Written Answers of 1 December 1989

DEFENCE

  Laser-guided Bombs
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any information regarding the storage of (i) Paveway II and (ii) Paveway III laser-guided bombs in the United Kingdom by the United States Air Force.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I understand that the 48th tactical fighter wing at RAF Lakenheath is currently the only United States formation in the United Kingdom whose aircraft are equipped with laser-guided bombs. It is not our practice to release information concerning the storage of weapons at particular locations.

  Air-portable Reinforcement
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to discuss with the United States Secretary for Defence the future deployment into the United Kingdom of United States Air Force air-superiority fighters and long-range air-lifters capable of sustaining an air-portable reinforcement policy, instead of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's current large-scale American ground forces.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None.

  AWE Aldermaston
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Army unit was used recently to test the security systems at AWE Aldermaston.

  Mr. Neubert
  None.

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the calculation of the additional refuse collection charge for mixed hereditaments following the introduction of the community charge.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The introduction of the community charge should have no effect on the calculation of the refuse collection charge for mixed hereditaments. Local authorities will continue to be able to recover a reasonable charge for dealing with such waste, making due allowance for its domestic content.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give estimates on the basis of assumptions on which his draft revenue support grant distribution report (England) is based of(a) the average long-run poll tax, (b) the average poll tax with safety nets
  436
  and special grants and (c) the average rate bill per adult for 1989–90 plus 4 per cent. for each county and metropolitan area, and for each region, showing outer London, inner London and the rest of the south-east separately.

  Mr. David Hunt
  [holding answer 28 November 1989]: The information requested has been placed in the Library. The figures are consistent with the exemplifications in the consultation paper which my right hon. Friend issued on 6 November.

  Bottle Banks
  Mr. Crowther
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any guidelines have been issued to local authorities concerning the establishment of bottle banks.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 28 November 1989]: No formal guidelines have been issued to local authorities concerning the establishment of bottle banks. The Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee has issued a guide to the provision of bottle banks, and the glass industry, through the main companies involved in glass recycling, and the British Glass Manufacturers' Association offers extensive advice to local authorities.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Student Loans
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated cost of the loans scheme in the years 2000, 2005 and 2010.

  Mr. Jackson
  On the assumptions made in the White Paper "Top-up Loans for Students" Cm. 520, the estimated net cost of the scheme is some £13 million in 2000; in 2005 there is estimated to be a net saving of some £37 million rising to some £49 million in 2010. For the estimated cost of the scheme on different assumptions I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith) on 2 November 1989 at columns 53–74ֵ

  Means-Tested Grants
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the estimated cost of abolishing means-tested grants and the paying of full grant to all students in full-time advanced education.

  Mr. Jackson
  The cost of abolishing means-testing under the existing mandatory awards system would be approximately £400 million in the current academic year. The cost of extending non-means tested maintenance grant to all full-time higher education students, other than postgraduates, would be of the order of a further £60 to 90 million per annum.

  Southwark School, Nottingham
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what response he has made to the letter from the head teacher of Southwark junior school, Old Basford, Nottingham.
  437
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. Friend received a letter from Miss E. M. Howse, the head teacher of Southwark junior school, Old Basford on 16 November 1989. A reply will be sent shortly.

  Child Abuse
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what figures he has for how many cases of suspected child abuse were reported by teachers in the years 1987–88 and 1988–89.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Such figures are not centrally available.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prison Workshops
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prison workshops at each London prison that are working and the number of inmates employed in such workshops as at 20 November.

  Mr. Mellor
  A total of 413 inmates were employed on 20 November as follows:

  Workshops

  Inmates employed

  Holloway

  Textiles

  12

  Pentonville

  Tailoring

  43

  Contract services

  35

  Wandsworth

  Laundry

  79

  Heavy textiles

  60

  Brushmaking

  30

  Contract services

  26

  Tailoring

  25

  Textiles

  22

  Woodwork (joinery)

  15

  Wormwood Scrubs

  Engineering (3 shops)

  44

  Tailoring

  11

  Central cutting unit

  11

  Prisoners (Security)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the governor of Wakefield prison as to why Mr. John Michael Dunn is being held in hospital in conditions of security less stringent than those applied to his imprisonment;

  (2) if the implementation of fresh start has resulted in changed procedures or practice relating to the security arrangements for prisoners serving life sentences who are temporarily admitted to hospital;

  (3) what guidance he issues to prison governors with regard to the security of prisoners serving life sentences who are temporarily admitted to hospital.

  Mr. Waddington
  In determining the precise arrangements to be made when a prisoner has to be taken out of prison in order to receive hospital treatment the governor acts within guidance which emphasises the need to have full regard to security requirements in the particular case. "Fresh Start" has not altered this requirement. I understand that in the case to which the hon. Member refers, the governor's decisions while the prisoner was in 438
  hospital were based entirely upon consideration of the needs of security and that he has explained the circumstances fully to the hon. Member.

  Local Government Act 1966
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the present position of the Government with regard to section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966.

  Mr. Waddington
  I am presently considering the scrutiny report with a view to ensuring that section 11 grant meets more effectively the needs of the ethnic minorities. I hope to be in a position to announce the results of that consideration in the not too distant future.

TRANSPORT

  Road Accidents
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road accidents involving under-age drivers occurred in the Bolton area during each of the past three years; and how many fatalities resulted from such accidents.

  Mr. Atkins
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Accidents involving under-age drivers Bolton district council area 1986 to 1988

  Year

  Number of accidents

  Number of fatalities

  1986

  28

  0

  1987

  21

  1

  1988

  26

  0

  Ormskirk Bypass
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will appoint consultants to recommend a route for the proposed Ormskirk bypass on the A59; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  I expect to invite competitive bids from consultants for this scheme early next year; and to seek the public's views on possible routes within two years of appointing a consultant.

  Hazardous Cargoes
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions since May 1979 legislative changes have been introduced in arrangements for the road and rail transport of toxic and inflammable chemicals arising from reviews of the rules in place.

  Mr. Atkins
  Six for road transport. British Rail produces its own conditions of acceptance which are broadly in line with existing international provisions.

  Driving Tests and Licences
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to change regulations governing driving tests and licences; and if he will make a statement.
  439
  Mr. Atkins
  There are a number of issues currently under consideration which will require changes to driver testing and licensing regulations. These are: the first EC directive on driver licensing which was the first stage bringing driver licensing and testing into line and introduced a Community driving licence; the second EC directive which will harmonise driver licensing and testing throughout the Community; and the White Paper "The Road User and the Law" (Cm. 576) which proposed compulsory re-testing of offenders. Copies of these documents, and consultation papers issued about them, have been placed in the Library.

  We are about to consult on the detailed regulations needed to meet our obligations under the first directive, and to pave the way for the introduction of the more acceptable provisions in the second directive which is still to be negotiated.

  We are also about to consult on the detailed proposals for the introduction of compulsory training for all new riders of motorcycles and mopeds under the Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Act 1989. This will replace part I of the current two-part motorcycle test.

  Buses (Deregulation)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what effect the deregulation has had on the levels of bus patronage.

  Mr. Portillo
  Between 1985–86 and 1988–89, there was a 10 per cent. fall in the number of passengers carried on local bus services outside London, in line with the long-term historic decline. However, real costs per vehicle mile fell by 30 per cent. over the same period, enabling operators to increase mileage by 18 per cent., reversing the long-term trend of declining service levels.

  Road Freight
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he is taking to reduce the amount of freight carried by road.

  Mr. Atkins
  The volume of freight carried by road is a reflection of the lorry's flexibility in terms of goods carried, destinations reached and the timing and planning of journeys. It is for Government to ensure that fair conditions for competition exist between the different modes of transport; but customers must then be free to choose for themselves. Where the transfer of goods from road to rail or inland waterway is shown to provide clear and worthwhile environmental benefits, grants may be paid.

  Road Lighting
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many lives have been lost in accidents on unlit stretches of motorway in the last 10 years.

  Mr. Atkins
  During the last 10 years, a total of 634 people died as a result of road accidents on unlit sections of motorway during the hours of darkness.

  In greater detail, the requested information is as follows:
  440

  Number of fatalities on unlit sections of motorway

  Unlit

  Year

  Daytime

  Darkness

  Lighting present but unlit during hours of darkness

  All other conditions

  Total

  1979

  71

  60

  0

  70

  201

  1980

  83

  56

  1

  66

  206

  1981

  100

  67

  1

  55

  223

  1982

  61

  62

  0

  83

  206

  1983

  81

  54

  0

  52

  187

  1984

  72

  61

  0

  78

  211

  1985

  90

  70

  0

  81

  241

  1986

  86

  82

  1

  79

  248

  1987

  122

  63

  1

  97

  283

  1988

  97

  59

  1

  84

  241

  M25 (Service Stations)
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many motorway service stations there are on the M25(a) north of the Thames and (b) south of the Thames; and when he expects more such service stations to be in operation.

  Mr. Atkins
  There is currently one motorway service area operational on the M25; this is north of the Thames at South Mimms. Three others are proposed. One is under construction at Thurrock just north of the Dartford crossing. It is hoped that it will begin operating next year. Our proposals for services at Clacket lane near Westerham, Kent are well advanced but await the outcome of legal proceedings by one of the landowners affected by the scheme.

  I recently announced a new search for a suitable site in the western quadrant of the M25; our original proposals for a service area at Iver have been dropped as they were not compatible with proposed widening of the motorway. I will make a further announcement about this in due course.

  Learner Drivers
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many serious injuries or deaths are believed to have resulted in the last 10 years from accidents involving learner drivers under supervision of licence holders with less than 12 months' experience.

  Mr. Atkins
  The information is not available.

  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the present regulations governing the supervision of learner drivers; and what are the regulations operating in other member states of the European Community.

  Mr. Atkins
  The present regulations require supervision by a driver who holds a full licence. A number of member states of the European Community allow only professional instruction. In others, there are varying requirements as to the age and experience of the supervisor.

  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to review the law governing the supervision of learner drivers.

  Mr. Atkins
  I am reviewing urgently whether there is a case for making changes in the law governing the supervision of learner drivers.

  Oil (Discharges from Ships)
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many prosecutions his Department brought for illegal discharges of oil from ships in United Kingdom waters between 1978 and 1988.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Figures prior to 1983 are not readily available. Since 1983 no prosecutions have been brought by the Department which until April 1988 had to rely soley on reports by passing ships and aircraft. Because these proved to be insufficient to link slicks positively to particular ships, limited regular air surveillance patrols of United Kingdom waters by a specialist oil detecting aircraft of the Department's marine pollution control unit were then instituted on a trial basis. The development of the conduct of these patrols continues but it is too early to say whether they will lead either to ships being detected in the act of illegal discharge at sea or to successful prosecutions. Evidence of alleged offences in United Kingdom waters by passing non-United Kingdom ships has to be passed to the flag state of the vessel concerned. They cannot be prosecuted by Her Majesty's Government.

