Written Answers of 20 April 1989

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Empty Property
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of properties owned by his Department and suitable for residential accommodation have been empty for (i) up to a year and (ii) over a year; and where these properties are located, by region of the United Kingdom or local authority area.

  Mr. Eggar
  None.

  Gibraltar (Incident)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether the Spanish Government informed the British authorities that the Renault car parked at Main street, Gibraltar, on 6 March 1988, was followed by surveillance officers of the Spanish authorities to the frontier of Gibraltar on 6 March; and if it was then followed by British authorities until it was parked;

  (2) whether the Spanish authorities have confirmed to him the statements of Tomaz Rayo Valenzuela and Manuel Gimenez that the Spanish police discovered D. McCann and S. Savage staying at the hotel Escandinavia, Torremolinos, on 5 March 1988 and informed the British authorities;

  (3) why the Spanish police were requested not to follow D. McCann and S. Savage on 6 March 1988.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement given by my right hon. and noble Friend Lord Trefgarne in another place on I March at column 1124.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Tax Payments (Interest)
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the Inland Revenue charge a higher interest rate on moneys owed to it by taxpayers than the rate that it applies to moneys repaid by it to taxpayers.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The present rates of interest charged by the Inland Revenue on unpaid tax and paid on overpaid tax are the same (11·5 per cent.).

  Workplace Nurseries
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to(a) the number of employers involved in, and (b) the total annual cost to the Exchequer of, the current take-up of relief available for the establishment of workplace nurseries by employers, under (i) the 4 per cent. per annum relief scheme and (ii) the special provision for enterprise zones.
  232
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I regret that this information is not available centrally.

  P11D Form (Limit)
  Mr. Bright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to raise the limit for the P11D form and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  There are no plans to do so.

  Mr. Bright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the limit for the P11D form was raised to £8,500; and what would be the equivalent figure in current monetary terms.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Employees whose earnings, including the value of benefits, are at a rate of £8,500 or more per year are liable to tax on benefits in kind. All directors are liable regardless of the level of earnings. The earnings threshold—also known as the P11D limit—was set at £8,500 in 1979–80 and, if it had been indexed in line with inflation according to the statutory formula for increasing personal allowances and thresholds, the threshold in 1989–90 would be £18,100.

  Mr. Bright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy towards indexing the limit for the P11D form in line with inflation.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The Government have at no time sought to increase the threshold at which employees pay tax on benefits in kind, since in principle all employees should pay income tax on the whole of their earnings whether received in cash or in kind.

  Mr. Bright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employers currently receive dispensation from the Inland Revenue from completing the P11D form; and how many employees benefit from such dispensations.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  It is estimated that, at December 1988, about 23,000 employers had dispensations from reporting employees' expenses payments on forms P11D, an increase of 29 per cent. on the number at October 1987. When a dispensation exists in relation to expenses payments P11Ds may still need to be completed in relation to benefits in kind.

  The number of employees covered by dispensations in 1985–86 is estimated to be about 2·7 million. Figures for later years are not yet available but, as there has been a substantial increase in employers receiving dispensations, it is estimated that over 3 million employees are now covered by them.

  Student Covenants
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he has received, since 15 March 1988, about the withdrawal of tax relief on increases in parental contributions to covenants for students; whether he plans any changes in these arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Treasury Ministers have received some 200 representations about various aspects of the changes introduced last year to the tax treatment of student covenants. No separate record has been kept of those which relate to increases in parental contributions for students.
  233
  We have no plans to make any further changes in the tax treatment of student covenants. The changes which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor introduced last year greatly simplify an unnecessarily complex part of the tax system.

  Stamp Duty
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any plans to reform or abolish stamp duty; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer, 19 April 1989]: In my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's recent Budget he proposed both to abolish stamp duty on life policies and to adapt the charge on share transfers to forthcoming developments in methods of share dealing.

  Premium Bonds
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the money taken by the purchase of premium bonds is spent on(a) administration and (b) prize money.

  Mr. Lilley
  [pursuant to his reply 7 March 1989 c. 493]: I regret that there was an error in the reply. Premium bond prize money is a charge on the National Loans Fund not the Consolidated Fund.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Land Registry
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Attorney-General what steps the Lord Chancellor is taking to reduce the risk of mortgage fraud arising from delays in the Land Registry; what is the current backlog; what is his target for the interval between receipt and completion of inquiries; when he expects this to be achieved; and how long he plans to maintain that performance once achieved.

  The Attorney-General
  There does not appear to be any evidence that mortgage fraud occurs because of delays in completing applications at the Land Registry. Such frauds occur in areas of the conveyancing process with which the Land Registry is not directly involved.

  The Land Registry has target completion times of 14 weeks for first registrations, 12 weeks for dealings with part of the land in a title and four weeks for dealings with the whole title. The present backlog of applications which have not been dealt with within these target completion times is 586,000.

  The targets referred to will be achieved within the next year if activity levels in the property and financial markets do not increase. Once they are achieved the chief land registrar will look to improve the service further.

  Magistrates (Advisory Committees)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Attorney-General on what criteria the Lord Chancellor chose 1992 as the date by which local advisory committees on appointing magistrates should make their membership publicly known.

  The Attorney-General
  Advisory committees are reconstituted every three years. By the end of 1992 any serving members who do not wish their names to be disclosed will have had an opportunity to retire.

ENERGY

  Power Stations (Applications)
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy not to consider future applications for power stations until after negotiations with affected local authorities have taken place.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Present legislation provides for the relevant planning authorities to be consulted about such applications when they are made. Similar provision is made in the Electricity Bill currently before Parliament.

  Furthermore, I understand that it is normal practice for an applicant to discuss a proposed development informally with the planning authorities before submitting his application to my right hon. Friend.

  Empty Property
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of properties owned by his Department and suitable for residential accommodation have been empty for (i) up to a year and (ii) over a year; and where these properties are located, by region of the United Kingdom or local authority area.

  Mr. Parkinson
  My Department owns no such properties.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill of 9 December,Official Report, column 373, he will state the error limits allowed in calculating the amount of plutonium produced by British civil nuclear power stations in the year ended 31 March 1988;

  (2) what criteria his Department uses in allowing error limits to be set for the calculations of the amount of plutonium generated by British civil nuclear power stations.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  My Department does not set specific error limits in the calculation of plutonium content, but expects the operators to achieve the highest possible accuracy in their estimates.

  Nuclear Power Stations
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the population figures within a 100-mile radius for each nuclear power station in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Most of the population of the United Kingdom live within a 100-mile radius of a nuclear power station.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  EC Funding
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on additionality with respect to European Community funding as it applies to Northern Ireland.
  235
  Mr. Ian Stewart
  We shall adhere to the additionality conditions included in the new regulation co-ordinating the EC's three structural funds.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the number of representations he has received for and against the Government's students loan plan.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Representations expressing a variety of views have been received from four Members of Parliament, two district councils, the Fair Employment Agency, local representatives of the National Union of Students and other student bodies.

  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he had received any representations from banking institutions in the last month with regard to the proposed introduction of student loans; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No.

  Devolved Government
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he is taking action to secure devolved government in Northern Ireland, either within or outside the framework of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

  Mr. Tom King
  We are exploring the possibilities for political movement. I would not at this stage try to draw any conclusions from these exploratory discussions, which are still in progress, though all the main political parties have said they support devolution. I hope that responsible political leaders and interested groups will take this opportunity to convey their views on these important matters and they can do it either within or outside the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

  Security
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement on the security situation.

  Mr. Duffy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement on the security position in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Molyneaux
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Tom King
  Since 9 March, 10 people have died in incidents arising from the security situation. These deaths included two senior police officers, one UDR soldier and seven civilians. They also included the murder of a young girl killed by a bomb planted by the Provisional IRA without warning in Warrenpoint on 12 April. Thirty people were also injured in this appalling attack. The Provisional IRA claimed responsibility for five of these murders, whilst Loyalist paramilitary organisations are believed to have been responsible for the other five.

  The resolute efforts of the security forces have resulted in 74 people being charged with serious offences, including 12 with murder and 13 with attempted murder since the
  236
  beginning of the year. A total of 123 weapons, over 14,500 rounds of ammunition and 215 lb of explosives have been recovered in Northern Ireland. I understand that the Garda Siochana has recovered 39 weapons, 11,500 rounds of ammunition, and 230 lb of explosives.

  Education and Library Boards
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met representatives from the education and library boards in Northern Ireland; and what was discussed.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I met a deputation from the Association of Education and Library Boards on 21 March 1989 when resolutions adopted at the association's 1988 annual meeting were presented and discussed.

  Anglo-Irish Agreement
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on the review of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the review of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

  Mr. Tom King
  Work is continuing on the review under article 11 of the Anglo-Irish Agreement of the working of the intergovernmental conference. It is intended that the review be concluded, and the results made public, at the next meeting of the conference to be held in a few weeks.

  Touring Arts Companies
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to encourage the exchange of touring arts companies between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  There has been, and continues to be, a healthy exchange of touring arts companies between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom. The Government, however, are not directly involved in these arrangements. In Northern Ireland, as in the rest of the United Kingdom, the support of artistic ventures is the responsibility of the Arts Council and the council and the arts organisations themselves encourage and arrange tours by individual artists and companies to and from Northern Ireland.

  Prisoners (Release)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the system for fixing release dates for prisoners serving sentences of indeterminate length.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill (Mr. Alton).

  Republic of Ireland
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he next proposes to have discussions with Ministers of the Government of the Republic of Ireland; and what matters he will discuss.
  237
  Mr. Tom King
  I last met Irish Ministers on 5 April. No firm date has yet been announced for the next meeting of the conference, but I expect this to be done quite soon.

  Taoiseach
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the Prime Minister of the Irish Republic; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Tom King
  I last met the Taoiseach in Dublin on 13 September prior to the intergovernmental conference on that day. The subjects discussed are confidential. I meet the deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Lenihan, regularly in the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference.

  Community Policing (North Down)
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide more funds to the Royal Ulster Constabulary to enable community policing in the North Down area to be fully restored.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The Police Authority grant for 1989–90 is £415 million. This represents an increase of some £30 million over the previous year. It is primarily the responsibility of the Chief Constable and the Police Authority to determine priorities and allocate resources.

  Health and Social Services Boards
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met representatives from the health and social services boards in Northern Ireland; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Needham
  I met board representatives on 23 March. We discussed the proposals in the White Paper "Working for Patients".

  Slaughtering and Meat Trading
  Mr. McCusker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to introduce legislation to bring Northern Ireland into line with Great Britain regarding illegal slaughtering and unfit meat trading.

  Mr. Needham
  Northern Ireland legislation on the slaughter of animals is already in line with Great Britain. Legislation governing trade in unfit meat is in line with England and Wales, but differs from Scotland. The Department of Health and Social Services is currently considering whether the Northern Ireland law on unfit meat should be improved by including some provisions equivalent to those applying in Scotland.

  Live Fish (Transport)
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will indicate the exact procedure used and documentation required to transport live fish in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Viggers
  The movement of live fish, ova and fry requires a permit issued under section 14 of the Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966. Permits may be obtained by making application to fisheries division, Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, Castle buildings, Stormont, Belfast.

  Terrorism
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were arrested, detained and subsequently released without charge under section 12 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act in each of the years from 1984 to 1988.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The information is as follows:

  Persons detained under Section 12 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Persons Arrested/Detained

  908

  938

  1,309

  1,459

  1,717

  Persons released without charge

  650

  691

  951

  11,116

  11,344

  1 Includes one person not charged with an offence but excluded under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984.

  Medical and Nursing Profession
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met representatives from the medical and nursing profession in Northern Ireland; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Needham
  I have discussed "Working for Patients" with a variety of interests including representatives of the medical, nursing and management professions and members of health and social services boards and I will be meeting several more delegations shortly.

  Plastic Bullets
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the use of plastic bullets in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Plastic baton rounds are used by the security forces in Northern Ireland only when their use is judged to be the minimum and reasonable amount of force necessary to protect life, property and to prevent serious crime. In certain circumstances, particularly during vicious and widespread rioting when lives are put seriously at risk, the use of plastic baton rounds is the most effective way of restoring order. This method of riot control is designed to ensure that the risk of injury or death is kept to a minimum.

  Harland and Wolff
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he next expects to discuss the question of state subsidies with representatives of Harland and Wolff; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Viggers
  I have no plans to discuss the question of state subsidies with representatives of Harland and Wolff. I can confirm, however, that following the signing of the heads of agreement discussions between my officials and the MEBO/Olsen team are continuing.

  Comptroller and Auditor-General
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements have been made to appoint a new Comptroller and Auditor-General for Northern Ireland.
  239
  Mr. Tom King
  Her Majesty the Queen has graciously approved the appointment of Dr. W. H. Jack CB, former permanent secretary at the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, to this office in succession to L.V.D. Calvert CB who is retiring.

  Young People
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will consider reintroducing income support to 16 and 17-year-olds who do not receive an offer of a YTS place at the termination of their period of bridging allowance or extended child benefit.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 19 April 1989]: In line with the policy of maintaining parity in social security provision, the rules for paying income support to 16 and 17-year-olds in Northern Ireland are kept in line with those for the rest of the United Kingdom. At present income support is payable under the normal rules to a number of 16 and 17-year-olds, for example, if they are incapable of work or have a child. Claims for income support under the "severe hardship" provision will be considered from any 16 or 17-year-old who is actively pursuing a place in the youth training programme.

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many 16 and 17-year-olds who remain unemployed after the ending of the bridging allowance payments or extended child benefit (1) applied for severe hardship grants from the social fund or (2) received severe hardship grants from the social fund for each month, October 1988 to March 1989, inclusive.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 19 April 1989]: Severe hardship payments are made under the income support scheme rather than the social fund and the available information is set out in the table below:

  Income support severe hardship applications

  Applications received

  Admitted for payment

  October 1988

  2

  2

  November 1988

  3

  2

  December 1988

  7

  5

  January 1989

  5

  5

  February 1989

  7

  6

  March 1989

  13

  11

EMPLOYMENT

  Public Service Broadcasts
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will assess the likely implications of the transmission by Channel 4 of public service broadcasts emanating from his Department of the White Paper "Broadcasting in the 90s: Competition, Choice and Quality".

  Mr. Cope
  There is no reason to suppose that the proposals in the White Paper will alter the present arrangements whereby public service messages are broadcast by Channel 4.

  Empty Property
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of properties owned by his 240
  Department and suitable for residential accommodation have been empty for (i) up to a year and (ii) over a year; and where these properties are located, by region of the United Kingdom or local authority area.

  Mr. Cope
  The Employment Department group has title, either freehold or leasehold, to 36 residential properties. Of these, one flat in Morden, Surrey has been vacant for more than a year, while major repairs and refurbishment works are carried out. Two houses associated with Letchworth skillcentre, and intended for keyworker staff, have been unoccupied since December 1988.

  Sky Television (Work Permits)
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when his Department received applications for work permits from Mr. Pat Mastandrea amd Mr. Gary Davey of Sky Television; if the applications were successful; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  Details of work permit applications are confidential between this Department and the applicant's employer or his accredited representative.

  Foreigners (Employment)
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what criteria have to be satisfied before a non-EC national can obtain employment in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Lee
  Work permits are issued in respect of a specific post. In general work permits for normal employment are granted only in respect of jobs requiring professional qualifications or administrative, executive or high technical skills for which suitable resident labour is not available. The pay and conditions offered should be at least as good as those offered in the area for similar work and the overseas worker should normally be aged between 23 and 54 years.

  Workfare
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received on the subject of workfare schemes.

  Mr. Lee
  [holding answer 18 April 1989]: My right hon. Friend receives, from time to time, representations both for and against the introduction of a workfare scheme in this country.

