The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 4

THE GUARDIAN Thursday May 17 1984 Iate iajrrivals spoil BR's improvements Commons, attempt to banish colony's. Pekijig; fears At the "same time the com: mittee- recognised that in Vachieving-an "8: million Dins vear. fiR hart made headcount of people who used a service in 1979. Mrs Munro also criticised the Government for not enabling the committee to provide a sounding board for Howe ais to iminiraiis from flQrig Koiig were quite willing to take it on and we have the ability to do so." The committee is. also that the long-term financial objectives for the railways, laid down (' by the Department of Transport in October, may harm the service.

The report suggests that the cuts the Government has laid down could reduce the railways' financial resources at a faster rate than envisaged in its own plan, at the expense of customer; quality that they seemed to 'open the door to real price increases in London and the Southeast and that there was no safeguard against a diminishing railway through service reductions. so, there was an overall increase in complaints received by BR, with the largest 'increases logged for faults' in the reservation system.vclaims for consequential loss (for. instance when a or cancelled train led to claim for the extra cost involved), and delays in answering', the orginal complaint. Mrs Alison Munro, chairman of- the committee, said yesterday that it was unfortunate that the complaints marred the enormous that-was being put into' improving the railways. Inter-City was a marvellous product' but its punctuality was appalling.

BR must ac-. knowledge that it has an obligation to deliver the adver- tised service both in terms of punctuality and providing the advertised facilities," she said. Mrs Munro said that the effort being put into i customer relations had already justified itself through the Inter-City guards, who performed a class public relations function." Tlie chronic: confusion over the introduction of the new. timetables and the secretive way they had been worked out masked the fact that were. improve-'niehts among "the reductions.

One of the biggest faults in the new system was that in trying to adapt capacity to demand, BR had moved too fast. One Change, she said, had been based on a a riu'mber improvements, wiiii a Jiiuun mure- emuieiu telephone information system notable improvements, in some local services and the rapid development of customer care in most 'Places: while insisting that the -spirit of Hong Kong -would survive the flight of some of, the Sir Geoffrey emphasised the importance of ensuring that the people of Hong Kong knew the terms iof the agreement' which Peking had insisted must be reached by September to pre? vent a unilateral statement, and that they should; have time "to express, their But other By Michael White Parliamentary Correspondent' The Foreign Secretary, Sir Geoffrey Howe, last night dashed any hopes among Hong. Kong's five million Chinese community that many of them' might the allowed to settle in Britain, after sovereignty of. the colony is transferred to Peking. During the Commons debate on the future of Hong Kong he told MPs that its citizens had a.

right to know as soon as pos-ible what arrangements would prevail after the British lease. in 1997. But Sir Geoffrey, warnfed those who wanted to keep their current status as British: dependent-territory citizens, as. defined under the 1981 Nation-, ality Act, that he did not believe that either this Parliament or a successor would favour changes which stimu-' lated emigration from Hong Kong to the UK or elsewhere." Sir Geoffrey's remarks were robustly reinforced by Mr Enoch Powell, who warned against giving in to pressure to create a funnel for emigration to Britain, or the illusion that there was a line of escape, which only cause distress and bewilderment. Labour's shadow foreign secretary, Mr Denis Healey spoke more delicately of doing everything possible to ensure that Britain was not faced with a moral dilemma of this kind.

Sir Geoffrey had been realistic to concede that Britain did not have a strong hand, and could not maintain an im- portant role in sovereignty or administration. Brinkmanship would damage Hong Kong's prospects, Mr Healey said. WOMEN'S PROTEST Asians and blacks calling themselves the Sari Squad leaving Brick Lane, the heart of London's Bengali Community, yesterday for a European tour, culminating at the European Parliament to campaign for the right of a deported young Bengali woman, Aha Begum, to return to Britain. Picture by Frank Martin Test tube baby costs force private funding Legal office 'secrecy Review of tax thresholds considered By David Ilencke, Social Services Correspondent The Social Services Secretary, Mr Norman Fowler, indicated yesterday that if, in its review of the welfare state, the Government recommended mproved benefits they would have to be weighed against the possibility of raising tax thresholds for the lower paid. He emphasised that one of his big concerns is the overlap between people claiming housing benefit, family income supplement, and child benefit while paying taxes at the same time.

Mr Fowler is setting a strict timetable for the implementation of the four parts of the review, covering pensions, supplementary benefit, benefits for families and young people, and housing benefit. Public discussion and evidence to three inquiries (one on pensions has already held public hearings) is to be limited to June, July, and September. All four reports will be completed by the end of the year, when ministers will decide whether to publish them separately or to incorporate their main findings in a Department of Health paper. Only the report on housing benefit, which has an independent chairman, Mr Jeremy Rowe, is expected also to je published separately. Mr Fowler then plans a further period of discussion before bringing legislation before Parliament', hi October to implement recommendations from the One of the considerations under review will be administrative costs particularly the wage bill needed to pay supplementary benefit and make single payments to claimants.

