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PRIME MINISTER
Poland
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the matters dicussed during the recent visit of the Prime Minister of Poland and the outcome of those discussions.
The Prime Minister : I had valuable discussions with Ms Suchocka on a wide range of issues.
Ms Suchoka briefed me on the Polish economic reform programme. We discussed Poland's wish to become a full member of the European Community, and ways in which the United Kingdom could help Poland towards this goal. We agreed on the need to develop trade and investment. Ms Suchocka stressed the importance to Poland of the restoration of ECGD cover. I agreed to review the position.
Military Equipment
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish in the Official Report his correspondence to date with the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent since 24 November 1992 on the involvement of United Kingdom companies in supplying Iraq with military equipment, the sales of United Kingdom origin military equipment to Yugoslavia and United Kingdom compliance with the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
The Prime Minister : No. It is not my normal practice to do so.
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China (Human Rights)
Mr. David Atkinson : To ask the Prime Minister when he now expects to receive the final report on the outcome of the visit to China of the delegation led by Lord Howe to discuss human rights last December ; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave him on 17 December 1992 at column 352. Work on the report by my right hon. noble and learned Friend, Lord Howe, is well advanced. As soon as it is available we propose to place copies in the Library of the House and to make it available to the public. We continue to raise the issue of human rights in China, most recently in Geneva at the UN Commission on Human Rights, and with Chinese embassy officials here on 4 March.
Liverpool
Mr. Parry : To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit Liverpool ; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : I have at present no plans to do so.
Polish Prime Minister
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister what matters in regard to (a) PHARE, (b) environmental technology transfer and (c) export controls on military or dual-use equipment were discussed during his recent meeting with his Polish counterpart in London.
The Prime Minister : These matters were not raised in my discussions with the Polish Prime Minister.
Kashmir
Mr. Madden : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his letter of January to the hon. Member for Bradford West, what information he has received about the detention of Kashmiri leaders, Shabir Shah and Yasin Malik in Delhi ; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : We have asked the Indian Government through our High Commission in New Delhi for information about Shabir Shah and Yasin Malik and are awaiting a reply.
Public Bodies
Dr. Wright : To ask the Prime Minister what percentage of total Government spending is accounted for by the bodies listed in "Public Bodies 1992".
The Prime Minister : Gross expenditure by executive
non-departmental public bodies was 8.2 per cent. of general Government expenditure in 1978-79 and 5.8 per cent. in 1991-92.
Dr. Wright : To ask the Prime Minister how many non-departmental public bodies there were in (a) 1979 and (b) the last year for which figures are available.
The Prime Minister : There were 2,167 non-departmental public bodies in 1979 consisting of 492 executive bodies, 1,485 advisory bodies, 70 tribunals and 120 boards of visitors ; and 1,412 in 1992 consisting of 369 executive bodies, 846 advisory bodies, 66 tribunals and 131 boards of visitors.
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Dr. Wright : To ask the Prime Minister how many appointments to public bodies and positions he is able to make ; and if he will list the bodies and positions.
The Prime Minister : The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Dr. Wright : To ask the Prime Minister what was the total budget of all non-departmental public bodies in (a) 1979 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available.
The Prime Minister : Total expenditure by executive
non-departmental public bodies was £6,150 million in 1979 and £13,750 million in 1992.
Scott Inquiry
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister how many of additional topics have been referred to Lord Justice Scott since his terms of reference were established ; and when he will now report.
The Prime Minister : The wide terms of reference of Lord Justice Scott's inquiry enable him to examine whatever topics he considers relevant to the issues of his inquiry. Lord Justice Scott has not yet announced when he expects to publish his report.
Water Privatisation, Scotland
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Angus East, of 9 March, Official Report , column 783, what plans the Scottish Office now has to announce the conclusions of its consultative process on the privatisation of the water industry in Scotland ; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is considering the responses to the Government's consultation paper on the future of water and sewerage in Scotland. An announcement will be made when that consideration is complete.
Ghazanfer Ali
Mr. Madden : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his letter of 21 October concerning Ghazanfer Ali, in prison in Pakistan, what further information he has received about the progress of the case ; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : Mr. Ghazanfer Ali is facing two murder charges. They were due to be heard on 13 and 14 March 1993. We shall continue to watch developments.
Prerogative Powers
Mr. Allen : To ask the Prime Minister what prerogative powers pertain to public borrowing.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 9 March 1993] : Central Government borrowing to raise money for general purposes is undertaken under the National Loans Act of 1968 and not under the prerogative. Public borrowing to raise money for various specific functions is generally undertaken under statutory powers.