  Publicity Campaigns
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list all current publicity campaigns being conducted by or for his Department and the Training Agency, respectively, or ones planned for the first three months of 1989–90, indicating those which involve television advertising and the starting and finishing dates of each campaign.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 19 April 1989]: The current publicity campaigns and those planned by my Department for the first three months of 1989–90 are as follows:

  241

  Employment Department Group Publicity Campaigns

  The Training Agency

  Start Date

  Finish Date

  Small Firms Service

  April 1 1989

  March 31 1990 (on going basis)

  No television advertising

  National Training Awards

  March 20 1989

  April 23 1989

  No television advertising

  Business growth Training

  April 12 1989

  December 1989

  No television advertising

  Open Learning

  May 2 1989

  May 20 1989

  No television advertising

  Employment Training

  May 17 1989-July 2 1989

  Including Television advertising

  Tourism Training

  March 6 1989

  May 6 1989

  No television advertising

  YTS

  April 17 1989-May 14 1989

  Including Television advertising

  Health and Safety Executive

  March 6 1989-August 1989

  No television advertising

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  West Bank and Gaza Strip
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the present aid projects funded by his Department in the west bank and the Gaza strip; what have been the projects so aided in each of the preceding five years; and what has been the cost of each.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Over the past five years the Overseas Development Administration's bilateral assistance to the west bank and Gaza has been provided through contributions to projects undertaken by British nongovernmental organisations; by training awards for Palestinians to study in Britain; and by book presentations to educational institutions. Details are as follows:

  £

  NGO Projects

  Order of St. John

  Outreach programme based on St. John opthalmic hospital

  450,000

  (1984–85)

  Support for surgery, nurses training, clinical trials

  80,000

  (1987–88)

  Oxfam

  Mennonite central committee land reclamation and water system construction

  24,539

  (1988)

  Bethlehem arab society for the physically handicapped

  26,703

  (1988–90)

  Annahda womens association centre for the mentally handicapped

  17,800

  (1988)

  Oxfam (ex-progressive action for childhood education) Early childhood resource centre

  63,042

  (1986–89)

  Quaker peace and service

  Middle East placement programme

  38,194

  (1985–88)

  242

  £

  Action around Bethlehem, children with disability

  Water catchment project

  23,800

  (1987–88)

  Solar energy project

  31,300

  (1987–88)

  Save the children fund

  Resource centre

  57,000

  (1988–90)

  Physiotherapy training

  72,975

  (1988–91)

  Rafah sewerage project

  44,600

  (1987)

  Cooperation for development Small enterprise revolving credit funding programme

  576,700

  (1987–88)

  Women's education and training programme

  45,550

  (1985–88)

  Gaza enterprise training scheme

  28,816

  (1987–88)

  Universities educational fund for Palestinian refugees (UNIPAL)

  English language teaching project

  37,000

  (1984–89)

  War on want Zabadeh early childhood resource centre

  58,636

  (1988–89)

  Abasan biscuit factory project

  20,920

  (1988)

  Appropriate health resources technologies group (AHRTAG)

  Bir Zeit community health unit

  6,348

  (1988)

  Y care international Relief for victims of the uprising, dependants, and training

  53,000

  (1987–89)

  British Red Cross-ICRC Provision of tents for emergency housing

  38,000

  (1988)

  World vision of Europe

  Emergency relief to dependants of victims of the uprising

  24,000

  (1988)

  Requests from NGOs for additional funds amounting to over £1 million are under consideration.

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Training programe

  65,000

  110,000

  127,000

  285,000

  165,000

  Book presentation programme

  5,000

  5,000

  5,000

  5,000

  5,000

  The United Kingdom also provides support through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees. In each year from 1984 to 1987 £5 million was contributed directly, increasing to £5·2 million in 1988. £5·5 million is being provided in 1989.

  The United Kingdom contributes to the European Community programme for the west bank and Gaza. In 1987 and 1988 about £0.4 million a year was attributable to the United Kingdom. Of the Community's contribution to UNRWA about £3 million in each of the two years was attributable to the United Kingdom.

WALES

  Agricultural Pollution
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many farms in Wales were visited by his staff and advised about methods of controlling agricultural pollution in each of the last five years.
  243
  Mr. Peter Walker
  Information on the number of farms visited to provide advice on pollution control is not available. The Agricultural Development and Advisory Service takes every opportunity to discuss pollution control measures in the course of farm visits made for other purposes, and provides advice free.

  Human Rights
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received about the denial of human rights in Wales; and which organisations made these representations.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The information is not available. The question of human rights can be interpreted as covering an extremely wide range of issues for which my Department is responsible. Some representations received from both organisations and individuals, may raise allegations of denials of human rights. No central record is kept of such representations or of the organisations making them.

  Teachers' Salaries
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how teacher salary costs are calculated in Wales for the local management formula for primary schools in the calculation of school budgets.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Under local management of schools primary schools budgets will be determined by a formula based largely on age-weighted pupil numbers. At least 75 per cent. of the resources so distributed must be in proportion to age-weighted pupil numbers. In deciding how heavily to weight each age of pupils, LEAs will need to make assumptions about teaching costs for each age group. These assumptions will be based on average teacher salaries. However, Welsh Office circular 36/88 recognises that in the case of small schools there may be variations between the actual teaching costs and the LEA's average costs, due to teachers' position on the main scale and the incidence of salary safeguarding. LEAs may therefore adjust schools' budgets to reflect this factor. In general, however, the degree of protection should be tapered according to the size of school, so that budget shares of larger schools are not adjusted.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many and what percentage of officers in grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. respectively, and overall in his Department are(a) women and (b) members of ethnic minorities.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The information is as follows:

  (a)

  (b)

  Women

  Members of ethnic minorities

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Grade I

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Grade 2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Grade 3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Grade 4

  1

  20·0

  —

  —

  Grade 5

  51/2

  10·0

  —

  —

  Grade 6

  171/2

  19·0

  1

  1·0

  Grade 7

  13

  9·5

  1

  0·7

  Department total

  987

  46·0

  20

  0·9

  244
  Notes:

  1. As at 1 January 1989.

  2. The grade categories shown include equivalent professional grades.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when his Department last conducted a survey of the ethnic origin of its employees; when it next plans to do so; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  My Department carried out a survey of the ethnic origin of its employees in May 1988. The ethnic origin of all new entrants is known and I have no present plans for another survey.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to recruit members of ethnic minorities in top grades of employment at his Department.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  My Department is an equal opportunity employer. It gives equal consideration, regardless of colour, race, ethnic or national origins, to all candidates in its promotion and recruitment procedures. This applies to all levels of management.

  Local Government Staff
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were(a) working in local government in Wales, and (b) working in the different occupational categories in local government in Wales in 1979, 1985 arid each subsequent year.

  Mr. Grist
  The information requested is published table 47 of "Welsh Local Governmental Financial Statistics No. 12, 1988", copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  Water Industry Staff
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were working in the water industry in Wales in 1979, 1985 and each subsequent year.

  Mr. Grist
  The number of people working in the water industry in Wales is not available in the exact form requested. Figures are available for the Welsh water authority's area of supply and those people employed by the Wrexham and East Denbighshire water company and the Chester water company. These are detailed in the following table:

  Manpower (Full-time equivalent employees as at 31 March 1988)

  Welsh water authority

  Wrexham and East Denbighshire

  Chester Waterworks Company

  1979

  5,594

  150

  89

  1985

  4,709

  131

  85

  1986

  4,746

  121

  84

  1987

  4,845

  119

  80

  1988

  4,618

  113

  78

  Education (Staff)
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were working(a) in education and (b) the different occupational categories in education in Wales in 1979, 1985 and each subsequent year.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Information for the maintained! sector is given in "Welsh Local Government Financial
  245
  Statistics, No. 12, 1988" (table 47) copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Directly comparable figures for the independent sector are not available.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were working(a) in the Welsh Office, and (b) in the different occupational categories in the Welsh Office in 1979, 1985 and each subsequent year.

  Year

  Senior open structure

  Administration and clerical

  Professional grades

  Support grades

  Industrial grades

  Total

  1979

  17

  1,596·0

  345·5

  472·5

  168·0

  2,599

  1985

  13

  1,432·0

  297·5

  399·0

  127·5

  2,269

  1986

  14

  1,471·5

  288·5

  388·5

  120·5

  2,283

  Year

  Senior open structure

  Open structure

  Administration and clerical

  Professional grades

  Support grades

  Industrial grades

  Total

  1987

  17

  232·0

  1,319·5

  170·5

  387·0

  119·0

  2,245

  1988

  17

  235·5

  1,312·0

  166·0

  359·5

  114·0

  2,204

  1989

  17

  229·5

  1,298·5

  164·5

  349·0

  107·5

  2,166

  Baglan Road
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the design load of that part of the road from Baglan to the point of the road over the bridge at the roundabout for Swansea or Carmarthen; and whether it has been exceeded in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The existing road is heavily loaded, but no single traffic capacity figure is available since that depends on many factors, especially junctions. Delays tend to occur particularly at peak periods at Baglan roundabout, but work will start shortly on a scheme to alleviate this. Further relief will be achieved with the completion of the final section of the M4 in 1994.

  Bathing Water
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the sewerage outfalls from Wales into the Bristol channel, together with industrial discharges; and whether he has made any assessment of how many more outlets can be allowed before the water quality off south Wales and north Devon would require the European Community to take legal action over the failure of many beaches to meet European Community bathing water standards.

  Mr. Grist
  Sewerage outfalls from Wales direct to the Bristol channel are listed in the following table. Information on industrial discharges, which are the responsibility of the Welsh water authority, is not centrally available.

  Cardiff Western

  Baglan

  Barry East New

  Mumbles Head

  Barry West Town

  Bishopston

  Rhoose East

  Southgate

  Rhoose West

  Oxwich

  West Aberthaw

  Overton

  Llantwit Major

  Rhossili

  Penybont

  Saundersfoot

  Newton Point

  Tenby

  Irongate

  Manorbier

  Afan

  Stackpole

  No such assessment as suggested by my hon. Friend is needed. I refer him to my reply of 10 April at column 382.
  246
  Mr. Peter Walker
  The number of permanent staff working in my Department in 1979, 1985 and each subsequent year and their occupational categories are set out in the following table. Direct comparisons between individual occupational categories after 1986 are however not possible since in following years they were affected by changes arising from the introduction of unified grading and the expansion of the open structure.

  Red Kites
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many red kites have been found dead in mid-Wales during each of the past three years; what has been the cause of death in each case; and how many prosecutions for the use of illegal poison have been taken out in the same period.

  Mr. Grist
  The Department is involved only if red kites are suspected of dying from pesticide poisoning. In 1986, there were three such incidents in mid-Wales, each involving one red kite. In one case the cause of death was not established. In the other two cases the insecticide Fenthion was indentified as the cause of death and although circumstances suggested its illegal use as a poison, this could not be cofirmed. There were no cases recorded in 1987 or 1988. So far this year there have been two incidents involving two and four birds respectively and these cases are still under investigation. There have been no prosecutions in Wales for illegal poisoning of red kites since the beginning of 1986.

  Post-Chernobyl Restrictions
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of farms, number of sheep and number of acres subject of post-Chernobyl restrictions as at February; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Approximately 416 holdings, 300,000 sheep and 210,000 acres. Restrictions will be lifted as soon as it is possible to do so without compromising food safety.

  Housing
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list(a) the number of dwellings owned, (b) the number of dwellings built, (c) the number of dwellings sold and (d) the number of dwellings purchased from the private sector, in each year since 1980 by each housing authority in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  [holding answer 11 April 1989]: The information requested is given in the following tables:

  247

  (a) Estimates of local authority or New Town owned stock at 1 April1

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Aberconwy

  4,020

  4,151

  3,718

  3,420

  3,450

  3,270

  3,227

  3,139

  Alyn and Deeside

  6,135

  5,944

  5,730

  5,647

  5,658

  5,619

  5,573

  5,503

  Arfon

  5,998

  5,979

  5,643

  5,515

  5,422

  5,358

  5,304

  5,237

  Blaenau Gwent

  11,405

  11,673

  11,629

  11,629

  11,301

  11,123

  11,012

  10,871

  Brecknock

  3,838

  3,894

  3,509

  3,337

  3,264

  3,172

  3,095

  3,019

  Cardiff

  24,600

  25,238

  25,009

  23,644

  23,408

  23,189

  22,551

  21,776

  Carmarthen

  4,142

  4,116

  3,926

  3,827

  3,818

  3,779

  3,740

  3,711

  Ceredigion

  4,122

  4,119

  3,954

  3,751

  3,786

  3,758

  3,700

  3,662

  Colwyn

  3,128

  3,143

  3,092

  3,010

  2,998

  2,939

  2,877

  2,821

  Cynon Valley

  6,371

  6,521

  6,217

  5,815

  5,804

  5,763

  5,699

  5,596

  Delyn

  6,193

  5,896

  5,519

  5,285

  5,252

  5,161

  5,088

  4,992

  Dinefwr

  3,035

  3,104

  3,005

  2,880

  2,821

  2,846

  2,795

  2,755

  Dwyfor

  1,681

  1,710

  1,634

  1,562

  1,535

  1,510

  1,490

  1,484

  Glyndwr

  3,969

  3,977

  3,801

  3,501

  3,419

  3,343

  3,284

  3,217

  Islwyn

  8,988

  9,070

  8,804

  7,468

  7,148

  7,003

  6,858

  6,667

  Llanelli

  9,516

  9,504

  9,010

  8,375

  8,009

  7,702

  7,626

  7,529

  Lliw Valley

  6,020

  6,210

  6,065

  5,651

  5,607

  5,536

  5.547

  5,458

  Meirionnydd

  2,687

  2,732

  2,669

  2,388

  2,362

  2,320

  2,259

  2,203

  Merthyr Tydfil

  8,389

  8,619

  8,356

  7,952

  7,808

  7,695

  7,541

  7,357

  Monmouth

  6,282

  6,034

  5,943

  5,641

  5,567

  5,452

  5,388

  5,351

  Montgomery2

  5,085

  5,248

  4,928

  4,688

  4,575

  4,624

  4,626

  4,503

  Neath

  7,454

  7,560

  7,014

  6,660

  6,508

  6,385

  6,190

  6,096

  Newport

  15,711

  15,685

  15,357

  14,989

  14,507

  14,340

  14,020

  13,839

  Ogwr

  12,916

  13,087

  12,820

  11,769

  11,376

  11,141

  10,892

  10,613

  Port Talbot (Afan)

  9,042

  9,014

  8,782

  8,260

  7,682

  7,381

  7,115

  6,834

  Preseli

  7,327

  7,335

  6,783

  6,544

  6,377

  6,278

  6,286

  6,200

  Radnor

  1,519

  1,548

  1,459

  1,370

  1,281

  1,286

  1,268

  1,262

  Rhondda

  5,255

  5,428

  5,395

  5,240

  5,217

  5,291

  5,234

  5,153

  Rhuddlan

  3,131

  3,201

  3,097

  3,016

  2,900

  2,897

  2,907

  2,905

  Rhymney Valley

  12,635

  12,895

  12,378

  11,667

  11,292

  11,089

  10,920

  10,641

  South Pembrokeshire

  3,677

  3,635

  3,487

  3,348

  3,216

  3,166

  3,112

  3,072

  Swansea

  19,863

  19,996

  19,630

  19,261

  19,164

  19,048

  18,788

  18,554

  Taff-Ely

  10,066

  10,058

  9,815

  9,405

  9,198

  8,932

  8,609

  8,3:56

  Torfaen3

  18,496

  19,014

  17,589

  16,074

  15,524

  15,092

  14,787

  14,5:59

  Vale of Glamorgan

  8,693

  8,405

  8,074

  7,701

  7,449

  7,203

  7,105

  6,927

  Wrexham Maelor

  17,949

  18,060

  17,556

  17,125

  17,017

  16,941

  16,857

  16,666

  Ynys Môn

  6,455

  6,659

  6,397

  6,196

  6,155

  6,180

  6,087

  6,037

  WALES

  295,793

  298,462

  287,794

  273,611

  267,875

  263,812

  259,457

  254,565

  1 Estimates for the years 1981 to 1985 have been revised since previous publication.

  2 Includes New Town dwellings in Newtown.

  3 Includes New Town dwellings in Cwmbran.

  (b) Number of dwellings built by local authorities or New Towns

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Aberconwy

  104

  19

  0

  38

  0

  20

  0

  0

  Alyn and Deeside

  35

  35

  58

  78

  39

  30

  33

  49

  Arfon

  17

  29

  40

  0

  34

  3

  0

  18

  Blaenau Gwent

  230

  291

  60

  0

  73

  5

  0

  27

  Brecknock

  40

  0

  36

  32

  0

  12

  0

  25

  Cardiff

  482

  368

  213

  273

  353

  48

  0

  6

  Carmarthen

  85

  57

  80

  91

  65

  6

  35

  26

  Ceredigion

  90

  81

  76

  64

  101

  0

  41

  43

  Colwyn

  126

  40

  0

  50

  24

  0

  18

  0

  Cynon Valley

  24

  0

  14

  0

  40

  0

  0

  25

  Delyn

  48

  0

  7

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Dinefwr

  57

  42

  17

  7

  71

  0

  34

  32

  Dwyfor

  17

  16

  6

  5

  0

  9

  4

  0

  Glyndwr

  27

  102

  51

  13

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Islwyn

  26

  119

  44

  55

  34

  21

  40

  64

  Llanelli

  58

  54

  44

  24

  0

  67

  73

  37

  Lliw Valley

  155

  150

  40

  88

  115

  11

  34

  33

  Meirionnydd

  38

  45

  37

  12

  12

  0

  0

  0

  Merthyr Tydfil

  228

  96

  12

  11

  5

  0

  0

  4

  Monmouth

  93

  86

  0

  101

  99

  38

  74

  15

  Montgomery1

  53

  99

  67

  8

  95

  48

  16

  26

  Neath

  73

  40

  26

  57

  68

  16

  28

  38

  Newport

  167

  282

  83

  54

  154

  93

  93

  97

  Ogwr

  140

  218

  46

  22

  77

  109

  44

  55

  Port Talbot (Afan)

