Written Answers of 24 April 1989

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Lebanon
  Mr. Grylls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he proposes to take to seek to restrain the military action by Syrian forces against the Lebanon.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Twelve have made dàmarches to both the Syrian and General Aoun and issued a statement on 17 April calling for restraint and a ceasefire. We fully support the efforts of the Arab League to find a negotiated solution and urge all parties to work with the league to that end.

  Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, during his visit to the United States of America on 16 April, he raised with the United States Secretary of State(a) the first preparatory committee meeting of the 1990 nuclear non-proliferation treaty to be held 1–5 May in New York, and (b) the strategy that the depository states for the non-proliferation treaty could adopt to increase the membership of the treaty.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No. However, we take every appropriate opportunity to discuss these issues with the United States. Preparations for the 1990 non-proliferation treaty review conference are frequently discussed at official level.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, at the recent meeting in Spain of the Council of European Community Foreign Affairs Ministers, he raised the matter of the 1990 fourth review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and the non-membership of France of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No.

  Vietnam
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the visit of the Minister of State to Vietnam with regard to the returning boat people.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  During his visit my noble Friend Lord Glenarthur discussed all aspects of the boat people problem, stressing the heavy burden placed on Hong Kong and the urgent need to find a comprehensive and durable solution. He visited some returnees in their homes. All said they were glad to have returned, and that they had been well treated.

  Israel
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Israel following the killing by their occupation forces of Palestinian children in Nahalim.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Israelis will be fully aware of our views on this tragic incident following the statement by the FCO spokesman on 14 April and our vote in favour of the UN General Assembly resolution on 20 April.

  British Citizens Overseas (Imprisonment)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give by reference to a common date the number of British citizens imprisoned abroad, showing the number in each country; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  To the best of our knowledge there were 1,190 British citizens detained overseas on 31 December 1988. A breakdown by country is given in the table.

  British nationals detained overseas: 31 December 1988 (Total 1,190)

  Number

  Argentina

  1

  Australia

  16

  Austria

  5

  Bahrain

  1

  Bangladesh

  3

  Barbados

  2

  Belgium

  32

  Botswana

  1

  Brazil

  4

  Bulgaria

  1

  Canada

  7

  Colombia

  1

  Cote D'lvoire

  1

  Cyprus

  2

  Denmark

  8

  Ecuador

  1

  Egypt

  4

  Finland

  3

  France

  162

  Germany, West

  116

  Ghana

  2

  Greece

  33

  Guyana

  1

  Hong Kong

  8

  India

  23

  Indonesia

  4

  Iran

  1

  Iraq

  1

  Ireland

  7

  Israel

  6

  Italy

  23

  Jamaica

  13

  Japan

  9

  Kenya

  9

  Korea, South

  1

  Kuwait

  8

  Liechtenstein

  2

  Luxembourg

  3

  Malawi

  1

  Malaysia

  3

  Malta

  7

  Mexico

  4

  Morocco

  8

  Mozambique

  1

  Nepal

  6

  Netherlands

  19

  New Caledonia

  1

  New Zealand

  3

  359

  Number

  Norway

  26

  Oman

  4

  Pakistan

  1

  Peru

  5

  Philippines

  10

  Portugal

  27

  Qatar

  1

  Saudi Arabia

  5

  South Africa

  42

  Spain

  216

  Sri Lanka

  1

  Swaziland

  2

  Sweden

  32

  Switzerland

  42

  Taiwan

  3

  Thailand

  17

  Trinidad and Tobago

  1

  Turkey

  1

  Turks and Caicos Islands

  1

  United Arab Emirates

  9

  United States of America

  141

  Venezuela

  1

  Yugoslavia

  2

  Zimbabwe

  20

  Total

  1,188

  Central America
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on(a) the percentage of voters which elected the present Governments of Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, (b) the protection of opposition parties and supporters from military or para-military attacks or repression in these countries and (c) the facilities to meet and campaign enjoyed by such parties; and what regard he has to these factors when formulating his policy towards Central America.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The figures available to us are as follows:

  (a)

  Country

  Election Date

  Winning Candidate/Party

  Per cent. of votes cast

  El Salvador

  6 May 1984

  José Napoleon Duarte (Christian Democrat)

  154·05

  Guatemala

  5 December 1985

  Vinicio Cerezo Arevalo (Christian Democrat)

  168·00

  Honduras

  14 November 1985

  Jose Azcona Hoyo (Liberal)

  49·23

  Nicaragua

  4 November 1984

  Daniel Ortega Saavedra (Sandinista National Liberation Front)

  61·77

  1 Second Round Figures.

  In the most recent Presidential election in E1 Salvador (19 March 1989), Alfredo Cristiani of the National Republican Alliance (ARENA) won on the first round with 54.8 per cent. of the votes cast. He will take office on 1 June.

  (b) There were reports of harassment of the opposition in the course of all these elections. The nature of this harassment varied according to the situation in each country. In E1 Salvador in 1984 a number of Left-wing parties decided that it would not be safe for them to participate. They did however participate in 1989.

  (c) Opposition parties have in general enjoyed reasonable freedom to meet and campaign, although
  360
  according to the Socialist International, in the Nicaraguan elections in 1984 the opposition suffered harassment and censorship of their campaign materials. They were also allotted unequal time on radio and television. Several political parties did not participate because they considered conditions did not exist for a genuinely democratic election.

  Support for democracy is one of the guiding principles on which our policy towards Central America is based. We therefore take very careful account of the conduct of elections and the context in which they take place.

DEFENCE

  Aircraft Deployment
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the nature and purpose of the deployment of United States Air Force reserve C-130 aircraft to RAF Benson in September 1988.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The temporary deployment of three United States air national guard tactical aircraft units to RAF Benson in September 1988 was designed to give reservist aircrews experience of European flying conditions.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the nature and purpose of the deployment of United States marine corps F/A-18 aircraft to Edinburgh airport in September 1988.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The purpose of the deployment of United States marine corps F/A 18 aircraft to Edinburgh airport during the period 3 to 9 September 1988 was to test the staging facilities for elements of the II United States marine air wing en route to a deployment destination in northern Europe as part of a NATO exercise.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all exercises or deployments involving four or more aircraft of visiting forces for 1988 at bases and facilities, both military and civil, in the United Kingdom, giving the number of aircraft, type of aircraft, the major base or facility used and the dates of the exercises.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information requested is not held centrally and could not be compiled without disproportionate cost and effort.

  Imber
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the dangers to members of the armed forces training in the village of Imber and surrounding lands from (i) unexploded ordnance, (ii) metal fragments, (iii) wire entanglements and (iv) open trenches.

  Mr. Neubert
  Unexploded ordnance, wire entanglements, metal fragments, and open trenches are inherently dangerous. However, since soldiers are trained to recognise and take appropriate steps to deal with such dangers and have support from specialist explosive ordnance disposal teams, I am satisfied that risks to military personnel training in and around Imber village are kept to an acceptable minimum. Indeed there have been no recorded injuries to soldiers training in the area from unexploded ordnance in the last 10 years.
  361
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of injuries that have occurred to members of the armed forces training in the village of Imber and surrounding lands for each year since 1979 that are attributable to (i) unexploded ordnance, (ii) metal fragments, (iii) wire entanglements and (iv) open trenches.

  Mr. Neubert
  There are no records of injuries to members of the armed forces resulting from incidents involving unexploded ordnance whilst training in the village of Imber or the surrounding area in the years since 1979. In respect of the other data requested by the hon. Member, I regret that the information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his reply of 3 March,Official Report, column 358, if he will list the legislation subsequent to the Defence Act 1842 that is relevant to the powers under which his Department holds the village of Imber and surrounding lands.

  Mr. Neubert
  The legislation subsequent to the Defence Act 1842 that is relevant to the power under which MOD holds the village of Imber and the surrounding lands is the Ordnance Board Transfer Act 1855 and the Defence Transfer of Functions Act 1964.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his reply of 3 March,(Official Report column 357–58, if he will reconsider his decision not to search

  Royal Navy ships

  Period of visit

  Ports visited

  HMS Trafalgar

  28 September—3 October 1987

  Liverpool

  HMS Churchill

  30 January—4 February 1988

  Cardiff

  HMS Superb

  1 March—6 March 1988

  Cardiff

  HMS Courageous

  2 March—7 March 1988

  Liverpool

  HMS Tireless

  9 March—15 March 1988

  Southampton

  HMS Torbay

  11 May—17 May 1988

  Liverpool

  HMS Sceptre

  4 June—10 June 1988

  Liverpool

  HMS Trafalgar

  12 October—18 October 1988

  Cardiff

  HMS Turbulent

  2 December—12 December 1988

  Liverpool

  HMS Tireless

  25 January—2 February 1989

  Cardiff

  HMS Churchill

  23 February—28 February 1989

  Southampton

  There were no visits to civil ports by foreign nuclear-powered warships.

  Exercise Womble
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence(a) how many soldiers were involved in Exercise Womble on Salisbury plain on 31 March, (b) which parts of Salisbury plain were covered by this exercise, (c) how many square miles, or square kilometres, were cleared by this exercise, (d) how many instances of (i) unexploded ordnance, (ii) metal fragments, (iii) wire entanglements or (iv) open trenches were found during this exercise, (e) how many injuries to personnel were recorded during this exercise, (f) how much litter was picked up during this exercise; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  Exercise Womble formed part of the annual clean-up of all ranges, training areas and camps within the Army's south-west district area. It involved about 500 men, lasted one day, and covered some 35 square miles of the Salisbury Plain training area. Small amounts of unexploded ordnance were discovered and removed for safe disposal; these were one artillery shell,
  362
  relevant records so as to ascertain the number of representations his Department has received regarding the continued use of the village of Imber and surrounding lands by the armed forces.

  Mr. Neubert
  No, but I stress that those records that are readily available indicate that no recent representations have been received concerning the continued use of Imber by the Army.

  Ships (Visits)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on (i) the recent visit of HMS Turbulent to Liverpool, (ii) the recent visit of HMS Tireless to Cardiff, and (iii) the recent visit of HMS Churchill to Southampton.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  These visits were carried out for rest and recreation purposes and to further relations between the Royal Navy and the areas concerned.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all visits by (i) United Kingdom and (ii) non-United Kingdom nuclear powered vessels to non-naval ports that have taken place since June 1987, giving the name of vessel, port visited and dates visited.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarines have visited berths in United Kingdom civil ports on the following occasions since June 1987:

  one demolition charge and three pyrotechnic devices. Eight 4-ton truck loads of metal fragments, iron pickets and the remains of metal targets were removed and 11 open trenches filled in. No serious injuries were reported although a number of soldiers were treated for minor cuts and abrasions. Some 700 plastic dustbin liners filled with a mixture of domestic civilian and military rubbish were recovered along with several discarded refrigerators and other domestic appliances.

  Arms Deployment
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the levels he envisages for limits on the amounts of arms a country can station in another country under the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation proposals to the conventional forces in Europe talks;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the levels he envisages for zonal sublimits on the stationing of certain categories of weapons in specific geographical areas under the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation proposals to the conventional forces in Europe talks.
  363
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to rules 3 and 4 in the proposals submitted by the 16 NATO countries at the opening of the conference on conventional forces in Europe, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Harrier (Sales)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the proposed sale of RAF Harrier GR3 aircraft to Zimbabwe.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The content of discussions on defence sales matters is confidential.

  Cruise Missiles (Boscombe Down)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps were taken to notify parties to the intermediate nuclear forces agreement of the transfer of eight cruise missile launchers from RAF Greenham Common to Boscombe Down airfield between 20 March and 5 April; why they were transferred; how their transfer affects the right to access for on-site inspection under the intermediate nuclear forces agreement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The INF treaty, which is a bilateral agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union, allows either party to deploy treaty-limited items such as missile launchers within designated deployment areas for unspecified periods of time without the need to notify the other party. This arrangement has, I understand, worked well and given neither party any cause for concern.

  As the hon. Member is aware, it is not our practice to comment upon operational details. I can, however, say that the launch vehicles were not transferred directly from RAF Greenham Common to A&AEE Boscombe Down, but spent time there during an off-base deployment which left Greenham Common on 14 March and returned there on 12 April. As this took place within the United Kingdom deployment area, there was no requirement for the United States to inform the Soviet Union, and no such steps were taken.

  On-site inspections can only take place at specified locations, which in the United Kingdom are RAF Greenham Common and RAF Molesworth. Whenever an inspection is called, which is always at short notice, it is possible that treaty-limited items will be deployed away from those locations. This is accepted by both parties.

  Nuclear Disarmament
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Oldham, Central and Royton (Mr. Lamond) of 7 March,Official Report, column 738, what category of nuclear disarmament it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to support.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In common with our NATO allies, this Government support arms control agreements, whether nuclear or conventional, which enhance stability and allow Western security to be maintained at lower levels of weapons. For the foreseeable future, the Alliance sees no alternative to its policy of deterrence based on an appropriate mix of adequate and effective nuclear and conventional forces, kept up-to-date where necessary.

  Forest Fires
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if, pursuant to his answer of 11 April, he will consider providing the British armed forces with aircraft suitable for fighting forest fires.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No. Responsibility for fighting forest fires rests with the appropriate civil authorities.

  Computers
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many instances have been detected in his Department of computer(a) hacking, (b) viruses, (c) logic bombs, (d) trojan horses or (e) other types of computer misuse, whether perpetrated by authorised or unauthorised users of the computers; and how many unsuccessful attempts have been recorded;

  (2) if he will make a statement on all recorded cases of unauthorised access to his Department's computer files.

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

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he can quantify the risk of damage by hackers to sensitive computerised files in his Department.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The risk of damage by hackers to MOD computerised files holding classified material is regularly assessed. It is not in the interests of national security to provide details of the current assessment.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether staff are briefed about computer hacking and computer viruses; and whether there are contingency plans to deal with computer downtime caused by unauthorised penetration.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Staff are trained in computer security including hacking and computer viruses. In addition, departmental instructions are circulated on computer security-related issues.

  The necessary contingency plans are in place to deal with computer downtime, no matter what the cause.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of his Department's policy on review of the security of its computer files.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  MOD computer security staff continuously review the Department's computer security policy and its application to ensure that constant and adequate levels of protection are provided for those computer systems processing or holding classified material.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures his Department has taken to protect data in transit by electronic means.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Data in transit by electronic means is adequately protected. It is not in the interests of national security to provide details of the measures employed.

  USAF Aircraft (Crashes)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement about the crash of a United
  365
  States Air Force A-10 Tankbuster jet from RAF Bentwaters at Bank farm, Benwick near Chatteris, Cambridgeshire;

  (2) if he will make a statement about each crash in the United Kingdom or its territorial waters of United States Air Force jets in the last year; what risk to life was involved; and what armaments they were carrying.

  Mr. Neubert
  During the last year, three United States Air Force aircraft have been lost in accidents in the United Kingdom, as follows:

  i. 22 December 1988: and A-10 aircraft crashed near St. Ives, Cambridgeshire, during a routine training flight. The pilot successfully ejected.

  ii. 4 April 1989: an A-10 aircraft crashed on landing at RAF Alconbury. The pilot was uninjured.

  iii. 17 April 1989: and A-10 aircraft crashed during a routine training flight on open farmland one mile south of Benwick, Cambridgeshire. The pilot was killed.

  Date

  Tail

  Type/Mark

  Station

  Fatalities

  Unit

  30 April 1975

  XX831

  Jaguar T2

  Lossiemouth

  0

  226 OCU

  5 February 1976

  XX137

  Jaguar T2

  Lossiemouth

  0

  226 OCU

  2 July 1976

  XX822

  Jaguar GR1

  Bruggen

  1

  14 SQN

  15 September 1976

  XX735

  Jaguar GR1

  Coltishall

  1

  6SQN

  17 September 1976

  XX120

  Jaguar GR1

  Coltishall

  1

  54 SQN

  14 December 1976

  XZ102

  Jaguar GR1

  Laarbruch

  0

  2 SQN

  25 February 1977

  XZ120

  Jaguar GR1

  Laarbruch

  1

  2 SQN

  14 June 1977

  XX978

  Jaguar GR1

  Bruggen

  1

  31 SQN

  29 July 1977

  XX148

  Jaguar T2

  Lossiemouth

  2

  226 OCU

  21 March 1978

  XX971

  Jaguar GR1

  Bruggen

  0

  31 SQN

  27 April 1978

  XX149

  Jaguar T2

  Lossiemouth

  2

  226 OCU

  25 July 1978

  XX823

  Jaguar GR1

  Bruggen

  1

  17 SQN

  1 November 1978

  XX759

  Jaguar GR1

  Lossiemouth

  1

  226 OCU

  26 March 1979

  XX147

  Jaguar T2

  Bruggen

  0

  17 SQN

  22 June 1979

  XX142

  Jaguar T2

  Lossiemouth

  2

  226 OCU

  18 July 1979

  XX960

  Jaguar GR1

  Bruggen

  0

  14 SQN

  23 November 1979

  XX762

  Jaguar GR1

  Lossiemouth

  1

  226 OCU

  10 December 1979

  XX755

  Jaguar GR1

  Lossiemouth

  1

  226 OCU

  10 December 1979

  XX749

  Jaguar GR1

  Lossiemouth

  0

  226 OCU

  28 May 1980

  XX964

  Jaguar GR1

  Bruggen

  0

  17 SQN

  28 May 1980

  XX961

  Jaguar GR1

  Bruggen

  1

  17 SQN

  17 July 1980

  XX817

  Jaguar GR1

  Bruggen

  0

  17 SQN

  12 February 1981

  XX827

  Jaguar GR1

  Bruggen

  1

  17 SQN

  14 April 1981

  XX973

  Jaguar GR1

  Bruggen

  0

  31 SQN

  1 June 1981

  XX828

  Jaguar T2

  Lossiemouth

  0

  226 OCU

  17 July 1981

  XXI13

  Jaguar GR1

  Abingdon

  0

  MU

  6 August 1981

  XX972

  Jaguar GR1

  Bruggen

  1

  31 SQN

  21 October 1981

  XX957

  Jaguar GR1

  Bruggen

  0

  20 SQN

  18 November 1981

  XX758

  Jaguar GR1

  Lossiemouth

  1

  226 OCU

  2 April 1982

  XX122

  Jaguar GR1

  Coltishall

  1

  54 SQN

  25 May 1982

  XX963

  Jaguar GR1

  Bruggen

  0

  14 SQN

  11 June 1982

  XX820

  Jaguar GR1

  Bruggen

  0

  31 SQN

  13 September 1982

  XX760

  Jaguar GR1

  Bruggen

  0

  14 SQN

  29 September 1982

  XX768

  Jaguar GR1

  Bruggen

  0

  17 SQN

  7 March 1983

  XZ376

  Jaguar GR1

  Bruggen

  0

  17 SQN

  19 April 1983

  XX742

  Jaguar GR1

  Coltishall

  0

  6 SQN

  16 June 1983

  XZ105

  Jaguar GR1

  Laarbruch

  0

  2 SQN

  16 June 1983

  XZ110

  Jaguar GR1

  Laarbruch

  0

  2 SQN

  22 June 1983

  XX721

  Jaguar GR1

  Coltishall

  0

  54 SQN

  19 September 1983

  XXI14

  Jaguar GR1

  Lossiemouth

  0

  226 OCU

  7 February 1984

  XX750

  jaeuar GR1

  Coltishall

  1

  6 SQN

  12 July 1984

  XZ393

  Jaguar GR1A

  Coltishall

  0

  54 SQN

  22 August 1984

  XZ395

  Jaguar GR1A

  Coltishall

  0

  54 SQN

  1 April 1985

  XZ388

  Jaguar GR1

  Bruggen

  0

  14 SQN

  9 July 1985

  XX365

  Jaguar GR1A

  Laarbruch

  0

  2 SQN

  7 October 1985

  XX728

  Jaguar GR1A

  Coltishall

  0

  6 SQN

  7 October 1985

  XX731

  Jaguar GR1

  Coltishall

  1

  6 SQN

  366
  In each case the aircraft was equipped with GAU7 anti-tank guns and practice ammunition. No civilians were injured as a result of any of these accidents.

  RAF Aircraft (Crashes)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the Official Report all crashes involving RAF Jaguar aircraft since 30 April 1975, showing the date of the crash, the serial number of the aircraft, the unit it was attached to and the fatalities, if any, involved in the crash.

  Mr. Neubert
  The details of serious accidents involving RAF Jaguar aircraft in which the aircraft sustained irreparable damage are as follows:
  367

  Date

  Tail

  Type/Mark

  Station

  Fatalities

  Unit

  27 November 1986

  XX732

  Jaguar GR1A

  Lossiemouth

  1

  226 OCU

  17 June 1987

  XZ116

  Jaguar GR1A

  Coltishall

  1

  41 SQN

  24 June 1987

  XZ386

  Jaguar GR1A

  Lossiemouth

  1

  226 OCU

  7 September 1988

  XX834

  Jaguar T2

  Coltishall

  1

  6SQN

  13 April 1989

  XZ359

  Jaguar GR1A

  Coltishall

  1

  54SQN

  Low-flying Aircraft
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will prohibit RAF low-flying over cliff nesting sites for sea birds on the east coast of Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  For flight safety reasons, areas of major bird concentration, including the locations of major seabird breeding colonies in Scotland, are already notified to aircrews who will take account of the potential hazards in the planning and execution of their low flying sorties. It is not therefore generally necessary to impose mandatory restrictions on the overflight of specific cliff nesting sites.

  NATINADS Exercise
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what role will be played by RAF Stornoway and Stornoway airport in the United Kingdom NATINADS exercise scheduled for 25 to 27 April;

  (2) what role will be played by RAF Benbecula and Benbecula airfield in the United Kingdom NATINADS exercise scheduled for 25 to 27 April.

  Mr. Neubert
  During the NATO integrated air defence system exercise MAULSTICK, which is planned to be held between 25 and 27 April, the radar facilities at RAF Benbecula will be tested by a small number of aircraft operating some miles away from the island. RAF Stornoway will not be involved.

  Defence Export Services
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Mr. Alan Thomas will be taking over from Sir Colin Chandler as head of Defence Export Services; and what are the terms of the appointment.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Mr. Alan Thomas will start taking over from Sir Colin Chandler as Head of Defence Export Services in early July. He will assume total responsibility for the post in September.

  Mr. Thomas was appointed at a salary of £100,000 a year subject to annual review. He will also be eligible for a performance bonus.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Manaus Conference
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the results of the Manaus conference, sponsored by the Royal Geographical Society, on Amazonia, at which he was represented.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  At the Manaus conference a five volume economic survey compiled by Dr. Ratter of the 368
  Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh was handed over. Forty-six scientific papers were read (in Portuguese) and useful discussions on future work were held. The Brazilian authorities expressed satisfaction with the level of expertise and the degree of United Kingdom/Brazilian co-operation. A series of reports will be prepared for Acta Amazonia, the major Brazilian journal of the National Institute of Amazon Research in Manaus. The Overseas Development Administration expects shortly a written report from the Royal Geographical Society.

  Brazil
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will arrange for a member of his Department to visit the Maraca project, Brazil.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council gave him on 18 April, at column 183. We are in discussion with the Brazilian authorities on what further assistance may be given for rain forest work in Brazil. If a visit by an Overseas Development Administration team is agreed it will present an opportunity for the team leader to visit the Maraca project.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Patten), the Minister for Overseas Development, has to pay a visit to Brazil.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Dependent on other commitments, I hope to visit Brazil later this year.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has for the forest regeneration team to return for two months to Maraca ecological reserve, Brazil.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The forest regeneration team are returning to Maraca for two months under the project work plan funded by the Overseas Development Administration as soon as their visas have been authorised.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funds Her Majesty's Government are providing to study the Alexa tree at the western end of Maraca, Brazil, for its potential in providing the plant alkaloid castanospermine; and what interim results are available from the clinical tests at St. Mary's hospital, London, with a view to providing a treatment for certain forms of the disease AIDS.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The Overseas Development Administration support for research in the Maraca forests has been concerned with their management and
  369
  regeneration and not specifically with the Alexa tree. However we are aware of the great potential importance of the Alexa species for biochemical extractives. If the Brazilian authorities request support for collaborative research on the Alexa tree this will be considered sympathetically and could be looked at during the proposed ODA team visit to Brazil.

  I understand laboratory studies involving synthetic castanospermine are in progress but I have no knowledge of clinical trials at St. Mary's hospital, London. The hon. Member may wish to approach the medical authorities about this.

