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Papers considered concerning sheep dips
(a) Published Papers
Report of National Poisons Unit survey of exposure to sheep dip (1991).
Veterinary Medicines Directorate/Health and Safety Executive guidance leaflets on safe handling and disposal of sheep dips and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health requirements.
National Office of Animal Health leaflet on Organophosphorus Sheep Dips (November 1992).
National Proficiency Tests Council, "Certificates of Competence in the Safe Use of Veterinary Medicines" (1993).
Report on toxic chemicals in agriculture (Zuckerman Report)--1951 (HMSO).
Chronic painters' syndrome, P. Arlien-Soborg et al, in Acta neurol. scandinav., 60 (1979).
(b) Preliminary Papers intended for future publication by their authors
Report of consideration of suspected adverse reactions by the Appraisal Panel for Human Suspected Adverse Reactions to Veterinary Medicines.
Preliminary report from the Institute of Occupational Medicine on an assessment of occupational hygiene and exposure to insecticides and the effectiveness of protective clothing during sheep dipping operations.
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Preliminary results of a study of the electrophysiological changes in the neuromuscular system and biochemical effects of a single dose of organophosphate in the mouse by S. S. Kelly, E. Mutch, F. M. Williams and P. G. Blain.Draft results of a study of peripheral nerve dysfunction in farmers using sheep dip, undertaken by Dr. G. A. Jamal and others. (c) VPC Papers available to enquirers
Summary of existing scientific literature on long-term effects of organophosphorus com- pounds in humans.
Summary of current research into organophosphorus compounds. Paper on disposal of sheep dips.
A paper on product labels : operator and environmental warnings. Summary of suspected human adverse reaction reports received by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate.
Text of presentation made by Mrs. E. Sigmund, South West Environmental Protection Agency.
Summary of presentation made by the Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh.
A simplified overview of the spectrum of efficacy of sheep ectoparasiticides used in the United Kingdom.
(d) VPC papers containing confidential information
Details of products currently licensed as ectopara- siticides for sheep.
Evaluation of toxicity data and estimation of consumer risk for : -- Chlorfenvinphos
--Diazinon
--Propetamphos
Data on impurities present in diazinon, chlorfenvin- phos and propetamphos used in the manufacture of sheep dips.
Data on residues in fleece and lanolin and problems for the woollen industry."
I have accepted this advice and my officials are now discussing with representatives of the veterinary pharmaceutical industry, the companies concerned and other interested parties the arrangements for the urgent implementation of the committee's recommendations. I am grateful to the committee for the full and careful consideration it has given to these difficult issues, and look forward to receiving further advice after its October meeting. Copies of the published papers, and those marked as available to inquirers, identified in the annex listing papers considered by the Veterinary Products Committee at its meeting, have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
sers to Government Departments when advice on policy discussion papers is commissioned from the private sector ; whether the terms of that letter are standard throughout all Government Departments ; when he last reviewed the need for advisers to be constrained in this way ; and what were his conclusions.
Mr. Waldegrave : It is for Departments and agencies individually to seek appropriate assurances of confidentiality from those with whom they have dealings. The
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terms of such assurances will vary according to the prevailing circumstances, including the nature of the official dealings. If my hon. Friend has a specific concern and will write to me with further details of it, I will pursue the matter further.Private Finance Initiative
Sir John Stanley : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps the Office of Public Service and Science has taken to implement the private finance initiative announced in the autumn statement on 12 November 1992 and in the Treasury private finance guidance published on 9 December 1992.
Mr. Waldegrave : My Department is examining the scope for involving the private sector in its areas of responsibility in the ways suggested by the interim guidance published by the Treasury on 9 December 1992, and the further published guidance on contract energy management--17 February 1993- -and joint ventures--16 March 1993. Discussions continue with the higher education funding councils and other departments about ways in which the joint funding of infrastructural facilities in the science base might be achieved. On 10 March 1993, I announced the success of the United Kingdom's bid to host the European bioinformatics institute at Cambridge, which will be funded by the Government and the Wellcome Trust.
Chessington Computer Centre
Mr. Tracey : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the future of the Chessington computer centre.
Mr. Waldegrave : I am pleased to announce that I have today established Chessington Computer Centre as an executive agency and trading fund within my Department. The arrangements for the agency are described in full in its framework document, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of both houses.
Chessington provides a wide range of computerised payroll, personnel, financial accounting, superannuation awarding and other administrative services to customers in central Government and the wider public sector. Over 60 per cent. of civil servants are now paid using Chessington's payroll services and all computerised superannuation awards in central Government are made on Chessington's software. Executive agency and trading fund status will allow Chessington to develop its business on sound commercial lines, thereby enabling the agency to deliver increasing improvements in its services to customers, more efficiently and effectively.