  0

  24

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Preseli

  64

  17

  0

  0

  0

  0

  11

  39

  Radnor

  30

  20

  20

  31

  38

  10

  14

  0

  Rhondda

  155

  132

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Rhuddlan

  57

  31

  59

  20

  51

  24

  44

  41

  Rhymney Valley

  183

  97

  56

  107

  51

  37

  0

  0

  248 249

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  South Pembrokeshire

  41

  0

  0

  6

  21

  0

  0

  0

  Swansea

  58

  93

  116

  20

  94

  57

  15

  14

  Taff-Ely

  173

  86

  69

  124

  39

  0

  32

  50

  Torfaen2

  274

  176

  121

  213

  199

  44

  106

  20

  Vale of Glamorgan

  119

  74

  73

  0

  38

  0

  36

  3

  Wrexham Maelor

  40

  104

  69

  62

  61

  70

  7

  55

  Ynys Mon

  200

  62

  36

  35

  91

  20

  25

  22

  WALES

  3,807

  3,185

  1,676

  1,701

  2,142

  798

  857

  864

  1 Includes New Town dwellings in Newtown.

  2 Includes New Town dwellings in Cwmbran.

  (c) Number of dwellings sold by local authorities or New Towns

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Aberconwy

  0

  297

  400

  145

  84

  82

  87

  81

  Alyn and Deeside

  253

  225

  141

  73

  65

  76

  103

  137

  Arfon

  4

  357

  176

  112

  93

  65

  72

  63

  Blaenau Gwent

  9

  340

  323

  160

  92

  108

  153

  171

  Brecknock

  0

  396

  152

  120

  108

  90

  99

  92

  Cardiff

  11

  475

  1,604

  651

  566

  611

  775

  591

  Carmarthen

  123

  263

  167

  103

  102

  59

  74

  79

  Ceredigion

  54

  221

  258

  128

  83

  57

  79

  74

  Colwyn

  75

  97

  77

  67

  54

  66

  74

  75

  Cynon Valley

  0

  249

  317

  104

  90

  76

  103

  124

  Delyn

  358

  326

  256

  76

  55

  65

  96

  129

  Dinefwr

  0

  128

  140

  64

  44

  52

  74

  76

  Dwyfor

  0

  85

  80

  37

  23

  27

  15

  13

  Glyndwr

  4

  229

  285

  99

  75

  63

  67

  63

  Islwyn

  0

  326

  1,304

  405

  212

  175

  233

  263

  Llanelli

  31

  618

  530

  479

  293

  159

  171

  206

  Lliw Valley

  0

  278

  447

  123

  79

  117

  129

  145

  Meirionnydd

  0

  116

  227

  109

  61

  57

  56

  52

  Merthyr Tydfil

  0

  317

  387

  165

  115

  167

  185

  216

  Monmouth

  147

  240

  251

  181

  166

  140

  129

  193

  Montgomery1

  0

  414

  267

  120

  74

  84

  133

  155

  Neath

  4

  603

  361

  125

  123

  124

  146

  200

  Newport

  98

  628

  489

  414

  355

  341

  275

  277

  Ogwr

  0

  440

  1,073

  401

  348

  318

  325

  382

  Port Talbot (Afan)

  14

  231

  537

  521

  293

  280

  281

  295

  Preseli

  33

  570

  281

  158

  111

  104

  100

  122

  Radnor

  0

  112

  114

  94

  29

  28

  23

  45

  Rhondda

  0

  127

  65

  40

  22

  55

  81

  59

  Rhuddlan

  3

  120

  139

  129

  61

  30

  46

  85

  Rhymney Valley

  1

  530

  820

  383

  246

  196

  274

  260

  South Pembrokeshire

  99

  62

  134

  136

  55

  45

  40

  67

  Swansea

  17

  336

  468

  219

  156

  207

  254

  381

  Taff-Ely

  15

  452

  457

  462

  261

  266

  293

  377

  Torfaen2

  331

  1,072

  1,561

  741

  694

  486

  334

  317

  Vale of Glamorgan

  452

  370

  422

  298

  212

  207

  223

  195

  Wrexham Maelor

  0

  530

  497

  161

  138

  154

  199

  188

  Ynys Môn

  0

  277

  270

  89

  57

  96

  75

  65

  WALES

  2,136

  12,457

  15,477

  7,892

  5,695

  5,333

  5,876

  6,313

  1 Includes sales of New Town dwellings in Newtown.

  2 Includes sales of New Town dwellings in Cwmbran.

  (d) Number of dwellings purchased by local authorities or New Towns1

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Aberconwy

  0

  0

  1

  1

  2

  4

  0

  2

  Alyn and Deeside

  0

  2

  6

  5

  2

  3

  0

  0

  Arfon

  7

  0

  3

  11

  2

  5

  5

  2

  Blaenau Gwent

  0

  0

  2

  2

  0

  0

  12

  22

  Brecknock

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  14

  15

  Cardiff

  0

  1

  0

  1

  0

  3

  4

  3

  Carmarthen

  5

  1

  1

  2

  7

  3

  11

  3

  Ceredigion

  0

  1

  0

  4

  2

  2

  0

  0

  Colwyn

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cynon Valley

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Delyn

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  1

  Dinefwr

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Dwyfor

  2

  0

  1

  4

  1

  4

  5

  7

  Glyndwr

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Islwyn

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  4

  2

  2

  Llanelli

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Lliw Valley

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  6

  5

  250 251

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Meirionnydd

  7

  1

  1

  4

  2

  0

  0

  2

  Merthyr Tydfil

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  62

  0

  Monmouth

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  6

  18

  12

  Montgomery

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  Neath

  3

  8

  9

  9

  1

  22

  29

  25

  Newport

  19

  19

  2

  2

  1

  61

  68

  40

  Ogwr

  0

  0

  1

  2

  2

  16

  21

  47

  Port Talbot (Afan)

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Preseli

  7

  4

  5

  3

  2

  7

  3

  0

  Radnor

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  3

  Rhondda

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Rhuddlan

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Rhymney Valley

  0

  0

  2

  0

  3

  0

  8

  79

  South Pembrokeshire

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1

  2

  0

  0

  Swansea

  0

  0

  5

  4

  0

  1

  4

  9

  Taff-Ely

  4

  0

  2

  3

  0

  8

  9

  1

  Torfaen

  1

  3

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Vale of Glamorgan

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  9

  3

  Wrexham Maelor

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Ynys Môn

  4

  1

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  WALES

  60

  43

  45

  64

  30

  157

  295

  287

  1 Figures since 1985–86 include re-purchases under Part XVI of the Housing Act 1985.

SCOTLAND

  Vehicle Lessees (Protection)
  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will seek to introduce legislation giving protection to lessees of motor vehicles in Scotland similar to that provided for lessees in England under the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1983.

  Mr. Forth
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Law Commission and Scottish Law Commission recommended in their report on the sale and supply of goods (Law Corn. No. 160, Scot. Law Com. No. 104, Cm. 137) that the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 be extended to Scotland. This would give statutory protection to lessees of motor vehicles in Scotland, particularly in respect of implied terms as to quality and fitness for purpose. The Government have announced their support for the Law Commission's recommendations and the intention to legislate at an appropriate opportunity.

  Waste Disposal at Sea
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those operations for which sea disposal licences for the deposit or incineration of waste at sea have been granted under part II of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The number of licences issued by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland under part II of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 is as follows:—

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Marine Incineration

  0

  0

  0

  Liquid Industrial Waste

  0

  0

  0

  Solid Industrial Waste

  2

  1

  3

  Sewage Sludge

  2

  2

  2

  Dredged Spoil

  24

  32

  25

  All licences are issued on an annual basis. Details of licences issued are maintained by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland on a public register.

  Internal Market
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the total value to the latest available full year of public sector contracts in Scotland of a character which will make them open to Communitywide bidding as part of the creation of the internal market.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No assessment has been made because information is not held centrally on Scottish public sector contracts. The cost of establishing a means of assessing the value of public contracts in Scotland to be opened to Communitywide bidding would not be justified.

  Electoral Registers
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the reasons why the sale of the electoral register is allowed; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 1986 provide for the publication and supply of the electoral register, including the sale of copies at a prescribed fee. These provisions reflect the fact that the electoral register is a public document which requires to be widely circulated for electoral purposes; and the conclusion that its use by commercial organisations could not effectively be prevented, but that a charge for such use should be made.

  Eggs
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure that eggs imported into Scotland will have been subjected to equally rigorous egg production and hygiene regulations as eggs produced in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 4 April to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies). Eggs are not normally imported directly into Scotland from other EC member states.

  Fire Prevention (Cigarettes)
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his response to the suggestion by the chief inspector of fire services for Scotland that the production of fire-proof cigarettes should be considered as an aid to reducing household fires.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I noted the comments made by Her Majesty's chief inspector of fire services for Scotland in his 1987 annual report on the research that was carried out in the United States on safer cigarettes. That research took the form of a technical study which is the subject of further research.

  I welcome appropriate steps that can be taken to reduce the loss of life through fire in the home. At present my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, whose Department takes the lead in this area of consumer safety, is monitoring further research on the American technical study. I propose to review the matter when the results of this further research are available, probably in 1990.

  Post-Chernobyl Restrictions
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of farms, number of sheep and number of acres subject to post-Chernobyl restrictions as at February; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  A total of 69 farms, some 64,000 sheep and about 66,000 acres were subject to post-Chernobyl restrictions in February.

  Bute House
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what liability for poll tax exists in respect of his official residence at Bute house in Edinburgh.

  Mr. Lang
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply to the hon. Member for Leith (Mr. Brown) on 5 April 1989.

  Preparatory Schools
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce the names of the preparatory schools to be included in the assisted places scheme in the 1989–90 session and the amount of fee remission grant to be allocated to them.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have decided to admit 16 preparatory schools to the scheme in the 1989–90 school session and details including the fee remission grant are shown in the table. The inclusion of these schools in the scheme widens significantly the type of school available to less well-off families who could not have previously contemplated sending their children to such schools.

  School

  £

  Aberlour House School, Moray

  17,000

  Ardvreck School, Crieff

  3,000

  Beaconhurst Grange School, Bridge of Allan

  12,000

  Belhaven Hill School, Dunbar

  6,000

  Blairmore School, Huntly

  9,000

  Butterstone House School, Dunkeld

  3,000

  Cargilfield School, Edinburgh

  17,000

  Clifton Hall School, Midlothian

  15,000

  Craigclowan Preparatory School, Perth

  11,000

  254

  School

  £

  Crawfordton House School, Dumfreisshire

  15,000

  Croftinloan School, Pitlochry

  14,000

  Drumley House School, Ayrshire

  14,000

  Lathallan School, Montrose

  15,000

  New Park School, St. Andrews

  14,000

  Park Lodge School, Helensburgh

  5,000

  St. Mary's School, Melrose

  13,000

  TOTAL

  183,000

  Items in Lieu of Tax
  Sir Nicholas Fairbairn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if any items have been accepted in lieu of tax since he last made an announcement to Parliament.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Further to my statement of 11 May 1988 at column 128 I am pleased to announce that the following items have been accepted in lieu of tax:

  Amount of lax satisfied

  Item

  £

  Two Marble Busts by Louis Francois Roubiliac

  353,855

  Two Portraits by Angelica Kauffmann

  34,100

  Painting by E1 Greco, known as "Fabula".

  947,136·88

  The Roubiliac busts have been formally allocated to the national museums of Scotland but will remain on public display in situ at Mellerstain house in Berwickshire. In accordance with the conditions upon which the other items were offered, the Kauffmann portraits and the E1 Greco "Fabula" have been allocated to the national galleries of Scotland. The acceptance of the E1 Greco, which was made possible by a call on the reserve in accordance with the arrangements agreed in July 1985, followed the precedent set by the acceptance of Picasso's "Weeping Woman" in that the national galleries of Scotland agreed to pay the owner the difference (£1,152,861) between the tax liability to be satisfied and the "special price" of £2·1 million.

PRIME MINISTER

  Mr. Charles Powell and Mr. Bernard Ingham
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she will transfer Mr. Charles Powell and Mr. Bernard Ingham to other posts in the Civil Service; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Petrol Prices
  Mr. Harry Ewing
  To ask the Prime Minister how many letters she has received regarding the increases in petrol prices.

  The Prime Minister
  As far as I am aware I have not received any recent representations on increases in petrol prices. However, since the Budget the price difference between unleaded and leaded petrol has widened to reflect the enhanced tax advantage for unleaded introduced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

  Cynon Valley
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Prime Minister when she expects to visit Cynon Valley.

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

  President Gorbachev (Visit)
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received following the visit of President Gorbachev.

  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received following the visit of President Gorbachev.

  The Prime Minister
  The visit of President Gorbachev has been widely and warmly received.

  Engagements
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 April.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 April.

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

  Mr. Charles Powell
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the current grade of Mr. Charles Powell; and what is the salary attached to that grade.

  The Prime Minister
  The current grade of Mr. Charles Powell is grade 3 which has a salary range, inclusive of discretionary points and London allowance, of £39,600-£49,600 per annum.

  Economic Policy
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister whether all speeches made by Cabinet Ministers during the course of the last four weeks on general economic policy represented Government policy.

  Firework injuries in Great Britain

  (Four-week period in October to November)

  Year

  1988

  1987

  1986

  1985

  1984

  Total

  877

  960

  846

  968

  778

  Place of accident:

  1. Family or private party

  300

  260

  286

  255

  231

  2. Semi-public display (eg scouts, cricket club)

  69

  88

  72

  76

  65

  3. Large public display

  123

  155

  119

  117

  108

  4. Casual incident in street etc.

  298

  364

  299

  435

  298

  5. Other place

  65

  73

  52

  64

  59

  6. Indoors

  22

  20

  18

  21

  17

  Type of firework

  1. Banger

  162

  163

  161

  241

  175

  2. Rocket

  164

  174

  159

  197

  115

  3. Roman candle, coloured fire etc.

  83

  96

  88

  90

  103

  4. Home-made or extracted powder

  17

  24

  14

  27

  21

  5. Other proprietary fireworks

  86

  109

  118

  73

  74

  6. Sparklers

  102

  95

  80

  67

  65

  7. Unspecified type

  263

  299

  226

  273

  225

  256
  The Prime Minister
  Cabinet Ministers have collective responsibility for Government policy.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Empty Property
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what percentage of properties owned by his Department and suitable for residential accommodation have been empty for (i) up to a year and (ii) over a year; and where these properties are located, by region of the United Kingdom or local authority area.

  Mr. Forth
  My Department has no empty properties suitable for residential accommodation.

  Fireworks (Injuries)
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish the figures of injuries caused by fireworks in 1988.

  Mr. Forth
  According to reports from hospitals in England, Scotland and Wales, 877 people required treatment for injuries caused by fireworks during the three weeks leading up to 5 November 1988 and the few days after. This is 83 fewer than in 1987.

  I am encouraged by these figures, which show a fall on last year, particularly as they show a significant 18 per cent. reduction in the number of street injuries and to children under 16.

  Our safety campaigns last year highlighted the penalties facing shopkeepers who sell fireworks to children under 16 and individuals who let off fireworks in the street. I am pleased to see that the greatest reductions in injuries have been in the prime target groups of our campaigns, but we shall continue to seek greater safety all round.