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Maastricht Treaty
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Prime Minister when he last communicated with his counterparts in other EC countries over the proposed ratification of the Maastricht treaty by the United Kingdom ; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 12 March 1993] : I last discussed ratification of the Maastricht treaty with my European Community colleagues collectively at the Edinburgh European Council on 11 and 12 December 1992. I have since reaffirmed to our partners our commitment to ratify the treaty, most recently in my meeting with the Prime Minister of Denmark on 9 March.
Scottish Water Privatisation
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answers to the hon. Member for Angus, East (Mr. Welsh) and for Edinburgh, Leith (Mr. Chisholm), of 9 March, Official Report, column 783-4, whether a decision has now been taken to proceed with the privatisation of Scottish water.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 12 March 1993] : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has consulted widely on the future of the water and sewerage services in Scotland. We will announce our conclusions after the responses have been carefully considered. No decision has been taken.
DUCHY OF LANCASTER
Tinnitus
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will list all projects currently being undertaken by the Medical Research Council specifically targeted at the problems of tinnitus ; and how much money has been allocated to each project ; (2) if he will list all projects currently being undertaken by the Institute of Hearing Research specifically targeted at the problems of tinnitus ; and how much money has been allocated to each project ;
(3) what plans he has to fund medical research projects specifically targeted at the relief of tinnitus ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. William Waldegrave : The main Government agency for the funding of medical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC's Institute of Hearing Research in Nottingham is conducting research into the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of tinnitus and the rehabilitation of tinnitus sufferers. There is one project directly relevant to this condition entitled "Clinical and Psychoacoustical Studies of Tinnitus". Elements of other projects being undertaken at the Institute of Hearing Research are also applicable to the problem of tinnitus. In the last financial year, 1991-92, the expenditure figure for research specifically targeted at the problem of tinnitus was £129,000. In addition, the council supports a considerable number of projects in hearing research, many of which may have implications for the understanding of this condition. The council's total expenditure on hearing research in 1991-92 was £2.6 million. The council is always willing to consider soundly based scientific proposals in competition with other applications.
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ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Maastricht Treaty
Mr. Hain : To ask the Attorney-General what would be the impact upon the United Kingdom's ability to ratify the Maastricht treaty of making amendment 119 to the European Communities (Amendment) Bill ; and if he will give an explanatory opinion.
The Attorney-General : I will advise the House, as necessary in relation to any particular point, if and when such a point arises during the Committee's consideration of the Bill.
NATIONAL HERITAGE
Hotel Industry
Mr. Clifton-Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what steps the Government have taken since the publication in 1985 of the White Paper, "Lifting the Burden", to reduce the regulation of the United Kingdom hotel industry.
Mr. Key : Since the 1985 White Paper was published many deregulatory gains of benefit to hotels and other types of business have been made. These include measures to speed up planning appeals, removal of the requirement for small firms to file full accounts, and the introduction of experimental schemes liberalising road signs for hotels. The hotel sector has welcomed the proposal by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment to abolish the remaining wages councils.
My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade recently announced the creation of seven task forces of business people to examine the scope for further deregulation in various sectors, which will add to the work going on across Whitehall. One of the task forces will cover retailing and tourism, including hotels.
Mr. John Birt
Mr. Corbett : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to the answer from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 8 March, Official Report, column 396, what general direction he gave when consulted about the appointment of Mr. John Birt as director-general of the BBC on a consultancy contract arrangement.
Mr. Brooke : I gave no general direction ; nor was I consulted on this matter. The appointment of senior BBC staff and how they are remunerated are matters for the corporation's board of governors.
Olympic Symbol
Sir Thomas Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the outcome of the consultation about legislating to protect the Olympic symbol in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Brooke : My Department together with the Department of Trade and Industry has consulted widely with those who have an interest in the Olympic symbol, motto and related terms. I am pleased to report that there is overwhelming support for the proposal to legislate to
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confer the United Kingdom rights to the Olympic symbol, motto and related terms on the British Olympic Association, with suitable safeguards for holders of existing rights. Such a measure would bring substantial benefits to British Olympic teams as well as satisfying the IOC's requirements of countries bidding to host the Olympic Games. It underlines once again the seriousness of the Government's commitment to supporting the British bid to host the Olympic Games in Manchester in the year 2000. Legislation will be introduced as soon as the parliamentary timetable allows it.Monuments
Mr. Martlew : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many scheduled monuments have been destroyed in each of the last five years in England ; what were the causes of the damage or destruction ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Brooke : I am advised by English Heritage that, according to its records, no scheduled monuments were completely destroyed during the past five years. However, there were a number of cases of reported damage, due to a variety of causes, and the numbers are as follows : 1988-89 74 ; 1989- 90--53 ; 1990-91--72 ; 1991-92--28 ; 1992-93--46.