I have set Chessington Computer Centre the following key targets : (
(a) with the concurrence of the Treasury, the further financial target in 1993-94 of achievement of an operating surplus of £1.1 million.
(b) achievement of an average 6 per cent. increase in pay clerk productivity year on year over the period 1993-94 to 1995-96 ; (
(c) for 1993-94, achievement of online availability of 97.5 per cent for all services ; and
(d) over the period to 1995-96, meeting the quality of service standards agreed with customers in their customer service agreements.
Chessington is a definite candidate for privatisation. It is not being privatised immediately due to a lack of a commercial track record and of direct competition.
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Consideration of privatisation has been deferred to 1995 to give time for Chessington to establish its trading performance and for private sector competition to develop.I have appointed Mr. Robert Edwards to be chief executive of Chessington. He will be directly accountable to me for the management and performance of Chessington. I wish him and all the staff of Chessington every success for the future.
Executive Agencies
Mr. Booth : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the progress of the next steps initiative.
Mr. Waldegrave : Work on agency creation has continued. During the first week of April a further 13 agencies will be launched. This will bring the total number of agencies to 89. More than 350,000 civil servants, almost 60 per cent. of the total, will be working in agencies and other organisations working on next steps lines. In addition, a further 19 candidates have been announced covering over 25,000 more civil servants and other areas are under consideration. All candidates will be identified by the end of 1993 with the aim of launching them by mid-1995--end-1994 and mid-1996 in Northern Ireland.
Within the civil service, agencies are a key vehicle for putting into practice the principles of the citizens charter. Some of the new agencies will issue a charter or charter standards statement at launch. Others will do so soon. All agencies are committed to delivering a high quality of service.
All the new agencies have been set key performance targets for their first year of operation. The details will be given by my right hon. Friends when announcing individual agency launches.
The list of agencies established or to be established by 5 April 1993 is :
The average staff in post during those years, by grade, was:
1990-91 1991-92
Grade |Based at Swansea|Based outside |Based at Swansea|Based outside
|Swansea |Swansea
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grade 3 |1 |1
Grade 5 |4.5 |4
Medical officer |7 |6.5
Grade 6 |4 |4
Grade 7 |21.5 |21
SEO |37 |7 |37.5 |7
HEO |108 |56.5 |106.5 |56
EO |256.5 |175 |261 |171
AO |810.5 |866 |815 |872.5
AA |1,740 |326 |1,629.5 |295.5
Casuals |58 |85 |38.5 |46.5
Other grades |347 |64.5 |323 |67
Totals<1> |3,395.0 |1,580.0 |3,247.5 |1,515.5
<1> Excludes staff employed in the Driver, Vehicle and Operator Information Technology agency.
The list of candidates for agency status announced by Ministers is as follows :
|Staff<1>
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Army Logistics |<2>8,440
Defence Animal Centre |220
Defence Central Services |1,385
Directorate Information Technology Bureau Services |120
Driver and Vehicle Licensing (NI)<3> |150
Equipment Test and Evaluation |2,220
Fisheries Research Services |270
Fuel Suppliers Branch |20
Human Factors Research |390
Meat Hygiene Service<4> |1,800
MOD Police |5,075
Naval Training and Recruitment |5,200
Office of Population Censuses and Surveys |1,995
Property Holdings Portfolio Management |1,645
RAF Training |9,200
Surveyor General's Organisation |350
Transport and Security Services Division |1,235
War Pensions Directorate |1,250
Youth Treatment Service |200
|-------
19 in number Total |41,165
Less armed forces personnel: |15,765
Total civil servants: |25,400
<1> October 1992 figures excluding casuals. Part-time staff are
counted as half units.
<2> Estimated to require 8,440 staff, drawn from a variety of
sources.
<3> Northern Ireland Civil Service.
<4> Estimated to require 1,800 staff, drawn from a variety of
sources.
EMPLOYMENT
Electrical Equipment Certification Service
Mr. Bellingham : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make a statement on the future of the Health and Safety Executive's electrical equipment certification service.
Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what legislation would be necessary to privatise the electrical equipment certification service ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Following a recent consultants' report, which recommended privatisation of the electrical equipment certification service, the future of the service is being considered by the Health and Safety Executive and the Health and Safety Commission. Privatisation would require primary legislation and we will be seeking parliamentary approval for powers which would enable privatisation to proceed.
Unemployed People (Courses)
Ms Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether unemployed people who have once been required to attend either a Restart course or a jobplan workshop, and who have complied with that requirement, are free from a subsequent requirement to attend such a workshop or course in a particular spell of unemployment ; and if she will make a statement.
