Written Answers of 20 October 1988

ENVIRONMENT

  Private Housing (Basic Amenities)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities in whose area more than 5 per cent, of the private housing stock are without basic amenities.

  Mr. Trippier
  The information requested is not available.

  Unfit Dwellings
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities by areas in which 4·5 per cent, or more of the dwellings are considered unfit.

  Mr. Trippier
  The following 56 English housing authorities have reported, in their 1988 housing investment programme returns, that 4·5 per cent, or more of the total stock in their areas at 1 April 1988 was unfit:—Allerdale, Barnsley, Birmingham, Blackburn, Bolsover, Bolton, Bradford, Brent, Brighton, Bristol, Bury, Camden, Caradon, Cleethorpes, Ealing, Gedling, Great Grimsby, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Hastings, Hyndburn, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston upon Hull, Lambeth, Leeds, Leicester, Malvern Hills, Manchester, Mendip, Mid Suffolk, Newcastle upon Tyne, Newham, Oswestry, Penwith, Preston, Reading, Richmond upon Thames, Rochdale, Rossendale, Rugby, Salford, Sandwell, South Herefordshire, Southwark, St. Helens, Stoke on Trent, Sutton, Tameside, Thurrock, Tower Hamlets, Walsall, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Wolverhampton.

  Five authorities have not yet made a return and a further 21 have not provided estimates of the numbers of unfit dwellings covering their private sector stock.

  Public Sector Housing
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the report his Department has now received from Glasgow university's centre for housing research on public sector housing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  The report will be published by HMSO in the new year.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost to his Department of the report he has now received from Glasgow university's centre for housing research; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  The contract is estimated to cost about £180,000 excluding VAT.

  Rural Development Commission
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made by the Rural Development Commission in encouraging and diversifying rural enterprise.

  Mr. Ridley
  The Rural Development Commission came into being on 1 April 1988 through the merger of the Development Commission with its main agency, the Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas. The annual report of the two constituents bodies for 1987–88 has been published today, and I have placed copies in the Library of the House.

  I am grateful to the Lord Vinson and his fellow commissioners for the efforts which they have devoted to fostering the economic and social development of rural areas and which have led to the achievements described in the report. There is now a general recognition of the important part that small-scale industry must play in maintaining economic activity in rural areas and there has been a considerable increase in prosperity in many rural development areas. I welcome the commission's intention to review its objectives in the light of changed conditions in order to maximise the stimulus it provides for rural enterprise. I shall also take full account of advice given by the commission about other problems of rural areas and possible approaches to resolving them.

PRIME MINISTER

  Hillmorton, Rugby
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to make an official visit to Hillmorton, Rugby.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  Neutron and Proton Therapy
  Dr. Bray
  To ask the Prime Minister what advice she has received from the Medical Research Council, the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, the Cancer Research Campaign, the United Kingdom Co-ordinating Committee for Cancer Research, the Advisory Council on Science and Technology or any other body regarding the £6 million grant to a London hospital for a cyclotron for neutron and proton therapy; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The Minister for Health announced on 7 June the award of a grant to the Cyclotron Trust as a contribution towards the charitable funds it is raising to provide a cyclotron at St. Thomas's hospital to improve the care of cancer patients. I have received a letter from Sir Raymond Hoffenberg, chairman of the United Kingdom Co-ordinating Committee on Cancer Research, and a reply has been sent today.

  Engagements
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 October.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 October.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 October.
  979
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 October.

  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 October.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 October.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 October.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 October.

  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 the House I shall be having further meetings later today, including one with the Premier of the state of South Australia.

  Dental and Optical Examinations
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will take steps to seek to exempt Wales from the provisions of the Health and Medicines Bill concerning charges for dental and optical examinations; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  On enactment the provisions of the Health and Medicines Bill will apply throughout Great Britain. The Government see no reason to vary that.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Barlow Clowes (Report)
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he now expects to be able to publish the report of the internal inquiry into the role of his Department in the collapse of the Barlow Clowes companies.

  Mr. Maude
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

  Trade Descriptions Act 1972
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the terms of the successor regime to replace the Trade Descriptions Act 1972, will be laid before Parliament.

  Mr. Forth
  I laid before Parliament yesterday the Trade Descriptions (Place of Production) (Marking) Order 1988. This will require goods to be marked with or accompanied by a statement of the place of production, if the goods are presented in a way which is likely to give consumers the impression that the goods were manufactured or produced in a different place. Subject to the parliamentary procedures, the order will come into force on 31 December, at the same time as the repeal of the 1972 Act. The order bringing into force the repeal of the 1972 Act was laid before Parliament in draft on 29 July.

  Regional Development Grant
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will make a statement about payment of regional development grant.
  980
  Mr. Newton
  My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales and I have decided that the current two-month waiting period for interim payments under the revised regional development grant scheme will be lifted tomorrow. Payments which are at present held up by the waiting periond will be made as soon as practicable. This will be of immediate benefit to companies operating in the development areas, particularly in the light of the increased case processing times which have resulted from the surge in applications before the scheme closed last March.

  Small Companies
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he is yet in a position to announce the outcome of the Government's review of audit requirements for small companies.

  Mr. Maude
  On 22 May 1986, my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard) announced that the Government had decided to retain the statutory requirement for small companies to have their accounts audited. Since that announcement, the Government have considered again the arguments for and against the compulsory audit of small companies. We still believe that the involvement of an independent professional accountant such as the audit requirement entails is likely to improve the reliability of accounts and provide a continuing protection against fraud. We have looked at possible alternative ways of achieving these objectives without requiring a full-scale audit, but have concluded that none of the alternatives offers sufficient advantages over the audit. We do not, therefore, propose to remove the statutory requirement.

EMPLOYMENT

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking together with British Coal to reduce the 130 per cent, increase in underground fires between 1979 and 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The number of underground fires in mines owned by the British Coal Corporation increased from 68 in 1979 to 77 in 1985–86, an increase of about 13 per cent. The increasingly intensive use of plant during this period meant that the reduction in the number of mines had no significant effect on the potential of fire.

  Reducing the number of underground fires is a primary objective of the Health and Safety Executive which is actively monitoring measures taken by British Coal. These include the application of more sophisticated inspection and detection techniques, the raising of standards in the specification, design, installation and maintenance of machinery and equipment and the continuing development of fire-resistant materials.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will consider decentralising the statistical function in his Department dealing with Scottish jobless totals to a separate unit located in Scotland.
  981
  Mr. Lee
  The unemployment statistics are a by-product of the Great Britain wide system for paying unemployment-related benefits. Dissemination and briefing on the figures for Scotland are already the responsibility of a unit located in the ofice of the Training Agency's director for Scotland.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  China (Overseas Aid)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to make an official visit to China to discuss overseas aid; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  I visited China from 17–23 September during which time I signed on behalf of the United Kingdom a new memorandum of understanding providing aid and trade provision support for development projects up to a total value of £300 million. Soft loans and mixed credits will be available for projects to be agreed by the British and Chinese Governments. I also visited a number of British aid activities—particularly English language teaching and science and technology consultancies—which are providing excellent value for money and are strengthening Britain's growing political and commercial links with China.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  County Court Judges (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. Stanbrook
  To ask the Attorney-General what remuneration is paid to county court judges in Northern Ireland.

  The Solicitor-General
  The salary of a county court judge in Northern Ireland is currently £45,800. County court judges are presently in group 6 of the judicial salary structure. The Government have decided that they should be paid at the higher group 5 rate for as long as they are required to carry out significantly different work from their counterparts elsewhere in the United Kingdom, as is currently the case. They will therefore be paid £50,180 with effect from 1 April 1988, increasing to £50,900 with effect from October, in line with the Government's implementation of the recommendations on judicial salaries in the 1988 report of the Top Salaries Review Body.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Right of Silence
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to propose amendments of the law concerning the right of silence in England and Wales.

