Written Answers of 26 April 1989

DEFENCE

  Royal Armoured Corps
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on manning levels at all ranks in the Royal Armoured Corps.

  Mr. Neubert
  At 31 December 1988 soldier strength in the Royal Armoured Corps was 63 men, or 0·8 per cent., below its establishment of 8,039. Because the rank ranging system of filling posts is employed in the Royal Armoured Corps, it is not possible to split the establishment down into ranks, hut the shortfall is at the bottom of the structure.

  At 31 December 1988 officer strength in the Royal Armoured Corps was 1,268, 103 officers (8 per cent.) below establishment. Almost all the shortfall is at the rank of captain.

  RSRE, Malvern
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to dispose of the RSRE north site, Malvern.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Ministry of Defence has no plans at present to dispose of the north site at RSRE Malvern. The possibility of establishing a science park using part of the site is under consideration.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he has taken following receipt of the feasibility plan for use of the RSRE north site Malvern, sent by PA Consultants in December 1987.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The consultants report examined the feasibility of establishing a science park using part of the north site at RSRE, Malvern. Consideration is being given to the way ahead, taking into account our recent announcement of intentions regarding the defence research agency, in which RSRE would be included.

  Defence Estimates
  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to publish the 1989 "Statement on the Defence Estimates".

  Mr. Younger
  I intend to publish this year's "Statement on the Defence Estimates" on Tuesday 2 May.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Firework Injuries
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will now publish the firework injury statistics for 1988.
  536
  Mr. Forth
  The firework injury statistics were published in answer to a written question from my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Hughes) on 20 April, at columns 256–58.

  Paper and Pulp Imports
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what were the United Kingdom's imports of(a) paper and (b) pulp in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The available information is given in the following table:

  United Kingdom imports of paper and paperboard, waste paper and paperboard and pulp 1979–88

  £ million

  Paper and paperboard

  Waste paper and paperboard

  Pulp

  1979

  1,081·6

  4·5

  384·3

  1980

  1,104·9

  2·8

  395·9

  1981

  1,321·1

  1·8

  436·7

  1982

  1,409·3

  3·6

  408·4

  1983

  1,575·9

  2·2

  425·8

  1984

  1,874·6

  8·2

  603·5

  1985

  2,057·9

  9·0

  496·8

  1986

  2,182·2

  3·7

  519·6

  1987

  2,632·6

  6·7

  650·6

  1988

  3,014·6

  8·9

  716·4

  Source: Overseas Trade Statistics

  Note: 1988 figures provisional.

  Machine Safety
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement setting out the manner in which the adoption of the machine safety directive will facilitate the flow of trade within the EEC.

  Mr. Maude
  The aim of the machinery safety directive, which covers a wide range of machines, is the removal of barriers to trade through the harmonisation of legislation in member states. It lays down the essential requirements and certification procedures that machines have to meet to ensure free circulation throughout the Community.

  Once the directive has been adopted and implemented, manufacturers or their agents resident in the Community will be required to ensure their machines meet the relevant essential safety requirements before they can market their products in the European Community. Manufacturers can choose the method of meeting the essential requirements from a number of options, including the use of harmonised European standards. The adoption of this directive will help remove the special requirements that exist in some member states, which have prevented free trade in the past. As a result, an open, single market will be created, which will enable the United Kingdom industry to compete on an equal footing in the European Community.

  Artificial Limbs
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on artificial lower limbs is to be published; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  The report on the supply of artificial lower limbs in the United Kingdom is published today. The Monopolies and Mergers Commission found that certain
  537
  conduct of the largest supplier of artifical lower limbs in the United Kingdom, InterMed Ltd., a subsidiary of BTR plc with a market share of 70 per cent., operated against the public interest. Chas A. Blatchford and Sons Ltd., with a 26 per cent. market share, was also a monopolist, but the Commission did not find any conduct of this company that operated against the public interest.

  The commission found that InterMed, through its three subsidiaries—J. E. Hanger & Co. Ltd., Vessa Ltd., and Robert Kellie and Son Ltd.—had obtained prices for, and profits from, its supply of artificial lower limbs which were higher that could be expected in circumstances of normal competition. In addition, it had used its monopoly position to place unreasonable pressure on public sector purchasers, having regard to the nature of the sector, and had been unco-operative with them. Because of this InterMed had not given sufficient regard to the interests of patients.

  The commission recommended that, subject to a report from the disablement services authority to the Director General of Fair Trading on the impact of the impending round of tendering for prosthetic services at certain disablement services centres on InterMed's business, InterMed should divest itself (within six months of 30 April 1989) either of Hanger or Vessa, and that neither company should be sold to Blatchfords. They also recommend that, both before and after such divestment, InterMed be required to supply the products in question to any public sector purchaser or contractor on the same terms, conditions and prices as they were made available to its own prosthetists and technicians; and the Director General of Fair Trading invite a further report from the DSA by 30 September 1990 on the progress made towards promoting a more competitive market.

  I welcome this report and accept the MMC's findings and conclusions. However, in view of current changes in the state of competition in this market, I am asking the Director General of Fair Trading to advise me as soon as possible whether in order to remedy the adverse effects the MMC identified it is still necessary to require InterMed to divest part of its artificial lower limbs activities. Also I am inviting the Director General to seek undertakings from BTR, or its subsidiary InterMed, not to discriminate between, on the one hand, public sector purchasers and contractors and, on the other, its own prosthetists and technicians in the supply of artificial lower limbs.

  Internal Market Council
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the internal market Council held on 13 April.

  Mr. Maude
  The Council, at which I represented the United Kingdom, adopted directives on secondary fertilisers and on the design and construction of side guards to be fitted to heavy goods vehicles.

  It also reached common positions on three proposals, as follows. The draft 11th company law directive requires companies from outside a member state that establish a place of business (or branch) in that member state to deliver certain documents, including accounting documents, to the relevant companies registry. The broadcasting directive will break down existing barriers to the free flow of television programmes across frontiers in
  538
  the Community; and a directive on dangerous substances will harmonise restrictions on the marketing and use of seven dangerous substances and preparations.

  The Council also discussed the proposal for an EC merger control regulation, and the draft directive on right of residence thoughout the Community for EC nationals not already deemed to have such a right under the free movement provisions of the Treaty of Rome.

  Urea (Imports)
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what arrangements exist to control the import of urea from non-European Community countries; and if he will list the tariffs imposed on each supplier nation.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  There are no quota restrictions on imports of urea into the United Kingdom, although certain overseas countries gave volume undertakings on their exports to the Community as a result of two anti-dumping investigations completed in 1987 and 1989.

  There are two EC import duty rates; 11 per cent. for urea which contains 45 per cent. or more by weight of nitrogen on the dry anhydrous product and 8 per cent. for all other types. However, imports of urea from most developing countries are allowed into the EC duty free under GSP arrangements and under various EC trade agreements. The only exceptions are Venezuela and Mexico, whose imports under the 11 per cent. duty rate are subject to the full rate of duty, and Romania, for which all types of urea are subject to the full duty rate. Definitive anti-dumping duties are applicable to imports of urea from Libya, Saudi Arabia, the United States of America (with the exception of one company) and Venezuela.

  Girobank
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on any proposal to renegotiate the counters contract and the Department of Social Security contract to the advantage of Girobank in the light of Alliance and Leicester's conditional offer of purchase.

  Mr. Forth
  Any renegotiation of the terms of the contracts between Girobank and Post Office Counters and between Girobank and the Department of Social Security is a matter for the parties concerned.

  Publicity Campaigns
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he will place in the Library the information on publicity campaigns referred to in the answer to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras on 10 April,Official Report, column 399.

  Mr. Forth
  The information requested has now been placed in the Library of the House.

  Aircraft Exports
  Mr. George
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if British Aerospace sought authorisation from his Department for the flight to, and exhibition at, Baghdad, of an advanced Hawk trainer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding answer 25 April 1989]: It has been the practice of successive Governments not to

  539
  comment on individual licensing matters. Licences are required for the export to Iraq of military equipment which is subject to control under the Export of Goods (Control) Order (S.I. 1987 No. 2070), as amended.

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

  Mr. George
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he takes to ensure that military aeroplanes licensed for export for training purposes are not converted to combat use.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding answer 25 April 1989]: Licences are required for the export to all destinations of military aeroplanes which are subject to control under the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1987 (S.I. 1987 No. 2070) as amended.

  Applications for such licences are considered on a case-by-case basis in accordance with stringent export control procedures.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioners' Earnings Limit
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are entitled to(a) the single retirement pension, and (b) the married couples' retirement pension; and of these how many are currently affected, in each category, by the pensioners' earnings limit.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Statistics relating to entitlement to retirement pension cannot be broken down according to marital status. Approximately 2,500 individuals currently have their basic pension reduced on account of earnings over £75 a week. In addition, approximately 200,000 individuals deferring receipt of their state pension because of earnings over £75 a week may now choose to draw their pension.

  Oglesby Report
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to implement the recommendations in the Oglesby report that mobility allowance tribunals and social security appeal tribunals should be amalgamated.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Under the present system, non-medical questions arising on mobility allowance claims are decided, on appeal, by social security appeal tribunals; medical questions are decided by medical boards and thereafter, if necessary, by medical appeal tribunals. We have no plans at present to revise this aspect of medical adjudication.

  Mentally Handicapped People
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make available any instructions issued since 1965 to staff in his Department whose duties involve either visiting or assessing claims from people who are mentally handicapped concerning the manner in which such claims are to be assessed.
  540
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  There have been no instructions on assessment of claims from mentally handicapped people, and their appointees, beyond those which apply to all claimants. A copy of the 'S' manual containing current assessment instructions is in the Library.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what special training is given to staff in his Department to make sure that they deal effectively and sympathetically with claims from people who are mentally handicapped and their families.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Department's staff involved in customer service receive advice and guidance on dealing sympathetically and efficiently with disabled people.

  More detailed and specific training is given to social fund officers, and covers the need to recognise and appreciate the significance of disability, including mental handicap, and the problems and circumstances arising. This training is now available to all local office staff.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what evidence he has of the past underpayment of substantial amounts of supplementary benefit to mentally handicapped people because of inadequate assessment of their cases by staff in his Department; and what steps he is taking to remedy this situation.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  There are no statistics available on the accuracy of the assessment in respect of claims for supplementary benefit from the mentally handicapped. The award of supplementary benefit, which was replaced in April 1988 by income support, is a matter for the independent statutory authorities.

  Social Security Appeal Tribunals
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the names of the chairman arid wing members of the Hartlepool social security appeal tribunal and give information of their backgrounds arid the reasons they were considered suitable to serve on the tribunal.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The appointment of members and the nomination of the chairman to the Hartlepool social security appeal tribunal is the responsibility of the president, His Honour Judge Byrt, QC, and the hon. Member may care to contact him direct.

  Income Support
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what alterations he plans to make to income support provision for asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  I am pleased to announce that all people, including asylum seekers, who are entitled to urgent case payments will in future receive the appropriate income support premiums, to which they are not entitled at present.

  This follows a commitment I gave during the Committee stage of the Social Security Bill to consider the position of asylum seekers who claim income support.

  Families, in particular, who are eligible for the payments will find themselves significantly better off as a result of these changes. All such families will gain £6·50 a week; lone parents will gain £10·40 a week, and families

  541
  with a disabled child £13·00 a week. The representations in Committee referred to the level of benefit paid under the old rules to a lone parent with a disabled child. These changes will provide an extra £16·90 a week in those circumstances.

  I intend to lay before the House regulations to bring these beneficial changes into effect from July.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give for 1978, 1979 and 1988 for each social security office and each social security region, the number of(a) claimants and (b) dependants on (i) supplementary benefit or income support and (ii) family income support or family credit.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I shall let the hon. Member have such information as can be obtained as soon as possible.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for the Doncaster and Mexborough areas of South Yorkshire to date what statistical information he has as to the different reasons given by social fund officers(a) for negative decisions to claimants on (i) budgeting loans and (ii) partial awards and (b) to claimants for nil award decisions for (i) community care grants and (ii) partial awards.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 17 April 1989]: The local offices in the Doncaster and Mexborough areas of South Yorkshire are Doncaster East, Doncaster West, and Wath on Dearne.

  The table gives the number of times that a reason for decision is used by social fund officers for determining a nil award for community care grants and budgeting loans.

  No information is collected on reasons for decision for partial awards.

  An application can be refused for more than one reason. The total number of reasons for decision used will be equal to or greater than the number of applications refused. Information on the numbers of applications processed and awards is available in the Library.

  Number

  DONCASTER EAST

  Budgeting Loans—Reasons for Decision

  Savings over £500 meet the full cost:

  2

  Not in receipt of IS:

  79

  Not in receipt of IS for 26 weeks:

  429

  Item(s) excluded by direction:

  71

  Applicant excluded:

  4

  Applied for less than £30:

  38

  Adjusted amount less than £30:

  12

  Total debt exceeds £1,000:

  0

  Previous application and decision for the item:

  51

  Inability to repay:

  16

  Help available from other source.

