Written Answers of 5 April 1989

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Immigration Appeals
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list for each regional appeal adjudicator the number of immigration appeals lodged and awaiting hearing as at 28 February and at the latest available date; and in each case if he will indicate the average length by time between the lodging of the appeal and its being heard.

  The Attorney-General
  Appeals to the immigration appellate authorities are not assigned to individual adjudicators at the regional centres. The table indicates the number of appeals lodged and awaiting hearing listing at each regional centre, including Thanet house, on 29 March 1989. The IAAs do not record the number of appeals awaiting hearing on a daily basis and it is not possible to give figures for 28 February 1989.

  Appeals against decisions of Immigration Officers and the Secretary of State

  Lodged and A waiting Hearing (29 March 1989)

  Number

  Birmingham

  60

  Harmondsworth

  116

  Leeds

  47

  Manchester

  29

  Thanet House

  783

  Appeals against decisions of Entry Clearance Officers Lodged and Awaiting Hearing (29 March 1989)

  Number

  Birmingham

  245

  Harmondsworth

  396

  Leeds

  192

  Manchester

  259

  Thanet House

  500

  Note: The figures above refer to the number of cases rather than appeals because related appeals are often dealt with together.

  The average length of time between the lodging and hearing of an appeal, which is the same for all IAA centres, is as follows:

  (a) From receipt of the notice of appeal to despatch to the IAA:—

  (i) For appeals against ECO decisions—3 to 6 months;

  (ii) For appeals against Immigration Officer decisions—6 weeks;

  (iii) For appeals against Secretary of State decisions—5 to 6 months.

  (b) From receipt of the notice of appeal by the IAA to
  (i) registration in Immigration Officer and Secretary of State cases—up to 4 weeks; (ii) despatch of the appeal papers in other cases to both parties' representatives in the UK—4 to 8 weeks.

  (c) From receipt of papers by both parties' representatives (in appeals against ECO decisions) to the issue by each party of a certificate of readiness to proceed: this is the hands of the parties and times
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  vary from a few weeks to several months and, if no response is received within nine months, the appeal is automatically listed for hearing.

  (d) From certificate of readiness to proceed to the hearing date: up to 6 weeks, but longer where the parties request adjournment.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Attorney-General, if the Lord Chancellor has any proposals to amend the rules governing the operation of immigration appeal tribunals: and what consultations he has held in that regard.

  The Attorney-General
  The Lord Chancellor has no proposals at present to amend the rules governing the operation of the immigration appellate authorities. Officials of his Department regularly consult, and are consulted by, officials of the Home Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the operation of the IAAs. These consultations will continue.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Attorney-General how many immigration appeals are currently awaiting hearing; and what is the average time between lodging an appeal and its being heard.

  The Attorney-General
  The information requested is as follows:

  (i) Number of cases waiting to be listed in appeals to the adjudicators against immigration officer/Secretary of State decisions.—48

  (ii) Number of cases already listed in appeals to the adjudicators against immigration officer and Secretary of State decisions.—987

  (iii) Number of cases awaiting to be listed in appeals to the adjudicators against ECO decisions.—175

  (iv) Number of cases already listed in appeals to the adjudicators against ECO decisions.—1,417

  (v) Number of cases waiting to be listed in appeals to the immigration appeal tribunal (at the end of February 1989).—150

  (vi) Number of cases already listed in appeals to the IAT (at the end of February 1989).—100

  The figures above refer to the number of cases rather
  than appeals because related appeals are often dealt with together.

  For the average time between lodging an appeal and it being heard, I refer the hon. Member to my answer to his question on the average time between the lodging and hearing of appeals by adjudicators in the regions.

  Child Criminals
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Attorney-General how many cases of victims suing the parents of child criminals were brought to court during each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The data requested are not available.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  National Debt
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will give the total of borrowings as an addition to the national debt by each Government since 1959;

  (2) if he will give the total net repayments of national debt for each Government since 1959.

  Mr. Lilley
  Figures for public sector borrowing and net repayment for each Government since 1959 are given below:
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  £ billion

  Period

  Total

  Annual Average

  1959–63

  3·4

  0·7

  1964–65 to 1969–70

  4·8

  0·8

  1970–71 to 1973–74

  8·5

  2·1

  1974–75 to 1978–79

  41·1

  8·2

  1979–80 to 1988–89

  51·5

  5·1

  Note:

  Borrowing is shown as positive, however there were net repayments in 1969–70, 1987–88 and 1988–89.

  Civil Service Staff
  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of staff in post in central Government Departments at 1 January.

  Mr. Major
  On 1 January 1989 there were 571,649½ staff in post in central Government Departments. Of these 500,981½ were non-industrials and 70,668 were industrials.

  Paris Club
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount of debt which has been rescheduled by creditor Governments in the Paris Club; and what is the extent of rescheduling by the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Lawson
  The Paris Club brings together official creditors and debtors, to agree terms for the rescheduling of payments due on officially supported export credits and development loans. During the period 1982–88, the club estimates that it has rescheduled a total of US$83 billion (£48 billion at the current exchange rate). Of this, $56 billion was principal and $27 billion was interest. The United Kingdom share was about £5 billion. In addition, the United Kingdom cancelled £79 million of old aid loans, about £890 million having already been written off in 1978–81.

  Investment
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the rate of return required on new investment in the nationalised industries and the discount rate used for appraising investment in other parts of the public sector.

  Mr. Major
  The Government have reviewed the level and use of discount rates in the public sector. These were last reviewed in 1978. Since then the rate of return in the private sector has risen to around 11 per cent.

  In the light of this, the Government have decided to raise the required rate of return for nationalised industries and public sector trading organisations from 5 per cent. to 8 per cent. in real terms before tax. The new required rate of return of 8 per cent. will be an important factor in setting new financial targets, but there will be no impact on pricing during the life of existing financial targets.

  As at present, the choice of the discount rate to appraise individual projects is a matter for individual nationalised industries or trading bodies to decide in consultation with sponsor Departments and the Treasury. The Government's main concern will continue to be that the industries' approach should be compatible with achieving the required rate of return on the programme as a whole. In appraising whether or not new capital investment projects should be undertaken, proper attention will need
  188
  to be paid to risk. The effect of full allowance for risk will often be implicitly equivalent to requiring a higher internal rate of return on riskier projects.

  The Government have decided that the discount rate to be used in the non-trading part of the public sector should be based on the cost of capital for low-risk purposes in the private sector. In current conditions this indicates a rate not less than 6 per cent. in real terms. Risk will be analysed separately and projects (and options) which are more risky will be required to demonstrate correspondingly lower costs or higher benefits.

  These proposals will ensure that the appraisal of public projects will be no less demanding in the non-trading sector than in the trading sector, both public and private. In particular, they will provide a comparable basis for the consideration of private participation in public sector activities by taking account of the full economic cost of the public sector option.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Quangos
  Sir Neil Macfarlane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many departmental agencies or authorities have been created since 1979; if he will list organisations abolished since 1979; and how many personnel his Department appoints to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations.

  Mr. Forth
  Since 1979 the following executive non-departmental public bodies have been abolished within the field of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry's present responsibilities:

  British Film Fund Agency

  Cotton Industry War Memorial Trust

  Furniture Development Council

  Metrication Board

  National Film Finance Corporation

  Price Commission

  Additionally, the number of nationalised industry consumer councils has fallen from 43 to 33 in consequence of privatisation. Apart from a restructuring of some of these, no new executive bodies have been created. The particulars of members appointed by the Secretary of State to all non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible are shown in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies 1988." The staff of executive bodies are appointed by the bodies themselves.

  Company Accounts
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is his policy towards the draft EEC fourth directive and the proposal to exempt small and medium-sized companies from having to lodge their annual accounts with a central registry.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 4 April 1989]: The Department has issued a consultative document on the draft directive amending the fourth company law directive. A copy was placed in the Library of this House in February. We have specifically invited comments on the proposal to permit small companies to make their accounts available at their registered offices rather than having to file them at a central registry. Policy will be determined in the light of responses received.

TRANSPORT

  Quangos
  Sir Neil Macfarlane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations were abolished by his Department between 1984 and 1987.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Three: the disciplinary inquiry under section 471 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1984; the honorary medical advisory panel for driving and disorders of the nervous system; and the air travel reserve fund agency.

  Aircraft Safety
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he has any plans to require evacuation tests from aircraft to be conducted under conditions where smoke has entered the cabin for all types of aircraft; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if it is his intention to make the installation of a water spray fire suppression system for aircraft, mandatory for all new and existing passenger transport aircraft registered in the United Kingdom as soon as such equipment has been approved by the Civil Aviation Authority; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) when he expects the review of British civil airworthiness requirements concerning unobstructed access of exits on Boeing 737 aircraft will be completed; if the report will be published; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) if he has any plans to require airlines to remove all passenger seats blocking emergency exits; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  These civil aviation safety regulation issues are wholly the responsibility of the Civil Aviation Authority. The authority's current position on them is set out in its follow-up action on accident reports (FACTAR) issued on 13 March 1989 in response to the AAIB report on the B737 accident at Manchester, 22 August 1985. I have arranged for a copy of the FACTAR to be sent to my hon. Friend. I understand that the authority will shortly publish the initial report on the research it has undertaken into evacuation requirements.

  Bus Safety
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress on improving bus safety and to reduce the dangers of bus doors to elderly people.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We are distributing for comment draft regulations which would require all power-operated doors in new buses and coaches to be provided with safety devices to prevent people being trapped in the doors as the bus moves off. If the doors close on to a passenger they will be required to re-open, or release the passenger. A warning light would be required to be fitted to inform the driver whenever the doors were not fully closed.

  We hope that these measures will lead to further improvements in the very good safety record of buses and coaches.

  The draft regulations also contain amendments to remove unnecessary restrictions on the provision of facilities for passengers in wheelchairs.
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  We are also proposing to allow more time for coach manufacturers to bring their designs up to the requirements of ECE regulation 66, the United Nations standard for strength of superstructure. We have already made regulations to adopt this standard as a national requirement with effect from April 1990.

  Coach manufacturers have made conspicuous improvements in this area. There has not been a reported death due to roof collapse in Great Britain during the last five years.

  Discussions with other member states have shown that it is still uncertain what form the European Community requirements for coach construction will take in the new single market, particularly in this area. In the circumstances we think it is right to postpone our national requirement for three years to give time for the future European Community requirements to become settled.

  M1-A1 Link
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the consequences for the road user and others affected by the M1-A1 link road scheme of the delay which resulted from the challenges in the High Court and the Appeal Court to the orders for the Catthorpe to Rothwell section of the scheme.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The unsuccessful challenge by the Society for the Preservation of the Battlefield of Naseby has delayed progress by about a year. As a result the cost will increase. Benefits to road users, principally journey time savings, valued at about £7 million, will be lost.

  The delay has meant that safety benefits have been forgone, of the order of three fatalities and 100 personal injury accidents. Relief from traffic for communities on nearby roads has been postponed.

PRIME MINISTER

  Economic Statistics
  Mr. Higgins
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will publish the report of the review on Government economic statistics; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Following the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee's report on the 1988 Budget, the Government set up an efficiency scrutiny in the Cabinet Office last June to examine the present interdepartmental arrangements for the production of Government economic statistics, and to make recommendations for achieving cost-effective improvements where necessary. The report of this scrutiny is being published today, and copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  The scrutiny report recommends a large number of specific ways of improving the quality of Government economic statistics, the great bulk of which have been accepted. They will be implemented over the next year under the supervision of the director of the Central Statistical Office. Copies of the action plan relating to these recommendations have been placed in the Library of the House.