  Gross bilateral aid to central America 1979—1987 in current prices

  £ thousands

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Costa Rica

  623

  606

  570

  486

  1,838

  1,666

  12,685

  10,038

  2,584

  El Salvador

  448

  265

  41

  13

  0

  205

  103

  239

  411

  Guatemala

  14

  35

  15

  4

  0

  0

  0

  10

  1

  Honduras

  230

  335

  5,002

  2,272

  6,670

  3,446

  3,653

  1,258

  811

  Mexico

  1,186

  1,577

  1,464

  34,334

  2,827

  517

  773

  803

  630

  Nicaragua

  246

  127

  91

  49

  64

  9

  116

  86

  0

  Panama

  63

  94

  102

  62

  43

  49

  67

  70

  72

  Total

  2,810

  3,039

  7,285

  37,220

  11,442

  5,892

  17,397

  12,504

  4,509

  Gross bilateral aid to central America 1979—1987 in constant 1987 prices

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Costa Rica

  1,127

  916

  773

  613

  2,204

  1,909

  13,751

  10,513

  2,584

  El Salvador

  811

  401

  56

  16

  0

  235

  112

  250

  411

  Guatemala

  25

  53

  20

  5

  0

  0

  0

  10

  1

  Honduras

  416

  506

  6,786

  2,864

  7,998

  3,949

  3,960

  1,318

  811

  Mexico

  2,146

  2,384

  1,986

  43,277

  3,390

  592

  838

  841

  630

  Nicaragua

  445

  192

  123

  62

  77

  10

  126

  90

  0

  Panama

  114

  142

  138

  78

  52

  56

  73

  73

  72

  Total

  5,085

  4,595

  9,884

  46,915

  13,720

  6,752

  18,858

  13,096

  4,509

  Nicaragua
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing in ranked order the per capita contributions made by Economic Co-operation and Development member states to Nicaragua for the latest year for which figures are available, including the total aid given by each Economic Co-operation and Development country for that year.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The information is as follows:

  Net official development assistance from OECD member countries to Nicaragua in 1987

  Donor

  Net official development assistance

  Per capita

  $US000's

  US$

  Norway

  14,350

  3·430

  Sweden

  25,590

  3·047

  Denmark

  11,370

  2·216

  Finland

  7,390

  1·498

  Netherlands

  19,800

  1·350

  Switzerland

  3,210

  0·486

  Austria

  1,410

  0·186

  Italy

  10,300

  0180

  France

  9,210

  0·166

  Germany

  6,240

  0·102

  Belgium

  770

  0·078

  Canada

  1,060

  0·041

  Ireland

  10

  0·003

  Japan

  290

  0·002

  Central America
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the level of British bilateral aid to each of the states in Central America for each year from 1979 onwards in(a) current and (b) constant prices.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The figures for Central America and Mexico are as follows. The figures include investment by the Commonwealth Development Corporation but do not take account of joint funding provided to non-governmental organisations.

  Donor

  Net official development assistance

  Per capita

  $US 000's

  US$

  Australia

  30

  0·002

  New Zealand

  —

  —

  United Kingdom

  —

  —

  United States

  —

  —

  Total

  111,030

  0·157

  Note: Figures relate to member states of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the OECD. No figures are available for non-DAC OECD members.

  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total emergency assistance given to Nicaragua in response to Hurricane Joan.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Including our contribution through the European Community, the total emergency assistance given to Nicaragua by the United Kingdom in response to Hurricane Joan was £413,000.

  Aid Policy
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what special allocations within grants for overseas aid will be made to ensure that women figure more highly in development projects, especially primary health care and education.
  371
  Mr. Chris Patten
  Our grant aid finances activities which benefit both women and men. We do not make special allocations for either but we aim to design projects to meet women's special needs and problems wherever an opportunity arises.

  Improvements in primary health care and education are central to promoting conditions which allow women to play their full part in development. Our recent booklet "Women, Development and the British Aid Programme", copies of which are in the Library, explains how we are helping in these fields.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Chemicals and Fertilisers
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received on the possibilities of declaring an amnesty for those farm chemicals and fertilisers currently the subject of banning orders.

  Mr. Ryder
  No representations have been made for an amnesty in respect of fertilisers since none of these are banned. There have however been a number of representations that an amnesty should be declared so as to permit the disposal of holdings of unapproved pesticide concentrates. In each instance it has been explained that no such amnesty is warranted, since those who can demonstrate that they have taken responsible steps towards achieving disposal—that is, by at least having made arrangements with a reputable specialist waste disposal contractor—need not fear that they will be penalised for illegal stockholding. Whenever the degree of risk permits, withdrawal of approval is phased so as to allow existing stocks to be used up.

  Badgers
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Caerphilly of 11 April,Official Report, column 440, whether he intends his Department to finance the additional research necessary on the tuberculosis vaccine for badgers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I intend my Department to contribute towards funding the further research referred to in my earlier reply.

  Potatoes
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Gateshead, East on 2 February,Official Report, columns 399–400, whether he intends to update regularly the statistics relating to the use of tecnazene on potatoes.

  Mr. Ryder
  Yes. Pesticide usage surveys are undertaken at regular intervals and the results are published.

  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Gateshead, East on 2 February,Official Report, columns 399–400, whether he now has further details of the use of tecnazene on the 1988 potato crop throughout the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ryder
  Details of the use of pesticides, including tecnazene, on the 1988 potato crop are still being collected.372
  These figures will cover pesticide usage in England and Wales. Results available from the 1986 crop in Scotland were given in my answer to the hon. Member on 2 February at columns 399–400. Pesticide usage statistics are not collected for Northern Ireland.

  Cereals
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North,Official Report, 13 April, column 689, what was the total tonnage and average price per tonne of all cereals imported into the United Kingdom in 1986, 1987 and 1988.

  Mr. Ryder
  The following is the information:

  1Quantity (tonnes)

  2Average price (£/tonne)

  1986

  3,517,365

  142·05

  1987

  3,520,873

  133·28

  1988

  3,370,401

  134·05

  1 Quantities rounded to the nearest whole tonne.

  2 Average prices have been calculated from import values on a cost, insurance, freight basis.

  Source: UK Overseas Trade Statistics.

  ADAS
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people have been employed in the farm and countryside service of the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  The number of people employed in the farm and countryside service of the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service in the years requested is as follows:

  Number

  1987

  1,903

  1988

  1,774

  1989

  1,785

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of man years spent by his advisers working in Agricultural Development Advisory Service for each of the last three years on the following:(a) free advice, (b) extensification work and (c) chargeable advice; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  This information is in principle included in "Ministerial Information in MAFF" available in the Library of the House. However, publications to date have not distinguished between inputs to free and chargeable advice. It is anticipated such a distinction will be made in the 1989 version and the provisional figures for 1988–89 are 125 man years for free advice and 1,148 man years for chargeable advice. These figures exclude the activities of members of the State Veterinary Service who are not normally classified as "advisers".

  An extensification scheme has not yet been introduced in the United Kingdom. Some ADAS manpower has been involved in advising policy makers on the preparation of a scheme, but it is not included in the figures and cannot be identified separately.

  Milk
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has of the use of penicillinase in milk; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  We have no evidence of such use, which would be an offence under section 2 of the Food Act 1984.

  Mr Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his intentions with regard to the sale of green-top milk.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Hunter) on 23 February at columns 712–13.

  Fishing Vessels
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on(a) the number of boardings of fishing vessels carried out by each European Community member state, (b) the proportion of such hoardings which were of vessels registered in that country and (c) the number and outcome of prosecutions following such boardings over the latest period for which figures are available.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I regret that information on hoardings of fishing vessels carried out by other member states and the number and outcome of prosecutions following such boardings is not available to me.

  Food Labelling
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when Her Majesty's Government initially pledged themselves to introduce new laws to improve food labelling; when that proposed legislation is expected to be introduced; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  We have for a number of years been following a policy of moving away from strict compositional standards for food (recipe law) which restrict consumer choice towards an improved system of food labelling, to ensure that consumers are given adequate information of food labels and are able to make an informed choice. European Community policy is also following the same course.

  As part of the Community's food law harmonisation programme, amendments to the Community food labelling directive, are expected to be adopted by the Council very shortly, following which these will need to be implemented into United Kingdom law.

  The main changes for the United Kingdom are on datemarking of foods. Proposals on nutrition labelling are also under discussion in Brussels. These aim to standardise the presentation of nutrition information so that it is easier for consumers to compare products and to achieve a balanced diet. Other proposals for improved food labelling are also expected to be tabled in the run up to 1992.

  Reprocessed Meat
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will examine the use of mechanically reprocessed meat in pies and sausages and request that all products using such material shall be clearly labelled.
  374
  Mr. Ryder
  Mechanically recovered meat is used in a number of meat products including pies and sausages. The Food Labelling Regulations 1984 require that a treatment given to a food or food ingredient should be indicated in the appropriate place on the label if the omission of such an indication would mislead the purchaser.

  Sea Bass
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has made with the French to limit their fishing of sea bass in the Channel.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I announced on July 27 last year at column 298–99 a series of new steps for the conservation of bass fisheries, involving an increased minimum landing size, mesh size restrictions and plans for the establishment of a series of nursery areas to give protection to juvenile bass. The measures do not involve proposals for quantitative restrictions on the adult bass fishery in the Channel. There is no evidence at present to support the need for such restrictions though we shall continue, however, to keep that fishery under review.

  Rural Housing
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has had any discussions with interested parties on the provision of low-cost housing in rural areas.

  Mr. Ryder
  My right hon. Friends, the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Wales are, of course, responsible for policy on this matter in England and Wales, respectively. However, rural housing is an issue which is often raised with me in the context of agriculture and countryside matters. I therefore welcome warmly the statement made by the Secretary of State for the Environment on 3 February 1989 at columns 433–34 about new guidance to planning authorities in England, which is intended to increase the provision of low cost housing in rural areas.

  I hope that following the announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget statement on the tax position of land sold to housing associations for this purpose, landowners will be encouraged to make suitable land available. An adequate supply of affordable housing to meet the needs of those who live and work in the countryside is an important element in the Government's policies for the diversification of the rural economy.

  Tropical Timber
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Linlithgow,Official Report, 10 April, column 362, he will make a statement on his policy in relation to ensuring where possible that tropical timber is obtained from sustainable sources, in relation to sea defences and other such projects.

  Mr. Ryder
  The source from which timber is obtained cannot be the sole criterion in judging the merits of sea defence and similar projects. Nevertheless, where possible my Department would welcome proposals which utilise timber from sustainable sources.

  Potato Marketing Board
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his plans for the future of the Potato Marketing Board.

  Mr. Ryder
  I refer my hon. Friends to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Ludlow (Mr. Gill) on 19 April at column 175.

  Fishing (Aid)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the amount

  EC Aid Scheme

  Mecus

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Belgium

  Denmark

  France

  Fishing Vessels and Aquaculture Grants

  3·95

  4·27

  0·80

  0·41

  0·10

  4·62

  7·82

  7·26

  1·25

  3·29

  12·83

  12·42

  16·98

  12·47

  4·74

  Market Support Measures

  0·44

  0·46

  0·48

  0·27

  0·08

  1·52

  —

  2·54

  1·45

  1·55

  3·21

  4·58

  6·76

  5·06

  18·22

  Marketing and Processing Grants

  0·72

  0·83

  0·12

  0·53

  0·97

  0·74

  2·81

  2·97

  0·94

  1·49

  0·82

  0·34

  4·27

  2·34

  1·78

  Germany

  Netherlands

  Spain

  Fishing Vessels and Aquaculture Grants

  3·20

  2·90

  7·71

  4·41

  1·39

  2·07

  1·33

  4·73

  0·66

  0·57

  —

  —

  2·206

  32·2

  1·814

  Market Support Measures

  1·40

  0·44

  0·17

  0·27

  0·49

  2·47

  1·11

  0·90

  —

  0·06

  —

  —

  —

  2·40

  19·38

  Marketing and Processing Grants

  0·57

  1·83

  0·95

  1·83

  1·34

  —

  0·85

  1·20

  0·41

  0·81

  —

  —

  —

  4·34

  6·63

  Source:

  (Mainly) EAGGF Financial Reports

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give his estimate of the extent of national aid for fishing in the latest available year in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland and Spain in each of the following areas(a) construction support, (b) lay-up subsidy, (c) social security support when not working, (d) fuel subsidy, (e) support for processing industry, (f) financial support for fishermen's organisations and (g) provision of port or market facilities.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  This information is not centrally available. But some indication of the national aids given by these member states is contained in the 1986 OECD publication "Review of Fisheries".

  Number of farms

  Hectares set aside

  Percentage of arable land1 in member state

  Belgium

  39

  383

  0·1

  France

  210

  2,409

  Less than 0·1

  Germany

  25,289

  170,635

  2·4

  Ireland

  97

  1,918

  0·2

  Netherlands

  98

  1,222

  0·1

  Spain

  180

  6,202

  Less than 0·1

  United Kingdom

  1,820

  57,613

  1·2

  1 May in member states other than the United Kingdom include some land not eligible for the scheme.

HEALTH

  Medical Ethics
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on medical ethics in practice and protection for patients against unscrupulous operators.

  Mr. Mellor
  It is for the medical profession itself, and in particular the General Medical Council, to lay down
  376
  of Economic European Community financial support made available to the fishing industry of Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, and Spain for each of the last available five years and the division of such support between catching, processing and port and market facilities.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The information held centrally is as follows. I shall write to the hon. Member about the other information as soon as possible.

  Set-aside Scheme
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farms have taken the option of the set-aside scheme for agricultural land; what proportion of total agricultural land this represents; and if he will give similar figures for the other countries in the European Economic Community.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 21 April 1989]: The information so far available is as follows:

  ethical guidance for doctors taking into account changing attitudes in society, and to ensure that it is followed. Such guidance applies equally to private practice as to practice in the NHS.

  Listeriosis
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if it is his intention to make listeriosis a notifiable disease.
  377
  Mr. Freeman
  The Department is currently reviewing the list of notifiable diseases and, as part of this review, will consider whether listeriosis should be made notifiable.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received concerning the need to make listeriosis a notifiable disease.

  Mr. Freeman
  None.

  Student Midwives
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many student midwives who started before April 1988 are on grades D, E and F; and how many who started after April 1988 are on grades D, E and F.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not hold this information centrally.

  Denture Replacements
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has recently had with regional health authorities to ensure that denture replacements are made available to patients in hospital; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Health authorities will be well aware that if in-patients lose or break their dentures, arrangements should be made for the hospital dental service to supply a replacement as soon as possible.

  Toxocariasis
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases have been reported each year since 1979 of persons suffering from toxocariasis.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information available on human toxocara infection is limited. The communicable disease surveillance centre receives around one hundred reports of laboratory identifications each year; however, the true incidence of infection is unknown.

  Computers
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many instances have been detected in his Department of computer(a) hacking, (b) viruses, (c) logic bombs, (d) Trojan horses or (e) other types of computer misuse, whether perpetrated by authorised or unauthorised users of computers; and how many unsuccessful attempts have been recorded.

  Mr. Freeman
  There have been no instances detected and no unsuccessful attempts recorded.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in view of evidence from the United States of America and France, that personal health records are being maliciously damaged by the implantation of computer viruses, what precautions are being taken against similar breaches of United Kingdom public health and medical records held on computer files.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is not the policy of the Department of publicise the measures taken to ensure the security of medical data since such information would be of assistance to potential attackers.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on all recorded cases of unauthorised access to his Department's computer files.
  378
  Mr. Freeman
  There have been no recorded cases of unauthorised access.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give details of his Department's policy on review of the security of its computer files.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Department regularly reviews its computer security arrangements, but it would not be appropriate to publish details of procedures and arrangements.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he can quantify the risk of damage by hackers to sensitive computerised files in his Department.

  Mr. Freeman
  Computer systems containing sensitive information are subject to physical and local security measures designed to remove or minimise the risk of damage, including that by hacking, to that information. The Department does not consider it sensible to publish details of risks and counter-measures involved.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether staff are briefed about computer hacking and computer viruses; whether there are contingency plans to deal with computer downtime caused by unauthorised penetration; and what plans exist to deal with penetration of particularly sensitive systems.

  Mr. Freeman
  Staff are briefed on a wide range of security risks and counter measures including those by hacking and viruses. Security contingency plans include provision for potential computer downtime caused by unauthorised access. These arrangements vary according to the level of sensitivity of the information held. The Department considers that the effectiveness of these arrangements would be reduced if details were made public.

  Data Protection
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures his Department has taken to protect data in transit by electronic means.

  Mr. Freeman
  Electronic transmission of data is subject to physical and logical security measures appropriate to the level of sensitivity of the data transmitted. The Department does not consider it sensible to publish details of the security measures taken.

  AIDS
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what scientific evidence was considered by the Committee on Safety of Medicines before it gave its approval for a licence to the drug AZT for the treatment of AIDS.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Committee on Safety of Medicines considered a range of scientific matters relating to the safety, quality and efficacy of this drug. The information supplied by a pharmaceutical company to support a licensing application is commercially confidential.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what evidence there is on the reversibility of the side effects of the drug AZT and on the effect on the AIDS virus if the drug is discontinued;
  379
  (2) what are the known side effects on AIDS patients of the drug AZT.

  Mr. Mellor
  Zidovudine (AZT) has been associated with a range of side effects as set out in the ABPI Data Sheet Compendium 1988–89 (pages 1634–6). A copy is in the Library. Many patients do develop side effects due to the potency of this drug and the seriousness of their illness. Doctors are advised to monitor patients very carefully and adjust the dosage or even stop the drug altogether should side effects occur. Reversibility of side effects depends upon their nature and severity and upon the clinical state of the patient. Little information is available about the effects of discontinuing treatment on the AIDS virus, however there have been reports of a rise in the blood levels of the viral antigen.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths are known to have resulted from the use of the drug AZT.

  Mr. Mellor
  None that we are aware of. The Committee on Safety of Medicines has received three adverse reaction reports where patients being treated with Zidovudine (AZT) have died. Unfortunately all of these patients had a limited life expectancy due to the nature of their illnesses, and it is not possible to establish that any of these deaths resulted from the use of this drug.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence there is of the efficacy of the drug AZT(a) in prolonging the lives and (b) in improving the quality of life, of British AIDS patients who have been treated with it; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  I am advised that evidence for the efficacy of the drug Zidovudine (AZT) when used in the treatment of patients in the United Kingdom was published in January 1989 in volume 18, supplement 1 of the Journal of Infection.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many AIDS patients have been treated with the drug AZT; and how many are currently receiving it.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not hold this information centrally.

  Hospital Consultants
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital consultants held(a) full-time contracts and (b) part-time contracts with the National Health Service in: (i) 1979 and (ii) 1988.

  Mr. Mellor
  The numbers in England in 1979 and 1987, the latest year for which figures are available, were as follows:

  1979

  1987

  Full-time contracts

  5,080

  6,774

  Part-time contracts

  7,281

  7,740

  The number with part-time contracts includes university staff who have an honorary contract with a health authority.

  District Health Authorities (Assets)
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give details of assets disposed of by each district health authority during 1987–88; and what was the total value of those assets.
  380
  Mr. Freeman
  I shall let the hon. Member have such information as can be obtained withour incurring disproportionate cost as soon as possible.

  Cervical Cytology
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list all district health authorities which operate a computerised call/recall cervical cytology programme for all women aged 20 to 65 years at three-yearly intervals.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Lloyd) on 16 February at column 345.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list all those district health authorities which have not yet called all women aged 20 to 65 years for a cervical cancer smear;

  (2) if he will list the uptake of women called for a cervical cancer smear for each district health authority; and if he will list those district health authorities which are unable to provide these statistics.

  Mr. Freeman
  HC(88)1 stated that all women aged between 20 and 64 years should be invited for a cervical smear test within five years of implementation of computerised call and recall systems, unless their GP has indicated that they should be excluded. We are not, therefore, expecting all district health authorities to have completed this task until March 1993—five years from when their computerised systems became operational. Information on the number of eligible women screened for cervical cancer is expected to become available later this year when we receive health authorities' returns from KÖrner form KC53—"Adult screening programmes—cervical cytology".

  A copy of HC(88)1 is available in the Library.

  Spectacle Allowance (VDUs)
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated cost to public funds for the current financial year of the spectacle allowance payable to staff in his Department who work on visual display units; what is the current allowance; and when it was last updated.

  Mr. Mellor
  The estimated 1989–90 cost of spectacles for staff in the Department working on VDUs is £10,000. The current allowance, updated on 1 December 1988, is £50 plus any eyesight testing costs.

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will take steps to ensure that each prescription for medicine is accompanied by an information pamphlet describing the relevant drug's indications, side effects and withdrawal symptoms.

  Mr. Mellor
  No, but other measures to improve communication to patients about medicines are in progress.

  At present there is no requirement on pharmaceutical companies to provide leaflets with medicines, but the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) encourages its members to do so. Under the Medicines (Leaflets) Regulations, such leaflets, if supplied, must specify contraindications, warnings, and precautions, and may specify indications for use.
  381
  The Council of Ministers of the European Community (EC) has reached a common position on a proposal to amend pharmaceutical directives which would, amongst other things, introduce a requirement to provide leaflets with medicines. It is expected that this directive will be adopted shortly.

  Further, the EC Commission is following up a resolution of the Health Council of May 1987 requiring a report and, if appropriate, proposals for further measures to improve patient information leaflets. We understand the aim is to report to the Council by the end of the year. We shall consider constructively the Commission's report, when available.

  Benzodiazepine
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will take steps to ensure that a health warning is given on all bottles of benzodiazepines prescribed to patients, to the effect that those medicines can cause dependence.

  Mr. Mellor
  I have no present plans to do so. The space available on medicines labels is limited. Leaflets offer greater scope for developing communication to patients about medicines.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds were allocated by his Department in 1987 to assist people dependent on benzodiazepines; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  In 1987–88 the following grants were made under the central drugs initiative to services specifically for those dependent on benzodiazepines:Mind (Copeland)—tranquilliser withdrawal scheme £33,541
  North East Council on Addictions—tranquilliser advice and support scheme £40,662

  Grants totalling £4,038,962 were also made to 97 other projects in 1987·88 under this initiative, some of which provided a service for those dependent on benzodiazepines. In addition the Government made available £6 million to regional health authorities specifically for the development of services for those experiencing problems with illicit or prescribed drugs.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the approximate cost to the National Health Service of the prescriptions issued for benzodiazepines by community pharmacists in 1987.

  Mr. Mellor
  We estimate that the approximate cost to the NHS of prescriptions for benzodiazepines dispensed by community pharmacists in Great Britain in 1987 was £30·2 million.

  Drug Usage
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent in 1987 on giving advice on drug usage to general practitioners and hospital doctors; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  In the financial year 1987·88 almost £2 million was spent by the Department on giving advice on drug usage to professional staff working in the NHS. This expenditure is not broken down by professional group. In addition, health authorities provide their own drug 382
  information services. It is not possible to separate the cost of such services from the total pharmaceutical services provided by health authorities.

  "Health for Year 2000"
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what instruction he has given to the Health Education Authority on its work on, "Health for all by the Year 2000"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  The World Health Organisation's "Health For All By The Year 2000" strategy is one of the considerations that all health authorities, including the Health Education Authority, take into account in developing their programmes of work.

  Health Education Authority (Community Participation)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what instruction he has given to the Health Education Authority on its work on community participation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  A number of specific action tasks were agreed at the ministerial accountability review of the Health Education Authority on 20 February. One of these was that the authority prepare, by the end of April, a report on the concept of community development and the way in which it might be taken forward in keeping with the authority's health education remit.

  Meningitis
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the amount of financial support given to the meningitis trust for the purposes of research into meningitis and meningococal meningitis in 1980 and 1989.

  Mr. Freeman
  The trust did not exist in 1980 an has not recently applied to this Department for research funding. However, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 21 December by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science at column 292, which listed research projects into meningitis supported by the Medical Research Council.

  Pharmaceutical Industry
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce organisational reforms in order to separate more clearly the Department's sponsorship role with regard to the pharmaceutical industry from its regulatory role; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  The two functions are handled by separate parts of the Department. Since 1 April the regulatory role of medicines licensing has become the responsibility of the Medicines Control Agency, so that the two functions are now more widely separated.

