Written Answers of 9 June 1988

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Teachers' Pay and Conditions
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will be in a position to publish his proposals for teachers' negotiating machinery for pay and conditions of service.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend has received various responses from interested parties to the Green Paper "Teachers' Pay and Conditions: A Consultative Document". He will be undertaking discussions with those parties in the course of the next few months.

  Burnage High School
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway) of 23 May,Official Report, column 13, he has now obtained a complete copy of the MacDonald inquiry into Burnage high school; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I have received a copy of the published report from Manchester city council and have placed copies in the Library. I have not seen a copy of the complete text. I consider that the report raises issues of public interest and should be published in full, unless the council can demonstrate overwhelming arguments to the contrary. I do not believe that considered conclusions can be drawn on the basis of the present severely foreshortened report. Accordingly I have asked the council for a clear statement of the specific difficulties which it sees in publishing the report in full and why these cannot be met if necessary by excising only particular and limited passages.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Nicaragua
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing in ranked order the contributions, as a percentage of their total aid budget, made by the

  London

  Edinburgh

  Northern Ireland

  Cardiff

  Number of resident commissioners

  13

  2

  2

  01

  Total number of days devoted to oral hearings

  54

  12

  9

  9·5

  Average number of days on which each resident commissioner conducted oral hearings

  4·15

  6

  4·5

  2·382

  1 Over the period, four different commissioners visited Cardiff from London to conduct oral hearings as required.

  2 This figure is reached by dividing the total number of days by the number of non-resident commissioners who sat at Cardiff over the period, that is 9·5/4.

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  development assistance committee donor countries to Nicaragua, for the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Net official development assistance from Development Assistance Committee donor countries to Nicaragua in 1986 as a percentage of their total official development assistance was as follows:

  Donor

  per cent.

  Finland

  2·28

  Sweden

  1·61

  Norway

  1·44

  Netherlands

  1·10

  Switzerland

  0·86

  Austria

  0·65

  Italy

  0·57

  Denmark

  0·46

  France

  0·28

  Canada

  0·25

  Germany

  0·21

  Belgium

  0·12

  Australia

  0·01

  United Kingdom

  0·01

  Japan

  0·00

  Source: DAC Chairman's report

  The figures are based on bilateral aid to Nicaragua as a percentage of each donor's total bilateral plus multilateral aid. The United Kingdom's share of multilateral, mainly European Community, aid to Nicaragua in 1985, the latest year for which this figure is available, amounted to about 0·2 per cent. of our total aid; statistics are not available which would show the amount which other DAC countries provided to Nicaragua through multilateral channels.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Social Security Commissioners
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Attorney-General how many days on average each social security commissioner has conducted oral hearings in(a) London, (b) Edinburgh, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) Cardiff (non-resident) in the period from January to the end of April 1988.

  The Attorney-General
  The table shows the average number of days over that period on which each of the resident commissioners conducted oral hearings in each of the places mentioned, except for Cardiff for which the table shows the average number of days on which each of the visiting, non-resident commissioners conducted oral hearings.

  "Spycatcher"
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Attorney-General if, in the light of the judgment of the High Court in Australia, he will give the latest total amount spent by Her Majesty's Government on all aspects, including legal, travelling, administrative and other costs, relating to the Government's legal action on "Spycatcher" in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.

  The Attorney-General
  The total amount expended to date on legal costs both here and abroad in respect of litigation and advice and on travelling and subsistence is about £848,000. To seek to quantify administrative costs would involve disproportionate expense.

TRANSPORT

  Driving Instructors Licences
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department holds on the numbers of approved driving instructors licences issued for each of the last 10 years; and at what level of regional disaggregation this information is available.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The national figures for the numbers of approved driving instructors on the Department's compulsory register and for the numbers of trainee licences to give instruction are as follows:

  ADIs at year end

  Trainee licences issued

  1977

  20,897

  4,355

  1978

  21,670

  5,358

  1979

  22,511

  5,635

  1980

  23,562

  5,414

  1981

  25,098

  5,496

  1982

  26,101

  5,054

  1983

  26,942

  5,142

  Road constructed in C40 concrete (jointed unreinforced)

  Scheme

  Date of Construction

  Approximate length (miles)

  Defects

  M25

  Leatherhead-Reigate

  July 1984-May 1985

  4·80

  142 full depth cracks

  73 mid-bay cracks

  4 longitudinal cracks

  7,632 joint arris spalling

  M25

  Wisley-Leatherhead

  1984

  4·70

  6 full depth cracks in 1st rip and 16 full depth cracks in the 2nd rip behind dowel bars

  326 thin bonded repairs

  A55

  Hawarden Bypass (Welsh Office)

  1984

  6·0

  None reported

  A11

  Barton Mills

  1985

  1·5

  None reported

  M4 Link

  Culverhouse Cross to Capel Llanilltern (Welsh Office)

  1984

  3·3

  None reported

  A45

  Ipswich Bypass (West)

  April-July 1985 (approx)

  4·5

  None reported

  M42

  Tamworth (Kingsbury)

  June 1985-August 1985

  5·8

  Very few minor cracks

  628

  ADIs at year end

  Trainee licences issued

  1984

  28,090

  5,643

  1985

  28,675

  4,203

  1986

  30,069

  2,350

  1987

  31,336

  2,518

  11988

  32,090

  1,377

  1 To May.

  Regional figures are not available.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what requirements have recently been imposed by(a) the United States Government and (b) the international Atomic Energy Agency regarding the transport of plutonium by air.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Brent, East (Mr. Livingstone) on 1 February 1988, at column 509.

  Motorways (Double-decking)
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans for double-decking motorways.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  None at present.

  Road Schemes (Specifications)
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those road schemes which have been built to the same specification as the M25 between Leatherhead and Reigate and identify any defects in the concrete construction of these carriageways which required rectification.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The information requested, for national roads, is as follows:
  629

  Scheme

  Date of Construction

  Approximate length (miles)

  Defects

  M3

  Popham-Bar End Contract 1

  1984

  6·3

  52 longitudinal, diagonal or corner cracks

  17 transverse cracks

  A564

  Blythe Bridge to Uttoxeter

  July-October 1984

  8·5

  1 mid-bay crack

  M42

  Bromsgrove (Alvechurch)

  June-October 1984

  2·4

  8 cracks in 2nd rip behind dowel bars

  M42

  Bromsgrove (Umberslade)

  June 1984-May 1985

  5·5

  2 cracks in 1st rip and 35 in 2nd rip behind dowel bars

  A30

  Long Rock Bypass

  1986

  1·0

  None reported

  A12

  Chelmsford Bypass

  April-June 1986

  8·8

  None reported

  A43

  Towcester Bypass

  September-October 1987

  3·5

  None reported

  A11

  Wymondham Bypass

  June-July 1987

  4·3

  None reported

  A303

  Ilminster Bypass

  July-October 1987

  8·8

  None reported

  A30

  Whiddon Down to Okehampton

  September 1986–January 1987

  4·1

  None reported

  A10

  Buntingford Bypass

  September-December 1986

  2·8

  None reported

  A27

  Chichester Bypass

  1987-May 1988

  8·30

  A small area of road surface was rain damaged

  Road Construction Contracts (Consulting Engineers)
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on the proposed introduction of the changes in the role of the consulting engineer in motorway and trunk road construction contracts which he announced in the House on 23 July 1987,Official Report, column 288–89.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Details of the proposed amendments to the conditions of contract to give effect to the changes have recently been sent to the professional bodies for comment. The proposals maintain an important role for the consulting engineer, within a framework which places responsibility for major decisions on the Department as employer. Initially, the Department plans to let three contracts under the new arrangements, for which tenders are expected to be invited this autumn.

  M25 (Leatherhead-Reigate)
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he is now in a position to make a statement on the progress made in establishing responsibility for the issues arising out of the construction of the M25 between Leatherhead and Reigate.

  Date of count

  12-hour count

  Road

  Location

  Grid reference

  All vehicles

  13 April 1987

  64,874 (64,952 including pedal-cycles)

  A4

  Great-West Road Chiswick West London

  52001780

  The correct count at Woodford new road was 36,690 rather than the 73,380 quoted. I apologise for the error.
  630
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We have commissioned a leading consulting and testing engineer to undertake an independent investigation of the important and complex issues underlying the views reached by the engineer to this contract. The investigation will cover other concrete roads built to the same specification, which have apparently not suffered from such extensive problems. We expect to reach a view on the question of responsibility by about the end of the year.

  Traffic Counts
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the highest traffic count of(a) all vehicles and (b) heavy commercial vehicles on urban roads that has been reported to his Department in the last two years; what was the date of the count; and where was the road.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [pursuant to his reply, 25 March 1988, c. 267–68]: I made a mistake in my answer. The information given regarding the highest "all vehicle" traffic count on a built-up road in 1987 was incorrect. The highest recorded 12-hour count was:

ENERGY

  Plutonium (Shipments)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many shipments of plutonium have taken place(a) by air from and (b) by surface, within the United Kingdom, over the past two years; and if he will give details of airports and routes used.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  For consignments of plutonium by air, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 16 February 1988 at column 592. Plutonium is normally sent from Carlisle airport but small samples for safeguards purposes go from Manchester airport.

  Surface consignments are primarily shipments from Dounreay to Sellafield. For this I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Hampshire, North-West (Mr. Mitchell) to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on 9 March 1988 at column 205–206.

  Information relating to such movements over a short period and to specific shipments is confidential, for reasons of security and commercial sensitivity.

  THORP
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when it is expected that THORP will begin commercial scale reprocessing; and what its expected lifetime will be.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  THORP is expected to begin commercial reprocessing in late 1992. The lifetime of the plant will be governed by a combination of economic, commercial and operational factors. Experience of other reprocessing plants suggests that THORP can be expected to operate well into the second decade of the 21st century.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has as to what countries currently send spent fuel to Sellafield for reprocessing; what countries are expected to use THORP; and what countries are currently in negotiations for its use.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  British Nuclear Fuels plc currently receives spent magnox fuel from Italy and Japan. Utilities in the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland have entered into contracts for reprocessing in THORP. Ongoing negotiations with potential customers are commercially confidential.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he plans any future initiatives to promote energy efficiency in the home; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  My Department's Energy Efficiency Office, in collaboration with the Building Societies Association, is now launching a new initiative to help building societies to promote energy efficiency to their customers.

  For the purpose of this initiative, the Energy Efficiency Office and the Building Societies Association have together published a new leaflet, "Monergy in Your New Home", which building societies will be able to make available to
  632
  their new and existing borrowers. The leaflet gives basic information on energy efficiency measures and finance, and invites the householder to ask the Energy Efficiency Office for a monergy pack. The pack gives more detailed advice, including a home energy survey checklist and a set of energy saving guides. I am placing a copy of the leaflet and the pack in the Library of the House.

  I very much welome this new initiative, and I am grateful to the Building Societies Association and the participating building societies for making it possible.

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what arrangements have been made in preparing the Central Electricity Generating Board for privatisation.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  In his statement to the House on 25 February at column 454, my right hon. Friend set out the Government's proposals for the privatisation of the electricity supply industry in England and Wales. Subject to the passage of the appropriate legislation, it is his intention to make the following appointments to the companies which will emerge from the Central Electricity Generating Board.

  The first company will own some 70 per cent. of the CEGB's generating capacity, both fossil-fuelled and nuclear. Lord Marshall, chairman of the CEGB, is also to be chairman-designate of this new company and Mr. John Baker, managing director of the CEGB, is to be the chief executive-designate.

  The second new generating company will own the remaining 30 per cent. of the CEGB's capacity, all of it non-nuclear. Mr Robert Malpas CBE, currently a managing director of BP, will be taking up the appointment of chairman-designate of this company when he leaves BP in mid-1989. Between now and then he will be available for consultation. Mr. Ed Wallis, presently director of operations for the CEGB, is to be the chief executive-designate of the new company.

  The chairman-designate of the national grid company is to be Mr. David Jefferies, the current deputy chairman of the Electricity Council. The chief executive-designate is to be Mr. Bill Kerss at present deputy chairman of the South Wales electricity board.

  The chairmen and chief executives-designate will be involved in the work which is now beginning within the CEGB to plan for the transfer of the existing business to the new companies once the legislation to restructure and privatise the industry has been approved.

  Energy Efficiency Office
  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he is in a position to announce his decision on the future role of the Energy Efficiency Office.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  [pursuant to his reply 22 January 1988, c. 885–86]: As I indicated in my answer of 22 January at columns 885–86, consumers are now well aware of the case for energy efficiency. The Energy Efficiency Office is therefore entering a fresh phase. I have decided that its aims will now be to run specific and targeted services backed by technical support, including guidance on the use of the energy efficiency industries; and to ensure that builders and property managers have the necessary technical advice.
  633
  Accordingly, from 1989–90, the main areas of the EEO's work will be:
  (a) a better regional service offering specific advice and RD and D support to industrial and commercial firms;
  (b) continuing support for community insulation projects targeted on pensioners and low income households;
  (c) new ways of improving the energy efficiency of housing.

  As part of the conclusion of the first phase of the EEO's work, I have decided to bring an end to the energy efficiency survey scheme. There is now wide public appreciation of the potential value of energy surveys, and grants for this purpose are no longer justified. Applications for approval to undertake a survey under the scheme will therefore be considered only if they are received by 24 June 1988.