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Mr. McLoughlin : It is not our intention that people should be required to attend more than one Restart course or more than one jobplan workshop within a spell of unemployment if they have already been required to attend and have completed the full programme.
Mr. Illsley : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment who were the successful bidders for the contracts for jobplan
workshops--JWPC/B93/12--and Restart courses--RCC/B93/11 ; what criteria were used for the selection of the successful tenders ; and whether the lowest tenders were accepted.
Mr. McLoughlin : Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given. Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Eric Illsley, dated March 1993 :
As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question about Restart Courses and Jobplan Workshops. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
It may help if I explain that contracts for Employment Service programmes are normally awarded as a result of competitive tendering. Such an exercise has recently been carried out for all Jobplan contracts and for Restart Courses contracts. Potential providers are normally invited to a briefing with the Employment Service Contract Manager where they are issued with the national specification for the programme that they wish to tender for. It is made clear at pre-briefing sessions that the over-riding factor which the Employment Service will consider when assessing tenders is value for money. I am attaching an extract from the Employment Service "Tendering and Contracting Guide" laying out the key criteria used to assess a tender. As you will see, these include cost factors but not to the exclusion of other items. Indeed, the point is stressed throughout the process that the Employment Service will not necessarily accept the lowest price on offer.
You refer to two specific cases in Barnsley. The Jobplan contracts have been awarded to the Chamber of Commerce Training (Barnsley) and Personal Evaluation Consultants, a local training organisation. The Restart Course contract has been awarded to the Chamber of Commerce Training (Barnsley). These organisations were judged to have submitted the best tenders. The decision followed full consideration of all the proposals in line with the guidelines set out by the Treasury's Public Purchasing Policy.
You asked whether the lowest tenders were accepted. I believe that it would be inappropriate to disclose confidential information relating to the costs of any of the individual proposals. I hope this is helpful.
As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.
10. Assessment of tenders
10.1 The over-riding principle is that the assessment process must be systematic, thorough and fair, and be seen as such. After the final schedule of tenders has been prepared, all tenders should be submitted at once to the ACM, who has the authority to recommend acceptance of a particular tender.
10.2 When assessing proposals the main factors to take into consideration are :
(i) that the proposal meets the required specification ; (
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(ii) that value for money' is being met ; in other words, that the desired quality can be achieved at a reasonable cost, that the proposed outputs are satisfactory ;(iii) the cost (including total costs, staff costs, premises costs, and consumable costs, VAT whether payable or not). A management fee, or profit margin can reasonably be included ; it is the total cost which is important in relation to numbers helped/outputs specified ; (
(iv) the premises (accessibility, situation, space, heating, lighting, toilets, access for people with disabilities, etc) ; (
(v) the ability and expertise of the tutor/leader, management support and back up arrangements ;
(vi) other considerations eg administrative support, facilities and equipment ; and
(vii) the ability of the provider to be flexible in the delivery of courses in terms of location, frequency and tutor/leader cover. 10.3 A record sheet should be completed to compare tenders on each of the major factors above. A suggested proforma is at Appendix 10. 10.4 Note : Tender cost comparisons should be made on the price before VAT is added.
The lowest tender should be accepted only if the quality of the proposed programme is considered to be of an acceptable and appropriate standard. The over-riding factor is "Value for Money". 10.5 Other factors may, however, influence the decision, eg, a more suitable location or a more experienced tutor or leader. It is therefore recommended that a shortlist of possible providers be drawn up.
Industrial Tribunals
Ms Armstrong : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how engagement in an industrial tribunal hearing affects the state benefit status of the applicant.
Mr. McLoughlin : Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given. Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Ms Hilary Armstrong, dated March 1993 :
As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question to her about how engagement in an industrial tribunal hearing affects the state benefit status of the applicant. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
There are a range of possible effects which an Industrial Tribunal hearing may have on a claim for unemployment benefit and I have set them out below.
The Employment Protection Act gives employees statutory protection against unfair dismissal by their employer, along with other provisions concerning issues such as contractors of employment, wages questions and breach of contract, all of which are dealt with by Industrial Tribunals.
