriculum ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Forth : I welcome the Engineering Council's report as a useful contribution to the monitoring and review of the implementation of the national curriculum order on technology.
The National Curriculum Council keeps all the national curriculum subjects orders--including that for technology--under review and advises the Secretary of State accordingly. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will consider any such advice and make a statement in due course.
School Cleaning
Mr. Bermingham : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to ensure that school cleaning is not compromised by the local management of schools ; and if he will make a statement.
Column 176
Mr. Forth : I see no reason why school cleaning should be compromised by local management of schools. Local education authorities are required to delegate funds for cleaning by April 1993 or as initial contracts expire, using a formula which is clear and objective. It will then be for governors to decide the level of cleaning they wish to have at their school. Some LEAs have already delegated those funds to schools and I am aware of no evidence to suggest that the quality of school cleaning is being adversely affected.
SCOTLAND
Coastal Protection
Mr. Clifford Forsythe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to tighten the laws preventing the exploitation of the natural assets and wildlife of the seashore by private extraction companies.
Sir Hector Monro : The general principles which the Government pursue in relation to environmental issues are set out in the White Paper on the Environment "This Common Inheritance" (Cm 1200). The Government memorandum to the Environment Committee of the House of Commons, Session 1991-92, sets out the comprehensive nature of the present arrangements for protection of the coast.
The second report of the Environment Committee on coastal zone protection and planning (No. 17) is still under consideration and the Government response will be made in due course.
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made over the last decade of the damage to estuaries, its implications for estuarial flora and fauna, as well as adherence to international wildlife conventions ; and whether he has any proposals for the protection and improvement of estuaries.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 13 May 1992] : The general principles which the Government pursue in relation to environmental issues laid down out in the White Paper on the Environment "This Common Inheritance" (Cm. 1200). The Government memorandum to the Environment Committee of the House of Commons, Session 1991-92, sets out the comprehensive nature of the present arrangements for protection of the coast.
The second report of the Environment Committee on Coastal Zone Protection and Planning (No. 17) is still under consideration and the Government response will be made in due course.
In 1991, the Nature Conservancy Council (NCC), the Government's adviser on nature conservation issues, published a major report "Nature Conservation and Estuaries in Great Britain". Scottish Natural Heritage--the successor organisation to the NCC in Scotland with effect from 1 April 1992--is taking forward the report's findings and proposals at local level to identify priority estuaries and action required. It is for Scottish Natural Heritage to consider which estuarial sites require to be notified as sites of special scientific interest and to make recommendations to my right hon. Friend for the designation of sites in fulfilment of the United Kingdom's international nature conservation obligations.
Column 177
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to improve the protection of the coastline and offshore waters ; and when he expects to implement them.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 13 May 1992] : The general principles which the Government pursue in relation to environmental issues are set out in the White Paper on the Environment "This Common Inheritance" (Cm 1200). The Government memorandum to the Environment Committee of the House of Commons, Session 1991-92, sets out the comprehensive nature of the present arrangements for protection of the coast.
The second report of the Environment Committee on coastal zone protection and planning (No. 17) is still under consideration and the Government response will be made in due course.
Lockerbie Bombing
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his policy towards the release of official information relating to the Lockerbie air explosion investigation in cases where the information has already become public.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : It is generally for the Lord Advocate to determine, after consultation with any relevant Minister in the case of official information, whether information from the criminal investigation relating to the Lockerbie disaster should be released. The question whether public interest immunity restrains the giving of evidence when material relating to the Lockerbie investigation has become public or has apparently become public is one which is expected to be considered in proceedings currently before the High Court of Justice arising from the civil litigation in the United States in the Lockerbie case.
Sir Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps the police inquiring into the Lockerbie bombing incident have taken to seek information on the lie detecting tests undertaken by Kilin Tuzcu and Roland O'Neill at Frankfurt airport in January 1990 ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The circumstances of this matter were investigated by the German and United States authorities in consultation with the police and Crown Office. It would not be proper for any comment to be made on behalf of the Lord Advocate on the outcome of these inquiries, in particular while criminal proceedings are active. However, it has been established judicially in Scotland that the results of so-called lie detector tests are wholly inadmissible in criminal proceedings.
Immunity Certificates
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the criteria on which his office and the Lord Advocate will base a decision to issue a public interest immunity certificate in relation to proceedings before the courts.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Public interest immunity is claimed where the Secretary of State or the Lord Advocate considers that it would be injurious to the public interest for particular matters to be the subject of evidence. The particular interest to be protected will vary according to the particular circumstances of the case.