  7

  Priority too low to meet from the budget.

  492

  Alternative available to whole application.

  4

  Loan refused because CCG awarded.

  33

  Others not covered above.

  74

  Community Care Grants—Reasons for Decision

  Savings over £500 meet the full cost:

  0

  Not in receipt of IS and unlikely to qualify:

  29

  Item(s) excluded by Direction:

  19

  Applicant excluded by Direction:

  0

  Applied for less than £30:

  7

  Adjusted amount less than £30:

  2

  Previous application and decision for the item:

  15

  Help available from another source.

  3

  542

  Number

  Priority too low to meet from the budget.

  3

  Alternative available to the whole application

  1

  Others not covered above.

  271

  Number

  DONCASTER WEST

  Budgeting Loans—Reasons for Decision

  Savings over £500 meet the full cost

  1

  Not in receipt of IS

  126

  Not in receipt of IS for 26 weeks

  315

  Item(s) excluded by direction

  70

  Applicant excluded

  1

  Applied for less than £30

  34

  Adjusted amount less than £30

  18

  Total debt exceeds £1,000

  0

  Previous application and decision for the item

  48

  Inability to repay

  70

  Help available from another source

  22

  Priority too low to meet from the budget

  328

  Alternative available to whole application

  24

  Loan refused because CCG awarded

  35

  Others not covered above

  121

  Community Care Grants—Reasons for decision

  Savings over £500 meet the full cost

  3

  Not in receipt of IS and unlikely to qualify

  38

  Item(s) excluded by direction

  18

  Applicant excluded by direction

  1

  Applied for less than £30

  11

  Adjusted amount less than £30

  2

  Previous application and decision for the item

  14

  Help available from another source

  6

  Priority too low to meet from the budget

  4

  Alternative available to whole application

  3

  Others not covered above

  345

  Number

  WATH ON DEARNE

  Budgeting loans—reasons for decision

  Savings over £500 meet the full cost:

  0

  Not in receipt of IS:

  73

  Not in receipt of IS for 26 weeks:

  227

  Item(s) excluded by direction:

  42

  Applicant excluded:

  1

  Applied for less than £30:

  13

  Adjusted amount less than £30:

  2

  Total debt exceeds £1,000:

  0

  Previous application and decision for the item:

  14

  Inability to repay:

  15

  Help available from another source.

  0

  Priority too low to meet from the budget.

  182

  Alternative available to whole application.

  0

  Loan refused because CCG awarded.

  18

  Others not covered above.

  80

  Community care grants—reasons for decision

  Savings over £500 meet the full cost:

  0

  Not in receipt of IS and unlikely to qualify:

  26

  Item(s) excluded by direction:

  13

  Applicant excluded by direction:

  2

  Applied for less than £30:

  3

  Adjusted amount less than £30:

  0

  Previous application and decision for the item:

  0

  Help available from another source.

  2

  Priority too low to meet from the budget.

  1

  Alternative available to the whole application.

  0

  Others not covered above.

  15

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  CSCE Information Forum
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria were used in choosing the members of the British delegation to the CSCE information forum starting in London on 18 April; what consideration was given to consulting trade union representatives from unions whose members are involved in the collection and dissemination of news, current affairs and cultural matters, in the process of selection and nomination for selection; and what consideration was given to consulting other representative bodies in the media and cultural field.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Invitations to join the British delegation to the London information forum were issued to a large number of people, with a view to constituting a balanced and representative team able to bring appropriate expertise to a wide agenda. The formation of the delegation was preceded by consultations attended by numerous organisations. The TUC did not respond to our invitation to participate or supply comments.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria were used in deciding the appointment of the leader of the British delegation to the CSCE information forum, starting in London on 18 April.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Having decided that the British delegation should if possible be led by a personality from outside Government, Ministers sought an eminent and independent individual with a sound knowledge of public affairs and wide experience of the written and broadcast media. Britain is in fact the only country whose delegation is led by a person from outside Government.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what account he took of Lord Rees-Mogg's record of service at The Times, the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Broadcasting Standards Council in deciding to make the appointment of the leader of the British delegation to the CSCE information forum.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Lord Rees-Mogg was invited to lead the United Kingdom delegation to the London information forum because of his wide experience of public affairs and of the written and broadcast media.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will define the role and duties of the governor of Hong Kong.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The governor is the personal representative of the Queen in Hong Kong. He is responsible to the Secretary of State. He directs the administration of Hong Kong and is the commander-in-chief of the British forces stationed in Hong Kong. As head of the Hong Kong Government he presides at meetings of the Executive Council. He is also president of the Legislative Council.

  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to promote United Kingdom interests in Hong Kong after 1997.
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  Mrs. Chalker
  Our interests will be principally met by the effective implementation of the Joint Declaration and the maintenance of Hong Kong as an international financial and commercial centre. Against this background we are encouraging the private sector to build on our existing commercial successes in Hong Kong both as an important market in its own right and as an export centre for the Asia Pacific region. We will continue to foster our cultural links with the territory. We are actively preparing to establish a British consulate-general for the promotion of our interests in Hong Kong after 1997.

  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the objectives of Government policy on Hong Kong.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Our prime objective is the continued stability and prosperity of Hong Kong and its people. To this end we are committed to fulfil our responsibility for the administration of Hong Kong until 30 June 1997 and to ensure the full and faithful implementation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong. We also aim to foster and strengthen Britain's commercial and other links with Hong Kong up to and beyond 1997.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what level of financial assistance he is giving or planning to give to other nations to ensure that no extra financial burden is placed upon them in moving away from chlorofluorocarbon-based technology.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Within our overseas aid programme we are ready to respond positively to requests for assistance from development countries. For example, the Government are willing to help countries find ways of avioding the use of CFCs and to examine the implications of CFC-free strategies. We have just offered India £40 million of new local costs aid for environmental projects. Most of this is expected to be spent on forestry, but it is also available to help that country adopt alternative practices to the use of CFCs.

ENERGY

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy with respect to the support grades in Department(a) what is the number of staff employed, (b) how many vacancies there are and how many of these have existed for over one month and over three months, (c) how many temporary and casual appointments there are and (d) how much overtime was worked by them in London and elsewhere.

  Mr. Parkinson
  As at 1 April 1989 numbers in the support grades were 51, of whom one was a casual. There was one vacancy of more than one month's standing. Overtime averages 290 hours per month in London for 47 staff and 60 hours per month elsewhere for four staff.

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the areas of British Coal in order of production levels and the number of major injuries sustained in each area as a proportion of the work force.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The information requested, in a form that is available, is as follows:

  Rate of Major Injuries per 100,000 manshifts

  Area-Group1

  Number

  Notts

  2·70

  North Yorkshire

  2·93

  South Yorkshire

  2·75

  Central

  2·33

  North East

  2·88

  North West

  2·36

  South Wales

  3·78

  Scottish

  3·70

  Kent

  3·90

  1 Listed in order of revenue output during 1988–89

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the number of licensed mines currently in operation; how many people are employed therein; and what proportion of these workers have suffered significant industrial injury in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  As at December 1988 there were 166 licensed mines operating in Britain, employing just over 2,000 men. Information which shows whether these particular men have suffered significant injuries is not available. However, the major accident rates for licensed mines for the years for which information is available are as follows:

  Accident rates in licensed mines (for 1,000 men)

  Number

  1986–87

  21·90

  1987–88

  21·60

  1988–89

  13·3

  Non-fossil Fuel Technologies
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy which non-fossil fuel technologies the Government regard as sufficiently established to provide substantial generation in the United Kingdom on a time scale of 15 years.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Nuclear and hydro-electricity energy are both already making a substantial contribution to electricity generation in the United Kingdom and will continue to do so.

  In addition, tidal and wind energy, landfill gas and the combustion of solid wastes have the potential to make a substantial contribution within 15 years.

  Greenhouse Effect (Control)
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what is his policy on the role to be played by nuclear power in this country and abroad in helping to reduce and control the greenhouse effect; and if he will make a statement;
  (2) if he is able to estimate the probable reduction per year in the level of carbon dioxide emissions, expressed in million tonnes, by substituting one pressurised water reactor for an equivalent capacity coal-fired station;546
  (3) whether a United Kingdom pro-rata contribution to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. of their 1988 levels, as called for in the Toronto conference statement to combat the greenhouse effect, could be met solely through Government-led energy conservation, the increased use of renewable energy sources and the novel coal burning technologies currently under development; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Nuclear power is already making a significant contribution to curbing emissions of carbon dioxide both here and abroad and I believe that it has an important contribution to make as part of any future international response to the threat of manmade climate change. I estimate that in broad terms substitution of a large PWR for equivalent coal-fired generation might reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around 6 million tonnes a year.

  The inter-governmental panel on climate change, to which the United Kingdom has given its full support, is currently conducting a wide-ranging review of the climate change issue; it is therefore inappropriate to consider specific emission reduction targets at this time. It is likely, however, that any response would vary according to the economic and technical circumstances of individual countries and involve a wide range of measures including improved efficiency in both the supply and use of energy as well as moves toward less carbon-intensive fuels. My Department's policies for encouraging economic energy efficiency, the development of renewable energy sources, and diversity in supply are a firm basis for any future action.

  Offshore Installations (Safety)
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the application offshore of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  An Order in Council has today been laid before Parliament, the main effect of which is to bring gas storage and accommodation installations, and mobile installations in transit, within the scope of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The general provisions of the 1974 Act were applied offshore in 1977.

  The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Application outside Great Britain) (Variation) Order 1989 brings the definitions of offshore installation and pipeline into line with those currently in force in other offshore safety legislation.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Agriculture Council
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council which commenced on 17 April in Brussels; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made earlier today.

  Food Contamination
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress his Department has made in the reduction and elimination of food contamination; and if he will make a statement.
  547
  Mr. Ryder
  We are making good progress in implementing the wide range of measures which we are taking with the aim of continuing to ensure that food is safe.

  Nature Conservation
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will report on the progress made in establishing water management trials at Southlake Moor, King's Sedgemoor and West Sedgemoor to monitor the benefit of wetland wildlife; and whether the trials will provide information on water pump level variations.

  Mr. Ryder
  Two water management trials are proceeding on West Sedgemoor and South Lake Moor. Further possible trial sites, including King's Sedgemoor, are still under investigation. The trials will provide information on water pump level variations to help assess the benefit to wetland wildlife.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total number of ESA agreements reached with owners and occupiers within the area known as the Somerset Levels and Moors, the area of land involved and the total cost of payments made to the end of January 1989 in 1989 prices.

  Mr. Ryder
  The total number of agreements reached within the Somerset Levels and Moors ESA by the end of 1988 is 642 covering an area of 8,877 hectares. These agreements have resulted in payments which in total cost £1·458 million in 1989 prices, to the end of the 1988–89 financial year.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce a new provision in the Water Bill which would enable internal drainage boards to adopt water management regimes for the purpose of enhancing nature conservation.

  Mr. Ryder
  Internal drainage boards are already required by section 48 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to further the interests of conservation consistent with their land drainage responsibilities. This duty is carried forward under clause 8 of the Water Bill. Specific advice on water level management is included in our guidelines to drainage authorities on their section 48 responsibilities which was issued last year.

  Rosewarne Experimental Horticulture Establishment
  Mr. Mudd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will defer the closure of Rosewarne experimental horticulture establishment until 31 October to enable current research programmes to be completed and to facilitate negotiations for its future.

  Mr. Ryder
  It is not proposed to close Rosewarne before 31 October. Final decisions on the closure will not be taken until my noble Friend the Baroness Trumpington has completed her consultations with interested bodies on the industry funding of near-market research.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr John Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on environmental damage in relation to discharge of nuclear waste products in the sea around the Cornish coastline.
  548
  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The effects of liquid radioactive waste discharged by major nuclear sites to the marine environment around the United Kingdom coastline are monitored by my Department as part of its regular programme of aquatic environmental monitoring.

  The results of this monitoring, which are published annually, demonstrate that radioactivity around the Cornish coastline and elsewhere does not occur at levels likely to result in damage to either the marine environment or the living resources which it supports.

HEALTH

  Food Poisoning
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward proposals to license manufacturing, distribution, catering and retail premises in order to reduce food poisoning; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  A proposal that all food businesses should be registered is being considered as part of the review of the Food Act 1984.

  Dental and Eye Tests
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what month he expects to make comparisons between the number of dental and eye tests before and after the introduction of charges.

  Mr. Mellor
  Demand for dental treatment is subject to short-term fluctuation irrespective of changes made to charges. The Department monitors the number of courses scheduled for payment each month. It is unlikely that an assessment of whether there has been an effect on demand following the introduction of the examination charge can be made until figures are available for the quarter July-September 1989. On sight tests, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him of 17 April, at column 47.