Mr Rowe, who is deputy chairman of the Abbey National Building Society, said that his inquiry would have special status, and be. independent of ministers. He is meeting local authority representatives tonight to discuss the scope of his inquiry. Mr Fowler announced the appointment of six people to help ministers in their, deliberations. Mr Rowe will be assisted by Mr Alan Blakemore, a solicitor and former chief executive of the London Borough of Croydon, and Mrs Rhea.

Martin, a barrister and vice-chairman of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureau. Dr Rhodes Boyson, who heads the inquiry examining benefits for children and young people, will he "helped by Mr T. Parry a director of and Mrs Barbara Shenfield, chairman, of the Women's' Royal Voliihtary. Service. Mr Newton will be helped by Mr Robin Wendt, chief executive of Cheshire county council, and Mr Basil Collins, chairman of Nabisco Brands Ltd.

speakers, including Mr Edward Heath felt that this was unrealistic. Mr Heath disagreed with Mr Healey's contention that the way forward lay in making the bureaucracies more accountable to the people" rather than attempting to establish Westminster-style democracy, which had never worked in Chinese-dominated communities. He said that the people of Hong Kong should be encouraged to develop their own form of democratic arrangements. Both Mr Healey and Sir Geoffrey warned against a referendum. Sir Geoffrey said: "The Chinese Government have made it clear publicly that they see the administration of Hong Kong after 1997 as being in the hands of Hong Kong people This would follow a process of democratic develop ment wmch already unaer way." Mr Healey had emphasised that Peking always honoured its international agreements and expressed the hope that Hc-ng Kong would further stimulate trie laboratory experiments in economic already taking place inside China.

opened fpr business in October waiting list over two years no pregnaneies reported. St Bartholomew's, London: treating tw or three NHS patients a' week no pregnancies reported'. Southmeau, Bristol, and Bristol Maternity: a few NHS pa havevbeen treated bin? wont very mucn at- me uk yettigatory no oxeEnancies Jessop's, Sheffield: five NHS patients treated by Dr Elizabeth. Lenton and her colleagues- since unit opened; in January pregnancies." Other units, due to within a year: John Radfcliffe, Oxford Addenbrookes, Cambridge Princess; Anne Maternity, Southampton. Nearly 200 human embryos have been grown for research at Dr Robert Edwards's" private laboratory at Bourne Hall, Cambridge, the congress was told yesterday.

Most were allowed to grow for no more than four days before they were fixed for examination, said Dr Simon Fishel, Dr Edwards's deputy. The aim was to find a way of identifying defective embryos before they were transferred to their mother's womb, he explained. Results so far have been inconclusive, but there was a suggestion that eggs from older women, and those which had been over-exposed to oestrogen, developed more slowly after fertilisation, and were more likely to be defective. Dr Fishel confirmed that his team's 13-day-old embryo the subject of an inquiry by the Director of Public Prosecutions had effectively died after nine days. The outer cells, which become the placenta, had continued growing, but growth of the inner cells, which would have become the baby, had stopped.

even though the facts were the for her business made her in-same in each case. eligible for supplementary bene- Mrs Freeman, who is aged fit even though the legal aid 59 and suffers from arthritis assessors had accepted' her ar-began claiming a 10 a week? -'guments that she needed the supplement to her invalidity money from" the policies to re-benefit -in- Febraiary, her whenj she had to One policy piro-because. of a damaged lfneeyiding her with and the Slieeoturfnued to-'receivo' theMjier had a surpcjSer supplementary' benefit until :.4,000. The first pglcy had December when she went into Tallowed her to. larunch '-a- new hospital for an operation.

series of Welsh cookery books Just before going into hospi- from her centre, tal she received, news that, "1 needed the money to pay applicaton for legal aid tni for the design, printing and lawsuit she wanted to-bring publication of the three new about, an earlier operation'had The supplementary bene-b'eeri granted. When' she -came fit rules make it clear that out of hospital, the business- assets, which will Aberystwyth social security alI.dW claimants to relaunch officers refused to. restart 'lieri themselves, should, be disre-supplenientary garded," said Mrs Freeman. Mrs Freeman said she was I no longer: need supple-told that two life insurance menlary benefit, but I did policies which she had taken when I came out of- hospital, out to provide her with capital I was convalescing with friends By Malcolm Dean A complaint that social security officers who had handled a woman's application for legal aid' passed confidential information to other parts of their department is be made to the Ombudsman. airs Freeman, who runs the Welsh cookery centre in Gardigan, said yesterdax she will, bring -tlie complaint 'be-, cause she believes that confidential information which she provided to legal assessment.

