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Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 26 May 1993
HOME DEPARTMENT
Police Services
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the police services in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The information requested is published annually in the "Police and Constabulary Almanac, Official Register". A copy of the 1993 edition has been placed in the Library.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take the necessary steps to arrange for the prefix royal to added to each of the police services in England.
Prison Escort Services
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all civil servants and their past responsibilities where they have subsequently joined any of the companies involved in tenders for British gaols or court escort services.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : It is not possible to list former civil servants who may subsequently have taken up employment with private sector companies in this field, since staff below grade 3 who wish to take up outside employment are only required to seek approval to do so for a period of two years after leaving Crown employment, and in certain specified circumstances. Six former members of the Home Office have sought and obtained approval under these procedures to take up employment with companies involved in the provision of prison-related services. All were governor grades, three were governing establishments ; one was head of custody in an establishment ; one was in the inspectorate of prisons ; and one in the remands contracts unit. In addition, a former police superintendent on secondment to the unit was given approval to take up employment with such a company.
Competitive Tendering
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if civil servants attempting to recruit staff for companies involved in tendering for Home Office business will in future face disciplinary action.
Mr. Charles Wardle : If, in relation to the tendering process for Home Office business, there is evidence of any impropriety on the part of Home Office staff, disciplinary action will be taken where this is considered appropriate.
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Drugs
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will place in the Library a full copy of the research report from Sheffield university, prepared for his Department, on the prevalence of drug use among young people.
Mr. Jack : A full report will be published later this year and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Bail Hostels
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of places for (a) men and (b) women at probation or bail hostels covering the Greater London area on 10 May.
Mr. Jack : As at 10 May 1993, there was a total of 360 places at approved bail and probation hostels in the Greater London area : 308 are designated for men ; 33 for women ; and the remaining 19 are available to either men or women, as required.
Emergency Warnings
Mr. Dowd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 19 May if he will outline the alternative arrangements to the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation, based on radio and television broadcasts.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Arrangements for the use of radio and television to broadcast warnings to the public have existed alongside the siren system for a number of years and they involve the broadcasting of pre-recorded messages over existing broadcasting networks.
Police Inspectors
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) male and (b) female police inspectors in England and Wales were members of ethnic minorities at the most recent available date.
Mr. Charles Wardle : At the end of January 1993, 28 police inspectors in England and Wales were members of ethnic minorities. All were male.
Deaths in Custody
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners died in custody in the 12 months to March ; and how many have died since 5 April.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the prison service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Elfyn Llwyd, dated 24 May 1993 : Deaths in custody The Home Secretary has asked me to write to you directly in reply to your recent Parliamentary Question on deaths in custody. Between 1 April 1992 and 31 March 1993, eighty-six prisoners died in prison custody. Since 5 April 1993 nine prisoners have died in prison custody. These figures include deaths from all causes in both directly managed and contracted out operations.
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Naturalisation
Mrs. Wise : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current time lag in the processing of naturalisation applications.
Mr. Charles Wardle : For certificates of naturalisation granted in April 1993 the average waiting time was 21 months. For those applying now waiting times should average less than 12 months.
Police (Management Supervision)
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the establishment in each police authority in England was employed on management supervision duties at the latest available date.
Mr. Charles Wardle : This information is not held centrally.
European Parliamentary Constituencies
Sir Thomas Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Fry) on 1 April, Official Report, column 385, if he will make a statement on progress in formulating proposals for the boundaries of European parliamentary constituencies.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : We hope to make an announcement on this matter shortly.
Unit Fines
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library the full evidence which led him to decide to scrap the unit fines system, including details of those cases in which too high a fine was given and those in which too low a fine was given.
Mr. Jack [holding answer 25 May 1993] : In reply to a question from the hon. Member on 19 May, columns 211-12 , I have explained the reasons why my right hon. and learned Friend decided that it would be right to end the unit fine system. Although he was influenced, in taking that decision, by representations, both orally and in writing, from magistrates, members of the public and Members of Parliament, it would not be practicable to collate these representations as "evidence" and place them in the Library as requested. Nor would it be appropriate for the Secretary of State to comment on sentencing in individual cases.