  We shall discuss with trading standards officers and industry how we can further improve standards of fireworks, particularly imports, and ways of testing their safety. The table sets out the figures of firework injuries in Great Britain over a four-week period in October/November 1988.
  257

  Year

  1988

  1987

  1986

  1985

  1984

  Severity of injury

  1. Fatal injury

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2. Detained more than one night

  69

  60

  48

  53

  55

  3. Sufficient to cause absence from work or equivalent

  167

  158

  160

  231

  161

  4. Minor injury

  587

  661

  582

  632

  506

  5. Unspecified injury

  54

  81

  56

  52

  55

  Eye injuries (included in 2 to 5)

  269

  312

  291

  341

  295

  Age group of injured persons

  1. Over 20

  280

  252

  235

  214

  180

  2. 16 to 20

  151

  168

  145

  161

  109

  3. 13 to 15

  166

  220

  207

  271

  208

  4. Under 13

  280

  320

  259

  322

  281

  Blue Arrow
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he intends to appoint inspectors under section 432 of the Companies Act to investigate Blue Arrow and the Peter de Savary deal; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  I am considering the available information to see whether there is any action my Department need take.

  Visual Display Units
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) by how much United Kingdom manufacturers' percentage share of the visual display unit market has fallen since 1986; what assessment he has made of the reasons for this fall; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what action he is taking to arrest the continuing decline of United Kingdom manufacturers' percentage share of the visual display unit market.
  258
  Mr. Forth
  United Kingdom manufacturers' sales, as a percentage of the United Kingdom market for visual display units, fell from 64 per cent. in 1986 to 47 per cent. in the first nine months of 1988. The figures do not include VDUs that are manufactured and incorporated on site into complete systems, such as personal computers.

  Since early 1987 IBM United Kingdom has manufactured a high proportion of its own VDUs at its British PC plant, and the fact that these are not included in the published VDU statistics is a significant factor in explaining the apparent decline.

  Decisions about sourcing policy are a matter for the commercial judgment of individual busineses. The Government's responsibility is to create the right economic climate and to encourage enterprise. My Department has available a wide range of assistance to companies under the enterprise initiative.

  Opium Derivatives
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the supply of opium derivatives is to be published; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  The report is published today. The Monopolies and Mergers Commission found that a company with around 87 per cent. of the market in the supply of specified opium derivatives has exploited this monopoly situation by engaging in price discrimination and has been enabled to charge high prices in the domestic market, leading to very high levels of profit. The commission concluded that these practices were against the public interest.

  The commission established that Macfarlan Smith Ltd, a subsidiary of Glaxo plc, had around 87 per cent. of the market in the supply of morphine, codeine, dihydroco-deine, diamorphine, ethylmorphine and pholcodine and was therefore a scale monopolist as defined in the Fair Trading Act 1973. The only other manufacturer is the Boots Company plc, which produced codeine and small amounts of morphine, principally for use in-house.

  Opium derivatives are subject to domestic and international controls under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the United Nations single convention on narcotic drugs 1961 and any person wishing to manufacture or process these products in the United Kingdom, or to import them, requires a Home Office licence. There are no imports of opium derivatives into the United Kingdom because it has been Home Office policy for many years not to issue import licences.

  The commission stated in its report that to increase competition in this market was of prime importance. It recommended that the Home Office, in conjunction with other Government Departments, should work towards the creation of a single EC market in the reference products through the reciprocal opening up of trade between EC member countries as soon as possible and not later than 1992. It also concluded that a measure of price protection for Macfarlan Smith's customers in the United Kingdom was necessary and recommended that the company should be required not to increase its maximum prices for reference products to these customers for a period of three years, except in the event of substantial and unavoidable increases in its costs.

  We accept the commission's findings that the monopoly has effects adverse to the public interest and agree that it is most important to increase competition in this market. Therefore my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State will discuss with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, the best means to relieve Macfarlan Smith's customers from the company's abuse of its monopoly power while maintaining adequate safeguards against illicit trade. We hope to achieve this quickly so that a price freeze in the interim will not be necessary. Meanwhile my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State is inviting the Director General of Fair Trading to seek an undertaking from the monopolist that it will continue to make its list of maximum prices available to customers.

  Girobank
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what further progress has been made in finding a suitable buyer for Girobank.

  Mr. Newton
  After detailed discussion with a number of interested parties, the Post Office board has decided to accept the conditional offer made by the Alliance and Leicester building society to purchase Girobank plc. I have endorsed this decision which I am satisfied takes full account of the factors for the sale set out by myself-and my predecessor.

  I understand that the Alliance and Leicester's conditional offer to the Post Office is to acquire the equity and subordinated debt of Girobank for £130 million subject to completion adjustments. The Post Office will now enter into detailed negotiations with the Alliance and Leicester with a view to completion as soon as practicable within the coming weeks. My consent will be required before the final sale can take place.

  In addition, the requirements of the relevant competition legislation will need to be satisfied and the agreement of the Bank of England will be needed to the operation of the bank under a new owner. If the negotiations are successful the Alliance and Leicester will also need to satisfy the Building Societies Commission before the sale is completed.

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, in the light of the attendance of British arms companies at the forthcoming Baghdad international arms fair, he has any plans to change the current restrictions on the export of arms to Iraq.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding answer 19 April 1989]: There are no plans to change the current restrictions on the export of arms to Iraq which impose an embargo on the export of lethal equipment. A licence is required for the export to Iraq of goods which are subject to control under the Export of Goods (Control) Order, 1987, (SI 1987 No. 2070) as amended.

  Applications for such licences are examined in particular against the guidelines on the export of defence equipment to Iran and Iraq announced to the House by my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary on 29 October 1985 at column 454. The guidelines are kept under review in the light of developments in the situation there.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will indicate the criteria relating to the gravity of human rights violations committed by countries in relation to which arms export licences are sought which he uses in deciding whether to grant such licences.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding answer 19 April 1989]: A licence is required for the export of arms which are subject to control under the Export of Goods (Control) Order, 1987 (SI 1987 No. 2070) as amended. Licence applications are considered on a case by case basis, in accordance with stringent export control procedures which include, in particular, an assessment of the human rights record or the country concerned.

  It is not our practice to grant a licence for the export of equipment which is likely to be used for internal repression.

  Publicity Campaigns
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list all current publicity campaigns being conducted by or for the Department of Trade and Industry or ones planned for the first three months of 1989–90, indicating those which involve television advertising and the starting and finishing dates of each campaign.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 19 April 1989]: The information is as follows:

  Campaign

  Start

  Completion

  Enterprise Initiative1

  January 1988

  continuing

  Single European Market

  March 1988

  continuing

  Export Initiative

  January 1989

  continuing

  Bridge Programme2

  March 1989

  May 1989

  1 Includes television advertising in the period April to June 1989.

  2 On behalf of all Government Departments.

HEALTH

  Self-governing Hospitals
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has received any representations regarding the scope for self-governing hospitals to set their own rates of pay for staff.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have received representations from a number of individuals and representative organisations on this subject.

  DHAs and FPCs (Membership)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of district health authorities and family practitioner committee membership in England and Wales(a) in 1979 and (b) currently is made up of trade union nominees; and if he will make a statement on the criteria he uses in appointing district health authority and family practitioner committee members.

  Mr. Mellor
  In England district health authorities have only existed in their present form since 1982. No information is available centrally about members of family practitioner committees in 1979, since at that time they were appointed by area health authorities.

  In England, currently 33 family practitioner committee members were nominated by trade unions. Information is not held centrally about district health authority members since they are appointed by the relevant regional health authority and local authorities. When appointing family practitioner committee members we endeavour to achieve a reasonable balance of age, sex, experience and geographical location. Regional health authorities are asked to do the same when appointing DHA members. However, all members are appointed on the basis of the individual contribution they can make and not to represent any personal or sectional interest.

  Information relating to Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Human Organs (Sales)
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he intends to take to prohibit the sale of human organs; and if he will make a statement.
  262
  Mr. Freeman
  The Government have today introduced the Human Organ Transplants Bill which seeks to ban the sale of human organs intended for transplant. The Bill would make it a criminal offence to:make or receive payment for supplying, or offering to supply, an organ from a dead or living person;
  act as a broker for such an arrangement;
  advertise organs or for organs to be provided for payment;
  transplant an organ from a living donor who is not closely related (cousin or closer relative) to the recipient, unless certain conditions are satisfied. These conditions would be set out in the regulations.

  The regulations would specify the way in which the relationship between voluntary donor and recipient would be established and the conditions which would have to be satisfied for those who are not closely related. Responsibility for ensuring that the regulations were being complied with would be given to such authority as would be set up under those regulations.

  Pharmaceutical Services
  Dame Peggy Fenner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to issue the promised clearer guidelines in respect of applications to provide pharmaceutical services.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have already issued advice on the effects of a judgment by the High Court on applications for the minor relocation of a pharmacy. We have been discussing these effects and a number of other matters with interested parties and will issue draft guidance for comment shortly.

  Radioactivity (Accidents)
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each district health authority(a) the establishment of medical physicists appropriately qualified to carry out the duties identified in circulars HC (89) 8 and HN (FP) (89) 8 and (b) the number of such appropriately qualified physicists in post at the latest available date.

  Mr. Mellor
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Radiotherapy Physicists
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the staffing levels recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection for radiotherapy physicists in terms of new courses on radiotherapy treatment.

  Mr. Mellor
  In 1985 the international commission on radiological protection published a document entitled "Protection of the Patient in Radiation Therapy". Page 39 of that document states that one of the goals for radiation oncology staffing is one medical physicist per 400 new patients treated per year.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each region(a) the number of radiotherapy physicists required to fulfil the staffing levels recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection in terms of new courses of radiotherapy treatment and (b) the number of such radiotherapy physicists currently in post.

  Mr. Mellor
  This information is not available centrally.

  Hospital and Community Health Service
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was Government spending on the hospital and community health service budget as a proportion of the average household income in 1987–88.

  Mr. Freeman
  Gross expenditure on the hospital and community health service per household in the United Kingdom in 1987–88 represented 4·5 per cent. of average household income in that year.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners there were in(a) 1979 and (b) in the latest year for which figures are available; and what is his estimate of future trends.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information required is set out in the following table.

  Unrestricted principals in England

  As at 1 October

  Number

  1979

  21,357

  1987

  24,922

  1988

  125,322

  1 Provisional.

  The second advisory committee for medical manpower planning, which reported earlier this year assumed a growth of 1·5 per cent. per annum until the early 1990s followed by a decrease of 0·5 per cent. per annum up to 2005. Paragraph 7·22 of the White Paper "Working for Patients" sets out the Government's policy on GP numbers.

  Empty Property
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of properties owned by his Department and suitable for residential accommodation have been empty for (i) up to a year and (ii) over a year; and where these properties are located, by region of the United Kingdom or local authority area.

  Mr. Freeman
  Information to this level of detail is not collected by the Department.

  Babies (Alcohol)
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the maximum amount of alcohol that is assessed as acceptable for babies to consume daily; and if he will request the manufacturers of gripe water to label their products with the percentage of alcohol contained, to reconsider the amount of the recommended dose, and to display warnings of the dangers of exceeding it.

  Mr. Freeman
  I am advised that the small amount of alcohol contained in some gripe waters should not intoxicate babies if used responsibly by parents in accordance with manufacturers' instructions.

  Family Practitioner Service
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost of the family practitioner service in 1978–79 and in 1987–88; and what was the total cost of drugs prescribed by general practitioners at those two dates.
  264
  Mr. Mellor
  The gross costs of the family practitioner services in England, including capital expenditure but excluding administration and related costs, were £1,434 million in 1978–79, and £4,210 million in 1987–88. The gross cost of drugs prescribed by general practitioners in 1978–79 and 1987–88 were £558 million and £1,547 million respectively.

  Family Doctors
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints were made against family doctors over the past five years.

  Mr. Mellor
  Complaints investigated by family practitioner committees against family doctors in England under the National Health Service (Service Committees and Tribunal) Regulations 1974 were:

  Number

  1984

  952

  1985

  1,286

  1986

  1,138

  1987

  1,027

  1988

  1,162

  In addition some complaints are resolved by family practitioner committees on an informal basis with the agreement of the parties concerned.

  Salary Scales
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the advances in the maximum of the personal secretary scale and higher clerical scale over the last 15 years.

  Mr. Mellor
  The maximum of the pay scales for personal secretary and higher clerical officer grades from 1 April 1974 are shown in the following table.

  Effective from 1 April

  Personal secretary £

  Higher clerical officer £

  1974

  1,773

  1,995

  1975

  2,274

  2,553

  11975

  2,388

  2,691

  1976

  2,700

  3,003

  1977

  2,843

  3,153

  1978

  3,104

  3,452

  1979

  3,787

  4,240

  1980

  4,317

  4,834

  1981

  4,571

  5,119

  1982

  4,845

  5,426

  1983

  5,063

  5,670

  1984

  5,291

  5,925

  1985

  5,529

  6,191

  1986

  5,885

  6,556

  1987

  6,148

  6,884

  1988

  6,474

  7,228

  1 Effective from 1 July.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has about the practice of some health authorities of paying secretaries on the general adtrinstrative grade plus proficiency allowances; and if he will give a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not hold such information centrally. The grading of posts and payment of allowances are matters for individual employing authorities in accordance
  265
  with agreements reached in the administrative and clerical staffs Whitley council. Under existing agreements proficiency allowances are not payable to staff on the general adminstrative grade.

  Health Care (Rural Areas)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his future plans for provision of health care in rural areas of South Yorkshire.

  Mr. Freeman
  Provision and planning of local health services is a matter for the district and regional health authorities. Since responsibility for South Yorkshire lies with four district health authorities—Barnsley, Doncaster,

  Total

  Women

  1Recorded ethnic minorities

  Number

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  All grades

  14,880

  6,745

  45·0

  384

  2·6

  Grade 1

  1

  0

  —

  0

  —

  Grade 2

  3

  0

  —

  0

  —

  Grade 3

  18

  1

  5·6

  0

  —

  Grade 4

  15

  0

  —

  0

  —

  Grade 5

  92

  8

  8·7

  1

  1·0

  Grade 6

  110

  0

  —

  2

  1·8

  Grade 7

  645

  42

  6·5

  14

  2·2

  1 Figures for numbers of ethnic minority staff are based on a voluntary confidential survey of staff; the response rate was 72 per cent. overall and 84 per cent. for grades 1 to 7.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department last conducted a survey of the ethnic origin of its employees; when it next plans to do so; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Department completed its voluntary survey of the ethnic origins of staff already in post in the autumn of 1987. This information is kept up to date on a continuous basis by asking job applicants to complete a questionnaire about their ethnic origin.

  The Cabinet Office will be publishing the results of its national ethnic survey of all Departments later this year.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to recruit members of ethnic minorities in top grades of employment at his Department.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Civil Service Commission is responsible for recruitment of top grades to all Departments of the Civil Service. Recruitment and promotion are carried out on the principle of fair and open competition.

  Transatlantic Flights (Prestwick)
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Report figures showing the number of transatlantic flights (a) originating at Prestwick airport and (b) using Prestwick as an interim landing point in the years 1978 to 1988.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Department does not have this information. I shall draw my hon. Friend's question to the attention of the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority, who may be able to provide it at least for the later years.
  266
  Rotherham and Sheffield—the hon. Member may care to write to the chairman of the Trent regional health authority for the information he seeks.

TRANSPORT

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what percentage of officers in grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, respectively, and overall in his Department are(a) women and (b) members of ethnic minorities.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The numbers and percentages of women and ethnic minority staff employed by the Department at present are:

  Scottish Lowland Air Traffic
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the review of Scottish lowland air traffic distribution; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received a large number of representations about BAA's request for a review of Scottish lowland airports policy, the greater proportion against changing it.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish his review of Scottish lowland air traffic distribution; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  My right hon. Friend is considering BAA plc's request for a review in the light of advice from my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland; he will make an announcement in due course.

  A17-A151 Junction (Lighting)
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of whether the junction of the A 17 road with the A151 is adequately illuminated at night.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We considered the provision of lighting carefully during preparation of the A17 New Washway road scheme. Lighting is both expensive and intrusive and can be justified only where it is expected to make a significant contribution to road safety. The provision of lighting to the west of Boston road roundabout, including the A151 link road junction, could not be justified.

  We do not normally light isolated junctions in rural areas except as part of a larger system. Isolated clusters of

  267
  lights can be dangerous because switching from darkness to light and back in quick succession can disorientate drivers on the main road. The proper way to warn drivers of a junction is by adequate signing. This has been done.