  Mr. Hurd
  I told the House on 18 May at columns 465–66 that I saw a strong case for changing the law in relation to the inferences which may be drawn from a failure to answer questions put to a suspect by the police. I considered that more careful work needed to be done before I could bring forward with confidence a specific proposal for legislation, and I set up a working group
  982
  (comprising officials, members of the legal profession and a senior police officer) to carry out that further work and submit an early report with a view to legislation.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has similarly reached the conclusion that the law of the province needs to be changed. He has laid before the House a draft Order in Council containing provisions to this effect.

  I will seek the earliest opportunity after receiving the working group's report to bring forward legislation on this subject for England and Wales. Although the timing of change will inevitably be different in the two jurisdictions, the Government see a clear need for substantial changes to be made in both if the law is to be effectively enforced.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Lincolnshire-Australia Links (Exhibition)
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to Lincolnshire links with Australia to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall, in the week beginning 31 October.

  Mr Eggar
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Services Committee, arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 31 October to 4 November.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the latest available figures for his Department in the London pay area of the number of vacancies by grade and the proportion this is of the grade complement in London.

  Mr. Eggar
  In the diplomatic wing, there are currently 145·5 vacancies in all grades amounting to 2·6 per cent, of total complement. The majority are in clerical and technical support grades though the number in any grade fluctuates from month to month with changes in operational requirements and the recruitment cycle.

  In the aid wing, there are 58 vacancies in all grades amounting to 10·9 per cent, of total complement. The majority are in clerical, secretarial and other support grades.

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide the latest available figures for his Department for(a) numbers of staff in receipt of local pay additions, by grade, (b) location of those offices awarding local pay additions and (c) annual cost.

  Mr. Eggar
  In the diplomatic wing of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, local pay addition is being paid to a total of 927 members of staff, in the following grades:

  Number

  Administrative Assistants

  82

  Administrative Officers

  261

  Diplomatic Service Grade 10 Officers

  272

  Secretarial Staff

  307

  Teleprinter Operators

  5

  983
  All the staff work in FCO buildings in central London, and at Croydon. The annual cost is £462,100.

  In the aid wing, local pay addition is being paid to a total of 189 members of staff, in the following grades:

  Number

  Administrative Officers

  104

  Typing Managers

  3

  Secretarial Staff

  82

  All the staff are working at ODA headquarters at Eland house, London, SW1. The annual cost is £120,400.

  Palestine
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the situation in Palestine.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The continuing violence in the occupied territories underlines the urgent need for a just and durable solution to the Arab-Israel dispute. This would be best achieved by the holding of an international conference, as the framework for negotiations between the parties concerned.

  Anglo-Soviet Relations
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his latest assessment of the effect upon Anglo-Soviet relations of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics' policies of glasnost and perestroika; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Bilateral relations have greatly improved since Mr. Gorbachev assumed power in the Soviet Union. A more pragmatic Soviet approach to contentious issues such as Afghanistan and human rights, and greater Soviet willingness to facilitate exchanges of people and ideas, have contributed to this improvement. We have combined readiness to make use of these new opportunities with a realistic view of what has not changed, including Soviet military capabilities and the need for secure defence. This consistent approach has earned respect and brought results.

WALES

  Welsh Development Agency (Asset Sales)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in the Official Report the annual amount of cash raised by the Welsh Development Agency from the sale of assets for each of the years 1980 to 1988; if he will list for each of those years the details of the assets sold, including buildings and support services; if he will indicate the current target for such sales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the annual accounts of the Welsh Development Agency for the years up to and including 1987–88. The target for property and investment disposals for the current financial year is just over £15 million. Details of the assets sold to date could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Pharmacy Technicians
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many pharmacy technicians are employed in each of the health authorities in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  The information which relates to whole-time equivalents as at 30 September 1988 is given in the following table:

  District health authority

  Pharmacy technicians

  Clwyd

  24·4

  East Dyfed

  5·8

  Gwent

  38·1

  Gwynedd

  10·0

  Mid Glamorgan

  21·8

  Pembrokeshire

  1·0

  Powys

  2·0

  South Glamorgan

  34·2

  West Glamorgan

  21·9

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what steps he will take to enhance the status of pharmacy technicians with the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he proposes to improve the salaries of pharmacy technicians; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  The salaries of pharmacy technicians are negotiated within committee "C" of the professional and technical staffs "B" Whitley council. The staff side has rejected an offer of a 5·5 per cent, increase in pay with effect from 1 April 1988, but further discussions are being arranged for later this month.

  In recognition of the difficulties which are being experienced in some parts of the country in the recruitment of staff for hospital pharmacies, the management side of the Whitley council is undertaking a review of the duties and grading structure of pharmacy technicians.

  Blood Supplies
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make a statement concerning the supply of blood to north Wales hospitals during the recent industrial dispute involving donor staff; and if he will list the numbers of staff employed in the blood donor service as it affects north Wales;

  (2) what is the requirement of individual blood units for (a) Clwyd and (b) Gwynedd per week for the efficient running of the donor centres; and if he will list the numbers of individual donors for each of the months of 1988.

  Mr. Grist
  The collection of blood from donors and the supply of blood products to hospitals in Clwyd and Gwynedd is undertaken by the Mersey regional blood transfusion service. The information requested is not held by the Welsh Office although the Department maintains contact with the north Wales health authorities on the adequacy of blood supplies.

  ROSPA (Wales)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will increase his grant aid to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Wales); how much he has given annually in real terms since 1979; what are his plans for funding levels for the years 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92; and if he will make a statement.
  985
  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  In order to secure best value for money, the amount of grant in aid to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents up to 1992 is being reviewed and negotiations are still in progress. The annual grant paid since 1979 in real terms is as follows:

  £

  1979–80

  68,892

  1980–81

  52,099

  1981–82

  46,815

  1982–83

  51,584

  1983–84

  54,742

  1984–85

  52,424

  1985–86

  49,469

  1986–87

  47,851

  1987–88

  45,558

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received concerning the funding of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Wales); and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend and I have received 15 representations from 12 different sources.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet the Road Accident Prevention Federation for North and South Wales to discuss grant aid to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Wales) up to 1991–92; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The amount of grant in aid given is a matter for discussion between the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the Welsh Office. The Road Accident Prevention Federation for North and South Wales has conveyed its views in writing to my right hon. Friend and these will be taken into account.

  Road Accident Statistics
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many fatal road accidents in Wales there were in each of the years 1979–88; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The number of fatal road accidents is as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1979

  295

  1980

  252

  1981

  243

  1982

  260

  1983

  228

  1984

  227

  1985

  224

  1986

  214

  1987

  196

  1988 to June

  193

  1 provisional.

  The downward trend is most encouraging.

  Carers
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those health authorities and social service departments that make provision for carers in Wales; what initiatives he will take to ensure that the needs of carers in the community are recognised; and if he will make a statement.
  986
  Mr. Grist
  It is necessary for all health and social services authorities to take into account the needs of carers in providing suitable care for their patients and clients. We have made this clear in our published strategies and initiatives for those with mental handicaps, the elderly and our proposals in respect of the development of mental illness services. Income support for carers is available in certain circumstances unde;r arrangements which are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has on the number of people who would enter long-term hospitals or institutional care if carers were not available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  Information is not available on the form requested. There can be no doubt, however, that without the care and support which families and friends often provide, many more people would require additional support from caring agencies. We would not accept, however, that this would necessarily lead to admission to long-term hospital or institutional care. Our policies and programmes are designed to ensure that care is provided in people's own homes and communities rather than in institutions, wherever possible.

  Clwyd Community Health Council
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet the Clwyd South community health council to discuss the implications of charging for dental and optical examinations in Clwyd; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  I do not believe that a meeting with Clwyd CHC on this matter would serve any useful purpose, since it has been debated so thoroughly both inside and outside Parliament.

  Dental and Optical Examinations (Pensioners)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of pensioners in(a) Clwyd, (b) Wales, (c) the United Kingdom and (d) Alyn and Deeside district council area who will be (i) obliged to pay for dental and optical examinations and (ii) exempt; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  This information is not available.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Local Pay Additions
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide the latest available figures for Her Majesty's Stationery Office for(a) numbers of staff in receipt of local pay additions, by grade, (b) location of those offices awarding local pay additions and (c) annual cost.