Officers- in Cardiff was sent to social security- officers in If substantiated, this could breach of the ,19.74 Legal Aid Act. Ironically, the -assessment officers who handled her application for legal aid came to the opposite conclusion to the social security officers who were handling Mrs Freeman's supplementary benefits claim, By Geoff Andrews Transport Correspondent TRAVELLERS have loiirid more to. complain and less, confidence in the' British annual rejjort'of- the! Central. Transport Conimitfee Hbr Britain, the rail watchdog group: They, found uhacceptably poor punctuality, particularly on express serious overcrowding on some trains; where "cheap offers have coincided a on -the' amount of accommodaT tion rudeness and unhelpful staff at the London an unworkable seat reservation system and a ticket pricing system that is a jungle'." Gaelic worries courts From Bob Rodwcll in Belfast OFFICIALS of the Lord Chancellors department in Northern Ireland are examining the implications of a defendent in Belfast magistrates court being provided with a GaeUc interpreter after he said he could not speak English. Although the department says that such provision is at the discretion of the courts, officials fear a precedent was set which, if repeated at the demand' of nationalists, could lead to the interminable extension of "supergrass" trials, which are already forecast to last for lip to eight months.

Irish language campaigners arc in little doubt that the case re-presents a milestone in their attempts to have Gaelic recognised in Northern Ireland courts. Mr Brendan Ffaich, aged 27, an unemployed former civil servant afid voluntary Gaelic teacher from Saul Hill, Andersonstown, refused speak English in court and asked to be allowed to address the court in Irish through an Interpreter. The stipendiary magistrate, Mr Fergus McCartan, told him that English was the language of the court and he would need an interpreter. Mr Fialch then asked, in Gaelic, whether there was anyone there who would -translate for him. In what waslearlyi.

'pre-planned in-, cldent traditional Irish musicians were placing put-side the where Gaelic language campaigners were displaying banners a fluent: Irish volunteered; He was sworn In as the interpreter, translating the court's questions tor the defendant and relaying his responses to the bench. Mr -O -Fialch is charged with obstruction and withholding information, in that he had declined to give his name and address to members of the security forces as required by the Emergency Provisions Act. He contends he gave them in Irish. Mr Fialch signed a bail bond and was remanded to appear next Monday. He was not available for comment yesterday, although his spokesman, a Gaelic journalist, Mr Malrtin Mullleolr, telephoned to offer a "translation" of comments he had made in an Irish-language interview.

Court service officials were concerned yesterday at what might happen if other Gaelic speakers insisted on using the language in court and proceedings become greatly slowed by translation. Only on rare instances have Gaelic speakers been afforded translators In Northern Ireland, and that generally only In the case of residents from the Gaeltacht the Republic's far western counties where the language survives as the day-to-day tongue. I 1 I -J ---I complaints about bus services, for which there is no comparable body. "It is unsatisfactory that bus passengers have no one to complain to," she. said.

"We SDP pair told to withdraw By a correspondent TWpjSJH? candidates who are standing against Liberals in a loeal byclectibn are under Instruction from party headquarters to withdraw their nomination. Mr Richard NJewby. the SDP national secretary, said last night he hoped to secure their withdrawal from' the Newborn council by-election in East London in order to maintain Alliance unity both during and after the EEC campaign. The problem arose from the nomination on Tuesday of Miss Virginia Taylor and Mr Frank Rowden as SDP candidates for the Ilford ward. So far they have resisted pressure to withdraw and so leave the field to the Liberals as the official Alliance candidates.

But renewed pressure will now be applied after a meeting between Mr Newby and his Liberal counterpart, Mr John Splller. The Liberals have threatened to take out an injunction preventing the two. from describing themselves to the electorate as representing the Alliance. The candidates have also received a letter from Mr Michael Thomas chairman of the SDP's organisation committee, asking them to opt out. The row is the latest battle In a long war of attrition between the two parties in Newham.

53316 for enquiries only. Keg. No. 884256 breached' hole in the wall, between the two cubicles and Mr Beach wrote a reply on, it. PC Peter Bentall said, that after observing the- incident he arrested both men.

He said Sir Peter told him: Don't do this, my life will be ruined." Mr Beach, of Newbury, Berkshire a married man with three stepchildren was also fined 100 with 45 coste on a similar charge. Mr Michael Caplan, defending Sir Peter, said his client was undergoing medical treatment and would continue to do so. Sir Peter was the high commissioner in Canadia from 1972 to 1974 and held a number of other senior diplomatic posts. Prom Andrew Veitch in Helsinki Doctors running the new test tube baby unit at King's College Hospital, London, are going into partnership with a private practice because they cannot get NHS funds, it has been disclosed here. The unit's first test tube baby, an 81b 14oz boy, was delivered two weeks ago, and twins are due to be born in July.