  The report also makes a number of recommendations for changes to the present interdepartmental arrangements for producing economic statistics. In accordance with these, I have decided that from July responsibility for the business statistics office and for all the statistical series for which the Department of Trade and Industry is now

  191
  responsible, and for the retail prices index and family expenditure survey, for which the Department of Employment is currently responsible, should transfer to the Central Statistical Office. The enlarged Central Statistical Office will have greater direct responsibility for the compilation of the national accounts and for the associated data collection from businesses.

  As recommended by the scrutiny report, the enlarged Central Statistical Office will become a separate Government Department, responsible to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and in due course will also become an executive agency. The director of the Central Statistical Office, as head of the Government statistical service, will continue to have access to me on matters concerning the validity and integrity of Government statistics.

  The Government remain committed to reducing the burdens on business involved in the collection of economic statistics. The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, who has lead responsibility for deregulation policy, will therefore agree with the enlarged Central Statistical Office specific objectives to ensure that the burdens on business are minimised.

  These decisions amount to a very substantial programme of work over the period ahead, designed to achieve a significant improvement in the quality and relevance of Government economic statistics.

DEFENCE

  Colombia
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when next he plans to meet his counterpart from Colombia; and what matters will be discussed.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to meet the Colombian Minister of Defence.

  Meteorological Office (Computer)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on problems encountered by the Meteorological Office computer bought from Control Data Corporation of Minneapolis.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  There have been some delays in commissioning the ETA-10 super-computer, caused by difficulties in the performance of its data packages. However, recent demonstrations show a satisfactory improvement, and the current intention is to phase the new computer into service starting in May 1989.

  Year

  In

  Out

  Net gain or loss

  Gain or loss as percentage of total quota in Wales

  1984–85

  +0·4m litres

  -0·lm litres

  +0·3m litres

  +0·02

  1985–86

  +2·4m litres

  -4·5m litres

  -2·lm litres

  -0·1

  1986–87

  +7·0m litres

  -23·1m litres

  -16·lm litres

  -1·1

  1987–88

  +10·6m litres

  -18·9mlitres

  -8·3m litres

  -0·5

  1988–89 (to 16 March)

  +7·0m litres

  -ll·lm litres

  -4·lm litres

  -0·3

HEALTH

  Geriatric Beds
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the hospitals with long-stay geriatric beds, and the numbers of such beds provided by each district health

  St. George's Barracks, Sutton Coldfield
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when it is planned for military use of St. George's barracks, Sutton Coldfield, west midlands, to cease; and what present plans he has for its disposal.

  Mr. Neubert
  The major occupant of St. George's barracks, Sutton Coldfield is the Army personnel selection centre, which is to close in April 1990. There is, however, a continuing requirement to accommodate military units in this area and we are examining the need to retain most of St. George's barracks for this purpose.

WALES

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give for general practitioner practices in Wales the following information:(a) the difference between the highest and lowest referral rate to hospital, (b) the highest and lowest cost per patient for prescribed drugs and (c) the highest and lowest percentage of general practitioner prescribed drugs which are tranquillisers.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The information is not readily available in the form requested. I shall write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Potato Marketing Board
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received from residents of Pembrokeshire in response to his review of the future of the Potato Marketing Board.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Two.

  Milk Quota
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what movement into and out of Wales of milk quota has taken place in each of the past five years in both litres and percentage terms.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Movement of quota in and out of Wales as recorded by the Milk Marketing Board in each of the past five years has been as follows:

  authority within the Trent regional health authority; if the scale of provision is under review; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information on bed numbers is not available in the form requested and for that reason the
  193
  table relates to beds in general wards for elderly patients. I understand the region is currently reviewing its strategy for the provision of services for the elderly.

  Average daily available beds, general wards1 for elderly patients, Trent Regional Health Authority, 1987–88

  District Health Authority and Hospital

  Average daily available beds

  North Derbyshire

  Bolsover Community Hospital

  10

  Whitworth Hospital

  24

  Bakewell and District War Memorial Hospital

  13

  Scarsdale Hospital

  45

  Walton Hospital

  138

  Penmore Hospital

  60

  Newholme Hospital

  49

  Cavendish Hospital

  51

  Total

  390

  South Derbyshire

  Derby City Hospital

  60

  Ripley Hospital

  24

  St. Oswald's Hospital

  63

  Ilkeston Community Hospital

  14

  Babington Hospital

  99

  Manor Hospital

  160

  Derbyshire Royal Infirmary

  59

  The Grove

  70

  Total

  549

  Leicestershire

  Leicester General Hospital

  201

  St. Mary's Hospital

  74

  St. Luke's Hospital

  52

  Framland Hospital

  36

  Catmose Vale Hospital

  42

  Groby Road Hospital

  89

  Regent Hospital

  65

  Glenfield Community Hospital

  166

  Bosworth Park Infirmary

  63

  Hinckley Sunnyside Hospital

  38

  Blaby Hospital

  20

  Total

  844

  North Lincolnshire

  John Coupland Hospital

  42

  Louth County Hospital

  49

  St. Georges Hospital

  202

  Total

  293

  Soulh Lincolnshire

  Boston General Hospital

  21

  Holbeach Hospital

  22

  Pilgrim Hospital

  80

  Grantham and Kesteven General Hospital

  93

  Gables Hospital

  42

  Welland Hospital

  58

  Total

  315

  Bassetlaw

  Retford and District Hospital

  56

  Bassetlaw District General Hospital

  75

  Total

  131

  Central Nottinghamshire

  Forest Hospital

  71

  Newstead Hospital

  35

  Victoria Hospital

  115

  Newark Hawtonville Hospital

  95

  Total

  315

  Nottingham

  Nottingham City Hospital

  181

  194

  District Health Authority and Hospital

  Average daily available beds

  Basford Hospital

  104

  Nottingham General Hospital

  138

  Highbury Hospital

  77

  University Hospital

  109

  Total

  609

  Barnsley

  Barnsley District General Hospital

  96

  Mount Vernon Hospital

  173

  Total

  269

  Doncaster

  Doncaster Royal Infirmary

  20

  Fullerton Hospital

  34

  Tickhill Road Hospital

  136

  Conisborough Hospital

  100

  Montagu Hospital

  21

  Total

  310

  Rotherham

  Rotherham District General Hospital

  34

  Wathwood Hospital

  69

  Badsley Moor Lane

  163

  Total

  265

  Sheffield

  Northern General Hospital

  351

  Chapeltown Nursing Home

  34

  St. Georges Hospital

  95

  Coleridge House, Northern General Hospital

  14

  Lodge Moor Hospital

  142

  Nether Edge Hospital

  191

  Total

  827

  1 Excluding wards open during day only.

  Trent RHA
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the average times for the following operations in the Trent regional health authority(a) hip replacements, (b) knee replacements, (c) hernias, (d) cataracts, (e) ear, nose and throat, (f) varicose veins and (g) gynaecological; what were the figures for five and 10 years ago; if he will also list the average waiting times for (a) to (g) above for the initial out-patient consultation after a general practitioner referral and the comparative figures for five and 10 years ago; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  Such information as can be provided without incurring disproportionate cost is given in the table. Information on waiting times of out-patient referrals is not available centrally, and the hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the Trent regional health authority, who may be able to help further.

  Estimated median interval in weeks between the time a placed on the waiting list and admission for treatment hospital in the Trend RHA area 1979–87/88.

  Specialty

  1979

  1984

  21978–88

  Ear, Nose and Throat

  18

  15

  8

  Gynaecology

  8

  6

  5

  195

  Operation

  1979

  1984

  1985

  Total hip replacement and other arthroplasty of hip

  42

  35

  25

  Inguinal hernia operation

  19

  8

  11

  Operations on eye lens (mainly for cataracts)

  19

  18

  16

  Operations on veins (mainly for varicose veins)

  26

  19

  20

  1 Ordinary admission—waiting list cases only.

  2 Latest available year.

  AIDS
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he intends to take in the light of the minute, "Diet and HIV infection", of 23 February 1988, sent by Dr. P. Dewis to all regional senior medical officers.

  Mr. Mellor
  Claims for help with the costs of special diets are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any evidence that the routine needs of people with ARC are any greater on the first day of their diagnosis than six months into their infection.

  Mr. Mellor
  There is no precise and generally agreed definition of the so-called AIDS-related complex (ARC). The natural history of HIV infection includes clinical signs and symptoms which tend to relapse and remit. The needs of people who have the virus will vary from individual to individual over time.

  HIV
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department recommends to those people with HIV in order that they protect their immune system.

  Mr. Mellor
  People who know themselves to have HIV antibodies should seek advice from their doctors, on an individual basis, on the steps they can take to maintain their health.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Vietnam
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will undertake to help strengthen trading links and improved aid flows between the European Community and Vietnam, in the event of a major withdrawal of troops by Vietnam from Kampuchea in 1989.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Complete withdrawal by Vietnam from its illegal occupation of Cambodia is a crucial prerequisite for considering these questions.

  South-West Africa
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to make representations to the South African Government on their policy towards south-west Africa.
  196
  Mrs. Chalker
  The Prime Minister discussed Namibia when she met the South African Foreign Minister in Windhoek on 1 April. Namibia is regularly raised in our contacts with the South African Government including the meeting between my right hon. and learned Friend and the South African Foreign Minister on 15 March.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of China regarding the future of Hong Kong.

  Mr. Eggar
  The implementation of the Sino-British joint declaration on the future of Hong Kong was one of the subjects covered in the discussion which my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State had with the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs during his visit to Tokyo in February this year and in the discussion which my noble Friend the Minister of State had with the Chinese Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs in London on 29 March. We also hold regular discussions with the Chinese authorities on implementation of the joint declaration in the Sino-British joint liaison group, which most recently met in Peking between 14 and 17 March this year.

  Namibia
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution the United Kingdom will make to the United Nations transition assistance group in Namibia.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Dover (Mr. Shaw) on 21 December 1988 at column 274. In addition, we have since then further agreed to contribute a seven-man reception assistance team to UNTAG.

  Brazilian Debt
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the arrangements for repayment of the Brazilian debt to United Kingdom banks, at what rate of interest, and over what period of time.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I understand that the repayment of Brazil's debt to United Kingdom banks is largely determined by the financing agreement they signed in September 1988; under which the majority of Brazil's debt was rescheduled over 20 years with seven years' grace. The interest rate charged will be LIBOR + 13/16 per cent.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total debt of the Brazilian economy to United Kingdom banks.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Consolidated claims of United Kingdom-registered monetary sector institutions on Brazil are shown in table 15 of the Bank of England quarterly bulletin. The exposure of individual banks is not a matter for the Government.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the Brazilian debt owed to each United Kingdom bank both actual and as a percentage of the total debt.
  197
  Mrs. Chalker
  Consolidated claims of United Kingdom-registered monetary sector institutions on Brazil are shown in table 15 of the Bank of England quarterly bulletin. The exposure of individual banks is not a matter for the Government.

  Turkey
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Government of Turkey in respect of human rights abuses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  As I told the House on 8 February, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State and I discussed Turkey's human rights record with the Turkish ambassador on 1 and 2 February. We impressed upon him the need for his Government to abide by the terms and conditions of the human rights conventions to which Turkey is a party. He readily accepted this point and reaffirmed the determination of the Turkish Government to secure further human rights improvements in Turkey.

  Ethiopia
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will obtain for his Department's library a copy of the State Department of the United States' report on Ethiopia as presented by Mr. Richard Schifter at a Congressional hearing in February.

  Mrs. Chalker
  A copy of the United States State Department's "Country Reports Human Rights Practices for 1988" has already been obtained by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  Romania
  Mr. Temple-Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the fate of six Romanian citizens who recently signed an open letter to President Ceausescu; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Romanian Government have reacted with characteristic severity to this latest open letter, which calls upon the Romanian President to renounce his "systematisation" programme; to restore constitutional guarantees regarding the rights of citizens; and to put an end to food exports.