Column 178
Local Government Finance
Mr. Bill Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to take capping action against any Scottish local authority in the current year.
Mr. Lang : I have now analysed the 1992-93 budget estimates of all Scottish local authorities. All authorities have budgeted at or below the expenditure limits implied by the provisional capping principles which I announced on 14 October 1991. In these circumstances, I do not propose to take capping action against any Scottish local authority this year.
Overall, authorities plan to increase their expenditure in 1992-93--as compared with the budget estimates for 1991-92--by 5.6 per cent. and the excess of budgets over grant-aided expenditure (GAE) has been reduced from 2.1 per cent. in 1991-92 to 1.2 per cent. this year. This outcome demonstrates the effectiveness of my strengthened capping powers in constraining the growth in local authority expenditure and it is my intention to issue later this year provisional capping principles for 1993- 94.
Home Grown Timber Advisory Committee
Mr. Kynoch : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans there are for improving the environmental representation on the Home Grown Timber Advisory Committee.
Sir Hector Monro : The Home Grown Timber Advisory Committee (HGTAC) is the principal statutory body responsible for advising the Forestry Commissioners on forestry matters in Great Britain. The HGTAC already has two members representing environmental interests, and I am pleased to announce that it has now decided to set up a sub-committee to provide a wider forum for informed and constructive consideration of the environmental aspects of forestry. The HGTAC has invited leading representatives from environmental organisations and the forestry industry to become members of the sub-committee. We greatly welcome this initiative, which should further improve understanding between the interests concerned and assist the Forestry Commissioners in fulfilling their statutory duty to balance the needs of productive forestry with those of the environment.
Environmental Impact Assessments
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many environmental impact assessments have been presented with planning applications in each of the last three years ; and what assessment has been made of their compliance with the European Community directive on environmental impact assessment.
Mr. Allan Stewart [holding answer 13 May 1992] : The number of environmental statements which have been notified to the Scottish Office is as follows :
|Number
-------------------------------------------
15 July 1988 to 14 July 1989 |7
15 July 1989 to 14 July 1990 |17
15 July 1990 to 14 July 1991 |26
The planning authority to which the planning application is made is the competent authority for the purposes of European Community directive 85/337/EC on
Column 179
environmental assessment. It is the responsibility of that authority to ensure that an environmental statement meets all relevent requirements as part of the process of considering the associated planning application. Where an application is the subject of an appeal, or is called-in, the responsibility transfers to my right hon. Friend.AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Ethnic Minorities
Mr. Janner : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to recruit members of ethnic minorities in top grades of employment at his Department.
Mr. Curry : Recruitment to senior grades is undertaken by the Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency on behalf of the Civil Service Commissioners. Recruitment to all posts in the Civil Service is conditioned by the principle of fair and open competition. Steps have been taken in publicising opportunities and through making recruitment rules more flexible to help tap the ethnic minority work force.
Forestry Policy
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he received proposals from Wildlife Link on environmentally based forestry policy for the 1990s.
Mr. Curry : I received a copy of Wildlife Link's report "Future Forestry : A New Direction for Forest Policy" at the end of April.
Animal Welfare
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what standards he will press the EC to adopt in relation to (a) keeping of battery hens, particularly with respect to size of cage and (b) care of animals in transit, particularly with respect to feeding and watering intervals for such animals ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Soames : The Government believe that the current Community minimum standards for battery cages are unacceptable. We shall be arguing for a substantial increase in space allowances for each hen and other improvements to the cages together with the highest possible standards for alternative systems. We are now awaiting the report and conclusions of the Commission's review of egg-laying systems.
On transport of animals, we will be pressing for the excellent rules which apply in the United Kingdom to be reflected in the further decisions to be taken by the Community.
Marine Environment
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to press for the amendment of the common fisheries policy to ensure that all decisions taken under the policy take into account the prevention of effects of ecosystems and marine wildlife.
Mr. Curry : The Government are most concerned to seek the avoidance of incidental catches of marine
Column 180
mammals. In the context of the new agreement under the Bonn convention, we shall be seeking to monitor further the small cetacean populations in the North sea and the Baltic and the impact of fisheries.Chernobyl
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the length of time that will have to pass before there will be no restriction on the movement of farm animals arising from high levels of radioactive contamination following the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.
Mr. Curry : While it is not possible to say when all restrictions on sheep from the parts of Cumbria affected by the Chernobyl accident will finally be lifted, considerable progress has been made since 1986. Only 138 of the 1,670 holdings originally subject to controls remain under restriction. We are continuing our monitoring and research efforts with the aim of releasing the remaining area at the earliest opportunity consistent with the need to ensure that the food chain remains fully protected.