  Mersey Tunnels (Tolls)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to make the orders authorising an increase in Mersey tunnel tolls; whether he intends to use his powers under the County of Merseyside Act 1980 to confirm or modify the toll levels for fiscal year 1989–90; how any waiving of interest repayments would be authorised and financed; what are his long-term plans for the financing of the Mersey tunnels; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  On 14 April a letter was sent to the Merseyside passenger transport authority informing it of the Secretary of State's decision to confirm, with modifications, its order setting new toll levels for the Mersey tunnels. The order will be made shortly.

  The long-term financing of the tunnels is the responsibility of the PTA. I hope there will now be fresh discussions with the PTA about its options for putting the finances of the tunnels on a sound basis.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider lifting tolls on the Mersey tunnels; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Mersey tunnels were promoted by the local authorities under legislation on the basis that they should be tolled. The legislation does not provide for the Secretary of State to abolish tolls.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will commission a study into the potential increase in traffic using the Mersey tunnels should tolls be lifted.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Mersey tunnels are the responsibility of the Merseyside PTA. Any such study would he a matter for it.

  Motorways (Speed Limit)
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has conducted to establish whether a 70 mph limit on motorways is conducive to bunching.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  There is little evidence to suggest that the introduction of the 70 mph speed limit on motorways has contributed to dangerous bunching. The limit has, however, contributed to a reduction in accidents on motorways rather than the increase which might be expected if dangerous bunching was on the increase. The severity of injuries is also lower at lower speeds.

  Empty Property
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of properties owned by his Department and suitable for residential accommodation have been empty for (i) up to a year and (ii) over a year; and where these properties are located, by region of the United Kingdom or local authority area.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The information for regions in England is:268

  Properties owned by the Department and suitable for residential accommodation

  Region

  Number

  Percentage empty for up to a year

  Percentage empty for over a year

  South West

  139

  15

  5

  Eastern

  365

  2

  1

  South East

  210

  7

  3

  North West

  406

  —

  —

  East Midlands

  104

  11

  10

  West Midlands

  82

  11

  5

  London

  866

  2

  3

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  54

  13

  11

  Northern

  29

  —

  —

  England total

  2,255

  4

  3

  In Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales the respective Secretaries of State are responsible for the management of land purchased for national road schemes.

  Roads (Expenditure)
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent in 1988–89 under the national roads England vote (class VIII, vote I).

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Expenditure is provisionally estimated at £1,021·6 million, less than 2 per cent., some £20 million, below the cash limit of £1,041·4 million. This reflects commitment to making full use of provision for roads expenditure within the discipline of cash limits.

  Air Security
  Mr. Litherland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will meet the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority to discuss the introduction of mandatory protective measures for modern aircraft requiring(a) the fitting of locks to doors and latches and (b) the reinforcing of bulkheads and control systems from possible explosive damage; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The question would be more appropriately directed to the Civil Aviation Authority, which has the statutory responsibility for the safety regulation of civil aviation. I shall bring the hon. Member's concern to the attention to the chairman.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Empty Property
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of properties owned by his Department and suitable for residential accommodation have been empty for (i) up to a year and (ii) over a year; and where these properties are located, by region of the United Kingdom or local authority area.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Department of Education and Science owns no residential accommodation.

  Modern Hebrew
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what representations he has received about the status of modern Hebrew in the GCSE curriculum;
  269
  (2) if he will make a statement about the position of modern Hebrew in the GCSE modern language schedules;

  (3) if he will consider revising the GCSE schedules to include modern Hebrew; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend is not aware of any issue concerning the GCSE in modern Hebrew. We assume that the hon. Member is referring to the draft order on modern foreign languages in the national curriculum and the proposals which my right hon. Friend announced in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Knapman) on 3 March at column 338. My right hon. Friend has received a small number of representations from organisations, local education authorities, teachers and others about the place of modern Hebrew in the national curriculum. We are at present considering the responses received during the consultation period.

  Universities (Grants)
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the University Grants Commission under its present powers, can divide grants to universities into separate blocks for teaching and for research.

  Estimated numbers' and cost' of incentive allowances, financial year 1989–90

  Rate

  Level of allowance (£)

  Numbers in ordinary schools (000's)

  Numbers in special schools (000's)

  Total numbers (000's)

  Total cost(£ million)

  A

  801

  53·5

  0

  53·5

  49·4

  B

  1,200

  54·2

  11·5

  65·7

  90·8

  C

  2,400

  14·8

  2·1

  16·9

  46·7

  D

  3,201

  26·1

  0·3

  26·4

  97·4

  E

  4,401

  8·9

  0·1

  9·0

  45·6

  Total

  329·9

  1 Numbers are a financial year average of the estimates for the school years 1988–89 and 1989–90. These take the accelerated introduction of the A allowances into account.

  2 The total cost figure includes employers' oncosts.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what announcements he made in 1988, in relation to school teachers' pay and allowances for 1988–89, concerning the total value or cost of incentive allowances payable in that year; if he will publish a calculation for each such figure of total value or cost showing how the total figure was derived from the expected numbers of allowances; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend made no such announcements in 1988.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Attendance Allowance
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects people who are terminally ill to be able to claim attendance allowance immediately, in line with the recommendation of the recent Social Security Advisory Committee report; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the right hon. and learned Member for Aberavon (Mr. Morris) on 6 February at column 490.
  270
  Mr. Jackson
  This would be within the powers available to the Universities Funding Council under the Education Reform Act 1988.

  Teachers (Incentive Allowances)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a calculation, in relation to his Department's figure of total baseline costs of school teachers' incentive allowances shown in appendix A of Cm. 625, showing how the total figure was derived from the expected numbers of allowances; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The derivation of the figure for the total baseline costs of incentive allowances shown in appendix A of the second report of the interim advisory committee on school teachers' pay and conditions is set out in the following table:

  Empty Property
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of properties owned by his Department and suitable for residential accommodation have been empty for (i) up to a year and (ii) over a year; and where these properties are located, by region of the United Kingdom or local authority area.

  Mr Peter Lloyd: All property occupied by the Department is vested in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment; any surplus property is returned to the Property Services Agency for reuse or disposal as appropriate.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many referrals have been made to the social fund inspectors; of these, how many have been referred back to Department of Social Security local offices for reconsideration; how many of the decisions referred back to the local office have been altered and if he will also split the figures issued(a) between community care grants, budgeting loans and crisis loans and (b) and by region.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I am advised by the social fund commissioner that between 11 April 1988 and 31 March 1989 social fund inspectors received 2,954 applications for
  271
  review. A total of 1,109 cases have been referred back to social fund officers for determination. The regional details are as follows:

  Table 1—Applications for review

  Budgeting loans

  Crisis loans

  Community care grants

  Totals

  London North

  53

  20

  145

  218

  London South

  43

  12

  51

  106

  Midlands

  139

  38

  158

  335

  North Eastern

  471

  26

  223

  720

  North Western

  412

  16

  131

  559

  Scotland

  529

  29

  232

  790

  Wales and South Western

  122

  21

  83

  226

  TOTALS

  1,769

  162

  1,023

  2,954

  Table 2—Applications referred back to the SFO for determination

  Budgeting loans

  Crisis loans

  Community care grants

  Totals

  London North

  21

  5

  75

  101

  London South

  17

  4

  16

  37

  Midlands

  58

  16

  56

  130

  North Eastern

  183

  5

  90

  278

  North Western

  185

  1

  54

  240

  Scotland

  164

  9

  63

  236

  Wales and South Western

  46

  5

  36

  87

  TOTALS

  674

  45

  390

  1,109

  Table 3—Applications redetermined in the applicant's favour

  Budgeting loans

  Crisis loans

  Community care grants

  Totals

  Decisions not completed

  London North

  5

  2

  35

  42

  22

  London South

  5

  0

  4

  9

  7

  Midlands

  24

  3

  29

  56

  18

  North Eastern

  82

  1

  38

  121

  15

  North Western

  68

  0

  19

  87

  34

  Scotland

  77

  5

  36

  118

  18

  Wales and South Western

  17

  2

  18

  37

  8

  TOTALS

  278

  13

  179

  470

  122

  Community Care Grants
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will issue a direction extending eligibility for community care grants to people leaving institutional care whose income is above income support level because they are entitled to invalidity benefit.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Member to my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on 16 December at column 750–51.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will state for the financial year 1988–89, the number of claimants who were awarded and accepted(a) a social fund loan and (b) a community care grant as a percentage of the total number who received single payments in 1987–88; and in each case, what was the proportion which these represented of the total number of income support, supplementary benefit, claimants.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Information on the number of individuals receiving an award is not collected.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will state for the financial year 1988–89, the number of income support claimants awarded and 272
  accepting (a) two budgeting loans, (b) three budgeting loans, (c) four budgeting loans, (d) five budgeting loans and (e) six or more budgeting loans.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information is not collected and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will state, for the financial year 1988–89, the number of his Department's local offices spending less than(a) 50 per cent., (b) 60 per cent. and (c) 75 per cent. of their community care grant budget.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Such information for the period April 1988 to February 1989 is available in the Library.

  Information for March 1989 will be placed in the Library later this month.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will state, for the financial year 1988–89, the proportion of total social fund expenditure which has been subsequently written off as unrecoverable.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Information is available only for the period ending 30 September 1989. The details are set out as follows and are provisional:
  273

  £

  Funeral payments

  6,354,434

  Budgeting loans

  4,315

  Crisis loans

  10,920

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will state, for the financial year 1988–89, the proportion of social fund loan application refusals which were issued on the grounds of the claimant's inability to repay.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Only 1 per cent. of applications processed were refused on grounds of the applicant's inability to repay.

  November 19791 rates in real terms

  April 1988 rates

  Percentage change in real terms

  £

  £

  Retirement pension2

  Single person

  40·91

  41·15

  0·6

  Married couple

  65·50

  65·90

  0·6

  Unemployment benefit3

  Single person

  32·48

  32·75

  0·8

  Married couple

  52·59

  52·95

  0·7

  Sickness benefit3

  Single person

  32·48

  31·30

  -3·6

  Married couple

  52·59

  50·70

  -3·6

  Industrial disablement benefit4

  66·72

  67·20

  0·7

  Industrial death benefit5

  41·88

  41·15

  -1·7

  Maternity allowance

  Single person

  32·48

  31·30

  -3·6

  Married couple

  52·59

  50·70

  -3·6

  Non-contributory retirement pension

  Single person

  24·58

  24·75

  0·7

  Married couple

  39·33

  39·55

  0·6

  War disablement pension6

  66·72

  67·20

  0·7

  War widows' pension7

  53·47

  53·75

  0·5

  Attendance allowance

  Higher rate

  32·66

  32·95

  0·9

  Lower rate

  21·77

  22·00

  1·0

  Invalid care allowance

  Single person

  24·58

  24·75

  0·7

  Married couple

  39·33

  39·55

  0·6

  Severe disablement allowance

  Single person

  24·58

  24·75

  0·7

  Married couple

  39·33

  39·55

  0·6

  Mobility allowance

  21·07

  23·05

  9·4

  Child benefit8

  7·02

  7·25

  3·2

  One parent benefit

  4·39

  4·90

  11·6

  1 Benefit rates for 1979 to 1982 were set as a result of a forecast of future inflation, rather than by the historic method used since 1983; this discontinuity makes comparisons difficult.

  2 The basic rate of benefit, which is also the basic rate of benefit for invalidity pension and widow's pension.

  3 Rate for benefit under pension age.

  4 100 per cent. disablement pension.

  5 Higher permanent rate. Since 11 April 1988, this benefit is paid only to those already in receipt at 11 April 1988.

  6 100 per cent. disablement pension for other ranks.

  7 Higher rate.

  8 Rate in 1979 was set in April.

  Rating Reform
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security further to his reply of 14 April to the hon.

  Benefits
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will state the value in real terms both in absolute figures and as a percentage, of retirement and other state pensions and all other welfare and national insurance benefits and allowances paid in November 1979 in relation to those to be paid from April 1988; and if he will indicate the actual figure for each benefit in each year.

  Mr. Scott
  The comparisons requested between benefit rates in November 1979 and April 1988 are set out as follows. Comparisons are given only for those benefits in existence at both dates. Benefit rates for the intervening years are set out in "Social Security Statistics 1988", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Member for Glasgow, Govan, Official Report, column

  275
  743, on deductions from benefits for payment of the poll tax, on what authority the interim advice to which he referred was given.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The interim advice was issued on the authority of officials within the headquarters of the Department. It took the form of an internal management memorandum and was designed to keep regional and local staff abreast of developments in this area. The content of the memorandum paraphrases the Community Charges (Deductions from Income Support) (Scotland) Regulations 1989 (SI 1989 No. 507) which came into force on 8 April 1989.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the level of child benefit in

  Reductions in child benefit needed to maintain the 1978–79 level of tax-free income for taxpayers with and without children

  Single person

  Married couple

  Married Couple, 1 child, aged 3

  Married couple, 2 children, aged 4, 6

  Married couple 3 children, aged 3, 8, 11

  Child Benefit and tax not paid on allowances 1978–79 (£pa)

  325·05

  506·55

  673·19

  839·83

  1,018·02

  Note 1

  Child Benefit and tax not paid on allowances 1989–90 (£pa)

  696·25

  1,093·75

  1,470·75

  1,847·75

  2,224·75

  Note 1

  Child Benefit and tax not paid on allowances 1989–90 if married couple with children increased at same ratio as married couple without children

  —

  —

  1,454·09

  1,814·03

  2,198·92

  Change in child benefit required in 1989–90 to restore to position in 1978–79 (£ per child per week)

  —

  —

  -0·32

  -0·32

  -0·17

  Child Benefit and tax not paid on allowances 1989–90 if married couple with children increased at same ratio as single person

  —

  —

  1,440·63

  1,797·24

  2,178·56

  Change in child benefit required in 1989–90 to restore to position in 1978–79 (£ per child per week)

  —

  —

  -0·58

  -0·49

  -0·30

  Notes:

  1. Tax free income is calculated by applying the standard rate of tax to the appropriate tax allowances and adding the annual value of Child Benefit in payment. For example, tax free income in 1989–90 for a one-earner married couple with one child is calculated as: 25 per cent. (standard tax rate) × £4,375 (married man's tax allowance) = £1,093·75 plus £377 (Child Benefit of £7·25 per week for 52 weeks). Total tax free income =£1,470·75.

  2. Figures for 1978–79: tax allowances—single person's £985, married couple £1,535, children under 11 £100, children between 11–15 years £135. Tax rate 33 per cent. Child Benefit £2·57 per week.

  3. Figures for 1989–90: tax allowances—single person £2,785, married man £4,375. Standard rate of tax 25 per cent. Child Benefit £7·25 per week.

  4. All figures are subject to rounding.

DEFENCE

  Pyrton
  Mr. Heseltine
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which military units and civilian contractors have been responsible for construction work at the depot site in the parish of Pyrton in the county of Oxfordshire;

  (2) if he will place in the Library copies of any documents held by his Department relating to the acquisition, planning status, construction, rating and occupancy of the depot site in the parish of Pyrton in the county of Oxfordshire which have not been released to the public record office;
  276
  1989–90 if the increase in tax-free income of taxpayers with children were maintained at the same level as that of taxpayers without children in relation to the 1978–79 level.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 21 December 1988]: Child benefit is a part of the public expenditure programme not a personal allowance against income-tax. For the purposes of answering this question, in the table, personal income tax allowance in both 1978–79 and 1989–90 have been converted into tax revenue foregone and added to the annual value of child benefit in each year. The results suggest that, in order to restore parity in the coming financial year with 1978–79 for married taxpayers with and without children, child benefit would have to be reduced by 32p for one-earner married couples with one or two children and by 17p for couples with three children. If the comparison were based on single taxpayers, the corresponding reductions would be 50p and 30p.

  (3) which detachments of troops have occupied the site of the depot in the parish of Pyrton in the county of Oxfordshire since its completion, indicating the dates of duration of each occupancy.

  Mr. Neubert
  The property was transferred to the Department of Environment in 1981. I regret that the details requested are not to hand. I will write to my right hon. Friend.