  Salvage
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many salvage agreements were entered into for the salvage of Government-owned wrecks and cargoes for the last 10 years for which information is available; and what were the names of the wrecks and cargoes covered by these agreements;

  (2) how many successful salvage operations were carried out on Government-owned wrecks and cargoes in the last 10 years for which information is available; what were the names of the wrecks and cargoes on which these operations were carried out; and what were the sums accruing to the Government as a result.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 30 November 1989]: Information on the total numbers of salvage agreements entered into in the last 10 years is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Those that resulted in successful operations are as follows. The total sum accruing to the Government from these wrecks is £5,884,880.

  Vessels

  HMS Edinburgh

  SS Glenartney

  SS Shirala

  SS Camberwell

  SS St. Cecilia

  SS Ballarat

  SS Emaeus

  SS Fantee

  SS Tarquah

  SS Karina

  SS Pegu

  SS Oronsa

  SS Manipur

  SS Sheenandoah

  SS Kyma

  SS Somali

  SS Aldershot

  SS Colorado

  SS Riverdale

  SS Alice Marie

PRIME MINISTER

  Downing Street Offices
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister what is her estimate of(a) total costs, and (b) numbers employed in (i) the Prime Minister's Department, (ii) the Prime Minister's press office, (iii) remainder of 10 Downing street establishments in the latest available year and the increase in each since 1979.

  The Prime Minister
  The total cost of maintaining and running my office in 1988–89 was £6,533,712. However, since 1979 there have been several developments which have affected the way in which the costs are assessed, including:introduction of charging for aircraft by the Ministry of Defence in 1981–82;
  abolition of the CPRS in 1983, and the absorption of some of its staff within the No. 10 policy unit;
  introduction of charging for buildings and services by the PSA in 1983–84;
  introduction for charging of service personnel at Chequers by the MoD in 1984–85;
  changes in the allocation of charges for the Government car service in 1984–85;
  inclusion of costs of office services from 1986–87;
  inclusion of the cost of redecoration of certain State Rooms and of major and security works in 1988–89.

  When the effects of these developments are excluded (as far as it is possible to do so) and the result expressed in constant price terms, the cost has decreased by some 4 per cent. between 1979–80 and 1988–89.

  The costs of my press office were not recorded separately before 1987–88; in 1988–89 these amounted to £419,326, an increase in constant price terms of 3·4 per cent. over the previous year.

  The total number of staff in my office at present is 68, including eight in the press office, compared with 71 in 1979.

  Rail Travel
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions she has travelled officially on a British Rail train within the past 12 months.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the Official Report, 27 November 1989, column 92.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the average cost of answering(a) a written and (b) an oral parliamentary question.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding reply 30 November 1989]: As many questions have to be transferred, we do not calculate these items specifically here. As a guide, I refer the hon. Member to the Official Report, 14 November 1989, column 172, which sets out average figures for all Government Departments.

HEALTH

  Abortion
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has as to the number of babies born live after undergoing a prostaglandin abortion after 18 weeks.
  443
  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is not available.

  Food Poisoning
  Mr. Aitken
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of food poisoning in the period for which most recent figures are available were caused by fresh cream or egg products.

  Mr. Freeman
  In the first three quarters of 1989, 32 outbreaks of food poisoning, comprising 426 known cases, associated with eating egg or egg products were reported to the communicable disease surveillance centre by laboratories and local authorities in England and Wales. Thirty of these were due to salmonella infection. No outbreaks associated with eating cream were recorded.

  In 1988, 39 outbreaks of food poisoning, comprising 741 known cases, associated with eating egg or egg products were recorded by CDSC. Thirty-five of these were due to salmonella infection. Five outbreaks in the same period comprising 73 known cases, were associated with eating cream, including at least one outbreak associated with eating pasteurised cream. Three of these were due to salmonella infection.

  Nurses and Midwives
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of pay was overtime in the National Health Service for nurses and midwives in 1960, 1970, 1979, 1983, 1985 and 1989 or the latest date possible;

  (2) what was the amount paid to nurses and midwives, as a total and as an average salary for 1960, 1970, 1979, 1984 and 1989 or the latest date possible; and what was the average working week in hours for nurses and midwives, for those years.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Such information as is available for nursing and midwifery staff (including unqualified staff) in Great Britain is given in the tables. Pay has increased by some 43 per cent. on average since 1979 and is now at one of its highest-ever levels in real terms. The standard working week (excluding meal times) has been reduced from 44 hours to 42 in 1966, to 40 in 1972, and 37·5 in 1980–81.

  Table A

  Gross Paybill1 £ million

  Overtime as percentage of Paybill Percentage

  1983–84

  3,045·0

  0·7

  1984–85

  3,281·0

  0·9

  1985–86

  3,513·2

  1·0

  1988–89

  5,100·7

  1·5

  1 Excluding London additions and Employers' costs.

  Information is not available for earlier years.

  Source: Department of Health.

  Table B

  Average gross weekly earnings, full-time staff

  Average weekly hours: full-time staff

  (£)1

  April 1970

  19·0

  n/a

  April 1979

  67·8

  n/a

  April 1984

  123·6

  37·6

  April 1989

  222·0

  37·9

  444

  1 Earnings are for employees on adult rates of pay whose pay was not affected by absence. 1970 and 1979 adult rates on the basis of males aged 21 and over and females aged 18 and over; 1984 and 1989 based on all ages on adult rates.

  Equivalent data for 1960 is not available.

  Source: DE: New Earnings Survey.

  Home Treatment
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies have been undertaken on the treatment of medical disorders in a patient's home as an alternative to hospital; what reduction in costs such treatment would result in for the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The "Hospital at Home" scheme managed by Peterborough health authority has been the subject of independent studies published by the King's fund and the Medical Care Research Unit at the University of Sheffield. The Peterborough initiative does not appear to have resulted in significant cost saving.

  1991 Census
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the census return form he intends to use for the 1991 census.

  Mr. Freeman
  Facsimiles of the 1991 census forms will be included in the Census Regulations to be laid before Parliament when the Census Order has been made. Copies of "Census Newsletter No. 11", which shows how the proposed questions would look on the census forms, have been placed in the Library and will be made available from the Vote Office before the Census Order is debated.

  National Health Service Managers
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many general managers at district health authorities are(a) men and (b) women;

  (2) how many general managers at regional health authorities are (a) men and (b) women.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Of the 190 district health authorities in England, 180 are managed by men and 10 by women.

  Of the 14 regional health authorities in England, 13 are managed by men and one by a woman.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Ministers' Pay
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement about Ministers' pay.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  The salaries of Members of Parliament will increase by £2,594 from 1 January 1990 in accordance with the terms of the resolution of 21 July 1987. In the light of this the Government propose that ministerial salaries should be increased by the same cash amount, which will mean an increase in the ministerial pay bill of 6·5 per cent. The details are set out in the following table and I have today laid the draft Ministerial and Other Salaries Order 1989 to implement these changes.
  445

  Ministers and other paid office holders

  Current official salary (£)

  January 1990 official salary(£)

  Percentage increase

  Current total salary2 (£)

  Total January 1990 salary3 (£)

  Percentage increase

  Prime Minister1

  46,109

  46,750

  1·39

  64,257

  66,851

  4·04

  Cabinet Minister (C)

  34,479

  35,120

  1·86

  52,627

  55,221

  4·93

  Cabinet Minister (L)

  41,997

  44,591

  6·18

  —

  —

  —

  Minister of State (C)

  24,209

  24,850

  2·65

  42,357

  44,951

  6·12

  Minister of State (L)

  37,047

  39,641

  7·00

  —

  —

  —

  Parliamentary Secretary (C)

  18,219

  18,860

  3·52

  36,367

  38,961

  7·13

  Parliamentary Secretary (L)

  30,647

  33,241

  8·46

  —

  —

  —

  Attorney-General

  36,679

  37,320

  1·75

  54,827

  57,421

  4·73

  Solicitor-General

  29,959

  30,600

  2·14

  48,107

  50,701

  5·39

  Lord Advocate

  42,067

  44,661

  6·17

  —

  —

  —

  Solicitor-General for Scotland

  36,515

  39,109

  7·10

  —

  —

  —

  House of Commons

  Mr. Speaker1

  36,209

  36,850

  1·77

  54,357

  56,951

  4·77

  Leader of the Opposition

  31,559

  32,200

  2·03

  49,707

  52,301

  5·22

  Chief Whip

  28,589

  29,230

  2·24

  46,737

  49,331

  5·55

  Deputy Chief Whip

  24,209

  24,850

  2·65

  42,357

  44,951

  6·12

  Opposition Chief Whip

  24,209

  24,850

  2·65

  42,357

  44,951

  6·12

  Government Whips + Assistant Government Whips

  15,349

  15,990

  4·18

  33,497

  36,091

  7·74

  Assistant Opposition Whip

  15,349

  15,990

  4·18

  33,497

  36,091

  7·74

  Chairman of Ways and Means

  24,209

  24,850

  2·65

  42,357

  44,951

  6·12

  Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means

  21,199

  21,840

  3·02

  39,347

  41,941

  6·59

  House of Lords

  Chief Whip

  37,047

  39,641

  7·00

  —

  —

  —

  Deputy Chief Whip

  30,647

  33,241

  8·46

  —

  —

  —

  Government Whips

  27,377

  29,971

  9·48

  —

  —

  —

  Opposition Leader

  30,647

  33,241

  8·46

  —

  —

  —

  Opposition Chief Whip

  27,377

  29,971

  9·48

  —

  —

  —

  Chairman of Committees

  37,047

  39,641

  7·00

  —

  —

  —

  Principal Deputy Chairman of Committes

  33,537

  36,131

  7·73

  —

  —

  —

  Members of Parliament

  24,107

  26,701

  10·76

  —

  —

  —

  1 The Prime Minister and Mr. Speaker have elected to receive the same salary as a Cabinet Minister in the House of Commons.

  2 Including reduced Parliamentary Salary of £18,148.

  3 Including reduced Parliamentary Salary of £20,101.

  Note:

  The Lord Chancellor's salary is governed by the Lord Chancellor's Salary Order 1988 and is not affected by this Order. (He receives £91,500 effective from 18 April 1989).

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Serious Fraud Office
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the current workload of the serious fraud office.

  The Attorney-General
  The present caseload of the serious fraud office includes 16 cases where proceedings have been commenced and a further 50 cases are under investigation. Since 1 April 1989 there have been eight trials involving 14 defendants of whom 10 have been convicted on one or more counts. A further seven cases stand listed for trial during the second half of this current year.

  In tackling this substantial caseload the serious fraud office continues to develop its working practices by means of an extensive training programme, with the emphasis on the introduction of information technology as an aid to investigation and the presentation of evidence. A high priority is afforded to the development of working relationships with other law enforcement agencies and prosecuting authorities both at home and abroad.

  Magistrates (Removal)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Attorney-General how many magistrates have been removed from the Bench for each year since 1980 for(a) being convicted of a criminal offence and (b) any other reason.

  The Attorney-General
  Figures are available from 1984 onwards. Before that time the cost of ascertaining the information required would be excessive.