I will be reviewing the results later this year and considering the possibility of further relaxation of restrictions. In the meantime, we shall continue with our "mark and release" and compensation arrangements which allow normal farming practices with minimum disruption.
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
High Court Proceedings
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will outline the provisions relating to the circumstances in which proceedings in the High Court may be held in camera.
Mr. John M. Taylor : The hearing of civil or family proceedings to which the public would normally be admitted may be held in camera only where, in the opinion of the court, a public hearing would defeat the ends of justice. In criminal proceedings, a prosecutor or a defendant may apply to the court for all or part of a trial to be held in camera for reasons of national security or the protection of a witness or other person.
On the Trail of Terror"
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what consideration the Lord Chancellor has given to the book "On the Trail of Terror," a copy of which has been sent to him ; and what assessment he has now made of the Adjournment debate of 20 January, Official Report, column 153, initiated by the hon. Member for Linlithgow, in respect of the references to the documents referred to in the book.
Mr. John M. Taylor : The Lord Chancellor has not yet received a copy of the book "On the Trail of Terror", and has not therefore had an opportunity to consider it. The Adjournment debate, to which the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, replied, does not appear to raise issues within the Lord Chancellor's responsibility.
Column 181
Social Security Commissioner
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the Lord Chancellor will take steps towards the appointment of a social security commissioner resident in Wales.
Mr. John M. Taylor : No. The Cardiff office of the social security commissioner was closed in 1986 as there were insufficient hearings to justify its full-time status. The present arrangements for regular hearings in Cardiff by a visiting commissioner adequately meet present demands.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Income Support
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will restore the income support entitlement of young people aged 16 and 17 years.
Mr. Burt : The Government's policy of providing a guarantee of a youth training (YT) place to all young people who want one, instead of their depending on social security benefits, is the most effective way of encouraging young people to make the most of their opportunities. However, income support is available to those vulnerable groups of young people who are unable to participate in YT and to those seeking a YT place who would otherwise be at risk of severe hardship. We have no plans to restore general entitlement to income support, but we are monitoring closely the operation of these rules with a view to streamlining their administration where possible.
Disability Allowances
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for the disability living allowance have been received by his Department ; and if he will provide a breakdown by (a) the number and percentage of these that resulted in an award, (b) the number and percentage that were refused and (c) the number and percentage refused by grounds for refusal.
Mr. Scott : The total number of new claims received by 30 April 1992 was 130,262.
|(i) |(ii)
|Number |As percentage
|of new claims
|decided
|per cent.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of new claims decided<1> |29,453
Awards and refusals made on new claims
Awards |17,562 |59.6
Refusals |11,891 |40.4
Grounds for refusal
Disability conditions not satisfied3,853 |13.08
Other<2> |8,033 |27.27
<1>Excluding claims from people already in receipt of mobility allowance or
attendance allowance.
<2>Includes age and residence and presence conditions.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications have been received for the disability working allowance ; and if he will provide a breakdown by (a) the number and percentage of these
Column 182
that resulted in an award, (b) the number and percentage that were refused and (c) the number and percentage refused by grounds for refusal.Mr. Scott : Disability working allowance is a new benefit introduced in April for some disabled people who work but have limited earning capacity. Up to 8 May, 9,017 claims had been received. Of these, 588, or 6.5 per cent. resulted in an award and 7, 188, or 79.7 per cent. were unsuccessful. The grounds for refusing benefit in the unsuccessful cases were as follows :
|Number |Per cent.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Claimant not in remunerative work |4,230 |58.8
Earnings above limit |471 |6.6
No "qualifying" benefit |2,000 |27.8
Claimant receiving family credit |173 |2.4
Other reasons |314 |4.4
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide a breakdown by (a) average hourly earnings, (b) average hours worked, (c) average age, (d) sex, (e) type of disability and (f) qualifying benefit of (i) successful and (ii) unsuccessful applications received for disability working allowance.
Mr. Scott : Not all the information is available. Such information as is available is in the table and is derived from a provisional analysis of the claims received up to 12 May.
|Recipients |Unsuccessful
|Claims
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average number of hours worked |29 |Not available
Average age |35 |42
Sex-men |332 |4,658
women |276 |2,774
Qualifying benefits: |Not available
Invalidity benefit |60
Severe disablement allowance |32
Income support with disability
premium |88
Housing benefit with disability
premium |52
Disability living allowance |64
Mobility allowance, attendance
Allowance and other benefits |492
Note: Customers may have more than one qualifying benefit.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the number and outcome of applications received for (a) the lower rate care component or (b) the lower rate mobility component of the disability living allowance broken down by (i) people previously in receipt of either attendance allowance or mobility allowance and (ii) people not previously in receipt of either of these two benefits.