  Armed Forces (Pensions)
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of whether the new provisions for members of the armed forces to make additional voluntary contributions to their pensions relating to payments additional to their basic salaries have been adequately publicised.
  277
  Mr. Neubert
  Arrangements under which members of the armed forces pension scheme may make freestanding additional voluntary contributions based on additional pay were widely promulgated to service personnel in January of this year. In order to provide the maximum possible time for personnel to take advantage of these arrangements within the 1988–89 tax year, promulgation was by signal. Further publication was intended to follow but has been deferred pending review and clarification of the provisions which will be appropriate when the proposed changes in AVC requirements and limits for tax relief purposes, announced during the Budget statement, take effect. I am satisfied that in these circumstances arrangements which are currently available to members of the armed forces have been appropriately publicised.

  Empty Property
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of properties owned by his Department and suitable for residential accommodation have been empty for (i) up to a year and (ii) over a year; and where these properties are located, by region of the United Kingdom or local authority area.

  Mr. Neubert
  Statistics are not collected in quite the form requested. The latest figures available show that on 30 November 1988 there were 78,520 tri-service married quarters, of which 14·4 per cent. had been vacant for under a year and 5·8 per cent. vacant for over a year. At 30 September 1988, of 1,828 civilian houses (including 263 leased from local authorities) 6·2 per cent. had been vacant for under six months and 7·1 per cent. for over six months.

  Some of these vacant properties are in the process of disposal, others will be undergoing major maintenance or refurbishment, and yet others will be allocated and awaiting the arrival of the families to the unit.

  The breakdown by region is:

  Percentage vacant by region

  Tri-service married quarters (as at 30 November 1988)

  Region

  Under 1 year

  Over 1 year

  Northern

  14·4

  5·8

  Yorkshire/Humberside

  16·8

  5·0

  East Midlands

  21·6

  16·8

  East Anglia

  13·0

  5·1

  South East

  13·1

  4·2

  South West

  15·5

  5·5

  West Midlands

  14·9

  10·8

  North West

  13·8

  1·2

  Wales

  14·2

  4·6

  Scotland

  15·4

  7·0

  Northern Ireland

  11·4

  1·6

  Civilian houses (as at 30 September 1988)

  Region

  Under6 months

  Over6 months

  Northern

  5·5

  20·0

  South East

  4·0

  1·5

  South West

  12·3

  7·4

  West Midlands

  0

  8·7

  North West

  0

  0

  Wales

  3·7

  45·1

  Scotland

  7·9

  11·7

  Territorial Army Bases (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to commission an investigation into the security of Territorial Army bases in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Security of all Ministry of Defence establishments and bases is kept under constant review as a matter of course. I have no plans at present to commission a specific investigation into security at Territorial Army bases in Northern Ireland.

  Gibraltar (Incident)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the special explosives ordnance team was sent to Gibraltar to assist in the operation in Gibraltar on 6 March 1988; when it left the United Kingdom; and when it returned.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As was made clear at the inquest, it would not be in the public interest to reveal details about events prior to 6 March 1988 as these could reveal the intelligence background to the operation and methods of operation of the security forces. An explosives ordnance disposal team was sent to Gibraltar when requested by the commissioner of police. They were present in Gibraltar at the time of the incident, carried out render-safe procedures on the suspected car bomb in the white Renault car, and returned to the United Kingdom shortly afterwards.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the officers, who examined the Renault car parked in Main street, Gibraltar on 6 March 1988, concluded that it did not contain a bomb.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None.

  Widows' Pensions
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the Official Report the level of pensions paid to widows of military personnel; and what information he has on equivalent pensions for those in other countries of the European Community.

  Mr. Neubert
  The pensions paid to the widows of military personnel under the armed forces pension scheme are at rates which depend upon the individual circumstances of each case. Factors which will affect the rate payable include the rank held by the husband, the date of his retirement or death in service, the provisions of the scheme at that date, the nature of his termination of service, and in most but not all cases the length of service given. It is not therefore possible to provide the information requested.

  Nuclear Installations (Overflying)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what air traffic control restrictions apply to military aircraft in relation to flights over nuclear installations.

  Mr. Neubert
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my predecessor gave to the hon. Member for Ynys Mon (Mr. Jones) on 16 November 1987 at column 452.

  Lance Missile
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has received from his United States counterpart concerning the length of time required to modernise the Lance missile; and what assessment he has made.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The United States Administration have kept allies fully informed about their development programme for a successor to the Lance missile. The selection by the United States of a launcher at the end of last year was geared to having a new system available for development by the mid-1990s.

  Battle Tanks
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many main battle tanks are in operational service with the British Army.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to page 6 of the NATO publication "Conventional Forces in Europe: The Facts", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if any main battle tanks that are currently in operational service are used as a source of spare parts for other main battle tanks.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In order to maximise operational availability, it is established practice to use tanks awaiting repair as a source of spare parts for other main battle tanks when the parts needed are not readily available through the normal supply chain.

  Namibia
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training the British contingent of the United Nations transition assistance group receives in peacekeeping operations prior to its deployment to Namibia.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Prior to deployment, the British contingent to UNTAG (Britcon) underwent a training period during which they practised general military skills, were familiarised with aspects of peace-keeping operations, and were briefed on particular problems that they would encounter in Namibia such as the extremes of climate and the necessary medical precautions that they would need to take. They also practised their primary and specialist role, which is the provision of the force signals unit. In addition, the areas in which they were to operate were thoroughly reconnoitred.

  It should be borne in mind that UNTAG is not primarily a peace-keeping force but is there to monitor and supervise Namibia's transition to independence.

  Trawler Nets (Irish Sea)
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what United States submarines were in the Irish sea during 17 April; and if any reported an incident with the nets of the trawler Laurel;

  (2) if a British submarine was involved in an incident on 17 April in the Irish sea with the fishing nets of the trawler Laurel, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I understand that a United States Navy nuclear submarine was in the vicinity when the 280
  fishing vessel, Laurel, reported early on Monday 17 April 1989, that she had been towed backwards after a submerged object snagged her nets. When the submarine surfaced, it was found to have sustained superficial damage consistent with involvement in such an incident. The United States authorities are investigating.

  No Royal Navy submarine was involved.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Next Steps Initiative
  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has identified any candidates for agency status under the next steps initiative within his Department.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Following preliminary studies in my Department I have decided that the central veterinary laboratory, Weybridge, and the new veterinary medicines directorate which was set up on 3 April 1989 on the Weybridge site should be considered as further candidates for agency status. Feasibility studies will now be carried out with a view to the preparation of draft agency frameworks.

  Pollution
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of agricultural development advisory service staff time is spent on advising farmers about methods of preventing pollution of rivers.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The 1988 edition of "Ministerial Information in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food" (MINIM), a copy of which is placed in the Library of the House, indicates the resources specifically devoted to the control of pollution in 1987–88. ADAS advisers do provide advice on environmental matters, including control of pollution, when responding to requests for advice on other relevant subjects.

  Eggs (Imports)
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure that eggs imported into the United Kingdom will have been subjected to equally rigorous egg production and hygiene regulations as eggs produced in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I refer the hon. Member to :lie reply given to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) on 4 April at column 51. The monitoring system mentioned in that reply has now been put in place.

  Post-Chernobyl Restrictions
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate how long restrictions will have to remain in force on farms affected by fallout from Chernobyl.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate how long restrictions will have to remain in force on farms affected by fallout from Chernobyl.

  Mr. Ryder
  We shall lift restrictions as soon as it is possible to do so without compromising food safety. The
  281
  broad downward trend in radioactivity levels within the Cumbria restricted area in 1988 compared with 1987 was encouraging. However, whilst there are sheep above the 1,000 bq/kg limit, restrictions will have to remain in force. We shall be reassessing the situation in the light of the 1989 monitoring results to see whether there is scope for reducing the area subject to restrictions later this year.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of farms, number of sheep and number of acres subject to post-Chernobyl restrictions as at February; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  About 116,000 acres with some 80,000 sheep on about 150 holdings were subject to post-Chernobyl restrictions in February 1989.

  Empty Property
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of properties owned by his Ministry and suitable for residential accommodation have been empty for (i) up to a year and (ii) over a year; and where these properties are located, by region of the United Kingdom or local authority area.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Four properties, less than 2 per cent. of the Ministry's holdings, are vacant; two have been empty for over a year. Three are in Cambridgeshire and one in Hertfordshire. All are being sold. In addition, there are a small number of properties on experimental centres which are temporarily vacant pending occupation by employees.

  Aluminium Additives
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to which foods aluminium is added and for what purpose; and if he will make a statement regarding the necessity for, and safety of, aluminium food additives.

  Mr. Ryder
  The Colouring Matter in Food Regulations 1973 (as amended) permit the use of aluminium for the external colouring of dragees and for the decoration of sugar-coated flour confectionery only. In its report on these regulations the food advisory committee recommended that it should be made clear in future regulations that permission to use aluminium, silver and gold on dragees extends only to the traditional cake decoration dragees. The Government are currently considering the results of consultations on the report.

  Medical advisers in the Department of Health have advised that the regular consumption of larger aluminium-coated confectionery is undesirable because this may lead to an intake of aluminium by children in excess of the provisional tolerable weekly intake recently recommended by the joint FAO/WHO expert committee on food additives.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the county councils that have received grants for the disposal of bovine carcases infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy; and what is the amount paid per animal in each case.
  282
  Mr. Donald Thompson
  County councils do not receive grants for the disposal of carcases, which is the responsibility of the state veterinary service. On occasions when assistance is provided by county councils, the Ministry pays any appropriate charge. Details of amounts paid are not held centrally.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the amounts paid by different county councils to farmers for the disposal of each bovine carcase infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

  Mr Donald Thompson
  Compensation is paid by the Government to farmers who have animals slaughtered because of bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The disposal of carcases is the responsibility of the state veterinary service and no payments are made by county councils.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the incineration plants within each county for the incineration of bovine spongiform encephalopathy infected cattle.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 23 March at column 722.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a list showing the cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy confirmed in each county for the latest four week period.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The information is as follows:

  County

  Confirmed cases

  Avon

  9

  Bedfordshire

  3

  Berkshire

  6

  Borders

  1

  Cambridgeshre

  2

  Central

  1

  Cheshire

  5

  Cleveland

  1

  Clwyd

  5

  Cornwall

  52

  Cumbria

  2

  Derbyshire

  9

  Devon

  62

  Dorset

  44

  Dumfries

  7

  Durham

  1

  Dyfed

  12

  Essex

  4

  Mid Glamorgan

  1

  South Glamorgan

  3

  Gloucestershire

  14

  Grampian

  5

  Gwent

  3

  Gwynedd

  2

  Hampshire

  21

  Herefordshire and Worcestershire

  14

  Hertfordshire

  1

  Highland

  1

  Humberside

  1

  Isle of Wight

  2

  Kent

  20

  Lancashire

  5

  Leicestershire

  10

  Lincolnshire

  1

  Merseyside

  1

  Norfolk

  5

  Northamptonshire

  8

  Northumberland

  2

  283

  County

  Confirmed cases

  Nottinghamshire

  5

  Oxon

  11

  Powys

  1

  Salop

  17

  Somerset

  35

  Staffordshire

  7

  Strathclyde

  4

  Suffolk

  7

  Surrey

  2

  East Sussex

  6

  West Sussex

  21

  Tayside

  2

  Warwickshire

  10

  Wiltshire

  26

  North Yorkshire

  13

  West Yorkshire

  2

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 14 April to the hon. Member for Caerphilly, how many of the 40 confirmed cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy were reported from EEC export approved slaugherhouses and how many were from non-EEC approved slaugherhouses.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  This information is not available.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many bovine spongiform encephalopathy infected cattle have been incinerated at each of the locations listed in his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields of 23 March,Official Report, column 722.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  This information is not held centrally.

  Pesticides
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many staff he has employed to evaluate old pesticides since 1985; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to him on 23 March 1989 at column 726. Since many of my staff in the Ministry's pesticides data evaluation unit have been involved in reviews as well as other evaluations it is not possible to identify precise numbers.

  Sheep
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the becquerel readings of each of the 40 sheep selected from within the restricted area of Cumbria used in the feasility study into monitoring of sheep carcases at slaugherhouses in December 1988.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The readings (becquerels per kilogramme) from the special instrument calibration trial were as follows:

  Readings

  173

  579

  191

  605

  236

  620

  258

  642

  276

  642

  284

  Readings

  294

  645

  308

  651

  311

  678

  321

  684

  335

  711

  344

  780

  401

  806

  407

  810

  462

  812

  473

  905

  483

  909

  495

  1,004

  513

  1,053

  545

  1,119

  566

  1,283

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what purpose the sheep involved in the December 1988 feasibility study into the monitoring of sheep carcases in slaughterhouses, referred to in his press release of 14 April, were intended to be used.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The sheep involved in the December study were specially selected from within the restricted area for scientific purposes. No part of the carcases went for human consumption.

  Radioactivity
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to conduct an aerial survey for radioactivity in the 20 per cent. of the restricted area not covered in 1988.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have no such plans at the present time.

  Sectoral Quotas
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will outline the reasons for the delay of some three months in the allocation of the sectoral quotas to the industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Fisheries Departments hope to contact the industry shortly about a new and important issue which has arisen since the general arrangements for 1989 sectoral allocations were agreed in consultation with the industry last October. The original target for the notification of final allocations was the end of March.

  Sewage Waste
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the life cycle in salt water of sewage waste dumped off the north-east coast of England.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Sewage sludge is the byproduct of sewage treatment and is more than 95 per cent. water. The solid component consists of inorganic material such as soil, grit, sand and so on from run-off, together with organic solids such as those derived from food wastes, human and animal excreta and detergents. The organic solids are predominantly natural materials which are degradable in the marine environment by the action of dissolved oxygen, light and the diverse natural microbial flora. The rate of degradation varies according to the source of the individual components and the degree of sewage treatment. The ultimate products of degradation are carbon dioxide, inorganic nitrogen compounds and water.
  285
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make a statement on the health implications for fishermen fishing in water off the mouth of the river Tyne of the dumping of sewage waste;

  (2) what advice he has given to fishermen fishing in waters off the north-east coast of England in the vicinity of the area used for the dumping of sewage waste.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The subject of sewage disposal at sea and fishermen's occupational health was raised by representatives of the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations at a recent meeting with my officials. Arrangements were agreed with the fishermen's representatives for the reporting of medical evidence on this matter to the appropriate authorities, the Health and Safety Executive's employment medical advisory service.

  RV Corystes
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many days in the first four months of the current year the RV Corystes(a) was due to be in place and (b) was in place off the north-east of England.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  A 16-day cruise off the north-east coast of England is due to begin on 25 April.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether scientists on his research vessel Corystes monitors for AIDS, hepatitis, meningitis, polio and other disease micro-organisms; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Bacterial counts are taken on Ministry research vessel cruises in the area of sites licensed for the dumping of sewage sludge from ships. The measurements are taken from seabed sediments for the purpose of assessment of the fate of the material disposed of at sea.

  Food Protection (Sea Fish)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the revocation of the Statutory Instrument, Public Health, Food Protection (Emergency Provisions) (Sea Fish) Order 1989 (S.I., 1989, No. 529); and what plans he has to introduce an alternative instrument.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow (Dr. Godman) on 19 April. We shall continue our programme of sampling fish and crabs landed at south coast ports. Any necessary further restrictions will be introduced should this reveal evidence of lindane having leaked into the aquatic environment.

  Infant Formulae (Aluminium Content)
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has further information on the aluminium content of infant formulae.

  Mr. Ryder
  My Department's food science division has recently carried out a survey of the aluminium content of 10 brands of commonly available infant formulae. The Department of Health's independent expert committee on the toxicity of chemicals in food, consumer products and 286
  the environment has considered the results of the survey. It concluded that the intakes of aluminium are well within the safety limits established by the World Health Organisation. Despite this it asked for further research to be undertaken, which will show whether or not further action is needed. Research on the bioavailability of aluminium from food has been commissioned at Southampton university. Work is in hand on identifying the forms in which aluminium occurs in foods and investigating the precise source of the aluminium in infant formulae. Consideration is also being given to the further work needed on the gastro-intestinal absorption and renal clearance of aluminium by infants.

  Further information is contained in a food facts press notice being issued today, copies of which I am placing in the Library of the House.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Wakefield Prison (Chapel)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what chapel facilities exist at Wakefield prison for prisoners segregated on rule 43; when work was commenced on refurbishing the chapel; and when this work will be completed.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Rule 43 prisoners segregated for their own protection may attend the temporary chapel at Wakefield prison but those who are segregated for reasons of good order and discipline may not. This is partly because of the location of the chapel and partly because of the nature of the offenders and offences concerned. The number of rule 43 prisoners who may not attend fluctuates between about 15 and 30, not all of whom will be practising Christians. Chaplains visit prisoners every day and will take private services for any prisoner who so requests.