  NHS Capital Expenditure
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the level of capital expenditure in the National Health Service, at constant prices, in each year since 1959.

  Mr. Freeman
  The table shows capital expenditure on the NHS in each year between 1959 and 1988 in 1988 prices. The figure for 1988 reflects the latest available estimate of receipts from land sales and so on, in 1988. The figures have been derived from the United Kingdom national accounts prepared by the Central Statistical Office.

  NHS capital expenditure 1988 prices

  £ million

  1959

  309

  1960

  334

  1961

  382

  1962

  461

  1963

  492

  1964

  602

  1965

  657

  1966

  715

  1967

  862

  1968

  927

  1969

  843

  549

  £ million

  1970

  871

  1971

  961

  1972

  1,086

  1973

  1,250

  1974

  1,136

  1975

  1,156

  1976

  1,136

  1977

  1,033

  1978

  1,030

  1979

  1,088

  1980

  1,019

  1981

  1,034

  1982

  1,125

  1983

  1,132

  1984

  1,211

  1985

  1,243

  1986

  1,334

  1987

  1,238

  1988

  11,110

  1 Estimate

  Consultants
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to announce the names of the health districts which are to get extra consultants; what criteria are being used for the allocation of the 100 posts; which authorities have applied for extra consultants; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  We wrote to health authorities on 13 April inviting them to submit bids for the 100 extra consultant posts announced in "Working for Patients" by 31 July 1989. We expect to notify authorities of successful bids in October. I refer the right hon. Member to my right hon. and learned Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Harborough (Sir J. Farr) on 7 March, at column 487, for the criteria which will be used in allocating the posts.

  Opencast Sites
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if there has been any increase in the incidence of asthma, stomach ulcers, arthritis or ear infection in areas which neighbour or are close to opencast sites.

  Mr. Freeman
  Information of this type is not available centrally.

  Benzodiazepines
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will detail the National Health Service provision for those addicted to the benzodiazepine drugs who are trying to end their dependency.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not hold this information centrally. Services for those dependent on benzodiazepines are provided by general practitioners, general psychiatric services, community drug teams, and specialist services for those experiencing problems with illicit or prescribed drugs.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the annual number of prescriptions for the five most common benzodiazepine drugs.

  Mr. Mellor
  The number of prescriptions for the five benzodiazepines most commonly dispensed by community pharmacists in Great Britain in 1987 was as follows:550

  Thousands

  Drug

  Number of prescriptions

  Temazepam

  7,752

  Nitrazepam

  5,227

  Diazepam

  5,078

  Lorazepam

  2,902

  Triazolam

  2,226

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has as to the frequency with which general practitioners prescribe benzodiazepine drugs for periods longer than that recommended by the Committee on Safety of Medicines.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not collect centrally any information about the length of time for which GPs prescribe drugs for patients.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list in the Official Report the names of groups known to be working with benzodiazepine sufferers; if he will give the funds allocated to each by his Department; and if he will consider providing core funding for all such groups.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not hold centrally a list of groups working with those dependent on benzodiazepines. The Department is, however, funding the National Association for Mental Health (MIND) to produce a national directory of services for this group.

  The provision and funding of direct client services for this group is the responsibility of the local statutory authorities. In order to pump-prime the development of local services for those experiencing problems with illicit or prescribed drugs, the Government established a central funding initiative, under which £17·5 million was allocated to 188 local projects. In addition, since 1986 the Government have allocated funds to regional health authorities specifically for the development of drug misuse services, including services for those dependent on benzodiazepines. This funding totals almost £15 million in 1989–90.

  Core funding under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 is awarded primarily to national organisations. Under this scheme in 1988–89 the Department gave a grant of £10,000 to TRANX (UK) Ltd. The Department's grant to MIND also covers the production of public information material on benzodiazepines.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will consult pharmaceutical companies producing benzodiazepines about ways in which they could help those who have become addicted to these drugs.

  Mr. Freeman
  Those who have become dependent on benzodiazepines can obtain help from their general practitioner, the general psychiatric services, community drug teams, specialist drug dependency services, and voluntary agencies.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will detail the action he has taken to encourage general practitioners not normally to prescribe the benzodiazepine drugs for periods longer than those recommended by the Committee on Safety of Medicines; and if he will take further action.
  551
  Mr. Mellor
  General practitioners now have all the information and advice, including that from the Committee on Safety of Medicines, that they need to prescribe benzodiazepines. It is up to doctors to take heed of this advice and to exercise their clinical judgment when prescribing in each case.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will allocate funds for research into the damage to various organs of the body that can arise from the use of the benzodiazepine drugs.

  Mr. Mellor
  I have no plans to do so.

  Medical Records
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to require general practitioners to record in their patients' medical records full details of all prescriptions.

  Mr. Mellor
  No. Under his terms of service a general practitioner is already required to keep adequate records of the illnesses and treatment of his patients.

  Ambulance Service
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any plans to make extended ambulance training compulsory for all ambulance service personnel in England; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  No. At the discretion of employing authorities, extended training can be made available to qualified and leading ambulance personnel, but on a voluntary basis.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Teachers
  Mr. Wall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what measures he is taking to obtain an accurate account of teacher shortages in secondary education.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My Department collects information from local education authorities each year on the number of vacant posts by secondary subject. The results of the secondary staffing survey, conducted last year, will be available shortly.

  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received on restoration of the negotiating rights of teachers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend has received approximately 120 letters on this issue since 1 January 1989 both directly and through hon. Members.

  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made in the recruitment of teachers of shortage subjects; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  The Department launched its action programme on teacher shortages in 1986. Recruitment to initial teacher training last year showed an increase in 552
  mathematics by 27 per cent., in science by 9 per cent. and in technology by 39 per cent. over the levels in 1986. The Government will develop their action programme as necessary to ensure a sufficient supply of qualified teachers in these subjects to meet the needs of schools.

  Schoolchildren (Sport)
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is proposing any steps to encourage Saturday participation in sport by schoolchildren.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend has no specific plans at present to encourage Saturday participation in sport by schoolchildren. We hope, however, that the inclusion of physical education, of which sport is a component, as a foundation subject in the national curriculum for all pupils aged five to 16 will encourage those who wish to do so both to participate in sport outside school hours and to continue with sport after they leave school.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made in the work of the working party to investigate nursery education.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The committee of inquiry on the quality of the educational experience offered to the under-fives will hold its first meeting on 25 May when I expect it to settle its programme of work.

  English Grammar and Verse
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has had regarding the inclusion of English grammar and the learning of verse by heart within the national curriculum.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Responses to the consultations on the draft order for English for pupils in the first key stage of the national curriculum have included various comments on the place of grammar and verse learning. These are being considered.

  Parent Registers
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will place a copy in the Library of the guidance he has issued to local education authorities and schools on the compilation of parent registers for opt-out ballot purposes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Pupils' Registration (Amendment) Regulations 1988 require every school to maintain an admissions register which includes the name and address of each peson known to the governing body to be a parent of a registered pupil at the school. Sections 60 and 61 of the Education Reform Act 1988 provide for the use of this information where a ballot of parents on grant-maintained status is contemplated or under way. The Department's circular 10/88, and booklet "School Governors: How To Become A Grant-Maintained School", offer guidance on these provisions. Copies of the regulations, the relevant Administrative memorandum, the circular and booklet were sent to every LEA and school last year. The Department also wrote to all chief education officers on 13 February this year, in part about allegations that some
  553
  LEAs were abusing this information. Copies of each of these documents were placed in the Library of the House on publication.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside, of 12 April.Official Report, column 526, whether he has any plans to issue guidance to local education authorities and schools on the information to be made available from parent registers to community charge registration officers.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Department will shortly be writing to the local authority associations on this subject.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent discussions he has held on the rights of access to parent registers.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend has held no recent discussions on this topic.

  Language Teaching
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received on, and what consideration he has given to, the inclusion of Indic languages as modern foreign languages in the national curriculum; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr.

  Number of Pupils

  LEA

  Present

  Taking paid meals

  Taking free meals

  Total taking meals

  ILEA

  240,360

  94,519

  68,845

  163,364

  Barking and Dagenham

  19,488

  5,635

  1,979

  7,614

  Barnet

  35,691

  18,212

  2,858

  11,413

  Bexley

  28,259

  7,238

  1,671

  8,909

  Brent

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  Bromley

  31,506

  10,475

  1,794

  12,269

  Croydon

  39,676

  14,623

  3,332

  17,955

  Ealing

  32,658

  10,561

  4,162

  14,723

  Enfield

  33,592

  10,749

  2,770

  13,519

  Haringey

  24,628

  8,269

  4,800

  13,069

  Harrow

  24,709

  11,085

  1,156

  12,241

  Havering

  30,913

  9,177

  1,435

  10,562

  Hillingdon

  26,389

  9,776

  1,698

  11,474

  Hounslow

  26,741

  13,631

  2,761

  16,392

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  14,796

  5,827

  724

  6,551

  Merton

  18,032

  4,438

  1,208

  5,646

  Newham

  35,185

  7,973

  6,022

  13,995

  Redbridge

  26,790

  10,339

  1,576

  11,915

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  14,263

  3,548

  825

  4,373

  Sutton

  19,896

  9,303

  906

  10,209

  Waltham Forest

  26,254

  8,773

  4,266

  13,039

  Bolton

  38,311

  14,571

  5,870

  20,441

  Bury

  23,935

  8,600

  2,701

  11,301

  Manchester

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  Oldham

  34,557

  11,786

  6,614

  18,400

  Rochdale

  32,691

  11,931

  6,110

  18,041

  Salford

  32,190

  11,887

  7,749

  19,636

  Stockport

  40,727

  13,462

  4,089

  17,551

  Tameside

  31,118

  12,024

  4,697

  16,721

  Trafford

  26,047

  9,792

  3,382

  13,174

  Wigan

  46,618

  15,812

  6,243

  22,055

  Knowsley

  22,776

  3,113

  8,827

  11,940

  Liverpool

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  St. Helens

  27,505

  11,198

  4,561

  15,759

  Sefton

  38,620

  11,184

  6,739

  17,923

  Wirral

  49,117

  15,360

  10,515

  25,875

  Barnsley

  28,872

  13,761

  4,673

  18,434

  Doncaster

  42,525

  21,473

  7,735

  29,208

  Rotherham

  37,337

  12,757

  6,260

  19,017

  Sheffield

  60,406

  20,784

  11,719

  32,503

  Gateshead

  25,147

  9,186

  5,121

  14,307

  554
  Madden) on 23 March, at columns 683–84. Since then, my right hon. Friend has received a number of other representations from hon. Members—including one from the hon. Member—local education authorities, organisations, parents and teachers about the inclusion of Indic languages as modern foreign languages in the national curriculum. We are at present considering the responses received about the proposals during the consultation period.

  Meals (Pupil Statistics)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the October 1988 census figures for each local education authority for the number of(a) pupils present, (b) pupils taking paid meals, (c) pupils taking free meals, and (d) pupils taking meals in total.