  Limited List Prescribing
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement outlining the cost savings to his Department realised through the introduction of the limited list prescribing systems; and if he will indicate the precise manner in which that figure has been calculated.
  383
  Mr. Mellor
  In 1985–86 the selected list scheme saved £75 million on the drugs bill. The savings in each of the seven therapeutic groups were:

  £ million

  Cough and cold remedies

  22

  Analgesics for mild to moderate pain

  19

  Indigestion remedies

  8

  Vitamins

  7½

  Laxatives

  2

  Bitters and tonics

  1

  Benzodiazepine sedatives and tranquillisers

  15½

  These savings were calculated by comparing actual expenditure in 1985–86 with an estimate of the expenditure which would have been incurred in that year if the scheme had not been introduced.

  It is not possible to make meaningful estimates for savings in subsequent years but we have no reason to doubt that significant savings continue to be made.

SCOTLAND

  Geriatric Patients
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance he has issued to health boards on the rate of provision of beds for geriatric patients and hospital places for psychogeriatric patients.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Guidance on services for the elderly and the elderly with dementia was set out in the SHARPEN (Scottish health authorities' review of priorities for the eighties and nineties) report, which was published, and commended to health boards, in November 1988. The report contained guidance about bed provision; it also stressed the need for a range of facilities, and for appropriate placement.

  Police Rent Allowance
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report in tabular form details for the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available of the total pay bill, compensatory grant received and income tax paid by each police authority in Scotland in respect of police officers' rent allowance.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is not held centrally in the detailed form requested, but the table shows the total sums paid by each police authority in the 1987–88 financial year by way of rent allowance and compensatory grant.

  Police Authority

  £

  Central

  1,278,493

  Dumfries and Galloway

  686,740

  Fife

  1,415,990

  Grampian

  2,396,359

  Lothian and Borders

  4,253,725

  Northern

  910,187

  Strathclyde

  17,982,163

  Tayside

  2,605,438

  Total

  31,529,095

  This expenditure attracted 51 per cent. specific police grant.

  Communications (Interceptions)
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information was available to him when he decided not to call for a report from the chief constable of Strathclyde region on the illegal interceptions of communications in Helensburgh.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Sufficient information on which to make a decision.

  NHS (Capital Charges)
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland from what date capital charges in the National Health Service will be charged in full; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  As indicated in paragraph 4·1 of the Scottish working paper 5 "Capital Charging", published last month, it is proposed that capital charging will start to operate in Scotland from April 1991.

  Highland Health Board
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 14 April, what were those matters of common interest discussed at the meeting with Highland health board.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  It is not normal practice to disclose the nature of informal discussions between Ministers and health boards.

  Toxocariasis
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases have been reported in Scotland each year since 1979 of persons suffering from toxocariasis.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Toxocariasis is not a notifiable disease and this information is not held centrally. Between 1979 and 1987, six cases were admitted for in-patient care in Scotland.

  Dog Fouling
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will bring forward proposals for legislation with regard to dog fouling to enable local authorities and police to take action against irresponsible behaviour on the part of dog owners.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  It is already an offence under section 48 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 for a person in charge of a dog to allow it to foul any of the places specified in that section. The Act is under review, and proposals for improvements in its provisions will shortly be the subject of consultation.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East of 17 April, if he will make it his policy to collect from community charge registration officers in Scotland information on the uses made of electoral registers in compiling the community charge registers which they are currently operating; and if he will make a statement.
  385
  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no intention of making arrangements to collect information on the use made by community charge registration officers of electoral registers, or other sources of information to which they may have access, in connection with their functions.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all inward investment projects in Scotland in 1988 and 1989 to date.

  Mr. Lang
  Details of all individuals projects are not published as certain information is supplied by companies on a commercially confidential basis.

  The figures based on company plans for inward investment in Scotland where there has been direct involvement by officials of Locate in Scotland or the Industry Department for Scotland are as follows:

  Numbers of projects

  Planned investment £ million

  Planned jobs

  1987–88

  84

  324·2

  11,219

  1988–89

  55

  437·6

  7,089

  Locate in Scotland is aware of a further four projects which came to Scotland in 1987–88 without officials involvement and of a further five in 1988–89.

  Locate in Scotland
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current staff establishment of Locate in Scotland; what offices are currently overseas; and what additional offices are planned.

  Mr. Lang
  The current staff establishment of Locate in Scotland is 60, of which 25 are based in field offices outwith Scotland. Overseas offices are located as follows:Brussels 1; Tokyo 1; London 1; United States of America 4 located in Stamford, San Mateo, Houston and Chicago.

  At present there are no plans to open additional offices elsewhere.

  Hospital Consultants
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hospital consultants held(a) full-time contracts and (b) part-time contracts with the National Health Service in Scotland in (i) 1979 and (ii) 1988.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Hospital consultants in the NHS in Scotland

  Full-time

  Part-time1

  Honorary

  Total

  30 September 1979

  Medical

  1,327

  274

  267

  1,868

  Dental

  27

  6

  38

  71

  Total

  1,354

  280

  305

  1,939

  30 September 1988(provisional)

  Medical

  1,529

  305

  295

  2,129

  Dental

  31

  7

  41

  79

  Total

  1,560

  312

  336

  2,208

  386

  1Including maximum part-time.

  Health Board Assets
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of assets disposed of by each health board during 1987–88; and what was the total value of those assets.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Income from the sale of surplus NHS land and properties amounted to £7·948 million in 1987–88, when the following properties were sold:

  Land-property

  Health board

  GD surgery, Newmilns

  Ayrshire and Arran

  Broadfield hospital, Port Glasgow

  Argyll and Clyde

  Royal Victoria eye infirmary, Paisley

  Land at Caldwell House hospital,

  Uplawmoor

  Northern hospital, Dunfermline

  Fife

  Land at Royal Northern infirmary,

  Highland

  Inverness

  East block, Aberdeen royal infirmary,

  Grampian

  Woolmanhill

  24 North Silver street, Aberdeen

  Inverbervie health centre site, Inverbervie

  27–28 Park circus, Glasgow

  Greater Glasgow

  10 Park circus, Glasgow

  Schaw hospital, Bearsden

  13 Woodside place

  Ophthalmic institute, 126–128 West Regent

  street, Glasgow

  4 Royal crescent, Glasgow

  Killearn hospital, Killearn

  Glenfarg street clinic, Glasgow

  Farmland at Gartloch hospital, Glasgow

  Land at Craiglea place, Edinburgh

  Lothian

  Hozier house, Lanark

  Lanarkshire

  32 Bridge street, Kirkwall

  Orkney

  Dundee woman's hospital

  Tayside

  Land at Murthly hospital

  185 staff houses

  Various

  17 small plots of land

  Various

  Total value

  £7,947,705·62

  Income from the sale of other assets amounted to £145,000 (excluding the income from the sale of assets which are being replaced, which is netted against cost). Details of these assets are not held centrally but the income received by each health board was:—

  Health Board

  £

  Argyll and Clyde

  6,600

  Ayrshire and Arran

  2,800

  Borders

  47,200

  Dumfries

  7,750

  Fife

  Nil

  Forth Valley

  7,100

  Grampian

  5,850

  Greater Glasgow

  27,000

  Highland

  4,000

  Lanarkshire

  1,200

  Lothian

  27,500

  Orkney

  1,200

  Shetland

  2,200

  Tayside

  4,600

  Western Isles

  Nil

  Cervical Smear Tests
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list all those health boards which have not yet called all women aged 20 to 65 years for a cervical cancer smear;
  387
  (2) if he will list the uptake of women called for a cervical cancer smear for each health board; and if he will list those health boards which are unable to provide these statistics.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Health boards have been asked to ensure that all women in the age range 20 to 60 in Scotland receive a cervical smear test by 1993. Information on the number of eligible women screened for cervical cancer will be collected from January 1990.

  Cornton Vale Prison
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total average number per day during 1988 of females in Cornton Vale prison engaged in(a) work, (b) daytime education and (c) evening education; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  During 1988 the total average number per day of females engaged in those activities at Cornton Vale was as follows:

  Number

  Work

  123

  Daytime education

  39

  Evening education

  17

  Attendance by inmates at daytime education is on a part-time basis. Evening education is available only between the months of January to March and September to December.

  Alar
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the crops on which the chemical Alar is used and the purposes for its use; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Pesticide usage surveys indicate that there has been a very small use of Alar in Scotland in recent years, on chrysanthemums in 1981 and on seed potatoes in 1987 as a growth regulator. The continued use of this chemical is being considered by the Advisory Committee on Pesticides and its views are awaited.

  Sewage (Dumping)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the life cycle in salt water of sewage dumped(a) in the firth of Clyde and (b) of the west coast of Scotland; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the health implications for fishermen fishing in the waters of the firth of Clyde of the dumping of sewage waste.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The only site in the firth of Clyde at which sewage sludge may be dumped under the terms of section 5 of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 is situated off Garroch head. Sewage sludge is an inert organic material which, through time, is dispersed by the natural action of the sea.

  The Garroch head site is monitored annually by Strathclyde regional council and biennially by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland to assess the impact of sea disposal operations on the marine environment. There is no evidence to suggest that the site presents any hazard to the health of the public in general or to fishermen in particlar.

  Sand Eels
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many vessels landed sand eels from Shetland waters in 1988(a) before and (b) after 30 June; and how many of these vessels were under 50 ft registered length in each of these periods.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is as follows:

  before 30 June

  after 30 June

  all vessels

  6

  4

  under 50 ft

  2

  2

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the organisations to be consulted by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland over the proposed licensing arrangements for sand eel stocks by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland on 4 April; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Copies of the consultation paper have been given to Government Departments, fishing industry organisations, other organisations which have expressed an interest and have been made freely available to any individual or organisation requesting a copy.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Social Fund
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information is available on the terms of consultation with each social security office regarding the social fund budget for 1989–90; and whether there were any discussions with given offices about their particular patterns of allocations.

  Mr. Needham
  Social fund allocations for 1989–90 were made according to an objective formula and there were no consultations with individual offices. As explained in reply to a question from the hon. Member for Redcar (Ms. Mowlam) on 23 March at columns 739–42 I placed a note in the Library on 23 March setting out the basis on which the allocations were made.

  Anglo-Irish Conference
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland upon what policy aspects of extradition and extra territoral jurisdiction further work is to be carried out by the Anglo-Irish conference, as referred to in paragraph 5 of the communiqué of the 5 April meeting of the Anglo-Irish conference.

  Mr. Tom King
  As provided by article 8 of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, the conference is concerned with policy aspects of extradition and extraterritorial jurisdiction as between North and South. A wide range of issues concerning the law and procedure on these matters is kept under review, to try to ensure effective procedures for dealing with the problem of fugitive offenders. Such issues include the provision for arrest and detention, the arrangements for the transfer of prisoners where extradition is ordered, and the procedural and other requirements which must be satisfied before extradition can be ordered. It would not, however, be appropriate to comment in detail on the substance of these discussions.

  Loyalist Parades
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether, in the report of the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary for 1988 the figure of 1,865 loyalist parades includes youth organisation, church and other similar events; and what criteria the Chief Constable has used to define loyalist parades.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 19 April 1989]: This is a matter for the Chief Constable. I am advised that the figure of 1,865 does not incude parades organised by youth organisations, Churches and other similar organisations. However I understand that the categorisation of a parade as "Loyalist" is dependent upon the description of the event on the notice of intention to march given by the parade organisers.

  Fair Employment
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will indicate how much public funds has been spent directly and indirectly in the United States of America and the United Kingdom on lobbying and information activity against the MacBride principles; and if he will place in the Library copies of any transcripts or evidence submitted by Government officials, representatives and members of the Fair Employment Agency to state legislatures in the United States of America.

  Mr. Viggers
  [holding answer 21 April 1989]: The explanation of Government policy and achievements in the field of fair employment in Northern Ireland is one a range of closely related tasks shared among the Northern Ireland Office, Northern Ireland Departments and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, including diplomatic posts overseas. It would be disproportionately expensive to seek to isolate the staffing and related costs of this specific aspect of their activities. However, from June 1985 until 31 March 1989 the overall costs of employing lobbyists and of assistance to individuals to give evidence was £375,579.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place copies in the Library of each decision of the High Court in Northern Ireland arising out of section 42 of the Fair Employment act 1976 relating to the current litigation concerning Tinnelly and Co. Ltd. v NIE.

  Mr. Viggers
  [holding answer 21 April 1989]: It is not normal practice to place High Court judgments in the Library, but they may be obtained on request from the Appeals and Lists Office, Royal Courts of Justice, Chichester street, Belfast 1.

PRIME MINISTER

  Missile Exports
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if she will make it her policy publicly to repudiate allegations made in overseas courts about negotiations between Her Majesty's Government and other countries relating to the export of missiles to third parties against the declared policy of Her Majesty's Government;

  (2) whether she will now make it her policy to answer questions about the supply of Blowpipe surface-to-air
  390
  missiles where there are permissions given to forward them to countries other than those named on the end-user certificates; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  No. We do not reveal communications between Governments.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations she has received about communications received since 1984 from the United States President or any official of the United States Administration to facilitate the supply of(a) Blowpipe surface-to-air missiles and (b) other armaments to Nicaraguan Contras; what was her reponse; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  No, we do not reveal communications between Governments.

  Nicaragua
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will now make it her policy to reveal what was contained in the representations received in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 and in the current year in connection with the Nicaraguan Contras from the United States special envoy Mr. Lyle Cox or other United states representatives; if she will explain the purpose of these communications and her response; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  No. We do not reveal communications between Governments.

  Government Advertising
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what conveniently available figures she has giving total Central Government spending on all forms of advertising in each year since 1979.

  The Prime Minister
  Information on publicity, including advertising, is not held centrally except where the expenditure incurred was through the Central Office of Information.

  Details of departmental expenditure on publicity, including advertising, for the financial years 1979–80 to 1988–89 were supplied by Ministers in response to questions from the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) and published in the Official Report in November-December 1986, July 1987, December 1987-January 1988 and March 1989.

  Information Officers
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what response she proposes to make to the IPCS draft code of ethics, in respect of the proposals to strengthen the neutrality of Government information officers.

  The Prime Minister
  I have no seen the document to which the hon. Member refers, and have not been asked to respond to it. The duties and responsibilities of civil servants, including information staff, are set out in Sir Robert Armstrong's note of December 1987 and there are long-standing conventions on Government publicity. I do not believe that any separate code of ethics is required.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what recent disciplinary action has been taken against Government information officers in relation to their activities as trade union members; and for what reasons.
  391
  The Prime Minister
  Disciplinary action with regard to individual civil servants is a matter for Departments. Information on such cases is not held centrally.

  Director of Public Affairs (Scotland Yard)
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister why the chief press secretary at No. 10 Downing street provided a shortlist of civil servants to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner for the position of director of public affairs at Scotland Yard; and which official was previously responsible for supplying such information to the police.

  The Prime Minister
  The chief press secretary, as head of the Government Information Service, was asked to advise on a replacement for the director of public affairs at Scotland Yard by the Metropolitan Police Commissioner. A similar procedure operated when the head of the Government Information Service was director-general, Central Office of Information.

  Chief Press Secretary
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister what steps she takes to ensure that her chief press secretary is not involved in matters of a party political nature; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  My chief press secretary is well aware of his duties and responsibilities as a civil servant.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the civil servants who have been subject to recent disciplining for having refused to undertake activities which they considered to be of a party political nature.

  The Prime Minister
  No. Any such action is a matter for the Department concerned.

  Mr. Charles Powell
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister when Mr. Charles Powell will be leaving her private office; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Mr. Powell will serve in my office until it is time for him to leave.

WALES

  Waste Disposal
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. Grist
  I refer the hon. Lady to the reply given to her on 18 April by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

  NHS Staff
  Mr. Allan Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many tutors and other staff were employed in the training and education of nurses in Wales in 1979, 1985 and in each subsequent year;
  392
  (2) how many people were employed in the training and education of nurses in Wales (a) by occupation category, and (b) by specialist category in 1979, 1985 and in each subsequent year;

  (3) how many people were working in (a) National Health Service hospitals and (b) the National Health Service in Wales in 1979, 1985 and each subsequent year;

  (4) how many people were working in different occupational categories within (a) the National Health Service, and (b) the different occupational categories within hospitals in Wales in 1979, 1985 and each subsequent year;

  (5) how many people were being trained and educated (a) for a nursing career, and (b) in the different categories for a nursing career in Wales in 1979, 1985 and each subsequent year.

  Mr. Grist
  The information requested is available in tables 3·01 to 3·14 of issues of "Health and Personal Social Services Statistics for Wales", copies of which are in the Library of the House. In particular, information for various nursing and midwifery staff grades may be found in table 3·10, although the more detailed figures published prior to the 1987 edition should be treated with caution since they are based on NHS payroll occupational codings of limited quality.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Ted Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has of the number of additional staff required for the administration of the poll tax in each rating district.

  Mr. Grist
  Each district council in Wales will need to decide for itself on the number of staff to be employed in the administration of the community charge in its area in the light of its own individual circumstances.

  Language Teaching
  Mr. Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new steps he will take to encourage the teaching of European languages, and in particular German, in Welsh schools.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The Education Reform Act prescribes that a modern foreign language will be one of the foundation subjects to be studied by all pupils aged 11 to 16. This will begin to come into effect in autumn 1990 when all pupils in the third key stage (that is aged 11 to 14) will be required to be taught a modern foreign language for a reasonable time. The Secretaries of State for Education and Science and for Wales have proposed that all the official languages of the European Community, including German, should be recognised for this purpose. In the meantime a working group is to be set up by July 1989 to advise the Secretaries of State on attainment targets and programmes of study for modern foreign languages with a view to beginning to implement these in schools from autumn 1992.

  Home Safety
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Newport, West of 10 April,Official Report column 396–97, if he will identify the legislation that gives Welsh local authorities a statutory duty to enforce home safety legislation.
  393
  Mr. Grist
  The Home Safety Act 1961.

  Hospital Consultants
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many hospital consultants held(a) full-time contracts and (b) part-time contracts with the National Health Service in Wales in (i) 1979 and (ii) 1988.

  Mr. Grist
  Information for 1979 and for 1987 (the latest year available) is as follows:

  Number of consultants1

  1979

  1987

  holding full-time contracts

  391

  532

  holding part-time contracts2

  307

  328

  1 As at 30 September.

  2 Includes consultants holding part-time, maximum part-time and honorary contracts.

  Health Authority Assets
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of assets disposed of by each health authority during 1987–88; and what was the total value of those assets.

  Mr. Grist
  Details of all assets disposed of are not held centrally. Information about land and building disposals is available and is summarised in the following table. The total value of those assets was £1,671,000.

  District health authority

  Property details

  East Dyfed

  Allt Y Mynydd Hospital

  HQ Office Accommodation, Carmarthen

  Whitland Ambulance Station

  Gwent

  Newport Health Unit Works Department

  Garage at Darenfelin

  Cefn Mably Hospital—lease

  Mid Glamorgan

  Land at Quarella Road, Bridgend

  Former Workhouse, Bridgend General Hospital

  Tyn y Garn Child Guidance Clinic

  Land at Hensol Hospital

  Land at Maesgwyn Hospital

  Land at Penyfai Hospital

  Land at Cefn Cribbwr Health Clinic

  Residential accommodation at Albury, near Ware, Talygarn, Llantrisant, Talbot GreenHensol Hospital

  Pembrokeshire

  Llangwm Nurses Home

  Simpsons Cross Nurses Home

  Powys

  Residential accommodation at Welshpool

  South Glamorgan

  Chest Clinic premises, Cardiff

  Land at William Nicholl Home

  Residential accommodation at Cardiff

  Cervical Cytology
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all health authorities which operate a computerised call/recall cervical cytology programme for all women aged 20 to 65 years at three-yearly intervals.

  Mr. Grist
  I understand that Mid Glamorgan and South Glamorgan health authorities currently operate a computerised cervical cytology programme for all women 394
  aged 20 to 64 with a three-yearly recall period. All other health authorities have adopted a five-yearly recall interval. Government advice is that priority should he given to offering a first smear to all women within the target age group rather than reducing the screening interval at this stage. Nevertheless, the recommended recall frequency is being kept under careful review.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all those health authorities which have not yet called all women aged 20 to 65 years for a cervical cancer smear.

  Mr. Grist
  Since February 1987, when the Welsh Office sought to extend the existing cervical cytology screening programme in Wales to include younger women, all Welsh health authorities have implemented programmes to enable all eligible women to be offered a first smear from the age of 20, unless their GP has indicated that they should be excluded. As yet no authority has fully achieved this aim—although it is expected that some will do so this year.

  The Department will be monitoring the progress of all DHAs towards this objective.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the uptake of women called for a cervical cancer smear for each health authority; and if he will list those health authorities which are unable to provide these statistics.

  Mr. Grist
  The administrative arrangements in use for running the cervical screening call and recall service in Wales have not permitted take-up ratios to be calculated with confidence. A new computer package which will provide such information has now been provided for all family practitioner committees' computers. Information on take-up rates will be forthcoming once the new system has acquired an adequate data base.

  Vehicle Purchases
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wailes how many vehicles and at what value were purchased by(a) his Department, (b) the Welsh Development Agency and (c) other public sector agencies for which he is responsible, in 1988; and how many of these vehicles were British-made within the definition of British as set out by the Department of Trade and Industry in its arrangement on content with the European Community.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  [holding answer 17 April 19891: The information is as follows:

  (a) Three; £20,703. These vehicles were United Kingdom produced on the definition employed by the Department of Trade and Industry for statistical purposes, under which a vehicle is classified as United Kingdom produced if the United Kingdom content exceeds 50 per cent. of the ex-works value.

  (b) None.

  (c) The purchase of vehicles by public sector agencies is a matter for those agencies and information is not held centrally. However, the following limited information is available; the definition of United Kingdom produced vehicles given under (a) applies:

  395

  Agency

  Number and origin

  Value £

  Development Board for Rural Wales

  One United Kingdom

  19,835

  Land authority for Wales

  One non United Kingdom

  16,000

  Area Health Authorities

  Not known

  1,546,302

  Welsh Health Common Services Authority

  Family Practitioner Services

  One United Kingdom

  7,000

  Sports Council for Wales

  119

  129,323

  1 These vehicles manufactured by a multi-national company could be United Kingdom or EC produced. This could be determined only by individual inspection of the vehicles.

  Pollution Inspectorate
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make it his policy to ensure that Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution will have(a) a Wales regional office in Cardiff, (b) a Wales development office in North Wales and (c) five Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution members serving in Wales; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) where, and how many, inspectors of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution are based in Wales; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he will give the details of the proposed reorganisation of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in England and Wales, indicating where the main office which will serve Wales will be located; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  [holding answer 21 April 1989]: Proposals are being developed for the reorganisation of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in England and Wales in order to integrate its responsibilities for air pollution control, radioactive substances, water pollution and other wastes on a regionalised basis. Three regions are proposed to cover the north, south-east and south-west: Wales will come within the south-west region. The existing air district offices will be retained as outstations for the time being. There will continue to be a permanent office in Cardiff.

  Six Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution inspectors are based in Wales. In addition, three of the inspectors in the Chester office spend part of their time inspecting premises in north Wales. Consultations with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment are in progress on detailed working arrangements for Wales, including the deployment of inspecting staff.

  Pollution
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the large factories in Wales which must receive regular visits from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution because of their capacity to generate severe pollution problems; and if he will indicate the distances Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution must travel from existing offices to such factories;

  (2) if he will list the principal factories in Wales which generate either severe or medium pollution problems; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  [holding answer 21 April 1989]: All premises which dispose of radioactive waste are required to be authorised under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960. Authorised premises in Wales are listed in the list of
  396
  premises in England and Wales currently authorised under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. A total of 181 premises are registered under the Alkali &c. Works Regulation Act 1906 and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Details are listed in the public register of works, which is available for inspection at Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution offices in Cardiff and Chester or at the Department of the Environment, 2 Marsham street, London.

  Factories are visited by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution inspectors as necessary. Information on distances which inspectors travel to each factory could not be provided without disproportionate cost.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Widows' Benefits
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out in detail the present position on widows' benefits, showing the ages and family circumstances which bring the various benefits into operation.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The following is the present position on widows' benefits and takes into account my right hon. Friend's decision announced on 28 February 1989 at columns 161–62.