  Mr. Brooke
  The following is the information:

  Number

  AO

  89

  AA

  17

  Senior Personal Secretary

  1

  987

  Number

  Personal Secretary

  4

  Typist

  1

  (a) Numbers of staff in receipt of local pay additions, by grade.

  (b) Location of those offices awarding local pay additions:

  Holborn Bookshop, 49 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6HB

  Britannia House, 7 Trinity Street, London, SE1 IDA

  Hansard Press, 11 Steedman Street, London, SE17 3AF

  Parliamentary Press, Mandela Way, London, SE1 5SS

  Macaulay Press, Unit 2A, Tideway, 87 Kirtling Street, London, SW8
  5BP

  Parliamentary Liaison Office, Lower Ground Floor, Norman Shaw

  Building (North), Victoria Embankment, London, SW1A 2JF

  Golden Cross House, Duncannon Street, London, WC2N 4JF

  Controller's Suite, Room 1–15, 24 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2ED

  Publications Centre, 51 Nine Elms Lane, London, SW8 5DR

  (c) Annual cost:

  1 June 1988–31 March 1989–£50,000

  1 May 1989–31 March 1990–£63,400

  Gross Income
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of gross income was represented by the amount of income tax and employees' national insurance contributions payable on incomes(a) half average earnings, (b) average earnings and (c) 1½ times average earnings in the financial years 1963–64, 1973–74, 1983–84 and 1988–89, using the latest data on average earnings for 1988–89.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The information is in the tables.

  Income tax and income tax and NIC as percentages of Gross Earnings

  Multiples of average earnings1

  0·5

  1

  1·5

  Single person

  1963–64

  Tax

  7·3

  17·3

  21·6

  Tax & NIC

  13·6

  22·4

  25·0

  1973–74

  Tax

  14·2

  22·1

  24·7

  Tax & NIC

  21·0

  27·9

  29·2

  1983–84

  Tax

  18·0

  24·0

  26·0

  Tax & NIC

  27·0

  33·0

  34·2

  1988–892

  Tax

  14·8

  19·9

  21·6

  Tax & NIC

  23·8

  28·9

  29·1

  Married3 couple

  1963–64

  Tax

  1·3

  12·5

  18·4

  Tax & NIC

  7·6

  17·6

  21·8

  1973–74

  Tax

  9·4

  19·7

  23·1

  Tax & NIC

  16·2

  25·6

  27·6

  1983–84

  Tax

  11·1

  20·6

  23·7

  Tax & NIC

  20·1

  29·6

  32·0

  1988–892

  Tax

  8·9

  17·0

  19·6

  Tax & NIC

  17·9

  26·0

  27·1

  1 Earnings are average earnings of full-time adult males working a full week on adult rates in all occupations

  2 Provisional

  3 Assumes wife not in paid employment

  Balance of Payments
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate for the balance of payments in the current year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Major
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will be making a new forecast in his autumn statement.

  PAYE and VAT
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the outcome of the pilot study of joint pay-as-you-earn and value added tax visits which the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise undertook in the Nottingham area.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The pilot study, which took place in the last quarter of 1986, was designed to test the Keith committee's suggestion that joint visits, rather than separate visits for PAYE and VAT purposes, could be mutually beneficial to traders and to the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise.

  The findings are that, while joint visits are feasible and acceptable to most of the traders who received them, in only 2 per cent, of cases would a joint visit replace two separate visits. So, in most instances, a joint visit would add to, rather than reduce, the inspections of a business's records. Furthermore, a system of joint visits would add substantially to the departments' costs.

  In the light of these results, it is not proposed to implement a programme of joint visits at this stage. But both departments will continue to improve the information and other services they provide, especially to small businesses.

  European Communities (Finance) Bill
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when notes on clauses for the European Communities (Finance) Bill will be made available to the House.

  Mr. Brooke
  Copies have been placed in the Vote Office today.

  EC (Advance Payments and Overdraft Facilities)
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the advance payments and overdraft facilities granted by the United Kingdom to the European Commission in August, September and October.

  Mr. Brooke
  In each of the three months August, September and October the Commission had cash flow problems because its spending obligations exceeded the revenue available under the 1988 budget. The Commission therefore requested member states, by reference to article 10(2) of regulation 2891/77, to advance by one month the payment of own resources other than VAT. The United Kingdom accordingly made advance payments from the Consolidated Fund on 22 August, 20 September and 20 October, under section 2(3) of the European Communities Act 1972.

  In August and September the Commission also overdrew its accounts with member states, by reference to article 12(2) of Council regulation 2891/77. The overdraft with the United Kingdom currently totals £159·8 million. The Government have met this obligation from the Consolidated Fund, again in accordance with section 2(3) of the European Communities Act 1972. Overdrafts are unwound by corresponding reductions in subsequent own resources payments.

  The table shows the level of advance payments made under article 10(2) in August, September and October; and the extent of the outstanding overdraft under article 12(2) at the end of each month.
  989

  £ million

  August

  September

  October

  Early payment of non-VAT own resources under article 10(2) (reimbursed in the following month)

  163·8

  145·8

  140·4

  End-month overdraft under article 12(2)

  96·9

  3·9

  n/a

  The total amount which the Community is authorised to spend in 1988 remains as set out in the 1988 budget and supplementary budget. There is, therefore, no net addition to public expenditure arising from the Commission's use of these advance payment and overdraft facilities.

  The Community's cash flow difficulties in 1988 should be resolved when member states are in a position to make available their contributions under the intergovernmental agreement on the financing of the 1988 budget.

  Tax Cuts
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effects of the tax cuts announced in the Budget, on the rate of inflation.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 19 October 1988]: The budget gave no fiscal stimulus to inflation. It left the overall burden of taxation as a percentage of GDP unchanged. In the longer run, the tax reforms and reductions in tax rates, by improving supply, will help the Government to achieve their aim of reducing inflation.

  Crown Estate Commissioners
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the annual salaries and allowances payable to each of the part-time Crown Estate Commissioners.

  Mr. Lawson
  [holding answer 19 October 1988]: The combined salaries and allowances payable to the part-time Crown Estate Commissioners are as follows:

  First Commissioner and Chairman of the Board—£25,524 a year.

  Two part-time Commissioners—£9,940 a year each.

  Four part-time Commissioners—£7,940 a year each

HEALTH

  Occupational Therapists
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what initiatives he will take to enhance the status and salary of occupational therapists; how many occupational therapists there are in(a) the United Kingdom (b) England and (c) Wales; how many have qualified in each of the years 1979 to 1988; what plans he has to increase occupational therapist trainee places; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  The remuneration of occupational therapists is determined following recommendations of the pay review body covering nurses, midwives, health visitors and the professions allied to medicine which was set up by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in 1983. Since that date the average rates of pay of occupational therapists, in common with those of the other professions 990
  allied to medicine, have increased by 24·1 per cent, in real terms. This reflects the importance that the Government place on the work done by these groups of staff.

  At 10 October 1988 there were 10,540 occupational therapists in the United Kingdom on the state register maintained by the occupational therapists board of the Council for the Professions Supplementary to Medicine. Separate figures for England and Wales are not available.

  Numbers of students qualifying in the years 1979 to 1987 (figures for 1988 are not yet available) are as follows:

  Number

  1979

  463

  1980

  508

  1981

  538

  1982

  557

  1983

  593

  1984

  592

  1985

  673

  1986

  667

  1987

  660

  On 15 May 1987 the Government announced detailed plans to increase the number of occupational therapy training places. The number of funded training places is expected to have risen by 100 a year by 1990–91. In addition, health authorities are funding a number of conversion courses for occupational therapy helpers and the Department is partly funding a shortened course for graduates at the London hospital.

  The joint DH-NHS manpower planning advisory group has commissioned a study of staffing and skill mix in occupational therapy. Preliminary results will be available in late 1989 and this will enable us to review the need for training places.