  Mr. Butcher
  The figures are given in the table. They relate to maintained primary, secondary and special schools and are based on the number of pupils present in schools on the day in October 1988 on which the survey was carried out. As explained in my reply of 14 April, the full results of the survey are contained in the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy publication "School Meals Statistics at October 1988" which will shortly be available in the Library.
  555

  LEA

  Present

  Taking paid meals

  Taking free meals

  Total taking meals

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  34,794

  10,550

  10,579

  21,129

  North Tyneside

  27,094

  12,157

  4,833

  16,990

  South Tyneside

  22,709

  8,052

  4,900

  12,952

  Sunderland

  44,228

  15,434

  9,981

  25,415

  Birmingham

  149,126

  41,522

  39,275

  80,797

  Coventry

  42,158

  9,832

  8,371

  18,203

  Dudley

  37,636

  10,059

  4,748

  14,807

  Sandwell

  43,209

  12,665

  8,274

  20,939

  Solihull

  29,563

  10,157

  2,857

  13,014

  Walsall

  40,391

  15,437

  7,402

  22,839

  Wolverhampton

  36,008

  6,075

  6,534

  12,609

  Bradford

  72,930

  25,277

  15,334

  40,611

  Calderdale

  28,729

  11,763

  3,718

  15,481

  Kirklees

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  Leeds

  92,660

  37,662

  13,648

  51,310

  Wakefield

  42,612

  20,657

  5,886

  26,543

  Avon

  121,886

  35,946

  12,886

  48,832

  Bedfordshire

  74,096

  28,678

  6,929

  35,607

  Berkshire

  92,750

  33,407

  4,532

  37,939

  Buckinghamshire

  80,945

  6,087

  3,160

  9,247

  Cambridgeshire

  89,079

  23,717

  5,659

  29,376

  Cheshire

  133,800

  49,470

  14,880

  64,350

  Cleveland

  84,265

  35,839

  21,012

  56,851

  Cornwall

  60,076

  24,791

  5,508

  30,299

  Cumbria

  66,533

  32,432

  6,225

  38,657

  Derbyshire

  128,699

  80,429

  13,574

  94,003

  Devon

  108,956

  44,464

  11,959

  56,423

  Dorset

  71,944

  12,475

  3,180

  15,655

  Durham

  82,556

  37,914

  13,349

  51,263

  East Sussex

  74,451

  25,354

  5,961

  31,315

  Essex

  198,213

  58,693

  12,959

  71,652

  Gloucestershire

  67,305

  15,483

  4,625

  20,108

  Hampshire

  188,331

  45,895

  12,434

  58,329

  Hereford and Worcester

  87,442

  16,942

  5,797

  22,739

  Hertfordshire

  129,066

  57,789

  6,533

  64,322

  Humberside

  121,489

  43,609

  17,518

  61,127

  Isle of Wight

  15,147

  5,305

  1,582

  6,887

  Kent

  188,044

  66,023

  13,099

  79,122

  Lancashire

  193,585

  70,966

  26,946

  97,912

  Leicestershire

  124,901

  39,564

  11,146

  50,710

  Lincolnshire

  75,177

  12,857

  4,521

  17,378

  Norfolk

  91,732

  24,505

  8,590

  33,095

  Northamptonshire

  86,097

  22,895

  6,221

  29,116

  Northumberland

  44,561

  19,914

  4,322

  24,236

  North Yorkshire

  87,435

  38,181

  5,521

  43,702

  Nottinghamshire

  131,941

  44,888

  18,419

  63,307

  Oxfordshire

  64,445

  24,327

  3,108

  27,435

  Shropshire

  54,985

  22,721

  5,787

  28,508

  Somerset

  57,623

  19,777

  3,269

  23,046

  Staffordshire

  141,700

  43,729

  13,834

  57,563

  Suffolk

  79,147

  31,618

  5,335

  36,953

  Surrey

  105,386

  43,443

  3,855

  47,298

  Warwickshire

  65,021

  18,552

  4,732

  23,284

  West Sussex

  81,365

  33,067

  3,347

  36,414

  Wiltshire

  70,895

  22,456

  3,878

  26,334

  Isles of Scilly

  110

  6

  1

  7

WALES

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, with respect to the support grades in his Department(a) what is the number of staff employed, (b) how many vacancies there are and how many of these have existed for over one month and over three months, (c) how many temporary and casual appointments there are and (d) how much overtime was worked by them in London and elsewhere.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The details are as follows:

  (a) Total number in support grades: 111½.

  (b) Two vacancies—both in London and vacant for over three months. However, following recent selection interviews it is hoped to fill these shortly.

  556

  (c) 7 casual appointments.

  (d) The average number of hours overtime worked each week by each member of the Support Grade structure in the Welsh Office:—

  London

  6 hours

  Elsewhere

  0·5 hours

  National Parks
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has had any discussions with, or representations from, county councils in Wales, or other interested bodies, concerning the future of the national parks in Wales.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  None; but matters relating to future developments and to the planning system within national parks are frequently the subject of representations to Ministers by a variety of bodies.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Sittings (Staff)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed answering on behalf of the House of Commons Commission, what staff of the House are employed in the House when sittings go beyond 10 pm.

  Mr. Beith
  128 staff from various Departments are on duty on any one night as a direct consequence of the House sitting after 10 pm.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Elections (Proportional Representation)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider introducing a system of proportional representation for elections to those directly elected bodies for which he is responsible.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have no plans to introduce a system of proportional representation for elections to local government councils.

  Motor Vehicle Offences
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library copies of all circulars he has issued about the operation of section 37 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, within the last six months.

  Mr. John Patten
  Copies of Home Office circular number 86/88 and the second commencement order have been placed in the Library.

  Grand National
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many jockeys have been injured while riding a horse in the Grand National at Aintree racecourse in the last nine years;

  (2) how many jockeys have been permanently maimed after sustaining injuries while riding a horse in the Grand National at Aintree racecourse since 1959;

  (3) how many jockeys have been killed during, or as a result of riding a horse, in the Grand National at the Aintree racecourse since 1959;

  (4) how many horses have been killed during, or as a result of running in, the Grand National at Aintree racecouse since 1980.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Home Office does not obtain or record information about injuries incurred in horseracing. But the Jockey Club has kindly provided the four numbers requested, as follows: 5; 0; 0; 4.

  Chief Superintendent Kenneth Etheridge (Inquiry)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement as to the most recent inquiry carried out in the case of former Chief Superintendent Kenneth Etheridge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand that the most recent inquiry was in 1977, when an investigation was carried out 558
  into allegations against a number of officers, including Mr. Etheridge. No formal disciplinary proceedings were taken against any officer as a result of that inquiry.

  Lotteries
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if legal proceedings will be taken against any seller or promoter of West German lottery tickets in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if the Government propose to introduce legislation to clarify the legal position with regard to the selling of non-British lottery tickets within the United Kingdom prior to 31 December 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  It is an offence under section 2 of the Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976 to bring foreign lottery tickets into Great Britain for the purpose of their sale, distribution or advertisement; we have no reason to believe that the position will be affected by the advent of the single European market in 1992. We have no plans to introduce legislation to amend the 1976 Act.

  Any decision on whether to institute proceedings in respect of an alleged offence under the 1976 Act is a matter for individual chief officers of police. The Crown Prosecution Service is then responsible for deciding independently whether the case should be prosecuted in the courts.

  Saudi Arabia (Visit)
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whom he met and what was discussed on his recent visit to Saudi Arabia.

  Mr. Hurd
  I had a number of meetings with senior members of the Saudi Arabian Government and discussed the scope of intensifying the level of co-operation between this country and Saudi Arabia in a number of fields, including terrorism, drugs, organised crime and police training. I signed a memorandum of understanding with the Saudi Arabian Government to facilitate closer co-operation on these issues.

  Police (Mutual Assistance)
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements exist for coordinating requests from chief officers of police for mutual aid assistance from other forces; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  Mutual aid between police forces has for many years been a feature of British policing. Standing local arrangements for mutual aid are often used and do not require central co-ordination. When the demands on manpower or other resources are such that these arrangements are unlikely to be adequate, requests for assistance may be co-ordinated nationally by the mutual aid co-ordination centre (MACC) which was previously known as the national reporting centre.

  The centre is activated and controlled by the president of the Association of Chief Police Officers and not by the Home Office. Day-to-day operations are the responsibility of an officer of deputy chief constable rank, assisted by supporting staff. When the MACC is in operation, as at all other times, the direction and control of police operations

  559
  within a force area, including the control of officers provided under mutual aid, is the responsibility of the chief officer of police for that area. The MACC is responsible for co-ordinating requests from chief officers: it does not have the power to take the initiative in moving police officers from one force area to another.

  The Home Office is today issuing a circular to chief officers of police and police authorities about the mutual aid co-ordination centre. I have placed a copy in the Library.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Marre Committee
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Attorney-General from what outside sources with practical experience of the subjects considered by the Marre committee advice has been sought in the preparation of the Government's response to the Marre committee; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The Marre committee was set up by the Bar and the Law Society and reported directly to them. The three Green Papers laid before Parliament on 25 January 1989 contain the Government's own provisional proposals relating to the requirements for carrying out in the future the work presently conducted by the legal profession; and are not a response to the Marre committee's report.

  Baby C
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Attorney-General whether he will seek the permission of the Court of Appeal to place in the Libarary a copy of the medical report considered in the recent Baby C case.

  The Attorney-General
  No.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Business Investment
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for the growth of business investment in the economy.

  Mr. Major
  The latest figures show that business investment was 14·3 per cent. higher in real terms in 1988 than in 1987.

  Economic Data
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take to improve the quality of economic statistical data published by his Department.

  Mr. Major
  The Treasury, Customs and Excise and the Inland Revenue are currently involved, with the Central Statistical Office and other departments, in implementing specific recommendations on improving the quality of Government economic statistics included in the recent scrutiny report. The report, copies of which are available in the Library, also made recommendations about the inter-departmental arrangements for the production of Government economic statistics. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced on 5 April at columns 190–91,560
  the establishment of a separate Government Department, responsible to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, bringing together the work of the Central Statistical Office, the Business Statistics Office and some parts of the statistical work of the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Employment. These changes are designed to achieve a significant improvement in the quality and relevance of Government economic statistics.

  Customs and Excise Management Act 1979
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which the commissioners of Customs and Excise will disclose particulars of cases where proceedings for offences are compounded under section 152 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.

  Mr. Lilley
  Section 152 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 is the most recent re-enactment of the commissioners' long-standing power to compound proceedings, that is to offer an alleged offender the option of paying a penalty out of court rather than be prosecuted. This power is used to resolve the majority of customs or excise offences, and enables them to be dealt with efficiently and effectively without burdening the courts or tying up Customs staff in lengthy court hearings. Hitherto, details of compounded settlements have not usually been made public.

  The commissioners, having reviewed their policy on disclosure of compounded settlements, have decided that in respect of settlements made on or after 1 June 1989, details will be disclosed in the following circumstances:
  It will be the Commissioners' invariable practice to disclose details

  (a) to other Government Departments whose statutory responsibilities are directly affected; and

  (b) to the courts for sentencing purposes after conviction, in cases where there has been an earlier compounded settlement for a similar matter within the time limits specified for offences by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

  The commissioners will also disclose compounded settlements under two other circumstances

  (c) to employers when it is apparent that

  (i) the nature of the employment has facilitated the offence; or

  (ii) where drugs offences or indications of serious alcohol abuse are involved, the nature of the employment or duties requires a high degree of unimpaired judgement or faculties.

  (d) in response to enquiries from Parliament or the media about cases which have excited public attention, if disclosure is considered to be in the public interest.

  In all cases, persons considering an offer to compound for an alleged offence will be warned when the offer is made that details of the settlement may be disclosed in the circumstances set out at (a) to (d) above.

  The commissioners have considered the recommendation of Lord Keith of Kinkel's committee on the "Enforcement Powers of the Revenue Departments" (Cmnd. 9440), that the names of all persons making compounded settlements and particulars of the settlements should be published, subject to discretion to withhold the names of persons making full spontaneous voluntary disclosure of their offences. The policy now to be adopted reflects the commissioners' conclusion that, other than in the particular circumstances already described, it would

  561
  not be equitable or make the best use of their resources or those of the courts to depart from the present general principle of non-disclosure. The commissioners' general policy of non-disclosure of details of their dealings in individual cases will therefore continue to apply to cases which do not come within the circumstances described above.

  I am satisfied with this outcome of the commissioners' review.

  Computers
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any contingency measures to prevent damaging financial upheavals in the event of incorrect retail prices index figures being published as a result of unauthorised penetration of the computer systems.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 24 April 1989]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend

  Section 236 Improvement

  Section 236 Conversion

  Section 244 Provision of standard amenities

  Section 248 Repairs

  1Maximum level of grant per cent.

  Expenditure £ million

  Number of dwellings

  Maximum level of grant per cent.

  Expenditure £ million

  No. of dwellings

  2Maximum level of grant per cent.

  Expenditure £ million

  Number of dwellings

  2Maximum level of grant per cent.

  Expenditure £ million

  Number of dwellings

  1982

  50/75/90

  32·95

  7,302

  50

  2·29

  297

  90

  0·36

  313

  90

  6·53

  7,012

  1983

  50/75/90

  51·11

  8,364

  50

  3·52

  412

  90

  0·80

  423

  90

  40·80

  24,707

  1984

  50/75/90

  49·90

  9,057

  50

  4·42

  611

  90/50

  2·66

  1·185

  390/50

  80·89

  30,827

  1985

  50/75/90

  43·95

  7,505

  50

  5·47

  804

  50

  2·50

  1,242

  50

  62·63

  20,367

  1986

  50/75/90

  46·29

  10·497

  50

  3·21

  792

  50

  1·33

  738

  50

  44·77

  19,426

  1987

  50/75/90

  51·65

  10·729

  50

  2·68

  616

  50

  0·94

  560

  50

  55·99

  18,763

  1988

  50/75/90

  57·77

  10·019

  50

  4·59

  818

  50

  0·53

  353

  50

  74·58

  19·942

  1 Depending on condition of dwelling and financial circumstances of owner.

  2 Temporary rate of 90 per cent. available in respect of applications made between 13 April 1982 and 31 March 1984.

  3 From 1 April 1984 rate for replacement of lead plumbing is 75 per cent.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if there are grant schemes available to council house tenants for home improvements which they can take up independently of their council landlord.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  House improvement and repairs grants are, in principle, available to all tenants, although they may be given only with the approval of the local authority, both as landlord and as grant-giving authority.

  Riverside Tenants' Hall
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has received any request to continue with a central Government contribution to the Riverside tenants' hall, Govan.