WALES

  Local Education Authorities
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to enable local education authorities in Wales to have the freedom to experiment with new concepts and ideas that are not imposed by the centre, consequent upon his statement to the Welsh Grand Committee on 25 May; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to prevent them from so experimenting. The Education Reform Bill proposes specific powers to enable him to disapply or modify the national curriculum requirements in a school for the purpose of development or experiment.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Manufactured Goods
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the latest balance of trade in manufactured goods.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  In the first four months of 1988, there was an estimated deficit on trade in manufactures of £3·9 billion.

  Citizens Advice Bureaux
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many citizens advice bureaux have legal aid panels.

  Mr. Butcher
  I understand that about 450 of the 74 main citizens advice bureaux in the United Kingdom currently operate solicitors' rota schemes. Another eight bureaux directly employ salaried lawyers.

  Volume Car Production
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate he has made of the trend in volume car production over the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  There are no official estimates available.

  Tropical Forests
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if the Government are proposing or 634
  supporting any special projects related to tropical forest conservation at the forthcoming meeting of the International Tropical Timber Organisation Council session, 22 June to 1 July, in Rio de Janeiro;

  (2) when he last met representatives of the International Tropical Timber Organisation; what support has been given to the International Tropical Timber Organisation in its administration of funding for tropical reforestation, conservation and management of tropical forests and market research relating to the international trade in tropical hardwoods; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) pursuant to the answer of 21 April, Official Report,column 534, what further action he has taken to implement a code of conduct for the international tropical timber trade; and if he will take steps to ensure that the conservation of tropical forests and their genetic resources will be an essential prerequisite for the future development of the international tropical timber trade.

  Mr. Atkins
  We will be represented at the forthcoming council session of the International Tropical Timber Organisation, which is expected to discuss the organisation's future role and work programme, including project assessment. We are currently considering our position on the various questions raised as we prepare for this meeting.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the division of responsibility between the Department of Trade and Industry and the Overseas Development Administration with regard to the International Tropical Timber Organisation, particularly in relation to the tropical forestry action plan.

  Mr. Atkins
  The International Tropical Timber Organisation was established under what is primarily a trade-related commodity agreement; the Department of Trade and Industry has lead responsibility, particularly on trade-related matters. The Overseas Development Administration is responsible for the tropical forestry action plan, co-ordinated by the Food and Agriculture Organisation. The TFAP's overall framework for action in the field of tropical forestry extends to such areas as forestry and land use, conservation and fuel and energy. The tropical timber agreement requires the ITTO to avoid duplication of efforts and co-operate with United Nations organisations such as the FAO. We would expect to see this reflected in the ITTO's future activities.

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what specific initiatives his Department has already taken and plans to take, in support of the Montreal protocol for reducing the production of chlorofluorocarbons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Secretary of State for the Environment has lead policy responsibility in respect of the United Kingdom's obligations under the Montreal protocol, in consultation with my right hon. and noble Friend.

  Her Majesty's Government were an initial signatory to the protocol last September and have actively participated in the subsequent discussions on the proposed EC implementing measures, in particular the provisions relating to the scheduled freeze and cuts in production and consumption, and to identity scope for substitutes and

  635
  increased opportunities for recycling and recovery. We are also supporting the initiatives being taken by industry at a European level to reduce dependance on these chemicals.

  Foxley Wood Planning Inquiry
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if his Department's submission to the Foxley wood planning inquiry in Hampshire represents his policy in respect of proposals for large-scale housing developments in the south and south-east of England.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  My Department does not have policies in respect of housing developments in south-east England or anywhere else. Whether the Department considers it has something to contribute depends on the merits of each case.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish his Department's submission to the planning inquiry being held into the housing proposals at Foxley wood, Hampshire.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Under normal DOE procedures, copies have been sent to the appellant and to the local authority. In addition I have arranged for a copy of the submission to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Film Industry
  Mr. Dixon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the implications for his policy towards the future of the film industry of the reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission of alleged restrictive labour practices in that industry.

  Mr. Maude
  The reference is intended to establish whether certain specified restrictive labour practices exist in the broadcasting and film industries and, if so, whether they operate against the public interest. The Government will consider whether action is appropriate in the light of the MMC's report.

  Insurance Brokers Registration Council
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will make a statement on the position of the Insurance Brokers Registration Council as a recognised professional body under the Financial Services Act.

  Mr. Maude
  Recognition of professional bodies under the Financial Services Act is a matter for the Securities and Investments Board. In January the board made an interim recognition order in respect of the council pending the making and coming into effect of the council's new rules on investment business. An order approving the Insurance Brokers Registration Council (Conduct of Investment Business) Rules 1988 has been laid before Parliament and copies of the rules have been placed in the Library. The order and with it the rules will come into effect on 21 June 1988.

  Tin Mining (Cornwall)
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will make a statement on the current position of the Rio Tinto Zinc Corporation plc tin mining operations in Cornwall.
  636
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [pursant to his answer, 22 March 1988.]: The loan of £15 million offered in 1986 to Carnon Consolidated Ltd., then a subsidiary of RTZ Corporation plc, is repayable in the years 1996–2001. The loan of £10 million offered this year to Carnon Holdings Ltd., (the new parent company of Carnon Consolidated Ltd.) replaces guarantees of £10 million commercial loans under the 1986 offer. This loan is repayable from 1993 onwards. Both loans are interest-free and both are linked to capital expenditure. Repayments of both loans are related to the after-tax profits of the preceding year above a minimum level. There are provisions for repayments to be waived if profits are insufficient.

  Companies Registration Office
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the proposed increase in the charge for searches at the Companies Registration Office and as to why the request for a duplicate of the roll film of information received at the office each day as a cost-effective service to the public and to the Companies Registration Office was not accepted.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 7 June 1988]: The proposed increase in the fee for searches at the Companies Registration Officies is intended to ensure that the full cost of providing this service is met by those using it. The Registrar of Companies has been discussing with major users the possibility of supplying them with roll film copies of company documents and expects to write to them shortly about such a service.

  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many searches were undertaken by the Companies Registration Office during 1987 on behalf of Government and other public authorities listed as major users.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 7 June 1988]: No Government Department or other public authority is among the major users of search facilities at the Companies Registration Offices. In 1987, some 170,000 searches were carried out for the CROs' own working purposes and those of other parts of the Department of Trade and Industry. Searches for other Government Departments and other public authorities attract the normal search fee and are therefore not always separately identified, but total at least 70,000.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of businesses with a turnover of £250,000 or less are currently subject to a surcharge as a result of late submission of their quarterly value added tax returns.

  Mr. Lilley
  Customs do not keep separate surcharge statistics for businesses with a turnover of £250,000 or less.

  At the end of May 1988 approximately 20 per cent. of all businesses registered for VAT were in receipt of extant surcharge liability notices. About half of these had not yet incurred a surcharge.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the nature of representations he has
  637
  received from small businesses concerning the restriction on companies taking advantage of the new instalment system for value added tax payments to those which are up to date on payments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  No such representations have been received.

  Consumer Credit
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the rate of growth in consumer credit over the past year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  In the 12 months to 31 March 1988, the amount outstanding on all consumer credit agreements rose by 18·1 per cent.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Staff Exchanges
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what was the level of interchange between the Civil Service and industry and commerce in 1987.

  Table 1 Defendants proceeded against and found guilty of litter-related offences1 by police force area

  England and Wales

  Number of defendants

  Police Force Area

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Total proceeded against

  Total found guilty

  Total proceeded against

  Total found guilty

  Total proceeded against

  Total found guilty

  Total proceeded against

  Total found guilty

  Total proceeded against

  Total found guilty

  Avon and Somerset

  47

  36

  46

  41

  54

  45

  47

  47

  34

  27

  Bedfordshire

  15

  14

  18

  17

  11

  10

  13

  13

  10

  10

  Cambridgeshire

  22

  21

  24

  24

  23

  21

  15

  15

  18

  16

  Cheshire

  23

  20

  33

  31

  29

  27

  33

  30

  31

  30

  Cleveland

  30

  29

  41

  36

  30

  30

  20

  18

  33

  30

  Cumbria

  156

  148

  141

  128

  155

  140

  185

  174

  229

  209

  Derbyshire

  105

  92

  67

  54

  65

  58

  57

  52

  73

  66

  Devon and Cornwall

  60

  58

  84

  81

  69

  60

  66

  63

  56

  49

  Dorset

  15

  14

  36

  33

  29

  24

  27

  27

  24

  24

  Durham

  12

  12

  29

  26

  14

  14

  13

  17

  24

  21

  Essex

  59

  57

  72

  68

  63

  58

  46

  45

  44

  39

  Gloucester

  26

  26

  28

  28

  32

  32

  30

  27

  36

  34

  Greater Manchester

  103

  96

  100

  97

  76

  73

  65

  59

  47

  45

  Hampshire

  41

  35

  48

  44

  51

  50

  57

  54

  69

  54

  Hertfordshire

  109

  103

  94

  82

  90

  87

  85

  79

  53

  52

  Humberside

  33

  33

  39

  38

  53

  50

  26

  23

  16

  13

  Kent

  67

  63

  60

  57

  53

  48

  41

  36

  29

  23

  Lancashire

  78

  71

  87

  79

  89

  82

  80

  72

  61

  58

  Leicestershire

  37

  36

  36

  35

  36

  33

  23

  20

  27

  21

  Lincolnshire

  30

  28

  47

  45

  49

  48

  39

  35

  48

  44

  City of London

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Merseyside

  66

  59

  55

  46

  77

  61

  48

  31

  39

  27

  Metropolitan Police

  91

  77

  56

  43

  71

  58

  73

  66

  74

  64

  Norfolk

  42

  42

  42

  41

  24

  23

  26

  24

  34

  28

  Northamptonshire

  22

  22

  27

  24

  36

  35

  22

  21

  11

  10

  Northumbria

  55

  54

  46

  41

  29

  25

  23

  21

  40

  34

  North Yorkshire

  37

  36

  41

  33

  37

  31

  30

  28

  23

  20

  Nottinghamshire

  102

  97

  73

  73

  48

  47

  76

  75

  93

  92

  South Yorkshire

  162

  152

  126

  114

  114

  99

  91

  86

  101

  83

  Staffordshire

  73

  69

  59

  58

  35

  34

  46

  43

  55

  51

  Suffolk

  25

  20

  28

  26

  40

  31

  29

  23

  28

  26

  Surrey

  51

  46

  62

  59

  56

  51

  34

  28

  26

  24

  Sussex

  68

  63

  68

  66

  43

  41

  44

  42

  31

  26

  Thames Valley

  54

  48

  42

  39

  37

  36

  46

  45

  46

  41

  Warwickshire

  28

  26

  32

  31

  20

  16

  18

  15

  27

  26

  West Mercia

  59

  54

  77

  65

  59

  57

  55

  52

  79

  69

  West Midlands

  98

  90

  99

  91

  92

  82

  53

  46

  58

  51

  West Yorkshire

  130

  118

  128

  113

  79

  66

  78

  63

  48

  43

  Wiltshire

  31

  30

  44

  44

  24

  23

  23

  23

  18

  18

  Dyfed Powys

  22

  22

  22

  20

  18

  18

  32

  30

  49

  45

  Gwent

  90

  88

  51

  50

  64

  61

  33

  32

  81

  72

  North Wales

  33

  31

  34

  34

  20

  18

  17

  17

  14

  13

  638
  Mr. Luce
  Returns from Departments show that there were 278 outward and 195 inward secondments in 1987, a total of 473. This is more than double the figure in 1979 and is 1 per cent. higher than in 1986. The figure for secondments to other bodies rose by 5 per cent.

  I welcome this high level of interchange and will be reviewing ways of strengthening the links still further. A copy of the 1987 interchange report has been placed in both Libraries of Parliament.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Litter-related Offences
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) prosecutions and (b) convictions were made for each of the last five years in (i) the United Kingdom, by region, and (ii) Basildon for litter-related offences; and how much was recovered in fines.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information available to me, which may be incomplete, is brought together in the following tables. Data is not collected centrally on moneys recovered in fines for individual offences.
  639

  Police Force Area

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Total proceeded against

  Total found guilty

  Total proceeded against

  Total found guilty

  Total proceeded against

  Total found guilty

  Total proceeded against

  Total found guilty

  Total proceeded against

  Total found guilty

  South Wales

  126

  115

  117

  113

  96

  83

  83

  73

  84

  76

  England and Wales

  2,533

  2,351

  2,459

  2,268

  2,191

  1,987

  1,954

  1,791

  2,022

  1,805

  1 Offences under the Litter Acts 1958, 1971 and 1983 and the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978.

  Table 2

  Defendants proceeded against and found guilty of litter-related offences1

  Billericay2

  Number of defendants3

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Total proceeded against

  3

  2

  8

  1

  1

  Total found guilty

  3

  2

  8

  1

  1

  1 Offences under the Litter Acts 1958, 1971 and 1983 and the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978.

  2 Data is not collected centrally for Basildon alone but for the whole of the Billericay petty sessional division.

  3 Figures are those recorded centrally and are approximate: detailed checking of individual cases would involve disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders already convicted of litter-related offences were(a) re-prosecuted and (b) re-convicted at later dates for similar offences in the United Kingdom, by region, and in Basildon, in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many(a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there were for litter-related offences on British Rail property for each of the last five years;

  (2) how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there were for litter-related offences for each of the last five years for each of the United Kingdom's national parks.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information requested is not available. Details of the precise location of such offences are not collected centrally.