  Nursing Sisters
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health What is the approximate number of nursing sisters who under the current proposals will be designated(a) as being in charge of a ward or being a senior sister in an assignment and (b) those designated as having equal responsibility at the same proposed grade, together with the respective figures which reflect the current distribution of responsibilities; and what representations he has received from persons with extensive nursing qualifications and experience which favours the change to sole responsibility, giving their names and the terms of such representation.

  Mr. Mellor
  On the information currently available, a clear majority of hospital sisters and about two out of three of all sisters and charge nurses in England will be graded at the higher level on the basis that they carry continuing responsibility for the management of a ward or that they are responsible for the provision of specialist clinical advice. Returns from regional health authorities indicate that there are, in addition, some 3,500 wards where two or more sisters currently share responsibility for the management of the ward and where authorities plan to create one post which will carry continuing responsibility and attract the higher grading. Once that process is complete, some three out of four sisters and charge nurses will be on the higher grade and about two out of three of those working in hospitals.

  I understand from regional chairmen and general managers that a large majority of nurse managers and

  991
  senior nurses have expressed support for the principle of one post carrying continuing responsibility for a ward as set out in the new grading definitions.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefits and Allowances
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the expenditure on industrial disablement benefit in 1978–79 and 1987–88 at 1987–88 prices; and if he will state the amount and proportion of the increased expenditure that was due to(a) increase in real value of the basic pension, (b) increase in number of beneficiaries and (c) other factors.

  Mr. Scott
  Expenditure on industrial disablement benefit (including special hardship allowance and its successor, reduced earnings allowance), at 1987–88 prices, is estimated to have been £448 million in 1978–79 and £449 million in 1987–88. Available information is that an increase of £22 million due to the real increase in average awards of benefit was offset by a decrease of £21 million due to a fall in the number of beneficiaries over the period.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the expenditure on invalidity benefit in 1978–79 and 1987–88 at 1987–88 prices; and if he will state the amount and proportion of the increased expenditure which was due to(a) an increase in real value of the basic pension, (b) increased payments of additional component, (c) and increase in number of beneficiaries and (d) other factors.

  Mr. Scott
  Expenditure on invalidity benefit at 1987–88 prices grew from £1,705 million in 1978–79 to £2,985 million in 1987–88. Of this increase, £1,120 million (87 per cent.) was attributable to increased numbers of beneficiaries; and £160 million (13 per cent.) to a real increase in the average amount of benefit paid. This latter increase was the net result of £260 million growth in additional pension offset by £100 million attributable to the following changes in the other elements of invalidity benefit, including basic pension: adjustment of child dependancy increases to take account of child benefit; the 5 per cent, abatement of invalidity pension from November 1980 to September 1985; and the reduction of invalidity allowance in respect of any entitlement to additional pension.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the expenditure on attendance allowance in 1978–79 and 1987–88 at 1987–88 prices; and if he will state the amount and proportion of the increased expenditure that was due to(a) an increase in real value of the allowance, (b) an increase in number of beneficiaries, (c) any change in the proportion of beneficiaries receiving the higher rate and (d) other factors.

  Mr. Scott
  At 1987–88 prices, expenditure on attendance allowance rose from £340 million in 1978–79 to £850 million in 1987–88. Of this increase, £475 million (93 per cent.) was attributable to increased numbers of beneficiaries and £35 million (7 per cent.) to a real increase in the average amount of benefit paid. This latter figure subsumes the expenditure consequences of a change in the 992
  proportion of higher rate allowances from 43 per cent, of total awards in December 1979 to 40 per cent, in March 1987.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the expenditure on mobility allowance in 1978–79 and 1987–88 at 1987–88 prices; and if he will state the amount and proportion of the increased expenditure that was due to(a) the difference between the increase in the retail price index and the index of motoring costs, (b) and increase in the number of beneficiaries and (c) other factors.

  Mr. Scott
  Expenditure on mobility allowance, at 1987–88 prices, rose from £95 million in 1978–79 to £595 million in 1987–88. Of this increase, £400 million (80 per cent.) was attributable to increased numbers of beneficiaries; and £100 million (20 per cent.) to a real increase in the average amount of benefit paid. Any difference between the rise in the retail price index and motoring costs did not contribute directly to the increased expenditure.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the expenditure on NCIP/severe disablement allowance in 1978–79 and 1987–88 at 1987–88 prices; and if he will state the amount and proportion of the increased expenditure that was due to(a) an increase in real value of the allowance, (b) an increase in the number of beneficiaries, (c) the change in the qualifying conditions and (d) other factors.

  Mr. Scott
  The expenditure on non-contributory invalidity pension, at 1987–88 prices, was £140 million in 1978–79. This benefit was replaced by severe disablement allowance and expenditure on the latter in 1987–88 was £305 million. Of this increase, £105 million (64 per cent.) was attributable to increased numbers of beneficiaries; and £60 million (36 per cent.) to a real increase in the average amount of benefit paid. I regret that detailed information is not readily available on which to base a reliable analysis of how far changes in the qualifying conditions or other factors contributed to these increases.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the expenditure on invalid care allowance in 1978–79 and 1987–88 at 1987–88 prices; and if he will state the amount and proportion of the increased expenditure that was due to(a) an increase in real value of the allowance, (b) an increase in the number of beneficiaries and (c) other factors.

  Mr. Scott
  At 1987–88 prices, expenditure on invalid care allowance rose from £8 million in 1978–79 to £165 million in 1987–88. Of this, £22 million (14 per cent.) was attributable to a real increase in the average amount payable whilst £135 million (86 per cent.), attributable to increased numbers of beneficiaries, was largely the result of the extension of the allowance to married women in 1986.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the expenditure on war disablement pension in 1978–79 and 1987–88 at 1987–88 prices; and if he will state the amount and proportion of the change in expenditure that was due to(a) an increase in real value of the basic pension, (b) a change in number of beneficiaries and (c) other factors.
  993
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Estimated expenditure on war disablement pensions and allowances, including gratuities for disablement of less than 20 per cent, at 1987–88 prices, was £452 million in 1978–79 and £399 million in 1987–88. It is estimated that there was a reduction in expenditure of about £132 million, or 29 per cent., due to a reduction in the number receiving war pensions and allowances from 287,000 at December 1978 to 203,000 at December 1987. This was offset by an estimated increase in expenditure of about £79 million, or 17 per cent., due to an increase in the real value of the average war pension and allowances, mainly because of the introduction of a new allowance, mobility supplement, in 1983 and a 12 per cent, increase in the proportion of war pensioners receiving an age allowance.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the expenditure on supplementary benefit (housing) paid to long-term sick and disabled people in 1978–79 and 1987–88 at 1987–88 prices; and if he will state the amount and proportion of the increased expenditure that was due to(a) an increase in real value of the benefits, (b) an increase in number of beneficiaries and (c)other factors.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We do not keep records specifically of long-term sick and disabled people in receipt of supplementary benefit, only of people whose reason for claiming supplementary benefit was sickness. Information for 1978 and 1987 is not in any case comparable because of the introduction of the housing benefit scheme in 1982–83 which now provides help with rent and rates. The term "housing costs" in 1978 therefore includes rent and rates as well as mortgage interest, ground rent, and so on, whereas the term "housing costs" in 1987 excludes rent and rates.

  The information available, based on the annual statistical inquiries, shows that the amount of housing costs included in the assessments of people claiming supplementary benefit because they were sick was £42 million in 1978 and £39 million in 1987. These figures do not reflect the amount actually paid in supplementary benefit for housing costs—this would have been less if the claimant had other income or had any dependent adults living in his household.

  In 1987–88 housing benefit expenditure for people in receipt of supplementary benefit because of sickness amounted to some £200 million.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Abortion
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the reply of 22 July,Official Report, column 563, what information he has about the policy of the Northern Ireland branch of the British Medical Association on the extension of the Abortion Act 1967 to Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  I understand that the Northern Ireland branch of the British Medical Association follows the national policy of the association and therefore does not have a separate policy on the extension of the Abortion Act 1967 to Northern Ireland.