  Mr. Lang
  The Riverside tenants' hall in Govan has received Government support through the urban programme for the maximum period of seven years, ending in 1990. Further support from public funds is a matter for the local authority.

  Rent Phasing
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland under what statutory authority rent phasing was operated for tenants of housing associations; for how many years it operated; and what consultations took place about its ending.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Section 58 of the Rent (Scotland) Act (which consolidated previous legislation) is 562
  the Minister of State, Department of Employment on security of RPI computer systems. It is not our practice to comment on contingency plans.

SCOTLAND

  Home Improvements
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, giving the relevant statutory references, the home improvement grant orders currently in operation; and if he will indicate against each the policy objective, the level of grant, the amount of expenditure incurred each year of operation and the number of homes estimated to be improved.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The primary objective of home improvement grants is to facilitate the improvement and repair of the existing private sector housing stock. The information available, from 1982 onwards, is given in the table. The statutory references are to the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987.

  the statutory authority under which rent increases for secure tenants of housing associations may be phased. These rent increases have been eligible for phasing for 16 years. Paragraphs 23 and 26 of the consultation paper "The Private Rented Sector: The Government's Legislative Proposals for Scotland", issued in November 1987, set out the Government's proposals to move towards the abolition of phasing of rent increases for both secure tenants of housing associations and private sector regulated tenants. This proposal was fully debated during the passage through Parliament of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988.

  Tourism
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement on the effect of section 4 financial assistance on the Scottish tourist industry.

  Mr. Lang
  Over the last three financial years the Scottish tourist board has approved assistance for 337 projects amounting to £12£4 million under its section 4 programme. The total private sector investment represented by these projects is £84 million.

  Health Education
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the budget of the Scottish Health Education Group, formerly the Scottish Health Education Unit and Scottish Council for Health Education in each
  563
  financial year from 1978–79 to 1988–89, expressed as actual expenditure and as a percentage of the total Scottish Health Service spending in each of the specified years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Expenditure by the Scottish Health Education Group since 1978–79 is shown in the following table:

  Financial year

  SHEG expenditure £000

  Percentage of NHS expenditure in Scotland

  1978–79

  1,064

  0·119

  1979–80

  1,252

  0·118

  1980–81

  1,540

  0·115

  1981–82

  1,889

  0·123

  1982–83

  2,136

  0·129

  1983–84

  2,086

  0·135

  1984–85

  2,799

  0·147

  1985–86

  3,077

  0·153

  1986–87

  3,057

  0·143

  1987–88

  3,220

  0·138

  1988–89

  13,326

  0·128

  1 Budget provision.

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

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 24 April 1989]: Borders health board.

  Year £

  Antrim £

  Armagh £

  Down £

  Fermanagh £

  Londonderry £

  Tyrone £

  Total £

  1974

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  n/a

  1975

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  11,600

  1976

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  39,746

  1977

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  21,456

  1978

  597,527

  378,237

  583,402

  591,166

  382,045

  547,404

  3,079,781

  1979

  1,375,719

  734,757

  1,004,965

  1,064,884

  727,903

  1,323,359

  6,231,587

  1980

  2,600,418

  1,319,611

  1,821,130

  2,089,022

  1,693,971

  2,433,079

  11,957,231

  1981

  1,935,521

  949,534

  1,586,863

  2,117,212

  1,471,686

  1,761,168

  9,821,984

  1982

  2,136,111

  1,304,801

  995,931

  2,832,488

  1,446,296

  2,162,547

  10,878,174

  1983

  1,930,281

  1,180,048

  916,977

  1,781,689

  1,320,205

  1,977,257

  9,106,457

  1984

  1,812,487

  1,189,869

  897,376

  1,839,932

  1,193,126

  1,907,374

  8,840,164

  1985

  1,155,334

  725,201

  398,304

  1,407,510

  819,351

  1,393,233

  5,898,933

  1986

  673,313

  193,537

  318,293

  876,892

  356,706

  697,773

  3,116,514

  1987

  419,535

  158,386

  72,294

  767,866

  88,016

  338,492

  1,844,589

  1988

  85,819

  81,803

  13,376

  270,287

  10,077

  89,809

  551,171

  Pollution
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, further to his answer of 23 February,Official Report, column 757, he will list the locations and nature of the water pollution incidents between September and November 1988.

  Mr. Needham
  The information requested is contained in the table.

  Type of pollution and location

  Number

  September 1988

  Agriculture

  Beragh

  2

  Gortrush

  1

  Reaghan

  1

  Community Charge
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether poll tax registration officers are currently empowered to request lists of school pupils' parents names and addresses from local authority education departments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 25 April 1989]: Under section 17(3)(b) of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987, community charges registration officers may require the regional or islands council and any district council in their registration areas to supply them with such information as they may reasonably require in connection with their functions, being information which the local authorities have in connection with any of their functions.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Farm and Horticulture Development Scheme
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total amount, in grants, paid out by the Department of Agriculture, Northern Ireland, under the farm and horticulture development scheme in each of the years since 1974 to applicants from each of the parliamentary constituencies in Northern Ireland

  Mr. Viggers
  Grants paid for years 1975 to 1977 are available only for Northern Ireland as a whole. Thereafter the information is not available by parliamentary constituency, but is on a county basis.

  Type of pollution and location

  Number

  Drumlister

  1

  Fintona

  3

  Eskra

  2

  Dromore

  1

  Plumbridge

  1

  Buninver

  1

  Newtownstewart

  2

  Food processing

  Doogary

  2

  Conneywarren

  1

  Sand washing

  Omagh

  1

  Fallaghearn

  3

  Carrickmore

  2

  Beragh

  3

  565

  Type of pollution and location

  Number

  Sewage

  Omagh

  1

  Seskinore

  1

  Industrial

  Gortin

  1

  Oil

  Gortrush

  2

  October 1988

  Agricultural

  Dromore road, Omagh

  1

  Plumbridge road, Omagl

  1

  Tallysallagh

  3

  Lisnafin

  1

  Beltany

  2

  Gortin

  1

  Food processing

  Doogary

  4

  Sand washing

  Fallaghearn

  3

  Carrickmore

  1

  Sewage

  Dromore

  1

  Omagh

  2

  Knockmoyle

  1

  Industrial

  Greencastle

  1

  Oil

  Dromore

  1

  November 1988

  Agricultural

  Dromore

  1

  Gortin

  1

  Food processing

  Doogary

  1

  Sand washing

  Mountfield

  1

  Greencastle

  3

  Carrickmore

  3

  Omagh

  4

  Sewage

  Arvalee

  1

  Omagh

  1

  Knockmoyle

  1

  Drumquin

  1

  Industrial

  Ballynatubrit

  1

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. McCusker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland where the 10 confirmed cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy were found in Northern Ireland; and what has been done to prevent further outbreaks and to uncover the causes of this disease in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Viggers
  There have now been 13 confirmed cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in various parts of the Province. It would not be appropriate to identify individual producers because of the need to 566
  respect confidentiality as a normal part of the Department of Agriculture's eradication and control policy for any animal disease outbreaks.

  The BSE outbreaks have been fully investigated and there is nothing to suggest that the cause is any different from that in Great Britain cases.

  In order to minimise the risk of outbreaks of this disease increasing, the Southwood committee's recommendations have been implemented in full.

TRANSPORT

  Trunk Roads
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are his Department's standards for maintenance with respect to grass cutting, sweeping, scavenging of laybys, windblown litter and the emptying of gullies on trunk roads maintained by county councils as agents of his Department; and if he will review those standards.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Standards for litter clearance on the worst littered sections of motorways are being re-examined.

  Standards for these and other routine maintenance activities are set out in the Department's code of practice for routine maintenance. A copy of the code is in the House Library. The code is kept under continual review in consultation with the Department's agents through the Standing Committee on Highway Maintenance. The application of the code is also reviewed at local level and individual standards are adjusted to meet particular circumstances.

  Buses
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to how many bus routes in London have been put out to competitive tender; and what consequent cost reductions have been achieved.

  Mr. Portillo
  I understand from London Regional Transport that to date it has put 135 bus routes out to competitive tender. It estimates that this has achieved savings of around 15 per cent. of previous operating costs.

  Midland Main Lane
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to obtain a copy of the report by consultants commissioned by east midlands local authorities on the future of the midland main line; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  I have made it clear that I would be interested to see the results of the study commissioned by a group of local authorities on the future of the midland main line. It is for the local authorities to decide whether to send it to me.

  Concessionary Fares
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what connection the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee has with his Department; what representations he has received from the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee that concessionary fares on buses
  567
  might he means-tested in future; what other representations, including those opposed to this suggestion, he has received; what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee is a statutory body, established under the Transport Act 1985, with responsibility for giving advice to the Secretary of State on matters relating to the transport needs of disabled people. In July 1988, DPTAC submitted a report to the Secretary of State on "Finance for Extra Markets for Public Transport". One of the recommendations in this report was that local authorities should consider targeting their expenditure on concessionary fares more closely to those most in need of such benefits, including in particular those with a mobility handicap. The report did not specifically propose means-testing. We have, however, received a number of letters expressing concern that means-testing for concessionary fares might be introduced.

  As the Government confirmed in their reply to the DPTAC report, it will be for local authorities to decide whether to make any changes in their present arrangements in the light of the proposals in the report.

  London Buses
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state the timetable he envisages for the privatisation of London Buses.

  Mr. Portillo
  No timetable has been set. Vehicle Reversing (Accidents)

  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many reportable accidents arising from reversing vehicles have resulted in injuries and deaths for each year since 1979; if he is able to categorise these into vehicle types; and how many have taken place(a) on the highway and (b) off the highway.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The tables show the total number of accidents where at least one vehicle was reversing; those where at least one of the reversing vehicles was a car; and those where at least one of the reversing vehicles was a heavy goods vehicle. Only accidents on public highways are reported to the Department.

  Accidents involving reversing vehicles: GB: 1979–1987

  Severity of accidents

  Fatal

  Serious

  Slight

  Total

  1979

  47

  548

  1,882

  2,477

  1980

  34

  517

  2,089

  2,640

  1981

  37

  538

  2,011

  2,586

  1982

  51

  585

  2,607

  3,243

  1983

  49

  598

  2,792

  3,439

  1984

  43

  588

  2,808

  3,439

  1985

  35

  661

  2,817

  3,513

  1986

  29

  618

  2,926

  3,573

  1987

  38

  612

  2,919

  3,569

  Accidents involving reversing cars: GB: 1979–1987

  Severity of accidents

  Fatal

  Serious

  Slight

  Total

  1979

  12

  348

  1,327

  1,687

  1980

  14

  341

  1,508

  1,863

  1981

  7

  383

  1,493

  1,883

  1982

  16

  400

  1,952

  2,368

  568

  Severity of accidents

  Fatal

  Serious

  Slight

  Total

  1983

  21

  413

  2,132

  2,566

  1984

  15

  411

  2,138

  2,564

  1985

  14

  464

  2,154

  2,632

  1986

  8

  442

  2,262

  2,712

  1987

  18

  431

  2,279

  2,728

  Accidents involving reversing cars: GB: 1979–1987

  Severity of accidents

  Fatal

  Serious

  Slight

  Total

  1979

  18

  71

  188

  277

  1980

  9

  73

  156

  238

  1981

  16

  54

  166

  236

  1982

  21

  63

  192

  276

  1983

  12

  61

  172

  245

  1984

  18

  61

  195

  274

  1985

  11

  49

  168

  228

  1986

  8

  56

  170

  234

  1987

  12

  60

  171

  243

  Vehicle Reversing Equipment
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many European Community countries require reversing safety systems to be fitted on vehicles;

  (2) if he has any plans to introduce legislation requiring reversing safety systems to he fitted on all new vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if in the light of the mounting level of accidents caused while vehicles are reversing, he will consider requiring large commercial vehicles to be fitted with the latest technology to enable obstacles to be detected in the path of a reversing vehicle.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We have no plans to introduce legislation requiring any class of vehicle to be fitted with reversing safety systems. We know of no such legislation in any member state of the European Community.

  Audible reversing alarms are permitted to be used on the road as a safety aid on buses, goods vehicles over 2 tonnes gross weight, refuse vehicles, engineering plant and works trucks.

  There are very few serious injury accidents involving vehicles in reverse gear. Most drivers follow the very clear advice given in the "Highway Code."

  Road Assessment Proposals
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he is having on the road assessment proposals for London; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The consultants for the London assessment studies are currently assessing and testing a wide range of options. These do not constitute new proposals by the Department for roads or rail routes.

  In my many discussions with hon. Members, councillors, and local groups I have taken the opportunity to correct misconceptions about the status of the studies and counter the scare stories about new motorways all over London.

  In particular, I have been discussing the inaccuracies and misleading statements associated with a demonstration on 21 April.
  569
  Each year in London, nearly 500 people die and 50,000 are injured on London's roads. Both public and private transport assessments should help to cut this toll.