  Widows' benefits for women widowed before 11 April 1988 Widowed mothers' allowance—followed widows' allowance where the widow has a child for whom child benefit is payable. Child dependency increases paid for each child. This is paid in addition to child benefit.
  Widowed mothers' allowance (personal)—followed widowed mother's allowance for widows where the youngest child is under 19 and has left school but remains at home and child benefit is not payable.
  Widows' pension—followed widows' allowance if widowed over 40 and childless or on cessation of widowed mothers' allowance. Amount determined by age at relevant time, minimum rate payable at 40 and full rate at 50.
  Widows' benefits for women widowed after 10 April 1988 Widows' payment—tax-free lump sum of £1,000 payable on bereavement if widowed under 60 or husband not retired.
  Widowed mothers' allowance—paid from widowhood if the widow has a qualifying child. Child dependency increases paid for each child. This is paid in addition to child benefit.
  Widows' pension—paid from widowhood if widowed over 45 and childless or, if over 45, when widowed mothers' allowance ceases. Amount determined by age at relevant time, minimum rate payable at 45 and full rate at 55.
  Note: The foregoing does not give details of the contribution conditions that must be satisfied before payment.

  Family Incomes and Tax Benefit
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North, 20 February,Official Report, column 481, what is the net income after the Budget proposals have come into effect (i) after housing costs of a married man with children aged 13 to 16 years earning (a) £104 and (b) £105 per week, (ii) of a married man with children aged three, eight and 11 years paying average rent and rates as used in the tax benefit model tables earning

  397
  (a) £65 per week and (b) £80 per week, (iii) after benefits of a married man with children aged four and six years earning (a) £60 per week gross and (b) £140 per week gross, (iv) under current tax and benefit structure of a married man with children aged three, eight and 11 years with gross earnings of (a) £65 per week and (b) £105 per week and (v) under the current tax and benefit structure of a married man with children aged four and six years earning (a) £80 per week and (b) £90 per week;

  (2) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Barking (Ms. Richardson) of 27 February, Official Report, column 27, how many people earn less than the respective point at which the tax benefit withdrawal level falls to 34 per cent.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I have been asked to reply.

  I shall let my hon. Friend have such information as can he obtained as soon as possible.

  Customer Service and Efficiency
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the monitoring of customer service and efficiency in Department of Social Security offices in the north-west.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the monitoring of customer service and efficiency in Department of Social Security offices in Strathclyde.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  In all Department of Social Security local offices, major areas of local office activity, including throughput of claims and payment accuracy, are monitored on a monthly basis against pre-set targets. Their scope has recently been extended from 50 per cent. to 70 per cent. of all local office activity. In 1988–89 all local offices began monitoring the quality of their service in areas such as caller times, correspondence and interviews, as well as sampling customer opinion of the service they provide.

  Public Service Broadcasts
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will assess the likely implications for 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. Peter Lloyd
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to him on 16 March at columns 304–5. I am not aware that the arrangements will be any different for Channel 4.

  Spectacles
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many vouchers are outstanding for dispatch to patients awaiting part payment for spectacles; and how many patients have been waiting (i) less than one month, (ii) one to two months, (iii) two to three months and (iv) more than three months, for their vouchers.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  National Health Service spectacle vouchers must be issued by the optician immediately following a sight test and are valid for a period of six months. Patients claiming help with the cost of spectacles under the NHS low income scheme must have a valid 398
  certificate of entitlement from the agency benefit unit for use, with the voucher, when purchasing the spectacles. Claims under the low income scheme cover exemption from, or help towards, a wide range of NHS costs and it is not possible to identify those claims which have been prompted by a need for spectacles. On 11 April 1989 a total of 41,300 new claims under the low income scheme were awaiting processing at the agency benefits unit: this represents 11 days' work. The stockpile of cases involving non-dependants which had accumulated at the unit have now all been cleared. Further information, in the form requested, is not available.

  Computers
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many instances have been detected in his Department of computer(a) hacking, (b) viruses, (c) logic bombs, (d) Trojan horses or (e) other types of computer misuse, whether perpetrated by authorised or unauthorised users of computers; and how many unsuccessful attempts have been recorded;

  (2) if, in the light of his Department's computerisation, he will place in the Library a copy of the advice issued by his Department to the staff of regional and local social security officers on the threat of computer hacking;

  (3) if he will make a statement on all recorded cases of unauthorised access to his Department's computer files;

  (4) what measures his Department has taken to protect data in transit by electronic means;

  (5) if he will give details of his Department's policy on review of the security of its computer files;

  (6) if he can quantify the risk of damage by hackers to sensitive computerised files in his Department;

  (7) whether staff are briefed about computer hacking and computer viruses; whether there are contingency plans to deal with computer downtime caused by unauthorised penetration; and what plans exist to deal with penetration of particularly sensitive systems.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) on 15 December 1988 at columns 693–4.

  In addition the following points may be of interest.

  The Department's policy is to keep the security of its computer systems under continuous review to ensure the integrity, availability and confidentiality of these data and that the requirements of the Data Protection Act are met.

  The Department takes advice from the appropriate Government authorities on security matters. In the case of sensitive data held on computers or transmitted by electronic means this includes the IT security and privacy group of the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency. This advice is incorporated in the Department's formal computer security standards, which apply to all its computer systems. These standards include requirements for risk assessment, countermeasures, incident investigation and contingency planning. Staff who use computers are given appropriate security instruction. In the interests of security it would not be sensible to publish details of the security standards and procedures or of the training given in their use.

  It is not the Government's policy to publish details and circumstances of computer security incidents, their perpetrators and their success or failure. Such information would be of assistance to potential attackers.

  Benefits
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how may social security beneficiaries are paid(a) weekly in cash at post offices, (b) four-weekly by bank giro credit and (c) three-monthly by bank giro credit.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The main benefits for which the option of payment by automated credit transfer is available are retirement pension and child benefit. The latest figures available are:

  Number

  Retirement pension

  (a) Order book

  6,730,961

  (b) Four weekly ACT

  1,461,891

  (c) 13 weekly ACT

  69,396

  Child benefit

  (a) Order book—weekly

  3,466,604

  —four weekly

  2,195,481

  (b) Four weekly ACT

  1,051,290

  (c) 13 weekly ACT is not available

  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the cost of paying social security beneficiaries paid four-weekly by bank giro credit in the middle of the four-week period rather than at the end of it.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  There would be additional benefit costs, estimated at £177 million, in the first year due to the advancing of payments and a continuing cost due to loss of interest to the national insurance fund and consolidated fund, which based on current case loads and average payments and assuming an interest rate of 10 per cent. per annum would be about £18 million per year.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what administrative savings arise from paying social security beneficiaries by bank giro credit rather than in cash at post offices.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Based on current case loads and costs the administrative savings are estimated to be of the order of £25 million a year.

  Earnings Rule
  Sir Ian Gilmour
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how the abolition of the pensioner earnings rule will affect women(a) below the age of 60 years and (b) aged 60 to 65 years who are drawing category B pensions, through the contributions of their husbands.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The position for these women from 1 October 1989 is as follows:

  (a) Where a married woman below the age of 60 years is concerned, if her husband has reached age 65 and claimed category A retirement pension, he will continue to be entitled to the dependent adult's addition to his retirement pension in respect of his wife. The earnings rule of £34·70 a week attached to this addition will continue to apply.

  (b) As now, a woman whose husband has deferred taking his retirement pension will not be able to claim her category B retirement pension. However, a married woman aged 60 to 65 years who can claim a category B retirement pension based on her husband's contribution record will not be subject to an earnings rule on her pension.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Wandsworth Prison
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present prison officer staffing level at Wandsworth prison; what was the level set out in the Brisco report; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The number of officers in post at Wandsworth prison on 17 April and the staffing levels recommended in the report of the regional manpower team to which the hon. Member refers are as follows:

  Recommended

  In post 17 April

  Discipline staff

  officers

  302

  302

  principal and senior officers

  57

  44

  Specialist staff

  officers

  78

  72

  principal and senior officers

  28

  19

  There is likely to be some increase in the number of staff in post at Wandsworth as more officers are recruited to the service over the next few months.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last discussed prison officer staffing levels with the Governor of Wandsworth prison; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Staffing levels are discussed in the normal course between governors and regional management. Staffing at Wandsworth was also discussed by the governor and senior prison service officials during the industrial dispute earlier this year.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether extra prison officers were allocated to Wandsworth prison on 1 April under the national agreement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Staff required for 1989–90 under the terms of the fresh start framework agreement were recruited nationally before 1 April. The allocation to individual establishments is made on the basis of an assessment by management of their relative need. Wandsworth is likely to see some increase in the number of staff in post in the coming months.

  Mr. Mark John Stone (Passport)
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will examine the circumstances arising from the allegations made by Mr. S. N. Stone of St. John's close, Rugeley, Staffordshire in his letter of 22 March to the Head of Administration, Passport Office, India Buildings, Water street, Liverpool; and when Mr. Mark John Stone of the same address will receive his passport.

  Mr. Renton
  The Liverpool passport office replied on 3 April to the points raised in Mr. Stone's letter. The passport was posted to him on 10 April. A refund will be made in respect of the additional costs he incurred in obtaining a British visitor's passport while waiting for his son's standard passport application to be processed.

  Foreign Citizens (Imprisonment)
  Mr. Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state, against each country of
  401
  which they are a national, the number of foreign citizens presently imprisoned in the United Kingdom, setting out against each (i) the nature of the offence, (ii) the sentence imposed and (iii) the remaining term of imprisonment left to serve.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Information about individual foreign citizens could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The readily available information is given in the following two tables. The recording of nationality for

  Population of known foreign national prisoners in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales on 31 December 1988: by type of offence and nationality

  Offence

  Nationality

  Violence against the person

  Sexual offences

  Burglary

  Robbery

  Theft, handling fraud and forgery

  Drugs offences

  Other offences

  Offence not recorded

  Courts martial

  Total

  India

  83

  18

  4

  8

  17

  121

  34

  7

  —

  292

  Pakistan

  137

  41

  26

  26

  62

  213

  68

  12

  1

  586

  Other Asian

  16

  8

  —

  3

  6

  17

  7

  2

  —

  59

  Commonwealth countries

  Nigeria

  4

  8

  2

  3

  33

  307

  52

  9

  —

  418

  Ghana

  3

  2

  1

  3

  4

  53

  12

  —

  —

  78

  Sierra Leone

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  —

  —

  3

  Other African

  18

  4

  3

  10

  9

  34

  14

  6

  —

  98

  Commonwealth countries

  Jamaica

  114

  43

  28

  57

  22

  119

  40

  15

  —

  438

  Other Caribbean

  33

  19

  9

  18

  9

  34

  12

  3

  —

  137

  Commonwealth

  countries

  Eire

  148

  41

  82

  68

  68

  95

  63

  20

  —

  585

  Other EEC countries

  South American

  Countries

  USA

  Other nationalities

  95

  34

  41

  37

  84

  212

  71

  17

  —

  591

  Total

  651

  218

  196

  233

  314

  1,207

  374

  91

  1

  3,285

  Population of known foreign national prisoners in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales on 31 December 1988: by length of sentence and nationality.

  Nationality

  Up to 1 month

  Over 1 month up to 3 month

  Over 3 month up to 6 month

  Over 6 month up to 12 month

  Over 12 month up to 18 month

  Over 18 month up to 4 years

  Over 4 years less than life

  Life

  Not recorded

  Total

  India —

  3

  4

  14

  9

  46

  168

  48

  —

  292

  Pakistan

  16

  16

  18

  39

  27

  124

  250

  95

  1

  586

  Other Asian Commonwealth Countries

  —

  —

  3

  4

  1

  19

  25

  7

  —

  59

  Nigeria

  —

  2

  1

  7

  16

  170

  218

  3

  1

  418

  Ghana

  —

  1

  2

  —

  2

  33

  40

  —

  —

  78

  Sierra Leone

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  —

  —

  3

  Other African Commonwealth countries

  —

  2

  4

  5

  7

  35

  36

  9

  —

  98

  Jamaica

  1

  5

  13

  28

  27

  151

  181

  32

  —

  438

  Other Caribbean Commonwealth countries

  —

  —

  3

  5

  7

  44

  62

  16

  —

  137

  Eire; Other EEC countries; South American countries; USA

  3

  10

  28

  37

  58

  190

  192

  67

  —

  585

  Other nationalities

  1

  8

  14

  36

  35

  160

  290

  46

  1

  591

  Total

  21

  47

  90

  175

  189

  974

  1,463

  323

  3

  3,285

  Average time remaining

  11

  34

  21

  to serve1

  6 days

  17 days

  7 weeks

  10 weeks

  25 weeks

  months

  months

  months

  1 Average time remaining to serve estimates assume full remission but make no allowance for release on parole. Estimates are based on those records for which an earliest date of release was available.

  402
  citizens of Commonwealth countries, Pakistan and the Irish Republic is not always reliable. The remaining term of imprisonment left to serve varies between individuals according to sentence length, date of reception into a Prison Service establishment, whether parole licence is granted and for how long, and whether full remission of sentence was earned; the readily available information gives the average remaining term for the sentence length group assuming full remission but without making allowance for parole.

  Parking Enforcement
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now received the report of the working party on parking enforcement.

  Mr. Hurd
  The working party on parking enforcement has now submitted its report, which I am considering.

  Computers
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many instances have been detected in his Department of computer(a) hacking, (b) viruses, (c) logic bombs, (d) trojan horses or (e) other types of computer misuse, whether prepetrated by authorised or unauthorised users of computers; and how many unsuccessful attempts have been recorded;

  (2) if he will make a statement on all recorded cases of unauthorised access to his Department's computer files;

  (3) pursuant to his answer of 15 March, Official Report, column 228, if he can quantify the assessed risk of damage to sensitive computerised files;

  (4) what measures his Department has taken to protect data in transit by electronic means;

  (5) if he can quantify the risk of damage by hackers to sensitive computerised files in his Department.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It would not be in the interests of computer security to disclose such information.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of his Department's policy on reviews of the security of its computer files.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to her question on 15 March, at column 228.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether staff are briefed about computer hacking and computer viruses; and whether there are contingency plans to deal with computer downtime caused by unauthorised penetration.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  As appropriate, staff are trained in such matters. Contingency plans exist where necessary, but their effectiveness would be reduced if details were made public.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the use of the public telephone network of the United Kingdom as a means of distributing obscene and offensive material in the form of computer bulletin boards accessible to any person using a home computer with a telephone; and if he will make a statement on his proposals to bring such practice to an end.

  Mr. Renton
  We have received some such representations. Computer bulletin boards are technically non-licensable cable programme services under the Cable and Broadcasting Act 1984, and the general provisions of the Act concerning obscenity, defamation and incitement to racial hatred apply to them. We are considering, in the context of the follow up to our recent White Paper on broadcasting, whether any further regulation is required.

  Detective Sergeant Kenneth Morgan
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from 404
  the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to the years during which Detective Sergeant Kenneth Morgan worked with former Chief Superintendent Kenneth Etheridge.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the Commissioner that former Chief Superintendent Etheridge served with the Metropolitan police company fraud squad from 1971 until 1977 when he retired from the force. Detective Sergeant Morgan joined the squad in 1974 and remained there until 1978. I understand, however, that throughout the three years during which the two men served with the squad they were not involved on the same work.

  Her Majesty's Prison, Leeds
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish the prison department report into the conditions of young prisoners at Her Majesty's prison, Leeds.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question from the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Mr. Maclennan) on 10 April, at column 325.

  Firearms
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps he has taken to ensure that police forces in England and Wales make use of application forms for the grant of a shotgun certificate which have been amended to comply with the provisions of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988;

  (2) whether he will advise police forces in England and Wales not to make use of application forms for the grant of a shotgun licence which are not in accordance with the provisions of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The new controls on shotguns, prescribed in the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988, will come into force this summer. An amended form of application for the grant of a shotgun certificate will be prescribed in revised firearms rules which will come into force at the same time. In the meantime, the existing form of application prescribed in the Firearms Rules 1969 must continue to be used.

  Football Match (Hillsborough)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at what level the publication of statements on 18 April by South Yorkshire police concerning the conduct of Liverpool fans at the Hillsborough semi-cup final was authorised; if he will publish a copy of that statement and the name of the officer who made it; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Statements made by officers of the South Yorkshire police are a matter for the chief constable. It would not be helpful for me to publish statements or counter-statements which have been made about the circumstances leading to the tragedy, or to name those who made them. It is for Lord Justice Taylor's inquiry to establish the facts.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements will be made for every
  405
  person involved in or affected by the Hillsborough tragedy who wishes to complain about police strategies, tactics, behaviour or practice at or appertaining to that event to be heard at Lord Justice Taylor's inquiry; if he will take steps to ensure that any such complainant will be able to make their complaint formally and officially; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  It is for the inquiry to determine the arrangements for hearing evidence which it considers will help establish the causes of the tragedy.

  Statutory provision exists under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 for complaints by members of the public against the police to be dealt with thoroughly.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands force on whether any representations from the public appertaining to police activity and strategy at the Hillsborough tragedy will be admissible to the police inquiry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  Anyone who has information which he believes could help the inquiry should make this available to the chief constable of the West Midlands police without delay.

  Football Matches (Safety)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statutory provision is made for the availability of oxygen and respiration equipment at football league and cup fixtures; what requirement there is to provide a contingency plan in the event of an emergency; how often safety arrangements are required to be reviewed; and who is responsible for enforcing such regulations.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 requires the operator of a sports ground designated under the Act to apply for a safety certificate from the local authority. Safety certificates, which are issued under the 1975 Act, contain terms and conditions which are necessary or expedient to secure reasonable safety at the ground in question when it is in use. They may include requirements for contingency planning, training and safety reviews.

  The terms and conditions of a safety certificate and their enforcement are the responsibility of the issuing local authority.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports he has received about assaults on police officers and emergency service personnel on duty at Hillsborough on Saturday 15 April.

  Mr. John Patten
  I am informed by the chief constable that information about any assaults on police officers has not yet been collated. The chief fire officer informs me that so far none of his staff has reported any assault. The chief ambulance officer reports that, so far, three staff have reported an assault but that the debriefing of his staff is not yet complete.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of South Yorkshire as to what arrangements are being made to return items belonging to deceased Hillsborough victims to their relatives.
  406
  Mr. Hurd
  I understand from the chief constable of the West Midlands police, who is conducting the police inquiry into the Hillsborough tragedy, that the items, which it is thought may play an important part in the investigation, are being held temporarily. The police are conscious of the need to return these personal items as quickly as possible to the relatives of the deceased and are proceeding urgently with the investigation.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Relocation
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations have been received about locating civil servants out of London to the Isle of Wight.

  Mr. Brooke
  I have not received any such representations. However, Government Departments are now undertaking the serious and substantial relocation reviews referred to in the answer that I gave on 9 February 1989, at columns 751–2, to my hon. Friend the Member for Beverley (Mr. Cran); these reviews are directed towards finding sites which offer advantages in terms of the recruitment and retention of staff, value for money and operational efficiency. Decisions will be announced by departmental Ministers once the essential parts of the review process have been completed.

  Government Advertisements
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those Government advertisements in the last three years to which the Independent Broadcasting Authority has objected or to which the authority has sought changes; and if he will make a statement about each such occasion.

  Mr. Lilley
  All Government advertisements comply with the requirements and procedures of the Independent Broadcasting Authority.

  Petrol Prices
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the recent increases in petrol prices following upon his decisions in the Budget.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 20 April 1989]: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer made it clear in his Budget speech that he expected the full decrease in the duty on unleaded petrol to be passed on to the consumer. The evidence suggests that the new differential between unleaded and leaded petrol has been fully reflected in pump prices.

  Computers
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has made any estimate of cost of providing free of charge a computer for every household in the United Kingdom linked to a national fibre-optic cable network.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 20 April 1989]: I have been asked to reply.

  The costs involved would depend inter alia on the type of computer. There are some 18 million households connected to the national telecommunications networks.
  407
  PA Consulting Group in its report "Evolution of the United Kingdom Communications Infrastructure" estimated that a national fibre-optic grid, artificially advanced, would cost an additional £21 billion over 20 years. Computers can, however, be linked up whether or not the networks are fibre-optic.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Select Committee on Sound Broadcasting
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if the will take steps to reconstitute the Select Committee on Sound Broadcasting.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I have no plans to do so at present.

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what advice the Health and Safety Executive has offered arising from its recent visit to the House.

  Mr Wakeham
  None.

  Ten-minute Bills
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council in what month he expects to bring forward proposals on the system of queuing for ten-minute rule Bills.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I cannot say at present.

  Fire Drills
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed answering on behalf of the House of Commons Commission (1) on what dates fire drills have been held in the House since 1979;

  (2) what procedures are followed in the House's fire drills;

  (3) when a fire drill last took place in which (a) hon. and right hon. Members, (b) staff and (c) hon. and right hon. Members and staff were evacuated from the House.

  Mr. Beith
  Since 1979 fire exercises have been held as follows:

  16 December 1980

  House of Commons

  17 September 1981

  Underground Car Park

  22 July 1982

  Norman Shaw North

  4 August 1982

  Underground Car Park

  25 April 1983

  House of Commons

  10 April 1984

  3 Dean's Yard

  11 December 1984

  House of Commons

  20 May 1985

  St. Stephen's House

  27 November 1985

  Norman Shaw South

  1 July 1986

  2 The Abbey Garden

  3 June I987

  St.Stephen's House

  3 December 1987

  House of Commons Zone 4

  7 October 1988

  House of Commons Zone 7

  8 December 1988

  Norman Shaw North

  7 January 1989

  7 Old Palace Yard

  16 February 1989

  3 Dean's Yard

  The normal procedure is for the fire alarm to be activated and for all occupants of the premises, including both Members and staff, to evacuate the zone or building to a predetermined assembly point. These exercises are supervised by the fire officer and the London fire brigade has participated on a number of occasions. Plans to increase the frequency of fire exercises are already in hand.

  Industrial Injuries
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the hon. Member for Berwick upon Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will take steps to ensure that all industrial injuries to staff of the House are in future recorded and readily available.

  Mr. Beith
  Yes. At present information on those accidents which have been referred to DSS and classified as industrial injuries is held in individual staff personal files. In future, records of industrial injuries will be separately recorded by the Establishments Office and maintained in a central file.

  Hazardous Chemicals
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the hon. Member for Berwick upon Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what hazardous chemicals are used in the House of Commons; and what training is given to staff to deal with emergencies.

  Mr. Chope
  I have been asked to reply.

  A wide variety of potentially hazardous chemicals are currently in use by the parliamentary works office ranging from proprietary brands of correction fluid used by typists and descaling agents required for the central heating boilers. All are safe when used in accordance with the accompanying manufacturer's instructions and in accordance with the Hazchem code of markings.

  Job-related training is provided where necessary.

  An assessment is currently being made of any action which will be necessary to comply with the new Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 1988, which, for the most part, come into force on 1 October 1989.

ENERGY

  Siemens Printers
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many Siemens ND3 printers are used by his Department, either in-house or through a private contract; and what is the location of each.

  Mr. Parkinson
  My Department has none of these printers, nor does it have any contracts for their use.

  Oil Production
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether the loss of production caused by the damage to Cormorant Alpha will require a review of the advice he gives the Ministry of Defence on the merchant shipping tanker requirements for the United Kingdom in the event of war or national emergency.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Energy gave on 14 February 1989 to his earlier question, at column 113.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Computers
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) how many instances have been
  409
  detected in his Department of computer (a) hacking, (b) viruses, (c) logic bombs, (d) Trojan horses or (e) other types of computer misuse, whether perpetrated by authorised or unauthorised users of computers; and how many unsuccessful attempts have been recorded;

  (2) if he will make a statement on all recorded cases of unauthorised access to his Department's computer files.

  Mr. Forth
  It is not the policy of this Department to make public details and circumstances of computer security incidents, their perpetrators and their success or failure, since such information would be of assistance to potential attackers.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) whether he gives regular advice to the financial sector on how to guard against unauthorised penetration of their computer files by hackers;

  (2) whether his Department issues advice to business about computer security;

  (3) whether he gives regular advice to the financial sector on how to guard against unauthorised penetration of its computer files by hackers.

  Mr. Forth
  The DTI seeks to promote the development and application of standards addressing computer security, and criteria for the security evaluation of IT products, and to raise the awareness of the importance of computer security measures in business operations. Indivdual businesses should be addressing questions of computer security peculiar to them, as part of good business practice.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received on the use of bulletin boards for the transmission of private numbers, thereby enabling computer hackers to transfer charges to other people's accounts; and if he will make a statement on the measures he proposes to take to eliminate this activity.