  Industrial Waste
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there were in connection with the illegal dumping of industrial waste (i) in rivers and seas and (ii) by other methods in the United Kingdom, by region, and in Basildon for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It is not possible to distinguish prosecutions for the unlawful disposal of industrial waste from the records of court proceedings held centrally.

  Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provisions of the single European market in 1992 will apply to(a) the Isle of Man, (b) Guernsey and (c) Jersey; and under what powers.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The provisions of the treaty of Rome which apply to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are governed by articles 25–27 and protocol 3 to the treaty of accession. Provisions for achieving the 640
  completion of the internal market will apply to the islands only within this framework. They are primarily concerned with the harmonisation of custom controls and the free movement of agricultural and animal produce.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the arrangements for the issue of the common European passport in(a) the Isle of Man, (b) Guernsey and (c) Jersey; and how this will affect the right of movement, work and abode in the United Kingdom and other European countries of residents of the islands.

  Mr. Renton
  Passports will continue to be issued in the islands through the lieutenants-governor in exercise of the royal prerogative. The common format passport, which is not a European Community passport as such, will merely bring about changes in form to the present passport. The status, entitlements and privileges of the holder are in no way affected.

  Immigration
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there will be any change to the scope of the definition of public funds, as contained in the statement of changes in immigration rules July 1985, when the wording is revised to take into account the Social Security Act 1986.

  Mr. Renton
  There will be a slight change of scope but only insofar as family credit and income support, which are to be included in the definition, do not cover precisely the same ground as supplementary benefit and family income supplement, which they replace.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the revised definition of public funds in the statement of changes in immigration rules July 1985 will allow overseas students to be exempt from 80 per cent. of the community charge, on the same basis as students from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Renton
  Yes, in that whatever criteria are decided for this concession will apply equally to overseas and home students.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost to a person appealing against the decision of an entry clearance officer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  There is no charge for exercising any statutory right of appeal provided under the Immigration Act 1971.

  Residence Periods
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if there has been any change in the period of residence in the United Kingdom required before indefinite leave to remain can be granted at the discretion of his Department.
  641
  Mr. Renton
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question from the hon. Member for Norwood (Mr. Fraser) on 5 November 1987, at columns 833–34. There have been no subsequent changes.

  Haverigg Prison, Millom
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Copeland of 17 December 1987,Official Report, column 626, he will publish the report and recommendations of the inquiry into security arrangements at Haverigg prison, Millom, Cumbria;

  (2) if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Copeland of 17 December 1987, Official Report, column 626, he will state whether any security arrangements have been changed at Haverigg prison, Millom, Cumbria;

  (3) if he will list all those occasions in the last twenty years on which prisoners have escaped, or attempted to escape, from Haverigg prison, Millom, Cumbria.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Statistics on escapes are published in annual reports on the work of the prison department, copies of which are available in the Library, and show that the following numbers of prisoners escaped from Haverigg:

  Number

  1969

  —

  1970

  1

  1971

  3

  1972

  9

  1973

  6

  1974

  —

  1975

  2

  1976

  4

  1977

  6

  1978

  2

  1979

  6

  1980

  2

  1981

  1

  1982

  5

  1983

  3

  1984–85

  14

  1985–86

  5

  1986–87

  5

  Population of Haverigg closed training prison on 31 March: by security category, 1979–88

  Security category1

  Total population in establishment

  A

  B

  C

  D

  not recorded centrally

  1979

  —

  —

  435

  10

  60

  506

  1980

  —

  —

  370

  15

  145

  534

  1981

  —

  —

  470

  10

  40

  522

  1982

  —

  —

  495

  10

  10

  518

  1983

  —

  —

  475

  20

  45

  539

  1984

  —

  —

  490

  15

  15

  522

  1985

  —

  —

  465

  15

  40

  521

  1986

  —

  —

  495

  10

  35

  533

  1987

  —

  —

  480

  10

  20

  512

  1988

  —

  —

  465

  10

  45

  518

  1 The figures are those recorded centrally and are approximate, detailed checking of individual cases would involve disproportionate cost.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what investigations have been carried out into alleged drugs abuse at Haverigg prison, Millom, Cumbria, in the last 10 years.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We attach much importance to keeping illicit drugs out of prison establishments and are determined that counter-measures are taken. The regular
  642
  The 1984–85 figure is for the 15-month period from 1 January 1984–31 March 1985. Subsequent reports relate to the year from 1 April. Between 1 April 1987 and 31 May 1988, five prisoners escaped.

  As to attempted escapes, the readily available information relates to 1986–88. During these years, the following numbers of prisoners were caught while in the process of attempting to escape, or were apprehended or seen in circumstances which suggested that they were about to make an attempt:

  Year

  Number

  1986

  30

  1987

  18

  11988

  4

  1 To 31 May.

  In accordance with standard practice, inquiries were made for internal management purposes into particular incidents at Haverigg to which the hon. Member's question answered on 17 December 1987 related. No changes arising specifically out of those incidents were deemed necessary but the experience of escapes at Haverigg and elsewhere is in forming a general review of security arrangements in medium-low security establishments which is in progress.

  Work has been carried out on the installation of a new fence around the sportsfield at Haverigg, which will bring this area up to current security standards in keeping with the main perimeter of the prison; and work to install a similar fence around the prison's farm was scheduled to start in the near future.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the various categories and numbers of prisoners held at Haverigg prison, Millom, Cumbria, in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The readily available information is given in the table.

  monitoring of the incidence of drugs is a normal management function. Following the issue of further guidance last autumn, governors were required to review and report upon the situation in their establishment and the need for additional measures to be taken. A full search by drug dogs took place at Haverigg on 23 March, when some cannabis was found. Allegations concerning the

  643
  availability of drugs at Haverigg will be investigated by the deputy director general of the prison service as part of his inquiry into the recent incidents at the prison.

  Vietnamese Refugees
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will reconsider the limit on Vietnamese refugees allowed into the United Kingdom from Hong Kong, in the light of the recent additional influx of refugees to the colony.

  Mr. Renton
  I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Wrexham (Dr. Marek) on 26 April at columns 85–86.

  DNA Fingerprinting
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now consider DNA fingerprinting as conclusive evidence of parentage; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  Due weight is already given to the results of DNA tests submitted by applicants in support of entry clearance applications. The results of the pilot trial to evaluate the role of DNA testing in immigration procedures will be available shortly.

  Mrs. N. Goodman (Passport Application)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the application of Mrs. Nanette Ida Goodman of 12 Avenue terrace, Southend-on-Sea, to the Petty France office for a passport renewal on 19 April, explaining the urgency of her application, has still not been dealt with; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  Without Mrs. Goodman's date of birth, the London Passport Office is unable to trace her application on the computerised record of postal applications awaiting processing. If my hon. Friend will let me have this information, we will do all we can to ensure that the application is expedited. The passport department has tried to contact Mrs. Goodman by telephone, but her number is unavailable.

  Ministerial Meeting, Munich
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the recent ministerial meetings he attended in Munich.

  Mr. Hurd
  The Ministers of the States of the European Community responsible for counter-terrorism and immigration met on 3 June in Munich under the chairmanship of Dr. Zimmermann, the Minister of the Interior of the Federal Republic of Germany. Lord Cockfield, a Vice-President of the European Commission, was present for the discussion of immigration matters.

  In the immigration meeting we reviewed the position on possible changes in controls at the internal borders of the Community in the light of the Single European Act. Some of my colleagues envisaged that it might become possible to abolish immigration frontier controls within the Community if a series of conditions were fulfilled. These conditions would include the strengthening of controls at the external frontiers of the Community, including the full harmonisation of visa requirements. Others agreed with
  644
  the United Kingdom that it was not possible to envisage the abolition within the foreseeable future of all immigration controls over third country nationals at intra-Community borders. All the Ministers present endorsed the statement by the presidency that no decision to abolish these controls had been taken.

  Frontier controls were also discussed, at my initiative, in the Trevi meeting in view of their importance in continued international cross-border co-operation to combat terrorism, drug trafficking and other crime. My colleagues unanimously accepted my suggestion that the Trevi machinery should be used to consider the implications of changes in frontier controls and the kind of measures which could be taken to off-set potential security disadvantages which might otherwise result from the implementation of the European internal market.

  At the immigration meeting, we had before us a further report from the ad hoc group of senior officials established in 1986 during the United Kingdom presidency. We endorsed the recommendations made by that group, including recommendations for improved co-ordination between the representatives of member states in third countries, in assessing conditions in those countries which are relevant to the grant of visas, and to the consideration of applications for asylum.

  My colleagues and I continue to be concerned at the considerable increase in some member states of the European Communities in the number of applications for asylum from persons who do not satisfy the criteria laid down in the 1951 Geneva refugee convention and appear to be exploiting the asylum procedure for purposes for which it is not intended. We therefore reaffirmed our aim of guaranteeing every asylum seeking the right to have his application examined in one of the member states but equally the aim of preventing the abuse whereby the same foreign national made different asylum applications in several member states. We welcomed the progress made towards establishing the necessary criteria for determining which state should be responsible for considering any individual application.

  In the Trevi meeting we also discussed events since our previous meeting in Copenhagen in December, including the recent murderous attacks by the Provisional IRA in the Netherlands. There was unanimous and wholehearted condemnation of the Provisional IRA and my colleagues supported my suggestion that this should be recorded in the presidency press statement issued after the meeting.

  Various measures to intensify co-operation were agreed including priority search measures for major terrorists, improved gathering of information on terrorist movements and the immediate exchange of information following a major terrorist incident. Proposals for greater co-operation between Trevi states in the forensic field will be developed by officials. We also agreed a refined and updated assessment of the terrorist threat to Community countries.

  Further co-operation to combat drug trafficking using the drug liaison officer network was agreed.

  My colleagues also agreed to my proposal that we should study ways of confiscating funds intended to support terrorism. The United Kingdom Government's proposals for legislation to replace the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984, which expires in March 1989, will provide a starting point for that study.

  Prisons (Mother and Baby Units)
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women in prison mother and baby units on the most recent convenient date had not previously served a custodial sentence; what were their ages; and for what offences they had been sentenced.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [pursuant to his reply, 23 May]: I regret that incorrect information was contained in that answer. The reply should have read as follows:

  Forty-two women including seven remand prisoners in mother and baby units on 13 May 1988 had not previously served a custodial sentence. Their ages are shown in table 1. Table 2 lists the primary offences for each of the 35 sentenced women.

  Table 1

  Age

  Number of women

  16

  1

  18

  4

  19

  3

  20

  4

  21

  1

  23

  7

  24

  2

  25

  6

  26

  4

  27

  1

  29

  1

  30

  1

  31

  2

  32

  2

  33

  1

  35

  1

  36

  1

  Total

  42

  Table 2

  Offence

  Number of women

  Drugs offences

  10

  Theft

  9

  Assault

  2

  Wounding

  2

  Robbery

  3

  Burglary

  3

  Fraud

  2

  Handling stolen goods

  3

  Arson

  1

  Total

  35

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Hospitals
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what overall savings will be obtained by the proposal in the Northern health board operational plan to replace ward accommodation at Holywell hospital by provision of local psychogeriatric units in Lame and Whiteabbey.

  Mr. Needham
  This is primarily a matter for the Northern Health and Social Services Board. Rather than achieve savings, however, I understand that the proposal, which is only at the planning stage, is intended to improve services for elderly people in the areas mentioned.

  Fair Employment
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the employers in Northern Ireland which the Fair Employment Agency has(a) chosen or (b) had discussions with to revoke or modify directions previously given under subsection 2(i) or 2(ii) under Part II, section 13 (5)(a) or (b) of the Fair Employment Act (NI) 1976.

  Mr. Viggers
  [holding answer 20 May 1988]: The information is as follows:

  Cookstown District council;

  Armagh district council;

  Lough Neagh Fishermen's Co-operative.

ENVIRONMENT

  Waste Disposal
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to introduce legislation to ensure that the producers of waste are responsible for its disposal; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  We intend, following our September 1986 consultation paper, to announce our conclusions on waste disposal law amendment very shortly.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Government propose to compile a register of persons authorised to handle waste.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Our consultation paper on amendments to the law relating to waste disposal included a proposal to register waste handlers. We plan to make an announcement on the results of the consultation very shortly.

  Litter and Industrial Waste
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many tonnes of(a) domestic litter and (b) industrial waste were legally disposed of for each of the last five years in (i) the United Kingdom, by region and (ii) Basildon;

  (2) if he will estimate how many tonnes of (a) domestic litter and (b) industrial waste were illegally disposed of in each of the last five years in (i) the United Kingdom, by region and (ii) Basildon;

  (3) what was the total cost to (a) taxpayers and (b) ratepayers of the disposal of (i) domestic litter and (ii) industrial waste for each of the last five years in (x) the United Kingdom, by region and (y) Basildon;

  (4) how many tonnes of (a) biodegradable and (b) non-biodegradable waste were (i) legally and (ii) illegally disposed of for each of the last five years in the United Kingdom, by region, and in Basildon;

  (5) if he will list the various methods by which (a) domestic litter and (b) industrial waste are disposed of; if he will list the total number of tonnes disposed of by each method for each of the last five years in the United Kingdom, by region, and in Basildon; and if he will express the total for each method as a percentage of the overall total;

  (6) how many tonnes of (a) industrial waste and (b) domestic litter were disposed of other than in seas or rivers in the United Kingdom, by region, and in Basildon, for each of the last five years;
  647
  (7) how many tonnes of (a) biodegradable and (b) non-biodegradable waste were disposed other than in seas and rivers in the United Kingdom, by region, and in Basildon, for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Responsibility for the regulation of waste disposal lies with waste disposal authorities. Statistics on the amounts of waste disposed of by the authorities or by the private sector under licence, and the costs to local authorities, are not collected centrally.