  Shipping Accidents (Pollution)
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his Department's role in minimising the effect of pollution after accidents at sea.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Department of Transport, through its marine pollution control unit exercises the responsibility accepted by Government in 1969 following the Torrey Canyon disaster, for dealing with pollution at sea arising from a shipping accident.

  Contracted aerial and vessel dispersant spraying resources, oil recovery equipment or cargo transfer equipment is deployed, as both necessary and practicable, for the clean-up at sea of oil from an accident which threatens United Kingdom coastal, fishery, seabird, ecological amenity or other interests.

  The Secretary of State has wide statutory powers to give directions or to take direct action to counter pollution following marine accidents. These extend from directing the owner of a ship, the master or the salvor in possession to take or refrain from taking action of any kind whatsoever, to taking control of the ship or sinking or destroying it.

  Traffic Management (Greater London)
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria have been adopted by the unit of his Department concerned with traffic management in Greater London for substitution of automatic, or semi-automatic, traffic signals by police on the occasion of routine maintenance works at critical locations.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  During the routine maintenance works at critical locations, permanent traffic signals are maintained wherever possible. Manual traffic control is provided by police officers or traffic wardens when signals are disconnected for short periods. Where a safe electricity supply exists, temporary signals can be provided if work is likely to take longer than one week.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement concerning the arrangements made for traffic control in East India Dock road adjacent to the northern entrance of the Blackwall tunnel over the weekend of 15 and 16 April.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  There were some delays on the A13 and for traffic leaving the Blackwall tunnel on 15 and 16 April. The immediate cause was work on East India Dock road to construct an additional lane to improve access from the A 13 to the Isle of Dogs.

  Advance notice of the roadworks was given to motoring information services. The police were fully involved. We are satisfied that traffic management at this difficult site has been organised as well as the limitations allow.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what study has been made by his Department, or what conclusions he has reached, concerning the effect on traffic flows of one-person operated buses in Greater 570
  London; what effects he expects on traffic flow from the extension of one-person operations to bus routes presently using a crew of two; what advice or instructions he has given to London Regional Transport or London Buses Limited in respect of this policy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The statutory duty to provide bus services in London lies with London Regional Transport and it is for it and its subsidiary, London Buses Ltd., to determine the method of operation, having due regard to efficiency, economy and safety. They take into account boarding times and congestion effects in their appraisal of conversions to one-person-operation. I understand they have no plans for any significant increase in the proportion of routes served by one-person-operated buses.

  Road Accidents
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Report the number of (a) fatal and (b) non-fatal accidents involving heavy goods vehicles and long distance lorry drivers for each year from 1979 to the last available year.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The table shows the number of fatal and non-fatal accidents involving heavy goods vehicles for each year from 1979 to 1987.

  Total fatal and non-fatal accidents involving heavy goods vehicles: Great Britain: 1979–1987

  Fatal

  Non-fatal

  Total

  1979

  940

  15,531

  16,471

  1980

  782

  13,335

  14,117

  1981

  761

  12,522

  13,283

  1982

  786

  12,520

  13,306

  1983

  722

  11,606

  12,328

  1984

  777

  12,173

  12,950

  1985

  728

  12,345

  13,073

  1986

  794

  12,635

  13,429

  1987

  776

  12,866

  13,642

  We cannot distinguish from the Stats 19 accident report form whether the driver is a long-distance driver or not.

  Road Junction (Walton on Thames)
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning the proposed Surrey county council (No. 5) CPO (1988) for the junction of the A244/C155/D3830 at Walton on Thames.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  There are two outstanding objections which are being considered.

  TGV Atlantique Line
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will request a copy of the report from SNCF on noise resulting from its surveys of the TGV Atlantique line; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 24 April 1989]: I understand that British Rail has a copy of the report which we believe my hon. Friend has in mind. In drawing up a national noise standard we shall wish to be aware of any standards adopted elsewhere, even where trains run much faster than BR plans for the United Kingdom.

  Channel Tunnel
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact of the options outlined in the South Circular assessment study on the projected increase in freight traffic on the south London rail link from the Channel tunnel.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 25 April 1989]: Assessment of options is a matter for the study consultants. They are discussing the potential impact of options with the transport operators.

EMPLOYMENT

  Retail Prices Index
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the effect of the increase of petrol prices on the prices index over the past 12 months.

  Mr. Lee
  Over the 12 months ending in March 1989 the retail prices index increased by 7·9 per cent. The increase in petrol prices over the same period contributed approximately one fifth of one percentage point to this increase.

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many miners he estimates are or have been exposed to noise levels above 90 dBA during the past 10 years; and what is his estimate of the proportion of those so exposed who are likely to suffer hearing damage.

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984–851

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Outbreak of fire below ground and withdrawal of men due to smoke and other signs of fire

  68

  72

  72

  11

  66

  46

  11

  58

  72

  52

  Number associated with conveyors

  17

  28

  20

  30

  24

  2—

  31

  25

  34

  28

  1 15-month period January 1984-March 1985, including the period of industrial dispute.

  2 Not known.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the proportion of miners who suffered disability after working underground for 25 years or more.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the rate of serious injury among mine workers and the proportion of the labour force this repre'cnted in(a) 1968, (b) 1978 and (c)

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is supplied in the table.

  The rate of serious injury among mine workers is calculated per 100,000 manshifts worked.

  Year

  Serious injuries

  Porportion of labour force represented

  1968

  1·07

  1:430

  1978

  0·99

  1:502

  1988–891

  3·35

  1:127

  572
  Mr. Nicholls
  Information regarding the number of miners who have been exposed to these noise levels is not available.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been employed as contractors for or on behalf of British Coal in each of the past five years; and what proportion of these individuals have suffered injury in each of those years.

  Mr. Nicholls
  This information is not available and could only be obtained, if at all, at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if dust levels experienced in underground operations have increased in recent years.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Since 1977–78 British Coal's annual progress report on respirable dust shows a downward trend in the average national dust levels. However, in 1987–88 there was a small increase of 3·8 per cent. over 1986–87 levels. Cutting coal at the face is by far the major generator of dust in mining operations and since 1985–86 the average daily output per coal face has risen by 39 per cent.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of underground fires recorded at collieries during each year since 1979 and the number of those associated with conveyors.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is set out: in the table.

  1 Provisional.

  Source: British Coal Corporation and Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what advice he has been given by Her Majesty's inspectors in regard to the use of roof bolts in underground mining operations.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend has not received any advice from the Health and Safety Executive on this subject.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of accidents involving major injury have occurred in the last hour of the working shift in underground employment.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information on accident rates does not include details of the relative time in a shift when an accident occurred. However, British Coal conducted a 12-month survey on this topic from April 1986 to April 1987. This showed that of the total of 993 major accidents in that period only 33 occurred in the last hour of a shift. This is less than 4 per cent. of the total.
  573
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what duties he expects to be carried out by the proposed pit supervisors; and what differences will exist in practice and statutory requirement in comparison with those currently exercised by colliery deputies.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend understands that the Health and Safety Commission is currently considering proposals relating to the management and administration of health and safety at mines. Because the proposals are still in a formative stage it is not possible now to state what duties will be carried out by pit supervisors, nor how the future role of deputies will differ from their present role, if at all.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East on 19 April, if he will list those industries in which he estimates there is a significant number of accidents which are unreported; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  All cases of fatal injury in the course of work activity are reported to the enforcement authorities. It is not known what proportion of other reportable injuries go unreported, nor is there any firm evidence to suggest that the problem is more acute in certain industries. There are some indications, however, that the agricultural, construction and service sector are subject to significantly more under-reporting than the best estimate of 50 per cent. for employees in all industries and services.

  Employees (Public Duties)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures are being taken to ensure that employees are allowed time off for public duties under sections 29, 30 and 32 of the Employment Protection Act 1978, as amended by the Employment Act 1982; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  An employee may present a complaint to an industrial tribunal that he has not been permitted to take time off. The services of ACAS are also available. An explanatory booklet may be obtained from offices of the Department.

  Action for Jobs Programme
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations have been received from(a) trades unions representing Government information officers and (b) individual officials, concerning the preparation and dissemination of material relating to the action for jobs programme.

  Mr. Cope
  I have no record of any such representations.

ENVIRONMENT

  Community Charge
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the cost of implementing the community charge in England.

  Mr. Gummer
  Our estimate of the costs, for both capital and revenue expenditure, of implementing the community 574
  charge in 1989–90 in England, based on the Price Waterhouse report, is between £209 million (if all authorities work as efficiently as the most efficient in their category) and £277 million (if authorities maintain their current efficiency). These estimates were at November 1987 prices.

  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the average community charge in each local authority in 1989–90; and if he will make figures available arranged by reference to the controlling party in each such authority.

  Mr. Gummer
  Illustrative 1989–90 community charges will be published once the data needed from local authorities have been received and analysed. To help my hon. Friend, we shall include details of the controlling parties, drawn from the standard reference works.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish tables showing the community charge in each local authority area if introduced in 1989–90.

  Mr. Gummer
  Illustrative 1989–90 community charges will be published once data needed from local authorities have been received and analysed.

  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information his Department has made available to explain the workings of the community charge to the general public.

  Mr. Gummer
  My right hon. Friend has issued a general booklet entitled "You and the community charge: your step by step guide" explaining the whole community charge system. He is also publishing six supplementary leaflets on individual aspects of the community charge. One of these, on exemptions, is already available. The others will cover rebates, the appeal system, the collective community charge, students and the community charge, and second homes. These will be issued over the next few weeks. All of these publications are being made available on request free of charge. In addition my right hon. Friend will send a short leaflet on the community charge to every household in England in May.

  Mr. Wall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the average community charge if implemented on 1 April 1989.

  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish exemplifications showing what the community charge would have been if introduced on 1 April 1989.

  Mr. Gummer
  Illustrative 1989–90 community charges will be published once data needed from local authorities have been received and analysed.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the Audit Commission's assessment of the level of benefits to be derived by local authorities from the community charge.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Commission has made no such assessment.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the
  575
  Government's planned publicity campaign for the commencement of community charge registration in England and Wales.

  Mr. Gummer
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) on 20 January and 17 April this year.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department has made any recent assessment of the level of inability to pay the community charge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The community charge is designed to reflect ability to pay. Rebates of up to 80 per cent. of the charge will be available to those on low incomes, and for those on the lowest incomes, income support will include an amount specifically to help with the remaining 20 per cent.

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to exempt severe dementia sufferers from payment of the community charge.

  Mr. Gummer
  I have no plans to do so and will write to the hon. Member giving my reasons.

  Petrol
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the effect of the current level of duty differential between leaded and unleaded petrol on sales of unleaded petrol.

  Mr. Rost
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the level of demand for unleaded petrol in(a) January 1987 and (b) the most recent date for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Uptake figures for the first full month after the Budget increase in duty differential in favour of unleaded petrol will not be available until the end of April. In the month to mid-March unleaded petrol accounted for 6·4 per cent. of the market. I understand from the United Kingdom Petroleum Industries Association that its provisional figures for the whole of March show a market share (on a slightly different basis) of 9·3 per cent. This amounts to more than a hundredfold increase since figures were first made available in April 1987.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of garages in England now stock unleaded petrol.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There has been a tenfold increase in outlets for unleaded petrol since March of last year and the United Kingdom Petroleum Industry Association advises me that 38 per cent. of filling stations now stock the fuel.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the level of demand for unleaded petrol at the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Mid-Staffordshire (Mr. Heddle) today.

  Bristol Channel (Pollution)
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the position over pollution from existing and planned new sewerage outlets into the Bristol channel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Nineteen bathing waters along the Bristol channel coast are identified under the EEC bathing water directive. In the 1988 bathing water season, 10 of these met the directive's mandatory coliform standards. The existing sewerage outlets are operating satisfactorily and a number of new schemes are planned which will bring about local improvements to water quality in the Bristol channel.

  Housing
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last made a speech outlining his Department's plans for improving housing in rural areas.

  Mr. Ridley
  My ministerial colleagues and I frequently refer in speeches to our policies of increasing the supply of affordable housing in rural areas.

  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the housing completion figure for 1979 in the public and private sectors; and what is the latest available figure.

  Mr. Trippier
  In 1979, 91,100 public sector and 118,400 private sector dwellings were completed in England. Provisional figures for 1988 are 24,800 and 159,900 respectively.

  Urban Development Corporations
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which urban development corporations have consulted the local authorities in their area on their budget for 1989–90.

  Mr. Ridley
  Consultation on UDC budgets is not appropriate: their money is voted by Parliament. UDCs are required, however, to draw up a code of practice as to consultation with the local authorities in their areas on the exercise of their powers.

  Mr. Duffy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which urban development corporations have established procedures for meeting local community organisations.

  Mr. Trippier
  All UDCs except central Manchester and Bristol have developed arrangements for liaising with community organisations. Central Manchester and Bristol are still formulating their arrangements.