  Mr. Forth
  I am not aware of any such representations.

  The misuse of computers, and the use of bulletin boards by "hackers", are among the issues being considered by the Law Commission following the publication of its working paper on computer misuse. Its recommendations are expected before the end of the year.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will quantify the risk of damage by hackers to sensitive computerised files in his Department.

  Mr. Forth
  The Department takes advice from the appropriate Government authorities when addressing the security risks to its computer systems.

  In the case of sensitive but unclassified data, the Department can assess the risk of damage by hackers by using the CCTA's risk analysis and management methodology (CRAMM).

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what measures his Department has taken to protect data in transit by electronic means;

  (2) if he will give details of his Department's policy on review of its computer files.

  Mr. Forth
  It is not the Department's policy to make public details of computer security procedures or 410
  measures. In addressing the security requirement for computer systems, advice is taken from the appropriate Government authorities.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether staff are briefed about computer hacking and computer viruses; whether there are contingency plans to deal with computer downtime caused by unauthorised penetration; and what plans exist to deal with penetration of particularly sensitive systems.

  Mr. Forth
  Staff in the Department are briefed on computer security issues. Procedures exist for recovering from incidents resulting in downtime of the Department's computer systems. It is not the Department's policy to reveal details of recovery plans for sensitive systems.

  Soaps and Commodities
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to ensure that soaps containing mercury are not offered for sale to the public and that cosmetic preparations do not contain more than two per cent. hydroquinone; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The Cosmetics Products (Safety) Regulations 1984 (Statutory Instrument 1984 No. 1260) prohibits the use of mercury in soaps and limits the presence of hydroquinone in cosmetic products to 2 per cent. Regulations banning the use of mercury an limiting the presence of hydroquinone were first made in 1978 and continue to be in force.

  The enforcement of these regulations is a matter for local authority trading standards departments.

  Hazardous Wastes
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what action he has taken to encourage the chemical and hazardous waste-producing industries to give more attention to changes in their production processes to enable reduction or recycling of waste.

  Mr. Forth
  My Department maintains very close links with the chemical industry through its trade association and by direct contact with individual companies. It is encouraging voluntary action by industry in the sphere of waste management which includes recycling and waste minimisation. I was pleased to note that the Chemical Industries Association introduced recently a programme of responsible care related to the environment which will be adopted by its member companies. This includes a code of practice and guidance on monitoring.

ENVIRONMENT

  Air Conditioning
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Government buildings are fitted with the wet-air cooling air conditioning systems; what action is being carried out to have them replaced by a different type of air conditioning system; what review he is instituting on the installation of this type of air conditioning in new buildings; what consideration is being given to requiring a different type of air conditioning system to be fitted in buildings where these are already installed; and if he will make a statement.
  411
  Mr. Chope
  With regard to those buildings designed and/or maintained by PSA, it has been, and continues to be, the general policy that air conditioning should be installed only where there is no practical alternative. For new construction, the policy is to install dry cooling systems-where practicable—in those buildings where air conditioning is necessary.

  For existing buildings with evaporative heat rejection equipment (wet air cooling) a strict water hygiene treatment regime is applied, involving regular inspections and a complete review of the water treatment regime at least once a year, backed up by independent audits to monitor the effectiveness of the regimes and establish where improvements can be made.

  In those leased Government buildings where the landlord is responsible for maintenance, PSA estate surveyors ask landlords to give written assurances that they have or will introduce similar practices.

  PSA does not hold a central record of the number of Government buildings with wet air cooling systems. The highest concentration of such systems is in London, where there are currently 151.

  Wet air cooling systems will normally be maintained in accordance with the strict regime explained above to the end of their economically useful life. The opportunity will then be taken to consider alternative arrangements utilising dry cooling principles wherever practicable.

  Public Service Broadcasts
  Mr Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will assess the likely implications for 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. Ridley
  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.

  Siemens Printers
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Siemens ND3 printers are used by his Department, either in-house or through a private contract; and what is the location of each.

  Mr. Ridley
  My Department does not use any Siemens ND3 printers either in-house or through a private contractor.

  Crown Suppliers
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, for each of the Crown Suppliers' product supply, transport and buying agency businesses, in each of the three years before Civil Service departments were untied and in each year since (i) total sales, (ii) sales to Civil Service departments, (iii) sales to British Telecom, (iv) sales to British Rail and (v) average price rises in each year over that period.

  Mr. Chope
  The Crown Suppliers will not be operating as three separate businesses until 1 January 1990. The current information and accounting systems do not enable the business, particularly for product supply and the 412
  buying agency to be accurately identified. In addition, the sales figures shown include sales generated from activities which do not form part of the package for sale and which have been transferred to PSA during the last three months. The level of the Crown Suppliers' sales will, therefore, be markedly different in the future.

  The following analysis has been split on the best estimate available for those functions to be included in each of the three businesses. Government Departments were fully untied from the Crown Suppliers on 1 April 1987.

  £ million

  Product supply and services

  The buying agency

  Transport

  1984–85

  124·4

  37·7

  16·0

  1985–86

  130·8

  39·9

  18·7

  1986–87

  142·1

  45·9

  20·0

  1987–88

  145·5

  38·5

  21·7

  1 1988

  146·1

  36·6

  22·9

  1 Calendar year

  Customer analysis

  Total product supply and buying agency business

  £ million

  British Telecom

  British Rail

  Top 10 Government Department

  Others

  1984–85

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1985–86

  12·9

  0·8

  129·1

  27·9

  1986–87

  9·6

  1·0

  144·5

  32·9

  1987–88

  7·7

  1·4

  141·9

  33·0

  1 1988

  8·2

  2·4

  136·8

  35·3

  1 Calendar year.

  n/a—Not available.

  Average increases in TCS prices were as follows:

  £ million

  Per cent·

  1985–86

  8·7

  1986–87

  6·7

  1987–88

  5·6

  1 1988

  5·9

  1 Calendar year·

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how he intends to honour the commitment given to this House by his junior Minister that the pensions of the staff of the Crown Suppliers upon privatisation will be comparable to those they are entitled to under the principal Civil Service pension scheme.

  Mr. Chope
  When tender invitations are issued, prospective purchasers will be invited to offer pension terms to transferred staff broadly comparable to those in the principal Civil Service pension scheme. Detailed future pension arrangements will be a matter for the purchaser to discuss with the Government in the course of the sale.

  Drinking Water
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will place in the Library the reasoned opinion received from the European Commission concerning compliance with the European Community drinking water directive;
  413
  (2) at what date he anticipates that United Kingdom drinking water will comply with the requirements of the European Commission directive (80/778/EEC) on the quality of drinking water;

  (3) when he intends to respond to the European Commission's reasoned opinion on the failure of the United Kingdom to apply correctly the European Commission directive (80/778/EEC) on the quality of drinking water;

  (4) when he intends to provide the European Commission with a timetable of compliance with the European Commission directive (80/778/EEC) on the quality of drinking water;

  (5) whether the programme, timetable and cost of compliance with the European Commission directive (80/778/EEC) on drinking water will be included in the prospectus of each water authority prior to flotation;

  (6) what will be the cost of compliance with the European Commission directive (80/778/EEC) on the quality of drinking water;

  (7) when he intends to provide the European Commission with a costed programme of compliance with the European Council Directive (80/778/EEC) on the quality of drinking water.

  Mr. Ridley
  Both the European Commission and the Government regard the detailed, formal correspondence on infraction proceedings as confidential. The deposit in the Library of the recent reasoned opinion would be a breach of that confidentiality.

  A formal response will be made shortly to the European Commission's reasoned opinion, which refers to the absence of United Kingdom legislation directly applying the EC drinking water directive and the fact that some supplies do not yet comply with the nitrate standard in England and the lead standard in Scotland.

  The Water Bill and the regulations to be made under it will incorporate the provisions of the directive directly into domestic law. The Commission accepts that such legislation will enable them to close this part of the reasoned opinion.

  Public water supplies to the United Kingdom are at present of a very high standard and most supplies already comply with the EC directive. We are fully committed to compliance with the EC directive as soon as practicable. Those supplies which regularly fail to meet a standard are being improved and should comply in the next year or two. However, two years after the directive came into force, and five years after we had notified the Commission that we were assessing compliance on an average sample basis, it informed us that every single sample had to comply. This has necessitated the preparation of detailed compliance programmes by water undertakers to meet the new interpretation, mostly for standards related to the taste and appearance of the water. These programmes are still being assessed and it is not therefore possible at present to state how long it will take to comply fully with the EC directive. However, discussions are taking place with the Commission about the time scale of the programmes and the technical difficulties involved.

  The United Kingdom has already submitted to the Commission for its consideration detailed programmes by water undertakers to meet the nitrate standard in England and the lead standard in Scotland. We await the Commission's considered response to these programmes.
  414
  Each water undertaker has been formulating the long-term operating costs and capital expenditure programmes as part of setting the limit to price increases (`K') which is to be applied under the Water Bill to water undertakers. We are reviewing the cost projections which have been submitted to the Department and discussing them with water undertakers individually. We will not be in a position to give new forecasts until these appraisals have been completed. The compliance programmes, together with costings and timetables, will be included in the prospectuses to be published later this year.

  Football Match (Hillsborough)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if, following the letter of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the Minister for Sport, to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill of 11 April, he will describe the circumstances in which he would act upon the complaints of the chief executive of a football club about the inadequacy of ticket allocations at a semi-cup final or cup final; what account he took of police advice in reaching his conclusions; and whether he will review ministerial involvement in overseeing ticket allocation at major fixtures;

  (2) what representations his Department received prior to the Football Association's semi-final scheduled for Hillsborough for 15 April about arrangements at the game; what consideration he gave to these representations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The hon. Member wrote to me on 22 March about the arrangements at the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough on 15 April. No other representation was received. The arrangements for the match will be among the matters to be considered by Lord Justice Taylor's inquiry.

  Water Privatisation
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the flotation prospectuses for each water authority to be issued.

  Mr. Ridley
  November.

  Football Spectators Bill
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account will be taken of the Hillsborough disaster and the judicial inquiry of Mr. Justice Taylor before the Football Spectators Bill is introduced in the House.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The timetable for the Football Spectators Bill will allow the House, in considering the Bill, to take account of relevant recommendations from Lord Justice Taylor's inquiry into the Hillsborough disaster.

  Local Authority Staff (Pensions)
  Mr. Curry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any proposals for transferring the cost of pensions increase to the local government superannuation funds in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Yes. There are a number of cogent arguments for transferring pensions increase costs to the
  415
  funds in addition to basic pension costs which they already bear. It would help to make the true cost of local government pensions more apparent; it would accord with good accountancy practice; it would utilise the current significant surpluses in the funds; and, in the longer term, advance funding would generate its own investment income and reduce total costs.

  For these reasons I have concluded that, subject to consultation with the relevant local government interests, regulations should he made to transfer these costs to the superannuation funds from 1 April 1990 onwards. I believe that such a transfer can be achieved without an overall increase in the total sum which local authorities currently spend on superannuation. I have in mind to remove the present requirement that the funds must be in a position to meet all foreseeable future liabilities, and to substitute a provision that they must be able at any point in time to meet three-quarters of their future liabilities. This would be entirely prudential, since the funds would at all times have sufficient capital to meet their obligations for many years ahead. In any case the entitlements of beneficiaries are underwritten by the employing authorities and do not depend on the funds as such.

  If we proceed on this basis, I would expect that most local authorities in England and Wales would be able to reduce their total expenditure on superannuation below its present level, on average by about £6 per head of adult population. If, however, local authorities wish to suggest other ways of achieving the same objective, I will be ready to consider them. Meanwhile, I look to the funds' actuaries to work on the basis that the objective from 1 April 1990 will be as I am proposing.

  River Mersey (Pollution)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of his Department's staff are responsible for monitoring pollution control in the Mersey.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 20 April 1989]: Responsibility for controlling and monitoring water quality and pollution in the River Mersey rests with the North West water authority. The Department, through Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution, is responsible for the control of discharges by the North West water authority itself and had one full-time principal water inspector plus support staff engaged on this task.

  Community Charge
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much a single adult in the county of Cambridgeshire would pay under(a) the community charge and (b) a local income tax based on national average earnings for 1988–89.

  Mr. Gummer
  Based on 1988–89 figures, a single adult on national average earnings with just the single person's tax allowance would pay a local income tax bill in Cambridgeshire district council of between £465 and £595. This compares with a community charge of between £186 and £231, disregarding the transitional safety net.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Teachers
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what measures he is taking to discourage existing teachers from leaving the profession.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The interim advisory committee estimated in its reports in 1988 and 1989 that fewer than 1 per cent. of teachers leave teaching for other paid employment and commented that this wastage rate was low. The attraction of teaching as a career can only be enhanced by the Government's education reforms.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the comments on teacher shortages made by the senior chief inspector in his report, "Standards in Education 1987–88".

  Mrs. Rumbold
  This report confirms the analysis of teacher shortages which forms the basis of our vigorous action programme to combat the problem.

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to monitor the effect of teacher shortages on the implementation of the national curriculum.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Department already collects data annually on vacant teacher posts and we shall continue to do so. Information regulations to be made under section 22 of the Education Reform Act will enable us to obtain annual information on the curriculum offered in schools and on teacher deployment.

  Council of Science Ministers
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he last attended a meeting of the Council of Science Ministers in the European Community; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster represents the United Kingdom at the Community's Council of Ministers (Research). He last attended a meeting of the Council on 14 March and gave a full report to the House in the reply given to the hon. Member for Ynys MÔn (Mr. Jones) on 7 April, at columns 314–15.

  Schools (Opting Out)
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if his Department has issued any guidance to chief education officers regarding comments and information they are able to issue following a vote by parents in favour of a secondary school opting out of local authority control.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Department wrote on 13 February to the chief education officer of every local education authority in England setting out my right hon. Friend's views on the conduct of ballots on whether a school should seek grant-maintained status. That letter made it clear that it is in the interests of parents, governors and others that all discussion about a possible application by a school should be well-informed. Accordingly, it asked local education authorities to ensure that any information they
  417
  provide is factually correct, and represents a proper use of public money. The same principles apply after a ballot as before.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to use his powers under the Education Reform Act to prevent a local education authority from issuing material designed to influence support for an opting-out proposal following a ballot by parents in favour of such a proposal.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  No. Where parents vote to seek grant-maintained status for their school the governing body must publish formal proposals to my right hon. Friend within six months. The local education authority and other interested parties may submit comments on or objections to those proposals within two months of publication, and my right hon. Friend will take these into account in considering and determining the application on its merits.

  Siemens Printers
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many Siemens ND3 printers are used by his Department, either in-house or through a private contract; and what is the location of each.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Department does not use any Siemens ND3 printers.

  Computers
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on all recorded cases of unauthorised access to his Department's computer files.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Our policy is not to make public details and circumstances of computer security incidents, their perpetrators and their success or failure, since such information would be of assistance to potential attackers.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what measures his Department has taken to protect data in transit by electronic means;

  (2) if he will give details of his Department's policy on review of the security of its computer files;

  (3) if he can quantify the risk of damage by hackers to sensitive computerised files in his Department.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Department takes advice from the appropriate government authorities on security matters. In the case of unclassified but sensitive data this includes the CCTA IT security and privacy group (part of HM Treasury) which is the central Government advisory authority in this area, and uses its risk analysis and management methodology (CRAMM). It would not be sensible to publish details of actual counter-measures, reviews and risks.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether staff are briefed about computer hacking and computer viruses; whether there are contingency plans to deal with computer downtime caused by unauthorised penetration; and what plans exist to deal with penetration of particularly sensitive systems.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Department has contingency plans and staff education programmes as part of its wider information systems strategy, but their effectiveness would be reduced if details were made public.

  AIDS
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on what research into drugs to relieve AIDS is taking place in Britain.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Medical Research Council is supporting a directed programme of research, worth £31 million cash over five years, to develop vaccines against HIV infection and drugs to relieve AIDS. Over half the research projects in this programme are related to drug development. Copies of a booklet outlining the programme are available in the Library. I understand that many of the pharmaceutical companies are also engaged in such work.

  National Medical Centre, Hammersmith
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are, for 1994 to 1999, the estimated costs of the first five years of operation and installation of the new national medical centre at Hammersmith; and what would be the cost of keeping in operation for the same years(a) the Royal post-graduate medical school, Hammersmith, and (b) the clinical research centre, Harrow, respectively.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Medical Research Council is currently undertaking a detailed appraisal of proposals to improve clinical research in the United Kingdom, including proposals for a new national centre based at the Royal postgraduate medical school, Hammersmith. The costs of such a centre would depend on decisions to be taken in the light of this appraisal. Research costs at the RPMS and the clinical research centre in the period 1994 to 1999 will depend on a variety of decisions about research activities at these institutions prior to 1994 as well as on the outcome of the clinical research proposals currently being appraised.

  Schools
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate how many schools currently have decoration classed as less than satisfactory.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Department does not maintain records of the decorative condition of schools. This is a matter for LEAs and others responsible for the schools.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether all school buildings in England and Wales have yet been brought up to the requirements laid down by the 1981 schools premises regulations and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  It is the responsibility of local education authorities to satisfy the requirements of the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981. They certify that new school building projects will comply with the regulations when they seek my right hon. Friend's approval. The survey of school buildings, published in 1987, showed that not all existing county and controlled schools met the standards of the regulations. Since that time local authorities have spent substantial sums on improving their school buildings.

  Schools in Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
  419
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much each local education authority will be receiving in the current financial year, and the next two financial years, from the school improvement programme.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Hyndburn (Mr. Hargreaves) on 21 December 1988 at column 287. Allocations are made on an annual basis. Information for the next two financial years is not therefore available.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list all schools in the English and Welsh counties which currently need(a) between £0·5 million and £1 million and (b) over £1·0 million spending on repairs, maintenance or decoration, to bring them into line with the requirements stipulated under the 1981 school premises regulations.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information requested is not collected centrally for schools in England. Matters relating to Wales are for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether there are any schools which still have a problem with asbestos.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Department does not keep records of asbestos problems in individual schools. This is a matter for LEAs and others responsible for the schools.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools currently have a shortage of furniture.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Department does not keep records of the quantity of furniture in individual schools. This is the responsibility of LEAs and those responsible for schools.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the latest estimate of places available in higher education in autumn 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 21 April 1989]: Applications to enter higher education in 1989–90 are estimated to be about 5 per cent. higher than last year. Actual numbers will depend on the recruitment decisions of each individual institution. We already have record numbers and participation rates, and expect to reach 1 million students for the first time this autumn.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to ensure that following the introduction of the community charge, institutions of higher education reduce the rents charged to students in respect of that element of their rents presently charged on account of the rates.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 21 April 1989]: This is a matter for individual institutions, but many students make
  420
  no contribution to the rates payable on their accommodation, since they are provided for through the central funding of the institutions.

  Capital Allocations
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what his priorities are with regard to capital allocations to local education authorities.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  In formulating capital allocations priority is given to committed expenditure up to the levels previously indicated to authorities, new projects to meet population growth and new projects to remove surplus places in the schools sector and tertiary projects arising out of approved statutory proposals, and provisions for the capital implications of education support grants in further and higher education. The remaining resources are distributed to local authorities to use for the improvement or replacement of defective buildings. I also refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bassetlaw (Mr. Ashton) on 11 April 1989, at column 426, for the criteria applied to allocating resources for voluntary aided and special agreement schools.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will list the capital allocation to each local education authority as a percentage of the bid of that local education authority in each of the last nine years;

  (2) if he will list the bids for capital allocations in the last nine years from all local education authorities.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Information on local education authorities' cash plans is not available for the years 1981–84. The information for prescribed expenditure for the years 1984–85 to 1989–90 is set out in the table.