  Justices removed by Lord Chancellor

  On conviction

  For other reasons

  1984

  2

  11

  1985

  2

  4

  1986

  2

  5

  1987

  0

  4

  1988

  2

  4

  19891

  3

  4

  1 To date.

  Water Pollution
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Attorney-General whether the Director of Public Prosecutions has taken over the private case in respect of water pollution at Camelford; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  Yes. The proceedings in question were instituted (on behalf of the Bodmin Angling Association) at a time when police inquiries requested by the Director of Public Prosecutions were still in progress.

  On 14 October 1989 the Director of Public Prosecutions instituted criminal proceedings for public nuisance and consequently there were in being two separate criminal cases with two different prosecutors but against the same defendant and arising out of the same circumstances. The interests of justice required that the proceedings be amalgamated, and the director used his statutory power accordingly.

  Criminal Cases
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Attorney-General what was the total number of criminal cases heard in(a) magistrates courts, (b) Crown courts and (c) higher courts in 1988.

  The Attorney-General
  During 1988 the number of defendants proceeded against in magistrates courts was 1,863,000. In the Crown court 104,773 trials, 12,695 cases for sentence and 15,849 appeals from magistrates courts were disposed of. The Court of Appeal Criminal Division dealt with 8,001 applications and appeals.

ENERGY

  Energy Policy
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on his energy policy.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The Government seek to ensure that the United Kingdom has adequate, diverse and secure supplies of energy in the forms that people want at the lowest realistic prices. They aim to achieve this wherever possible by ensuring that energy prices reflect their true economic costs and by subjecting as much of energy supply as is practicable to the operation of market forces, bearing in mind the state's strategic responsibilities for health and safety, the protection of the environment and the elimination of energy waste.

  Gas Flare-off
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the output of gas being flared off by the energy industry for the last year for which he has figures.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  My Department has responsibility for controlling and monitoring gas flared from producing oilfields in the United Kingdom continental shelf.

  Details of the amounts of gas flared are published in my Department's annual report to Parliament (the Brown Book).

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has to introduce legislation to encourage energy efficiency.
  448
  Mr. Peter Morrison
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 22 November to my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam), at column 8.

  Gas Imports
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consideration he has given to the likely effect on gas imports of further gas-fired generating capacity.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I welcome the numerous proposals for gas-fired generating capacity which are now being pursued. Known reserves of UKCS gas are, on present assessment, fully capable of meeting competitively the needs of the United Kingdom gas market, including the power generation sector, for the foreseeable future. I look forward to seeing UKCS producers take up the full range of opportunities open to them within an increasingly competitive gas market.

  Selby Coalfield
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what is the capital investment in the Selby coalfield; and if he will outline the amount of capital invested over the years, giving each year separately;

  (2) what is the total capital cost for the provision of waste disposal from the Selby coalfield; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  These are matters for the British Coal Corporation, and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the original estimate of the amount of waste to be produced from the Selby coalfield; what is the total amount of waste up to 31 March; what is the estimated waste to be disposed of in 1989–90 and 1990–91; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The production of waste from the Selby coalfield is the responsibility of British Coal and I am asking the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

WALES

  Cardiff Bay Barrage
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what advice he has received from the Nature Conservancy Council concerning the proposed Cardiff bay barrage.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The proposal for a Cardiff bay barrage is primarily for the promoters, Cardiff Bay development corporation and South Glamorgan county council, to which the Nature Conservancy Council has made representations. The council has exercised its right to make its views known direct to Parliament by petitioning against the Bill, and these views will be considered in detail at the Select Committee stage. If Parliament approves the Cardiff Bay Barrage Bill the Nature Conservancy Council has confirmed that it will work with the promoters to diminish any detriment to bird life and to develop and conserve flora and fauna in the inland bay and provisions to this end have been included in the Bill.

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money was raised in prescription charges in Wales in each year from 1970–80 to 1987–88; and into what fund these receipts are paid.

  Mr. Grist
  Prescription charges, including receipts from the sale of pre-payment certificates, in the family practitioner service in Wales amounted to:

  Year

  £ million

  1979–80

  2·9

  1980–81

  5·0

  1981–82

  5·8

  1982–83

  6·4

  1983–84

  6·8

  1984–85

  7·2

  1985–86

  8·0

  1986–87

  8·5

  1987–88

  9·5

  The prescription charges collected in the family practitioner service in Wales are credited to class XVII, vote 7.

  Sheepmeat Regime
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has had from the National Farmers Union in Wales regarding the proposed sheepmeat regime; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I received numerous representations from the National Farmers Union in Wales during negotiations on the reform of the sheepmeat regime.

  Tenby
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all schemes, together with their cost, suported by the Welsh Office and the Welsh Development Agency in Tenby in each of the past three financial years.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  [holding answer 24 November 1989]: The schemes are shown in the following tables:

  1. Regional Assistance

  Value of offers £

  Related project cost £

  1986–87

  100,000

  248,000

  1987–88

  111,000

  492,000

  198–89

  129,000

  348,000

  Regional assistance includes offers, where made, of regional selective assistance, regional development grant (the revised scheme) and regional enterprise grant.

  2. Grants

  Total cost £

  Welsh Office grant £

  1986–87

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  1987–88

  Paragon and Sluice (Coast protection scheme)

  54,824

  74,400

  1988–89

  Housing Enveloping

  866,000

  866,000

  450

  3. Welsh Development Agency

  (a) Rural Conversion Grant

  Total cost £

  Grant awarded £

  1986–87

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  1987–88

  Slate Mill, Saundersfoot

  10,260

  4,217

  Tindle Enterprise, Tenby

  34,600

  12,246

  Fortified Rectory, Tenby

  62,649

  21,927

  1988–89

  Tenby Market Hall

  100,000

  50,000

  Tindle Enterprise, Tenby

  9,522

  3,332

  East Tarr Riding Centre, Tenby

  12,654

  4,428

  (b) Investments

  Financial year and name of company

  Amounts £

  1986–87

  Harmnston Software Ltd.

  7,000

  1987–88

  Penally Abbey Hotel

  34,000

  Grayline Reprographics

  7,000

  Harmnston Software Ltd.

  20,000

  1988–89

  Dutybrook Ltd.

  15,000

  Murphy and Stenson

  100,000

  Silent World Aquarium

  20,000

  (c) Environmental Schemes (MSC Community Programme)

  Total Cost £

  Grant £

  Tenby Environmental Scheme park benches, renovation of sailing club building and other work at St. Florence and Penally)

  93000

  8,000

  4. Wales Tourist Board Assisted Projects

  Total Cost

  Grant/Loan

  1986–87

  Lyndale Guest House

  4,471

  1,000

  Myrtle Grove Guest House

  558

  1,160

  1987–88

  Faircroft Hotel

  86,841

  15,000

  Croyland Hotel

  5,041

  1,250

  Panorama Hotel

  5,649

  1,250

  1988–89

  Dragon Driving Services

  8,881

  2,000

  Penally Abbey Hotel

  80,440

  16,745

  Hallsville Hotel

  7,164

  1,706

  Railways
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the total amount of public service obligation grant paid in 1988 to British Rail spent on the railway network in Wales; and what percentage this is of the total grant paid to British Rail.

  Mr. Portillo
  I have been asked to reply.
  451
  Public service obligation grant is paid to British Rail as a total sum for the operation of passenger services which are not commercial. It is not allocated by the Government to particular areas of Great Britain.

  Trawsgoed Laboratories
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future of the Trawsgoed laboratories.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend, the then Minister, told the House on 21 March 1989 that the MAFF laboratories at Trawsgoed would be reduced in size and that alternative uses for the Trawsgoed analytical chemistry laboratory were being sought. Discussions with interested parties are continuing.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Deaf People
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to release sufficient funds to enable the National Subtitling Library for Deaf People to maximise the benefit of recording, subtitling and distributing broadcast material for the deaf.

  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if Her Majesty's Government will provide funds to the National Subtitling Library for Deaf People; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 29 November 1989]: The Department of Health may award grants to voluntary organisations in the health and social services field under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968. All applications for Section 64 grants are considered very carefully and awards are made to those which meet the relevant criteria, subject to the funding available in a particular year. It is open to the National Subtitling Library for Deaf People to apply for a grant under these arrangements.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what statistics are held by his Department on the numbers of homeless who are in receipt of benefit other than income support.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I regret that the information is not available.

  Single Parents
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many single parents claiming benefit he estimates will benefit financially from the increase in earnings disregard from £15 to £25; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  We estimate that around 50,000 lone parents on housing benefit and/or community charge benefit will gain financially from the increase in the earnings disregard from October 1990. In addition we estimate that a further 15,000 lone parents will float on to 452
  benefit as a result of the increase. This will provide particular help to lone parents who are working and riot receiving income support.

  Invalid Care Allowance
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has anything to add to his reply of 27 November to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley)Official Report, column 428, concerning the date when invalid care allowance was introduced.

  Mr. Scott
  Invalid care allowance was introduced on 5 July 1976.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Lorrain Osman and Dato Hashim Shamsuddin
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will place in the Library all communications between the then Governor of Hong Kong, the late Sir Edward Youde, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office which occurred between 30 November 1985 and 1 June 1987 on the subject of the request, from the then Governor of Hong Kong, to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for the extradition of Lorrain Osman and Dato Hashim Shamsuddin;

  (2) if he will place in the Library all communications between the then High Commissioner in Malaysia, Mr. D. H. Gilmore CMG, and his Department which occurred between 30 November 1985 and 1 June 1987 on the subject of the request, from the then Governor of Hong Kong, the late Sir Edward Youde, to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for the extradition of Lorrain Osman and Dato Hashim Shamsuddin;

  (3) if he will obtain and place in the Library copies of all communications between the then High Commissioner in Malaysia, Mr. D. H. Gilmore CMG, and the then Governor of Hong Kong, the late Sir Edward Youde, which occurred between 30 November 1985 and 1 June 1987 on the subject of the request, from the Governor of Hong Kong, the late Sir Edward Youde, to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for the extradition of Lorrain Osman and Dato Hashim Shamsuddin.

  Mr. Maude
  No. This matter is currently sub judice.

  Refugees, Middle East
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the level of aid at present being directed to refugee camps in the Gaza strip and the Israeli-occupied territories of the West Bank.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  British assistance for refugees in the Gaza Strip and the occupied territories is channelled through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Details of British and other donors' contributions to UNRWA were provided in the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to the hon. Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson) on 30 November at column 417.

  Science and Peace
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the position taken by the Government in their vote with the consensus on United Nation General Assembly resolution 43/61 in December 1988 remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Our agreement to join consensus adoption of UN General Assembly resolution 43/61 reflects our support for its broad aims, rather than a detailed expression of our policy.

  Diplomatic Baggage
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any recent reviews have been undertaken by his Department as to the procedures relating to security clearance of diplomatic baggage; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  In consultation with the Department of Transport, we recently reviewed security measures at United Kingdom airports. As a result, all diplomats going airside are now liable to be asked to submit to search. This includes their baggage. Diplomatic bags are not subject to search of any kind.

  South Korea
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he raised the issue of human rights in South Korea during his meeting with President Roh Tae Woo.

  Mr. Maude
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, in her talks with President Roh on 28 November, encouraged him to continue to make progress with domestic political reform.