Women coming for treatment are asked to contribute what they can to the unitThe NHS provides only a room and the doctors work outside' 'normal hours and take no extra pay. King's has been severely affected by the Government's health cuts. The partnership would enable the doctors to keep the King's clinic going, according to Dr Goswamy Rajat, who is presenting the team's results at the world congress on in vitro fertilisation in Helsinki. Doctors running the private practice i a big London AID clinic asked not to be named. The partnership" is due to be set up this summer.

The King's team is treating eight women a week. Forty have been treated so far, three have become pregnant, and one mother miscarried, Dr Rajat said. The only wholly NHS test tube baby clinic has achieved its first pregnancy. Several women are expecting babies after treatment at St. Mary's Hospital, Manchester.

Other clinics now starting to operate include Royal- Free, London, an NHS' clinic reopened earlier this year which has treated more than 20 women. At least one pregnancy reported. Has taken private patients, charges around 800 per treatment. Chelsea Hospital for Women: NHS and private (about 1,000 per treatment) Former diplomat fined for indecency Council adverts cleared GUARDIAN OFFER WHITE COTTON LEISURE SUIT This is a distinctly styled suit made in Greece from 100 white cotton. Cool and comfortable, it is ideal for holiday wear or as a sports cover-up.

The jacket, worn by itself, makes an ideal tennis cardigan but works equally well with contrasting trousers or over a swim suit. The cotton material has an attractive textured cellular look: the top is styled with ribbed cuffs and hem, two patch pockets, a V-neck and fastens down the front with seven poppers: the tapered pants have an elasticated waist and zip fastenings at the ankle. Reasonably priced, the suit offers a welcome change fronvthe prevailing jogging suit style of leisure wear. It may, he jnadiifie or hand washed at 50. SIZES: chest).

chest), The former British high commissioner to Canada, Sir Peter Hayman, was fined 100 yesterday after being found guilty of committing an act of gross indecency in a public lavatory. Sir Peter, aged 69, of Check-endon, Oxfordshire, pleaded not guilty to the charge at Redding Magistrates' court. He was also ordered to pay 45 costs. The court was told that police kept watch through a grille hole as Sir Peter made contact with a 35-year-old lorry driver, Mr Leonard Beach, in an adjoining cubicle. Mr Christopher Nicholls, prosecuting, said Sir Peter passed a note and a pen through a Left Sir Peter Hayman county, and declared that the results of abolition would be shattering.

Conservatives in West Yorkshire took exception and complained to the Newspaper Society, the Advertising Standards Authority, and the newspapers. The Tories said the advertisements- were telling a "blatant and total lie" in alleging the the Government would ban local elections. Tlie Newspaper Society's director, Mr Dugal Nisbet-Smith. announced yesterday that the acceptance of any advertisement was a matter- for individ-' ual newspapers. It did not appear to him that the advertisements had' in any way contravened the Representation of the People Act of 1983.

To adopt the principle" that newspapers should not' acepti political auverujsemeius wouiu impose a serious 'curb on free expression. 6 harassed and tieing recruits to a firemen's pole. Miss Gunning finished her basic training last November and is one of the few full-time women firefighters in the brigade. A brigade spokesman said that the four men had been suspended pending an inquiry into possible breaches of. disciplinary regulations.

Miss Gunning was one of the first batch of women admitted to the brigade. i BUILDING OUT OF FINNISH i HONKA-LOG A BHAEITA Bl IMVCCTMEMT I 0 ym By Malcolm Pithers The Newspaper Society says that a series of advertisements being used by West Yorkshire County Council to counter Government plans to abolish the metropolitan authorities, do not contravene the law. But it says that the council should have included its name and address on the advertisements, even though the word- ring was acceptable under the code oi Advertising rracuce. Its- statement yesterday agrees with a ruling already made by the Advertising Standards Authority. The adverts were run in a series of newspapers In the North, including the Yorkshire Post, during April.

They were part of a m.ouu publicity campaign mounted by the council to try to prevent the abolition of the authorities. They showed a hammer being brought down on the Fire woman By Martin Walnwright FOUR firemen, at least one of them believed to be a senior officer, have been suspended at a London fire station after a young woman recruit complained of harassment. They were taken off duty after Miss Lynne Gunning, aged 22, complained to London Fire Brigade headquarters about an initiation ceremony which includes antics such as stripping i i i i i i i i chest). PRICE: 14.95 each. All orders are despatched within 7 days of receipt whilst stocks last please allow up to 14-21 days for delivery.

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