  Regent House School, Newtownards
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils at Regent House school, Newtownards, live in the constituencies of(a) Strangford, (b) South Down, (c) North Down, (d) Belfast, East and (e) elsewhere.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested is not available.

  Criminal Law Reform
  Mr. Lewis Stevens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any proposals for the reform of the general criminal law in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Tom King
  [pursuant to his reply, 20 July 1988, c. 641.]: I have today laid before Parliament a draft Order in Council which proposes amending the general criminal law of Northern Ireland relating to evidence both before and during trial.

  The provisions of this draft order would allow the courts to attach whatever weight they think proper to the fact that someone remained! silent when questioned—for example, where circumstances were such that an innocent person might reasonably have been expected to protest his innocence and draw attention to facts which served to establish it.

  The draft order proposes amending the criminal law to permit the courts in Northern Ireland to draw whatever inferences would be proper from the fact that an accused remained silent in four situations. Two are dealt with by provisions that have the same effect as provisions recommended by the Criminal Law Revision Committee in 1972. The first is the "ambush" where, having remained silent during police questioning, the accused offers an explanation of his conduct for the first time at his trial when he might reasonably have been expected to offer it when being questioned. The second provides that once the prosecution has established that there is a case to answer, the accused should be warned that he will be called to give evidence and that if he should refuse to do so the court may draw such inferences as would appear proper.

  The other two situations are covered in provisions which have the same effect as provisions in the Criminal Justice Act enacted by the Irish Parliament in 1984. One allows a court to draw such inferences as would appear proper from an accused's failure or refusal to explain to the police certain specified facts such as substances or marks on his clothing. The other makes similar provision where an accused fails or refused to account to the police for his presence at a particular place.

  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has also announced today his intention to bring forward legislation on this subject for England and Wales at the earliest opportunity.

  Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the remainder of the £4·5 million promised for the upgrading of the Royal Belfast hospital for sick children to be made available; what sums have been spent so far and on what; when he expects work to be completed; and if he will make a statement.
  995
  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 19 October 1988]: The present position regarding the programme of seven improvement schemes for the Royal Belfast hospital for sick children is as follows:

  Cost (£000)

  Spent to date (£000)

  Completion date

  Extension to X-Ray Department

  441

  441

  August 1983

  Barbour Ward

  200

  200

  November 1984

  Day Care Unit

  578

  578

  January 1987

  Engineering Services

  340

  340

  October 1987

  Musgrave & Paul Ward

  1,347

  638

  March 1989

  Total

  2,906

  2,197

  The two remaining schemes, the operating theatres/ intensive care unit and the out-patients department/A&E department have now been presented by the Eastern health and social services board as a composite scheme which is currently being considered. I cannot state at this time when this scheme will be completed.

  Irish Sea
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what basis tests are carried out to establish the level of pollution in the sea off the Northern Irish coast; whether he seeks the opinion of independent monitoring organisations; and if he will make a statement about the level of pollution in the water around the coast of Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 19 October 1988]: Tests to assess the level of pollution in the sea off the Northern Irish coast are carried out on the basis of requirements set out in the relevant national legislation, EC directives and international conventions and for the purpose of public reassurance. The opinion of independent monitoring organisations is not sought. The tests have shown that the water around the coast of Northern Ireland is generally of good quality.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the latest available figures for his Department in the London pay area of the number of vacancies by grade and the proportion this is of the grade complement in London.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  On 1 October 1988 there were the following vacancies against the formal complement for administrative and support staff in the Department's London divisions. The proportions of the grade complement that this represents are shown in brackets.

  Numbers

  (per cent.)

  Grade 5

  1

  (2)

  Grade 7

  4

  (3)

  Senior Executive Officer

  3

  (6)

  Senior Professional and Technical Officer

  4

  (25)

  Higher Executive Officer

  8

  (4·5)

  Information Officer

  1

  (8)

  Executive Officer

  16

  (7)

  996

  Numbers

  (per cent.)

  Graphics Officer

  1

  (17)

  Librarian

  1

  (50)

  Assistant Librarian

  2

  (33)

  Personal Secretary

  2

  (2)

  Administrative Officer

  15

  (7)

  Administrative Assistant

  10

  (9·5)

  Paperkeeper

  5

  (15)

  Reprographics Operator

  3

  (15)

  Senior Messenger

  1

  (7)

  Typist

  6

  (9)

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide the latest available figures for his Department for(a) numbers of staff in receipt of local pay additions, by grade, (b) location of those offices awarding local pay additions and (c) annual cost.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The number of staff by grade awarded local pay additions in my Department is as follows:

  Number

  Administrative Officer

  200

  Administrative Assistant

  105

  Senior Personal Secretaries

  9

  Personal Secretaries

  104

  Typing Managers

  9

  Typists

  79

  506

  The awards are made to those in the above grades working in central London, Croydon and Isleworth. Of the above, one administrative assistant, one personal secretary and four typists are at the Croydon local office and one personal secretary and three typists are at the Isleworth local office. The full-year cost is estimated to be £186,000.

  Students (Fees)
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether he has any plans to introduce arrangements so as to approve proposals from the Universities Funding Council by which home students or their families would be required to pay the whole or a part of their tuition fees for final degree and other advanced further education courses at universities, polytechnics and other colleges;

  (2) whether he has any plans to permit certain universities to charge higher fees, payable by the student, for tuition.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  There is a developing debate on the method of funding higher education. The Government have no proposal to require students in receipt of mandatory awards to meet part of their tuition fees. Institutions do not need permission to charge tuition fees higher than those met under the mandatory awards arrangements.

  Surplus School Places
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he has taken to encourage local education authorities to reduce surplus school places; and what financial mechanics are in force to support this.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Circular 3/87, issued in May 1987, emphasised the high cost of underused capacity at schools
  997
  with a substantial proportion of surplus places, urged LEAs to consider rationalising provision by closing and amalgamating schools where appropriate, and set new national targets, since revised, for the removal of surplus places.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he makes of the number of surplus school places; and what savings would be achieved if these were removed.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  It is estimated that in January 1988 there were approximately 620,000 surplus primary school places and 800,000 surplus secondary school places in England. Savings in premises-related costs of approximately £240 million a year would be achieved if these places were removed.

  Maintained Schools (Expenditure)
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what allocation or planning figure has been made, for capital expenditure for grant maintained schools, for the current and any subsequent financial year;

  (2) by what criteria he proposes to judge applications by grant-maintained schools for capital expenditure; and in what way these criteria will differ from those he applies in respect of approvals for capital expenditure by local education authorities on their schools.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  There will be no grant-maintained schools in the current financial year. Allocation will be made for future financial years; the total will depend upon the number of schools. The needs of the first grant-maintained schools will be considered on a case-by-case basis. As numbers build up, schools within the grant-maintained sector will participate in a bidding system similar to that now operated for voluntary-aided schools.

  Departmental Officials (Statistics)
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report the number of officials, including Her Majesty's inspectors, their grades and duties, who work for the whole or part of their time on grant-maintained schools; and if he will estimate their cost.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The Department has established a division to deal with policy on grant-maintained schools. The division currently consists of nine staff (one grade 5, one grade 7, one senior executive officer, one higher executive officer, two executive officers, one personal secretary and two administrative officers) working full time on all matters relating to grant-maintained schools. Their estimated annual salary cost at 1988–89 prices is about £150,000. Other members of the Department, including HM inspectorate, will in the course of their wider territorial, specialist or other policy functions devote some time to grant-maintained schools matters. It is not possible separately to quantify or cost this element of their work.

  Grant-Maintained Schools Trust
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what grant from public funds has been made to the Grant-Maintained Schools Trust.
  998
  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The Grant-Maintained Schools Trust is not at present in receipt of any grant from public funds. If the trust were in due course to make an application to my Department for financial assistance towards specific activities intended to provide support or advice for schools which had acquired grant-maintained status, the Department would be prepared to consider it.