  These are legitimate requests which merit a proper response. At least three of the six co-signatories, all of whom have held prominent positions in Romanian Government and party circles, have been interrogated by the Romanian authorities. They remain under close surveillance.

  We are profoundly disturbed by the Romanian authorities' ever-increasing use of intimidatory tactics to stifle freedom of expression, at a time when other Eastern European countries are moving in the opposite direction. We urge the Romanian authorities to fulfil their commitments under the Vienna CSCE agreement and to respect the human rights of the Romanian people.

  Structural Adjustment Programmes
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the 198
  Malawian sectoral import programme for industrial product imports and the Sudanese sectoral import programme for the irrigated sub-sector were conditional on the acceptance of IBRD and IMF structural adjustment programmes.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Approval of the European Community's Malawian sectoral import programme for industrial products was subject to the conditions negotiated by the Malawi Government and the World Bank for the World Bank's industry and trade policy adjustment credit. Approval of the Community's Sudanese sectoral import programme for the irrigated sub-sector was not explicitly conditional on the IBRD-IMF-backed structural adjustment programme which the Sudanese Government were then pursuing.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the remarks, relating to IMF, IBRD arid EEC policies towards structural adjustment, made by Lorenzo Natali, EEC Commissioner for Development, to the ACP-EEC joint assembly in Madrid on 15 September 1988.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  We welcomed a number of the comments made by Senor Natali at the joint assembly, in particular his rejection of the view that the years of adjustment by ACP countries are wasted years for development. However, we continue to take the view that support for economic reform through the provision of programme aid and support for new investments are complementary and both indispensable. No useful purpose is served by establishing a rigid division between the two forms of aid.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many sectoral import programmes have been agreed and with which countries and how many of these agreements and with which countries have been conditional of those countries' acceptance and implementation of IMF or IBRD structural adjustment programmes.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Under the third Lomé convention, the European Community has agreed 25 sectoral import programmes. The list of recipients is as follows: Angola, Cameroon, Ethiopia, the Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar (2), Malawi (2), Mali, Mozambique (2), Niger, Sao Tomé and Principe, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan (2), Tanzania (2), Togo, Uganda (2) and Zambia. Seven of these programmes have been explicitly linked to the implementation of IMF-IBRD-backed structural adjustment programmes; the countries in question are Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Tanzania and Uganda. Many of the other programmes have been in support of adjustment backed by the IMF and IBRD although there has been no explicit linkage.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's view as to what forms of structural adjustment should be included under the fourth ACP-EEC convention (Lomé IV).

  Mr. Chris Patten
  In line with the development council resolution of 31 May 1988 we believe that under the fourth
  199
  ACP-EEC convention fast disbursing aid should be provided to support programmes of both macro-economic and sectoral reform.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's view as to how central the issue of structural adjustment should be under the terms of the fourth African, Caribbean and Pacific-European Economic Community convention, Lomé IV.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The extent and depth of the adjustment needed varies considerably among the ACP countries. It is accordingly important to ensure that the Community retains sufficient flexibility to enable it to provide the type of assistance best suited to each country's individual needs.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is the view of his Department that all European development fund aid subventions should be made conditional on the adoption of structural adjustment policies.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  No. However we believe that the economic policies being pursued by recipients should be taken fully into account in considering the form of assistance to be provided. In particular, we believe that programme aid should be made available in order to support sustainable economic policies.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the renegotiation of the fourth African, Caribbean and Pacific-European Economic Community convention, Lomé IV, with specific reference to the European Council resolution on structural adjustment policies, adopted on 31 May 1988.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The Community has agreed that in the current renegotiation of the Lomé convention its approach towards support for structural adjustment measures will be on the basis of the principles set out in the development council resolution of 31 May 1988.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy in negotiations for the fourth African, Caribbean and Pacific-European Economic Community convention, Lomé IV, to remain committed to a gradualist form of structural adjustment rather than a shock approach.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Economic reform is a necessary pre-condition for the recovery of economic growth in many ACP countries. It is important that it should move ahead as quickly as possible. However we recognise the need to take account of the situation in individual countries.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement as to his Department's attitude to the atachment of structural adjustment conditionalities to fast disbursing facilities, such as sectoral import programmes and general import programmes proposed under the negotiations for the fourth African, Caribbean and Pacific-European Community convention, Lomé IV.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  We believe that under the next Lomé convention there should be scope for providing the forms 200
  of aid best suited to the needs of individual ACP countries, including various forms of relatively fast disbursing programme aid. If such aid is to be effective, it needs to be provided in support of sustainable economic policies and in close co-ordination with other major donors.

  Import Programmes
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's attitude to the creation of a new fund, under a renegotiated fourth African, Caribbean and Pacific-European Economic Community convention, to finance sectoral import programmes and general import programmes.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The Community is still considering the mechanisms under which it will provide aid under the next convention. Our concern is that sufficient flexibility should be maintained to enable each ACP country to receive the type of aid most suited to its individual needs.

  Rain Forests
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will call for the United Nations to hold an urgent debate to discuss how to put a stop to the destruction of the rain forests with a package of economic and technical help specifically designed to help all the inhabitants of the rain forests to protect their way of life and their environment.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Her Majesty's Government are not planning to initiate a debate in the United Nations General Assembly on this important issue as it already forms part of the United Nations systemwide medium-term environment programme for 1990–95. This programme sets out a plan for the sustainable development of tropical forests and woodland ecosystems. It includes implementation of the tropical forestry action plan, involving close co-operation with the International Tropical Timber Organisation.

  Central African Federation Pensioners
  Mr. Stanbrook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to help Central African Federation pensioners who elected to have their pensions paid in Zambian kwacha and who now suffer hardship as a result of the devaluation of that currency.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  At the recent intergovernmental meeting in Harare the four guarantor Governments agreed that all Central African Federation pensioners should be allowed to receive payment in Zimbabwe dollars with effect from 1 April 1989. At current exchange rates this will produce increases of about 500 per cent. for pensioners currently paid in Zambia kwacha, and also significant increases for those currently paid in Malawi kwacha and those paid in a basket of the three currencies. The British Government have agreed to finance this change in currency of payment at an estimated cost of £1·5 million.

  Mozambique and Zimbabwe
  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what subjects were
  201
  discussed at the recent meeting between the Prime Minister and the President of Mozambique and the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The Prime Minister had a trilateral meeting with Presidents Mugabe and Chissano followed by a bilateral meeting with President Chissano at Nyanga in Zimbabwe on 29 March. They discussed the internal situation in Mozambique, and British aid and military assistance to the region.

  Urban programme resources in real terms (base year 1988–89)

  £ million

  Outturn

  Estimated outturn

  Allocation

  Allocation

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  North west region

  Bolton

  3·1

  3·3

  3·7

  4·0

  5·7

  3·9

  4·6

  4·3

  4·5

  3·8

  3·4

  Knowsley

  —

  0·2

  0·7

  0·5

  1·3

  3·9

  4·0

  4·1

  4·1

  4·0

  3·6

  Liverpool1

  23·7

  27·9

  25·1

  33·1

  32·2

  28·5

  24·8

  25·4

  17·5

  20·4

  18·4

  Manchester/Salford1

  24·4

  27·7

  24·2

  31·8

  30·3

  29·1

  27·0

  25·5

  25·9

  22·2

  20·7

  Oldham

  3·3

  3·9

  4·1

  5·9

  5·7

  3·8

  4·3

  4·1

  4·3

  3·7

  3·4

  Rochdale

  —

  0·9

  1·3

  2·0

  2·7

  4·2

  4·0

  4·1

  3·9

  3·6

  3·4

  St. Helens

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1·8

  1·7

  1·6

  Sefton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1·6

  1·5

  1·4

  Wigan

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1·3

  2·2

  2·2

  Wirral

  3·9

  4·2

  4·0

  6·0

  4·5

  4·1

  4·5

  4·8

  3·9

  3·5

  3·1

  1 Are partnership authorities.

ENVIRONMENT

  Urban Programme
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the value of urban programme moneys for each year since 1979 for each of the metropolitan districts in the north-west of England at constant prices.

  Mr. Trippier
  The urban programme resources for each district are noted in the table.

  Quangos
  Sir Neil Macfarlane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environement if he will list the quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations abolished since 1979 within his department; what is the cost of all these organisations for which he is currently responsible; and how many personnel he appoints.

  Mr. Ridley
  The information requested is listed below:

  The quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisa-tions for which my Department has been responsible and which have been abolished since 1979, are listed as follows:

  Name of body

  Date abolished

  Construction and Housing Research Advisory Council

  September 1979

  Ordnance Survey Review Committee

  September 1979

  Planning and Transport Research Advisory Council (PATRAC)

  September 1979

  Economic Planning Councils (England) (8)

  1 September 1979

  Ancient Monuments Board Committee for Rescue Archaeology

  17 September 1979

  Area Archaeological Advisory Committees (13)

  17 September 1979

  Advisory Committee on Trees in the Royal Parks

  17 September 1979

  Committee on Bird Sanctuaries in the Royal Parks

  17 September 1979

  Detergents and Allied Products—Voluntary Notification Scheme, Scrutiny Group

  17 September 1979

  Environmental Board

  17 September 1979

  Hadrian's Wall Advisory Committee

  17 September 1979

  Housing Corporation Advisory Committee on Co-operatives

  17 September 1979

  Standing Technical Committee on Synthetic Detergents

  17 September 1979

  Advisory Committee on the Purchase of Works of Art1

  1 November 1979

  Advisory Committee on Works of Art in the House of Commons1 (transferred to DES (OAL)

  1 November 1979

  Committee on Sculptures in the Royal Parks1

  1 November 1979

  National Consultative Council for the Building and Civil Engineering Industries

  2 April 1980

  Location of Offices Bureau

  1 May 1980

  Committee to Examine Standards of Lawn Tennis in Great Britain

  10 June 1980

  Corby Development Corporation

  30 June 1980

  Construction Industry Manpower Board

  8 August 1980

  Housing Association Registration Advisory Committee

  8 August 1980

  Stevenage Development Corporation

  30 September 1980

  Clean Air Council

  13 November 1980

  Housing Services Advisory Group

  27 November 1980

  Advisory Panel on Institutional Finance in New Towns

  30 November 1980

  Centre for Environmental Studies

  30 November 1980

  Harlow Development Corporation

  28 December 1980

  Waste Management Advisory Council

  January 1981

  Noise Advisory Council

  12 February 1981

  Scientific Authority for Animals

  10 March 1981

  Runcorn Development Corporation (merged with Warrington)

  1 April 1981

  204

  Name of body

  Date abolished

  National Building Agency

  19 February 1982

  Advisory Committee on Local Government Audit

  31 March 1982

  Hydraulics Research Station Advisory Committee

  1 April 1982

  Bracknell Development Corporation

  30 June 1982

  Advisory Committee on the Protection of Birds for England and Wales

  28 September 1982

  Advisory Committee on Rent Rebates and Rent Allowances

  31 March 1983

  Committee on Recreation Management Training

  31 March 1983

  Building Research Establishment Advisory Committee

  24 August 1983

  Water Space Amenity Commission

  1 December 1983

  National Water Council

  1 January 1984

  Commission on Energy and the Environment (appointments made jointly with the Secretary of State for Energy)

  13 December 1984

  Ancient Monuments Board for England2

  31 March 1984

  Historic Buildings Council for England2

  Committee on the Management of Privately Owned Blocks of Flats

  November 1985

  Central Lancashire Development Corporation

  31 March 1986

  Basildon Development Corporation

  30 June 1985

  Northampton Development Corporation

  30 June 1985

  Redditch Development Corporation

  30 June 1985

  Skelmersdale Development Corporation

  30 June 1985

  PSA Advisory Board

  6 February 1986

  London Housing Staff Commission

  30 June 1986

  Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas (CoSIRA)3

  31 March 1988

  Aycliffe and Peterlee Development Corporation

  March 1988

  Washington Development Corporation

  March 1988

  Peterborough Development Corporation

  September 1988

  Tyne and Wear Residuary Body

  31 December 1988

  1 Not now classified as non-departmental public bodies.

  2 Wound up upon setting up the Historic Building and Monuments Commission for England under the National Heritage Act 1983.