  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether it is his intention that urban development corporations should seek to agree a set of objectives about regeneration with local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Government encourage co-operation between urban development corporations and local authorities to help UDCs secure the regeneration of their designated areas. UDCs are required, under section 140 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, to prepare codes of practice as to consultation with their local authorities.
  577
  Mr. Rees
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which urban development corporations use existing local plans as a basis for undertaking their regeneration task.

  Mr. Ridley
  There are local plans covering parts of all urban development areas, except Trafford park. UDCs take them into account when preparing strategies for the regeneration of their areas.

  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which urban development corporations open their planning committees to the public.

  Mr. Trippier
  London Docklands development corporation holds its planning meetings in public. We understand Bristol and Sheffield development corporations also intend to do so.

  Council Tenants (Three Rivers)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the decision of Three Rivers council tenants to reject a transfer to Chess Valley housing association; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  I have received no such representations.

  Football Spectators Bill
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received(a) in favour and (b) against the Football Spectators Bill.

  Mr. Moynihan
  By 17 April I had received 59 representations in favour and 3,991 against the Football Spectators Bill.

  Local Authority Expenditure
  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated net saving in terms of public expenditure as a result of the measures taken over the past 10 years to restrict expenditure by local authorities.

  Mr. Gummer
  We have taken a number of measures to restrict expenditure by local authorities which have resulted in substantial savings over the past 10 years.

  Drinking Water
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he is taking to ensure that the Thames water authority supplies a high quality standard of drinking water after privatisation.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The Water Bill contains proposals for a comprehensive new system for safeguarding and improving the quality of water supplies. This will include tight quality standards, frequent sampling, the establishment of a drinking water quality inspectorate, and requirements to provide full information to consumers on the quality of water they receive.

  Water Privatisation
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for the debt incurred on and management of Kielder water in relation to privatisation of the Northumbrian water authority.
  578
  Mr. Moynihan
  The National Rivers Authority will enter into an agreement with Northumbrian water authority's successor company to deal with the operation of Kielder as a water resource asset. Under the terms of clause 83 of the Water Bill, there will be a general debt restructuring of all water authorities prior to flotation.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the proposed safeguards for consumers contained in the proposals for the privatisation of the water industry.

  Mr. Howard
  After privatisation our comprehensive new charter for customers would for the first time give consumers rights on the quality of water they drink, the charges they pay, and the standard of service they receive. As part of this I am pleased to announce that public consultation today begins on the draft regulations for the guaranteed standards scheme. This is a no nonsense, no quibble scheme providing a spur to management to ensure the best commercial practices. Domestic customers will be automatically entitled to a payment or credit of £5 for every day, or each occasion, on which a breach of one of the standards of service occurs. This will avoid the frustration customers at present experience because they cannot obtain any compensation in such cases.

  The scheme covers:
  —delays beyond the period notified by the company for restoring water supplies following a planned interruption of supply;
  —delays of more than 24 hours in restoring water supply following an unplanned interruption which has been notified to the company (72 hours in the case of a burst strategic main);
  —appointments which are not kept on the day specified by the company to the customer;
  —failure to provide a substantive answer to written enquiries about bills, or requests for alternative methods of payment within 20 and 10 working days respectively; —failure to answer written complaints about water supply or sewerage services by providing an answer within 10 working days, and a substantive answer within 20 working days if the matter requires a site inspection or further investigations.

  I will place copies of the draft regulations of the guaranteed standards scheme in the House Library along with copies of the Government's leaflet "Customer Standards and Consumer Rights".

  Litter
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for ensuring that local authorities carry out effectively their duties on litter.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We are considering placing a duty on local authorities to clean public areas, having regard to codes of practice which the Government would issue. We are also looking at ways of enabling local authorities to enforce the Litter Act more effectively.

  Mr. James Lamond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress of his campaign to reduce litter in the streets.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The clean nineties campaign launched by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and being developed by the Tidy Britain group is proceeding well. I and other Ministers have been associated with projects and other activities designed to increase public awareness of the problem and involvement in solutions.
  579
  We expect the Tidy Britain group's projects to result in codes of practice, setting standards of cleanliness, in time for the launch of Tidy Britain Year-1990.

  We will shortly be reviewing the City of Westminster's fixed penalty scheme for littering to see whether it should be extended nationally. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport launched a £1 million litter clearing campaign on 17 March and is monitoring the standards in his Department's code of practice for routine maintenance of roads.

  Association of District Councils
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met the Association of District Councils; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Gummer
  My right hon. Friend last met representatives of the local associations, including the Association of District Councils, on 29 November 1988. The subjects discussed were the new system of local authority capital finance and the Government's proposals for the treatment of local authorities interests in companies.

  Rates
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those district councils which have increased their rates by 50 per cent. in the last year.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There are two authorities: Basildon increased its rates by 57·2 per cent. in 1989–90; Brighton increased its rates by 56·7 per cent. in 1989–90.

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment at what date he expects the United Kingdom to meet the Montreal protocol target of a 50 per cent. reduction in the use of chlorofluorocarbons.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Montreal protocol requires cuts of 50 per cent. in the consumption of cholorofluorocarbons (CFCs) by 1999. We expect this to have been achieved by the United Kingdom by the end of this year, 10 years ahead of schedule.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further action he intends to take to diminish the use and encourage the recycling and safe disposal of chlorofluorocarbons.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Environment Council of the European Community has, in response to a United Kingdom initiative, called for the Montreal protocol to be strengthened so as to require production and consumption of chlorofluorocarbons to be reduced by 85 per cent. as quickly as possible with a view to their elimination by the end of the century. We shall be pressing for this to be agreed as the protocol is reviewed over the next 12 months. Such a change would give further impetus to the search for and application of substitutes and to the recycling of existing CFCs. The question of the safe destruction of CFCs will be considered by the parties to the Montreal protocol at their first meeting in Helsinki next month.

  Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment his Department has made of the benefits to be gained by local authorities from competitive tendering in 1989–90.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Department will shortly be letting a research contract to monitor and evaluate the effects of the competition provisions of the Local Government Act 1988. The statutory deadline for the first round of services to be exposed to competition is 1 August 1989. Previous studies have therefore necessarily examined the effects of voluntary competition; these have found savings of 20 to 30 per cent. of previous costs without any reduction in standards.

  European Soccer
  Mr. John Carlisle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions have taken place between the Minister responsible for sport and his European counterparts regarding the readmittance of English clubs to European soccer competition.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I have not discussed the re-admission of English football clubs to UEFA competitions with my European counterparts. The matter was discussed at the meeting of the Standing Committee on the European Convention on Spectator Violence on 13 and 14 April. The Standing Committee welcomed UEFA's decision to re-admit English clubs in the 1990–91 season subject to the conditions laid down by UEFA.

  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next intends to meet the president of the Union of European Football Associations to discuss the re-entry of English football clubs to European competition.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I understand that the President of UEFA has said that he will seek a meeting with me next April to discuss the re-admission of English clubs to Europe in the 1990–91 season. I shall be happy to meet him.

  Global Warming
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies his Department has undertaken to assess the effect of global warming on coastal communities.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  In June 1988 the Department published a series of desk studies on "Possible Impacts of Climate Change on the Natural Environment in the United Kingdom". The report identified a number of research requirements for assessing those impacts. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House. Further studies are now proceeding, including studies on the implications for sea defences.

  Denis Wild-type Houses
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in encouraging building societies to offer advances on Denis Wild-type houses.
  581
  Mr. Trippier
  Good progress is being made in improving the mortgage ability of all non-traditional house types. If the hon. Member has a specific problem in mind, perhaps he would write to me.

  Water Authorities
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met the chairmen of the water authorities; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Howard
  My right hon. Friend and I met the chairmen of the water authorities on 24 April. Various matters of mutual interest were discussed.

  Bathing Waters
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many bathing waters were designated for the purposes of the European bathing waters directive in(a) May 1979 and (b) May 1988.

  Mr. Moynihan
  No United Kingdom bathing waters had been indentified in May 1979 under the EEC bathing water directive. In May 1988, 397 coastal bathing waters had been identified. These are listed in the Official Report for 5 May 1988 at column 536 for Scotland, and at columns 571–577 for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

  Widdecombe Report
  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he is making on implementing those recommendations of the Widdecombe report which do not require primary legislation.

  Mr. Gummer
  We have established join working groups with the local authority associations to prepare a new set of model standing orders for local authorities; and to revise the national code of local government conduct.

  Empty Properties
  Mr. Litherland
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the number of empty residential properties in the private sector in England and Wales.

  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the figures for empty residential properties in the private sector in Inner London for April 1987 and April 1988.

  Mr. Trippier
  This information is reported by English local authorities in their annual housing investment programme returns (HIPI). It is shown at column A84 of "Grossed Estimates—HIPI" for 1987 and 1988. Copies of these documents are in the Library.

  For Welsh figures, I refer the hon. Member for Manchester, Central to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  River Pollution
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about river pollution in Leicestershire.

  Mr. Howard
  River water quality in Leicestershire is generally of a high standard with most rivers being of good 582
  or fair quality. Some stretches of river in the Soar catchment, at present not meeting their quality objectives, will be improved by 1992 as a result of planned capital expenditure by Severn-Trent water authority to improve unsatisfactory sewage treatment works.

  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the system of open regulation of river pollution was introduced.

  Mr. Howard
  Since 31 July 1985, the water authorities have kept public registers with details of applications for, and consents granted in respect of, discharges of effluent, both by the authorities themselves and by others. The registers also contain details of the results of the water authorities' sampling of effluent quality together with the results of their regular monitoring programmes for rivers and estuaries and coastal waters. The registers are kept in accordance with the Control of Pollution (Registers) Regulations 1985 and section 41 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress his Department has made in evaluating a system of local government finance based on a combination of capital value tax and a local income tax.

  Mr. Gummer
  We published figures illustrating the possible impact of such a system on 23 June 1988. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has undertaken to provide illustrative figures for any hon. Member who asks, on the same basis as those he quoted to my hon. Friends the Members for Fulham (Mr. Carrington) and for Kensington (Mr. Fishburn) on 25 January at column 1013.

  Hazardous Wastes
  Mr. Ted Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to respond to the recent Environment Select Committee report on hazardous wastes.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will arrange for an urgent response to the Environment Select Committee report on toxic and hazardous waste.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Government's response will be published as soon as possible.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the bill paid by a ward sister living in a typical property in Cambridge under a system of(a) community charge and (b) capital value rates plus local income tax.

  Mr. Gummer
  A ward sister earning £13,000 living in a property in Cambridge worth £50,000 would pay a community charge of £213 (disregarding the transitional safety net) and £465 under a system of capital value rates plus local income tax.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the latest figures of households accepted as homeless by local authorities following mortgage repossession for England and Wales.

  Mr. Trippier
  In the quarter ending December 1988 local authorities accepted responsibility to secure accommodation for an estimated 1,800 households under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act, where the immediate reason for homelessness was mortgage arrears.

  For Welsh figures, I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to ensure that delays on processing council house sales are reduced.

  Mr. Trippier
  As I announced in my answer of 10 March to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Hughes), section 124 of the Housing Act 1988 came into force on that date. It enables tenants whose applications are delayed by the landlord to have rent payments put towards the purchase price of their home. Section 136 of the Act helps local authorities equip themselves to deal with applications by allowing them to use the proceeds of sales to meet the administrative costs.

  Ozone Layer
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received regarding the protection of the ozone layer.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We have received a number of representations regarding the protection of the ozone layer.

  Single People (Housing)
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any proposals to increase the supply of housing for single young people in metropolitan areas.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Government have provided for an 80 per cent. increase over the next three years in the finance available to the Housing Corporation to provide new houses to rent and to promote low-cost home ownership including shared ownership. The deregulation of new private lettings will also encourage landlords to make more homes available to rent.

  Nature Conservancy Council
  Mr. Stott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met the Nature Conservancy Council to discuss environmental policies.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Ministers hold regular discussions with the Nature Conservancy Council which cover a range of issues affecting policies for nature conservation and the environment. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State last met the chairman of the council on 26 January. Both my noble Friend the Earl of Caithness and I have met the chairman and the deputy chairman at meetings held during the last three months.

  Housing Action Trust
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the common problems identified by the consultants in proposed housing action trust areas.

  Mr. Trippier
  I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's answer to the hon. Member for Wyre (Mr. Mans) on 16 March at column 322 announcing the publication of the consultants' reports on the proposed housing action trust areas. Copies of the consultants' reports on all the proposed areas were placed on that day in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost of carrying out the consultant's report on the proposed housing action trust area in Sunderland.

  Mr. Trippier
  The cost of carrying out the report on the proposed Sunderland housing action trust will amount to £198,233, including VAT, when all bills have been paid. This figure covers consultants' fees and the cost of producing reports and leaflets about the proposal.