  School Closures and Reorganisations
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report details of all applications made to him since June 1986 for the closure or reorganisation of any school in England, with the name place and type of school, the local authority area, the number of pupils of the school, the decision which he made and whether it was for closure or reorganisation, the dates when the application was first submitted to his Department, and when his final decision was made, and including any applications still pending.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Research and Development
  Mr. Haynes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will summarise the results of his Department's review of funding for agricultural research and development.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will summarise the results of his Department's review of funding for agricultural research and development.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The Barnes review of the agriculture departments' R and D programmes is part of a wider review of priorities for all Government-funded R and D against our belief that industry should bear the responsibility for funding work which is close to commercial application and thus of direct benetit to it. Consultations are proceeding on the funding of near market R and D with all sectors of industry involved. My noble Friend has asked for considered responses from each sector by the end of this month. Further discussions will then take place.

  Mr. Buckley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current annual financial commitment by the agriculture industry to agricultural research and development.

  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current annual financial commitment by the agriculture industry to agricultural research and development.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The agricultural and horticultural industries fund about £20 million of R and D annually, about half of which is raised directly from producers through levies and similar arrangements and the remainder through contributions or contracts from producer organisations. The industries supplying agriculture also undertake substantial investment in R and D, estimated to be in the order of £200 million a year.
  999
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much he expects the financial commitment of the industry towards agricultural research and development to rise over the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much he expects the financial commitment of the industry towards agricultural research and development to rise over the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I cannot yet say. We have asked industry to provide considered first responses by the end of October to our proposals for withdrawal of Government funding for near market R and D.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has for modifying research and development programmes in agriculture and fisheries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Advice from the Priorities Board for R and D in agriculture and food, together with the regular review cycle of all the agriculture and fisheries research programmes, provides a strategic view of the national research needs of these industries. In addition, we have recently undertaken an internal review of expenditure by the agricultural departments on R and D to identify near market work. It remains our policy that the Government should be responsible for funding basic and strategic research as well as work in support of policy and statute; but we believe that near market work which offers the prospect of commercial application within a short enough time scale to justify investment by industry should be funded by industry. Detailed information about our near market programmes has been made available to industry and meetings have been held with the sectors concerned but final decisions have not yet been taken.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest estimated total level of spending by his Department on agricultural research and development in 1988–89.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The latest available estimate of spending by my Department on agricultural research and development in 1988–89 is £87·3 million on a full economic cost basis out of an estimated total Government spend on R and D on agriculture, fisheries and food for 1988–89 somewhat in excess of £225 million. Further information on R and D funded by my Department is given in the "Annual Review of Government Funded R and D 1988".

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average total amount of public spending on agricultural research and development in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Public spending on agricultural research and development in the last five years, on a full economic cost basis, was as follows:

  £ million

  1983–84

  166·1

  1984–85

  170·0

  1985–86

  165·0

  1986–87

  165·7

  11987–88

  162·3

  Average

  165·8

  1000
  1 Provisional

  Details of spending by each Department and by the research councils are published in the "Annual Review of Government Funded R and D."

  Meat and Livestock Commission
  Mr. Latham
  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.

  Dry Sow Stall
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with the pig industry on progress towards the abolition of the dry sow stall.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  My Department has consulted the industry and other interests on the Farm Animal Welfare Council's assessment of pig production systems.

  Council of Agriculture Ministers
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Minister of
  Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what topics were discussed at the last Council of European Community Agriculture Ministers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the last European Community Council of Agriculture Ministers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Decisions were taken on olive oil consumption aid which will produce a saving of 102 million ecu. Other matters were discussed but no decision taken.

  Small Farmers Association
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Small Farmers Association; and what subjects they discussed.

  Mr. Ryder
  My right hon. Friend has not met the chairman recently. But he is kept regularly in touch with the Small Farmers Association's views.

  Council of Fisheries Ministers
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last attended a meeting of the European Community's Council of Fisheries Ministers; and which subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Together with my noble Friend, the Minister of State, Scottish Office, I represented the United Kingdom at the meeting of the Council of Fisheries Ministers on 19 and 20 October 1988 in Luxembourg. The Council dealt with many issues. In particular, we welcome the agreement reached on improvements to the control
  1001
  regulation to facilitate better enforcement. The Commission is committed to produce proposals to increase the precautionary TAC for Channel cod. For reasons of conservation the Council agreed to the extension of the mackerel box off our south-west coast and to a reduction in cod quotas off Svalbord and north Norway. We also raised again the importance of having flexibility for fishing for Western mackerel across the 4° W line.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next expects to attend a meeting of the European Community's Council of Fisheries Ministers; what matters he expects to discuss; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The next EC Council of Fisheries Ministers is to be held on 28 November 1988. Present plans are that fish product guide prices for 1989 are to be discussed. Other items have yet to be tabled.

  Non-alcoholic Drinks
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the current level of sales of non-alcoholic beer and wine.

  Mr. Ryder
  There are no official statistics, but these sales have clearly increased substantially over the last few years. Technical developments in the industry have contributed to improvements in quality of the products. The recently announced reductions in excise duties chargeable on lower strength drinks should encourage the development of this sector.

  United Kingdom Harvest
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he can give an estimate of the likely size of the current United Kingdom harvest.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest forecast for the 1988 cereal harvest.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the 1988 harvest.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimates he has of the size of the 1988 harvest.

  Mr. MacGregor
  My Department currently estimates the 1988 cereals harvest in the United Kingdom to be 21 million tonnes.

  Milk Production Hormone
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the current trials of the milk production hormone BST to end.

  Mr. Cunliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to be able to announce the final results of the trials of the milk production hormone BST.

  Mr. Ryder
  These trials are being conducted by the companies concerned. Their purpose is primarily to 1002
  produce evidence as to the efficacy of the products. This evidence will be presented to the Veterinary Products Committee which advises Ministers on applications for product licences. It is up to the companies to decide when to submit their evidence to the Veterinary Products Committee.

  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has received from the Veterinary Products Committee concerning the milk production hormone BST; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  The Veterinary Products Committee was consulted, as is required under the provisions of the Medicines Act 1968, concerning applications for animal test certificates for BST. It advised that it was completely satisfied with all aspects of the safety of BST. So the present trials are designed to assess not the safety of the product, but its efficacy under field conditions.

  Two applications for product licences for BST have been received and these are being considered in accordance with the provisions of the Medicines Act and EC legislation.

  Tenant Farmers Association
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Tenant Farmers Association; and what subjects they discussed.

  Mr. Ryder
  Although I have not yet met the chairman of the Tenant Farmers Association, I am glad to say that I shall be addressing the association's annual conference next February. In the meantime, the Department is in regular touch with the association on a wide range of issues.

  National Farmers Union
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the president of the National Farmers Union; and what subjects they discussed.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives of the National Farmers Union; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives of the National Farmers Union; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I meet the president of the National Farmers Union frequently to discuss a wide range of agricultural matters. I last met him on 11 October.

  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when next he is due to meet the president of the National Farmers Union to discuss the dairy sector.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have no present plans to do so.

  EC (Surplus Food and Drink)
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total volume and value in pound sterling of surplus food and drink in the EEC.
  1003
  Mr. Ryder
  A note setting out the volume of EC intervention stocks of agricultural commodities, which includes only the surplus quantities held in United Kingdom and EC intervention and assisted private storage, is deposited in the Library of the House and is updated monthly. The estimated value of the EC stocks listed in the most recently deposited note, depreciated as now required following the February European Council agreement, is £3·12 billion.

  Whale Hunting
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further steps he will take to encourage more humane whale hunting in the Faroes.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  We continue to pursue this matter within the International Whaling Commission which we regard as the primary forum for the discussion of all whaling issues, including those concerning killing methods.

  British Wool Board
  Mr. Kirkhope
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met with the chairman of the Wool Board; and what subjects they discussed.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I meet the chairman of the British Wool Board regularly to discuss matters relating to the marketing of wool in the United Kingdom.