EMPLOYMENT

  Earnings
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each region the earnings of the highest decile for full-time male manual and non-manual workers in April 1989, together with the percentage increase since 1979.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Information for the years in question is published in part E table 116 of the 1979 and 1989 "New Earnings Survey" reports. Copies of the reports are in the Library.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement about trends in the level of unemployment in Hendon, South during the past six years.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In October 1989 there were 1,354 unemployed claimants in the parliamentary constituency of Hendon, South. This compares with 2,723 in October 1983, a fall of 1,369 or 50·3 per cent. over six years. The 454
  comparison is affected by the change in the compilation of the unemployment count in March 1986 to reduce over-recording and by the change in benefit regulations affecting under 18-year-olds in September 1988.

  Mr. Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the average unemployment figures for Cleveland for 1988; and what were the average unemployment figures for 1978.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In 1988 the average monthly number of claimants unemployed in Cleveland was 3,367 compared with the number of registrants which was 4,461 in 1978. The figures are affected by changes in the coverage of the unemployment count.

  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the United Kingdom work force, split between men and women, is in employment; and what is the average for the European Community.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In 1987, the latest date for which comparable information for all European Community countries is available, 87 per cent. of men and 97 per cent. of women in the work force were in employment. This compares with 90 per cent. of men and 87 per cent. of women in the European Community as a whole.

  Factory Inspections
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the average number of years between visits by factory inspectors to manufacturing premises in Yorkshire and Humberside; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  An average figure would not be meaningful, given the differing purposes for which visits are made, and the wide variety of manufacturing premises. The information is not therefore collected as part of the Health and Safety Executive's monitoring systems.

  Factory and Agriculture Inspectors
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many factory and agriculture inspectors were in post on the latest available date.

  Mr. Nicholls
  On 1 November 1989, the latest date for which figures are available, 631 factory inspectors and 170 agricultural inspectors were in post in the Health and Safety Executive.

  Working Mothers
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the proportion of mothers with children aged between two years and five years old who work in(a) part-time and (b) full-time work for the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Among women in Great Britain whose youngest dependent child was aged at least two years but under 11 it is estimated, using information from the "Labour Force Survey," that in spring 1988 just over 31 per cent. were in part-time employment and about 12 per cent. were in full-time employment.

  Adult Education
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of mothers with children aged five years old to 11 years old is in(a) part-time and (b) full-time education for the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Among women in Great Britain whose youngest dependent child was aged at least five years but under 11 it is estimated, using information from the "Labour Force Survey," that in spring 1988 about 31 per cent. were undertaking part-time education and just over 1 per cent. were undertaking full-time education.

  Official Secrets Act
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what declaration as to their continuing obligations under the Official Secrets Act will have to be signed by the present staff of the Training Agency in the event of that being transferred to the private sector.

  Mr. Eggar
  All civil servants leaving Government employment are reminded that they remain subject to the provisions of the Official Secrets Act and are asked to sign a declaration to this effect.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what declaration as to their continuing obligations under the Official Secrets Act was signed by those civil servants, formerly employed by his Department, who have transferred, along with functions, to the private sector; what monitoring procedures exist to see that the provisions of that declaration are maintained; and whether those who have transferred are permitted to use the records originally compiled under the rules of confidentiality relating to information held by the Civil Service.

  Mr. Eggar
  All employees of the Department are required to sign a declaration that they will not disclose official secrets both when they join and on leaving. The declaration summarises the provisions of the Official Secrets Act 1911 as amended by the Official Secrets Act 1920. These provisions apply both during their appointment to a Government Department and after that appointment has ceased.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many(a) prosecutions and (b) warnings of possible prosecutions there have been since 1979 of firms failing to comply with legislation on the employment of disabled people.

  Mr. Eggar
  There have been no prosecutions under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 since 1979. Information relating to warnings of possible prosecutions is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many area managers in the employment service have had experience of working in areas of the service concerned with the employment of disabled people; and what proportion this is of the total.

  Mr. Eggar
  All area managers in the employment service, a total of 71, have a direct line management 456
  responsibility for managing the day-to-day operations of an area office-based disablement advisory service team. As such, they are required to be fully acquainted with all the employment service disablement operations and programmes.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many disablement resettlement officers there are in the employment service; and what has been the percentage change since 1979.

  Mr. Eggar
  In April 1989, 488 members of staff in the employment service were undertaking disablement resettlement officer duties, of whom 333 were doing so full-time. I regret that comparable figures are not available for previous years.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many technical officers work in the employment service giving advice to disablement resettlement officers; and what has been the percentage change since 1979.

  Mr. Eggar
  In 1979, there were 13 technical officers working in the employment service giving advice to disablement resettlement officers. There is currently a cadre of 17 (an increase of 31 per cent.).

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to raise the status of work for disabled people in the employment service and to give it greater priority.

  Mr. Eggar
  People with disabilities are already one of the main priority groups for assistance from the Employment Department. A comprehensive network of services is available to help people with disabilities find and retain jobs through advice, assessment, rehabilitation and training; and in the case of people with severe disabilities, support in the form of sheltered employment.

  My Department is currently reviewing the full range of services for people with disabilities, and a consultative document covering the conclusions of the review will be published as soon as possible.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to ensure that applicants for senior positions in employment service are required to have had some experience of working in areas concerned with the employment of disabled people.

  Mr. Eggar
  It is not always possible or indeed appropriate to fill all senior positions in the employment service with applicants who have had experience of working with some aspect of disablement services. Many in-service applicants from the employment service field network, or disablement specialists from employment service head office, will have had past experience; it is very unlikely that this would be the case for external candidates.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what central guidance is given regarding the issuing of permits which allow firms to take on able-bodied workers when they are not filling their quota of disabled workers.

  Mr. Eggar
  Instructions issued to disablement resettlement officers require them to consider the
  457
  availability of suitable registered disabled people, and the degree of commitment shown by employers towards meeting their obligations under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the annual turnover of disablement resettlement officers.

  Mr. Eggar
  Details on the annual turnover of disablement resettlement officers are not readily available.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the policy of his Department regarding prosecution of firms who do not comply with legislation on the employment of disabled people.

  Mr. Eggar
  The policy of this Department, as it has been of successive Governments since the Act was first established, is:

  (i) to bring prosecutions only as a last resort; and

  (ii) to pursue a policy of education and persuasion designed to secure and improve the policies and practices of all employers in relation to the employment of people with disabilities.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the policy of his Department regarding taking action against firms which do not complete forms related to the employment of disabled people.

  Mr. Eggar
  Two forms are used to seek information from employers in relation to the quota scheme for employment of people with disabilities. These are (1) DP39—the application form for a permit to recruit a person or people who do not have disabilities and (2) DP74—used for the annual inquiry to employers to establish the numbers of registered disabled people employed. In neither case is there a statutory requirement for employers to complete the forms. Applications for permits are made only by those employers who are expecting to recruit in the near future. If a form is not completed it is assumed that employers have no plans to recruit workers. If the DP74 is not returned staff are instructed to send a reminder and, if there is still no response, to visit the employer.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of jobcentres are without a disablement resettlement officer.

  Mr. Eggar
  All jobcentres can provide access to disablement resettlement officers (DROs), either at the jobcentre at which the DRO is based, or by arranging a visit by a peripatetic DRO to the individual's local jobcentre, or, where appropriate, by a DRO visit to the individual's home.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of relevant companies completed the returns relating to disability in the last period for which figures are available.

  Mr. Eggar
  This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Employment Service
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will place a copy of the review of the organisation and staffing of the employment service, report No. 466, in the Library.
  458
  Mr. Eggar
  The document is a report of an internal review and is not appropriate for deposit in the Library.

  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has reached a decision on the future structure of the employment service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fowler
  When the Prime Minister announced the Government's "Next Steps" initiative on 18 February 1988 at column 1149, the employment service was included in the first list of candidates for agency status. It is my intention that the employment service should be launched as an executive agency in April 1990.

  My decision to launch the employment service as an executive agency will improve significantly its ability to help unemployed people back to work and to administer payment of unemployment benefits. As an agency the employment service will be set clear and challenging targets. It will also be given greater freedom to manage its operations effectively.

  In considering how best the employment service can achieve its objectives as an agency I have decided that a new network of offices, bringing together the full range of employment service activities under one roof wherever possible, is the best way for the employment service to deliver its services as an agency. This development will represent a significant improvement on the present system where most people have to visit both a benefit office and a jobcentre as part of claiming benefit and looking for work.

  Where appropriate the employment service will remodel existing offices but in other cases it will open new premises. These offices will be named "Employment Service" and will replace jobcentres and benefit offices.

  The employment service will now establish a national network of some 1,100 to 1,200 employment service offices. The process will take a number of years, but the aim is to have the bulk of the network of integrated offices in place by 1992.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Tax Evasion and Fraud
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officers were involved in tax evasion and fraud investigation work at the latest date for which figures are available; what the total estimated cost in respect of such investigation amounts to; and what are the total actual amounts of tax evasion and fraud.

  Mr. Lilley
  In the year to 31 March 1989, some 2,800 Inland Revenue staff working on tax evasion and fraud investigation recovered £577 million at a cost of £73 million.

  Computers
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether computers are classified as consumer or capital goods in the CSO press release on monthly trade figures; what contribution they made to the volume of imports and exports in the current year; and what were the figures for 1985.

  Mr. Lilley
  Computers are classified as capital goods in the analysis of finished manufactures by broad economic category in the monthly trade figures press release. The
  459
  table gives the information requested in value terms; indices of volume are not available at this level of disaggregation.