  Education capital allocation and plans at cash prices 1984–88 1984–85

  £000s

  LEA

  Plans cash

  Capital allocations cash

  Initial allocation as a percentage of plans

  Barking

  695

  1,442

  207

  Barnet

  2,939

  2,453

  83

  Bexley

  1,399

  845

  60

  Brent

  2,576

  1,678

  65

  Bromley

  3,777

  492

  13

  Croydon

  1,749

  1,227

  70

  Ealing

  2,721

  1,347

  50

  Enfield

  901

  576

  64

  Haringey

  2,640

  1,090

  41

  Harrow

  2,785

  523

  19

  Havering

  894

  216

  24

  Hillingdon

  4,362

  1,068

  24

  Hounslow

  4,987

  3,063

  61

  Kingston

  2,673

  1,330

  50

  Merton

  2,098

  993

  47

  Newham

  4,232

  2,039

  48

  Redbridge

  1,971

  1,006

  51

  Richmond

  2,106

  735

  35

  Sutton

  1,011

  451

  45

  Waltham

  2,613

  889

  34

  ILEA

  22,045

  9,703

  44

  Birmingham

  9,533

  6,484

  68

  Coventry

  5,188

  2,919

  56

  Dudley

  5,460

  3,516

  64

  Sandwell

  3,453

  1,705

  49

  Solihull

  708

  723

  102

  421

  LEA

  Plans cash

  Capital allocations cash

  Initial allocation as a percentage of plans

  Walsall

  4,116

  1,026

  25

  Wolverhampton

  3,890

  2,375

  61

  Knowsley

  1,174

  895

  76

  Liverpool

  6,973

  4,243

  61

  St. Helens

  3,031

  2,111

  70

  Sefton

  2,334

  824

  35

  Wirral

  4,114

  2,117

  51

  Bolton

  2,229

  1,536

  69

  Bury

  1,824

  1,030

  56

  Manchester

  11,180

  6,997

  63

  Oldham

  1,778

  968

  54

  Rochdale

  3,805

  1,452

  38

  Salford

  2,230

  822

  37

  Stockport

  1,540

  1,770

  115

  Tameside

  3,116

  1,690

  54

  Trafford

  1,631

  1,027

  63

  Wigan

  3,041

  2,004

  66

  Barnsley

  864

  401

  46

  Doncaster

  1,778

  1,226

  69

  Rotherham

  1,182

  471

  40

  Sheffield

  5,035

  3,007

  60

  Bradford

  18,220

  6,707

  37

  Calderdale

  3,408

  1,090

  32

  Kirklees

  6,746

  3,753

  56

  Leeds

  5,184

  2,899

  56

  Wakefield

  3,993

  1,596

  40

  Gateshead

  3,934

  572

  15

  Newcastle

  3,600

  2,265

  63

  North Tyneside

  3,673

  721

  20

  South Tyneside

  3,765

  1,280

  34

  Sunderland

  4,354

  2,862

  66

  Isles of Scilly

  0

  0

  0

  Avon

  11,121

  5,270

  47

  Bedfordshire

  4,534

  2,439

  54

  Berkshire

  10,238

  8,227

  80

  Buckinghamshire

  18,602

  6,854

  37

  Cambridgeshire

  6,655

  5,039

  76

  Cheshire

  10,594

  7,366

  70

  Cleveland

  7,463

  3,626

  49

  Cornwall

  6,943

  4,377

  63

  Cumbria

  8,026

  3,982

  50

  Derbyshire

  9,885

  6,546

  66

  Devon

  9,087

  7,832

  86

  Dorset

  8,744

  5,385

  62

  Durham

  4,271

  2,054

  48

  East Sussex

  10,389

  4,601

  44

  Essex

  17,675

  6,604

  37

  Gloucestershire

  6,416

  2,772

  43

  Hampshire

  20,652

  9,666

  47

  Herefordshire and Worcestershire

  3,378

  1,669

  49

  Hertfordshire

  5,912

  5,479

  93

  Humberside

  11,677

  6,883

  59

  Isle of Wight

  1,445

  948

  66

  Kent

  8,716

  4,347

  50

  Lancashire

  13,646

  11,055

  81

  Leicestershire

  8,229

  7,074

  86

  Lincolnshire

  9,022

  4,455

  49

  Norfolk

  7,771

  4,261

  55

  North Yorkshire

  11,725

  5,675

  48

  Northamptonshire

  7,059

  4,179

  59

  Northumberland

  2,580

  1,002

  39

  Nottinghamshire

  4,376

  2,666

  61

  Oxfordshire

  4,194

  3,245

  77

  Shropshire

  4,359

  2,072

  48

  Somerset

  3,367

  2,559

  76

  Staffordshire

  15,277

  10,691

  70

  Suffolk

  5,554

  4,348

  78

  422

  LEA

  Plans cash

  Capital allocations cash

  Initial allocation as a percentage of plans

  Surrey

  8,416

  4,340

  52

  Warwickshire

  2,781

  1,428

  51

  West Sussex

  6,544

  5,027

  77

  Wiltshire

  6,771

  3,810

  56

  1985–86

  LEA

  Plans cash

  Capital allocation cash

  Initial allocation as a per cent. of plans

  Barking

  1,579

  947

  60

  Barnet

  5,825

  2,612

  45

  Bexley

  1,396

  504

  36

  Brent

  4,619

  891

  19

  Bromley

  4,518

  628

  14

  Croydon

  3,626

  2,170

  60

  Ealing

  3,352

  2,451

  73

  Enfield

  1,375

  966

  70

  Haringey

  3,644

  895

  25

  Harrow

  3,007

  299

  10

  Havering

  1,013

  334

  33

  Hillingdon

  2,368

  521

  22

  Hounslow

  4,638

  1,566

  34

  Kingston

  4,070

  2,131

  52

  Merton

  4,226

  2,277

  54

  Newham

  7,672

  2,558

  33

  Redbridge

  1,738

  1,330

  77

  Richmond

  752

  379

  50

  Sutton

  966

  474

  49

  Waltham

  2,334

  985

  42

  ILEA

  27,686

  15,080

  54

  Birmingham

  6,569

  3,695

  56

  Coventry

  7,419

  3,094

  42

  Dudley

  7,016

  2,671

  38

  Sandwell

  4,429

  1,914

  43

  Solihull

  1,297

  642

  49

  Walsall

  3,222

  1,329

  41

  Wolverhampton

  3,793

  2,047

  54

  Knowsley

  1,986

  973

  49

  Liverpool

  8,461

  4,870

  58

  St. Helens

  3,190

  1,827

  57

  Sefton

  2,060

  1,671

  81

  Wirral

  2,585

  766

  30

  Bolton

  1,317

  570

  43

  Bury

  1,507

  803

  53

  Manchester

  17,545

  7,450

  42

  Oldham

  2,650

  1,014

  38

  Rochdale

  2,885

  1,802

  62

  Salford

  2,891

  1,551

  54

  Stockport

  2,691

  1,411

  52

  Tameside

  1,360

  532

  39

  Trafford

  3,208

  1,594

  50

  Wigan

  3,990

  1,464

  37

  Barnsley

  1,226

  1,090

  89

  Doncaster

  1,353

  424

  31

  Rotherham

  1,751

  481

  27

  Sheffield

  8,044

  3,497

  43

  Bradford

  13,383

  8,269

  62

  Calderdale

  2,305

  830

  36

  Kirklees

  6,955

  3,304

  48

  Leeds

  9,301

  3,325

  36

  Wakefield

  3,307

  1,438

  43

  Gateshead

  3,714

  1,122

  30

  Newcastle

  3,948

  1,716

  43

  North Tyneside

  4,300

  2,235

  52

  South Tyneside

  2,851

  1,339

  47

  423

  LEA

  Plans cash

  Capital allocation cash

  Initial allocation as a per cent, of plans

  Sunderland

  4,679

  3,047

  65

  Isles of Stilly

  0

  0

  —

  Avon

  10,965

  3,951

  36

  Bedfordshire

  5,427

  1,625

  30

  Berkshire

  11,584

  7,490

  65

  Buckinghamshire

  12,649

  5,978

  47

  Cambridge

  6,506

  4,387

  67

  Cheshire

  9,518

  5,005

  53

  Cleveland

  7,482

  4,493

  60

  Cornwall

  4,523

  3,319

  73

  Cumbria

  5,254

  3,803

  72

  Derbyshire

  10,794

  7,239

  67

  Devon

  11,046

  6,405

  58

  Dorset

  8,666

  5,265

  61

  Durham

  6,415

  2,995

  47

  East Sussex

  7,993

  4,870

  61

  Essex

  28,705

  11,679

  41

  Gloucester

  7,261

  4,652

  64

  Hampshire

  23,877

  11,844

  50

  Hereford and Worcester

  2,688

  1,480

  55

  Hertford

  8,417

  5,960

  71

  Humberside

  7,400

  4,138

  56

  Isle of Wight

  2,125

  1,230

  58

  Kent

  9,481

  5,209

  55

  Lancashire

  20,050

  15,156

  76

  Leicester

  12,299

  6,718

  55

  Lincoln

  8,834

  3,532

  40

  Norfolk

  6,698

  3,070

  46

  North Yorkshire

  6,625

  3,798

  57

  Northampton

  6,268

  4,492

  72

  Northumberland

  2,322

  1,254

  54

  Nottinghamshire

  4,810

  3,421

  71

  Oxfordshire

  9,134

  3,650

  40

  Shropshire

  5,680

  3,924

  69

  Somerset

  2,941

  1,243

  42

  Staffs

  13,621

  9,717

  71

  Suffolk

  6,505

  3,871

  60

  Surrey

  9,717

  4,365

  45

  Warwick

  3,105

  1,703

  55

  West Sussex

  5,641

  3,429

  61

  Wiltshire

  6,314

  3,478

  55

  1986–87

  LEA

  Plans Cash

  Capital allocation cash

  Initial allocation as a percentage of plans

  Barking

  3,717

  1,135

  31

  Barnet

  7,399

  1,621

  22

  Bexley

  2,096

  715

  34

  Brent

  4,797

  1,589

  33

  Bromley

  3,357

  1,747

  52

  Croydon

  3,519

  2,784

  79

  Ealing

  5,702

  2,154

  38

  Enfield

  1,698

  706

  42

  Haringey

  4,455

  797

  18

  Harrow

  5,315

  4,078

  77

  Havering

  1,074

  395

  37

  Hillingdon

  1,806

  306

  17

  Hounslow

  4,783

  668

  14

  Kingston

  6,445

  1,806

  28

  Merton

  3,959

  1,203

  30

  Newham

  6,825

  1,271

  19

  Redbridge

  2,167

  1,149

  53

  Richmond

  1,050

  249

  24

  Sutton

  1,318

  329

  25

  Waltham

  3,962

  2,184

  55

  ILEA

  29,331

  12,575

  43

  Birmingham

  9,015

  5,016

  56

  Coventry

  15,086

  5,396

  35

  424

  1986–87

  LEA

  Plans Cash

  Capital allocation cash

  Initial allocation as a percentage of plans

  Dudley

  6,703

  2,012

  30

  Sandwell

  4,091

  1,203

  29

  Solihull

  2,666

  1,295

  49

  Walsall

  3,711

  1,119

  30

  Wolverhampton

  6,664

  1,418

  21

  Knowsley

  2,750

  1,483

  54

  Liverpool

  7,878

  2,904

  37

  St. Helens

  2,325

  772

  33

  Sefton

  3,983

  2,667

  67

  Wirral

  2,824

  1,402

  50

  Bolton

  1,692

  576

  34

  Bury

  995

  882

  89

  Manchester

  21,998

  6,501

  30

  Oldham

  2,910

  1,428

  49

  Rochdale

  4,545

  2,163

  48

  Salford

  3,382

  1,625

  48

  Stockport

  3,702

  1,453

  39

  Tameside

  1,685

  306

  18

  Trafibrd

  2,702

  1,276

  47

  Wigan

  3,243

  2,339

  72

  Barnsley

  1,054

  577

  55

  Doncaster

  771

  338

  44

  Rotherham

  1,651

  578

  35

  Sheffield

  7,890

  2,330

  30

  Bradford

  10,116

  7,061

  70

  Calderdale

  1,708

  1,203

  70

  Kirklees

  7,548

  1,956

  26

  Leeds

  8,557

  2,634

  31

  Wakefield

  3,284

  1,990

  61

  Gateshead

  4,968

  1,451

  29

  Newcastle

  8,641

  2,586

  30

  North Tyneside

  3,210

  1,536

  48

  South Tyneside

  2,911

  732

  25

  Sunderland

  7,188

  1,928

  27

  Isles of Stilly

  0

  0

  —

  Avon

  10,821

  4,070

  38

  Bedfordshire

  6,282

  1,934

  31

  Berkshire

  10,696

  5,399

  50

  Buckinghamshire

  15,970

  5,582

  35

  Cambridgeshire

  4,910

  2,591

  53

  Cheshire

  11,327

  3,837

  34

  Cleveland

  12,605

  4,933

  39

  Cornwall

  7,583

  3,592

  47

  Cumbria

  5,640

  2,254

  40

  Derbyshire

  13,942

  7,202

  52

  Devonshire

  16,957

  8,418

  50

  Dorset

  8,255

  3,377

  41

  Durham

  6,264

  2,231

  36

  East Sussex

  10,176

  3,786

  37

  Essex

  31,384

  11,417

  36

  Gloucestershire

  10,306

  6,561

  64

  Hampshire

  29,354

  12,905

  44

  Hereford and Worcestershire

  3,911

  1,929

  49

  Hertfordshire

  10,968

  4,677

  43

  Humberside

  10,802

  7,524

  70

  Isle of Wight

  2,270

  1,139

  50

  Kent

  9,801

  6,405

  65

  Lancashire

  21,743

  12,538

  58

  Leicestershire

  12,311

  7,061

  57

  Lincolnshire

  6,044

  3,908

  65

  Norfolk

  7,004

  4,394

  63

  North Yorkshire

  5,576

  2,504

  45

  Northamptonshire

  7,536

  4,339

  58

  Northumberland

  2,687

  1,003

  37

  Nottinghamshire

  5,347

  3,043

  52

  Oxfordshire

  13,423

  2,055

  15

  425

  1986–87

  LEA

  Plans Cash

  Capital allocation cash

  Initial allocation as a percentage of plans

  Shropshire

  5,277

  2,602

  49

  Somerset

  6,832

  2,014

  29

  Staffordshire

  17,517

  9,313

  53

  Suffolk

  8,619

  5,866

  68

  Surrey

  11,030

  3,610

  33

  Warwickshire

  2,993

  1,236

  41

  West Sussex

  6,116

  2,157

  35

  Wiltshire

  4,556

  1,983

  44

  LEA

  Plans cash

  1987–88 capital allocation cash

  Initial allocation as a percentage of plans

  Barking

  2,126

  806

  38

  Barnet

  11,234

  1,744

  16

  Bexley

  2,692

  1,641

  61

  Brent

  8,249

  2,514

  30

  Bromley

  3,283

  1,618

  49

  Croydon

  5,305

  2,428

  46

  Ealing

  7,624

  2,147

  28

  Enfield

  2,980

  1,222

  41

  Haringey

  8,427

  1,121

  13

  Harrow

  5,525

  2,952

  53

  Havering

  1,093

  393

  36

  Hillingdon

  3,782

  1,059

  28

  Hounslow

  5,259

  1,255

  24

  Kingston

  9,674

  1,683

  17

  Merton

  2,390

  1,054

  44

  Newham

  5,000

  1,165

  23

  Redbridge

  2,935

  1,761

  60

  Richmond

  1,275

  115

  9

  Sutton

  1,966

  247

  13

  Waltham

  5,276

  2,585

  49

  ILEA

  44,342

  14,957

  34

  Birmingham

  11,141

  3,860

  35

  Coventry

  12,364

  5,709

  46

  Dudley

  5,067

  1,329

  26

  Sandwell

  2,955

  576

  19

  Solihull

  1,778

  500

  28

  Walsall

  2,483

  824

  33

  Wolverhampton

  7,088

  1,932

  27

  Knowsley

  5,510

  1,108

  20

  Liverpool

  10,072

  1,885

  19

  St. Helens

  4,953

  855

  17

  Sef'ton

  4,616

  1,790

  39

  Wirral

  4,826

  1,316

  27

  Bolton

  1,934

  645

  33

  Bury

  996

  320

  32

  Manchester

  32,669

  8,968

  27

  Oldham

  4,809

  2,799

  58

  Rochdale

  5,493

  2,220

  40

  Salford

  3,016

  1,882

  62

  Stock port

  4,004

  1,243

  31

  Tameside

  1,884

  389

  21

  Trafford

  2,947

  1,064

  36

  Wigan

  4,550

  2,717

  60

  Barnsley

  1,073

  530

  49

  Doncaster

  403

  365

  91

  Rotherham

  2,336

  287

  12

  Sheffield

  10,762

  3,197

  30

  Bradford

  24,853

  6,303

  25

  Calderdale

  3,381

  1,883

  56

  Kirklees

  8,782

  1,664

  19

  Leeds

  12,502

  2,802

  22

  Wakefield

  5,210

  2,074

  40

  426

  LEA

  Plans cash

  1987–88 capital allocation cash

  Initial allocation as a percentage of plans

  Gateshead

  4,073

  1,112

  27

  Newcastle

  9,479

  3,369

  36

  North Tyneside

  4,498

  1,935

  43

  South Tyneside

  5,121

  1,932

  38

  Sunderland

  13,391

  2,305

  17

  Isles of Scilly

  60

  30

  50

  Avon

  10,865

  4,386

  40

  Bedfordshire

  4,814

  1,248

  26

  Berkshire

  8,281

  3,597

  43

  Buckinghamshire

  10,384

  6,004

  58

  Cambridgeshire

  10,016

  3,399

  34

  Cheshire

  9,420

  5,043

  54

  Cleveland

  8,539

  4,351

  51

  Cornwall

  8,061

  5,645

  70

  Cumbria

  6,224

  2,852

  46

  Derbyshire

  20,028

  9,036

  45

  Devon

  11,291

  4,734

  42

  Dorset

  9,577

  4,349

  45

  Durham

  6,263

  1,371

  22

  East Sussex

  15,038

  4,884

  32

  Essex

  34,169

  11,600

  34

  Gloucester

  10,302

  7,167

  70

  Hampshire

  28,643

  10,918

  38

  Hereford and West

  5,633

  2,585

  46

  Hertfordshire

  14,293

  4,100

  29

  Humberside

  14,865

  10,753

  72

  Isle of Wight

  3,192

  1,375

  43

  Kent

  13,345

  7,514

  56

  Lancashire

  18,800

  5,994

  32

  Leicester

  13,336

  5,526

  41

  Lincoln

  7,745

  4,625

  60

  Norfolk

  7,864

  5,019

  64

  North Yorkshire

  5,150

  2,035

  40

  Northamptonshire

  5,132

  1,726

  34

  Northumberland

  2,060

  655

  32

  Nottinghamshire

  5,512

  2,379

  43

  Oxfordshire

  11,326

  1,942

  17

  Shropshire

  8,486

  5,257

  62

  Somerset

  6,220

  2,626

  42

  Staffordshire

  18,219

  7,591

  42

  Suffolk

  8,830

  6,683

  76

  Surrey

  9,339

  3,828

  41

  Warwickshire

  3,473

  1,101

  32

  West Sussex

  7,420

  1,739

  23

  Wiltshire

  7,021

  3,177

  45

  1988–89

  £000s

  LEA

  Plans cash

  Capital allocation cash

  Initial allocation as a percentage of plans

  Barking

  10,457

  1,639

  16

  Barnet

  11,192

  2,000

  18

  Bexley

  1,758

  1,234

  70

  Brent

  6,758

  2,532

  37

  Bromley

  6,098

  403

  7

  Croydon

  7,149

  1,595

  22

  Ealing

  9,053

  1,174

  13

  Enfield

  9,504

  1,318

  14

  Haringey

  11,042

  2,330

  21

  Harrow

  3,862

  1,643

  43

  Havering

  1,962

  692

  35

  Hillingdon

  6,307

  918

  15

  Hounslow

  4,860

  1,242

  26

  Kingston

  11,731

  1,695

  14

  Merton

  6,965

  1,023

  15

  Newham

  6,316

  3,061

  48

  Redbridge

  5,418

  3,719

  69

  427

  LEA

  Plans cash

  Capital allocation cash

  Initial allocation as a percentage of plans

  Richmond

  2,210

  277

  13

  Sutton

  6,063

  627

  10

  Waltham

  7,120

  5,498

  77

  ILEA

  54,545

  17,767

  33

  Birmingham

  11,472

  4,407

  38

  Coventry

  17,980

  6,155

  34

  Dudley

  7,773

  1,555

  20

  Sandwell

  3,710

  767

  21

  Solihull

  4,890

  700

  14

  Walsall

  2,210

  907

  41

  Wolverhampton

  7,823

  1,849

  24

  Knowsley

  4,815

  1,136

  24

  Liverpool

  7,692

  2,323

  30

  St. Helens

  5,685

  1,211

  21

  Sefton

  2,778

  1,450

  52

  Wirral

  6,391

  2,330

  36

  Bolton

  3,866

  1,212

  31

  Bury

  1,282

  467

  36

  Manchester

  34,860

  9,269

  27

  Oldham

  5,793

  2,822

  49

  Rochdale

  5,654

  1,440

  25

  Salford

  5,740

  3,430

  60

  Stockport

  3,891

  2,878

  74

  Tameside

  2,781

  716

  26

  Trafford

  2,637

  471

  18

  Wigan

  5,308

  3,508

  66

  Barnsley

  1,198

  342

  29

  Doncaster

  644

  421

  65

  Rotherham

  2,184

  699

  32

  Sheffield

  17,815

  7,189

  40

  Bradford

  33,604

  10,457

  31

  Calderdale

  5,486

  3,619

  66

  Kirklees

  9,078

  1,486

  16

  Leeds

  14,280

  4,626

  32

  Wakefield

  6,397

  3,573

  56

  Gateshead

  5,420

  1,933

  36

  Newcastle

  12,946

  3,917

  30

  North Tyneside

  4,587

  2,129

  46

  South Tyneside

  5,939

  2,527

  43

  Sunderland

  10,951

  4,583

  42

  Isles of Scilly

  405

  39

  10

  Avon

  10,993

  4,277

  39

  Bedfordshire

  5,660

  1,630

  29

  Berkshire

  12,603

  5,567

  44

  Buckinghamshire

  9,013

  6,152

  68

  Cambridgeshire

  13,719

  4,314

  31

  Cheshire

  10,812

  4,829

  45

  Cleveland

  7,104

  3,673

  52

  Cornwall

  9,744

  6,413

  66

  Cumbria

  6,530

  4,858

  74

  Derbyshire

  15,025

  10,777

  72

  Devon

  10,732

  6,262

  58

  Dorset

  8,459

  4,052

  48

  Durham

  5,451

  1,415

  26

  East Sussex

  25,962

  9,815

  38

  Essex

  37,264

  20,317

  55

  Gloucestershire

  9,864

  5,302

  32

  Hampshire

  38,619

  16,550

  43

  Herefordshire and Worcestershire

  9,032

  2,892

  32

  Hertfordshire

  18,887

  5,525

  29

  Humberside

  13,333

  7,077

  53

  Isle of Wight

  4,377

  1,663

  38

  Kent

  15,217

  7,134

  47

  Lancashire

  25,419

  12,809

  50

  Leicestershire

  15,643

  7,419

  47

  428

  LEA

  Plans cash

  Capital allocation cash

  Initial allocation as a percentage of plans

  Lincolnshire

  8,891

  3,897

  44

  Norfolk

  7,938

  4,021

  51

  North Yorkshire

  7,297

  3,937

  54

  Northamptonshire

  8,571

  3,190

  37

  Northumberland

  3,554

  955

  27

  Nottinghamshire

  4,709

  2,461

  52

  Oxfordshire

  18,701

  4,673

  25

  Shropshire

  8,474

  4,465

  53

  Somerset

  6,501

  2,764

  43

  Staffordshire

  15,494

  7,469

  48

  Suffolk

  9,448

  7,014

  74

  Surrey

  15,468

  4,859

  31

  Warwickshire

  4,069

  1,375

  34

  West Sussex

  10,851

  3,053

  28

  Wiltshire

  6,867

  3,215

  47

  LEA

  Plans cash

  1989–90 Capital allocation cash

  Initial allocation as percent. of plans

  Barking

  1,429

  245

  17

  Barnet

  5,954

  996

  17

  Bexley

  3,336

  864

  26

  Brent

  4,939

  463

  9

  Bromley

  6,338

  663

  10

  Croydon

  6,487

  1,008

  16

  Ealing

  10,487

  540

  5

  Enfield

  6,847

  1,153

  17

  Haringey

  6,237

  2,275

  36

  Harrow

  7,423

  650

  9

  Havering

  4,912

  1,341

  27

  Hillingdon

  5,132

  644

  13

  Hounslow

  8,173

  529

  6

  Kingston

  9,756

  316

  3

  Merton

  11,393

  5,243

  46

  Newham

  7,944

  3,590

  45

  Redbridge

  5,241

  2,028

  39

  Richmond

  2,826

  540

  19

  Sutton

  11,995

  649

  5

  Waltham

  13,259

  8,013

  60

  ILEA

  38,931

  11,957

  31

  Birmingham

  13,206

  5,218

  40

  Coventry

  15,815

  2,670

  17

  Dudley

  5,621

  2,531

  45

  Sandwell

  4,462

  2,080

  47

  Solihull

  4,084

  744

  18

  Walsall

  3,190

  921

  29

  Wolverhampton

  3,810

  528

  14

  Knowsley

  6,413

  2,116

  33

  Liverpool

  6,121

  607

  10

  St. Helens

  4,597

  1,851

  40

  Sefton

  4,728

  1,724

  36

  Wirral

  6,817

  2,469

  36

  Bolton

  4,208

  1,286

  31

  Bury

  1,055

  605

  57

  Manchester

  26,053

  5,271

  20

  Oldham

  6,654

  2,272

  34

  Rochdale

  7,094

  2,175

  31

  Salford

  5,717

  3,806

  67

  Stockport

  3,822

  1,519

  40

  Tameside

  2,863

  746

  26

  Trafford

  20,581

  2,671

  13

  Wigan

  7,057

  1,364

  19

  Barnsley

  1,665

  270

  16

  Doncaster

  1,059

  684

  65

  Rotheham

  2,647

  840

  32

  Sheffield

  9,204

  5,211

  57

  429

  LEA

  Plans cash

  1989–90 Capital allocation cash

  Initial allocation as percent. of plans

  Bradford

  27,879

  8,334

  30

  Calderdale

  4,135

  2,607

  63

  Kirklees

  5,406

  808

  15

  Leeds

  17,367

  3,464

  20

  Wakefield

  5,296

  3,212

  61

  Gateshead

  5,263

  1,052

  20

  Newcastle

  9,148

  1,566

  17

  North Tyneside

  5,853

  1,577

  27

  South Tyneside

  9,846

  3,372

  34

  Sunderland

  10,269

  3,859

  38

  Isles of Scilly

  149

  149

  100

  Avon

  12,427

  3,877

  31

  Bedfordshire

  6,120

  2,022

  33

  Berkshire

  13,676

  5,876

  43

  Buckinghamshire

  12,370

  7,780

  63

  Cambridgeshire

  21,003

  5,801

  28

  Cheshire

  12,507

  3,487

  28

  Cleveland

  7,450

  5,324

  71

  Cornwall

  11,803

  6,129

  52

  Cumbria

  10,156

  6,753

  66

  Derbyshire

  22,530

  11,669

  52

  Devon

  23,329

  14,177

  61

  Dorset

  11,083

  2,970

  27

  Durham

  14,756

  2,133

  14

  East Sussex

  25,515

  9,171

  36

  Essex

  54,816

  17,002

  31

  Gloucestershire

  14,180

  5,934

  42

  Hampshire

  28,586

  7,940

  28

  Herefordshire and Worcestershire

  9,134

  2,534

  28

  Hertfordshire

  16,561

  4,832

  29

  Humberside

  13,240

  7,288

  55

  Isle of Wight

  6,678

  1,628

  24

  Kent

  24,492

  8,610

  35

  Lancashire

  34,170

  13,664

  40

  Leicestershire

  12,785

  6,769

  53

  Lincolnshire

  8,599

  3,010

  35

  Norfolk

  10,892

  3,788

  35

  North Yorkshire

  6,899

  2,209

  32

  Northamptonshire

  9,049

  4,046

  45

  Northumberland

  5,234

  889

  17

  Nottinghamshire

  7,408

  3,215

  43

  Oxfordshire

  15,971

  3,758

  24

  Shropshire

  8,010

  4,943

  62

  Somerset

  15,865

  3,088

  19

  Staffordshire

  11,544

  4,927

  43

  Suffolk

  13,315

  6,086

  46

  Surrey

  12,460

  5,735

  46

  Warwickshire

  6,275

  1,729

  28

  West Sussex

  12,953

  1,966

  15

  Wiltshire

  10,455

  2,866

  27

CIVIL SERVICE

  "Government Economic Statistics"
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what are the implications for him as the Minister for the Civil Service of the publication of the scrutiny report entitled "Government Economic Statistics".