Mr. Scott : In general, claims for disability living allowance are made for the benefit as a whole, rather than for individual rates of components--although customers may choose to supply details about only one of the two components if they wish. An adjudication officer then determines whether there is entitlement to the benefit and, if so, at which rate or rates.
Initial statistics show that by 30 April 1992 the number of people who were not previously in receipt of either mobility allowance or attendance allowance and had been awarded either one or both of the new lower rate components was 10,392. In addition, there were
Column 183
respectively 4,786 lower rate mobility awards and 1,406 lower rate care awards made to people previously in receipt of attendance allowance and mobility allowance.Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for the mobility component of the disability living allowance were received in February, March and April 1992 (a) from people aged 66 years or over and (b) in respect of children under five years of age ; and how many applications for the mobility allowance were received in February, March and April 1991 (i) from people aged 66 years or over and (ii) in respect of children under five years of age.
Mr. Scott : The requested information about the number of applications received for the mobility component of disability living allowance is not available.
The number of claims for mobility allowance received in February, March and April 1991 from people aged 66 and over and in respect of children under five is in the table :
Month |Number of
|claims
----------------------------------
February 1991 |967
March 1991 |1,084
April 1991 |1,256
|---
Total |3,307
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for the care component of the disability living allowance have been received from people aged 66 years or over.
Mr. Scott : In general, claims for disability living allowance are made for the benefit as a whole, rather than for individual components-- although customers may choose to supply details about only one of the two components if they wish. An adjudication officer then determines whether there is entitlement to the benefit and, if so, at which rate or rates. The information requested is not available.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what number and proportion of all applications for the disability living allowance were either (a) from a claimant who has requested a medical examination in preference to completing the self-assessment claim form or (b) where the adjudication officer has required a claimant to undergo a medical examination.
Mr. Scott : The information is not available in the form requested. However, as at 1 May 1992, out of a total of 29,453 disability living allowance claims decided, 1,305, or 4 per cent., included, as part of the evidence before the adjudication officer, a report by an examining medical practitioner.
Independent Living Fund
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to replace the independent living fund after June 1993 ; and if applications to the fund will continue to be accepted up to and including June 1993.
Mr. Scott : The independent living fund will continue to make new awards until the end of the current financial year. From April 1993 local authorities, which are best
Column 184
placed to assess need and allocate local resources, will be responsible--in conjunction with users, carers and other interested agencies--for assessing individual needs and arranging flexible and innovative care packages under the community care arrangements. We are, however, committed to maintaining after that date a fund which supports the most severely disabled people. Details of these arrangements will be announced in due course.Appeal Tribunals (Waiting Times)
Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what was the average waiting time for appeals to the social security appeal tribunal in (a) 1989, (b) 1990 and (c) 1991 ; (2) what was the average waiting time for appeals from (a) Orkney claimants and (b) Shetland claimants to the social security appeals tribunal in (i) 1989, (ii) 1990 and (iii) 1991.
Mr. Burt : Administrative statistics for social security appeal tribunals are not available for areas smaller than a former social security region. The relevant information for the former Scotland region and Great Britain is in the table. For both, the latest information available is for the first six months of 1991. Average waiting time from lodgement of an appeal to the date of hearing for all appeals to social security appeal tribunals :
Year |Great |Scotland
|Britain |weeks
|weeks
------------------------------------------------
1989 |25.4 |28.4
1990 |23.1 |20.4
January to June 1991 |23.6 |22.3
Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the frequency of sittings of the social security appeal tribunal in (a) Kirkwall and (b) Lerwick in (i) 1989, (ii) 1990 and (iii) 1991.
Mr. Burt : Responsibility for the administration of social security appeal tribunals lies with the president of the independent tribunal service, His Honour Judge Holden, and the hon. Member may wish to contact his office direct to obtain this information.
Pensioners
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what increases are to be paid to pensioners annually.
Miss Widdecombe : We are committed to uprating retirement pensions annually in line with price increases. Additionally, pensioners in receipt of income support and some other benefits will find these reviewed annually.
WALES
Ethnic Minorities
Mr. Janner : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when his Department last conducted a survey of the ethnic origin of its employees ; when it next plans to do so ; and whether he will make a statement.
| Next Section
| Home Page |