  Trade in computers1 as a percentage of total trade

  1985

  19892

  Exports

  1·8

  4·1

  Imports

  3·1

  3·4

  1 Defined as SITC 752.

  2 January to September.

  Incomes
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the part that increases in income of employees has played in the increase in the rate of inflation since 1987; whether he will publish in the Official Report a list of the micro-sectors that have been mainly responsible for income-push inflation; what measures he has taken to ensure that employers in these sectors take the lead in holding incomes down; what

  Income tax, NICS and indirect tax payments at multiples of average earnings, 1988–89

  Multiples of Average Earnings

  0·5

  0·75

  1

  1·5

  2

  3

  4

  5

  7

  10

  20

  Single

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income Tax

  19·51

  35·53

  51·55

  83·59

  129·33

  231·85

  334·37

  436·89

  641·93

  949·49

  1,974·69

  NICS

  11·53

  17·30

  23·07

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  VAT

  —

  9·52

  12·82

  19·98

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  15·15

  18·96

  27·22

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Domestic rates

  —

  7·68

  9·35

  12·99

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  31·04

  85·18

  115·75

  171·23

  156·78

  259·3

  361·82

  464·34

  669·38

  976·94

  2,002·14

  Percentage of earnings

  Income Tax

  15·2

  18·5

  20·1

  21·7

  25·2

  30·2

  32·6

  34·1

  35·8

  37·0

  38·5

  NICS

  9·0

  9·0

  9·0

  7·1

  5·4

  3·6

  2·7

  2·1

  1·5

  1·1

  0·5

  VAT

  —

  5·0

  5·0

  5·2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  7·9

  7·4

  7·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Domestic rates

  —

  4·0

  3·6

  3·4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  24·2

  44·4

  45·1

  44·6

  30·6

  33·7

  35·3

  36·2

  37·3

  38·1

  39·1

  Married, no children

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income Tax

  12·35

  28·37

  44·39

  76·43

  117·87

  220·39

  322·91

  425·43

  630·47

  938·03

  1,963·23

  NICS

  11·53

  17·30

  23·07

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  VAT

  —

  8·73

  12·32

  20·12

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  16·82

  20·63

  28·89

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Domestic rates

  —

  7·52

  8·73

  11·37

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  23·88

  78·74

  109·14

  164·26

  145·32

  247·84

  350·36

  452·88

  657·92

  965·48

  1,990·68

  Percentage of earnings

  Income Tax

  9·6

  14·8

  17·3

  19·9

  23·0

  28·7

  31·5

  33·2

  35·1

  36·6

  38·3

  NICS

  9·0

  9·0

  9·0

  7·1

  5·4

  3·6

  2·7

  2·1

  1·5

  1·1

  0·5

  VAT

  —

  4·5

  4·8

  5·2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  8·8

  8·1

  7·5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Domestic rates

  —

  3·9

  3·4

  3·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  18·6

  41·0

  42·6

  42·7

  28·3

  32·2

  34·2

  35·3

  36·7

  37·7

  38·8

  Married, both working

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income Tax

  0

  15·84

  31·86

  63·90

  97·83

  173·19

  260·33

  361·18

  566·22

  873·78

  1,898·98

  NICS

  7·95

  15·76

  21·02

  34·60

  45·90

  54·90

  54·90

  54·90

  54·90

  54·90

  54·90

  VAT

  —

  9·87

  13·82

  21·42

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  19·54

  22·99

  29·65

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Domestic rates

  —

  9·29

  9·92

  11·14

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  7·95

  70·30

  99·61

  160·71

  143·73

  228·09

  315·23

  416·08

  621·12

  928·68

  1,953·88

  Percentage of earnings

  460
  success he expects those measures to have in 1990; and what impact he expects them to have on the rest of the economy.

  Mr. Ryder
  The Government are maintaining a tight monetary stance, backed up by a sound fiscal position, to bear down on inflationary pressures. The Autumn Statement forecast expects inflation to fall to 5¾ per cent. by the fourth quarter of 1990.

  Taxes and Benefits
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give up-to-date figures on the same bases in his reply to the hon. Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Squire) on 10 January,Official Report, columns 633–56, including indirect taxation and including data for 1989–90.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 24 November 1989]: Figures for 1978–79 to 1988–89 were placed in the Library of the House earlier this year, as noted in the Official Report, 13 April 1989, column 624. Revised estimates for 1988–89, and estimates for 1989–90 are set out in the tables.
  461

  0·5

  0·75

  1

  1·5

  2

  3

  4

  5

  7

  10

  20

  Income Tax

  0·0

  8·2

  12·4

  16·6

  19·1

  22·5

  25·4

  28·2

  31·6

  34·1

  37·0

  NICS

  6·2

  8·2

  8·2

  9·0

  9·0

  7·1

  5·4

  4·3

  3·1

  2·1

  1·1

  VAT

  —

  5·1

  5·4

  5·6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  10·2

  9·0

  7·7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Domestic rates

  —

  4·8

  3·9

  2·9

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  6·2

  36·5

  38·9

  41·8

  28·0

  29·7

  30·7

  32·5

  34·6

  36·2

  38·1

  Married, 2 children

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income Tax

  -2·15

  13·87

  29·89

  61·93

  103·37

  205·89

  308·41

  409·93

  615·97

  923·53

  1,948·73

  NICS

  11·53

  17·03

  23·07

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  27·45

  VAT

  —

  8·69

  12·76

  21·59

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  12·32

  14·22

  18·36

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Domestic rates

  —

  7·42

  8·85

  11·96

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  9·38

  59·60

  88·79

  141·29

  130·82

  233·34

  335·86

  437·38

  643·42

  950·98

  1,976·18

  Percentage of earnings

  Income Tax

  -1·7

  7·2

  11·7

  16·1

  20·2

  26·8

  30·1

  32·0

  34·3

  36·0

  38·0

  NICS

  9·0

  9·0

  9·0

  7·1

  5·4

  3·6

  2·7

  2·1

  1·5

  1·1

  0·5

  VAT

  —

  4·5

  5·0

  5·6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  6·4

  5·5

  4·8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Domestic rates

  —

  3·9

  3·5

  3·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  7·3

  31·0

  34·7

  36·7

  25·5

  30·3

  32·8

  34·1

  35·9

  37·1

  38·6

  Income tax, NICS and indirect tax payments at multiples of average earnings, 1988·89

  Multiples of Average Earnings

  0·5

  0·75

  1

  1·5

  2

  3

  4

  5

  7

  10

  20

  Single

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income Tax

  21·61

  39·11

  56·61

  91·61

  142·87

  254·87

  366·87

  478·87

  702·87

  1,038·87

  2,158·87

  NICS

  11·10

  17·40

  23·70

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  VAT

  —

  10·59

  14·22

  22·16

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  15·96

  19·96

  28·72

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Domestic rates

  —

  8·42

  10·25

  14·25

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  32·71

  91·48

  124·74

  184·48

  170·61

  282·61

  394·61

  506·61

  730·61

  1,066·61

  2,186·61

  Amounts 1988–89 prices

  Income Tax

  20·10

  36·38

  52·66

  85·22

  132·90

  237·09

  341·27

  445·46

  653·83

  966·39

  2,008·25

  NICS

  10·33

  16·19

  22·05

  25·80

  25·80

  25·80

  25·80

  25·80

  25·80

  25·80

  25·80

  VAT

  —

  9·85

  13·23

  20·61

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  14·85

  18·57

  26·72

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Domestic rates

  —

  7·83

  9·53

  13·26

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  30·43

  85·10

  116·04

  171·61

  158·71

  262·89

  367·08

  471·27

  679·64

  992·20

  2,034·06

  Percentage of Earnings

  Income Tax

  15·4

  18·6

  20·2

  21·8

  25·5

  30·3

  32·8

  34·2

  35·9

  37·1

  38·6

  NICS

  7·9

  8·3

  8·5

  6·6

  5·0

  3·3

  2·5

  2·0

  1·4

  1·0

  0·5

  VAT

  —

  5·0

  5·1

  5·3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  7·6

  7·1

  6·8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Domestic rates

  —

  4·0

  3·72

  3·4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  23·4

  43·6

  44·6

  43·9

  30·5

  33·6

  35·2

  36·2

  37·3

  38·1

  39·0

  Married, no children

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income Tax

  13·97

  31·47

  48·97

  83·97

  130·63

  242·633

  354·63

  466"63

  690·63

  1,026·63

  2,146·63

  NICS

  11·10

  17·40

  23·70

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  VAT

  —

  9·73

  13·69

  22·33

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  17·67

  21·68

  30·42

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Domestic rates

  —

  8·22

  9·55

  12·45

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  25·07

  84·49

  117·59

  176·91

  158·37

  270·37

  382·37

  494·37

  718·37

  1,054·37

  2,174·37

  Amounts 1988–89 prices

  Income Tax

  13·00

  29·27

  45·55

  78·11

  121·52

  225·70

  329·89

  434·07

  642·45

  955·00

  1,996·87

  NICS

  10·33

  16·19

  22·05

  25·80

  25·80

  25·80

  25·80

  25·80

  25·80

  25·80

  25·80

  VAT

  —

  9·05

  12·73

  20·77

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  16·44

  20·17

  28·30

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Domestic rates

  —

  7·65

  8·88

  11·58

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  23·32

  78·60

  109·39

  164·57

  147·32

  251·51

  355·69

  459·88

  668·25

  980·81

  2,022·67

  462 463

  0·5

  0·75

  1

  1·5

  2

  3

  4

  5

  7

  10

  20

  Percentage of earnings

  Income Tax

  10·0

  15·0

  17·5

  20·0

  23·3

  28·9

  31·7

  33·3

  35·2

  36·7

  38·3

  NICS

  7·9

  8·3

  8·5

  6·6

  5·0

  3·3

  2·5

  2·0

  1·4

  1·0

  0·5

  VAT

  —

  4·6

  4·9

  5·3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  8·4

  7·7

  7·2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Domestic rates

  —

  3·9

  3·4

  3 0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  17·9

  40·2

  42·0

  42·1

  28·3

  32·2

  34·1

  35·3

  36·7

  37·7

  38·8

  Married, both working

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income Tax

  0·58

  18·08

  35·58

  70·58

  109·21

  191·08

  286·28

  397·73

  621·73

  957·73

  2077·73

  NICS

  9·59

  15·89

  22·19

  34·79

  46·40

  55·49

  55·49

  55·49

  55·49

  55·49

  55·49

  VAT

  —

  10·96

  15·25

  32·83

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  20·40

  24·00

  31·19

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Domestic rates

  —

  10·10

  10·78

  12·15

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  10·17

  75·43

  107·80

  172·54

  155·61

  246·57

  341·77

  453·22

  677·22

  1013·22

  2133·22

  Amounts 1988–89 prices

  Income Tax

  0·54

  16·82

  33·10

  65·66

  101·59

  177·75

  266·31

  369·98

  578·35

  890·91

  1932·77

  NICS

  8·92

  14·78

  20·64

  32·36

  43·16

  51·62

  51·62

  51·62

  51·62

  51·62

  51·62

  VAT

  —

  10·20

  14·19

  22·17

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  18·98

  22·33

  29·01

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Domestic rates

  —

  9·40

  10·03

  11·30

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  9·46

  70·17

  100·28

  160·50

  144·75

  229·37

  317·93

  421·60

  629·97

  942·53

  1984·39

  Per cent, of earnings

  Income Tax

  0·4

  8·6

  12·7

  16·8

  19·5

  22·7

  25·6

  28·4

  31·7

  34·2

  37·1

  NICS

  6·9

  7·6

  7·9

  8·3

  8·3

  6·6

  5·0

  4·0

  2·8

  2·0

  1·0

  VAT

  —

  5·2

  5·4

  5·7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  9·7

  88·6

  7·4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Domestic rates

  —

  4·8

  3·9

  2·9

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  7·3

  35·9

  38·5

  41·1

  27·8

  29·4

  30·5

  32·4

  34·6

  36·2

  38·1

  Married, 2 Children

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income Tax

  –0·53

  16·97

  34·47

  69·47

  116·13

  228·13

  340·13

  452·13

  676·13

  1012·13

  2132·13

  NICS

  11·10

  17·40

  23·70

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  27·74

  VAT

  —

  9·60

  14·08

  23·87

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  17·36

  20·58

  27·64

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Domestic rates

  —

  8·08

  9·65

  13·07

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  10·57

  69·41

  102·48

  161·79

  143·87

  255·87

  367·87

  479·87

  703·87

  1039·87

  2159·87

  Amounts 1988–89 prices

  Income Tax

  —0·49

  15·79

  32·07

  64·62

  108·03

  212·21

  316·40

  420·59

  628·96

  941·52

  1983·38

  NICS

  10·33

  16·19

  22·05

  25·80

  25·80

  25·80

  25·80

  25·80

  25·80

  25·80

  25·80

  VAT

  —

  8·93

  13·10

  22·20

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  16·15

  19·14

  25·71

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Domestic rates

  —

  7·52

  8·98

  12·16

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  9·83

  64·57

  95·33

  150·50

  133·83

  238·02

  342·20

  446·39

  654·76

  967·32

  2009·18

  Per cent, of earnings

  Income Tax

  -0·4

  8·1

  12·3

  16·5

  20·7

  27·2

  30·4

  32·3

  34·5

  36·1

  38·1

  NICS

  7·9

  8·3

  8·5

  6·6

  5·0

  3·3

  2·5

  2·0

  1·4

  1·0

  0·5

  VAT

  —

  4·6

  5·0

  5·7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  8·3

  7·4

  6·6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Domestic rates

  —

  3·8

  3·4

  3·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  7·6

  33·1

  33·6

  38·5

  25·7

  30·5

  32·8

  34·3

  35·9

  37·1

  38·6

  Notes:

  1. Income tax payments are calculated on the assumption that the households receive no tax reliefs other than the standard allowances. Earners, including working wives, are assumed to pay class 1 NI contributions at the contracted in rate. The figures for NI contributions are financial year averages.