  Mr. Luce
  This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. However, I welcome any initiative that increases the efficiency of the Civil Service, and I am pleased that the Central Statistical Office is to be established as an executive agency.

  Quality of Service
  Mr. Gow
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service how he intends to improve the quality of service given by civil servants.

  Mr. Luce
  Improving delivery of services to the public is one of the major aims of the next steps initiative. In December 1988 my Department published a paper intended to stimulate discussion of this important area.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will make a statement on the progress of monitoring exercises carried out in the Civil Service in accordance with the codes of the Commission for Racial Equality and the Equal Opportunities Commission.

  Mr. Luce
  The Civil Service is making good progress in monitoring the implementation of its equal opportunity policies. Monitoring and follow-up action is carried out by departments and the Civil Service Commission in accordance with the Commission for Racial Equality and Equal Opportunities Commission codes of practice.

THE ARTS

  Museums and Galleries
  Mr. Kirkhope
  To ask the Minister for the Arts to what extent he is providing for the building and maintenance of museums and galleries.

  Mr. Luce
  I am continuing to give high priority to building and maintenance in our national museums and galleries. Spending on building and maintenance will increase to £55 million by 1991–92, which represents an increase of 53 per cent. since 1987–88.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister for the Arts when he last met the chairman of the Museums and Galleries Commission to discuss the future funding and administration of national museums.

  Mr. Luce
  I meet the chairman of the Museums and Galleries Commission quite frequently and on a wide range of subjects which have included matters raised in the commission's May 1988 report on the national museums.

  Yorkshire (Administration)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Minister for the Arts when he last met the chairman of the Yorkshire Arts Association to discuss the structure of arts administration in Yorkshire.

  Mr. Luce
  I meet the chairman of the Yorkshire Arts Association from time to time. A variety of matters is discussed.

  New Audiences
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Minister for the Arts how he intends to encourage new audiences for the arts.

  Mr. Luce
  I am encouraging a wide range of initiatives to attract new audiences to the arts through the Arts Council and other bodies. These include work on ethnic arts, rural arts and education, arts for the disabled, broadcasting and touring.

  Wales (Funding)
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Minister for the Arts when he last met the chairman of the Welsh Arts Council to discuss the level of arts funding in Wales.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Minister for the Arts when he last met the chairman of the Welsh Arts Council to discuss the level of arts funding in Wales.

  Mr. Luce
  I meet the chairman of the Welsh Arts Council from time to time. A variety of matters are discussed.

  Museums and Libraries
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on the staffing levels at museums and libraries in London.

  Mr Luce
  In London, there are some 4,000 staff in public libraries for which information is available, and some 7,000 in national museums and galleries and the British library. Information on other London libraries and museums is not held centrally.

  Film and Television (Support)
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what support for the British Film Institute and the National Film and Television School has been achieved in the last 10 years both from Government and private sources.

  Mr. Luce
  In the last 10 years the British Film Institute has received £83·6 million in Government support and £67·9 million from the private sector. In the same period, the National Film and Television school has received £10·7 million and £9·3 million respectively, from the same two sources.

  Item

  To whom allocated

  Amount of lax satisfied £

  Two paintings by William Hogarth

  National Museum of Wales

  11,250,000

  Flower painting by Jacob Marrel

  Not yet allocated

  61,369

  Print by William Blake

  Fitzwilliara Museum, Cambridge

  19,658

  Sculpture by Naum Gabo

  Not yet allocated

  286,610

  "A Tartar Huntsman" by Rubens

  Not yet allocated

  50,000

  "The Artist's Studio" by Peter Tillemans

  Castle Museum, Norwich

  52,270

  "Allee a Chantilly" by Cezanne

  Not yet allocated

  13,387,556

  Land at Oxey Mead, Yarnton, Oxfordshire

  Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Naturalists Trust Ltd.

  15,640

  Two busts by Roubiliac

  National Museum of Scotland to remain in situ at Mellerstain House

  353,855

  Two portraits by Angelica Kauffman

  Scottish National Portrait Gallery

  34,100

  Ten letters written to Sir Arthur Bryant

  Imperial War Museum

  875

  Ten portraits

  Not yet allocated

  260,717

  "Fabula" by El Greco

  National Galleries of Scotland

  1947,136·88

  1 These three items were met by a call on the reserve.

  Foreign Artists (Grants)
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what is his policy on the allocation of grants by regional arts associations to foreign artists; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  The great bulk of spending by regional arts associations is in support of British artists. RAAs and their

  Wales (Administration)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Minister for the Arts when he last met the chairman of the Welsh Arts Council to discuss the structure of arts administration in Wales.

  Mr. Luce
  I meet the chairman of the Welsh Arts Council from time to time. A variety of matters are discussed.

  Performing Arts (Support)
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Minister for the Arts to what extent Government support for the performing arts has increased in real terms since 1979–80.

  Mr. Luce
  The Government's grant to the Arts Council, which is responsible for funding the performing arts and other art forms, has increased by 13 per cent. in real terms between 1979–80 and 1989–90.

  Book-lending Service
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received on the continued provision of the basic book-lending service of libraries free of charge.

  Mr. Luce
  As I said in my statement on 8 February, at columns 987–97, the principle of a free basic public library service was generally supported by those responding to the library Green Paper. The Government have protected the essential elements of that service in the Local Government and Housing Bill.

  Acceptances in Lieu of Tax
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he will list the acceptances in lieu of tax in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  The following items and land were accepted in lieu of tax in 1988–89:

  clients are, however, free to support foreign artists if they consider that this will add to the cultural richness of their regions.

  Marketing
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Minister for the Arts how he is encouraging marketing of the arts.
  433
  Mr. Luce
  As I announced to the House on 21 March, at column 509, I am building on marketing initiatives introduced over the last two years by now offering to support extended consultancies to arts organisations trying a new marketing approach, and the work of arts marketing consortia.

  These initiatives, which will be run on my behalf by the Arts Council, are aimed at improving access to the arts and building up new and wider audiences.

  Public Libraries
  Mr. Haynes
  To ask the Minister for the Arts how many public libraries have(a) closed and (b) opened during the past 10 years.

  Mr. Luce
  These details are not kept centrally, but the total number of service points has increased from 13,339 to 18,567.

  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Minister for the Arts how many new public libraries have opened in the west midlands in the last 10 years.

  Mr. Luce
  This information is not kept centrally.

  Dockland
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what plans he has to widen access to the arts in Docklands.

  Mr. Luce
  This is a matter for the Greater London Arts Association which, I understand, is engaged in continuing discussions with the London Docklands Development Corporation about a plan for arts and recreation in Docklands.

  Business Sponsorship Scheme
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Minister for the Arts how much funding has been attracted through the business sponsorship incentive scheme since its inception; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  Since its inception in 1984 the business sponsorship incentive scheme has brought £17·23 million in business sponsorship and £7·59 million in Government awards to the arts; a total of £24·82 million new money.

  Over 1,000 first-time sponsors have now been brought into the arts by the scheme and I am delighted with its progress.

  Merseyside Arts Association
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Minister for the Arts when he last met the chairman of the Merseyside Arts Association to discuss the structure of arts administration on Merseyside.

  Mr. Luce
  I meet the chairman of the Merseyside Arts Association from time to time. A variety of matters are discussed.

  Arts Management
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Minister for the Arts to what extent local business communities can help support and enhance the quality of arts management.

  Mr. Luce
  I believe that great opportunities exist for local businesses to encourage arts management. This was the reason behind the business in the arts scheme launched by the Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts last year, with my support.

  The three strands of the scheme provide for advice tailored to the needs of arts organisations (through the enterprise agency network), management training and placing business volunteers within arts bodies.

  Urban Areas
  Mr. French
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on his policy on the role of the arts in the regeneration of urban areas.

  Mr. Luce
  I believe that the arts have an important role to play in urban renewal. The Arts Council's "Urban Renaissance" campaign has drawn attention to some of the possibilities, and I have personally visited a variety of excellent arts projects in inner cities.

  Geological Museum
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on the representations to Her Majesty's Government from the Geologists Association concerning the future of the geological museum.

  Mr. Luce
  I have not received any representation from the Geologists Association concerning the future of the geological museum.

  I understand that an officer of the association has written to the director of the British museum (natural history), of which the geological museum forms a part, and that he will be replying shortly.

EMPLOYMENT

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether young people over the age of 18 years who are on employment training or a similar scheme will have their income adjusted to take account of their obligation to pay the community charge from April 1989 in Scotland and from April 1990 in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  There is nothing I can add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 18 April 1989, at column 149.

  Petrol Prices
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what contribution the rises in petrol prices have made to the retail prices index since January; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  Between January and March 1989 the retail prices index for all items increased by 1.2 per cent. The rise in petrol prices over this period contributed approximately one tenth of one percentage point to this increase.

  Palace of Westminster (Health and Safety)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when was the last Health and Safety Executive visit to the Palace of Westminster; and what was the outcome of the visit.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The last Health and Safety Executive visit to the Palace of Westminster was on 27 July 1988 to discuss and confirm arrangements for health and safety inspection at the Palace and other premises forming the parliamentary estate.

  Siemens Printer
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many Siemens ND 3 printers are used by his Department, either in-house or through a private contract; and what is the location of each.

  Mr. Cope
  No Siemens ND 3 printers are used by the Employment Department.

  Computers
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many instances have been detected in his Department of computer(a) hacking, (b) viruses, (c) logic bombs, (d) Trojan horses or (e) other types of computer misuse, whether perpetrated by authorised or unauthorised users of computers; and how many unsuccessful attempts have been recorded.

  Mr. Cope
  It is not the policy of the Employment Department to make public details of computer security incidents since such information would be of assistance to potential attackers.

  Regarding other types of computer misuse, there have been eight instances of fraud since 1981 by authorised users of systems involving falsification of input information, as instanced in the National Audit Office report on "Computer Security in Government Departments" (October 1987).
  436
  Specialist advice was sought and has been acted upon on how best to prevent this in future.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if his Department advises small businesses on ways of guarding against unauthorised internal or external penetration of computer files by hackers.

  Mr. Cope
  The Government's small firms service, now run by the Training Agency, advises small firms on a wide range of business problems. Where detailed knowledge is required, inquirers are referred to specialists.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the security of the computer systems that calculate the value of the retail prices index.

  Mr. Cope
  Safeguards are incorporated into the retail prices index computer system both to prevent unauthorised access and to secure the system against computer hardware failure.

  Dock Workers
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on the average weekly earnings for the last four years of dock workers in(a) the Netherlands, (b) West Germany, (c) France, (d) Denmark, (e) Sweden, (f) Italy and (g) Spain.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Comparable data in the form requested are not readily available.

  Publicity (Expenditure)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the estimated expenditure by his Department and the Training Agency, respectively, in 1989–90 on publicity on the same basis as used in his answer of 19 April to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras about the estimated expenditure for 1988–89.

  Mr. Cope
  I would refer the hon. Member to the reply by my hon. Friend the Member for Teignbridge (Mr. Nicholls) to his previous question, on 10 April 1989.

  The planned expenditure by my Department on general publicity in 1989–90, to include that for the Training Agency, remains as stated in table 7.29 on page 25 of the public expenditure White Paper, Cm. 607, published in January 1989. No further detailed information is yet available.

  Tourism
  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employmemt when he expects the review of the tourism policy to be completed.

  Mr. Lee
  The review report is currently being considered. The results of the review will be announced in due course.

  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the findings of the review body on tourism immediately on completion and place a copy in the Library.

  Mr. Lee
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 19 January this year at column 284.
  437
  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now resume payment of section 4 assistance.

  Mr. Lee
  No. The section 4 scheme is being considered as part of the review of Government tourism policy. An announcement about the future of the scheme will be made in due course.

  Wages Councils
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report those organisations and individuals responding to the wages councils consultative document whose responses were deemed to be for abolition, against abolition, or inconclusive according to the table in his reply to the hon. Member for Mid Kent (Mr. Rowe) on 21 March, Official Report, column 556.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State on 23 March, at columns 798–802, in reply to a question from the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher). This listed the organisations which responded. It is not this Department's practice to reveal the names of individuals who respond or the content of submissions made by either individuals or organisations.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what materials are provided by his Department to inform people covered by wages councils of their legal entitlements; and what plans he has to improve these materials and their availabilty.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Information on statutory minimum rates set by wages councils is published in the form of notices which are simple to understand and give details of where further information and advice can be obtained. Notices are sent to every employer known to be affected and the law requires employers to display copies where they can be read by all workers affected and to send a copy to each home worker. Where appropriate the notices are printed in up to eight languages as well as English. There are no plans at present to change the style, content or availability of the notices.

  ACAS
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to receive the annual report of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

  Mr. Fowler
  I have received the ACAS report for 1988, which will be laid before both Houses of Parliament tomorrow. The report is also to be published tomorrow and copies will then be available from the Vote Office.

  Safety-related Software
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, what progress is being made by the Health and Safety Executive in the establishment of a formal framework on safety-related software; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 11 April 1989]: The Health and Safety Executive is currently undertaking a study with the aim of developing a design and assessment
  438
  framwork for safety-related computer software. It is due to be completed in June 1989, when it is intended the proposals will be published, to allow wider commentary before being finalised.

TRANSPORT

  Automatic Ticket Barriers
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money has been spent by London Regional Transport on installing the new automatic barriers at London Underground stations.

  Mr. Portillo
  To date London Underground Limited has spent some £18 million on installing automatic ticket barriers.

  Aviation Liberalisation
  Mr. Dicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will identify the increases in service and cuts in fares that have occurred as a result of the European aviation liberalisation package agreed in December 1987.

  Mr. Channon
  The European Commission has not yet produced a report on the overall effect of the package, but I am glad to say that we have designated airlines on new routes from London to Arrecife, Mahon, Ibiza, Treviso and Palermo, and second airlines on routes from London to Madrid, Athens, Rome and Milan. Air Europe has reduced fares from London to Paris, Munich, Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm by between 12 and 16 per cent.; and many airlines have cut fares for leisure travel.

  Local Authority Roads (Report)
  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations contained in the Audit Commission report, "Improving the Condition of Local Authority Roads."

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The main action is for local authorities. We have encouraged implementation through discussion with the local authority associations. We are discussing with them the recommendations for changes in legislation.

  Airport Safety
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on recent developments in international co-operation on airport safety matters.

  Mr. Channon
  There is continuing international co-operation on developments in airport safety and the CAA ensures that licensed airports conform with ICAO standards.

  Urban Traffic Control System, London
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by how much the urban traffic control system in London reduces delays at signals.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  By an estimated 25 per cent. over the whole network.

  Road Assessment Studies (London)
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the cost to date of stage 1 and stage 2 of the London assessment studies.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The total cost of stage 1 of the studies was about £3 million. It is estimated that stage 2 will cost £4 million to complete. In comparison, personal injury accidents on roads in the east London assessment study area alone cost some £50 million each year.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many houses in London have been blighted as a result of the publication, by him of stage 2a of the London assessment studies; and whether he will accept blight notices on these.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Blight provisions do not apply to the options published by the consultants carrying out the London assessment studies.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has for public consultation on stage 2 of the London assessment studies.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We shall decide the arrangements for public comment on the options nearer the time the consultants' reports are available.

  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the timetable for decisions on the south London road assessment studies.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Some of the correspondents on the assessment studies have inquired at various times about the likely timing of decisions. They have been assured that we will try to end the uncertainty caused by rumour and speculation about the outcome as soon as possible.

  Road and Rail Investment
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now review the criteria by which his Department assesses costs and benefits of road and rail investment proposals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Channon
  Broadly comparable criteria are used for appraising investment in roads and railways. They take account of the different ways in which each mode is financed and operated, the main difference being that benefits to rail users can be recovered through fares. Our views were set out last year in the Government's response to the Transport Committee's report on the financing of rail services, and in our recent statement on transport in London.

  London (Traffic Flow)
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to improve traffic flow on the main routes into London.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Traffic flows on the network will benefit from our support to a range of traffic management measures throughout London, including advanced and responsive urban traffic control systems and more effective control of parking and from our promotion of safe, efficient and attractive public transport services.
  440
  We are helping to improve the flow of traffic on the strategic London road network through the national trunk road programme in London and small improvement schemes.

  We are providing financial support to appropriate borough road schemes and have issued a traffic management guidance circular to the boroughs.

  Manchester Airport
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will report the progress that has been made concerning negotiations on air service agreements applying to Manchester airport.

  Mr. Channon
  The aviation measures adopted in the EC last year created opportunities for routes to be established between United Kingdom regional airports and the continent. New opportunities have recently been won for services between Manchester and Hong Kong and Malaysia and Pakistan. We are at present negotiating for further Manchester routes with the United States and Singapore.

  Road Traffic Accidents
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the trends in deaths caused by road traffic accidents.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Downwards. Deaths in road accidents reached a post-war peak of 7,985 in 1966. They have fallen steadily since then, to 6,614 in 1977 and to 5,125 in 1987. The estimated number of road deaths in 1988 was 5,041.

  Airline Security
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next intends to meet the chairman of the BAA to discuss airline security.

  Mr. Channon
  I have no plans to do so at the moment, but I expect very shortly to receive from the chairman the progress report mentioned in the reply given to the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington (Mr. Dicks) on 31 January, at column 146. I will then consider whether a further meeting with the chairman would be desirable.

  British Rail
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans next to meet the chair of British Rail; and what subjects he plans to discuss.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend plans next to meet the chairman of British Rail on 17 May to discuss a variety of railway matters.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next proposes to meet the chairman of British Rail; and what matters will be discussed.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Griffiths) earlier today.

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the chairman of British Rail; and what was discussed.
  441
  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend last met the chairman of British Rail on 19 April when they discussed a variety of railway matters.

  Lorry Wheels
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if his Department intends to make new recommendations on the manufacture or maintenance of the systems for securing lorry wheels to axles in the light of the fatal accident at Rogerstone, Newport, Gwent on 7 April 1988;

  (2) if any investigation was undertaken into the safety of lorry wheels following the fatal accident at Rogerstone, Newport, Gwent on 7 April 1988.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Department takes a continuing interest in the safety of lorry wheels through the setting of regulations, certification of vehicle components, annual testing and spot-checks. It is currently involved in consideration being given by the BSI to the recent reports by the Motor Industry Research Association, in order to see if changes are required in the current British Standard and regulations.

  The importance of good maintenance standards is regularly discussed with the freight industry. Vehicles are banned or operators' licences withdrawn where maintenance is unsatisfactory. Last year 77,937 roadside spot-checks were carried out on heavy goods vehicles—36 per cent. up on the previous year.

  Mr. Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will set out the information his Department has collected on accidents in the past three years that have been caused by wheels becoming detached from lorries and other large vehicles;

  (2) if there has been any increase detected by his Department in the number of accidents involving wheels becoming detached from lorries.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The following numbers of incidents involving wheel detachments have been reported to the Vehicle Inspectorate in the last three years:

  Number

  1986

  37

  1987

  41

  1988

  30

  Bypasses
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy with regard to providing additional funds for the construction of bypasses around important towns on trunk roads; if he will consider assistance to Essex county council for such a bypass around Ongar; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  There are some 140 bypasses in the trunk road programme. These contribute to the Government's objectives for the programme, which include the improvement of the environment by removing through traffic from unsuitable roads in towns and villages.

  Ongar is served by local roads. Transport supplementary grant is available to help fund local highway authorities' programmes of capital expenditure on these roads. In determining how much of an authority's
  442
  expenditure to accept for TSG, the Secretary of State considers the extent to which the roads concerned are of more than local importance, the extent to which the people working or living in the authority's area would be relieved of the effects of heavy through traffic, and the merits of competing bids for limited resources.

  If Essex county council includes proposals for an Ongar bypass in its annual transport policies and programme submission, my right hon. Friend will be pleased to consider them.

  M25
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list(a) the lengths of the M25 for which his Department gave assurances, or made public statements, at public inquiries or elsewhere, that they would not be lit, (b) the lengths in miles and the standard of the motorway affected and (c) for which of these sections lighting is now being planned.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  No undertakings were given at public inquiries that sections of the M25 would not be lit at some future date, but undertakings were given that the following three sections would not be lit at the outset:The section between junctions 3 and 5, Swanley to Sevenoaks, 8·6 miles dual 3 lane;
  the section between junctions 8 and 10, Reigate—Leatherhead—Wisley, 13·3 miles dual 3 lane; and
  the section between junctions 18 and 19 at Chorleywood 3·1 miles dual 3 lane.

  The section between junctions 18 and 19 at Chorleywood may have lighting installed this year. The need for lighting on remaining unlit sections is being considered as part of the M25 review currently in progress.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those lengths of the M25 and adjacent motorway sections on which there are sensors to measure average traffic speed and detect incidents and unstable flow; how far apart the sensors are located; whether they are placed in all lanes; for which sections they can give an indication of average speed, and average hourly flow per lane; and if he will give the current average peak-hour and off-peak speed, for all lanes averaged, for those sections so monitored.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The equipment currently in operation measures traffic flows. It does not measure average traffic speeds (which are surveyed separately) or detect incidents or unstable flow. An incident detection system is soon to be commissioned on the approach to and within the Holmesdale and Bell Common tunnels. This will use sensors at 500 m intervals, with a threshold alarm, to warn the police of slow moving traffic queues. The need for wider use of automatic incident detection equipment is being considered in the review of the motorway.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of the M25 can, in practice, be observed by a closed-circuit television camera for incident verification, and guidance to emergency services when an incident is being handled on the motorway; what M25 interchanges are currently covered by closed-circuit television; and how many miles of the M25 main carriageways can be observed by these cameras.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Closed-circuit television (CCTV) is being provided on M25 in accordance with a
  443
  departmental standard which defines the "Criteria for the provision of CCTV on motorways". At present CCTV coverage is available to the police at the Homesdale and Bell Common tunnels and at junctions 15, 20 to 23, 25 to 27. Contracts have been let which will progressively extend this CCTV coverage to almost all M25 junctions by the summer of 1990.

  The carriageway mileage which can be observed by the cameras cannot be quoted since their range varies at each individual location depending upon physical positioning, geographical topography and the weather at any given time.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the average response time between an incident occurring on the M25 and(a) its identification and (b) a rescue or breakdown truck reaching the incident, where the vehicles immobilised are blocking one or more lanes of a carriageway.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  This information is not available. Incidents are mainly reported to, or identified by the police via the emergency telephone system, vehicle patrols and the use of closed circuit television at some locations. Response times vary according to the time of day, location and nature of the incident.

  Estimates of M25 annual average flows: 1986 and 1987 All motor vehicles: thousands

  1986

  1987

  Link

  Month of Count

  7 day/24 hour

  5 day/24 hour

  5 day/16 hour

  Month of Count

  7 day/24 hour

  5 day/24 hour

  5 day/16 hour

  1A–1B

  6

  62

  64

  61

  4

  75

  80

  75

  1B–2

  6

  69

  71

  67

  5

  81

  83

  78

  2–3

  6

  60

  66

  62

  4

  70

  76

  71

  3–4

  6

  48

  53

  50

  4

  55

  60

  57

  4–5

  6

  56

  61

  58

  4

  60

  65

  61

  5–6

  6

  72

  78

  74

  10

  76

  81

  77

  6–7

  6

  79

  85

  81

  10

  83

  86

  81

  7–8

  6

  85

  92

  87

  4

  94

  100

  95

  8–9

  6

  77

  83

  78

  5

  84

  92

  87

  9–10

  6

  77

  83

  78

  5

  88

  94

  88

  10–11

  6

  96

  105

  99

  9

  107

  113

  107

  11–12

  6

  111

  1211

  114

  10

  119

  126

  119

  12–13

  6

  110

  119

  112

  5

  121

  131

  123

  13–14

  6

  112

  121

  115

  5

  131

  139

  131

  14–15

  6

  99

  107

  101

  7

  123

  129

  121

  15–16

  6

  90

  97

  92

  4

  119

  129

  122

  16–17

  5

  79

  85

  80

  5

  105

  112

  106

  17–18

  6

  79

  86

  82

  4

  108

  115

  109

  18–19

  6

  80

  87

  82

  4

  114

  121

  114

  19–20

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  4

  95

  103

  98

  20–21

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  4

  97

  106

  100

  21–22

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  4

  79

  87

  82

  22–23

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  4

  89

  95

  90

  23–24

  6

  56

  62

  58

  5

  93

  102

  96

  24–25

  6

  60

  66

  62

  5

  87

  95

  90

  25–26

  5

  66

  71

  67

  5

  84

  90

  85

  26–27

  n.a.