Police Authorities
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those police authorities that have been considered for amalgamation (a) during his period of office as Home Secretary and (b) during the past 10 years ; and which proposals did not proceed because of the current procedure for amalgamation (i) as the only or primary reason and (ii) as a contributory reason.
Mr. Charles Wardle [holding answer 19 May 1993] : No police authorities have been considered for amalgamation during the term of office of my right hon. and learned
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Friend. At the time of the abolition of the metropolitan county council's consideration was given to possible changes in the relevant police force areas. No changes were made because it was felt unlikely that reorganisation would improve effectiveness. The amalgamation procedure was not a factor in this decision.Complete records for the last 10 years are not available. However, the records that are available indicate that detailed consideration has not been given to the amalgamation of any other force areas during that time.
DUCHY OF LANCASTER
Select Committee Recommendations
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many Select Committee recommendations have been made about, and how many accepted by, his Department since April 1992.
Mr. Waldegrave : The House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology has published one report since April 1992. The Government's response is contained in the White Paper "Realising our Potential : A Strategy for Science, Engineering and Technology", copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House. The position in respect of the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee, whose remit relates to the work of both Her Majesty's Treasury and the OPSS, is covered in the reply by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, 24 May 1993, column 419.
TRANSPORT
Road Safety
Mr. Callaghan : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has conducted into safety factors in respect of new roads.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The Department carries out safety audits of new trunk roads before they are opened to traffic and specifically reviews their safety performance one and three years after opening as well as continuing with routine monitoring of safety. It also carries out a programme of research into factors which affect road safety, including, for example, pedestrian and cycle facilities, traffic calming measures, junction design, surfacing and safety fences. This is used in reviewing standards for new roads and in improving existing roads.
Mr. Gapes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies have been undertaken on the additional injuries in accidents to pedestrians and cyclists caused by bull and roo bars on motor vehicles.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Pedestrian injury accidents are currently being investigated by the Transport Research Laboratory. As yet this research has been unable to reach firm conclusion concerning injuries from bull or roo bars ; but I expect the investigations to show increased accident injury from such equipment.
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Berkley Avenue, Greenford
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish his inspector's decision on the inquiry into the proposal to close Berkley avenue, Greenford, between Greenford road and Oldfield lane north ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris : The Secretary of State for Transport expects shortly to announce his decision in the light of the inspector's report on the inquiry into the proposal to close a length of Berkley avenue. Arrangements will be made for the hon. Member to receive a copy of the decision letter.
Channel Tunnel Rail Link
Mr. Jacques Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library copies of papers presented to the meeting of the high level forum on the channel tunnel rail link held on 19 May.
Mr. Freeman : Copies of the four papers presented have been sent to right hon. and hon. Members affected by the route of the rail link and placed in the Library. The papers are "Department of Transport--Property purchase and compensation policy", "DoT--Terms of reference for the further study of the London terminus", "DoT--Arrangements for the study and assessment of options for stations on the Union Railway" and a paper by Union Railways entitled "Route and stations development programme", all titles are prefaced by "Paper for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link High Level Forum".
Traffic, South-East London
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement concerning the official journey taken through south London on 18 May by the Minister for Roads and Traffic whilst in a 1907 taxi cab ; and what proposals he now has to improve the road network and traffic flow in south-east London.
Mr. Norris : The hon. and learned Gentleman will be aware that the Minister for Transport in London was being driven in the splended taxi which the hon. and learned Gentleman so obviously admired, to Chester house in Kennington officially to open the excellent Royal British Legion taxi drivers training school.
The Department has three schemes in its programme for improving trunk roads in south-east London. It also pays transport supplementary grant at 50 per cent. of accepted expenditure and capital support to local authorities to improve their local roads. A further current initiative is improving the efficiency of the existing road network by the development of red routes.
Crossrail
Mr. Peter Shore : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what conclusions were reached by Schroeders and Warburgs in its advice to his Department on the prospects of a private sector contribution towards crossrail ; what form this contribution is expected to take ; and if he will make available details of the financing of the project before 8 June.