  A date has not yet been fixed for commencement of the refurbishment of the permanent chapel.

  Quality of Life
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out in the Official Report details of those policies introduced by him since 1983 with the intention of improving the quality of life for the rural communities.

  Mr. John Patten
  Many of our policies on crime prevention are applicable to rural areas. We have issued a circular to the police and courts about the powers available to deal with outbreaks of disorder and issued guidance to the courts about arranging speedy court hearings after sudden outbreaks of disorder. We have strengthened controls on firearms and encouraged the creation of local farm watch and rural watch schemes to increase community co-operation in preventing crime.

  Shotguns (Licences)
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many shotgun licences were issued in 1988.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information requested for 1988 is not yet available. Corresponding information for 1987 is published in table 3 of Home Office statistical bulletin 33/88, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Game Licences
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many game licences were issued in 1988.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  A total of 39,131 game licences were issued between 1 October 1987 and 30 September 1988.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of officers in grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, respectively, and overall in his Department are(a) women and (b) members of ethnic minorities.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The latest available figures show that 126 staff in grades 1 to 7 and their equivalents are women: this is just over 11 per cent. In the unified grades, 9 per cent. of staff at grade 3, 18 per cent. at grade 5, 4 per cent. at grade 6 and 15 per cent. at grade 7 are women.

  Thirty six members of staff in grades 1 to 7 and their equivalents described themselves in staff surveys as of ethnic minority origin. This represents nearly 4 per cent. of respondents in these grades.

  In the Home Office as a whole, 23 per cent. of staff are women: and 4 per cent. of respondents to staff surveys described themselves as of ethnic minority origin.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department last conducted a survey of the ethnic origin of its employees; when it next plans to do so; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  All non-industrial staff in the Home Office were asked to state their ethnic origin in regional surveys conducted between 1983 and 1986. A further questionnaire was sent in September 1988 to those who had not previously responded. A survey of industrial staff will be undertaken shortly. People seeking posts in the Department are asked to state their ethnic origin when making their applications.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to recruit members of ethnic minorities in top grades of employment at his Department.

  Mr. Hogg
  Most senior posts are filled internally and the most important factor in increasing the number of ethnic minority staff in those posts will be their advancement over time through the promotion system. Considerable importance is attached to ensuring that they have every opportunity to do so. Recruitment direct to senior grades is generally conducted by the Civil Service Commission, and is always on the basis of fair and open competition. Advertisements make it clear that the Civil Service is an equal opportunities employer.

  Women (Attacks and Murders)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each year since 1979 in England and Wales(a) the number of women murdered by their male partner and (b) the number of women attacked causing actual bodily harm by their male partner; and if he will show in his answer the percentage for each year this is of (i) all murders and (ii) all attacks causing actual bodily harm.
  288
  Mr. John Patten
  Information relating to homicides is given in the table below; "homicide" includes offences decided by the court to be murder, manslaughter or infanticide and those cases in which a court decision has not yet been reached. Provision of information for years prior to 1982 would involve disproportionate cost. Information is not yet available for 1988 or 1989. Information is not available on the number of women attacked causing actual bodily harm by their male partner.

  Female victims of homicides1 in which the principal suspect was the spouse, former spouse, cohabitant or former cohabitant of the victim

  England and Wales

  Female victims of partners3

  Year

  All offences currently recorded as homicide2 (= 100 pre cent.)

  Number

  Percentage of total

  1982

  557

  102

  18

  1983

  482

  87

  18

  1984

  537

  97

  18

  1985

  537

  101

  19

  1986

  576

  109

  19

  1987

  635

  83

  13

  1 As at 1 June 1988; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts or as further information becomes available.

  2 Including both male and female victims.

  3 Spouse, former spouse, cohabitant, former cohabitant.

  Empty Property
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of properties owned by his Department and suitable for residential accommodation have been empty for (i) up to a year and (ii) over a year; and where these properties are located, by region of the United Kingdom or local authority area.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Home Office owns quarters available for members of the prison service. As the Home Office is in the process of selling surplus prison service quarters, precise information is not available on a regional basis, but a broad estimate is that 10 per cent. of quarters have been vacant for more than 12 months and 3 per cent. for less than 12 months.

  The following information is available about accommodation owned by the Property Services Agency but managed by the Home Office. Four properties managed by the Directorate of Telecommunications have been vacant for more than a year: one in Somerset and three in Nottinghamshire. Two out of 12 properties at the civil defence college in North Yorkshire have been vacant for over a year. Four out of 37 properties at the fire service college in Gloucestershire have been vacant for less than a year and two for over a year.

  Road Vehicles (Prosecutions)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been brought under regulation 7(1) of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 and section 40(5) of the Road Traffic Act 1972 in each police force area in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. John Patten
  Since 1 January 1987, the information collected centrally does not separately distinguish
  289
  contravention of regulation 7(1) of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, although information for 1986 indicated that there were fewer than 400 prosecutions nationally for vehicles with excessive dimensions. The information available for 1987 on prosecutions for vehicles in a dangerous or defective condition, is for all forces and is shown in table 5 of "Offences relating to motor vehicles, England and Wales, 1987, Supplementary tables".

  Mr. D. Miles
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason, and for how long, Mr. Dean Miles, prisoner 2672, has been held in the segregation unit at Her Majesty's prison, Albany; what category prisoner is Mr. Miles; for what category he was recommended; and why he is held in maximum security conditions in a dispersal prison.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Mr. Miles was removed from association with other prisoners at Albany prison on 10 November 1988 under prison rule 48, which allows for the segregation of prisoners pending adjudication. He continued to be segregated under rule 48 until 22 December, when his case was heard by the board of visitors and a disciplinary award of 14 days' exclusion from associated labour was made. This punishment was served in the segregation unit. On completion of the punishment the governor decided that Mr. Miles should be segregated from other prisoners, in the interests of good order and discipline, under prison rule 43. Mr Miles remains segregated under rule 43 at this time.

  Mr. Miles is categorised as security category C. It is not unusual for category C prisoners to be held in prisons of a higher security classification, in particular if the governor of a lower security prison has requested their transfer on the grounds that they have proved unsuitable for the regime of a lower security prison. Prisoners' allocation and categorisation are reviewed periodically at a local level. I understand that the question of Mr. Miles' location is to be reviewed shortly.

  Lollipop Persons
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will detail the number of lollipop ladies and gentlemen in post in(a) the Ealing, North constituency, (b) the London borough of Ealing and (c) the Metropolitan police area against the agreed number required; if he will instigate an inquiry into their pay and conditions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the number of persons employed on school crossing patrol duty is as follows:

  Strength

  Establishment

  (a) Ealing, North1

  22

  30

  (b) London Borough of Ealing1

  44

  62

  (c) Metropolitan police district

  1,098

  1,350

  1 The figures given are based upon the Metropolitan police divisions rather than constituency or borough boundaries. For the purpose of this answer, Ealing, North is taken to be the subdivisions of Ealing and Greenford, and the London borough of Ealing to be the divisions of Ealing and Southall.

  290
  The pay of Metropolitan police schools crossing patrols is being reviewed.

  Sports Grounds (Safety)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress made in implementing each of the recommendations made in the report by the committee of inquiry into crowd safety and control at sports grounds.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Government's proposals for giving effect to the safety recommendations in the final report were set out in a consultative document produced in June 1986. All of these proposals except amendment to building regulations guidelines codes have been implemented.

  The question of structural fire precautions and means of escape in buildings (including covered sports stands) is under review as part of the Government's comprehensive overhaul of the building regulations. It is the intention of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment to issue a consultative paper by the end of this year seeking comment on a package of proposals dealing with these issues.

  The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 which came into force on 1 January 1986 had already extended the police powers of search and arrest in ways which help them to deal with troublemakers at football grounds. The Public Order Act 1986 created a new offence of disorderly conduct to cover hooliganism in football grounds as elsewhere.

  A further recommendation was to review the provisions of the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act 1985 in relation to executive boxes. Following that review a relaxation of the controls over the sale and possession of alcohol in executive boxes was introduced in the Public Order Act 1986.

  The Government's proposals for a membership scheme are contained in the Football Spectators Bill. This follows previous efforts to encourage the football authorities to introduce membership schemes on a voluntary basis.

  Community Centres
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it remains the policy of the Government that community centres should be encouraged, supported and if necessary funded to provide facilities otherwise unavailable to a range of community groups.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Home Office supports community centres through its funding of the National Federation of Community Organisations. The funding of individual centres is a local matter.

  Female Prisoners (Education)
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many females in Holloway prison were engaged in(a) work, (b) daytime education and (c) evening education on the most recent date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 18 April 1989]: On 3 April 1989, the latest date for which information is available 109 inmates were engaged in work, 76 in daytime education and 40 in evening education at Holloway prison.
  291
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total average number per day during 1988 of females in Holloway prison engaged in(a) work, (b) daytime education and (c) evening education; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 18 April 1989]: Information held centrally relates to the period April to December 1988 and is not complete. Typically, some 40 to 50 inmates were working and about 85 were involved in daytime education, including vocational training courses. Information about the number of inmates participating in evening education is not readily available. However, on average, about 430 hours of evening education were provided each week.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many females in Styal prison were engaged in(a) work, (b) daytime education and (c) evening education, on the most recent date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 18 April 1989]: On 3 April 1989, the latest date for which information is available, 187 inmates were engaged in work and 41 in daytime education at Styal prison. No evening education took place on that particular date.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total average number per day during 1988 of females in Styal prison engaged in(a) work, (b) daytime education and (c) evening education; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 18 April 1989]: Based on information held centrally for the period April to December 1988, an average of 167 inmates were daily engaged in work and 74 in daytime education. Information about the number of inmates participating in evening education is not readily available. However, on average, about 170 inmate hours of evening education were provided each week.

PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATION

  Barlow Clowes
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the hon. Member for Colchester, North, as Chairman of the Select Committee on the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, whether his Committee has received any report from the commissioner on the progress of his inquiry into the Department of Trade and Industry's handling of the Barlow Clowes affair.

  Sir Antony Buck
  It is not the practice of Select Committees to comment on their proceedings except by way of a report to the House.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Workplace Inspections
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what inspection of the House of Commons as a workplace takes place to ensure that it meets statutory standards.
  292
  Mr. Chope
  I have been asked to reply.

  In meeting its responsibilities for the care and maintenance of Crown buildings, PSA's procedures are prescribed, as a minimum, to meet the requirements of all relevant legislation affecting the safety of the workplace. These procedures are applied on the parliamentary estate.

  Organic Food
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Lord President of the Council whether organic food is served in restaurants and cafeterias in the House; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply he received from the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) on Tuesday 18 April. In future, whenever organic food is presented on a menu, its availability will be indicated.

  Explanatory Memoranda
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what circulation is given outside the House to explanatory memoranda on Community legislation submitted to the House by Government Departments.

  Mr. Wakeham
  After deposit in both Houses, copies of explanatory memoranda are made available to the public primarily from the British library through public and other libraries.

ENVIRONMENT

  Canary Wharf
  Ms. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information is available on the £1 billion tax allowance to the developers of Canary wharf, whether this amount of tax concession was envisaged when the enterprise zones were established; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I have been asked to reply.

  I cannot comment on the tax affairs of particular individuals or companies. The position generally is that a property developer who builds property for sale, whether within an enterprise zone or elsewhere, incurs his expenditure on revenue account and is entitled to relief for all expenditure incurred wholly and exclusively for trade purposes under the normal business expenses rules. The amount of relief available by way of the special 100 per cent. initial allowance to those who incur capital expenditure on the construction of property within an enterprise zone will depend on how the expenditure is split between business buildings and non-qualifying premises such as residential dwellings.

  Planning Applications
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning applications have been refused by the local authority and subsequently reversed on appeal(a) in York and (b) nationally for each year since 1983; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The information available from the Department's records is given in the table.
  293

  Planning appeals

  Year

  Received

  Decided

  Allowed

  Percentage appeals allowed

  1985–86

  York

  16

  14

  5

  35·7

  England

  17,839

  14,130

  5,581

  39·5

  1986–87

  York

  36

  21

  9

  42·8

  England

  19,856

  15,613

  6,208

  39·8

  1987–88

  York

  37

  38

  14

  36·8

  England

  22,482

  18,474

  6,955

  37·6

  Recreational Facilities
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in what proportion of planning appeals concerning development of recreational open space professional lawyers represented(a) developers, (b) local authorities, (c) sports associations and (d) amenity and residents societies, over the most convenient representative period available.

  Mr. Chope
  The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  HIP (Lambeth)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out in the Official Report the annual housing investment programme approved for the London borough of Lambeth for five years up to and including the financial year 1989–90.

  Mr. Trippier
  The total housing capital resources allocated to the London borough of Lambeth for these years are as follows:

  £ million

  1985–86

  34·322

  1986–87

  35·587

  1987–88

  33·969

  1988–89

  30·683

  1989–90

  22·351

  UDCs (Publicity)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of urban development corporation budget in both 1988–89 and 1989–90 is allocated for publicity, information and public relations.

  Mr. Trippier
  Information for each UDC is as follows:

  Publicity/promotion as percentage of total expenditure.

  UDC

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Black Country

  2·8

  3·0

  Bristol

  16·8

  nya

  Central Manchester

  17·2

  7·3

  Leeds

  8·5

  2·2

  London Docklands

  1·2

  0·9

  Merseyside

  3·3

  2·8

  Sheffield

  0·6

  2·4

  Teesside

  8·2

  5·9

  Trafford Park

  8·6

  4·8

  Tyne and Wear

  7·1

  5·8

  "Planning Control in Western Europe"
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to make any amendments to the planning system following the publication by his Department of "Planning Control in Western Europe".

  Mr. Chope
  We have published proposals to simplify and improve the development plan system in the White Paper "The Future of Development Plan"—Cm. 569. The study of planning control in Western Europe does not indicate the need for any immediate additional changes, but it provides valuable information which we shall take into account in our continuing review of the planning system.

  UPGs (Lambeth)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out in the Official Report the total amount of urban programme grants for the London borough of Lambeth for each of the last five years including the year 1989–90; and if he will indicate the extent to which each year's grant represented an increase or decrease in real terms on the previous year.

  Mr. Trippier
  The total amount of urban programme grants paid to the London borough of Lambeth in the years 1985–86 to 1988–89 was as follows:

  Year

  Grant £

  1985–86

  4,984,243

  1986–87

  5,070,520

  1987–88

  5,162,332

  1988–89

  4,268,983

  The amounts paid over to the authority to date are in respect of final claims for 1985–86 and 1986–87. Amounts paid for 1987–88 and 1988–89 are in respect of interim grant claims; final claims have not yet been submitted for these years. All grant claims are subject to audit certification, and none of the above has yet been so certified. Any analysis of increase or decrease in grant levels would be premature.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to collect the local statistics relating to registration for, and payment of, the community charge.

  Mr. Gummer
  We are currently considering the information to be collected under the new arrangements.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to make a decision on the new needs grant assessments under the community charge regulations for England and Wales.

  Mr. Gummer
  My right hon. Friend will be making decisions this autumn on the new needs assessments to apply in England from 1990–91.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to obtain powers to issue directions to community charge registrars to choose freezing of bank accounts as a method of enforcing either fines for non-registration or for non-payment of the poll tax.
  295
  Mr. Gummer
  No.

  Urban Development Corporations
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cumulative total of private sector investment committed to urban development corporation projects.

  Mr. Trippier
  By end of March 1989 over £7 billion of private sector investment had been committed within urban development corporation areas.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his policies on(a) the management of (b) the purchase of land by, and (c) the introduction of the right to buy in relation to housing associations.