  Horticultural Research
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the Horticultural Development Council to discuss horticultural research; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  My noble Friend the Baroness Trumpington met the chairman of the Horticultural Development Council in June to discuss horticultural research. The chairman continues to make an input into discussions through his membership of two Ministry working groups which are considering particular aspects of horticultural R and D (future HDC funding and rationalisation of facilities for horticultural research).

  Forestry Commission
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Forestry Commission; and what subjects they discussed.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I last met the chairman of the Forestry Commission on 3 October when we discussed progress in the task of clearing and replanting woodlands damaged by last October's storm in south-east England.

  Dairy Trade Council
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the president of the Dairy Trade Council and what subjects they discussed.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  My right hon. Friend the Minister and I have regular contacts with the president of the Dairy Trade Federation to discuss various issues affecting the dairy industry.

  Scottish National Farmers Union
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the president of the Scottish National Farmers Union; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I meet the president of the Scottish National Farmers Union whenever I go to Scotland, the last occasion being on 7 to 9 July. A range of matters were discussed. I also meet him from time to time elsewhere.

  Countryside Commission
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Countryside Commission; and what subjects they discussed.

  Mr. Ryder
  My right hon. Friend and other Ministers of my Department have frequently met the chairman of the Countryside Commission for discussions on a wide variety of issues. I look forward to meeting him soon.

  Beef and Sheepmeat Regimes
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in the negotiations in Brussels on the review of the beef and sheepmeat regimes.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Little progress has been made on the basis of the proposals on sheepmeat produced by the EC Commission in October last year. The Commission has just presented proposals on beef and revised proposals on sheepmeat, but no texts are yet available. I expect negotiations to resume shortly.

  Potato Marketing Board
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Potato Marketing Board; and what subjects they discussed.

  Mr. Ryder
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire, West (Mr. McLoughlin) on 9 June, at column 677.

  Fishing Vessels
  Mr. Terry Lewis
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many fishing vessels were constructed in the United Kingdom, with financial assistance from the Sea Fish Industry Authority and FEOGA grants in 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987; and how many fishing vessels have been built or are under construction in the current year with this kind of financial assistance.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The information requested is as follows:

  Number of vessels awarded both United Kingdom and EC aid

  Number

  1984

  33

  1985

  43

  1986

  35

  1987

  24

  1988

  19

  1005
  The 1988 figure includes vessels whose construction is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

  Fishing Industry
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions he has had with fishermen's organisations concerning the present circumstances of the fishing industry.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  We are in frequent and regular touch with fishermen's organisations. Most recently this month I discussed the North sea fishing industry at a conference with representatives of the major organisations.

  Home Grown Cereals Authority
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Home Grown Cereals Authority; and what subject they discussed.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I last met the chairman of the HGCA on 10 October and when I addressed the authority's pre-harvest luncheon on 12 July. We discussed a number of topics concerning the cereal sector.

  Women's Farmers Union
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the president of the Women's Farmers Union; and what subject they discussed.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I met the national chairman of the Women's Farming Union on 11 July and discussed various subjects of concern to it.

  Set Aside Scheme
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what indications he has of the level of uptake under the Set Aside Regulations 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers registered under the set aside scheme by 30 September; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of those farmers who had registered for the voluntary set aside scheme by 30 September had decided to take up the scheme for the 1988–89 crop year.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer hon. Members to the answer given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Mr. Mitchell).

  Imports (Northern Cyprus)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what have been the items and quantity of agricultural produce imported into the United Kingdom from the occupied area of northern Cyprus during the last 12 months.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  United Kingdom imports of agricultural produce from the different regions of Cyprus are not recorded separately.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number of cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy to date in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Up to 14 October 1988, 1,193 cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy had been confirmed since the disease was first identified in November 1986.

  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy have now been notified to his Department.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Since the disease was made notifiable on 21 June, 1,232 suspect cases of BSE have been reported to the Ministry. Because there is no diagnostic test in live animals affected cattle are slaughtered on clinical evidence of infection. Confirmation is dependent on the examination of brain tissue after death; since 21 June, of the 502 animals for which laboratory results have so far been received 454 have been confirmed as having been affected with BSE.

  Farmers (Diversification)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the case for measures to improve communication between farmers wishing to diversify and local planning authorities.

  Mr. Ryder
  I believe there is a case for improved communication in this area. To this end agriculture Ministers have taken every opportunity to meet planners and farmers to encourage a better understanding between them. We will soon be publishing, in association with the Department of the Environment and the Welsh Office, a farmers' guide to the planning system as my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announced on 25 July in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hyndburn (Mr. Hargreaves). This will encourage farmers to present their applications effectively and discuss their ideas with planning officers, local councillors and their neighbours at an early stage.

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

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucestershire, West (Mr. Marland).

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he takes to ensure that consumer and environmental interests are taken into account in decisions concerning the common agricultural policy.

  Mr. Ryder
  I receive advice and representations from many sources, including bodies representative of
  1007
  consumers and of environmental interests. I take these fully into account when decisions are being taken on CAP matters and, as appropriate, urge the Commission and other member states to do the same.

  Cereals Co-responsibility Levy
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will press for the European Community cereals co-responsibility levy to be applied to imports of cereal substitutes, and in equal measure.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Extending the cereals co-responsibility to imported cereals substitutes would be difficult to achieve, contrary to the European Community's international obligations and would be inconsistent with the Government's efforts in the current GATT negotiations to liberalise agricultural trade. The United Kingdom Government have consistently opposed a co-responsibility levy as being the wrong way to tackle the problem of cereal surpluses.

  National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations
  Mr. Wall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives of the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations; and which subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  My right hon. Friend the Minister met representatives of the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations at their annual general meeting on 7 May 1988. A number of issues of importance to the United Kingdom fishing industry were discussed including TACs, licensing systems including under 10 m vessels; part-time fishermen; fishing vessel registration; technical conservation measures and mesh sizes including minimum landing sizes for nephrops; North sea plaice; Channel cod; water authority privatisation; pollution and dumping; the Grimsby National Dock Labour Board scheme; the bass fishery; loans; safety; light dues and the ban on the carriage of monofilament nets. Members of the NFFO also attended a conference in North Shields on 5 October on the North sea fishing industry at which I discussed the Government's fisheries policy and pollution.

  Agricultural Workers
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plan to meet the national secretary of the agricultural and allied workers trade group of the Transport and General Workers Union to discuss problems affecting agricultural workers.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have no plans at present to do so.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what topics were discussed at the last Council of European Community Agriculture Ministers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the last Council of European Community Council of Agriculture Ministers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell) on 18 October 1988.

  Sheep
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current state of the sheep sector.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The sheep sector remains buoyant. Returns are good and exports are encouraging.

  Sea Fish Industry Authority
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement concerning the financing of the Sea Fish Industry Authority.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Following consultation with interested organisations, the authority has now published its intentions to make regulations increasing the present rate of levy from £3·50 per tonne to £7 per tonne with effect from 1 April 1989. In deciding whether to confirm these regulations, fisheries Ministers will take into account any industry objections made to them.

  Toxic Waste
  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many licences were issued for the incineration of toxic waste at sea in 1985, 1986 and 1987; how many such licences have been issued so far in the current year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Licences were issued for 24 wastes in 1985 and for 20 wastes in 1986; 14 licences were issued in 1987 and 12 in 1988.

  United Kingdom waste has accounted for only about 5 per cent, of the total incinerated at the one, internationally agreed, incineration site in the Dutch sector of the North sea. At the ministerial conference on the North sea in November 1987 all North sea states including the United Kingdom agreed that marine incineration should be substantially reduced, by not less than 65 per cent., by 1 January 1991, and phased out by 31 December 1994. Remaining United Kingdom licensed wastes are therefore being reviewed to identify satisfactory alternative options for disposal of the waste on land.

  GATT
  Mr. Curry
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he expects in the general agreement on tariffs and trade negotiations prior to the mid-term meeting in December.