  The two major methods of disposal of domestic and industrial waste are incineration and landfill, with or without prior treatment. It is estimated that about 100 million tonnes of controlled waste is generated in England and Wales annually. Of this 50 million tonnes is industrial waste, 28 million tonnes is domestic and commercial and the remainder is ash, slag and building waste. Within this total, about 1·5 million tonnes is defined as special waste under the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1980 as being dangerous or difficult to dispose of.

  Industrial waste is disposed of almost entirely by the private sector and the costs are borne by the industry generating the waste.

  Approximately 10 per cent. of the domestic and commercial waste collected by local authorities is incinerated; the rest is landfilled.

  No valid estimates are available of the volume of waste disposed of illegally throughout the country but the London Waste Regulatory Authority estimates that about 1 million tonnes are dumped in the London area at any one time.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many tonnes of(a) domestic litter and (b) industrial waste were disposed of in the sea or in rivers for each of the last five years in the United Kingdom, by region, and in Basildon; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many tonnes of (a) biodegradable and (b) non-biodegradable waste were disposed of in the sea or in rivers for each of the last five years in the United Kingdom, by region, and in Basildon.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Waste disposal at sea is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Quantities and types of waste disposed of in United Kingdom sea areas from 1981–85, the last five years for which published figures are available, are given in the 8th-12 annual reports of the Oslo commission, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Data for 1986 will be available shortly. Wastes are normally licensed for disposal at sea only if they are biodegradable or inert and non-toxic. Discharges of waste to internal waters is a matter for water authorities and figures are not kept centrally.

  Landfill Waste Sites
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who is responsible for monitoring landfill waste sites once local authority responsibility ceases after they are closed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The obligations of a waste disposal authority under the Control of Pollution Act 1974 to monitor landfill sites cease when the licence expires. However, district councils retain their duties under section 648
  91 of the Public Health Act 1936 to inspect their districts for the occurrence of any statutory nuisance which may be caused by the deposit.

  Housing Density
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that provisions relating to the density of house and other building and the provision of drainage and sewerage are not being exceeded on land in the vicinity of Cortons brook and the Brent river; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Decisions concerning the density of development in Ealing, as elsewhere, are a matter for the local planning authority taking into account any general guidance. My Department's circular 17/82 emphasises that, where land drainage considerations arise, they should always be taken into account in determining planning applications. The adequacy of infrastructure is also a consideration for the local planning authority in consultation with the relevant utilities.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what high level nuclear waste of United Kingdom origin has been dumped in drums in the sea.

  Mr. Moynihan
  None. High level nuclear waste is being stored for at least 50 years before disposal is envisaged. In any case such waste is unsuitable for disposal in drums at sea.

  Newcastle Recreational Project
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to make funds available to Newcastle under Lyme borough council for Newcastle recreational project 1746/88 and to finance similar projects in operation throughout the United Kingdom now and in the future; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Government money specifically allocated to sport and recreation is channelled through the Sports Council. The council dispenses these funds in accordance with its own policies on a regional and national basis. Priority is given to projects which provide sport and recreation opportunities for areas and groups of special need including the unemployed. I understand that the council's west midlands region provided some financial support last year for the Newcastle recreation project and that similar projects in other regions are also assisted by the council. The Government fully support the Sports Council's "areas of special need" policies and increased the council's grant by over £2 million for this purpose in 1988–89, to a total of £39 million.

  Chlorine
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take account of the projected rise in chlorine levels in the atmosphere from 3 parts per million to 5 parts per million by the end of the century, in deciding whether to support a ban on the use of aerosol sprays containing chlorofluorocarbons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The Government believe that emissions of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are best limited through
  649
  controlling supply rather than specific uses, such as aerosols. The European Commission's proposals for implementing the Montreal protocol in the European Community also reflect this overall approach. We nevertheless welcome the recent announcement by the British aerosol industry that it will voluntarily phase out non-essential use of CFCs in aerosols by the end of 1989. The Government are keen to encourage voluntary reductions in CFC use by all sectors of industry.

  Environmental Impact Assessments
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will explain how the system for including environmental impact assessments in the planning process will operate in enterprise zones and simplified planning zones; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ridley
  I shall shortly be laying before Parliament regulations applying the requirements of the EC directive

  Year

  Newham

  Southwark

  Tower Hamlets

  Unfurnished

  Furnished

  Unfurnished

  Furnished

  Unfurnished

  Furnished

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  1981

  9·71

  13·36

  12·11

  18·04

  9·61

  10·40

  1982

  11·31

  14·81

  14·07

  20·96

  11·46

  17·58

  1983

  11·35

  17·61

  14·19

  28·86

  11·83

  36·96

  1984

  13·02

  23·27

  16·25

  21·04

  13·58

  23·04

  1985

  13·46

  24·17

  16·75

  36·21

  13·71

  18·19

  1986

  15·19

  26·11

  19·21

  30·88

  17·36

  22·60

  19871

  15·60

  27·81

  19·83

  32·44

  16·85

  22·69

  1 First half.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will estimate the average construction costs of a unit of housing association housing(a) in the area of the London Docklands development corporation and (b) in that part of the London borough of Southwark for which the planning authority is the London Docklands development corporation;

  (2) if he will estimate the change in investment on public housing in real terms in the area of the London Docklands development corporation since 1981.

  Mr. Trippier
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the average construction costs of a unit of new housing for private sale(a) in the area of the London Docklands development corporation and (b) in that part of the London borough of Southwark for which the planning authority is the London Docklands development corporation.

  Mr. Trippier
  Information on average construction cost is not available, but average sale prices between October 1986 and September 1987 have been estimated as follows for the LDDC part of each of the three docklands boroughs:

  Newham

  Southwark

  Tower Hamlets

  £

  £

  £

  1 bed unit

  45,000

  57,500

  65,000

  2 bed unit

  55,000

  70,000

  100,000

  3 bed unit

  70,000

  80,000

  120,000

  4 bed unit

  115,000

  150,000

  150,000

  5 bed unit

  —

  200,000

  —

  650
  on environmental assessment to projects subject to development control. Further provision will be required to ensure that the directive's requirements are complied with in enterprise zones and simplified planning zones, without unnecessarily restricting the broad freedom to undertake development in such zones. The necessary instruments will be made as soon as possible.

  London Docklands (Housing)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the average weekly rent of a private unit of housing in the area of the London Docklands development corporation for each year since its establishment.

  Mr. Trippier
  The only information available is for rents registered by the rent officer in the year in question in each of the three dockland boroughs, as follows:

  Agricultural Dwellings
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that, as a prerequisite to the granting of planning permission for an agricultural dwelling, the future economic viability of the farm is established beyond reasonable doubt.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No. Guidance about the viability of a farming enterprise is given in the annex to DOE circular 24/73. Each planning application for an agricultural dwelling is decided on its merits in the light of this guidance, the other factors listed in the annex, and all other material planning considerations.

  London Docklands Development Corporation
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much public money has been spent and how much private investment attracted to the London Docklands development corporation in(a) Southwark, (b) Newham and (c) Tower Hamlets, for each year since the London Docklands development corporation was established.

  Mr. Trippier
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  London Docklands (Population)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the population within the area of the London Docklands development corporation for each year since its establishment, and the predicted population for the 1990s.

  Mr. Trippier
  Population estimates and projections for the LDDC area since 1981 are as follows:
  651

  Year

  Population

  1981

  39,429

  1982

  40,700

  1983

  41,100

  1984

  42,000

  1985

  43,820

  1986

  45,749

  1987

  146,564

  1991

  286,700

  1996

  295,100

  1 Provisional

  2 Projection

  Widdicombe Committee
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Government will publish their response to the Widdicombe committee of inquiry into the conduct of local authority business.

  Mr. Chope
  Soon.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will update the table giving information on sales of dwellings by each local authority in England, referred to in the answer given to the hon. Member for Banbury on 2 March,Official Report, column 580.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I have today placed in the Library the latest version of table 2 giving information reported by each local authority in England on the progress of council house sales up to the end of December 1987.

  Tenants' Choice
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to issue further explanatory material on tenants' choice; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The tenants' choice scheme, provided for in part IV of the Housing Bill, is designed to broaden the choices open to secure public sector tenants; to give tenants better services, whether by changing landlord or through the effect of competition on existing landlords; and further to open up very large stocks of rented housing held by local housing authorities to diversity, competition and best housing management practices. As I undertook at the Committee stage of the Bill to do, I have today placed in the Libraries of both Houses a paper, "Tenants' Choice", which explains how we propose to achieve this, including the part that we propose will be played by secondary legislation and by administrative arrangements. It explains in particular the important responsibilities we propose for the Housing Corporation, not only to approve prospective new landlords, but also to act as enabler and provider of information and assistance to tenants and prospective landlords wishing to operate the scheme: amendments to the Bill, tabled yesterday, provide for this extended role. The paper, additional copies of which will be available in the Vote Office, is being sent to the local authority associations and others with a major interest, but is considered primarily to assist this House in its further consideration of part IV of the Bill.

  Domestic Waste (Imports)
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the particular danger to human, animal and plant health arising from the disposal of domestic waste imported from the United States of America.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My officials in consultation with the MAFF and DHSS are considering whether any dangers are posed to human, animal or plant health by the import of domestic waste from the USA.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the amount of domestic waste imported into the United Kingdom from the United States of America in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Moynihan
  We are not aware of any imports of domestic waste from the USA in the last five years.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek powers to prohibit the import of domestic waste from the United States of America into the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The provision of waste disposal services is a legitimate business provided it is carried out in accordance with proper environmental safeguards, does not involve risks to public health and does not jeopardise the availability of suitable facilities for the disposal of United Kingdom waste. I am aware of public concern about proposals to import large quantities of domestic wastes from the United States of America and am considering whether any action may be necessary.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the proposed dumping of domestic waste from the United States of America at Arpley Meadows, Warrington.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I understand that a British Company, Power, Water and Waste, Ltd., have approached the Manchester Ship Canal Company with proposals to landfill United States domestic waste at one of their facilities. I believe negotiations are continuing.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the content of the proposed imports of waste from the United States of America into the United Kingdom for disposal at Arpley Meadows, Warrington.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I understand that the proposal to import waste from the United States of America concerns normal domestic refuse.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Refugee Camp, Hong Kong
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about his recent visit to the Vietnamese refugee camp in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend visited the Green Island reception centre and the Chi Ma Wan closed centre in Hong Kong. He was impressed by the
  653
  efficiency with which both centres are run by the Hong Kong Government, and by the great efforts made to ensure that conditions are as humane as possible.

  There has been a dramatic increase in the numbers of Vietnamese boat people arriving in Hong Kong in recent months. The population in the camps has risen to some 15,000, compared with about 8,000 a year ago. More than 1,500 of these have arrived in June. There is little realistic prospect of resettling people on this scale. The great majority are leaving Vietnam for essentially economic reasons, not because of political persecution.

  This situation cannot go on indefinitely. We are considering urgently with the Hong Kong Government whether their current policy of treating all Vietnamese boat people arriving in Hong Kong as refugees should be changed.

  My right hon. and learned Friend took the opportunity to raise the problem of the Vietnamese boat people with the Vietnamese, Chinese and Soviet Foreign Ministers in New York on 7 June. We will continue to take every opportunity to emphasise to all Governments concerned the need to find appropriate durable solutions to the problem.

  Exercise Purple Venture
  Sir Antony Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of Exercise Purple Venture on the United Kingdom's relations with the countries in Latin America.

  Mr. Eggar
  Exercise Purple Venture has no relevance to our relations with countries in Latin America. Purple Venture is essentially a paper exercise, although a command and communications element will deploy to Ascension Island. It is a routine command post exercise designed to test command and control procedures. It has nothing whatever to do with the Falkland Islands.

SCOTLAND

  Clyde Herring
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to review the current total allowable catch for Clyde herring; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There are no plans to review the current total allowable catch for Clyde herring. The most recent advice from the advisory committee on fishery management suggests that the catch in 1989 should be set at the level of landings in recent years.

  Fish Stocks
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has recently received information from the advisory committee for fisheries management about the current condition of fish stocks in United Kingdom waters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The most recent advice from the advisory committee on fishery management has been received only this week and is still being considered. Advice for some important stocks, notably cod, haddock and whiting in the North sea, has been deferred until the November meeting of ACFM.

  North Sea Cod
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if it is his intention to seek a review of the state of the stock of North sea cod before the end of June; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The state of the North sea cod stock is reviewed each year by the advisory committee on fishery management. At their latest meeting, ACFM decided to defer until November their advice on North sea cod when further information should be available.