  Joint manpower watch (England) annual change in full-time equivalents 1979 to date at December

  FTE's

  FTE's

  Change since December 1979

  December 1979

  December 1988

  FTE's

  percentage

  1. General Services

  Education—lecturers and teachers

  537,958

  502,932

  -35,026

  -6·5

  Education—others

  402,409

  382,543

  -19,866

  -4·9

  Construction

  121,789

  100,359

  -21,430

  -17·6

  Transport

  20,232

  2,592

  -17,640

  -87·2

  Social services

  195,182

  229,836

  34,654

  17·8

  Public libraries and museums

  31,258

  33,216

  1,958

  6·3

  Recreation, parks and baths

  69,686

  74,550

  4,864

  7·0

  Environmental health

  20,679

  19,130

  -1,549

  -7·5

  Refuse collection and disposal

  47,325

  34,109

  -13,216

  -27·9

  Housing

  48,118

  60,957

  12,839

  26·7

  Town and country planning

  20,602

  21,607

  1,005

  4·9

  Fire service—regular

  33,959

  34,209

  250

  0·7

  Fire service—others

  4,894

  5,685

  791

  16·2

  Miscellaneous services

  244,500

  232,258

  -12,242

  -5·0

  Total

  1,798,591

  1,733,983

  -64,608

  -3·6

  2. Law and order services Police—all ranks

  107,027

  118,249

  11,222

  10·5

  —cadets

  3,600

  351

  -3,249

  -90·3

  —traffic wardens

  4,113

  4,486

  373

  9·1

  —civilians

  33,106

  40,037

  6,931

  20·9

  Magistrates courts—staff

  7,638

  9,223

  1,585

  20·8

  Probation staff—officers

  4,879

  6,343

  1,464

  30·0

  Others

  4,207

  6,396

  2,189

  52·0

  Total

  164,570

  185,085

  20,515

  12·5

  3. Agency staff

  595

  1,644

  1,049

  176·3

  Grand total

  1,963,756

  1,920,712

  -43,044

  - 2·2

  Note: There is likely to have been some reclassification of staff between service categories over this period, so the figures for the two years may not be entirely comparable. Local authority functions have also changed over the period.

  Building Regulations
  Mr. Tony Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will approve the new building regulations; and when they will come into force.

  Mr. Trippier
  Consultation papers proposing amendments to five parts of the Building Regulations 1985 and to the approved documents which provide practical guidance on meeting the requirements in them were issued last year. The responses are still under consideration, but I hope that the amending regulations will be laid before Parliament by
  296
  Mr. Trippier
  Housing associations are restricted as a condition of grant in what they may pay for land, and purchasing procedures are monitored by the Housing Corporation and by associations' own auditors.

  Secure tenants of registered housing associations normally have the right to buy, unless the association is a charity. New lettings by housing associations, as by other private landlords, will be on assured tenancies which do not carry the right to buy.

  Local Government Staff
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Stockport (Mr. Favell) of 30 January,Official Report, column 22, he will give for each available category of local government staff the numbers in (a) 1979 and (b) 1989, or the latest date for which figures are available, showing the net and percentage change in each case.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information is as follows:

  the summer, and that the amendments will come into operation early next year. The intention is that revised approved documents will be published at the same time the regulations are laid. Consultation papers on other parts of the regulations will be issued during the course of this year, but it is too early to say when these amendments are likely to be made.

  BISF-designed Properties
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress his Department has made
  297
  with local building societies in Nottingham regarding offering mortgages to those who wish to buy BISF-designed properties; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Discussions are proceeding, and I hope to make a full statement very shortly.

  Goods and Services
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what restrictions have been placed in relation to whom they are allowed to provide goods or services on (i) the Crown suppliers, (ii) the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre and (iii) the Property Services Agency's(a) project and (b) estates services divisions.

  Mr. Chope
  My reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Gainsborough and Horncastle (Mr. Leigh) on 8 December 1988 at column 273 announced that the Crown Suppliers had been authorised to commence selling to the private sector, as well as to public sector customers. The Queen Elizabeth II conference centre can make its facilities available to any client meeting its standard conditions of hire. I am considering what freedom PSA should have to offer its services to other customers particularly after April 190, when its traditional Government customers are fully untied from the agency and able to buy services from the private sector.

  Empty Property
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of properties owned by his Department and suitable for residential accommodation have been empty for (i) up to a year and (ii) over a year; and where these properties are located, by region of the United Kingdom or local authority area.

  Mr. Ridley
  As at 1 April 1989, 3·2 per cent. of the 433 residential properties owned by the Department of the Environment had been empty for less than a year and 5·5 per cent. for more than a year. Of these 34 per cent. are in the process of disposal on the open market. These properties are located in the following regions of the United Kingdom and local authority areas:

  Scotland: Argyll, City of Glasgow, Midlothian, Inverclyde, Motherwell, Banff Buchan.

  North East: Hambleton, Langbaurgh.

  North West: Manchester.

  Eastern: Brentwood, Suffolk Coastal.

  London: Westminster.

  South West: Cotswold, Isles of Scilly, Sedgemoor.

  South East: Medina.

  Water Privatisation
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he will be taking to ensure that the privatised water authorities will not be able to increase the charges being imposed on their customers in order to maximise their market capitalisations when facing takeover bids from other companies.

  Mr. Howard
  In appointing water and sewerage undertakers under the Water Bill, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will make it a condition of appointment that charges do not increase by more than specified amounts above the general rate of inflation. These limits will be subject to review by the Director General of Water 298
  Services. Companies will not therefore be able to increase charges above the limits set either by the Secretary of State or the director general in order to defend themselves against takeover bids, nor more generally to compensate for inefficient management.

  Pollution Control
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the maximum fine for offences under the Control of Pollution Act.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Water and Planning to my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham (Mr. Conway) on 22 March 1989 at column 631.

  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to charge operators under his proposed system of integrated pollution control.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department of the Environment and the Welsh Office have today issued a consultation paper which sets out proposals for a new charging system to recover the costs incurred by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in implementing the system of integrated pollution control (IPC) of the major industrial dischargers of air and water pollutants and wastes.

  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution's costs in granting integrated authorisations, sampling and monitoring discharges and enforcing the controls will be borne by the dischargers themselves rather than the general taxpayers, as happens at present.

  This is an important extension of the principle that polluters should pay the costs of protecting the environment from their activities.

  The proposed charges would cover about 70 to 75 per cent. of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution's total expenditures associated with integrated pollution control. They would fully recover the costs of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution's authorisation and inspection functions under IPC. They would not cover such Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution activities as support for policy development that serve wider Government objectives.

  In working up these proposals, the Departments have paid particular attention to ensuring that the system is both practicable to administer and equitable. So a large site with a higher potential to pollute would pay substantially more than a smaller, less-polluting site.

  Similar cost-recovery charging systems are levied in other European countries such as Germany and France.

  The Government will finalise the details of the charging scheme in the light of the views expressed by interested bodies in response to this consultation paper.

  North West Water
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment under what authority the financial director and corporate affairs manager have been appointed to North West Water plc; what are their salaries; and who is paying their salaries.

  Mr. Howard
  The appointments to which the hon. Member refers have been made by North West water
  299
  authority to the posts of financial director and corporate affairs manager in the authority. It is envisaged that the appointees will continue to fill these posts in North West Water plc when that company is established under the provisions of the Water Bill. Staff salaries are the responsibility of the authority.

  Council Tenants (Opting-out)
  Ms. Mowlam
  to ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total cost of the advertising campaign advertising the rights of council tenants to opt out of local authority control.

  Mr. Trippier
  A total of £524,000.

  Ms. Mowlam
  to ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of the advertisements advertising the rights of council tenants to opt out of local authority control carried in the Sunday newspapers on 26 March.

  Mr. Trippier
  Approximately £77,600.

  Art and Culture (London)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  to ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what policies and proposals in his draft planning guidance he has put forward for the future development of art and cultural facilities in London.

  Mr. Chope
  None.

  Waste Disposal (London)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  to ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment in his draft planning guidance he has made of the transport and land use implications of the activities of the 16 waste disposal authorities in London; and what proposals he has made for their co-ordination.

  Mr. Chope
  This is a matter for the waste disposal authorities and the London waste regulation authority. Policies may be included in unitary development plans as appropriate.

  Town Centres (London)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  to ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the future of strategic town centres in London; and what guidance he is offering the London boroughs in respect of their long-term development.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend has considered the advice on strategic centres put forward by the London planning advisory committee. He does not consider that strategic centres should be designated in the guidance.

  Leisure (London)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  to ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what policies and proposals in his draft planning guidance he has put forward for the development of recreation, sport and other leisure facilities in London.

  Mr. Chope
  Guidance is proposed on the recreational use of green belt and open land. Provision for recreation, sport and other leisure development is in general a matter for individual boroughs.

  Transport (London)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what priorities he has set out for transport investment by the London boroughs in his planning guidance.

  Mr. Chope
  It is for the boroughs to determine their own priorities for future investment in their roads through their annual transport policies and programme submissions to the Secretary of State for Transport. The purpose of strategic planning guidance is to assist the boroughs to prepare their unitary development plans. The draft guidance proposes that these plans should describe boroughs' schemes and networks in accordance with their local road hierarchy and in relation to the strategic London road network.

  River Thames
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals and policies are included in his planning guidance in respect of the river Thames for(a) co-ordinating development along its banks, (b) improving public access and (c) promoting its use for freight, passenger services and leisure use.

  Mr. Chope
  The draft strategic guidance says that boroughs should give particulr attention to the character of any development proposals on or near the river Thames. They should aim to maintain and improve public access, and bear in mind the Countryside Commission's proposed Thames path when preparing their unitary development plans. The promotion of freight, passenger services and leisure use are not matters for strategic guidance.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has considered designating the river Thames as metropolitan open land; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The proposed policies for metropolitan open land set out in draft strategic guidance are not in general applicable to the river Thames.

  Conservation (London)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy for conserving and protecting London's areas of special character.

  Mr. Chope
  Such areas can be protected by existing conservation and planning policies. The boroughs concerned should take these policies into account when preparing their unitary development plans.

  Water Authorities Association (Advertising)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has regarding the amounts expended by the Water Authorities Association on(a) press advertising, (b) television advertising and (c) other advertising in each of the last 12 months.

  Mr. Howard
  This is a matter for the Water Authorities Association.

  Housing (London)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what policies and proposals are contained within his draft strategic planning guidance for London designed to improve access to affordable housing.

  Mr. Chope
  The draft guidance refers to the part that the planning system can play in alleviating the problems of access to housing by ensuring that there is an adequate and continuing supply of land for new housing; and that local policies allow for conversions of existing houses into smaller units and for redevelopment at higher densities where appropriate.

  Business Development (London)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what specific locational advice he has given London boroughs for future business development apart from central London and docklands in his planning guidance.

  Mr. Chope
  The draft guidance proposes that boroughs should adopt a positive, flexible and realistic approach to business development throughout London. Planning policies for particular locations are a matter for the boroughs concerned, not central Government.

  Footpaths
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, for the latest convenient period for which figures are available, the number of letters received by his Department's offices in Bristol concerning footpaths on an average working day, the number replied to each day and the number which do not receive a reply within four weeks.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Figures are not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Water Treatment Works
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has yet been able to consider the responses of the water authorities in England and Wales and the Water Companies Association following his request for each utility to carry out a thorough review of their management and operating procedures at water treatment works, particularly unmanned installations, as a consequence of the incident at the Lowermoor works of the South West water authority last summer.

  Mr. Howard
  Yes. We have received and considered the responses and I am pleased to report that a number of improvements have been made to procedures following the Lowermoor incident.

  My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, asked water authorities to review, in particular, the matters set out on which separate comments are given.

  (i) Waterworks Site Security. There have been some changes in key systems to ensure that access to installations is better controlled. The possible use of electronic systems is being considered in some cases together with improvements in boundary fencing.

  (ii) Procedures for Receiving Chemicals at Works. Labelling of installations has been checked and improved where necessary, as have controls for receiving chemicals.

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  (iii) Remote Monitoring of the Final Treated Water. Additional monitors have been introduced, or are being considered. In addition, the Water Research Centre is doing work in this area to try to ensure that any accidental contamination of the water supply is detected before it reaches the consumer.

  (iv) Internal Reporting Arrangements .for Incidents. Greater emphasis is being given to ensuring that emergency reporting lines are clear and co-ordinated and that senior management is informed immediately of an incident that might result in contamination of public water supplies.

  (v) Emergency Procedures, Including Liaison with all those concerned with Public Health Issues. Utilities have reviewed their procedures to take account of the lessons to be learned from the Lowermoor incident. In most cases, review is a regular practice. In particular, links with those concerned with public health issues have been reviewed and reinforced where necessary.

  (vi) Other Issues. My right hon. Friend also asked the utilities to consider the usefulness of employing a technique known as the Hazard Study Technique, designed to predict the outcome of potential systems failures and to ensure that all systems are fail-safe. A number of the utilities are considering using this method, if they do not already do so. Many utilities inform consumers of matters such as the undesirability of consuming water from the hot tap or have proposals to do so. The prevalence of this unsatisfactory practice was one of the revelations arising from the Lowermoor incident.

  Pollution incidents like Lowermoor are rare. But even one is one too many. It is vitally important that suppliers of drinking water take all reasonable measures to avoid such occurrences and that they are constantly alert and prepared to deal with any incident. This position can be secured only through regular review; learning from one's own and others' problems; and by holding regular exercises to ensure that staff are ready and trained to respond quickly and effectively to any incident that might affect water supply.

  I am most encouraged by the responses that we have received following the reviews that have just been undertaken.

  Tyne and Wear (Development Plans)
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made on the preparation of unitary development plans for Tyne and Wear.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend has today issued strategic guidance to assist the five metropolitan districts in Tyne and Wear in the preparation of unitary development plans for their area. The guidance covers the key issues identified by the local authorities and the Department—urban regeneration, retailing, transport and the environment.

  A draft of the guidance was circulated for comment in December 1988. Comments were received from 47 organisations and individuals. The guidance has been revised in the light of these comments. A copy of the strategic guidance, together with a report on the consultation exercise, have today been placed in the Library of the House. Following the issue of the strategic guidance, commencement orders will be issued shortly to enable the local authorities to start work on preparing their unitary development plans.

  Young People (Accommodation)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has in respect of the number of 16 to 18-year-olds who live(a) with their parents, (b) in private rented accommodation, (c) in council accommodation, (d) in hostels, (e) in bed and breakfast or other board and lodging establishments and (f) sleeping rough.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 17 April 1989]: The most recent estimates for the first three parts of the question are from the 1987 labour force survey. This shows (a) 2,030,000 16 to 18-year-olds living with their parents, (b) 40,000 in private rented accommodation (not with their parents), (c) 40,000 in council accommodation (not with their parents). The other numbers requested are not available.

  Council House Sales
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council properties have been sold to council house tenants in Kirklees since 1979 to the latest year for which figures are available; what this is of the total stock ; and how much income this has generated for the local authorities as a result of these sales.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 17 April 1989]: Some 3,500 sales to sitting tenants have been reported by Kirklees district council between April 1979 and the end of December 1986; this is about 9 per cent. of the average stock over the period since 1979; the reported sales had a capital value (net of discount) of over £21 million. No returns of sales to sitting tenants have been received by the Department since December 1986.

  Parish Councils
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will publish his estimates of the income raised for a 1p rate on the non-domestic properties in all parish council areas in 1989–90;
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  (2) if he will publish his estimates of the total amount of business rate income available to parish councils in 1987–88 and 1988–89.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 19 April 1989]: This information is not available.

  Rate Relief
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he has any plans to change the operation of rate relief for non-profit making sports clubs with the introduction of the community charge in April 1990.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 19 April 1989]: On the introduction of the uniform business rate, local authorities will continue to have discretion to give up to 100 per cent. rate relief to non-profit making sports clubs. We are currently consulting the local authority associations and other interested bodies about how the cost of such relief should be borne.

  Crown Suppliers
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information the Crown Suppliers privatisation unit has provided to those firms or groups who have expressed interest in purchasing the Crown Suppliers; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

  Mr. Chope
  Following my announcement of 28 July, a number of firms and groups interested in purchasing the Crown Suppliers were sent a copy of that announcement, a copy of "The Crown Suppliers' Annual Report and Accounts for 1987" (already in the Library) and an information memorandum prepared by Samuel Montagu and Co. Ltd. I am arranging for copies of the information memorandum to be placed in the Library shortly.

  POLLUTION CONTROL: CHARGING ARRANGEMENTS
  POLLUTION CONTROL: CHARGING ARRANGEMENTS
  ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE FOR THE TERMINALLY ILL
  ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE FOR THE TERMINALLY ILL
  SOCIAL FUND: APPEALS
  SOCIAL FUND: APPEALS
  INSURANCE INDUSTRY: SUPERVISION
  INSURANCE INDUSTRY: SUPERVISION
  WARREN SPRING LABORATORY
  WARREN SPRING LABORATORY