A claimant may be disqualified from receiving unemployment benefit for up to 26 weeks if they left their employment voluntarily or were dismissed because of misconduct. When a claim for unemployment is made, if it appears that the claimant contributed to their loss of employment, payments are withheld pending further enquiries of the claimant, their employer, or both and, where necessary, the decision of an independent adjudication officer is sought. If an Industrial Tribunal is pending and there is a conflict of evidence that cannot be resolved, the adjudication officer may refer the case to a Social Security Appeal Tribunal (SSAT) for a decision. The Social Security adjudicating authorities and the Industrial Tribunals are entirely independent of each other. Decisions of one are not binding on the other, however it is
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possible that the evidence recorded by the Industrial Tribunal may be taken into account by a SSAT in reaching their decision. Where a decision is given in favour of the client any arrears of benefit withheld are paid. It is a fundamental condition for receipt of benefit that a person be available for work on each day that they claim. For someone attending a tribunal they would have to be available for work at 24 hours' notice.Where an Industrial Tribunal makes an award under the Employment Protection Act the Secretary of State is empowered to recover from the award, some or all of the unemployment benefit or income support already paid for the same period. The amount of benefit to be recovered depends on the amount that is awarded by the Industrial Tribunal for the period between the date of dismissal and the date of the Industrial Tribunal hearing. If an award is made in respect of the future loss of earnings there may be no unemployment benefit entitlement for any part of the period specified in the award which falls within a year of the termination of the unemployment. I hope this is helpful.
As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.
Training Schemes
Ms Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what will be the benefit entitlement of unemployed people who take up places on (a) the learning for work programme and (b) the community action programme ; in what ways these will differ from the situation of those who join training for work ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. McLoughlin : People participating in learning for work and community action will receive an allowance equal to their unemployment benefit and/or income support entitlement when unemployed. Community action participants will receive an additional premium of £10 a week. In each case their eligibility for other social security benefits will be the same as that of training for work participants.
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
Mr. Clifton-Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated cost to British industry of the implementation of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.
Mr. McLoughlin : At the time of the drafting of these regulations, the Health and Safety Executive estimated that the quantifiable costs to employers would be in the order of £250,000 per annum at 1988 prices.
Employers who were already complying with existing legal requirements regarding the maintenance of electrical equipment should not have found it necessary to incur additional charges in order to comply with these regulations.
Unemployment, Liverpool
Mr. Parry : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the unemployment figure for the travel-to-work area of the city of Liverpool in figures and percentage terms at the latest available date ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. McLoughlin : In February 1993, unadjusted claimant unemployment in the Liverpool travel-to-work
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area was 73,996 or 15.2 per cent. of the work force. This is 29 per cent. lower than in June 1986, when claimant unemployment in the region was at its peak.Mr. Parry : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps she plans to improve the unemployment situation in the city of Liverpool ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. McLoughlin : The overall policy of the Department is to promote a free and flexible labour market that is designed to help encourage employment in Liverpool, as in all areas. In addition, the Department provides a range of employment and training programmes and local initiatives, through the Employment Service and training and enterprise councils, to help people increase their skills, and equip themselves for work. From April 1993, this range of measures is being enhanced and expanded.
Cricketers
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many applications by professional cricketers for work permits to play cricket in the United Kingdom have been (a) granted and (b) refused to date in 1993 ; what changes have been made this year to the criteria for granting work permits ; which British cricketing organisations were consulted about policy changes for granting work permits ; and if she will make a statement ;
(2) how many work permits were issued by the overseas labour section to cricketers to play cricket in the United Kingdom in each year since 1990 ; how many applications for work permits were (a) granted and (b) refused by country or origin in each year ; what are the qualifying criteria for granting work permits ; and on what dates such criteria were altered.
Mr. McLoughlin : Information about the number of work permits issued by the overseas labour section for cricketers to play in Great Britain is not available. Work permits are issued only to cricketers who have experience of playing first-class cricket in their own country and who it is considered will not take employment away from resident players. The terms and conditions on offer have to be equivalent to those which apply to resident players.
The Department has a consistent policy with regard to the issue of work permits for cricketers. The criteria have not changed and, following discussions with the League Cricket Conference, Test and County Cricket Board, National Cricket Association and the Scottish Cricket Union, no changes are envisaged.
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment on what basis Indian and Pakistani nationals who are professional cricketers are judged to be qualified to apply for work permits to play cricket in the United Kingdom ; how many appeals against refusal to grant a work permit have been lodged this year, to date ; and how many appeals (a) have been upheld, (b) have been dismissed and (c) are awaiting decision.
Mr. McLoughlin : Applications to employ professional cricketers who are Indian and Pakistani nationals are considered on the same basis as those for players from any other country. Information about appeals against decisions to refuse applications for cricketers is not available.
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Health and Safety
Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of prosecutions made in each EC country for breaches in each country's health and safety legislation and the total fines realised in each of the last three years.
Mr. McLoughlin [holding answer 30 March 1993] : The information is not available in the form requested. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has carried out a comparison of accident statistics in France, Italy,
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