  3 Merged with Development Commission to form Rural Development Commission.

  The costs of the non-departmental public bodies for which my Department was responsible as at 1 July 1988 are shown in the HMSO publication "Public Bodies 1988", which also gives the number of appointments to those bodies.

  Since 1 July 1988, four new urban development corporations have been established by my Department. The costs of these bodies and the number of appointments as at 31 March 1989 to them are as follows:

  Grant-in-aid: 1988–89

  £ million

  Appointments

  Bristol Development Corporation

  0·2

  10

  Central Manchester Development Corporation

  2·5

  10

  Leeds Development Corporation

  2·7

  10

  205

  £ million

  Appointments

  Sheffield Development Corporation

  7·9

  10

  American Box Turtles
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance his Department issues to importers and pet shop owners about the particular problems of keeping American box turtles in captivity.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  None. The Department's responsibilities lie principally with the conservation status of species and the extent to which commercial exploitation might harm the survival of a species in the wild.

  Water Quality (Oxford)
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many cryptosporidia there have been in an average pint of water supplied by the Thames water authority to the Oxford area in each week since the present water contamination was first detected.

  Mr. Howard
  Current analytical techniques for monitoring cryptosporidia in water are capable of indicating whether organisms are present in a sample but are not able to provide accurate quantitative results. Techniques for quantification and determination of viability are being developed.

  The following results of monitoring have been provided by the Thames water authority. In the three weeks 19 February to 11 March 1989 cryptosporidia were identified in 11 of 38 samples taken at the outlet of treatment works supplying the Oxford area, and in 46 out of 139 samples taken from the distribution system. In the two weeks 12 to 25 March 1989 cryptosporidia were not detected in any of the 25 samples at the treatment works but were detected in six out of 90 samples taken from the distribution system.

  Planning Control (Enforcement)
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the report by Mr. Robert Carnwath, QC, on his examination of the scope and effectiveness of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971, relating to the enforcement of the planning control.

  Mr. Ridley
  Mr. Robert Carnwath QC has recently submitted his report on the review I announced last July of local authorities' planning enforcement powers. Mr. Carnwath's report is being published today and a copy will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  I generally welcome the report's recommendations as a constructive contribution to strengthening the present provisions, in the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 for planning enforcement. Before deciding whether to implement the recommendations, I intend to consult widely amongst organisations with a responsibility for, or interest in, planning control. My Department is inviting comments on the report's recommendations by the end of May.

  Council Tenant (Landlords)
  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will give council tenants the opportunity to choose a new landlord.
  206
  Mr. Trippier
  The provisions of part IV of the Housing Act 1988, and their associated secondary legislation, come into force today. They will broaden the choices open to secure tenants of local housing authorities and other public sector landlords by giving them an effective right to seek an alternative landlord of their choosing for their existing homes. They will offer tenants better services, whether through a change in landlord or through the effect of competition on existing public sector landlords. They will open up the stocks of rented housing held by local housing authorities and others to diversity, competition and the influence of the best housing management practices. In England, the Housing Corporation, through its network of regional offices, is available to provide advice, information and assistance to tenants wishing to know more about how they can exercise choice under the scheme. Any tenant (or potential landlord) wishing to know more about these opportunities should contact the Housing Corporation. They can do this either by returning one of the coupons currently appearing in the press, or by contacting the corporation direct by telephone at its headquarters or one of its regional offices.

  World Heritage List
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any of the sites nominated in 1988 for inclusion in the World Heritage list have been accepted.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  At its meeting last December in Brasilia, the World Heritage committee agreed that the following three sites should be inscribed in the list:

  Henderson Island, South Pacific ocean

  The Tower of London

  Canterbury cathedral, St. Augustine's abbey and St. Martin's church

  For consideration by the committee in 1989, the sites we have nominated are:

  Cambridge colleges and the Backs

  Navan Fort, Northern Ireland

  Maes Howe and Brogar, Orkney Islands

  Electric and Magnetic Radiation
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer of 14 March to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish, in the light of the answer from the Secretary of State for Scotland of 15 March to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish, on what date he expects to receive the report of the National Radiological Protection Board on the effects of very low frequency electric and magnetic radiation.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have been asked to reply.

  I am advised that the board expects to publish its guidance on exposures to electromagnetic fields shortly. In addition, the board intends later this year to publish reviews of the existing biological and epidemiological evidence for the effects on health of electromagnetic radiation.

  Parish Councils
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish his estimates of parish council precepts in 1987–88.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 23 March 1989]: Parish community precepts in England amounted to £61·3 million in 1987–88.
  207
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish his best estimates of the average level of community charge in 1990–91 in parish councils with(a) a population of more than 10,000 and (b) a population of less than 10,000.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 23 March 1989]: I have made no estimates of the average level of community charge in 1990–91 in parish councils.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish his best estimates of the average level of precepts in 1988–89 and 1989–90 for parish councils with(a) a population of more than 10,000 and (b) a population of less than 10,000.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 23 March 1989]: Estimates of the average level of parish/community precepts for 1988–89 are published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy in "Finance and General Statistics". Information for 1989–90 is not yet

  The total amount spent was £5·0 million and the contracts awarded to management or computing consultants by the Department of the Environment (excluding PSA) in the financial year 1987–88 were as follows:

  Firm

  Subject of Assignment

  Admiral Management Services Ltd

  DOE's method ofprocessing European Regional Development Fund Infrastructure Grants

  Arthur Young

  LGFP Office Automation Project quality assurance; OA guidelines.

  B.I.S. Applied Systems

  Strategic review of data communications and networking options

  B.I.S. Applied Systems

  Distributed processing

  Civil Civil Service Catering Organisation

  Monitoring of PPC Catering Outlets

  Coley Porter Bell

  Shop refit design

  Coopers and Lybrand Associates Ltd

  Local authorities' interests in companies

  Coopers and Lybrand Associates Ltd

  Planning Appeals Management Information System

  Dames and Moore

  Hazard Assessment of Ladfill Operations

  Davis, Langdon and Everest Consultancy

  Improving UK overseas trade data in building materials

  D. E. Barnard Systems Ltd

  BRE Fire Research Station Library Study

  D. E. Barnard Systems Ltd

  BESMIS staff management sub-system

  Deloitte Haskins and Sells

  Policy Review of Commission for New Towns

  Ecotec Research and Consulting Ltd

  Bristol/Manchester UDC Study

  Ecotec Research and Consulting Ltd

  Study of proposed extension of Black Country Development Corporation into Wolverhampton

  Electrowatt Engineering (UK) Services Ltd

  Evaluation and radiological assessment of Environmental Monitoring Data

  Ernst and Whinney

  Review of staffing and procedures of local valuation panel offices

  Ernst and Whinney

  Review of Housing Corporation monitoring procedures

  EXTEL

  Hinet Station, teleprinter, VDU's (hardware) maintenance for PSU, South Ruislip

  The Grant Leisure Group

  Tower of London retailing and visitor management

  Healey and Baker

  Advice on disposal of New Town assets

  ICI plc (Billingham)

  Monitoring of environmental radioactivity levels around nuclear installations

  KPMG Peat Marwick McLintock

  Policy review of the Royal commissions on Ancient and Historical Monuments in England, Scotland and Wales

  KPMG Peat Marwick McLintock

  Future development of London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo

  Land Use Consultants

  Brompton Cemetery

  208
  available. I have made no estimates of the average level of precepts for parish councils broken down by size of population.

  Computer Consultants
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount spent by his Department in 1988 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases; and if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded by his Department in 1988, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 4 April 1989]Central records are collated annually after the end of the financial year. The latest readily available information therefore covers 1987–88.
  209

  Firm

  Subject of Assignment

  Lawrence Gould Consultants (and Clyde Surveys)

  Land-use change: quality control of statistical system

  Ludhouse Computing Ltd.

  Sales order processing system, software maintenance; PSU South Ruislip

  The Mindworks Partnership

  ADP career development in BES

  Ove Arup and Partners

  Regents Park/Hanover Gate-pedestrian traffic survey

  PA Computers and Telecommunications

  BRE Publications Study

  PA Consulting Group

  Consultancy to develop a five-year marketing plan for BRE's private sector activities

  PA Personnel Services

  Search for UDC Chief Executives—Bristol, Central Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield

  PE/Inbucon

  Management Review of Council for Environmental Education

  PE/Inbucon and Land Use Consultants

  Kensington Gardens study

  Peter Peregrinus Ltd

  Processing research information for ENREP + ERIB databases

  PIEDA Planning Economic Development Consultants

  Leeds UDC Study

  Price Waterhouse Ltd

  Costs of Community Charge

  Scicon

  Corals maintenance and support

  Scicon

  Corals enhancement

  Signal

  Support for SOLIS 3

  Spicer Consulting Group

  Review of finance and accounts system

  Roger Tym and Partners

  DLG study

  Russell Reynolds Associates

  British Waterways Board—executive search for new chairman

  Russell Reynolds Associates

  Wessex Water Authority—executive search for new chairman

  Schlackmans

  Market research at the royal palaces

  Shaftesbury Health and Safety Consultants Ltd

  Hyde Park Workshops—health and safety inspection

  Stoy Hayward Associates

  Grant appraisal ad-hoc accountancy advice

  Touche Ross and Co.

  Efficiency review of Wessex and South West Water Authorities

  Travers Morgan Planning

  Woodland Maintenance Costs

  Ventures Consultancy

  Hampton Court Business Plan

  Sir Owen Williams and Partners

  Assistance with consideration of reclamation schemes submitted for derelict land grants.

  United Nations Environment Programme
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who represented Her Majesty's Government at the latest United Nations environment programme conference in Basle on the international trade and regulation of hazardous and toxic wastes; what proposals were made at the conference by Her Majesty's Government; and if he will make a statement about the outcome of the conference.

  Mr. Ridley
  [pursuant to his reply, 22 March 1989, c. 651]I undertook to make a statement about the outcome of the diplomatic conference in Basle on 20 to 22 March to draw up a convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal. Over 100 countries participated in the conference: 34 signed the convention at the conference but the majority (including 210
  the United Kingdom) did not. The Government welcome the thrust of the convention, but the final text did not emerge until the last day of the conference. The convention is still open for signature, and the Government are now studying the final text.

  Redbridge (Housing Stock)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of tenants under the London borough of Redbridge proposals for a transfer of housing stock to a housing association need to consent to the transfer for it to go ahead.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 23 March 1989]In accordance with schedule 3A to the Housing Act 1985 the Secretary of State would be required to withhold his consent to the transfer if it appeared to him that the
  211
  majority of the tenants affected did not wish the transfer to proceed. The Secretary of State may have regard to any information available to him, including any ballot arranged by the council. I understand that the transfer proposals, which the council approved on 23 March include the principle that a 50 per cent. turnout and a simple majority of those voting should be required.

EMPLOYMENT

  Wages
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many workplaces were visited, and how many of them were found to be illegally underpaying, for the latest available year by the wages inspectorate divisions covering Scotland.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Information on the number or workplaces in Scotland visited in 1988 for the purpose of checking pay and the number where underpayments were found was included in the reply given on 1 March to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Ms. Short) at columns 201–6. Information on the number of workplaces visited in Scotland in 1988 for advisory purposes was included in the reply given on 14 March to the hon. Member for Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Eastham) at columns 178–79.