  2. The two earner married couple is assumed to have combined earnings equal to the various multiples of average earnings. In calculating disposable income it is assumed that these earnings are split between husband and wife in the ratio 60:40.

  3. For the married couple with two children, child benefit is treated as a negative income tax.

  4. Average earnings are taken to be the average gross weekly earnings of all full-time males on adult rates with pay unaffected by absence. These were £256.30 per week in 1988–89, and estimated to be £280.00 per week in 1989–90, using the Government Actuary Department's assumption of 9¼ per cent. growth over 1988–89 as published in the 1989 Autumn Statement.

  5. The estimates of indirect taxes are derived from the 1985 Family Expenditure Survey, and are based on the illustrative assumption that 10 per cent. of disposable income is saved. There are wide variations in spending patterns between households with similar incomes and composition, and estimated payments of VAT, other indirect taxes and rates are therefore approximate, even within the income range for which figures are shown. Outside this range the margin of error is even higher and reliable estimates cannot be made. Because of sampling variation, there can be substantial differences between the estimates obtained from Family Expenditure Surveys for different years.

  6. 1989–90 figures converted into 1988–89 prices by assuming that the RPI is 7½ per cent. higher in 1989–90 than the previous financial year. This is consistent with the forecasts published in the 1989 Autumn Statement.
  464

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Barlow Clowes
  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by what date he intends to return to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration his draft report on the Barlow Clowes affair so that the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration may report finally to the House.

  Mr. Redwood
  As soon as possible.

  Consumer Council
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent European Economic Community Consumer Council meeting.

  Mr. Forth
  A resolution identifying priorities for the relaunch of consumer policy was agreed. The draft directives on package travel and product safety were discussed without substantive conclusions and both dossiers were remitted to COREPER. The Commission outlined its plans for improved representation of consumers at Community level and indicated that new Commission proposals for the European home and leisure accident surveillance system would be forwarded to the council soon.

  Electronic Data Processing Equipment
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the deficit in electronic data processing equipment with West Germany.

  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the deficit in electronic data processing equipment with West Germany.

  Mr. Forth
  Based on data compiled by and available from Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, in 1988 the United Kingdom had an estimated net surplus of £299 million, not a deficit, with West Germany in respect of electronic data processing equipment.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the deficit in electronic data processing equipment with European Community countries.

  Mr. Forth
  Based on data compiled and published by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, in 1988 the United Kingdom has an estimated net surplus of £785 million, not a deficit, with the European Community countries in respect of electronic data processing equipment.

  Oil Prices
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to refer the pricing policies of the oil companies to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Director General of Fair Trading asked the Monopolies and Mergers Commission to investigate the supply of petrol in the United Kingdom on 9 November 1988. The deadline for completion of the report is 20 December 1989.

  Footwear and Textiles
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance he is proposing to give to prevent the further decline of the footwear and textile industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Sectoral schemes for the textiles and clothing industries have been banned by the European Commission since 1985. However, eligible textile and clothing firms, and firms in the footwear industry, could benefit from a range of DTI schemes which are open to firms in most sectors.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the recent visit of the hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) to Washington.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 29 November 1989]: I met the chairmen of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (Mrs. Wendy Lee Gramm) and of the Securities and Exchange Commission (Mr. Richard Breedon) in Washington on 16 and 17 November. In my talks with Mrs. Gramm and Mr. Breedon, I stressed the importance that the Government attach to co-operation between our respective regulatory authorities, to the mutual recognition of the effectiveness of our regulatory regimes, and to respect of each other's territorial jurisdiction. The CFTC is currently negotiating a compromise with the AFBD over that part of the exemption order governing the sale of United Kingdom futures and options products into the USA which relates to the segregation of customers' and brokers' funds. I hope that my firm representation on extraterritoriality will help the parties to come to a more satisfactory agreement.

  The chairman of the SEC and I agreed to progress consideration of international regulatory issues, preferably with Japanese involvement. As global markets develop effective collaboration in standard setting and enforcement becomes more important. I also discussed how the United Kingdom could extend its memorandum of understanding with the USA on the exchange of information in matters relating to securities and futures.

  SROs (Allegations)
  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will proscribe the issuing of press releases by self-regulatory organisations which name individuals in advance of hearings of the same self-regulatory organisations in which the allegations against those named individuals are to be examined.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 27 November 1989]: A self-regulating organisation is reponsible for ensuring that its own rules and practices are observed. I have to leave the SROs free to exercise their own discipline over the companies or individuals who have agreed to be bound by their rules. Any complaints or suggestions for a change in practice in this matter should be taken up with the SRO.

  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will consider giving guidance to self-regulatory organisations on the need to avoid prejudicing forthcoming criminal trials.
  467
  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 27 November 1989]: I do not believe such guidance to be necessary. It is well known in English justice that care must be exercised to avoid prejudging trials, and defendants have rights to a fair trail in criminal law.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Pesticides
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list all the research projects he is funding into residues of pesticides in food, including the location and amount spent on each project; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will list all the research projects he is funding into the efficient use of pesticides, including the location and amount spent on each project; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he will list all the research projects he is funding into the environmental effects of pesticides, including the location and amount spent on each project; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) if he will list all the research projects he is funding into alternative methods of pest control other than the use of pesticides, including the location and amount spent on each project; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  My Department attaches a high priority to research concerned with pesticides and alternative methods of pest control and will be spending over £18·5 million on this in 1989–90. The following research projects are being carried out by or on behalf of the Department:

  (a) Research funded by MAFF concerned with residues of pesticides in food

  Amount of funding in 1989–90

  Project and location

  £'000

  1. DDT in brassicas—ADAS (Harpenden)

  15

  2. Effect of residues of processing fruit and vegetables—University of Reading

  12

  3. Fate of residues in animal feed from treated wheat—Dalgety Spillers (Cambridge)

  7·3

  4. Determination of individual dithiocarbamate residues and ethycenethiourea in food—University of Reading

  21

  5. Dithiocarbamate levels in protected lettuces— ADAS (Harpenden)

  28

  6. Tolclofus-methyl in protected lettuces—ADAS (Harpenden)

  15

  7. Iprodione in cabbages—ADAS (Harpenden)

  9

  468

  (b) Research funded by MAFF concerned with the efficient use of pesticides

  Amount of funding in 1989–90

  Project and location

  £'000

  1. Vegetable pests and diseases

  Control of insect pests of vegetables through minimal usage of insecticides and integration with other control methods. This includes seed film-coating and investigations of site-to-site differences in performance of insecticides; Biology, behaviour and control of insect pests of vegetables underpinning pest forecasting to reduce applications of pesticides; Control of diseases of vegetables using film-coating to reduce pesticide applications; Biology, resistance and control of diseases of field vegetables leading to forecasting to reduce applications of pesticides—Institute of Horticultural Research (IHR) Wellesbourne

  480

  2. Fruit Pests and Diseases

  Biology, epidemiology and control of pests and diseases of apples and pears underpinning forecasting to reduce applications of pesticides—IHR, East Malling

  50

  3. Use of more efficient sprays such as low volume sprays on hops—ADAS Rosemaund EHF

  10

  4. To minimise chemical use and spray drift through establishing relations between spray parameters, deposition patterns and biological control obtained—Institute of Engineering Research (IER), Silsoe

  498

  5. To investigate interactions between spray volume, drop size, air volume and air velocity; the resulting deposition patterns and the biological control obtained—Institute of Arable Crops Research (IACR), Long Ashton

  78

  6. To reduce inputs to vegetable growing systems through the use of information technology—IER, Silsoe

  70

  7. Evaluation of systems for pesticide application to fruit and hops—ADAS, Kent

  11

  8. Control of spray droplet and drift—University of Leeds

  15

  9. The dynamic behaviour of specialised spraying vehicles—University of Leeds

  3

  10. Factors controlling the dispersal and deposition of spray droplets—IACR Rothamsted

  15

  11. Factors affecting the performance of Control Droplet Application (CDA) sprays—IACR, Long Ashton

  23

  12. Deposition, activity and fate of pesticides applied to crops

  To understand the effects of formulation on pesticide uptake, spreading, persistence and movement in plants. To minimise effect on non-target organisms and develop strategies to retard the evolution of insensitivity in target pathogens— IACL (Long Ashton)

  274

  13. Biology and control of weeds in arable crops and waterways

  To assess the potential of herbicides, reduce phytotoxity to non-target flora, improve herbicide performance in relation to weather factors and in relation to the population dynamics of weeds—IACL (Long Ashton)

  317

  469

  Project and location

  £'000

  14. Economic and environmentally benign pest and disease control in cereal crops

  To improve the performance of pesticides and minimise usage by developing forecasting schemes—IACL (Long Ashton)

  211

  15. Integrated crop management

  To manipulate interactions between agrochemical and fertiliser inputs, and husbandry factors such as cultivation method and straw disposal in rationing the use of pesticides on cereals—IACL (Long Ashton)

  146

  16. Diseases of non-cereal crops

  To rationalise fungicide inputs through an understanding of the epidemiology of tuber diseases of potatoes and diseases of oilseed crops in relation to yield and quality—IACL (Rothamsted)

  391

  17. Diseases of cereals

  To rationalise pesticide inputs through an understanding of the epidemiology of cereal leaf, stembase and virus diseases, and to minimise the health risks posed to man and livestock by storage moulds—IACL (Rothamsted)

  392

  18. Physicochemical factors affecting movement and efficacy of chemical control agents in plants and soil—IACL (Rothamsted)

  164

  19. Pests of non-cereal crops

  To rationalise nematicide and insecticide inputs by understanding the ecology, behaviour and control of pests on oilseed rape, potatoes and other arable crops—IACL (Rothamsted)

  350

  20. To overcome problems of insensitivity to insecticides in target pests—IACL (Rothamsted)

  321

  21. Management of honey bee colonies to safeguard foraging bees from damage by pesticide applied to crops and by diseases of bees—IACL (Rothamsted)