  64

  69

  65

  n.a.

  80

  n.a.

  n.a.

  27–28

  6

  69

  76

  71

  4

  88

  94

  89

  28–29

  6

  62

  69

  65

  5

  74

  79

  74

  29–30

  n.a.

  66

  69

  57

  5

  68

  75

  70

  30–31

  6

  48

  53

  49

  5

  61

  66

  62

  31–01

  9

  68

  72

  68

  5

  75

  n.a.

  n.a.

  Note: Estimates of average daily flow are not corrected for seasonal effects, so the figures given above are influenced by the month of count. Estimates for 1988 are not yet available.

  n.a. Data not available.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the latest available average daily, average weekday, average morning peak-hour and
  444
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether, on the existing dual-four lane sections of the M25 between the A30 and the M4, the outermost lane acts as part of the means of carrying through traffic, or as a merge and diverge facility for traffic using the adjacent junctions to this section of the motorway.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The nearside lanes are signed for use by traffic joining or leaving the motorway at the junctions.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many directional miles of the M25 have specially constructed noise or visual mounds alongside the hard shoulder to mitigate the impact of the motorway.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  There are about 32 miles of specially constructed noise bunds and barriers along the M25.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the average five-day and seven-day traffic flows for both 16-hour and 24-hour days for each section of the M25, and for the Dartford tunnel and approach roads, for(a) 1986 and (b) the latest available year, indicating the month of the count in each case.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The requested information is as follows:

  average evening peak-hour traffic flow entering the M25 at each of the entrance slip roads from other roads or motorways;
  445
  (2) if he will list the latest available average daily, average weekday, average morning peak-hour and average evening peak-hour traffic flow leaving the M25 at each of its exit slip roads to other roads or motorways.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Our consultants conducting the M25 review are obtaining figures of traffic entering or leaving the M25 at each junction to show the average daily Monday-Thursday flow, and the average morning and evening peak flows. These will be available in due course.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many patrolling breakdown and rescue trucks are in service on the M25 during normal weekday commuting and working hours(a) on the motorway as a whole and (b) per each 20 directional miles; and who funds and directs the operation and placing of these vehicles.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Dedicated recovery vehicles do not patrol the M25. Recovery vehicles are stationed at major roadworks to deal with accidents and breakdowns within those works. They are also stationed at the Dartford tunnel. Elsewhere, recovery vehicles are summoned by the police, who select them in rotation from a list of local garages. Alternatively, drivers may elect to use their own recovery organisation. Vehicle owners pay for recovery except within major roadworks where the Department provides the service.

  We are examining the present arrangements, in consultation with the police and the Department's agent authorities, with the aim of reducing the times for which carriageways are obstructed by accidents and other incidents.

  M40
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement concerning the exact tender arrangements for the M40 extension from Wendlebury to Waterstock.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We have today invited competitive tenders from civil engineering contractors for the construction of the final section of the M40 extension between Waterstock and Wendlebury. Firms have been asked to submit tenders within six weeks based on their own choice of construction period. We will be offering the successful contractor a bonus for finishing ahead of schedule with financial penalties if completion is delayed.

  Mersey Tunnels
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill, he will now explain how any waiving of interest payments with respect to the Mersey tunnels would be authorised and financed.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  If the Merseyside passenger transport authority provides the Secretary of State with proposals for putting the tunnels on a sound financial footing which show that Government assistance through the waiving of interest payments is justified, we shall consider with it how that can best be done.

  Roads (South-East)
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to obtain a copy of the recent report 446
  by the Society of County Surveyors about the case for roads improvement in the south-east; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We have read with interest the recent report by the County Surveyors' Society entitled "Review of Highway Investment Needs up to the year 2001 on Motorways, Primary and Strategic Routes in England (excluding London)".

  We shall consider the views of the society on national roads in the review of the trunk road programme which we are currently undertaking.

  We have recently invited all local highway authorities to submit bids by 31 July for transport supplementary grant for 1990–91 for local roads of more than local importance. In considering their bids, the local highway authorities may also find the report of some assistance.

  The new system of credit approvals rather than capital allocations should direct more resources towards local roads capital spending.

  We agree with the basic message from the county surveyors that increased spending on roads will benefit the economy, reduce casualties and improve the environment.

  Aviation Security
  Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is ready to report the outcome of his review of aviation security; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Channon
  The purpose of aviation security is to protect passengers and aircrew from attacks by terrorists and other criminals. At the same time every effort has to be made to facilitate the smooth operation of airports and air services. I have to judge this in the light of the changing threat to civil aviation and of security incidents such as hijacks and sabotage. The Lockerbie disaster marked a trend for terrorist bomb attacks on airliners to become increasingly severe. Even tighter security measures are necessary even if this is at the expense of some cost and inconvenience to passengers.

  My aviation security review is a continuing one. I have already discussed progress on it with the Transport Select Committee. The Committee's report on its current inquiry into airport security will he of further help to me as my review goes forward.

  Immediately after Lockerbie increased security measures were ordered for United States airlines, particularly for hold baggage. I attended an emergency meeting of the National Aviation Security Committee on 5 January in the light of which I decided to bring in further measures for United States airlines in relation to cabin baggage, hold baggage and cargo. I ordered new rules for the issue and use of passes at all United Kingdom airports and on 6 April I announced the introduction of a package of measures for all our major airports that should provide better security for restricted areas and for aircraft, passengers and baggage in those areas.

  I have now set firm objectives for a further tightening of security. They are:

  (1) closer examination of the items taken on board aircraft, such as radios and computers, which might be used to conceal explosive devices;

  (2) screening all hold baggage on flights at higher risk;

  (3) further tightening of the security requirements for cargo, mail and courier consignments;

  447

  (4) tighter requirements for the physical separation of inbound and outbound passengers. (This may require structural alterations, or equivalent safeguards, at some airports.);

  (5) changes to the design and construction of aircraft interiors to make it harder to hide weapons or explosives in them, and to make them easier to search. Achieving these objectives will take time. They require careful co-ordination, more staff, more equipment, further training and close co-operation with our aviation industry and with other likeminded countries.

  It is not enough to lay down security requirements; we must check that airports and airlines carry them out. I now intend to more than double the strength of the aviation security division. My team of aviation security advisers made 190 visits to airports last year. They will now be able to carry out more inspections and spot checks, as well as special surveys to determine whether new measures are needed. To emphasise their monitoring role they will be reconstituted as the Aviation Security Inspectorate. Each of the 20 or so larger airports will be visited frequently, and will be inspected formally and comprehensively at least once a year. Other airports will be formally inspected at regular intervals. Inspectors will also make overseas visits to ascertain that the security afforded to British airlines is satisfactory. They will be involved, as the advisers are now, in advising on the appropriate measures to counter the threat, in the development of new security measures and policies, and in the day-to-day response to security questions as they arise.

  Under the Aviation Security Act 1982 I have certain powers to direct airport managers and aircraft operators for the purpose of protecting aircraft, airports and air navigation facilities from acts of violence. My aviation security advisers have the power to enter and inspect aircraft, and to detain them if necessary for that purpose, or enter and inspect any building or part of an airport.

  But there are certain areas where my powers are more limited than I should like. I shall therefore seek new powers from Parliament to secure more effective implementation of security measures.

  Over the last two years my Department has put together a clearly defined programme to carry out research and development into aviation security equipment. It has made arrangements with the Home Office's scientific research and development branch and the Ministry of Defence's Royal Armaments Research and Development Establishment to develop new detection techniques, and to conduct trials of commercial equipment for airport use. The budget for this work is about half a million pounds a year.

  I now want this work stepped up, and I am doubling the budget for the current financial year. The research establishments will bring in extra staff and the work will be co-ordinated by a full-time project officer—a scientist—in the aviation security division of my Department. The projects will include the continuing examination of commercially available equipment for explosives detection, to assess the suitability of the new generation of advanced X-rays and explosive vapour detectors and other systems in this field. We shall also sponsor work on new techniques for the bulk detection of explosives in baggage and cargo.

  We are keenly interested in the thermal neutron analysis (TNA) machines now being developed in the USA and in the United Kingdom for detecting explosives in baggage. The American project is sponsored by the FAA,
  448
  and we have now received its formal proposal to install one of the six production machines at Gatwick or Heathrow later this year. We are examining the practical considerations with BAA and expect very soon to be able to reply favourably to the FAA proposal.

  In this country work is being carried out under a contract between the Atomic Energy Authority's Harwell laboratory and a private company. We have kept in touch with progress on this project and are discussing with its sponsors the possibility of funding further work.

  But it is too soon to know whether TNA can by itself solve all the problems of screening baggage and we must continue to look for additional techniques.

  Aviation security is a matter of international concern. The standards and recommended practices which govern aviation security are set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). It is important that security worldwide should be co-ordinated so that it is everywhere in line with the threat to civil aviation.

  In February I attended a special ministerial meeting held by the Council of ICAO to discuss the implications of the Lockerbie disaster. I reported the successful outcome of this meeting to the House on 21 February. An ambitious programme of work began at ICAO designed to improve security standards worldwide. A meeting of the ICAO aviation security panel has been convened for May to take matters forward. Meanwhile, I look forward to a further discussion with United States Secretary of Transportation Skinner when he visits London later this week.

  My aim is to introduce sound and practical measures that give a high level of security but interfere as little as possible with the operation of our airports and airlines and so with the travelling public. Such measures need careful preparation in close consultation with the industry and others. I am determined to press ahead with this work so as to achieve worthwhile and lasting improvements to aviation security in this country.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what date he expects the full availability of thermal neutron analysis machines for airport security at British airports.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers given by my right hon. Friend today to the hon. Member for Welwyn, Hatfield (Mr. Evans) and to the hon. Member for Wealden (Sir G. Johnson Smith).

  Mr. Prescott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many security breaches have occurred at British airports since 21 December 1988; how many reviews of security he has called for since then; and what action he is now taking to improve security.

  Mr. Channon
  Fourteen security incidents have been notified to the Department. Nine of these involved breaches of varying degrees of seriousness in the requirements of the aviation security programme. Two other cases are still under investigation. On the latter parts of the question I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Welwyn, Hatfield (Mr. Evans) and to my hon. Friend the Member for Wealden (Sir G. Johnson Smith).

  Fishing Vessel Laurel (Incident)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has concerning an incident
  449
  at 8.45 am on Monday 17 April involving the fishing vessel Laurel and a submarine in the Irish sea; what action he has taken; what investigations will be undertaken; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 20 April 1989]: My Department received a report on 17 April that the Isle of Man registered fishing vessel Laurel had been towed backwards. The vessel was subsequently forced to cut her nets for safety, resulting in the loss of her fishing gear. She then returned to Peel. The incident would appear to have involved a United States Navy submarine which was operating in the area at the time and which, on surfacing, was found to have sustained superficial damage. It is understood that the United States authorities are conducting an investigation into the incident.

  The Laurel was outside territorial waters at the time and in such circumstances it is not normal practice for my Department to hold an investigation. The Isle of Man marine administration is inquiring into the incident.

  High-Speed Rail Line
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) further to his answer to the right hon. Member for Tonbridge and Malling on 17 March,Official Report, columns 371–72, whether, if the present year is the first year of operation of the high-speed line for the purposes of the net present value calculation referred to, the full construction costs, including the interest on construction finance, will be compounded forward to the first year of operation; and with what compounding factor;

  (2) further to his answer to the right hon. Member for Tonbridge and Malling on 17 March, Official Report, columns 371–72, whether for the purposes of the net present value calculation referred to, the present year will he taken as the first year of construction or the first year of operation of the high-speed line.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding replies 20 April 1989]: There is no strict rule about which year is taken as the year to which the costs and benefits of a proposed project are discounted. However, it is common practice to discount to the year in which the project is appraised (the decision year). The choice of year to be taken as the "present" year for purposes of the NPV calculation does not affect the assessment of the project's viability. If the first year of operation is taken instead of the decision year, the NPV of the construction costs will be higher, since they will have been compounded forward, but the NPV of the revenues will also be higher, since they will not have been discounted back for so many years. If the NPV is positive when discounted to one particular year, then, using the same discount rate, it will also be positive when discounted (or compounded) to any other year. The compound rate used would he the same as the discount rate to be applied to the project (and described in previous answers to my right hon. Friend). Interest charges would not be included, since the discount (or compound) rate is used to measure the cost of capital resources instead of the interest rate; to include both would be double counting.

  London (Transport Studies)
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many studies into aspects of transport in London his Department is currently sponsoring; and at what cost to public funds.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Department is currently sponsoring nine studies into aspects of transport in London. They are:

  Study

  Cost £

  Stage 2 of the four London assessment studies

  4,000,000

  Central London rail study (jointly with BR and LRT)

  1400,000

  East London rail study (jointly with DoE and LRT)

  170,000

  A4/M4 corridor study

  200,000

  Trunk road signing review

  470,000

  Development of traffic management and accident prevention measures

  1,700,000

  Company assisted travel

  125,000

  Heathrow and south west London orbital movement study (HASQUAD)

  500,000

  Tourist coaches in London

  168,000

  1 Approximately.

  Some of the studies require the use of the London transportation survey model. The total costs of the development, maintenance and use of this model between April 1986 and February 1989 was £2,300,000.

  A59 Corridor
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the consultants' report on the A59 corridor involving Ormskirk, Southport and Preston.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The findings of the consultants' review are being considered in the context of the current review of the trunk road programme.

  We hope to make an announcement in early summer.

  Network SouthEast
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next intends to meet the chairman of British Rail to discuss investment in Network SouthEast.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend will next meet the chairman on 17 May to discuss a wide range of railway issues.

  Waterloo-Southampton Rail Service (Derailment)
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what report he has received from his inspector into the cause of the derailment of the 10.36 am train from Waterloo to Southampton on Thursday 6 April; what steps have been taken to prevent a recurrence of this accident; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  I understand that British Rail's internal inquiry into this derailment has taken place. Once I have received a copy of the inquiry report, I shall decide, upon the advice of the railway inspectorate, whether any action is required.

  Car Mileage (Recordings)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate, using United States' experience, the cost of recording car mileages through the driver and vehicle licensing centre.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The annual cost of recording car mileages at the driver and vehicle licensing centre is estimated to be in excess of £3 million, in addition to the costs of setting up such a system. No comparison with the United States' experience can be made given the diversity of licensing and registration procedures applicable in individual states. The problems are accuracy and effectiveness as well as cost.

  I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. King).

  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why he has refused to introduce a system of mileage logging when vehicle excise licences are renewed.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Government's reasons for not doing so are set out in my letter of 16 March to the Director General of Fair Trading, Sir Gordon Borrie. A copy has been placed in the Library.

  Roads and Motoring (Expenditure)
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the level of public expenditure on roads and motoring during the last year for which information is available.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Gross public expenditure on roads and activities related to motor vehicles and motoring in Great Britain in 1988–89 is presently forecast to be £4,450 million. This figure does not include police expenditure on traffic regulation.

  Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to publish his proposals relating to taxis and private hire vehicles.

  Mr. Portillo
  No date has been fixed.

  Manchester Airport
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a further statement about rail links to Manchester airport.

  Mr. Portillo
  Last month my officials met officials of the relevant parties to discuss outstanding issues associated with the proposed rail link. Encouraging and substantial progress has been made. I now await a formal investment submission from the British Railways Board.

  Road Accidents
  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many deaths and serious injuries occurred on United Kingdom roads in 1987, and each of the previous five years.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The figures required, on how many deaths and serious injuries occurred on United Kingdom roads in 1987, and each of the previous five years, are shown in the table.
  452

  Road casualties in the United Kingdom: 1982–87

  Killed

  Seriously injured

  All killed or seriously injured

  1982

  6,150

  82,242

  88,392

  1983

  5,618

  72,923

  78,541

  1984

  5,788

  75,524

  81,312

  1985

  5,342

  72,128

  77,470

  1986

  5,618

  70,577

  76,195

  1987

  5,339

  66,178

  71,517

  Provisional figures for 1988 for Great Britain indicate that there were 5,050 deaths in road accidents, a fall of 2 per cent. compared with 1987.

  Tunnels (Safety Standards)
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met representatives of the emergency services to discuss safety standards in tunnels.

  Mr. Portillo
  There are regular meetings between the railway inspectorate, and the emergency services to discuss safety in railway tunnels.

  Gatwick Airport (Runway)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will open talks with BAA Ltd. to institute a study of the case for a second runway at Gatwick airport.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Civil Aviation Authority is due to provide my right hon. Friend in July with advice on airport capacity to 2005, including runway capacity for the London area. He will wish to consider the advice before responding to the recent Select Committee on Transport's recommendation that all efforts should be made to provide a second main runway at Gatwick.

  Air Travellers (Delay)
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to reduce delays to air travellers at British airports this summer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Civil Aviation Authority set out the strategy of the national air traffic services for relieving congestion in 1989 and the years to 1995 in its advice "Strategies for Making Good Use of Airspace 1989–95". This was published last December and copies placed in the Library.

  The United Kingdom is also working with other European countries in the International Civil Aviation Organisation and in Eurocontrol to improve co-operation and co-ordination between air traffic services. An improved air traffic flow management system was recently brought into operation in readiness for summer traffic levels.

  Road Traffic Act
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to review the operation of the Road Traffic Act.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We regularly keep under review all factors that influence safety on Britain's roads,
  453
  including those matters required by law. Proposals for a major reform of road traffic legislation were published on 7 February in a White Paper, "The Road User and the Law" (Cm. 576).

  Peterborough (Explosion)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the report on the Peterborough explosion to be published; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the report on the Peterborough explosion to be published; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  A publication date for the report into the Peterborough explosion cannot be set until the investigations by the Health and Safety Executive have been completed.

  Central London Rail Study
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much fares on LRT services and British Rail's Network SouthEast services would have to rise, in real terms, to pay for the major upgrading programme and the full cross package of proposals in the central London rail study.

  Mr. Portillo
  It is too early to say. Further work is currently being done on the financing of the central London rail study proposals.

  P and O
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the chair of P and O; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend last met the chairman of P and O on 18 January 1989. He discussed a wide range of transport issues.

  London Airports (Night Flights)
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review the regulations governing night flights of jet aircraft from London's airports, particularly of those in the NNC category.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The present night restrictions at Heathrow and Gatwick were introduced in 1988 and apply for five years. My right hon. Friend, however, has undertaken to review the night noise climate at Gatwick after the current summer season. This could lead to an adjustment of quotas if it is apparent that disturbance under the new restrictions regime has become worse, rather than lessening as we expect.

  East Anglia (Trunk Road Network)
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made on improvements to the trunk road network in East Anglia.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  There are 24 schemes costing more than £200 million at various stages of preparation in the current programme for improvement of the trunk road network in East Anglia. They are all scheduled for completion by 1995; many of them earlier. Good progress is being maintained.
  454
  Further possible improvements to trunk roads benefiting East Anglia are being considered in the current comprehensive review of the trunk road programme. We expect to make an announcement in the early summer.

  Road Safety
  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further measures he plans to bring forward to improve road safety.

  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further measures he plans to bring forward to improve road safety.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We announced on 19 April at column 163 a series of new measures intended to reduce the unacceptably high casualty rate among pedestrians. I also announced on 18 April at column 106 decisions on a number of aspects of our earlier proposals for improving motorcycle safety. Our priority now will be to implement all these measures as soon as practicable.

  We shall shortly bring before the House for approval regulations to implement the Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Rear Seat Belts by Children) Act 1988.

  The main task is to help generate news and current affairs coverage of the 100 deaths each week and just over 6,000 injuries.

  Traffic Congestion
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he intends to take to alleviate the present situation of drivers being stuck in road jams of (i) 26 miles and (ii) over 30 miles.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We need more road capacity and roads which last longer, drivers who cause fewer crashes and better information systems to warn of incidents and congestion. Action is being taken in each case.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the cost to the economy of delays and congestion on the roads of Britain during 1988.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Beverley (Mr. Cran).

  Computers
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on all recorded cases of unauthorised access to his Department's computer files.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  No.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of his Department's policy on review of the security of its computer files.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Department keeps all aspects of computer security under regular review. Arrangements are reviewed annually by the Departments information technology steering committee.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he can quantify the risk of damage by hackers to sensitive computerised files in his Department.
  455
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  It is not the policy of the Department to make public the scope for damage. Such information would be of assistance to potential attackers.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether staff are briefed about computer hacking and computer viruses; whether there are contingency plans to deal with computer downtime caused by unauthorised penetration; and what plans exist to deal with penetration of particularly sensitive systems.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Security managers are responsible for staff education programmes and the development of contingency plans. Effectiveness would be reduced if details were made public.

  Data Protection
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures his Department has taken to protect data in transit by electronic means.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Department takes advice from the appropriate Government authorities on security matters, including the Central Computing and Telecommunications Agency. To publish details of actual risks and countermeasures would itself constitute a breach of security.

  Motorways
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Department's standard for motorways of more than dual-three lane width requires the motorway to be continuously lit.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Department's standard allows motorways of more than dual-three lane width to be lit where appropriate.

  Goods and Public Service Vehicles
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has now received the review of goods and public service vehicles operator licensing; when he intends to publish the review; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Lady to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley) on 21 March at column 530.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning the implications of the Channel tunnel for the Yorkshire area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  I have received a number especially when I attended a conference in York on the Channel tunnel.

  I believe that it can benefit all parts of the United Kingdom, including Yorkshire.

  Mr. Gow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest estimate of the date on which the Channel tunnel will open.

  Mr. Portillo
  Eurotunnel has recently announced a new target completion date of 15 June 1993.
  456
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last discussed with British Rail routes for freight traffic from the Channel tunnel to the regions; and if he will make a statement.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last discussed with British Rail routes for freight traffic from the Channel tunnel to the regions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The routeing of Channel tunnel rail freight traffic is entirely a matter for British Rail. Its proposals for services to the regions will be set out in the plan it has to produce by the end of this year under section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act.

  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken to improve communications to the south-west of England so that the area can benefit from the Channel tunnel.

  Mr. Portillo
  Rail access between the south-west and the Channel tunnel is the responsibility of British Rail. It is required by section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act to publish a plan by the end of the year setting out its proposals for international passenger and freight services serving various parts of the country. It has not yet completed the regional consultations in preparation for this plan. Our national road planning takes into account the requirements of road traffic to and from the tunnel. A review of the trunk road programme is in progress, and we expect to make an announcement in the spring.

  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet Yorkshire regional managers of British Rail to discuss the implications for Yorkshire of the Channel tunnel.

  Mr. Portillo
  I meet British Rail's regional managers from time to time. They will, I am sure, contribute to BR's plan for Channel tunnel freight and passenger services, which British Rail is obliged to publish by the end of the year in compliance with section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987.

  Sir David Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will indicate the general line of route of his proposed new road from Southampton to the entrance of the Channel tunnel; and whether it will be a single or dual carriageway.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  There are no firm proposals. As part of our current review of the trunk road programme we are considering whether there should be a study of the need for additional capacity from the Channel tunnel and the M20 westwards to relieve existing roads. We hope to make an announcement about the outcome of the review by early summer.

  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy not to approve proposals from British Rail for every passenger and all items of freight from and to the Channel tunnel to all destinations in the United Kingdom to pass through central London.

  Mr. Portillo
  BR's passenger and freight services through the Channel tunnel must operate on a commercial basis. Subject to that and to parliamentary approval for
  457
  new lines where needed, the routes used by British Rail for its passenger and freight traffic are the responsibility of the British Railways Board. They do not require Government approval.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further representations he has received on the need for a direct link to the Channel tunnel for the north and Scotland.
  458
  Mr. Portillo
  I have received some representations on the need for good communications between the Channel tunnel and the North and Scotland. There will be direct links from the tunnel into the United Kingdom road and rail networks. Out national roads planning takes account of the requirements of road traffic to and from the tunnel. Representations on rail are best made to the working groups which British Rail has set up in each region as part of its planning for international passenger and freight services.

  STREET LIGHTING
  STREET LIGHTING
  INSURANCE AND BREACH OF LAW
  INSURANCE AND BREACH OF LAW
  UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT: UNDERPAYMENT
  UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT: UNDERPAYMENT
  YOUNG PERSONS IN SECURE ACCOMMODATION
  YOUNG PERSONS IN SECURE ACCOMMODATION