It is an offence under the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 to carry out any works to a scheduled monument without obtaining prior consent or unless the works are permitted under the Ancient Monuments (Class Consents) Order 1981. In appropriate cases offenders are prosecuted.
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Sites of Archaeological Interest
Mr. Martlew : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many inspectors have been employed to carry out the scheduling of sites of archaeological interest in England in each year since 1985 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Brooke : Prior to 1988 there were 15 English Heritage inspectors dealing with all matters concerning ancient monuments in England ; none of these was concerned specifically with the scheduling of monuments. English Heritage subsequently embarked on its monuments protection programme (MPP) and in 1988 three inspectors were appointed with specific responsibility for managing the MPP and supervising field workers who now prepare scheduling recommendations. The complement of field workers has risen from four in 1989-90 to eight in 1990-91, 13 in 1991-92, and 16 in 1992-93.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Prostitution
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women were charged in courts in the Greater London area for soliciting for prostitution in each of the last three years.
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women were charged in the courts in the Greater London area for living on the immoral earnings of prostitution in each of the last three years.
Mr. Jack : Information for the Metropolitan police district (including the City of London) is given in the table ; 1992 information will not be available until the autumn.
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Number of persons convicted in the Metropolitan Police District (including the City of London)
for certain offences by sex 1989, 1990 and 1991
Convictions
[NL] |Offence |Year |Males
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kerb-crawling |Sexual Offences Act 1985, Section 1 |1989 |49 |-
|1990 |47 |10
|1991 |87 |-
Persistent soliciting of women for the |Sexual Offences Act 1985, Section 2 |1989 |4 |-
purposes of prostitution |1990 |9 |1
|1991 |33 |-
Common prostitute loitering or soliciting |Street Offences Act 1959, Section 1 |1989 |- |4,500
for the purposes of prostitution |1990 |15 |4,336
|1991 |9 |4,459
Living on earnings of prostitution or |Sexual Offences Act 1956, Sections 30 and|1989 |30 |4
exercising control over prostitute |31 |1990 |20 |7
|1991 |22 |1
Living wholly or in part on the earnings of |Sexual Offences Act 1967, Section 5(1) |1989 |- |1
male prostitution |1990 |2 |-
|1991 |- |-
Animal Experimentation
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to increase the representation of animal welfare organisations on the Animal Procedures Committee.
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Mr. Charles Wardle : In making appointments to the Animal Procedures Committee my right hon. and learned Friend is required by section 19 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to have regard to the disirability of ensuring that the interests of animal welfare are adequately represented. The current composition of the committee is in line with that requirement.
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Firearms
Mr. Nigel Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what checks are made on the people to whom firearm licences are awarded.
Mr. Charles Wardle : Under the Firearms Act 1968, firearms certificates are issued by chief officers of police. Before granting or renewing a certificate, that chief police officer must be satisfied that an applicant has a good reason for requiring the firearm and can be permitted to have it without danger to public safety or to the peace. A certificate must not be granted to any person whom the chief officer has reason to believe to be prohibited by the Act from possessing a firearm, or to be of intemperate habits or unsound mind, or to be for any reason unfitted to be entrusted with a firearm.
Prison Service Industries
Mr. Mike O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the receipts from prison service industries in each of the last five years ; and what is the estimate for the current financial year.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The total receipts of prison service industries and farms in the past five years and the estimate for the current financial year are as follows :
Year |£ million ------------------------------ 1987-88 |6.3 1988-89 |5.7 1989-90 |5.5 1990-91 |5.5 1991-92 |5.3 1992-93 |5.0
Accommodation Charges
Mr. Mike O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total estimated cost for 1992-93 for bridging loans and other accommodation charges met from public funds in respect of transfers of staff within (a) the prison service, (b) the police service and (c) employees of his Department.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : Information is not available in the specific form requested. The estimated cost for 1992-93 of all expenditure in respect of the transfer of staff (which includes travel-related costs as well as bridging loans and accommodation-related charges) is £39, 229,000 for the prison service and £4,736,000 for the rest of the Home Office. The question of costs arising from staff transfers within the police forces is a matter for individual chief officers of police.