  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will release the necessary funds to local authorities for improving the areas identified as potential housing action trusts.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Government have made extra public expenditure provision available for housing action trusts. It will be for tenants in the areas proposed for trusts to decide whether they wish my right hon. Friend to proceed with the orders necessary to set them up.

  Rates
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average increase in domestic rates from 1 April.

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average increase in(a) domestic rates and (b) non-domestic rates from 1 April 1989.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The average increase in the domestic rates of local authorities in England in 1989–90 is 9·3. The average increase in non-domestic rates is 7·8 per cent.

  Sports Council
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next intends to meet the chairman of the Sports Council; and what subjects he proposes to discuss.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I shall be meeting the outgoing chairman, John Smith and the chairman designate. Peter Yarranton, during May. We will discuss a number of issues relating to sport.

  Isle of Dogs (Commercial Space)
  Mr. Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total amount of commercial space(a) completed, (b) under construction and (c) with planning permission in the Isle of Dogs enterprise zone; and if he has an estimate of the total allowances they will be eligible for.
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  Mr. Trippier
  As at 31 March the London Docklands development corporation estimated that 320,000 sq m of commercial floorspace has been constructed since 1981 with another 830,000 sq m under construction. Planning permission is not generally required in enterprise zones but the estimate of commercial floorspace committed in the Isle of Dogs EZ is a further 895,000 sq m.

  Estimates of the cost of capital allowances to the Exchequer are based on the total level of investment in construction in enterprise zones and other national data; they are not available for individual zones.

  Council Rents
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has calculated the effect on council rents of the proposals in the Local Government and Housing Bill.

  Mr. Trippier
  Under part VI of the Local Government and Housing Bill, local authorities will retain the responsibility for setting rents for their own properties. A number of factors can affect the levels at which councils choose to pitch their rents, including the determinations which my right hon. Friend will make each year as a basis for calculating entitlement for housing revenue account subsidy. A calculation of future rents can be made only one year at a time, when the relevant determinations have been made.

  Homeless Families
  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many homeless families could be housed immediately if all void properties in the hands of local authorities were filled.

  Mr. Trippier
  At the latest date for which we have information, 1 April 1988, there were nearly 103,000 local authority dwellings empty in England. Of these, nearly 22,000 were available for immediate letting, and could thus, in theory, have taken every homeless family out of bed-and-breakfast accommodation twice over. However, the right dwellings are not all in the right place at the right time for homeless families. Nevertheless, it is urgent and essential for authorities to make effective use of their empty property. The new financial regime for local authority housing will increase the pressure on councils to do so.

  London Housing Survey
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received a copy of the report from the London research centre entitled "The London Housing Survey 1986–87"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Yes. The Government's housing policies and, in particular the provisions in the Housing Act 1988, which are designed to secure a greater diversity of housing supply, will address many of the issues mentioned in the report.

  Control of Pollution Act
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the extent of implementation of the Control of Pollution Act.
  586
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The main provisions of the Act have all been implemented, with the exception of a few sections of part II which are contained in the water legislation currently before Parliament. The remaining provisions are either reserve powers or are now thought inappropriate.

  Estates Programme
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have participated in the estates programme; at what cost; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Over 200 local authorities in England have participated in discussions and received advice under our estate action initiative and by 31 March 1989, 110 had received additional resources totalling £260 million. A further £190 million is being made available under the estate action programme in the current financial year.

  Housing Corporation
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many regional offices of the Housing Corporation have now been established; and what resources have been committed to the corporation to ensure effective dissemination of the services available.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Housing Corporation has nine regional offices in England. The Government are providing grant-in-aid of £19·8 million in 1989–90 to meet the administrative costs of the corporation in carrying out its functions.

  Farmland
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much farmland was released for private housing in(a) 1968, (b) 1978 and (c)

  Mr. Chope
  The information requested is not available. I gave my hon. Friend some MAFF data for 1958–68, 1968–78 and 1978–85 in my answer to him on 14 December. My Department's land use change data, which are not comparable with the MAFF series, show that in 1985–87 the average annual area of land recorded by the Ordnance Survey as changing from agricultural to urban use in England was around 5,500 hectares, of which around 3,400 hectares were for residential use. Figures for 1988 will be published later this year.

  Empty Property
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any proposals to bring empty residential property in the private sector into Housing Association or local authority ownership on a temporary or permanent basis to provide homes for the homeless.

  Mr. Trippier
  No. We believe that the changes made by the Housing Act 1988 will encourage private landlords to let currently empty property.

  Football Membership Scheme
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next intends to meet the president of the Football League and the chairman of the Football Association to discuss identity cards.
  587
  Mr. Moynihan
  I hope to meet the chairman of the Football Association and the president of the Football League shortly.

  Water Rates
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the average increase in water authority and statutory water rates from 1 April.

  Mr. Howard
  I estimate that the average increase in all water charges is likely to be 9·8 per cent. for the water authorities and about 22 per cent. for the water companies. The average increase for all consumers is likely to be about 11 per cent. Information on the average rates levied on customers charged by rateable value is not yet available.

  Housing (Transfers)
  Mr. Leadbitter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications for transfers of housing stock he has received under the provisions of the Housing Act 1988.

  Mr. Trippier
  None. Responsibility for the approval of applicants for the tenants' choice provisions in part IV of the Housing Act 1988 lies in England with the Housing Corporation under its powers in section 94. Once approved, and provided the applicant has secured the necessary degree of tenant support for its application and complied with the Housing Corporation's own procedures, applications can, under section 96 of the Act, be made direct to the appropriate public sector landlord.

  Rural Housing
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received a copy of "A Practical Guide to Providing Affordable Rural Housing" by the national agricultural centre rural trust; and if he will make a statemet.

  Mr. Trippier
  My noble Friend the Minister for Housing attended the launch of the guide and congratulated the rural trust on its production. He commended it to all village communities which think a rural housing association might help meet housing needs in their area.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied that sufficient rented housing is available in rural areas at rents which those working in such areas can afford.

  Mr. Trippier
  We accept that there is a need for more affordable rented housing in some rural areas. We have therefore increased funding to the Housing Corporation to enable it to quadruple its programme of housing for rent in small villages to 1,100 houses a year. Recent changes to planning guidance, and Budget changes in the tax treatment of land given to housing associations, will also help in increasing the supply of rural housing at moderate rents.

  Rents
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any information about changes in private sector rents since the introduction of assured tenancy provisions under the Housing Act 1988.
  588
  Mr. Trippier
  The provisions have been in force only three months and it is therefore too soon to assess their impact on rent levels.

  Enterprise Zones
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent assessment his Department has made of the operation of enterprise zones.

  Mr. "Trippier
  A study was carried out in 1986–1987, The report, "An evaluation of the enterprise zone experiment", was published in December 1987. A series of annual monitoring reports is also available. The latest of these, "Enterprise Zone Information 1986–87", was published on 18 April. Copies of these have been placed in the Library. A final evaluation of the zones will be commissioned shortly.

  Local Development Plans
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has been able to gauge the response by local authorities with planning responsibilities to his Department's recent encouragement towards more precisely delineated local development plans.

  Mr. Chope
  My general impression is that many planning authorities have responded very positively to the advice given in PPG12, and have work in hand on preparing or updating their local plans. But a period of preparation and public consultation is required before draft plans can be formally placed on deposit, and it is not possible at this stage to gauge the full impact of PPG12.

  Waste Paper
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to encourage the recycling of waste paper; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what his policy is on the recycling of paper; and if he has issued any advice to councils and other public bodies on this matter.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department of the Environment is co-operating with the Department of Trade and Industry in setting up a series of seminars, involving local authorities and others to encourage paper recycling where it is economically viable. The first is in London on 3 May. We also encourage local authorities and others to use recycled paper and to recycle their own waste where economically viable. This Department has used recycled letter headed paper for some years along with paper for many other purposes which is made wholly or partly from recycled fibre.

  Inner Cities (Housing)
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why he decided not to proceed with the research project on housing issues in inner city areas.

  Mr. Trippier
  The original research proposed proved to be too wide in scope but it is hoped to include elements of it in future research work.

  Rural Areas (Housing)
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue guidance to planning
  589
  authorities on the effect of different forms of tenure on the availability of land for affordable housing developments in rural areas.

  Mr. Trippier
  No. My right hon. Friend made clear in his announcement of 3 February at columns 433–34 that planning conditions should not normally be used to impose restrictions on tenure. He emphasised that the details of arrangements to secure low cost housing for local needs are very much a matter for local decision, and that must include decisions as to what tenure or mix of tenures is appropriate to the particular circumstances of the area concerned.

  Green Belt
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those parts of the metropolitan green belt with a width of less than 9 miles.

  Mr. Howard
  I refer my hon. Friend to the map and description of the metropolitan green belt in my Department's booklet "The Green Belts" (HMSO, October 1988), a copy of which is in the Library.

  Nature Conservancy Council
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the members of the Nature Conservancy Council, together with the bodies appointing them and details of any of their links with field sports.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Members of the Nature Conservancy Council are appointed by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Environment. Members are appointed to the council for the personal contribution they can make to its work. They have a wide range of expertise and interests. The current members of the council are as follows:

  Sir William Wilkinson, Chairman

  Sir John Burnett, Deputy Chairman

  Professor John Allen

  Lord Blakenham

  Professor David Bowen

  Lord Buxton

  Mr. John Cossins

  The Earl of Dalkeith

  Dr. Peter Evans

  Professor John Knill

  Miss Audrey Lees

  Sir Hector Monro

  Dr. Bill Mutch

  Professor Gareth Owen

  Earl Peel

  Mr. James Teacher

  Mr. Alexander Trotter

  Mr. Lindsay Waddell

  Mr. William Wilder

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he has issued to the Nature Conservancy Council about the conditions which should be fulfilled by the National Trust, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Country Naturalist Trust for the issuing of grant-aid for the purchase of land.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave to the Hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) on 15 February at column 281.

  Peak Park
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last visited the Peak park; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I last visited the Peak District national park on 12 April.

  Village Greens
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he has issued to local planning authorities in respect of considering planning applications or compulsory purchase orders affecting village greens.

  Mr. Ridley
  I have issued no planning guidance about village greens. Appendix G to my Department's circular 6/85 refers to compulsory purchase orders affecting commons and open spaces (which can include village greens). The Department also produces an advice note on compulsory acquisition of commons and open land.

  Public Inquiries
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the public inquiry reports submitted to him in the last five years, where a decision was made in(a) under three months, (b) under six months, (c) under one year and (d) over one year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ridley
  Information in the form requested cannot readily be obtained. Since 1984, I and my predecessors have issued 1,711 decisions on planning appeals following a public local inquiry, and approximately 70 per cent. of those decisions were issued within three months of the inspector's report being received. In 1988–89, 81 per cent. of such decisions were issued within three months.

  House of Commons
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has now completed his research into the lighting of the Chamber prior to its reconstruction in the 1940s referred to in his answer to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) of 13 February,Official Report, column 30.

  Mr. Chope
  The research has established that, except for the first few months when gas chandeliers were used and found to be unsatisfactory, artificial light in Barry's Chamber was provided from panels in the ceiling. A report was provided last month to the Select Committee on the televising of the House and copies are being placed in the Library.

  Control of Advertisements Regulations
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now give effect to the Government's proposals for amending and consolidating the Control of Advertisements Regulations.

  Mr. Chope
  As foreshadowed in the reply on 4 July last year, by my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Waldegrave) my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State and the Secretary of State for Wales have today laid before Parliament amending Control of Advertisements
  591
  Regulations which modernise the present regulations and introduce some carefully considered de-regulatory provisions.

  Among the new provisions two categories of illuminated advertisement are being permitted without first obtaining the local planning authority's prior consent. These are small signs on "business premises" and on commercial premises in "retail parks", where the sign consists of individual characters or letters, internally illuminated. Because illuminated signs on shops and other commercial premises can sometimes be garish and unsympathetic, or may confuse passers-by, safeguards will ensure that the advertisements permitted for display will not harm amenity or put vehicle drivers or pedestrians at risk. As an additional safeguard, this type of illuminated
  592
  sign will not be permitted in any conservation area, national park, area of outstanding natural beauty or area of special control of advertisements.

  These regulations will provide some worthwhile relaxation of the present unnecessarily restrictive rules, while at the same time maintaining essential safeguards for the quality of the built environment.

  Peak Park (Planning Applications)
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning applications for starter homes have been refused by the Peak park planning board.

  Mr. Trippier
  Of the 11 planning applications for "starter homes" dealt with by the Peak park joint planning board since April 1984, five have been refused.

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  VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM: US STAFF
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  KINGSTON PRISON: STAFFING
  KINGSTON PRISON: STAFFING
  PERSONAL VIOLENCE OFFENCES: STATISTICS
  PERSONAL VIOLENCE OFFENCES: STATISTICS
  NORTHERN IRELAND: LIFE SENTENCE STATISTICS
  NORTHERN IRELAND: LIFE SENTENCE STATISTICS