  120

  22. To monitor vector aphids and forecast virus infection of crops—IACL (Rothamsted)

  32

  23. Systems of cereal production

  To develop environmentally more benign low input systems for cereals from knowledge of the information between fungicides, varieties and husbandry factors—ADAS (N, M & W, E, SE, Wales, Bridget's, Boxworth)

  128

  24. Damage assessment and forecasting pests

  To refine action thresholds for the application of insecticides to control cereal pests, to minimise their injudicious use and reduce any adverse effects on the environment. To evaluate whether action thresholds can be used during pest monitoring studies to improve the quality of short-term forecasts—Regional Offices, Area Laboratories and Harpenden Laboratory

  148

  25. Wheat: leaf and ear diseases

  To investigate the epidemiology of weat foliar diseases in relation to the timing of fungicide treatment and growth stage/calendar date, to develop forecasting schemes, to refine the Managed Disease Control system, to investigate the control of foliar diseases with different levels of fungicide input and provide early warning of impending fungicide resistance problems—Regional Offices, Area Laboratories, EHFs and Harpenden Laboratory

  319

  470

  Project and location

  £'000

  26. Winter wheat: stem base diseases

  To improve understanding of the actiology and epidemiology of stem-base diseases of wheat, to devise reliable forecasting and prediction schemes for eyespot and information on the importance of Fusarium end to monitor fungicide resistance for stem-base diseases,—Regional Offices, Area Laboratories EHFs

  72

  27. Winter barley: leaf and stem-base diseases

  To investigate the epidemiology of winter barley foliar diseases in relation to the timing of fungicide treatment and growth stage/calendar date, to develop forecasting stresses, to refine the Managed Disease control system, to investigate the control of foliar diseases with different levels of fungicide input and provide early warning of fungicide resistance problems, to improve under-standing of the aetiology and epidemiology of stem-base diseases, to devise reliable forecasting and prediction schemes for eyespot and information on the importance of Fusarium and to monitor for fungicide resistance for stem-base diseases—Regional Offices, EHFS

  72

  28. Spring barley: leaf and ear diseases

  To evaluate mildew fungicides with different modes of inhibitory action, as seed treatments and as foliar sprays, to refine disease prediction and control methods and to monitor for fungicide resistance in populations of powdery mildew—Regional Offices

  30

  29. Disease assessment and crop losses

  To survey diseases of winter wheat and winter barley and to provide information on the level of pesticide usage, significance of diseases for decisions on R & D priorities, and the extent of pesticide resistance problems to develop a system for predicting the economics of alternative spray decisions primarily to minimise unnecessary application of fungicides—Regional Offices, Harpenden Laboratory

  213

  30. Cereals: virus diseases

  To develop a forecasting system for Barley yellow Dwarf virus to minimise the unnecessary use of insecticides on cereals in the autumn and allow full exploitation of genetic resistance of new varieties. To understand the epidemiology of seed borne viruses,—Regional Offices, Harpenden Laboratory

  388

  31. Herbicide use and weed control systems

  To refine treatment thresholds and strategies for rational weed control in cereals to minimise unnecessary use of herbicides, to monitor the spread of herbicide resistant blackgrass and other weeds and develop strategic methods for research on new control—Regional Offices, EHFs

  273

  32. Potatoes: pests

  To refine action thresholds for the application of aphicides to control potato aphid, to reduce prophylactic spray applications, to lessen the role of insecticide resistance and to develop integrated control strategies for potato cyst nematode—Regional Offices, EHFs

  243

  33. Potatoes: diseases

  To develop an ELISA technique for testing for virus infection of seed potatoes, to determine the association between Erwinia loading on seed potatoes and blackleg in the subsequent crop under English conditions and to monitor the development of fungicide resistance in potato blight—Regional Offices EHFs

  175

  34. Oilseed rape: pests—Regional Offices, EHFs

  186

  471

  Project and location

  £'000

  35. Oilseed rape: diseases—Regional Offices, Harpenden Laboratory

  123

  36. Combining peas (part)—Regional Offices, EHFs

  171

  37. Field beans (part)—Regional Offices, EHFs

  125

  38. Practical methods for rodent control and resistance to rodenticides—Regional Offices, Worplesdon Laboratory

  1,168

  39. Cost effective, humane and environmentally acceptable rabbit management—Regional Offices, EHFs, Worplesdon Laboratory

  796

  40. Pest damage assessment, forecasting of crop pests, and effects of pesticides on beneficial invertebrates—Regional Offices, Harpenden Laboratory

  356

  41. Identification and control of alien pests and resistance to pesticides—Harpenden Laboratory

  220

  42. Disease damage assessment and forecasting of disease to minimise pesticide usage—Harpenden Laboratory

  176

  43. Studies on insect detection, insect behaviour and factors which influence the performance of residual insecticides—Harpenden Laboratory

  296

  44. Evaluation of the control of insects and mites in cereals, oilseeds and other commodities—Slough Laboratory

  296

  45. Control of pests by fumigation—Slough Laboratory

  356

  46. Studies on the mechanisms, detection, measurement and management of resistance in storage arthropods—Slough Laboratory

  392

  47. The uptake, translocation and distribution of pesticide residues in stored products—Slough Laboratory

  116

  (c) Research funded by MAFF concerned with environmental effects of pesticides

  Amount of Funding in 1989–90 (£'000)

  Project

  Location

  1. Methods for assessing the effects of pesticides on wildlife—ADAS, Worplesdon and Tolworth

  60

  2. Indirect effects of pesticides on wildlife—ADAS, Worplesdon and Tolworth

  96

  3. The economic and ecological effects of pest disease and weed control systems in intensively-produced cereal1—ADAS, Boxworth EHF, Worplesdon, Tolworth and Cambridge

  244

  4. Invertebrate fauna of cereal fields1—University of Southampton

  32

  5. Small mammal studies1—University of Cambridge

  22

  6. Cereal pest/predator interactions1—University of Cambridge

  25

  7. The effect of pesticides used in grassland on non-target organisms—Universities of Leeds and Newcastle, Institute for Grassland and Animal Production (IGAP), Hurley

  23

  472

  Project

  Location

  8. Pesticide residues (includes work on pesticide degradation in the soil and pesticide leaching)—ADAS, Cambridge Field Drainage Experimental Unit, Cambridge

  166

  1 Part of Boxworth project.

  (d) Research funded by MAFF concerned with alternatives to pesticides for pest control

  Integrated control of pests on outdoor crops
  The use of natural enemies, chemical and cultural methods to control aphid pests in cereals.
  Location—Institute of Horticultural Research (IHR), Littlehampton.
  Funding in 1989–90—£124,000.

  Biology and ecology of pests, pathogens and beneficial organisms

  (a) The development of new methods of insect management using non-polluting chemicals affecting behaviour.

  (b) The development of methods using natural predators and pesticides in integrated control systems for pests of arable crops.

  (c) To determine the effects of straw incorporation and cultivation techniques on populations of pest aphids and beneficial insects, and to assess the implications for future pesticides usage.

  Location—Institute of Arable Crops Research (IACR), Rothamsted.

  Funding in 1989–90—£768,000.

  Control of diseases in cereals
  To develop methods, involving biological control, agrochemicals, host resistance and husbandry practices to minimise the harmful effects of takeall.
  Location—IACR, Rothamsted.
  Funding in 1989–90—£66,000.

  Development of oats and disease resistant cereals
  To evaluate new sources of disease resistance and to incorporate new resistant germplasm into high yielding winter and spring oat varieties.
  Location—Institute for Grassland and Animal Production (IGAP), Aberystwyth
  Funding in 1989–90—4152,000.

  Disease and pest management in agro-ecosystems harmonised with the environment

  (a) To rationalise the development of resistant varieties by understanding the mechanisms underlying genetic host resistance, its specificity with regard to pathogen variation, its relationship with non-host resistance and the corresponding implications for its durability.

  >(b) To identify and conserve genetically resistant germplasm of currently important crops and minor alternative crops. Characterisation and determination of the durability of such resistances and their deployment in disease management systems using reduced pesticide inputs.

  (c) To develop an holistic approach to the deployment of genetic resistance in the field with special reference to grassland cereal farming and farm forestry in de-intensified systems.

  (d) To integrate the use of natural biocides, particularly Bacillus thuringiensis toxin, genetic resistance and systemic pesticides in the management of crop pests and diseases.

  Location—IGAP, Aberystwyth

  Funding in 1989–90—£153,000

  The improvement of dry peas
  To define an optimum model for composition of storage compounds in a pea seed by understanding genetic variation and storage product accumulation in embryos, to improve the quality of peas for use as food and feed, and to improve disease resistance in the pea crop.

  473
  Location—Institute of Plant Science Research (IPSR), Norwich
  Funding in 1989–90—£235,000

  Pests of non-cereal crops
  To develop methods for the containment of soil dwelling nematodes by the integrated use of crop rotations, reliable resistant cultivars and efficiently-used, safely-formulated nematicides, thereby delaying selection of virulent nematode pathotypes and minimising cost and risks to operatives and the environment. Particular attention is paid to potato cyst nematodes and to other nematodes of forage and grain legumes. Problems of nematode attack in oilseed rape and other alternative crops such as sunflower and lupin are being investigated. Studies on the nature of host tolerance to nematode attack and the complex interactions between nematode host races and culture resistance are contributing to the development of integrated control measures.
  Location—IACR, Rothamsted
  Funding in 1989–90—£178,000

  Bird damage assessment and development of control techniques
  Location—ADAS, Worplesdon
  Funding in 1989–90—£464,000

  The biology of storage arthropods and development of physical and biological control strategies
  Location—ADAS, Slough
  Funding in 1989–90—£308,000

  Laboratory and field evaluation of novel methods of pest control
  Location—ADAS, Slough
  Funding in 1989–90—£452,000

  Control of storage pests using modified atmospheres
  Location—ADAS, Slough
  Funding in 1989–90—£272,000

  Cereals: soil-borne fungal diseases
  Location—ADAS, EHFs
  Funding in 1989–90—£163,000

  Control of specific weeds and headland weed control
  Location—ADAS, Regional Centres
  Funding in 1989–90—£12,000

  Alternative cropping systems. Includes work on milling wheat production under organic farming systems
  Location—ADAS, EHFs
  Funding in 1989–90—£133,000

  Novel methods of pest control
  Location—IACR, Rothamsted
  Funding in 1989–90—£6,000

  Field Vegetable Breeding
  Evaluation of new varieties for resistance to pests and diseases.
  Genetic improvement of lettuce. Work to find new sources of genetic resistance to downy mildew, lettuce root aphid and important viral diseases.
  Genetics of host resistance to disease and development of resistant breeding material for important fungal and viral diseases.
  Location—IHR, Wellesbourne and ADAS, EHSs
  Funding in 1989–90—£140,000 +£30,000

  Field Vegetable Pests
  Evaluation of biological/integrated control systems.
  Resistance of vegetables to insect pests, including biochemical methods of screening plant material for resistance, and pest-host plant interactions.
  Location—IHR, Wellesbourne and ADAS, EHSs
  Funding in 1989–90—£240,000+£75,000