  Artificial Limbs
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what profit margin his Department has agreed with the companies which supply artificial limbs to the National Health Service.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The supply of artificial limbs is to be put to competitive tender from 1 January 1989.

  Prosthetists
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the cost to the National Health Service if all prosthetists currently employed by health boards became contractor employed.

  Mr Michael Forsyth
  The trade union representing the prosthetists gave notice in March to the Scottish Home and Health Department that their members intended to resign from the National Health Service, and take up employment with the contractors who manufacture artificial limbs, from the summer. The cost of this change cannot yet be precisely estimated, but is unlikely to be substantial, in view of the saving of the salaries of prosthetists who resign, (arid the overheads, such as national insurance and superannuation, associated with their employment) and in view of the competitive tendering, for the supply of artificial limbs from 1 January 1989.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the salaries for prosthetists in the National Health Service who are(a) contractor employed and (b) employed by health boards.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The NHS salary ranges (effective from 1 November 1987) for the grades of prosthetists employed by health boards are as follows:

  Minimum

  Maximum

  £

  £

  Intern

  6,680

  7,800

  Basic Grade (non-National Centre qualified)

  7,800

  10,020

  Basic Grade (National Centre qualified)

  9,470

  12,250

  Senior/Manager

  11,690

  14,750

  Prosthetists who transfered to the NHS from the commercial companies in 1980 retained as part of that transfer agreement their commercial rates of pay which (effective from 1 July 1987) are as follows:

  £

  Over 30 years service

  14,240

  15–30 years service

  14,210

  655

  £

  10–15 years service

  14,035

  Up to 10 years service

  13,985

  In addition to the salaries of the staff involved, the NHS is of course liable for national insurance contributions, and other overheads.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications have been considered by the Scottish Legal Aid Board since its foundation to the latest convenient date; how many of these have been dealt with by the board; what percentage has been granted; and, of those refused, what have been the reasons for refusal, broken down into percentages in each category.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Provisional figures for applications to the board in its first year of operation are given in the table. Some of the applications determined were submitted under the arrangements obtaining prior to the assumption of its responsibilities by the board on 1 April 1987. Figures for applications for an increase in authorised expenditure for advice and assistance are not yet available.

  Civil Legal Aid

  Number

  Applications received

  31,390

  Applications determined

  31,589

  Percentage

  Percentage

  Granted

  68·9

  Refused

  31·1

  Reasons for refusal:

  Means

  2·3

  Merits

  12·1

  Abandoned by applicant

  16·7

  100

  Criminal Legal Aid (Summary causes)

  Number

  Applications received

  52,450

  Applications determined

  50,972

  Percentage

  Percentage

  Granted

  89·3

  Refused

  10·7

  Reasons for refusal:

  Not in the interests of justice

  7·6

  Means

  1·4

  Not timeous

  1·7

  100

  Criminal Appeal Applications

  Number

  Applications received

  1,414

  Applications determined

  1,303

  656

  Percentage

  Refused

  55

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many complaints he has received from(a) the general public, (b) solicitors and (c) right hon. and hon. Members regarding delays or difficulties in the consideration of applications for legal aid by the Scottish Legal Aid Board.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Since 1 April 1987 when the Scottish Legal Aid Board assumed responsibility for the administration of legal aid my right hon. and learned Friend has received(a) 13 complaints from the general public and various bodies, (b) 24 from solicitors, including representative bodies of the profession and (c) 22 from right hon. and hon. Members.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current number of staff working in the Scottish Legal Aid Board; what is the approved establishment figure; whether he has received representations from the board for additional staffing; what his response has been; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  On 31 May 1988 the Scottish Legal Aid Board employed 345 persons, including temporary staff. Control over staffing costs is achieved by determination of the grant in aid for the board's administration rather than by setting a limit to the numbers employed. No representations have been received from the board for additional staff, but the numbers and grading of staff are the subject of a normal efficiency scrutiny which has just begun.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total sum approved for legal aid by the Scottish Legal Aid Board since is establishment; what were the comparable figures for equivalent periods in previous years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  During its first year (1987–88) the Scottish Legal Aid Board sought and received £44·577 million from the Vote for the Scottish Legal Aid Fund. In 1984–85 comparable expenditure was £31·75 million; in 1985–86, £38·525 million; and in 1986–87, £44·025 million.

  Housing Statistics
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has as to how many houses in the Dundee district authority area are(a) below tolerable standard; (b) require comprehensive modernisation; (c) require major repairs and (d) are affected by dampness, in the public and private sectors, respectively, on the latest available figures; and what are the corresponding figures for each year since 1979.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The available information is set out in the table:
  657

  Dwellings

  Local authority

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  Below tolerable standard

  Year position at 31 March

  Public

  Private

  Requiring comprehensive modernisation

  Requiring major repairs

  Affected by dampness

  1979

  1,734

  6,078

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1980

  1,233

  5,779

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1981

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  100

  1982

  1,027

  3,776

  n/a

  n/a

  140

  1983

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1984

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1,000

  1985

  70

  2,074

  n/a

  n/a

  1,341

  1986

  12

  1,458

  10,366

  11,810

  2,900

  1987

  50

  2,650

  13,825

  n/a

  2,680

  Notes:

  n/a—Not available.

  1 Estimate.

  The information is taken from returns submitted to the Scottish Development by Dundee District.

  Information on (b), (c) and (d) was not collected prior to 1981.

  No returns received on BTS in 1981, 1983 and 1984.

  No returns received on the other categories in 1983.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the local authorities in Scotland ranked according to the percentage and number of (a) losers and (b) gainers under the poll tax proposals, showing those figures alongside that ranking; and if he will express these figures for both households and individuals.

  Mr. Lang
  The information is not available by local authority.

  Sawmills, Pulp and Board Mills
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide an estimate of the number of people employed in Scottish sawmills, pulp and board mills wholly or partly using home-produced timber.

  Mr. Lang
  I am unable to add anything to the replies I gave to the hon. Member on 31 March 1988 and 22 April 1988.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give, for each month since January for which figures are available, the number of job vacancies in Dundee.

  Mr. Lang
  The number of job vacancies (excluding community programme vacancies) notified and remaining unfilled in the Dundee jobcentre area for each month from January 1988 to April 1988 (the latest month for which information is available) is as follows:

  1988

  Number

  January

  350

  February

  379

  March

  452

  April

  462

  It is estimated that only around one third of all vacancies are notified to jobcentres.

  This information is available in the Library.

DEFENCE

  United States Military Constructions
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has about United States military construction projects in the United Kingdom and its dependent territories for which funding approval is being sought for the United States fiscal years 1989 and 1990, giving for each project its location, the nature of the facilities to be constructed arid the project cost.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Funding approval for United States military construction projects for fiscal year 1989 is currently being sought for the following projects:

  RAF Alconbury

  Dormitories

  RAF Bentwaters

  Add to and upgrade fire station

  Security police operations facility

  Sound suppressor support facility

  Central Post Office

  Airmen's community centre

  RAF Fairford

  Add to and alter physical fitness centre

  RAF Feltwell

  Passive defence equipment storage facility

  High Wycombe Air Station

  Medical aid station replacement

  RAF Lakenheath

  Semi-hardened communications facility

  Digital European backbone facility

  Chemical warfare protection squadron operations facility

  Dormitory

  Composite medical facility

  Menwith Hill Station

  Expansion of operations facility

  RAF Mildenhall

  Add to and alter operations facility

  Child development centre

  Upgrade water storage and distribution system

  Administration support facility

  RAF Upper Heyford

  Add to and upgrade vehicle maintenance shop

  Combat ammunition control centre

  659

  Passive defence equipment storage facility

  RAF Welford

  Fire station

  Munitions storage igloos

  Antigua

  Boat shop and pier construction

  United States military construction projects in fiscal year 1990 for which funding is currently being sought:

  RAF Alconbury

  Alternate combat runway

  Deputy commander: operations complex

  Squadron operations facility

  Aircraft maintenance facility

  Conventional munitions shop

  Combat repair equipment storage

  Passive defence equipment storage warehouse

  Combat readiness centre

  Add to and alter physical training facility

  RAF Bentwaters

  Semi-hardened telecommunications facility

  Chemical warfare protection—avionics maintenance facility

  Dormitory

  RAF Chessington

  Add to and upgrade contingency hospital

  RAF Fairford

  Jet fuel storage and hydrant refuelling system

  Upgrade water storage and distribution system

  High Wycombe air station

  Dormitory

  Add to civil engineering building

  Physical protection upgrade (at various sites administered by High Wycombe air station)

  RAF Lakenheath

  Chemical warfare protection—squadron operations facility

  Chemical warfare protection—squadron operations facility

  Chemical warfare protection—ready crew facility

  Combat repair equipment storage facility

  Alter dormitory

  Storm drainage disposal

  RAF Lanark

  Contingency hospital

  RAF Locking

  Contingency hospital

  RAF Machrinhanish

  Dining facility expansion

  Enhance physical protection for combined operations

  Centre

  Menwith Hill station

  Administration building and cafeteria

  RAF Mildenhall

  Combat repair equipment storage facility

  Add to and alter gymnasium

  Alter sewage treatment plant

  Operations intelligence facility

  RAF Upper Heyford

  Chemical warfare protection—squadron operations facility

  Alter munitions storage facilities

  Combat repair equipment storage facility

  Dormitory

  Ascension Island

  HF antenna installation

  Ground installation for satellite navigation system

  660
  Diego Garcia

  Ground installation for satellite navigation system

  Budgetary estimates are a matter for the United States authorities.

  HMS Sturdy (Incident)
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has now completed its investigation of the wartime incident involving HMS Sturdy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  On 25 November 1944 HMS Sturdy sighted a 350-ton coaster, flying the Japanese flag, off Laut island to the south-east of Borneo. As the water was too shallow for torpedoes to be launched, Sturdy surfaced and opened fire on the ship. When this did not succeed in sinking the coaster, the submarine came alongside and a party boarded her. They found the ship to be carrying a cargo of oil, a legitimate target. About 50 men had already abandoned ship and the boarding party attempted to persuade a number of women and children still on board to do likewise. They refused to do so, although a boat was available and, in addition, there was a quantity of floating wreckage nearby. The sea was flat calm and land was less than 5 miles away.

  The boarding party then placed demolition charges with four minute fuses and returned to the submarine, which drew away from the coaster. At this point Sturdy's commanding officer, Lt. W. St. G. Anderson RNR, who had been able to see about eight people on the ship when she was boarded, and who had concluded that there could be no more than about 15 still aboard, learned that there were in fact 40 to 50. By then it would have been too late to return to the coaster. The charges exploded, setting the ship on fire, and she was left as a total loss.

  After he reported this action, Lt. Anderson was relieved of command, and the question whether he should face a court martial was raised at a senior level. In examining the case a number of factors were taken into consideration. Lt. Anderson was a young officer—he was 24—bearing a considerable burden of responsibility who had otherwise served with some distinction. The action in question took place in shallow water where Sturdy could not dive. There was a significant risk of air attack from which the submarine would have had no means of escape, and Lt. Anderson would have been placing his boat and crew in additional danger by remaining on the surface longer than was absolutely necessary. Decisions therefore had to be taken very rapidly. Moreover, had the ship, which was readily indentifiable as an enemy vessel by her flag, been in water deep enough to allow the launching of torpedoes, Lt. Anderson would have been fully entitled under the normal conventions of war to sink her by this means without warning, and without regard to the fate of those on board. In these circumstances, while Lt. Anderson was held to have made a serious error of judgment, a court martial was not considered appropriate. He was subsequently returned to command in another submarine. The deaths of civilians involuntarily caught up in war as a result of a foreign occupation is of course a matter of regret.

  Gibraltar (Shootings)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has given permission for any Army personnel based in the United Kingdom to be summoned by the Gibraltar coroner; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) on 17 May, at column 370.

  Pilot Training
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what pilot training he proposes to contract out to British Aerospace; what arrangements there will be in relation to costs, security and standard of training; what are the implications for the acquisition of Tucano aircraft for basic pilot training; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  We have no plans to contract out any of our pilot training; therefore, there are no implications for the acquisition of Tucano aircraft for basic pilot training by the Royal Air Force.

EMPLOYMENT

  Job Training Scheme
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he proposes to make any changes in the job training scheme.

  Mr. Nicholls
  As was announced in the White Paper, "Training for Employment", the new and the old job training schemes, together with all our other training programmes for adults and the community programme will be replaced by employment training from 5 September. There will be transitional arrangements as the current schemes are replaced by the new programme, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State recently announced that a £10 premium is now payable to new JTS participants in line with plans for employment training.

  Employment Patterns
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the implications for the north-west region of current changes in national employment patterns.

  Mr. Lee
  The north-west is sharing in the growth in employment in the service sector, self-employment and part-time jobs. These sectors comprise a similar share of employment in the north-west as in Great Britain as a whole.

  A

  B

  Ratio A:B

  Staff employed by the National Dock Labour Board

  Total number of registered dock workers

  1979

  527

  25,770

  1:49

  1980

  500

  23,110

  1:46

  1981

  433

  18,219

  1:42

  1982

  309

  15,340

  1:50

  1983

  296

  13,813

  1:47

  1984

  277

  12,505

  1:45

  1985

  269

  11,892

  1:44

  1986

  259

  10,482

  1:40

  1987

  245

  9,965

  1:41

  YTS
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people went into employment, full-time education or further training on leaving youth training schemes.