  Mr. MacGregor
  With a view to further reform of agricultural policies in both the short and long term, GATT members are working actively towards a framework of principles to guide the negotiations, which are due to continue till 1990, and on first steps to implement them. I have consistently emphasised the importance of securing progress at the December meeting and will continue to work for a constructive outcome.

  Farm Woodland Scheme
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what response there has been from farmers to the new farm woodland scheme.

  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers have expressed interest in the new farm woodland scheme since its introduction on 1 October.
  1009
  Mr. Ryder
  As the scheme has only been operational since 1 October, it is too early to give any figures for uptake. There has, however, been substantial interest amongst farmers and the scheme's information literature has been in demand.

  Clyde Fishermen's Association
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives of the Clyde Fishermen's Association.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have not met the Clyde Fishermen's Association.

  Agriculture
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with environmental organisations to discuss the future of agriculture in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ryder
  My right hon. Friend and other Ministers of my Department have frequently met representatives of environmental organisations for discussions on a wide variety of issues. I look forward to meeting the organisations soon.

  Wildlife
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with wildlife organisations about the future of the countryside.

  Mr. Ryder
  My right hon. Friend and other Ministers of my Department have frequently met representatives of wildlife organisations for discussions on a wide variety of issues. I look forward to meeting the organisations soon.

  Milk Marketing Board
  Sir Hal Miller
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Milk Marketing Board; and what subjects they discussed.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  My right hon. Friend the Minister and I have regular contacts with the chairman of the Milk Marketing Board to discuss various issues affecting the dairy industry.

  Agricultural Land (Classification and Grading)
  Mr. Chapman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to make a statement about agricultural land classification and grading, following the publication of his consultation document in February.

  Mr. Ryder
  We hope to publish the definitive guidelines and criteria before the end of this month.

  East Craigs Seed Testing Station
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received since 22 July from the trade union movement and local representatives about the future of East Craigs seed testing station, Edinburgh; and if he will make a statement.
  1010
  Mr. Ryder
  None. I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member on 22 July 1988 at columns 879–80.

  Dairy Herds
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has about the present number of dairy herds in the United Kingdom and in each member state of the EEC; and what equivalent information he has for each country 10 years ago.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The most recent data available are for 1986. No comparable data are available for 1976, so the following table compares the 1986 figures with those for 1977.

  Number of dairy herds in the EEC

  Country

  Year

  Number of herds

  Year

  Number of herds

  Germany

  1977

  519,000

  1986

  369,000

  France

  1977

  576,000

  1986

  329,000

  Italy

  1977

  453,000

  1986

  338,000

  Netherlands

  1977

  83,000

  1986

  61,000

  Belgium

  1977

  66,000

  1986

  45,000

  Luxembourg

  1977

  4,000

  1986

  2,000

  United Kingdom

  1977

  72,000

  1986

  53,000

  Irish Republic

  1977

  120,000

  1986

  77,000

  Denmark

  1977

  56,000

  1986

  32,000

  Greece

  1977

  n/a

  1986

  73,000

  Spain

  n/a

  n/a

  Portugal

  n/a

  n/a

  Source:

  (a) The Agricultural Situation in the Community 1987 Report.

  (b) Eurostat Yearbook of Agricultural Statistics 1978.

  Storm Damage
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what help he plans for farmers still facing substantial costs for clearance as a result of the storm on 16 October 1987.

  Mr. Ryder
  The Government believe that the package of measures which they introduced after last year's great storm provided a comprehensive and appropriate response. Applications have already been received for the replanting of 5 million trees under the special Forestry Commission replanting scheme and it is expected that a half of the fallen timber will have been cleared by the end of next spring. In addition, expenditure of some £2·5 million is expected under MAFF's storm damage recovery scheme for environmental features such as shelterbelts and orchard replacement.

  Southall Horse Market
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to the conditions at the Southall horse market; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  During recent visits to the market by the Department's veterinary staff no problems affecting the welfare of horses have been noted or brought to their attention.

  Sheepmeat
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to review the operation of the sheepmeat regime; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The sheepmeat regime is due to be reviewed by the Council of Agriculture Ministers later this year. I expect negotiations on this review to resume shortly on the basis of proposals by the EC Commission.

  Upland Planting
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has provided the chairman of the Forestry Commission with guidance on planting in the uplands of England.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have written to the chairman of the Forestry Commission in the following terms:"You will recall that in his announcement of 16 March setting out our joint view about future planting in the uplands of England, the Secretary of State for the Environment said that I would be writing to you to give further guidance on the matter. This is now set out in this letter.
  As you know, a large proportion of the land in England has been used for agriculture as either arable or improved grassland, and we therefore attach a high value to conserving the habitats provided by the limited remaining area of unimproved land in the uplands.

  General Criteria
  Where unimproved land lies above the 800 ft contour, approval should not normally be given for new planting which consists predominantly of conifers, other than for the planting of small areas, as defined below, where it is clear that this would be environmentally acceptable. An exception may also be made for planting on unimproved land between the 800 and 1,000 ft contours if the Commission agrees with the local authority and any other authorities consulted—or, in the absence of such agreement. Ministers so decide—that this would be justified in the interests of improving forest landscaping. More generally, there may be some scope in the uplands for the planting of broadleaves and mixed woodlands.
  These criteria should apply both to plans for new planting by the Commission and to all future approvals of applications for grants for new planting by the private sector.

  Unimproved land
  For the purposes of this letter, unimproved land is defined as land which has not been converted to arable use or, in the case of grassland, has not been cultivated and reseeded within
  1012
  the ten years prior to the date of this letter, and any future improvement of land now defined as unimproved will not alter that definition.

  Predominantly conifers
  Since the establishment of broadleaved woods in the uplands is crucially dependent on planting conifers as nurses, often in the ratio of two conifers to one of broadleaves, the term 'predominantly' should be taken to mean the use of more than two conifers for every broadleaved tree at the initial planting stage.

  Exception for small areas
  The term 'small' should normally be taken to mean any area not exceeding 10 hectares. In appropriate circumstances this exception may also cover an area not exceeding 40 hectares where the Commission agrees with the local authority and any other authorities consulted (or Ministers decide) that this would allow the proposed planting to blend sympathetically with the landscape or to ameliorate over-regulate or oddly-shaped woodland boundaries.

  Planting in the industrial Pennines
  It is recognised that conifers may also have a role to play in ameliorating the environment of the industrial areas of the Pennines where conditions are not suitable for growing broadleaves. Conifer planting may be permitted in these areas, which for the purposes of this exception should be defined and agreed between Forestry Commission and Department of the Environment officials.

  Replanting
  In providing grants for replanting, the Commission should encourage practices which will convert forests of even age into attractive and more varied landscapes with a mixture of types and ages of trees. To encourage the conservation, rehabilitation and regeneration of ancient woodlands, applications for grant-aid for their replanting will be expected to follow the Commission's published Guidelines for the Management of Broadleaved Woodland. The Commission should continue to follow similar practices in respect of its own replanting programmes.

  Consultation Arrangements
  The Commission should introduce arrangements, where these do not already exist, to consult local authorities in England on all new planting proposals above 800 ft where such proposals would involve the planting of more than 10 hectares predominantly with conifers. Otherwise, this letter does not affect the Commission's current arrangements for consulting local authorities and other bodies as appropriate, and individual applications will continue to be considered on their merits under the terms of the general guidance I have given."

  I have arranged for copies of my letter to be placed in the Library of the House.

  RIGHT OF SILENCE
  RIGHT OF SILENCE
  NORTHERN IRELAND: COUNTY COURT JUDGES' SALARIES
  NORTHERN IRELAND: COUNTY COURT JUDGES' SALARIES
  RURAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
  RURAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
  RENT OFFICERS
  RENT OFFICERS
  CONSOLIDATED GOLD FIELDS PLC: TAKEOVER IMPLICATIONS
  CONSOLIDATED GOLD FIELDS PLC: TAKEOVER IMPLICATIONS
  FORESTRY PLANTING IN UPLAND ENGLAND
  FORESTRY PLANTING IN UPLAND ENGLAND