  Training Premiums
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what level of weekly premiums will be paid to(a) under 25-year-olds, (b) a childless married person and (c) other trainees after income support levels are uprated in April 1989.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The weekly rates of training premium at the time of the benefit uprating will be:

  (a) £11·95 for single people aged under 25 and in receipt of the standard rate of income support;

  (b) £11·25 for couples without children and in receipt of the standard rate of income support;

  (c)£10 for all others.

  Trade Union Members (Rights)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has yet appointed a commissioner for the rights of trade union members under the terms of the Employment Act 1988; and how many persons he has approached and offered the post to in the last year.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone (Miss Widdecombe) on 24 November 1988. In accordance with the guidance published by the Cabinet Office and Her Majesty's Treasury about such appointments, several possible candidates were identified, including Mrs. Gill Rowlands.

  Tonnes per hectare

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Belgium

  35·6

  32·4

  30·0

  31·9

  35·8

  27·1

  36·8

  37·4

  35·4

  36·4

  Denmark

  27·1

  26·6

  24·8

  29·1

  35·5

  28·7

  32·0

  36·2

  37·6

  32·0

  Eire

  26·6

  26·0

  26·0

  25·9

  26·9

  21·7

  29·4

  24·8

  25·0

  30·5

  France

  26·8

  26·4

  31·9

  30·5

  31·8

  25·4

  31·4

  33·8

  30·8

  37·7

  Greece

  14·1

  17·3

  17·3

  18·0

  19·4

  18·5

  20·0

  21·3

  21·2

  19·8

  Italy

  16·4

  1·9

  18·6

  19·7

  17·9

  18·0

  17·9

  18·2

  21·2

  19·7

  Skills Training Programme
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the annual operating surplus of the Skills Training Agency since it was established.

  Mr. Cope
  The Skills Training Agency has operated on a trading account basis since 1984–85. No financial results are available prior to that year. Operating surplus/deficits from 1984–85 are as follows:

  £000

  1984–85 (Deficit)

  15,157

  1985–86 (Deficit)

  17,539

  1986–87 Surplus

  220

  1987–88 (Deficit)

  2,896

  Employment Training
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list all the companies, out of the 100 largest companies, who have declined to co-operate with the employment training scheme; of the remainder, how many places each of them has contracted with the employment training scheme and how many have been so far filled; and what percentage that is in each case.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 4 April 1989]The Training Agency's records only show which large companies have contracted directly as training managers. It is not, therefore, possible to provide the information in the form requested.

ENERGY

  Distribution Boards
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he will next be meeting the chairmen of distribution boards, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  My right hon. Friend and I meet the area board chairmen regularly to discuss various matters of mutual interest.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Potato Yields
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to changes in potato yields per acre in the United Kingdom, other European Community countries, Egypt and Cyprus over the past ten years.

  Mr. Ryder
  Potato yields over the past 10 years are given in the following table:
  213

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Luxembourg

  32·5

  30·0

  30·0

  34·0

  34·0

  30·0

  34·0

  32·8

  30·9

  32·7

  Netherlands

  38·6

  37·8

  36·4

  39·0

  37·5

  33·0

  42·0

  42·4

  40·9

  45·0

  United Kingdom

  34·2

  31·9

  34·5

  32·3

  35·8

  29·9

  37·0

  35·8

  36·0

  37·8

  West Germany

  29·6

  31·6

  25·9

  30·9

  29·6

  25·3

  33·2

  35·9

  35·2

  33·2

  Portugal

  9·5

  9·5

  9·2

  7·9

  8·7

  n/a

  n/a

  9·1

  7·9

  8·0

  Spain

  14·4

  15·9

  16·2

  16·4

  15·3

  15·2

  17·4

  17·9

  16·8

  17·5

  Cyprus

  21·3

  23·3

  23·0

  22·7

  21·5

  21·9

  22·8

  18·2

  25·2

  21·6

  Egypt

  13·9

  17·1

  18·4

  17·9

  16·9

  19·0

  17·1

  20·6

  20·7

  21·1

  n/a—Not available.

  Source Potato Marketing Board statistics for EC12.

  FAO Production Yearbook for Egypt and Cyprus.

  Potato Market
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current state of the potato market.

  Mr. Ryder
  United Kingdom production in the current July/June crop year was 6,899,000 tonnes compared with 6,760,000 tonnes in 1987–88. On the other hand, wastage has been higher as a result of storage problems in a mild winter and stocks are correspondingly low. In Great Britain the most recent weekly average producer price is £61·08 per tonne compared with £73·45 at the corresponding time last year. As a result of these low prices the Potato Marketing Board has intervened in the market and has so far purchased some 97,000 tonnes.

  Cereal Sector
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current state of the cereal sector.

  Mr. Ryder
  The 1988 cereals harvest in the United Kingdom was, at 20·9 million tonnes, the lowest since 1981. Nevertheless, the surplus of wheat and barley in 1988–89, including stocks in intervention stores, is estimated at over 5·5 million tonnes. It is expected that most of this surplus will be exported before the end of the season, substantially reducing intervention stocks. Prices have generally remained firm. In the European Community production was estimated by the Commission in November at 162·5 million tonnes, 1·6 per cent. above the stabiliser of 160 million tonnes. As a result intervention prices will be reduced by 3 per cent. For the 1989–90 marketing year, and the definitive rate of the additional co-responsibility levy for 1988–89 has been set at 1·6 per cent. of the wheat intervention price; additional levy paid at a higher rate is being partially repaid.

  Arable Sector
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current state of the arable sector.

  Mr. Ryder
  In 1988–89, United Kingdom beet sugar production exceeded 1·3 million tonnes, one of the highest levels on record. Returns to United Kingdom sugar beet producers have been broadly in line with those in the previous year, the EC sugar price for 1988–89 having been maintained at the 1987–88 level. For oilseeds and protein crops, returns in 1988–89 have been affected by the operation of the EC stabiliser mechanism for these crops. United Kingdom production of oilseed rape in 1988–89 is estimated at about 1 million tonnes, with prices reduced by 214
  7·65 per cent. below the institutional price level because Community production has exceeded the maximum guaranteed quantity (in effect a small price increase over 1987–88 when prices were reduced by 10 per cent.). United Kingdom production of protein crops is estimated to have reached a record level of about 892,000 tonnes this year. Prices have been reduced by about 10 per cent. in this sector as a result of the stabiliser mechanism.

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

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The sheep sector remains in a satisfactory condition. The latest statistics on production, consumption and exports all show increases.

  Beef Sector
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current state of the beef sector.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Throughout 1988 prices for finished beef were above those in the previous year. Prices fell at the end of 1988 and are now very similar to those at the same time last year. Prices for other stock, including stores and calves, remain above the levels last year, while the numbers of suckler cows and heifers in calf for beef production continue to grow, reflecting producers' expectations for the beef market.

  Dairy Sector
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current state of the dairy sector.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Net income from dairy farming in 1988–89 is estimated to have risen in real terms to its highest level since 1982–83. Improvements in profitability have resulted in recent years from increases in the ex-farm price of milk, reduced usage of feed concentrates and improved returns from calf sales. In addition, the dairy sector as a whole is benefiting from the recovery in markers brought about by the restriction of supply through quotas and the disposal of old intervention stocks of milk products.

  Monetary Compensatory Amounts
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made by the European Community towards the abolition of monetary compensatory amounts by 1992.
  215
  Mr. MacGregor
  Following pressure from the United Kingdom Government, the Council and the Commission have agreed that the completion of the internal market requires the abolition of monetary gaps, and therefore of monetary compensatory amounts.

  The devaluations which took place on 1 January this year included an agreed first step in dismantling United Kingdom monetary gaps, and the Commission's price proposals for 1989–90 envisage the next step being taken in the current price negotiations.

  The Commission is to report later this year on how the process of dismantlement should be completed.

  Ware Potatoes
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total tonnage of imports of ware potatoes in each of the past 10 years, what percentage this tonnage represents as a percentage of(a) total potato yield and (b) total potato sales in each year; and what was the total purchase by the Potato Marketing Board of surplus potatoes in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Ryder
  This information can be derived from the final table in "Potato Statistics in Great Britain 1983–87", published by the Potato Marketing Board. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Eggs
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current position regarding sales of eggs, egg production and numbers of laying hens.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Contact with major packers indicates considerable variations in sales of shell eggs on to the United Kingdom market but it is thought that these are around 20 to 25 per cent. below the levels experienced in November. Throughput at packing stations is now about 11 per cent. down on November. The balance of throughput is going for export and into egg products. At the agricultural census taken on 1 December 1988 the number of egg-laying fowls in the United Kingdom was 36·6 million.

  Potato Quota
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what movement into and out of Wales of potato quota has taken place in each of the past five years in both tonnage and percentage terms.

  Mr. Ryder
  I have asked the Potato Marketing Board to send this information to my hon. Friend.

  Early Potatoes
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will take into account in his decisions on the future of the Potato Marketing Board the representations of growers of early potatoes regarding the impact that the removal of the direct intervention buying system will have on the early potato market.

  Mr. Ryder
  Yes

  Adult Diets (Survey)
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to publish the national nutritional survey of adults diets, conducted during 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  The extensive results of this survey are still being analysed. I expect to publish a preliminary report before the end of the year.

  Whales
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what discussions he has had with European Community Ministers about preventing the Japanese from killing whales; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what discussions he has had with European Community Ministers about imposing economic sanctions on Japan because of that country's continuation of killing whales.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 23 March 1989]We have made clear our serious concerns about the current Japanese feasibility programme of whaling for scientific purposes both directly to the Japanese Government on several occasions and through the International Whaling Commission. The European Community does not have competence on whaling matters as such but those member states with an interest in whaling are members of the IWC and we consult with them in that forum.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Old-Age Pensioners (TV Licence)
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now introduce free television licences for all old-age pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 15 December 1988 at column 710.