  Field Vegetable Diseases
  Evaluaion of biological/integrated control systems.
  Biology, resistance and control of diseases of composites,
  474
  crucifers and legumes. Methods of control through resistance, incuding durability of single gene resistance.
  Screening for resistance to cucumber mosaic virus in marrow.
  Location—IHR, Wellesbourne and ADAS, EHSs
  Funding in 1989–90—£210,000+£75,000

  Field Vegetable Weeds
  Development of novel programmes for weed control in vegetable crops, including cultural and other techniques for controlling weeds with less reliance on herbicides.
  Location—IHR, Wellesbourne
  Funding in 1989–90—£20,000

  Top Fruit Breeding
  To breed and select apple, pear, cherry, plum scion varieties and rootstocks which, amongst other attributes, are resistant to pests and diseases.
  Location—IHR, East Mailing
  Funding in 1989–90—£65,000

  Top Fruit Protection
  Evaluation of biological/integrated control systems.
  In vitro techniques for selection for resistance to fireblight.
  In vitro techniques for testing for resistance to bacterial canker in cherry.
  Biology, ecology and control of apple and pear pests, including regulation of spider mite in apples by predatory mites, regulation of P. pyncola on pears by predators.
  Location—IHR, East Mailing and ADAS EHSs
  Funding in 1989–90—£290,000 plus £80,000

  Soft Fruit Breeding
  Breeding and selection of strawberries and raspberries which, amongst other attributes, are resistant to pests and diseases.
  Location—IHR, East Malting
  Funding in 1989–90—£40,000

  Soft Fruit Protection
  To elucidate the biology of wilt disease of stawberries and to improve control through biological means; select and exploit plant resistance for wilt control.
  To study the biology, ecology and pest-damage relationships for several pest species, together with the development of control strategies.
  Location—IHR, East Malling
  Funding in 1989–90—£100,000

  Hop Production and Protection
  Effects of plant spacing on disease incidence in hops.
  Evaluation of wilt resistance in breeding material of hops.
  Control of damson-hop aphids by introducing or encouraging the migration to hop gardens of natural predators.
  Study of factors affecting the sexual activity and migration of damson-hop aphids to identify weak points in its life cycle.
  Evaluation of biological agents for controlling the two-spotted spite mite.
  Location—IHR, Wye Sub centre and ADAS—Rosemaund EHF
  Funding in 1989–90—£13,000 plus £10,000

  Glasshouse Crop Pests
  Evaluation of biological-integrated control systems.
  Biological control of major glasshouse pests (whitefly and red spider mite), secondary pests (especially aphids and thrips) and newly-established non-indigenous pests. Location—IHR, Littlehampton and ADAS—Rosemaund EHF
  Funding in 1989–90—£150,000 plus £150,000

  Glasshouse Crop Diseases
  Evaluation of biological-integrated control systems.
  Integrated control of bacterial and fungal pathogens, utilising biological agents.
  Local—IHR, Littlehampton and ADAS EHSs
  Funding in 1989–90—£140,000 plus £100,000
  475
  Evaluation of biological and other novel methods for pest control in greenhouse crops
  Improvement in efficiency of Bacillus thuringiensis for arthropod pest control.
  Use of fungi for control of arthropod pests.
  Use of insect viruses for control of phytophagous pests. The diagnosis of pathogens in invertebrate pest populations.
  Use of insect parasite nematodes for pest control of glasshouse and mushroom pests.
  Location—IHR, Littlehampton.
  Funding in 1989–90—£410,000.

  Mushroom Protection
  Novel control methods for mushroom pests, including behaviour-modifying chemicals, antagonists, repellents, and insect-parasite nematodes.
  Biological control of bacterial blotch disease.
  Location—IHR, Littlehampton.
  Funding in 1989–90—£70,000.

  Hardy Ornamental Nursery Stock—Protection
  Control of disease in the propagation of container-grown nursery stock, including biological control.
  Location—IHR, Littlehampton.
  Funding in 1989–90—£70,000.

  Bulb Breeding
  Use of induced mutations and conventional methods to breed disease resistant Narcissus cultivars.
  Location—IHR, Littlehampton.
  Funding in 1989–90—£70,000.

  Bulb Protection
  Control of fungal diseases of ornamental bulbs and corms, including screening for genetic resistance and biological control methods.
  Location—IHR, Littlehampton and ADAS EHSs.
  Funding in 1989–90—£10,000 + £10,000.

  Development of integrated control methods for Western Flower Thrips
  Location—IHR, Littlehampton
  Funding in 1989–90—£18,000

  Control of Narcissus basal rot by antagonists
  Location—Exeter University
  Funding in 1989–90—£10,000

  Influence of pests and diseases on grassland agriculture, and their control by biological means

  (a) To develop non-polluting methods of controlling pests and diseases in newly-sown grassland with emphasis on legumes.

  (b) To determine the magnitude of losses of grassland legumes to pests and diseases and, thereby, the potential for application of biocontrol methods to grassland.

  (c) To determine the potential of endophytic fungi in ryegrass as a means of biocontrol of grassland pests.

  Location—IGAP, Hurley

  Funding in 1989–90—£129,000

  Diseases and pests of forage grasses and legumes

  (a) Host: nematode relationships in forage grasses.

  (b) Host: nematode relationships in forage legumes.

  (c) Host: fungus relationships in forage grasses.

  (d) Host: fungus relationships in forage legumes.

  (e) Host: virus relationships in graminaceous and legume species. Mechanisms of host resistance.

  (f) Identification of genetically resistant germ plasm in grasses and forage legumes.

  (g) Relationships between endophytic fungi and their grass hosts.

  Location—IGAP, Aberystwyth

  Funding in 1989–90—£147,000

  Exploit genetic variability in forage grasses

  (a) Develop selection criteria and produce new gene combinations in perennial ryegrass.

  476

  (b) Enhancement of new germplasm created by hybridising Italian and perennial ryegrass and development of new gene combinations in Italian ryegrass.

  (c) Develop and evaluate ryegrass/fescue hybrids with new potentials for coping with climatic change.

  Location—IGAP, Aberystwyth

  Funding in 1989–90—£322,000

  Develop techniques and exploit genetic variation to improve legumes
  Exploit genetic variation to improve yield, reliability of yield persistency and seed yield in white clover.
  Location—IGAP, Aberystwyth
  Funding in 1989–90—£114,000

  Field boundaries: biological components influencing invertebrate predator overwintering

  (a) To create overwintering habitats on farmland which favour the development of high numbers of polyphagous predatpors by modifying existing boundaries and by creating new ones.

  (b) To monitor the accumulation of predators in autumn and winter in these new habitats together with their dispersal, distribution and predation rate in the crop in spring and summer.

  (c) To convert the data into 'packaged' advice which could be made available via Videotex methods with ADAS cooperation.

  Location—University of Southampton

  Funding in 1989–90—£17,000

  Exploitation of predatory beetles and parasitic wasps resident in field margins, hedgerows and shelter belts around grassland
  To enhance the number and variety of predators and parasitic invertebrates present by increasing the size, stability and diversity of the flora in hedgerows, field margins and shelter belts around grassland and to investigate ways of how this may best be achieved.
  Location—IGAP, Hurley
  Funding in 1989–90—£30,000

  Epidemiology and inter-relationships between clover viruses of pasture crops and field boundary ecosystems
  To determine the field host range and interactions of the major viruses and their vectors that infect white clover, relating this to the ecology of hosts in field boundaries and in grassland crops. To identify for development resistant genotypes in white clover and related species and genera.
  Location—IGAP, Aberystwyth
  Funding in 1989–90—£23,000

  Development of cold-active nematodes for insect pest control
  Location—IHR, Littlehampton
  Funding in 1989–90—£36,000

  Bovine Somatotropin
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when tests being carried out on United Kingdom farms into bovine somatotropin are expected to end.

  Mr. Maclean
  Three BST products which have already satisfied consumer safety and quality requirements have been authorised to undergo field trials to generate the additional data needed to support product licence applications and the conduct of the trials is a matter for the companies concerned.

  Veterinary Profession
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he intends to publish the Page report on the future of the veterinary profession;
  477
  (2) when he expects to receive the Page report on the future of the veterinary profession.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have asked for the report of the committee, chaired by Dr. Ewan Page, on veterinary manpower needs and the demand for veterinary education, to be completed by the end of the year. Decisions on its publication have not yet been taken.

  Veterinary Products Committee
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the dates of the meetings of the veterinary products committee since January 1988.

  Mr. Maclean
  Since 1 January 1988 the veterinary products committee has met on the following dates:

  1988

  21 January

  17 to 18 February

  24 March

  21 April

  23 June

  20 to 21 July

  21 to 22 September

  20 October

  17 November

  14 December

  1989

  19 January

  15 to 16 February

  15 to 16 March

  19 to 20 April

  17 to 18 May

  29 June

  3 August

  20 to 21 September

  18 to 19 October

  23 November

  Microwave Ovens
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library the results of his survey into the effectiveness of microwave ovens.

  Mr. Maclean
  Yes, in accordance with our declared policy when I initiated the microwave study. I intend to publish the results of the survey once they have been submitted to me.

  Contaminated Feed
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to make the results of the tests of lead in milk and meat available to the individual farmers affected by lead-contaminated cattle feed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The results of the tests on milk are now being made available to individual farmers.

  I recently announced schemes which will provide for the removal of restrictions on cattle in circumstances where this can be done without risk to public health. The results of tests made pursuant to these schemes will be given to the farmers concerned as soon as possible.
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  Details of the schemes have already been sent out to the farmers concerned and I shall be sending a copy to the hon. Gentleman for information.

  Cumbrian Fishermen
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 27 November to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark), whether fishermen who reside in Cumbria and are residents of the United Kingdom will be permitted to fish within the proposed territorial sea for the Isle of Man being explored for implementation under provisions of the Territorial Sea Act 1987.

  Mr. Gummer
  Yes. Any arrangement to implement the provision to extend the territorial sea to 12 miles around the Isle of Man in relation to fishing must safeguard the interests and traditional rights of all fishermen of all the nationalities (British, French, Belgian, Irish) who currently have access to the area concerned.

  Lead-contaminated Feed
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received, and what measures of relief he is proposing, in the case of milk producers whose dairy cows have not been fed lead-contaminated feed but where orders of blanket coverage have been imposed because the farmer has received a quantity of contaminated feed designed for other animals.

  Mr. Maclean
  Milk restrictions have been lifted from farms as soon as contaminated feed has been removed and testing of milk has confirmed that lead levels remain consistently below 0·05 mg/1.

  Hormone Implants (Cattle)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food where each of the two convictions of farmers following the discovery of cattle with hormone implants were obtained; and on what dates.

  Mr. Maclean
  The first of the two convictions was obtained at Rugby magistrates court on 5 May 1989 and the second at Wimborne magistrates court on 16 May 1989.

  Chernobyl
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Minister of Agriclture, Fisheries and Food what checks or monitoring his Department carries out on radiation levels in food imported from eastern European countries, either direct or via other European Community countries, following the accident at Chernobyl; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Port health checks are a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Health.