Mr. Norris : Our consultants, Warburgs and Bechtel, both concluded that crossrail is a project that the private
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sector will find attractive. The basis on which the private sector would contribute to the cost of the project will not be settled by 8 June.British Rail Pension Fund
Ms Corston : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the value of the surplus in the British Rail pension fund for the last five years for which records are available.
Mr. Freeman : This is a matter for the trustees of the pension fund.
Twyford Down
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given to recent new proposals for a route for the M3 bypass around Winchester which aims at minimising damage to Twyford Down.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Alternative proposals for the M3 route currently being constructed through Twyford Down were submitted to my Department earlier this year by a media film company. The proposals were considered carefully, but they related to options which had already been considered and rejected.
A19, Durham
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the severity of disintegration of the newly laid surface to the A19 in County Durham.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Major maintenance work to the southbound carriageway of the A19 between Peterlee and Sheraton was completed in January 1993.
Minor chipping loss which has occurred over approximately 5 per cent. of the total area of surfacing will require remedial works under the maintenance period of the contract by the contractor at his own cost.
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many patches of disintegration have been identified on the newly laid surface of the A19 in County Durham ; which contractor has been asked to carry out repairs ; and how long this is going to take.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Major maintenance work to the southbound carriageway of the A19 between Peterlee and Sheraton was completed in January 1993.
Inspections have identified 28 areas of minor chipping loss. Amey Construction Ltd., the main contractor, will carry out the remedial works at its own cost during the 12-month maintenance period. The works are programmed to take 10 days and will be carried out under contra-flow.
Road Improvements (Public Inquiries)
Mr. Miller : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the usual length of time between the announcement of a public inquiry into a major road improvement scheme and its first hearing.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The length of time between formal announcement and the opening of an inquiry varies
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according to the circumstances of the individual scheme. It is never less than six weeks in order to allow sufficient time for all parties to prepare their case.West Wellow Bypass
Mr. Colvin : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a map showing the proposed route of the A36 West Wellow bypass as announced in his Department's press release dated 19 May.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : A public consultation brochure showing the route options now being considered for the A36 West Wellow bypass is being published on Friday 28 May. A copy will be placed in the Library on that date.
East London River Crossing
Mr. Austin-Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current estimated cost of building the east London river crossing ; and how he has calculated any changes since his answer of 16 July 1992, Official Report, column 862.
Mr. Norris [holding answer 21 May 1993] : The total estimated cost of the east London river crossing remains at £300 million at 1989 prices.
London Travelcard
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to protect the London travelcard ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris [holding answer 24 May 1993] : The Government are promoting discussions with public transport operators in London on how best to develop the present travelcard to meet the future needs of passengers and operators. We intend, when we seek powers for bus deregulation in London, to give operators the right to participate on fair terms in multi- operator ticketing schemes.
NATIONAL FINANCE
EC Institutions (Official Visits)
Mr. Allen : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the tax treatment of official visits by hon. Members to European Community institutions in Brussels and Strasbourg.
Mr. Dorrell : The Government have tabled a new clause to the Finance Bill which will exempt from tax payments of expenses for Members' visits to Community institutions in Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg, under the terms of the Resolution of the House of 6 December 1991, Official Report, column 582.
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Relocation Expenses
Mr. Moss : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations his Department has had on the proposed reform of tax relief on relocation expenses.
Mr. Dorrell : A series of consultative meetings has been arranged by the Inland Revenue since the proposed reform of the tax treatment of relocation expenses was announced on Budget day. The meetings have been attended by representatives of employers, professional bodies and representative organisations.
Income Tax
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has as to how many taxpayers are affected by the freezing of the tax thresholds and allowances proposed in the March 1993 Budget, giving the numbers who have gross incomes of (a) less than £30,000, (b) £25,000, (c) £20,000, (d) earnings below the higher rate threshold and (e) earnings below the national insurance upper earnings limit.
Mr. Dorrell : Latest estimates for 1993-94 are as follows :
Number of individuals affected
|Millions
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) | Total income under £30,000 |22.9
(b) | Total income under £25,000 |21.8
(c) | Total income under £20,000 |19.6
(d) | Total earned income<1> under £27,145<2>|22.7
(e) | Total earned income<1> under £21,840<3>|22.1
<1> Includes income from employment, self-employment and occupational pensions.