  Mr. Cope
  The latest results from the 100 per cent. follow-up survey of YTS leavers in the period April 1986 to November 1987 show that three months after leaving YTS 191,686 (59 per cent.) young people were in a job, 35,982 (12 per cent.) were on another YTS scheme and 11,893 (4 per cent.) were on a full-time course.

  Employment Agencies
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to introduce legislation to amend the licensing requirements in respect of employment agencies.

  Mr. Nicholls
  We have no plans to introduce such legislation.

  Trades Union Congress
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to meet the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress to discuss industrial relations.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no current plans to meet the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress to discuss industrial relations.

  European Social Charter
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on progress in implementing article 4 of the European social charter.

  Mr. Cope
  The United Kingdom has accepted all of the provisions of article 4 of the European social charter, except paragraph 3.

  Dock Workers
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the ratio between the numbers of staff employed by the National Dock Labour Board and the total numbers of registered dock workers for each year between 1979 and 1987.

  Mr. Nicholls
  At 31 December of each year the totals were:

  Factory Inspectorate
  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report for each of the Health and Safety Executive offices (a) the number of sites under the control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards Regulations, (b) the number of such sites under the jurisdiction of the Chemical Group of Her Majesty's factory inspectorate, (c) the number of Her Majesty's factory inspectors in each chemicals group of Her Majesty's factory inspectorate and (d) the total number of premises under the jurisdiction of each chemicals group of Her Majesty's factory inspectorate.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is not available. The Health and Safety Executive does not hold information on the number of sites subject to the Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards Regulations. No HSE area office has a group of inspectors solely for inspection in the chemicals industry.

  Enterprise Allowance Scheme
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will revise the regulations concerning the enterprise allowance scheme to enable unemployed persons not in receipt of income support to be considered for assistance under the scheme.

  Mr. Nicholls
  No. The specific purpose of the enterprise allowance scheme is to help those unemployed people who would like to set up in business but are deterred from doing so because they would lose their entitlement to unemployment benefit or income support. I have no plans to change the purpose of this scheme.

  Community Programme
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will review the regulations regarding entry to the community programme so that unemployed persons not in receipt of benefit may be considered for placements.

  Mr. Nicholls
  We have no plans to change the present arrangements. From 5 September all current programmes for unemployed adults, including the community programme, will be replaced by the new adult programme, "Employment Training". Benefit receipt will not be an eligibility condition for employment training.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action he proposes to take to ensure that recreational opportunities for the unwaged section of the community will not be adversely affected by the discontinuation of the community programme in September in favour of the new adult training scheme.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The community programme will be replaced from 5 September by "Employment Training". Project-based training will be an important part of the new programme with some 194,000 project-based opportunities in the first year, broadly the present level of community programme provision. I hope that most current community programme projects will move forward into employment training.

  Poultry Industry (Tenosynovitis)
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to seek to reduce tenosynovitis in the poultry industry.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Palace of Westminster (Labour Statistics)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many people are employed in the Palace of Westminster.

  Mr. Wakeham
  With the exception of Members and the 917 staff employed by the House of Commons Commission, the varying nature of attendance of those employed in the precincts of this House makes it impossible to provide any meaningful total.

  It is understood that the political parties, the police, the security and fire authorities, the press and broadcasting authorities, the Property Services Agency and Crown Suppliers, the Post Office and British Telecom, and other authorities have approximately 950 officers and staff whose employment involves some attendance at the House of Commons. Some of these, however, serve both Houses.

  In addition, 1,327 passes have been issued to Members' secretaries and research assistants, but not all are regularly employed in the House. Officials from Government Departments also attend the House from time to time as required.

  Palace of Westminster (Accidents)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many accidents have occurred at the Palace of Westminster to members of the public, outside contractors and employees of the Palace of Westminster in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The information requested prior to 1981 is not available. The numbers of reported accidents from 1981 to date is as follows:

  Members of the public

  Outside contractors

  Staff of the House of Commons

  1981

  22

  2

  64

  1982

  29

  3

  40

  1983

  20

  1

  49

  1984

  22

  —

  67

  1985

  35

  —

  45

  1986

  18

  —

  47

  1987

  14

  1

  29

  1988 to date

  8

  —

  20

  Palace of Westminster (Visits)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what information he has as to how many people visit the Palace of Westminster each year(a) for the Line of Route or the Public Gallery (b) to attend meetings or attend dinners and (c) to attend lobbies of Parliament.

  Mr. Wakeham
  In 1987, the estimated numbers of visitors admitted to the House of Commons were as follows:
  665

  Number

  (a) Line of Route

  112,176

  Public Galleries

  147,439

  (b) Meetings

  69,880

  Dinners

  77,058

  (c) Lobbies

  15,058

  Vote (Delivery)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Lord President of the Council on how many days in the current parliamentary Session the Deliverer of the Vote has failed to deliver the Vote to recipients outside the House on the day of publication; what the reasons for the late or postal deliveries are; and what steps are being taken to ensure same day delivery.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The Vote has not been delivered to Members' addresses outside the House on the day of publication on 16 occasions during this Session due to printing delays. In addition, of all the morning deliveries ordered by Members this Session, not all of which include the Vote, 3·3 per cent. have had to be posted due to sickness, transport breakdowns or staff resignations.

  I am advised the HMSO has markedly improved the time of delivery to the House of documents for the morning delivery and that all possible steps are being taken by the Deliverer of the Vote and his staff to ensure regular delivery of the Vote to Members on the day of publication.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Food Regulations
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of recent salmonella incidents, he has any plans to review his policy on food regulation.

  Mrs. Currie
  My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food had already announced on 30 October 1987 that officials had been asked to have further consultations with interested parties to consider the detail of any necessary revisions to current food legislation. I understand that these consultations are continuing, but are expected to be completed by late summer.

  Psychiatric Hospitals
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report a list of those psychiatric hospitals caring for long-stay patients in every region showing (a) those which have been approved for closure, (b) those which have been proposed for closure by their regional health authority, (c) those which have been listed in regional strategic plans as possible candidates for closure and (d) the number of patients in each hospital.

  Mrs. Currie
  The table lists every mental illness hospital in England which discharged (in 1986) one or more in-patients after a stay of five years of more. Some sites listed are mixed mental illness and mental handicap but have a predominance of mentally ill patients. The number of in-patients resident at each site is at 31 December 1986. The closure status is annotated according to the classifications set out in the question. Those under(a) are linked to a specified target closure date.
  666

  Menial illness hospitals and units in England by DHA with long term patients ie with a stay of 5 years or more, and number of resident patients at 31 December 1986.

  Hospital

  Resident patients at 31 December 1966

  Closure status

  Northern Regional Health Authority

  North Tees General

  113

  —

  St. Lukes

  294

  —

  Garlands

  579

  —

  Darlington Memorial

  68

  —

  Shotley Bridge

  21

  —

  Sedgefield Community

  105

  —

  Winterton

  783

  —

  St. Georges Morpeth

  649

  —

  St. Mary's

  536

  —

  St. Nicholas

  496

  —

  South Shields General

  100

  —

  Cherry Knowle

  554

  —

  Yorkshire Regional Health Authority

  De La Pole

  318

  —

  Broadgate

  240

  c

  Thorpe Road Howden

  20

  —

  Clifton

  469

  a

  Naburn

  176

  c

  Lynfield Mount

  110

  —

  Bingley

  9

  —

  Scalebor Park

  270

  c

  Raikeswood

  21

  —

  Storthes Hall

  759

  c

  High Royds

  730

  c

  Stanley Royd

  642

  c

  Trent

  Scarsdale

  120

  a

  The Pastures

  572

  b

  Kingsway

  323

  b

  The Towers, Regional Secure Unit

  380

  b

  Carlton Hayes

  496

  b

  St. John's Lincoln

  457

  b

  Rauceby

  338

  b

  Newstead

  67

  a

  Mapperley

  278

  b

  St. Francis

  152

  Saxondale

  317

  a

  Kendray

  133

  c

  Tickhill Road

  97

  Loversall

  105

  Rotherham District General

  101

  Sheffield Mental Illness Unit

  816

  East Anglian Regional Health Authority

  Fulbourn

  325

  Peterborough District

  6

  St. Audry's

  393

  b

  St. Clements Ipswich

  173

  Hellesdon

  309

  One of these

  St. Andrew's

  354

  will close—b

  St. Nicholas

  154

  b

  North West Thames Regional Health Authority

  Fairfield

  609

  b

  Lister

  58

  Hill End

  376

  c

  Napsbury

  775

  b

  St. Bernard's Wing, Ealing

  798

  Shenley

  805

  b

  Horton

  915

  North East Thames Regional Health Authority

  Basildon

  103

  Severalls

  556

  c

  Herts and Essex General

  42

  667

  Hospital

  Resident patients at 31 December 1966

  Closure status

  Princess Alexandra

  104

  Rochford

  67

  Runwell

  508

  c

  Friarn

  754

  a

  Warley

  686

  c

  Whittington London

  86

  German

  105

  The London Hospital St. Clement's

  129

  c

  Goodmayes

  661

  c

  Thorpe Coombe

  53

  Whipps Cross

  2

  Claybury

  792

  a

  South East Thames Regional Health Authority

  Brighton General

  36

  Hellingley

  260

  b

  St. Mary's, Etchinghill

  18

  St. Augustine's

  379

  b

  Stone House

  282

  b

  Maidstone

  645

  b

  Sundridge

  65

  Bexley

  703

  b

  Greenwich District

  39

  Farnborough

  116

  Cane Hill

  576

  b

  Tooting Bec

  662

  b

  North Wing Dulwich

  82

  Guy's

  82

  New Cross

  32

  South West Thames Regional Health Authority

  Abraham Cowley Unit, St. Peter's

  102

  Ottershaw

  78

  Frimley Park

  50

  Brookwood

  675

  b

  West Park

  576

  Netherne and Fairdene

  530

  Graylingwell

  444

  St. Francis, Haywards Heath

  389

  Warlingham Park

  362

  c

  Long Grove

  611

  b

  Springfield

  777

  Chiltern Wing Sutton Hospital

  84

  Wessex Regional Health Authority

  St. Ann's Poole

  73

  Herrison

  346

  b

  St. James's Portsmouth

  294

  Knowle

  337

  b

  Basingstoke District Park Prewett

  523

  The Old Manor

  198

  St. Margarets

  17

  Roundway

  455

  St. Martin's Bath

  59

  Whitecroft

  96

  b

  Oxford Regional Health Authority

  Hungerford

  25

  Fair Mile

  329

  Smith

  24

  Borocourt

  305

  St. John's Stone

  374

  a

  Kettering & Dist General

  21

  St Crispin

  350

  c

  Littlemore

  292

  Warneford

  58

  South Western Regional Health Authority

  Barrow

  209

  Glenside

  391

  c

  Penrice

  45

  Bomcoose

  28

  St Lawrence's Bodmin

  526

  c

  Trevillis House

  26

  668

  Hospital

  Resident patients at 31 December 1966

  Closure status

  Moorhaven

  260

  a

  Tone Vale

  430

  c

  Mendip

  336

  a

  West Midlands Regional Health Authority

  Barnsley Hall

  291

  b

  Stonebow Unit, County Hospital

  33

  St Mary's Burghill

  95

  b

  Worcester Royal (Newtown)

  158

  Powick

  147

  a

  Royal Shrewsbury (Shelton)

  323

  St George's Stafford

  424

  St Edwards

  583

  St Matthews Bumtwood

  656

  Central, Warwick

  418

  b

  Highcroft

  424

  Rubery Hill

  301

  b

  All Saints

  557

  Walsgrave

  176

  Burton Road

  102

  Hollymoor

  290

  b

  New Cross, Wolverhampton

  137

  Mersey Regional Health Authority

  Countess of Chester (Psych Wing)

  644

  To be reduced in size

  Barony

  58

  Arclid

  51

  Crossley

  55

  Parkside

  536

  c

  Winwick

  1,115

  To be agreed

  Sefton General

  137

  Park

  49

  Whiston

  85

  Rainhill

  902

  a

  Greaves Hall

  131

  Walton, Liverpool

  38

  St. Catherine's Birkenhead

  70

  North Western Regional Health Authority1

  Lancaster Moor

  664

  Victoria Blackpool

  122

  Wesham Park

  72

  Lytham

  50

  Whittingham

  705

  Queen's Park

  116

  Accrington Victoria

  34

  Burnley General

  147

  Rossendale General

  67

  Ormskirk and District General

  73

  Bolton General

  151

  Ball Birch

  42

  Fairfield General

  75

  North Manchester General

  341

  Withington

  192

  Oldham and District General

  148

  Edwards ESMI Unit

  43

  Birch Hill

  63

  Peel Hall

  33

  Prestwich

  912

  Stepping Hill

  134

  Ollersett View

  57

  Tameside General

  147

  Bridgewater

  115

  1 North Western Region is developing a long-term strategy which may involve the closure of some of these hospitals.

  Hospital Visits
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received concerning
  669
  the difficulties encountered by people dependent on social security benefits in securing assistance towards travelling costs for journeys to visit close relatives in hospital; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  A few representations have been received. Community care grants are available to income support claimants in certain circumstances for the cost of fares to visit a relative in hospital. Guidance and directions for the award of such payments appear in the social fund manual which was published in November 1987. A copy is in the Library.