  Stocken Prison
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken to deal with underground electric cables at Stocken prison discovered to be waterlogged following the flooding of ducts; and what has been the effect of these difficulties on electricity supplies to married quarters.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No such difficulty has been brought to our attention and there has been no effect on electricity supplies to married quarters at Stocken prison. The cables are well insulated, but any problems caused by flooding of ducts would be dealt with the prison's works department.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what work is currently in progress at Stocken prison to replace defective heating pipes; what is the age of the pipes in question; and what will be the cost of this work.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  A survey of the heating system is under way. To date, defective heating pipes have been
  217
  found in one wing and in the central administration block. Twenty metres of pipe, which was five years old, has been replaced at a cost of £600.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cells in Stocken prison are experiencing unpleasant smells linked with the plumbing system; and what action is being taken to rectify these problems.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No complaints have been received about unpleasant smells from the plumbing system.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, following the closure of a cell in A wing at Stocken prison because of building problems, action is being taken to undertake the necessary structural repairs; and what liability exists for paying for this work under the contract conditions.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The action to take following the closure of a cell in E wing, not A wing, at Stocken prison because of building problems is under consideration by the Home Office directorate of works. Liability, under the contract conditions, for paying for the work which will be required, has yet to be established.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken since the ministerial letter from the hon. Member for Grantham (Mr. Hogg) dated 5 September 1988 to obtain the advice of an architect regarding the sloping ceilings in the quarters at Stocken prison; and when further action will be taken to implement the advice.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Following a vist by a Home Office architect, it has been confirmed that the provision of suspended ceilings would improve the heating of these quarters. A pilot study will be undertaken shortly to see whether this would provide an acceptable solution.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list the action which has been taken since the ministerial letter from the hon. Member for Grantham (Mr. Hogg) of 5 September 1988, to eliminate the nuisance from dust in the married quarters at Stocken prison; and whether the measures have been successful.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Insulation materials have been examined but do not appear to have caused the problem of dust in the married quarters at Stocken prison, which has now been referred to the local environmental health department. Its report is expected shortly.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken, since the ministerial letter of 20 September 1988 by the hon. Member for Grantham (Mr. Hogg), to improve the quality of central heating at the married quarters at Stocken prison; how many claims are outstanding for compensation for excessive heating bills; and when they will be settled.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The question of the quality of heating in the married quarters at Stocken prison has been referred to the building advisory branch of the Property Services Agency, whose report is awaited. One claim has been received for compensation for excessive heating bills, but liability has yet to be established.
  218
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken since the visit to Stocken prison on 28 November 1988 by a representative of the building advisory board to deal with dampness in married quarters, following the ministerial letter of 8 December 1988 by the hon. Member for Grantham (Mr. Hogg); how many claims for compensation for damage to clothing through dampness are outstanding; and when they will be settled.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The question of dampness in married quarters was referred to the building advisory branch of the Property Services Agency, whose report is awaited. Two claims for compensation for damage to clothing are outstanding, but the question of liability has yet to be established.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken to improve the street lighting in the married quarters of prison officers at Stocken prison since the ministerial letter of the hon. Member for Grantham (Mr. Hogg) dated 5 September 1988.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  A contract has been let to improve the street lighting in the vicinity of the married quarters of prison officers at Stocken prison. Work started on 21 March.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current number of basic grade prison officers in post at Stocken prison; and what arrangements have been made to increase staffing to cover for officers on long-term sick leave.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On 13 March 1989 there were 77 basic grade officers at HMP Stocken. Staffing levels at all prison establishments make allowance for about one fifth of staff to be absent at any one time on sick leave, annual leave or training courses.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether two extra prison officers will be allocated to Stocken prison during April in accordance with the reduction of hours proposals in the fresh start agreement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have recruited sufficient staff nationally for the additional officers required under the fresh start framework agreement to be in post before the reduction of hours on 1 April. The uniformed complement at HMP Stocken has been increase by two with effect from 1 April. The prison already has more staff in post than the new complement figure.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the new wing at Stocken prison will be completed; how many additional inmates will be accommodated in it; and how many additional prison officers will be allocated to the prison to cope with this expansion in inmate numbers.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The new house block being built at HMP Stocken will provide 96 single cells and is programmed for completion by the end of 1989. The present intention is to post an additional 19 officers and two night patrols to the prison as a result.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions have taken place with
  219
  the Anglian water authority to ensure that the local sewage disposal system can cope effectively with the forthcoming expansion of Stocken prison; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No discussions have taken place, but in correspondence in May 1988 Anglian Water confirmed that the additional sewage caused by the expansion to Stocken prison would not exceed the capacity of the pumping station.

  Immigration
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Commonwealth immigrants have been allowed to settle in Britain in each of the last five years; what were the comparable figures for the previous five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  The number of Commonwealth citizens accepted for settlement in the United Kingdom in each of the years 1979–88 is published in table 22 of "Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 1987" (Cm. 415) and in table 1 of Home Office statistical bulletin issue 10/89, "Control of Immigration: Statistics—Fourth Quarter and Year 1988", copies of which are in the Library.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals left the United Kingdom under the supervised departure procedure without having been served with a notice of intention to deport in each month of 1988 and 1989.

  Mr. Renton
  Supervised departure may be authorised, as an alternative to deportation, either under section 3(6) of the Immigration Act 1971 if a court makes a recommendation for deportation, or under section 3(5) following the issue of a notice of intention to deport. The latest available information on the use of supervised departure is contained in table 14 of Home Office statistical bulletin 10/89 "Control of Immigration: Statistics—Fourth Quarter and Year 1988", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any proposals to amend the immigration rules: and what consultations he has held in that regard.

  Mr. Renton
  We have it in mind to make some changes to the immigration rules in the next few months. We have not launched formal consultations, but there has been some discussion of possible changes to the rules with the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants and the Immigration Law Practitioners' Association.

  DNA Testing
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all owners and operators of laboratories licensed by him to carry out DNA testing.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Home Office does not license laboratories to carry out DNA testing.

  Latchmere House
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he has had with regard to his proposal to transfer detainees from Latchmere house to Haslar, Gosport; and if he will list those organisations which have indicated support for his proposal.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On 22 March I met a delegation led by my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley), which included representatives from Richmond borough council, local residents and the Richmond citizens advice bureau. On 17 March officials met representatives of advisory agencies which specialise in immigration matters. We have so far received representations only from organisations which are opposed to the proposal.

  Satellite Television
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to amend section 92 of the Representation of the People Act 1981 to require satellite television organisations broadcasting to the United Kingdom to report on parliamentary by-elections and general elections on the same basis and under the same conditions regarding balance and impartiality as apply to the BBC and ITV companies.

  Mr. Renton
  Our White Paper on broadcasting proposes that satellite services uplinked from the United Kingdom should be subject to various consumer protection requirements, including that news should be impartial and accurate and that due impartiality should be preserved in dealing with matters of political or industrial controversy or relating to current public policy. There is also a provision in the Council of Europe convention on transfrontier television which requires broadcasters to ensure that news fairly presents facts and events and encourages the free formation of opinions. Those countries which adopt the convention will be required to ensure that their broadcasting services, including satellite channels, comply with its provisions.

  Entry Applications
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each country the number of(a) applications and (b) refusals of applications to enter the United Kingdom for (i) settlement and (ii) temporary purposes in (1) 1987 and (2) 1988.

  Mr. Renton
  [holding answer 14 March 1989]: The information requested is available centrally only for countries in the Indian sub-continent and Hong Kong. This information, and that for other countries on all applications for entry clearance granted and refused, is given in the following tables.
  221

  Table 1

  Applications for entry clearance to the United Kingdom

  Number ofpersons

  1987

  1988

  Country, and category of application

  Applications newly received1

  Applications granted2 3

  Applications refused initially3

  Applications newly received1

  Applications granted2 3

  Applicalions refused initially3

  Bangladesh:

  Settlement4

  7,600

  4,830

  1,560

  6,650

  5,870

  1,870

  Temporary purposes

  10,370

  7,730

  1,790

  11,790

  8,830

  2,040

  India:

  Settlement4

  5,030

  3,810

  1,070

  4,280

  3,810

  1,110

  Temporary purposes

  101,930

  93,950

  5,140

  105,150

  93,880

  6,760

  Pakistan:

  Settlement4

  7,630

  4,450

  1,280

  6,970

  4,730

  1,430

  Temporary purposes

  61,350

  49,180

  7,610

  59,480

  47,820

  9,560

  Hong Kong:

  Settlement

  710

  590

  30

  750

  640

  40

  Temporary purposes

  51,060

  49,930

  140

  46,760

  45,670

  100

  1 Including applications subsequently withdrawn.

  2 Granted initially or on appeal.

  3 These applications may have been received in an earlier period.

  4 Including applications for a certificate of entitlement to, or a confirmation of, the right of abode in the United Kingdom.

  Table 2

  Applications for entry clearance1 to the United Kingdom Number ofpersons2

  1987

  1988

  Country

  Applications granted3 4

  Applications refused initially4

  Applications granted3 4

  Applications refused initially4

  Afghanistan

  210

  5—

  280

  —

  Algeria

  970

  10

  760

  20

  Angola

  810

  5—

  1,070

  —

  Argentina

  17,130

  5—

  11,600

  10

  Ascension Island

  50

  —

  n/a

  n/a

  Australia

  12,970

  40

  18,050

  70

  Austria

  2,630

  10

  2,240

  20

  Bahamas

  290

  —

  260

  —

  Bahrain

  4,390

  n/a

  3,900

  40

  Bangladesh

  12,560

  3,350

  14,700

  3,910

  Barbados

  2,710

  130

  1,680

  120

  Belgium

  2,880

  60

  3,130

  50

  Belize

  130

  —

  110

  —

  Bermuda

  540

  —

  500

  —

  Bolivia

  30

  5—

  n/a

  n/a

  Botswana

  640

  —

  670

  5—

  Brazil

  920

  1

  1,150

  5—

  Brunei

  1,220

  5—

  1,240

  —

  Bulgaria

  4,180

  10

  4,530

  10

  Burma

  640

  5—

  550

  10

  Cameroon

  2,220

  n/a

  1,810

  10

  Canada

  9,390

  10

  8,460

  10

  Chile

  210

  5—

  290

  —

  China

  9,590

  30

  11,660

  260

  Colombia

  740

  10

  700

  60

  Congo

  100

  —

  110

  —

  Costa Rica

  120

  5—

  80

  n/a

  Cote D'Ivoire

  450

  50

  520

  10

  Cuba

  470

  5—

  540

  —

  Cyprus

  7,790

  310

  7,150

  450

  Czechoslovakia

  11,340

  5—

  13,430

  20

  Denmark

  1,420

  30

  1,470

  30

  Ecuador

  90

  —

  100

  5—

  Egypt

  25,500

  610

  23,070

  610

  Ethiopia

  4,070

  30

  3,610

  20

  Fiji

  490

  50

  480

  30

  Finland

  470

  —

  540

  —

  France

  11,580

  70

  11,740

  110

  Gabon

  390

  —

  380

  5—

  Gambia

  1,120

  20

  950

  20

  Germany (FRG)

  8,620

  90

  10,370

  150

  Germany (GDR)

  3,850

  —

  5,420

  5—

  Ghana

  8,750

  2,250

  9,980

  930

  222

  223

  1987

  1988

  Country

  Applications granted3 4

  Applications refused initially4

  Applications granted3 4

  Applications refused initially4

  Gibraltar

  120

  —

  160

  —

  Greece

  1,400

  60

  1,220

  70

  Guyana

  1,470

  100

  1,660

  80

  Holy See

  20

  20

  20

  —

  Honduras

  30

  5—

  20

  10

  Hong Kong

  50,510

  170

  46,310

  140

  Hungary

  16,300

  5—

  17,660

  10

  Iceland

  130

  —

  130

  —

  India

  97,760

  6,210

  97,690

  7,860

  Indonesia

  10,370

  50

  9,470

  5—

  Iraq

  3,370

  20

  4,510

  10

  Irish Republic

  1,700

  10

  1,700

  5—

  Israel

  1,210

  5—

  n/a

  n/a

  Italy

  3,200

  30

  3,510

  40

  Jamaica

  3,170

  710

  3,660

  400

  Japan

  3,460

  10

  4,200

  30

  Jerusalem

  1,820

  —

  1,370

  20

  Jordan

  11,680

  40

  10,580

  70

  Kenya

  3,180

  80

  2,720

  110

  Korea (South)