<2> The sum of the basic rate limit and the level of the basic personal allowance for those under 65.
<3> National Insurance upper earnings limit.
Ms Harman : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to how many foreign individuals currently living in the United Kingdom the Inland Revenue has granted non domicile status for tax purposes ; and how much this concession cost the Exchequer in the last year for which figures are available.
Mr. Dorrell : I regret that this information is not available.
Overseas Dividends
Ms Harman : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many taxpayers receive income from overseas dividends ; and what was the gross sum received before tax.
Mr. Dorrell : I regret that the information requested is not available.
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National Insurance
Mr. Nicholas Brown : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the total number of taxpayers after the Budget changes in 1993-94, giving figures separately for (a) those who pay national insurance contributions only on incomes below the income tax threshold, (b) basic rate taxpayers with earned income below the NIC upper earnings limit, (c) basic rate taxpayers with earned income above the NIC upper earnings limit, (d) all basic rate taxpayers, (e) higher rate taxpayers with earned income above the NIC earnings limit, (f) all higher rate taxpayers and (g) all taxpayers.
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Mr. Dorrell : The latest available estimates are as follows :
Taxpaying individuals, aged under 65, 1993-94
millions
Marginal rate |No income subject to|Earnings<1> between |Earnings above UEL |Total
|NIC |LEL and UEL
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lower rate |0.7 |2.7 |- |3.5
Basic rate |0.7 |14.0 |1.7 |16.5
Higher rate |- |0.1 |1.4 |1.5
|---- |---- |---- |----
Total |1.5 |16.8 |3.2 |21.5
<1> Includes earnings from employment or self-employment.
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Taxpaying individuals, aged under 65, 1993-94
millions
Marginal rate |No income subject to|Earnings<1> between |Earnings above UEL |Total
|NIC |LEL and UEL
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lower rate |0.7 |2.7 |- |3.5
Basic rate |0.7 |14.0 |1.7 |16.5
Higher rate |- |0.1 |1.4 |1.5
|---- |---- |---- |----
Total |1.5 |16.8 |3.2 |21.5
<1> Includes earnings from employment or self-employment.
Overseas Entertainers
Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of withholding tax deducted from overseas entertainers in the film industry and in total in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
Mr. Dorrell : The total withholding tax deducted in each of the last five years from foreign entertainers and sportsmen has been :
|£
---------------------------------
1988-89 |12,537,141
1989-90 |13,387,341
1990-91 |18,612,822
1991-92 |16,690,738
1992-93 |20,294,617
No breakdown of these figures is available.
Drugs Seizures
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many seizures of (a) heroin, (b) cocaine and (c) synthetic drugs have occurred in (i) the United Kingdom and its waters and (ii) Wales in each year from 1987.
Mr. Jack [holding answer 21 May 1993] : I have been asked to reply.
The information requested is contained in tables 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin "Statistics of drugs seizures and offenders dealt with, United Kingdom 1991", and table A1.3 of "Statistics of drugs seizures and offenders dealt with, United Kingdom, 1987-91" (area tables), copies of which are in the Library.
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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Vance-Owen Plan
Mr. Elletson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the United States Secretary of State since 17 May on the continued credibility of the Vance- Owen plan ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Garel-Jones : I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Westbury (Mr. Faber) on 24 May, c. 375. by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, the Member for Grantham, (Mr. Hogg).
Detention Camp, Gospic
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the existence of a detention camp at Gospic in Croatia ; what action he has taken about the matter ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has received no representations. We remain in close touch with the International Committee of the Red Cross about its work in identifying, securing access to and progressively closing detention camps in former Yugoslavia. If any new evidence is brought forward of detention centres, we would immediately pass it on to the relevant organisations.
Human Rights
Mr. Don Foster : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the establishment of a United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We recognise the need to strengthen the role of the United Nations centre for human rights. With our EC partners we have proposed that the post of
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director of the centre be upgraded to that of UnderSecretary-General for Human Rights/High Commissioner for Human Rights.
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