  Mental Illness
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many patients suffering from mental illness, discharged from hospital in the last two years, have an individual case worker assigned to them; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many patients suffering from mental illness have been discharged from hospital in each health authority for the past two years.

  Mrs. Currie
  The table provides the available information on discharges, by health authority, from National Health Service mental illness hospitals and units in England for the two latest available years. The figures on discharges exclude transfers to other National Health Service hospitals and the special hospitals, and do not relate to individual patients as a patient may be admitted and discharged more than once during the year. Statistics on the numbers of patients suffering from mental illness who have an individual case worker assigned to them after discharge from hospital are not centrally collected.

  Discharges from National Health Service mental illness hospitals and units in England, excluding transfers

  Health authority

  1985

  1986

  Northern

  12,759

  12,664

  Yorkshire

  15,481

  15,317

  Trent

  14,582

  14,853

  East Anglian

  6,358

  6,574

  North West Thames

  12,881

  12,394

  North East Thames

  13,844

  13,543

  South East Thames

  12,858

  12,896

  South West Thames

  11,002

  11,249

  Wessex

  10,468

  10,729

  Oxford

  6,931

  6,786

  South Western

  11,046

  10,731

  West Midlands

  17,344

  17,630

  Mersey

  10,603

  10,961

  North Western

  18,593

  18,074

  Bethlem Royal and Maudsley

  1,436

  1,538

  Hospitals for Sick Children

  14

  12

  England total

  176,200

  175,951

  Mr. Joseph Gillam
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he will submit to the pensions appeal tribunal the statement of case in respect of Joseph Gillam, of 58 Meadowfield close, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead, as indicated in the joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State's letter to the hon. Member for Birkenhead dated 22 July 1986.

  Mr. Portillo
  The statement of case was originally submitted to the pension appeal tribunal on 9 November 1987. The appeal was returned without action on receipt of 670
  additional evidence from Mr. Gillam's representative on 12 February 1988. A supplementary statement of case incorporating this evidence and the Department's response was submitted on 1 June 1988.

  War Pensions
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average length of time between the receipt of an appeal by the war pensions unit and the submission of the statement of case to the pensions appeal tribunal; and how this compares with past years.

  Mr. Portillo
  Information is not kept in the form requested. The average time between receipt of an appeal and the despatch of the statement of case to the appellant is currently 54 weeks. For 1987, 1986 and 1985 the times were 52 weeks, 48 weeks and 40 weeks respectively.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many appeals by war pensioners have been awaiting a submission of a statement of case to the pensions appeal tribunal for more than three months.

  Mr. Portillo
  About 4,700 appeals have been outstanding for more than three months.

  Post-neonatal Death Rates
  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the post-neonatal death rates separately for England and Wales for 1985, 1986 and 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to hire on 18 May at columns 500–1.

  Benefit Regulations
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State Cor Social Services if he will review the new regulations introduced on 11 April in the reference to the removal of benefit from households without dependent children where one partner is working 24 hours a week or more; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  No. Income support is not payable where either partner works on average 24 hours or more a week. However, claimants in vulnerable groups who are affected by the changes to full-time work rules will be provided with transitional protection as outlined in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Saffron Walden (Mr. Haselhurst) on 28 April at columns 253–54. In addition, housing benefit is available to people on low income if they are responsible for rent or rates.

  Cervical Cancer
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people were trained in the specialised use of laser equipment to treat cervical cancer in the previous 12 months; and if he will give a regional breakdown of how many people are currently employed in this work;

  (2) if he will list those district health authorities which do and do not have laser equipment to treat cervical cancer.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that this information is not available centrally.
  671
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make additional money available to the West Midlands regional health authority for the purchase of laser equipment by the North Staffordshire district health authority.

  Mrs. Currie
  The allocation of resources by regions and districts is a matter for the health authorities concerned. This year's revenue allocation to the West Midlands is 10·39 per cent. higher in cash terms and 5·64 per cent. higher in real terms than last year's, and I understand that the initial revenue allocation to North Staffordshire district health authority for 1988–89 now stands at £103,906,000, compared with £93,337,000 in 1987–88.

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how much was spent by his Department to recover illegally claimed benefits in each year since 1979, in cash and real terms, at 1987–88 prices.

  Mr. Portillo
  I regret that the information requested is not available.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give his estimate of(a) the amount recovered and (b) the amount illegally claimed but not recovered from social security claimants for each year since 1979, in cash terms and at 1987–88 prices.

  Mr. Portillo
  Information on which to base an estimate is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Claimants (Medical Examinations)
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services on what basis doctors are recruited and trained to carry out examinations on attendance and mobility allowance claimants; and to what extent their work is monitored.

  Mr. Scott
  Claimants for the attendance allowance and mobility allowances are examined by doctors who are selected and trained by the regional office senior medical officer from registered medical practitioners who will have either made an application to be considered for this role or been nominated by their peers as suitable for the task.

  The doctors selected are usually recruited from among general practitioners within the locality who will have demonstrable knowledge of local socio-economic conditions, established experience in general medical practice and evident expertise in the conducting of medical examinations. Before a doctor is permitted to carry out examinations on attendance and mobility allowance claimants formal instruction is given by the regional office senior medical officer on the background of, and requirements for, the particular benefit. This instruction is supplemented by written guidance notes. Initially, the performance of the examining doctors is closely monitored by the regional office senior medical officer who will institute further training sessions as appropriate; thereafter the doctors' work is regularly monitored by the regional office senior medical officer; but the form and pattern of such monitoring may vary and are dictated by the individual regional office senior medical officer.
  672
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the rate of pay for doctors who carry out examinations on attendance and mobility allowance claimants.

  Mr. Scott
  The fees currently payable for medical examinations for attendance allowance and mobility allowance are as follows:

  Mobility allowance

  Attendance allowance

  £

  £

  In surgery examination

  22·30

  —

  Examination by domiciliary visit (including travelling time)

  Up to including 1½ hours

  25·70

  25·70

  Over 1½ hours up to including 2½ hours

  38·50

  38·50

  Over 2½ hours

  59·90

  59·90

  For joint Attendance and Mobility Allowance examinations carried out by domiciliary visit a fee of £48·00 is payable. Where the time taken exceeds 1½ hours £59·90 is payable.

  In some Mobility allowance cases claimants are examined by two doctors at a medical boarding centre. Fees are payable on a sessional basis (2½–3½ hours) at £59·90 for the chairman of the medical board, and £52·30 for the member.

  Women's Health
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to focus medical and public attention on women's health problems; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  I am pleased to report that plans for the Department to host a one-day conference on women's health on 22 June this year are now well advanced. The conference will be opened by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and will be attended by an invited audience composed mainly of members of voluntary organisations and media dealing with women's health.

  Hon. and noble Members of both Houses who are known to have an interest in health matters have also been invited. Applications for tickets have been very high and reflect the level of interest in women's health.

  The subjects to be discussed are of considerable interest to women in this country today and cover a wide range of killer diseases and conditions which cause considerable suffering amongst women. The main subjects will be cancers, mental illness, the menopause and osteoporosis. The conference will provide an opportunity for those involved in promoting women's health to meet and hear from eminent speakers. It will also profide a forum for dispelling some of the myths and correcting some of the misunderstandings about women's health.

  The media have been invited to attend, so that messages from the conference will be disseminated to women, and those interested in women's health, throughout the country.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Sheepmeat Industry
  Mr. Speller: T
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the future of the sheepmeat industry with special reference to the less-favoured areas, including Exmoor.
  673
  Mr. Gummer
  The sheep sector is buoyant; LFA farmers are making a key contribution to our success and, in the forthcoming negotiations, we shall be seeking to ensure that they continue to do so.

  Diversification
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on progress towards diversification in agriculture.

  Mr. Gummer
  Capital grants for farm diversification were introduced at the beginning of the year and have attracted an encouraging amount of interest from farmers. They will shortly be complemented by grants for enterprise feasibility studies and marketing costs.

  Competition
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he is taking to assist the food industry to adjust to the increased level of competition in 1992.

  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he is taking to assist the food industry to adjust to the increased level of competition in the European single market.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further action his Department proposes to take in preparation for the single European market in 1992.

  Mr. Gummer
  My Department will continue to keep in close touch with the agriculture, food and related industries on the progress of proposals in the single market programme, many of which continue the process of harmonising member states' laws to remove barriers to trade. Our objectives are to ensure that harmonisation takes place without discrimination and without imposing greater burdens than it removes; to protect our health status in the animal, plant and fish sectors; and to ensure that British companies have all the information they need with which to meet the challenge and take full advantage of the opportunities which harmonisation will bring.

  Home Grown Cereals Authority
  Mr. John Carlisle
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Home Grown Cereals Authority; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Boothferry (Mr. Davis).

  North Sea (Demersal Fishing)
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to review the management strategy for the control of demersal fishing in the North sea; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The management arrangements are determined in consultation with the industry and we shall shortly be consulting it about the detailed arrangements for next year.

  Meat and Livestock Commission
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Meat and Livestock Commission; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Meat and Livestock Commission; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  My right hon. Friend and I maintain regular contacts with the chairman of the Meat and Livestock Commission to discuss matters of mutual interest.

  Wool Marketing Board
  Mr. Kirkhope
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Wool Marketing Board; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  My right hon. Friend the Minister last met the chairman of the British Wool Marketing Board on 1 February 1988 to review the prospects for the 1988 clip year and the level of the guarantee.

  Monetary Compensatory Amounts
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received since January from pig farmers concerning abolition of monetary compensatory amounts; and what plans he now has to press for the abolition of the monetary compensatory amount scheme.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have received many such representations. As I have told the House, I am pressing for the complete elimination of pigmeat MCAs at the current price-fixing. However, some member states do not want to see the system changed, and the negotiation will be difficult.

  Potato Marketing Board
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Potato Marketing Board; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Ministers meet the chairman of the board from time to time. The last formal meeting was when my right hon. Friend the Minister of State met him in November 1985 to discuss various aspects of the potato market support arrangements.

  Butter Intervention Stocks
  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current level of butter intervention stocks in the European Community.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  At the end of April 1988, the latest available figure, the European Community butter stock level was 567,911 tonnes.

  Milk Marketing Board
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Milk Marketing Board; and what matters were discussed.
  675
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Milk Marketing Board; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  My right hon. Friend last met the chairman of the Milk Marketing Board on 25 April when a number of issues of current concern to the dairy industry were discussed. He expects to see him again later today.

  Set-Aside
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on progress in implementing the community set-aside scheme in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement outlining the Government's policy towards grazing fallow as an option in the set-aside proposals.

  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on progress in implementing the Community set-aside-scheme in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given earlier today to the hon. Member for Burnley (Mr. Pike)

  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food what representations he has made to the European Community on the proposals for the substitution of cereals set-aside with grazing land.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The Community set-aside scheme allows the option to member states to permit land set aside from arable crops to be grazed by livestock. In discussion of the detailed rules, I have insisted that there should be tighter control on the number of livestock which can be grazed on set-aside land in those member states applying this option.

  Raw Sugar Refining
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recognition has been given by the European Community Commission and by the Council of Ministers of any special circumstances surrounding raw cane sugar refining in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friends the Members for Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby) and for Hertfordshire, South-West (Mr. Page).

  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy towards the

  Export Performance of Agriculture Supply Industry

  Sectors

  1986

  1987

  (£ million)

  (£ million)

  011·1

  Pure Bred Bovines for Breeding

  5·6

  7·0

  08

  Feeding Stuffs

  139·3

  155·8

  271

  Crude Fertilisers

  0·9

  1·0

  56

  Fertilisers

  67·4

  85·4

  591

  Insecticides

  438·5

  498·6

  721

  Agricultural Machinery

  169·5

  187·4

  722

  Tractors

  444·4

  506·7

  727

  Food processing industry

  108·2

  118·3

  676
  proposals made by the European Commission for assistance in the refining in the United Kingdom of raw cane sugar imported from the African, Caribbean and Pacific sugar-producing countries.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The Commission proposals are welcome recognition of the need to place the refining margin on a more satisfactory basis. We shall be pressing hard for their adoption.

  Women's Farmers Union
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he met the president of the Women's Farmers Union; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the president of the Women's Farmers Union; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. MacGregor
  My colleagues and I meet representatives of the Women's Farmers Union from time to time and discuss a range of subjects of concern to the agricultural industry.

  Research and Development
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has for the future funding of research and development into agriculture and fishing.

  Mr. MacGregor
  We are currently considering these issues in the context of the review of agricultural departments' R and D programmes.

  Agricultural Supply Industry
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the export performance of the agricultural supply industry.

  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the export performance of the agricultural supply industry.

  Mr. Gummer
  Although the agricultural supply industry can be defined in various ways, I am pleased to report that the visible exports attributable to the industry as detailed below is increased by 13·6 per cent, from £1,374 million in 1986 to £1,560 million in 1987. This compares favourably with the 9·4 per cent. increase in total United Kingdom visible exports over the same period.
  677

  Sectors

  1986

  1987

  (£ million)

  (£ million)

  Total

  1,373·3

  1,560·2

  Farm Diversification Grant Scheme
  Mr. Cartiss
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications have been received under the farm diversification grant scheme; and what progress is being made towards achieving the targets for applications under the scheme.