  360

  5—

  340

  60

  Kuwait

  11,650

  50

  10,720

  50

  Lebanon

  5,640

  —

  6,150

  5—

  Lesotho

  40

  5—

  40

  5—

  Liberia

  2,040

  20

  1,600

  40

  Libya

  700

  5—

  1,060

  5—

  Luxembourg

  260

  —

  210

  —

  Madagascar

  345

  n/a

  300

  —

  Malawi

  500

  5—

  460

  10

  Malaysia

  4,660

  230

  4,460

  300

  Malta

  1,290

  30

  1,500

  20

  Mauritius

  2,430

  240

  1,870

  n/a

  Mexico

  540

  —

  530

  —

  Mongolia

  20

  —

  30

  —

  Morocco

  650

  10

  630

  20

  Mozambique

  430

  —

  420

  —

  Nepal

  1,100

  20

  1,040

  20

  Netherlands

  4,000

  5—

  2,640

  50

  New Zealand

  4,720

  n/a

  5,070

  —

  Nigeria

  51,660

  4,090

  51,880

  4,950

  Norway

  2,230

  30

  1,980

  10

  Oman

  8,510

  —

  7,960

  40

  Pakistan

  53,630

  8,890

  52,550

  11,000

  Panama

  120

  5—

  60

  10

  Papua New Guinea

  320

  5—

  300

  5—

  Peru

  250

  5—

  670

  5—

  Philippines

  10,210

  480

  9,950

  710

  Poland

  33,750

  330

  41,400

  680

  Portugal

  730

  30

  510

  10

  Qatar

  4,300

  30

  3,390

  50

  Romania

  4,100

  5—

  3,500

  20

  Saudi Arabia

  40,280

  220

  n/a

  n/a

  St. Helena

  100

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Senegal

  870

  —

  n/a

  n/a

  Seychelles

  130

  5—

  140

  10

  Sierra Leone

  2,520

  120

  2,330

  190

  Singapore

  3,360

  10

  3,180

  20

  Solomon Islands

  60

  —

  60

  —

  Somalia

  540

  40

  900

  50

  South Africa

  1,640

  5

  n/a

  n/a

  Soviet Union

  14,110

  —

  15,800

  —

  Spain

  3,060

  10

  2,870

  30

  Sri Lanka

  7,060

  860

  7,240

  810

  Sudan

  10,080

  10

  7,900

  40

  Swaziland

  40

  —

  30

  —

  Sweden

  3,360

  10

  3,960

  40

  Switzerland

  4,380

  60

  n/a

  n/a

  Syria

  70

  5

  210

  —

  Tanzania

  1,680

  50

  1,610

  30

  Thailand

  16,390

  n/a

  16,530

  n/a

  Tonga

  20

  —

  10

  —

  Trinidad and Tobago

  2,490

  90

  2,230

  120

  Tunisia

  300

  5

  380

  —

  Turkey

  1,590

  80

  2,400

  90

  Uganda

  580

  10

  330

  10

  224

  225

  1987

  1988

  Country

  Applications granted3 4

  Applicalions refused initially4

  Applications granted3 4

  Applications refused initially4

  United Arab Emirates

  14,950

  100

  16,820

  380

  United States

  42,090

  n/a

  37,680

  160

  Uruguay

  130

  —

  100

  —

  Vanuatu

  50

  —

  60

  —

  Venezuela

  220

  5

  290

  5

  Vietnam

  40

  5

  n/a

  n/a

  Yemen Arab Republic

  n/a

  n/a

  2,570

  5

  People's Democratic Republic of Yemen

  460

  n/a

  560

  n/a

  Yugoslavia

  410

  30

  440

  40

  Zaire

  810

  —

  840

  5

  Zambia

  1,850

  5

  2,250

  20

  Zimbabwe

  860

  30

  1,200

  70

  n/a Not available.

  1 Including applications for a certificate of entitlement to, or a confirmation of, the right of abode in the United Kingdom (except in Ghana, Hong Kong and Sir Lanka).

  2 Because of rounding, the figures in this table may be slightly different from those implied by Table 1.

  3 Granted initially or on appeal.

  4 These applications may have been received in an earlier period.

  5 Five of fewer.

  Prisoners (Escape Attempts)
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners escaped from prisons in England and Wales in each of the years since 1979; and if he will list the prisons from which the escapes were made.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 20 March 1989]: The following tables show escapes by prisoners from closed prisons. The information in relation to the years from 1979 to 1985–86 has largely been derived from published annual reports on the work of the prison department, the most convenient source. The information for 1984–85 covers the 15-month period from 1 January 1984–31 March 1985. Thereafter, information relates to the financial year, until the final period which covers from 1 April to 31 December 1988:

  Establishment

  Number

  1979

  Acklington

  4

  Brixton

  1

  Camp Hill

  4

  Channings Wood

  7

  Dorchester

  1

  Erlestoke House

  2

  Featherstone

  7

  Haverigg

  6

  Liverpool

  2

  Northallerton

  1

  Northeye

  19

  Norwich

  23

  Standford Hill

  27

  The Verne

  11

  Wymott

  2

  Total

  97

  1980

  Acklington

  2

  Brixton

  4

  Camp Hill

  4

  Canterbury

  1

  Channings Wood

  3

  Coldingley

  1

  Erlestoke

  4

  Exeter

  1

  Featherstone

  2

  226

  Establishment

  Number

  Haverigg

  2

  Liverpool

  2

  Northallerton

  1

  Northeye

  12

  Norwich

  3

  Preston

  1

  Ranby

  2

  Standford Hill

  20

  The Verne

  6

  Total

  71

  1981

  Acklington

  1

  Beckingham

  1

  Exeter

  1

  Haverigg

  1

  Highpoint

  4

  Lancaster

  1

  Manchester

  1

  Northeye

  16

  Norwich

  3

  Ranby

  1

  Rollestone

  6

  Standford Hill

  32

  The Verne

  10

  Wymott

  1

  Total

  79

  1982

  Birmingham

  5

  Brixton

  1

  Camp Hill

  3

  Channings Wood

  2

  Erlestoke

  9

  Grendon

  1

  Haverigg

  5

  Highpoint

  3

  Leeds

  1

  Maidstone

  2

  Manchester

  1

  Northeye

  25

  Norwich

  10

  Nottingham

  6

  Preston

  3

  Ranby

  1

  Standford Hill

  23

  Swinfen Hall

  2

  The Verne

  11

  Wandsworth

  2

  227

  Establishment

  Number

  Wymott

  1

  Total

  117

  1983

  Acklington

  4

  Bedford

  4

  Cardiff

  1

  Channings Wood

  4

  Exeter

  2

  Haverigg

  3

  Highpoint

  4

  Manchester

  1

  Northeye

  36

  Norwich

  4

  Ranby

  5

  Stafford

  4

  Standford Hill

  22

  The Verne

  2

  Wymott

  1

  Total

  97

  1984–85

  Birmingham

  1

  Cardiff

  1

  Channings Wood

  9

  Coldingley

  1

  Haverigg

  14

  Highpoint

  8

  Lewes

  2

  Maidstone

  2

  Northeye

  14

  Norwich

  4

  Oxford

  1

  Preston

  2

  Ranby

  7

  Reading

  1

  Standford Hill

  42

  The Verne

  5

  Total

  114

  1985–86

  Acklington

  5

  Blundeston

  2

  Brixton

  5

  Channings Wood

  6

  Featherstone

  7

  Haverigg

  5

  Highpoint

  10

  Lewes

  1

  Lindholme

  5

  Maidstone

  1

  Northeye

  23

  Norwich

  17

  Oxford

  2

  Pentonville

  4

  Ranby

  11

  Stocken

  1

  The Verne

  2

  Wayland

  6

  Wormwood Scrubs

  1

  Wymott

  3

  Total

  117

  1986–87

  Acklington

  1

  Blundeston

  2

  Cardiff

  3

  Channings Wood

  1

  Dartmoor

  1

  Featherstone

  2

  Haverigg

  5

  Highpoint

  7

  Lindholme

  13

  Manchester

  4

  228

  Establishment

  Number

  Northeye

  10

  Norwich

  5

  Pentonville

  1

  Ranby

  11

  Send

  2

  Stafford

  1

  The Verne

  4

  Wayland

  6

  Total

  79

  1987–88

  Acklingtom

  3

  Aldington

  7

  Bedford

  2

  Bristol

  2

  Brixton

  2

  Camp Hill

  1

  Canterbury

  1

  Channings Wood

  6

  Cookham Wood

  2

  Dartmoor

  1

  Exeter

  1

  Featherstone

  3

  Gartree

  —

  Havering

  5

  Highpoint

  7

  Holloway

  1

  Lindholme

  26

  Manchester

  2

  Medomsley

  1

  Northeye

  2

  Norwich

  4

  Nottingham

  1

  Oxford

  1

  Pentonville

  3

  Preston

  2

  Ranby

  1

  Send

  4

  Shepton Mallet

  3

  StafTord

  2

  The Verne

  5

  Thorp Arch

  1

  Wayland

  8

  Winchester

  1

  Wymott

  2

  Total

  115

  1988 (from 1 April)

  Acklington

  3

  Ashwell

  7

  Bedford

  3

  Brixton

  2

  Camp Hill

  1

  Channings Wood

  3

  Dartmoor

  2

  Featherstone

  9

  Havering

  3

  Highpoint

  21

  Lindholme

  21

  Littlehey

  3

  Manchester

  2

  Norwich

  2

  Nottingham

  1

  Pentonville

  7

  Ranby

  6

  Rollestone

  1

  Stocken

  1

  Swansea

  2

  The Verne

  6

  Thorp Arch

  1

  Wayland

  2

  Wymott

  3

  Total

  112

  Steel-Cored Bullets
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the article by Thomas Alfred Warlow of his Department's forensic laboratory on the properties of steel-cored bullets published in the British journal of accident surgery.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 23 March 1989]: Mr. Warlow contributed four technical paragraphs on the firearms used in the Hungerford shooting incident to an article in Injury, the British journal of accident surgery, describing the management of the 14 patients admitted to Princess Margaret hospital, Swindon after the Hungerford shooting incident.

  A copy of the article has been placed in the Library.

  Subject of assignment

  Recovery Operation Centres Ltd.

  To review existing computer data security and prepare a computer contingency plan.

  PIEDA

  Impact of the rundown of Dounreay Nuclear Establishment and alternative economic opportunities for Caithness (jointly with Highlands and Islands Development Board). Study development proposals for Stirling Old Town put to HBMD by the LIR Leisure Group in conjunction with Stirling District Council.

  Deloitte, Haskins and Sells

  To produce work programmes for the computer audit of Health Boards. Financial and Management Information System for Scottish Homes.

  Coopers and Lybrand Associates

  Organisational Structure of Scottish Homes. Review of Information Systems for Scottish Homes. Human Resource Strategy for Scottish Homes. HAG and Loan Accounting Project for Scottish Homes. To assess the future debt servicing capability of the 5 Scottish New Towns industrial and commercial assets, and to advise on the consequential calculation of the amount of National Loans Fund debt to be written off.

  Gilpin Black Associates

  Management Audit for Scottish Homes.

  Edinburgh University Computer Services

  Advice on impiementation of Scottish Office digital mapping system.

  Firn, Crichton Roberts Ltd.

  Strathclyde Integrated Development Operation (jointly with Strathclyde Regional Council).

  Open College

  Consultancy on Open Learning.

  University of Warwick

  Determination of performance measurements in Further Education.

  Dr. S. Clarke

  Evaluation and quality of learning and teaching in Further Education.

  BIS Applied Systems Ltd.

  Consultancy Services for HMI Office Automation Project.

  Scottish Examination Board

  Systems analysis and computer programming work undertaken in development of procedures for the HMI national task for the use of SCE results.

  Dundee College of Technology

  Investigation of the administrative arrangements in Jordanhill School.

  Coal
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to try to ensure a long-term supply contract for Scottish coal between British Coal and the South of Scotland electricity board.

  Mr. Lang
  Following discussions with my right hon. and learned Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy, the chairmen of the South of Scotland electricity board and British Coal have now agreed to negotiate on the basis of a five-year contract under which the Scottish electricity industry would purchase 2 million tonnes of coal per annum subject. in respect of the fourth

SCOTLAND

  Computer Consultants
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total amount spent by his Department in 1988 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases; and if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded by his Department in 1988, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment.

  Mr. Rifkind
  [holding answer 4 April 1989]: In 1988 my Department spent £406,970 on management consultancy and £70,066 on computer consultancy.

  The contracts awarded by my Department in 1988 were as follows:

  and fifth years, to the conclusion of a satisfactory contract with the electricity supply industry in England and Wales for exports of electricity over the interconnector amounting to 600 MW per annum.

  Self-Governing Schools
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received concerning the Government's proposals for self-governing schools in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. and learned Friend gave earlier to the hon. Member for Western Isles (Mr. Macdonald).

SCOTLAND

  Community Charge
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on arrangements for paying the community charge in respect of official ministerial residences in Scotland.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The only residence available for Ministers in Scotland is Bute house in Edinburgh. I understand that Lothian region's community charges registration officer has determined that, with the exception of the caretaker's flat in the basement, the property is non-domestic in nature and will therefore be subject to non-domestic rates. Bute house will be considered as a Crown property for this purpose.