International Crime
Mr. Mike O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects a report from the Trevi ad hoc working party on Europol ; and what co-operation exists between that working party and the EC ad hoc working group on international organised crime.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The ad hoc working group of Europol reports to Trevi Ministers once during each EC presidency. It will next report at the Trevi ministerial meeting in Copenhagen on 1 and 2 June.
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Mr. Mike O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects a report from the EC ad hoc working group on international organised crime set up in September 1992 ; whether that report will be published ; and what consideration is being given in the report to dealing with the organisation and structures of international crime organisations.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The ad hoc working group on international organised crime is expected to report to Ministers of the Interior and Justice during the Danish presidency. It will be for these Ministers to decide whether the report should be published. The ad hoc working group on Europol and the ad hoc working group on organised crime have some common membership.
Police Cells
Mr. Mike O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total estimated cost of keeping prisoners in police cells for 1992-93.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The estimated cost of keeping prisoners in police cells in 1992-93 is £92.2 million. Some further claims are being processed and the final figure for the year may be slightly higher.
Drug Trafficking
Mr. Mike O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the cost to his Department of participation in CELAD since 1989 ; what practical proposals have come from this committee ; and what is his analysis of its effectiveness in combating international drugs trafficking.
Mr. Jack : The full cost of Home Office participation in CELAD is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The travel and subsistence cost of Home Office officials' attendance at the 29 CELAD meetings since 1989 is in the region of £28,000. The cost of hosting the three CELAD meetings in London during the United Kingdom presidency was £135,595.
The practical proposals made by CELAD since its inception include the preparation and implementation of an EC-wide action plan on measures to combat drug misuse, the establishment of a European drugs monitoring centre and the European Drugs Prevention Week (16 to 22 November 1992).
CELAD has not been directly involved in developing measures to combat international drug trafficking. Within the European Community, this is mainly the responsibility of the Trevi group, the customs mutual assistance group and the enforcement agencies of member states. CELAD has, however, helped to develop a coherent Community strategy to combat drug misuse, which has included proposals to combat trafficking.
Common European Time
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the minimum notice for introducing common European time ;
(2) what legislation is needed to introduce common European time.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The adoption of central European time by the United Kingdom would require primary
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legislation. Subject to any necessary future consultation, our understanding is that transport operators would be the sector requiring the longest period of notice, of between 12 to 18 months, in which to prepare for such a move.Witness Intimidation
Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many proceedings have been brought for witness intimidation in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
Mr. Jack : It is not possible from the information held centrally to identify offences of interference with witness from other common law offences of "attempting to pervert the course of public justice".
The table shows the number of prosecutions in England and Wales from 1987 to 1991 for attempting to pervert the course of public justice ; 1992 data will not be available until autumn 1993.
Number of prosecutions at magistrates' courts for the offence of attempting to pervert the course of public justice<1> under common law for the years 1987 to 1991 (England and Wales) Year |Prosecutions --------------------------------------- 1987 |652 1988 |864 1989 |1,139 1990 |1,376 1991 |1,565 <1> Under common law the offence of "attempting to pervert the course of public justice" includes fabrication of false evidence, causing person to be wrongly convicted and interference with witness etc.
Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the number of cases of violence against the person which collapsed because of witness intimidation in each of the last five years.
Mr. Jack : I regret that this information is not available.
Unitary Fine System
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations have been received about the unitary fine system operating in magistrates courts ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jack : The provisions in the Criminal Justice Act 1991 relating to unit fines were implemented on 1 October 1992. Between that date and 28 February 1993 some 77 letters have been received from right hon. and hon. Members specifically about the sentencing provisions of the Act ; 52 of these letters were concerned either in whole or in part with the unit fines scheme. Figures on the number of letters received from members of the public about the scheme are not readily available from correspondence records and could be compiled only at disproportionate costs.
The new sentencing framework, including the unit fine scheme, is being carefully monitored, and we will consider fully any representations made about it.
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Coroners
Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what power he has to investigate the proper conduct of coroners' courts and to discipline coroners.
Mr. Charles Wardle : Under section 3(4) of the Coroners Act 1988, the Lord Chancellor alone has the power to dismiss a coroner. By agreement between the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Home Office, inquiries into complaints against coroners are carried out by the Home Office, with the Lord Chancellor's Department becoming involved only where there is a clear instance of grounds for dismissal. In carrying out its investigative role, the Home Office acts on a non-statutory basis. It has no disciplinary powers.
Criminal Justice Act 1991
Mr. Brandreth : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representions he has received from law societies in the north-west on the effects of the Criminal Justice Act 1991.
Mr. Jack : We have not been able to identify any such representations.
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