  Mr. Gummer
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 7 June to my hon. Friend the Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Field) at columns 490–491.

  Fishing Vessels (Grants)
  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to change the criteria by which applications for fishing vessel construction grants are assessed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The criteria are under frequent review and we shall be considering with the Sea Fish Industry Authority whether any changes are necessary in view of the continuing high level of demand for grant assistance and our Community obligations to reduce fleet capacity by the end of 1991.

  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to re-introduce in the near future, a system of de-commissioning grants for United Kingdom registered fishing vessels; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  I have no plans to do so.

  National Farmers Union
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the president of the National Farmers Union; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, North-West (Mr. Bellingham).

  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will be meeting the president of the National Farmers Union to discuss the dairy industry.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I hold frequent meetings with the president of the NFU, when a wide range of subjects are discussed.

  Beef Graziers
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the present prospects for beef graziers.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The prospects for beef graziers are encouraging. The average price of fat cattle in Great Britain in the week ended 21 May is provisionally estimated to have been 110·28p per kg liveweight, 11·4 per 678
  cent. up on the price in the corresponding week last year. Throughout the EC as a whole, beef supplies are affected by the reductions in dairy cow numbers and this should help to sustain the current firmer tone of the market.

  Green Pound
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made with attempts to devalue the green pound following the recent meeting of the Agricultural Council.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer my hon. Friend to the rep), I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Brandon-Bravo.

  Beamer Licences
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy on the issue of beamer licences.

  Mr. Gummer
  Beam trawlers are subject to the general licensing arrangements operated by fisheries departments for quota species. Because of the pressure on the area VII white fisheries, beam trawler licences for those fisheries are only available—with certain limited exceptions—for a replacement vessel where the length, tonnage and engine power of the replacement do not exceed those of the existing vessels.

  Badgers
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the Government's policy with regard to the protection of badgers in the light of current research into vaccination; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) on 20 May at column 612, adding that the badger is protected under the Badger Act 1973 which is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

  Mr. Haynes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next intends meeting the chairman of the Nature Conservancy Council; and if he will raise the subject of the protection presently afforded to badgers.

  Mr. Gummer
  No date has been fixed for a meeting with the chairman of the Nature Conservancy Council, but my right hon. Friend and I are always ready to meet the council whenever there are points we could usefully discuss.

  Country Landowners Association
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the president of the Country Landowners Association; and what matters they discussed.

  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the president of the Country Landowners Association; and what matters were discussed.
  679
  Mr. MacGregor
  I last met the president of the Country Landowners Association on 25 April when we discussed agricultural research and development.

  Fishing Vessels (Licensing)
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to review the licensing scheme for fishing vessels; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  In April 1987, Fisheries Ministers announced their conclusions following a substantive review of the restrictive licensing scheme. We are continuing to keep the licensing arrangements under review, and will introduce further changes, if they appear necessary, in consultation with the fishing industry.

  Fishery Protection
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cost of fishery protection in 1986–87; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The cost to this Department of fisheries protection in 1986–87 was £7·59 million, including £5·36 million in respect of Ministry of Defence charges.

  Fish Farms
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received on pollution control regulations appertaining to fish farms; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell).

  Cereals
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state, for 1986 and 1987(a) the total tonnage of cereals produced in the United Kingdom, (b) the total tonnage of cereals and cereal substitutes consumed in the United Kingdom and (c) the total tonnage of cereals or cereal substitutes imported into the United Kingdom.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The information requested is as follows:

  '000 tonnes

  1986

  1987

  Total tonnage of cereals produced in the United Kingdom

  24,488

  121,472

  Total tonnage of cereals consumed in the United Kingdom

  20,626

  219,971

  Total tonnage of cereal substitutes3 consumed4 in the United Kingdom

  1,507

  1,475

  Commodity

  Date

  Quantity

  Destination

  Sale Price

  (tonnes)

  p/lb

  Wheat

  September 1987

  650,000

  USSR

  1·61

  Barley

  September 1987

  850,000

  USSR

  1·31 2

  Wheat

  November-December 1987

  1,012,000

  USSR

  2·11

  Wheat

  December 1987

  480,000

  USSR

  1·71 2

  Barley

  December 1987

  953,000

  USSR

  1·51 2

  Wheat

  April 1988

  70,000

  Poland

  2·41

  Wheat

  May 1988

  110,000

  Morocco

  2·51

  Butter

  November 1987

  200,100

  USSR

  6·03

  680

  1986

  1987

  Total tonnage of cereals imported into the United Kingdom

  3,488

  23,172

  Total tonnage of cereal substitutes3 imported into the United Kingdom

  1,028

  1,081

  1 Estimate.

  2 Provisional.

  3 As defined in Annex D to Regulation (EEC) No. 2727/75.

  4 Information relates to off-farm use of cereal substitutes in animal feeding stuffs production.

  Sources:

  HM Customs and Excise.

  Annual Review of Agriculture 1988.

  MAFF January 1988 Cereal Production Survey.

  MAFF and Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland Compound Feed Production Surveys.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what quantity of cereals is currently held in intervention in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) the European Community as a whole.

  Mr. MacGregor
  At 15 May the quantity of cereals held in intervention in the European Community was 9·4 million tonnes of which 1·3 million tonnes was held in the United Kingdom. A note setting out the volume of intervention stocks in the United Kingdom and the European Community which includes figures for cereals, is deposited in the Library of the House and is updated monthly.

  Fishing Industry (Financial Support)
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any proposals to make in the light of the recommendations contained in the 24th report from the Committee of Public Accounts, entitled "Financial Support for the Fishing Industry in Great Britain", No. 266, 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  We shall be responding in full to the recommendations contained in the 24th report of the Public Accounts Committee in a Treasury minute to be laid before Parliament.

  EC Food Sales
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a table showing the recent special sales of food authorised by the European Economic Community, the tonnages involved and the prices in terms of pence per pound.

  Mr. MacGregor
  At any one time CAP arrangements provide for a mumber of sales schemes from intervention and from the open market. These tend to follow established patterns, but the following sales to non-EC countries, agreed over the past 12 months, have distinguishing features:
  681

  Commodity

  Date

  Quantity

  Destination

  Sale Price

  (tonnes)

  p/lb

  Beef

  January-November

  12,000

  Peru

  23·0–31·24

  Beef

  August-November 1987

  8,000

  Peru

  23·0–23·34

  Beef

  March 1988

  5,921

  Venezuela

  31·64

  1 The price is calculated from the dollar equivalent of the price actually paid by the purchaser (including MCAs), converted into sterling at the spot rate at the time of the sale.

  2 Some of the grain exported was of United Kingdom origin.

  3 The price is the actual sale price (exclusive of MCAs), converted into sterling at the green rate. None of the butter was exported from the United Kingdom.

  4 The price is the sale price (including MCAs) that would have obtained if the beef had been exported from the United Kingdom, which it was not.

  Fishing Grounds (Pollution)
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has recently received research reports concerning the effects of pollution on the stocks of fish in the fishing grounds off the west coast of Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  This Department has extensive continuing programmes of research into the aquatic environment and fish stocks in British waters. Reports of this work are published on a regular basis by the directorate of fisheries research at Lowestoft. The biennial report of the director of fisheries research and reports in the "Aquatic Environment Monitoring" series are available in the Library of the House. A recent report is aquatic environment monitoring report number 17, "Irish Sea Status Report of the Marine Pollution Monitoring Management Group".

  The results of this work do not indicate that pollution has any significant effects on fish stocks in the fishing grounds off the west coast of Great Britain or, indeed, any British waters.

  Livestock (Genetic Improvement)
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the Government's policy with regard to the genetic improvement of livestock; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The genetic improvement of livestock has been a major aim of research and development for many years and has led to significant improvements in performance and health. New techniques are now available and the Government would wish to see them employed, provided safety and the welfare of animals are not put at risk.

  Sheepmeat Stabilisers
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement concerning the effect so far of the implementation of sheepmeat stabilisers on premium prices.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The sheepmeat stabiliser came into operation on the 23 May. For the first week of its operation we would expect the variable slaughter premium to be 7·7p/kg less than it would otherwise have been.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next intends meeting representatives of the Farmers Union of Wales to discuss the effect of the implementation of sheep stabilisers.
  682
  Mr. Donald Thompson
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales—who has responsibility for agriculture in Wales—maintains regular and close contacts with representatives of the Farmers Union of Wales on sheep matters. My right hon. Friend, the Minister and I also meet FUW representatives to discuss issues of mutual interest.

  Green Fallow
  Mr. John Greenwav
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received on proposals for green fallow within the plans for stabilisers.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have received a number of representations from hon. Members and others about the option under the Community rules to permit land set aside from arable crops to be grazed by livestock. I am considering these representations, and will be making a statement shortly.

  Sea Fish Industry Authority
  Mr. Wall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next expects to meet the chairman and members of the executive of the Sea Fish Industry Authority.

  Mr. Gummer
  I expect to meet the chairman and board members again within the next few months.

  Tenant Farmers Association
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Tenant Farmers Association; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Gummer
  I am in regular contact with the chairman of the Tenant Farmers Association and other tenants' representatives on matters of mutual interest.

  Poultry Federation
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the president of the Poultry Federation; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Newark (Mr. Alexander) on 5 May at column 998.

  Fur Farming
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure the fur farming is not eligible for farm diversification grants; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The keeping of animals for fur is not an eligible activity under the farm diversification grant scheme.

  Breeding Ewes
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present number of breeding ewes in Great Britain.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  At the December 1987 census, the figure was 18·148 million.

  Mink Farming
  Mr. Terry Lewis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the lastest number of mink farming licences currently in operation.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) on 3 May 1988 at columns 401–2.

  Animal Foodstuffs (Toxins)
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to strengthen current safeguards governing the levels of toxins in animal foodstuffs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  New provisions on aflatoxin B came into effect on 6 April which extended the previously existing safeguards to a wider range of feedingstuffs. There will be a further extension of controls in December 1988, when maximum levels will be set for certain substances in specified raw materials that have not previous been restricted in this way.

  Farm Woodlands Scheme
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will invite the Forestry Commission to review its present guidelines for planting under the farm woodlands scheme.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The practical guidelines provided by the Forestry Commission in connection with the woodland grant scheme will also apply to planting under the farm woodland scheme when this is introduced. In addition, publications giving detailed advice on establishing and maintaining farm woodlands will be available in good time for the introduction of the scheme in the autumn. In the light of this I do not consider revision of guidelines necessary.

  Bovine Somatotropin
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further representations he has received concerning the testing of bovine somatotropin in the dairy herd; and if he will make a statement.
  684
  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have nothing to add to my reply of 16 May to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) at column 323.

  EC Agriculture Ministers
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met with EC Agriculture Ministers; and what topics were discussed.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Summerson) on 18 May at columns 473–4.

  Pigmeat
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what number he estimates the United Kingdom pig population would need to be increased so as to achieve national self-sufficiency in pigmeat; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Latest estimates indicate that the United Kingdom is currently more than self-sufficient in pork but only 40 per cent. self-sufficient in bacon and ham. An increase in the pig population approaching 30 per cent. would be needed to achieve national self-sufficiency in pigmeat, provided that this increase was wholly used for the production of bacon and ham.

  Breeding Sows
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has of future numbers of breeding sows in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The future number of breeding sows in the United Kingdom will depend on a range of factors which cannot be predicted with any certainty. I regret that I am unable to provide the figures requested.

  Food Industry (Exports)
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the performance of the food industry in increasing exports to the European Community.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 7 June to my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Mr. Bowis) at column 485.

  Bovine Disease (Newham)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there have been any reported cases of bovine disease in the London borough of Newham during the last five years.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I am not aware of any bovine disease in the London borough of Newham in the last five years.

  Fishing Vessels
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many building grants have been awarded in respect of fishing vessels by the SFIA in the period January to April.
  685
  Mr. Gummer
  During the period 1 January to 30 April 1988, construction grants amounting to some £1,211,000 were awarded in respect of seven new vessels.

PRIME MINISTER

  France (Bilateral Relations)
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Prime Minister when she next plans to meet the President of the French Republic to discuss bilateral relations.

  The Prime Minister
  I shall meet President Mitterrand in Paris on 10 June to discuss bilateral relations and other international issues.

  Engagements
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 9 June.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 9 June.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 9 June.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 9 June.

  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 9 June.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 9 June.

  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 9 June.
  686
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 9 June.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 9 June.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will, list her official engagements for Thursday 9 June.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House I shall be having further meetings later today including one with the President of Tanzania.

  Commercial Advertising (Ministerial Appearances)
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will publish in the Official Report the rules governing ministerial appearances in commercial advertising.

  The Prime Minister
  There are no specific rules but it is well understood that Ministers do not lend their names to advertising for commercial purposes. Those who use photographs of Ministers do not necessarily seek their consent.

  Government Departments (Unauthorised Disclosures)
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister how many unauthorised disclosures from Departments regarding Government internal discussions and proposals have occurred since May 1979.

  The Prime Minister
  We do not collect that information.

  NUCLEAR POWER STATIONS: CONSTRUCTION POLICY
  NUCLEAR POWER STATIONS: CONSTRUCTION POLICY