  Mr. Douglas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the criteria which are being used by community charge registration officers to remove individuals from their register for limited periods.

  Mr. Lang
  Community charge registration officers will remove the name of an individual from the register in a particular local authority area only if he is no longer liable to pay the community charge there. In addition, a registration officer may exclude an individual's register entry from the publicly available parts of the register if that individual has applied for anonymous registration. In every case, registration officers will base their decisions on all the relevant circumstances.

  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest estimates for the costs of administration of the poll tax in the coming year.

  Mr. Lang
  The latest estimate by regional and islands councils of the cost of administering the community charge in 1989–90, including costs of registration and collection, but excluding the cost of the rebate scheme, is £31·73 million.

  Mr. Siliars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had since the 1 April with poll tax levying authorities.

  Mr. Lang
  None.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to be able to report on the levels of payment of the community charge.

  Mr. Lang
  Although I expect it to be some time before reliable information becomes available, I would expect the level of payment to be broadly the same as it has been for domestic rates.

  "Priorities for Patients"
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has had from interested bodies in Ayrshire in response to the White Paper "Priorities for Patients".

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Some 65 letters have been received from the Ayrshire area offering observations on the White Paper "Working for Patients", most being from general practitioners.

  Constitutional Convention
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received as a result of the first meeting of the Scottish constitutional convention.

  Mr. Rifkind
  None.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received an invitation to attend the next meeting of the Scottish constitutional convention; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I have received no specific invitation to the next meeting of the convention. It would be quite wrong to participate in a convention designed to achieve change which the Government believe would be harmful to Scotland.

  Health Care
  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his future plans for the provision of health care in rural areas in Scotland.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The proposals in the White Paper "Working for Patients" are designed to improve health care for patients in rural areas as in other parts of Scotland. They include an undertaking to safeguard the position of doctors in the less-populated areas of Scotland and who offer a good standard of service to their patients.

  Highlands (Financial Assistance)
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce the total additional financial assistance which he will make available to the Highlands in the light of the current year's adverse weather conditions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland wrote to Highland regional council and Inverness district council on 10 February requesting detailed reports of flood damage and extra costs incurred. He received a reply from Highland region dated 6 March which reports costs without full supporting details, and has just received a report from the district council. Ross and Cromarty and Lochaber district councils have reported additional costs in dealing with storm damage to housing estates. I am assessing this and other information and will make a statement as soon as possible.

  COSLA
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next intends to meet representatives of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities; and what matters he proposes to discuss.

  Mr. Ian Lang
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Dundee, East (McAllion).

  Waste Dumping
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what further measures are proposed to deter waste dumping in Scotland.
  233
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Argyll and Bute (Mrs. Michie) on 22 March at columns 653–54.

  Water (EC Directives)
  Mr. Thomas Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which Scottish water suppliers will not be able to comply with the deadline set by the EEC to bring water supplies up to EEC directives; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Drinking water supplies which do not comply with the EC standards are the subject of improvement programmes submitted to the European Commission. The Commission does not normally set deadlines and has not expressed dissatisfaction with the programmes submitted, but has asked for those for reducing lead in tap water to be completed by the end of 1989. Only a small number of areas in Lothian and Strathclyde regions will not comply with that date.

  Additional capital provisions have already been made and the allocations for water and sewerage have been increased by 14 per cent. for 1989–90. This should enable water authorities to make faster progress on bringing drinking water supplies up to the EC standards.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many general practitioners in Scotland earn over £55,000 per year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not held centrally.

  Scottish Development Agency
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the chairman of the Scottish Development Agency; and what matters were discussed.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the chairman of the Scottish Development Agency; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend met the chairman, Sir David Nickson, on 7 March to discuss the Government's White Paper on Scottish enterprise.

  "Working for Patients"
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had from the medical profession on the White Paper "Working for Patients".

  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had from the Royal College of Nursing about the Government's plans to restructure the National Health Service.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  We are inviting comments from the medical and nursing professions, as well as from a range of other bodies, on the arrangements for implementation of the White Paper proposals, as set out in detail in six Scottish working papers, published last month.

  Law Reform
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received regarding his proposals for law reform in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Four responses have been received so far to my right hon. and learned Friend's consultation paper on the legal profession in Scotland. The consultation period continues until 13 June.

  Electricity Boards
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the chairmen of the South of Scotland electricity board and the North of Scotland Hydro Electricity Board; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Lang
  I met both chairmen on 31 March when they endorsed agreements which will formally replace the joint generating agreement with contractual commitments reflecting the restructuring of the industry for privatisation. A range of relevant matters was discussed.

  GPs (Rural Areas)
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to protect the income of general practitioners in rural areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In the White Paper "Working for Patients" we said that we would safeguard the position of doctors in the less-populated areas of Scotland. I wrote to all general practitioners in Scotland on 16 March to make it clear that a Scottish doctor who cannot increase his practice size and who offers a good standard of service to his patients will not suffer a reduction in his income through no fault of his own. I am now receiving the views of GPs which my letter requested and will announce the Government's proposals shortly.

  Women's Refuges
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received from women's aid organisations regarding the levying of the poll tax on residents of women's refuges.

  Mr. Lang
  I have received a number of representations from Members of Parliament and others on behalf of women's aid groups about the application of the collective community charge to refuges.

  Legislative Assembly
  Mr. Gow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received against the setting up of a legislative assembly in Scotland.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Since the last general election I have received 32 letters against devolution.

  CBI
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last discussed unemployment in Scotland with the Confederation of British Industry.
  235
  Mr. Rilkind
  I have frequent discussions with the Confederation of British Industry on a range of issues affecting the Scottish economy. I am sure that the CBI shares my satisfaction that seasonally adjusted unemployment in Scotland has fallen by 43,400 over the past 12 months and is now at its lowest level since July 1981.

  Torness Power Station and Shotts Prison (Documents)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the discovery of documents concerning the design of Torness power station and Shotts prison in a public place close to Torness.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I am advised by the South of Scotland electricity board that the fragments of charred papers, apparently from a contractor's bonfire, found near the Torness site, did not disclose any information of a security or other nature which would cause concern to the board.

  The Scottish Home and Health Department has investigated the matter in relation to the design of Shotts prison. Expert examination of the documents reveals that what was alleged to have been found were copies of drawings issued to four construction firms invited by a management contractor to tender for a small sub-contract during the construction of Shotts prison in 1986. All the firms concerned have been asked to declare the whereabouts of the original copies sent to them.

  The original drawings were not classified and there are no details of security systems shown on the material found. What has been revealed does not appear to constitute a serious breach of security. Nevertheless the Scottish Home and Health Department is reviewing the procedures for handling drawings of prison-related buildings and installations, and will report the result to me.

  Tropical Timber
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research is being undertaken into the cultivation of native woods suitable for the substitution of tropical timber and mahogany imports.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Forestry Commission has an active programme of research into the cultivation of native trees which are capable of producing wood that can be used in place of mahogany and other tropical timbers. Topics covered by the research include the selection of provenances, the techniques of establishing, managing and protecting the trees, and the alternative uses of the timber.

  European Community (Assistance)
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report those areas of Scotland he has nominated to the European Community Commission as being eligible for assistance under objective 5b, along with details of geographical boundaries, reasons for inclusions and the date of submission.

  Mr. Lang
  We already have an assurance from the Commission that the Highlands and Islands (the Highlands and Islands Development Board area) will qualify under objective 5b. We have put forward a case for Dumfries and Galloway (West) (the travel-to-work areas 236
  of Stranraer, Wigton and Stewartry) on 19 October 1988. In addition, following discussion with the Commission, cases were submitted on 17 March 1989 for Borders region (travel-to-work areas of Berwickshire, Galashiels, Hawick, Kelso and Jedburgh, and Peebles), Southern Highlands (travel-to-work areas of Aberdeen (less city of Aberdeen), Banff, Blairgowrie and Pitlochry, Brechin and Montrose, Buckie, Crieff, Elgin (part), Forfar, Fraserburgh, Huntly, Keith, Perth, Peterhead and Stirling (part), and eastern Dumfries and Galloway (travel-to-work areas of Annan, Dumfries and Lockerbie). All these areas score well on a number of the criteria for eligibility under objective 5b set out in Council regulation (EEC) No. 4255/88.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what negotiations he has held during 1989 with the Highlands and Islands Development Board in relation to any plan to be submitted to the European Community Commission for structural fund assistance to the Highlands and Islands under objective 5b; and when he anticipates a full plan will be published.

  Mr. Lang
  Scottish Office officials have discussed with the Highlands and Islands Development Board the draft plan for the Highlands and Islands to be submitted to the Commission under objective 5b. The reformed structural fund regulations provide for consultation on draft plans with partnership authorities (bodies with a direct interest in measures to be funded under the structural funds such as local authorities). They are then submitted to the Commission. In response to the plans, the Commission will draw up a community support framework. It is too early to be certain how long it will be before this is finalised.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to meet organisations such as the Scottish National Farmers Union, the Scottish Trades Union Congress, enterprise trusts and regional councils on the content of Scottish 5b programmes prior to the submission of plans to the European Community Commission.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no such plans. My noble Friend the Minister of State met yesterday representatives of Highland, Grampian and Strathclyde regional councils and the National Farmers Union of Scotland to hear their proposals for a FEOGA operational programme for the Highland mainland under objective 5b of the European structural funds.

  Sand Eels
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the size of the total Shetland sand eel catch, including the proportion of O group and 1 group fish, for each of the past five years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is as follows:

  Size of Total Catch

  Percentage by Weighyt

  (Tonnes)

  0-Group

  1-Group

  1984

  32,578

  29·7

  29·1

  1985

  17,169

  21·4

  31·9

  1986

  11,961

  18·5

  20·2

  1987

  7,227

  2·2

  50·3

  1988

  4,710

  18·0

  4·3

  237
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the number of O Number in group sand eels taken by the Shetland fishery in each of the past 15 years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is as follows:—

  Number in millions

  1974

  929

  1975

  4,309

  1976

  4,268

  1977

  5,970

  1978

  5,453

  1979

  1,403

  1980

  6,432

  1981

  13,243

  1982

  16,851

  1983

  5,604

  1984

  6,773

  1985

  2,192

  1986

  1,785

  238

  Number in millions

  1987

  419

  1988

  530

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the latest unemployment figures for the Glasgow, Springburn constituency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  On 9 February 1989 there were 6,851 unemployed claimants in the Glasgow, Springburn parliamentary constituency. The constituency has shared in the general improvement in the Scottish unemployment situation with a reduction of over 2,000 in the number of unemployed claimants since the beginning of 1987. By continuing with our successful policies we aim to reduce unemployment even further.

  HOUSING ACT 1988: TENANTS' CHOICE
  HOUSING ACT 1988: TENANTS' CHOICE
  CFCs IN DOMESTIC APPLIANCES
  CFCs IN DOMESTIC APPLIANCES
  CFCs: DISPOSAL OF AEROSOLS, ETC.
  CFCs: DISPOSAL OF AEROSOLS, ETC.
  MR. MARK LEECH: PETITION
  MR. MARK LEECH: PETITION
  PLASTIC ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES
  PLASTIC ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES
  WAR PENSIONS DATA
  WAR PENSIONS DATA
  WAR WIDOWS
  WAR WIDOWS
  A.4 HAMMERSMITH/CHISWICK SECTION: LITTER
  A.4 HAMMERSMITH/CHISWICK SECTION: LITTER
  SEALIFT
  SEALIFT
  ILLEGAL SALMON FISHING BY IRISH VESSELS
  ILLEGAL SALMON FISHING BY IRISH VESSELS
  ILLEGAL SALMON FISHING CONVICTION
  ILLEGAL SALMON FISHING CONVICTION