Written Answers of 13 December 1989

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Malaysia
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Malaysian Government concerning the introduction of public whipping for those who have changed from Islam to other faiths.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We are aware that certain Malaysian states, not the federal Government, have introduced laws providing for the whipping of apostates. We know of no cases to date of such whipping being carried out. We have, nonetheless, registered our concern with the Malaysian authorities.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Malaysian Government concerning the censoring of the Bible, and the banning of other Christian literature.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We are aware that some Malaysian states, not the federal Government, have introduced laws for the "Control and Restriction of the Propagation of Non-Islamic Religions" forbidding the use of several religious words and phrases in the Malay language by non-Muslims. We understand that this has led to difficulties in the production and distribution of Bibles published in Malay. We have registered our concern with the Malaysian authorities.

  Cameroon
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether in considering his support for the application by Cameroon for membership of the Commonwealth he will take into account the human rights record of Cameroon.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Following Cameroon's application, the question of membership of the Commonwealth was referred to a group of 10 Heads of Government appointed in Kuala Lumpur and of which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is a member. The group will report to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in 1991. We welcome the increasing prominence given to the observance of human rights in the Kuala Lumpur communique.

  High Technology Equipment
  Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now make it his policy to answer questions on the export of high-technology equipment that could be used for military purposes.

  Mr. Maude
  Our policy in answering such questions remains unchanged.

  Antarctica
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many abandoned British bases there are in Antarctica; and what steps have been taken to retrieve the waste generated there.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Twelve British bases were abandoned over the period 1946–75. The United Kingdom is urgently developing a strategy to implement the recommendation on waste disposal following the XV Antarctic treaty consultative meeting in Paris in October 1989. We shall start to implement this new policy and, in particular, prepare a timetable for waste disposal in 1990.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many operating British bases there are in Antarctica.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  There are five—Bird Island, Signy, Rothera, Faraday and Hailey.

  Contracts
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many contracts over £92,500 have been let by his Department in the 1988–89 financial year and in the current financial year to date; and how many of these were(a) automatically renewed and (b) open to competition by advertisement throughout the European Community.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The number of contracts awarded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and covered by the provisions of the European Community supplies directive, for which the current threshold is £92,000, was 13 in the 1988–89 financial year and seven in the current financial year, to date. Of these, three were awarded following advertisement in the Official Journal of the European Community. The other 17 were let following the use of the "negotiated" procedure laid down by the directive. In these cases there was either only one possible supplier or the contracts were for additional goods that had to be purchased from the original suppliers for technical reasons.

  Accountancy Firms
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many outside accountancy firms are employed by his Department; whether such employment is subject to any guidelines; and whether he takes steps before employing an accountancy firm to discover whether that firm has been censured by the Department of Trade and Industry in their inquiries under the Companies Acts.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not currently employ any outside accountancy firms.

  Tibet
  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a representative of Her Majesty's Government was last in Lhasa; and what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to monitor the human rights situation in Tibet.

  Mr. Maude
  A member of the British embassy in Peking visited Lhasa from 27 to 30 October. The imposition of
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  martial law in Lhasa has reduced the flow of information, but we use all available channels to follow closely developments in Tibet.

  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further representations Her Majesty's Government have made to China over its human rights violation in Tibet.

  Mr. Maude
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 29 November to the hon. Member for Belfast, South (Rev. Martin Smyth).

  Human Rights
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many letters have been sent out by his Department in the last 12 months to foreign Governments indicating dissatisfaction with their human rights record; and if he will list the Governments concerned.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We condemn human rights abuses wherever they occur. We have in the last 12 months made many representations, both orally and in writing, bilaterally, with our European Community partners and in international fora, to bring our concerns on human rights to the attention of many countries. The detailed information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Broadcasting
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received on the operation of the Broadcasting Act in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have recently received representations from the hon. Member and others about questions of taste and decency raised by one programme. The Government do not have powers to intervene in the content of programmes.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the rules concerning circumstances in which pensioners have reduced cost television licences, so as to provide that everyone on a basic state pension and no other income can obtain a reduced price colour television licence.

  Mr. Mellor
  No.

  Immigration
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were refused leave of entrance to the United Kingdom at seaports or airports in 1989 from(a) the Soviet Union, (b) the Democratic Republic of Germany, (c) Poland, (d) Romania, (e) Bulgaria, (f) Hungary, (g) Czechoslovakia, (h) Libya, (i) India, (j) Pakistan, (k) Bangladesh, (l) South Africa and (m) Hong Kong.

  Establishment

  Population1

  Certified normal accommodation2

  Percentage overcrowding

  Kirklevington

  13

  0

  —

  Campsfield House

  59

  68

  -13

  Haslar

  70

  95

  -26

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  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The latest available information is given in the table:

  Passengers refused leave to enter and removed from the United Kingdom—January to September 1989

  Nationality

  Number

  USSR

  41

  German Democratic Republic

  4

  Poland

  107

  Romania

  13

  Bulgaria

  13

  Hungary

  20

  Czechoslovakia

  16

  Libya

  21

  India

  350

  Pakistan

  256

  Bangladesh

  325

  South Africa

  306

  BDTC Hong Kong

  127

  Drugs
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's attitude towards requests for the legalislation of soft drugs.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Government have no intention of legalising any drugs presently controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. I am glad to see that this view was shared by the Home Affairs Committee in its report "Drug trafficking and related serious crime" (HC 370).

  Prisons
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the weekly food cost allowance for inmates in prisons in England and Wales.

  Mr. Mellor
  The quantity of food for inmates is determined not by reference to cash budgets but to dietary scales designed to meet agreed nutritional requirements. Ingredients are supplied primarily from centrally negotiated contracts and from prison farms and gardens. The notional cost per inmate per week totalled £6·30 in the quarter ended 30 September 1989.

  Prison Capacity
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all the prisons in the United Kingdom in order of the number of prisoners they currently hold, stating the numbers they are built to hold and the percentage overcrowding.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information requested is set out in the table in respect of prison service establishments in England and Wales. Responsibility for prisons in Scotland and Northern Ireland rests with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Northern Ireland respectively.
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  Establishment

  Population1

  Certified normal accommodation2

  Percentage overcrowding

  Werrington

  78

  110

  -29

  East Sutton Park

  83

  84

  -1

  Blantyre House

  86

  87

  -1

  Downview

  88

  91

  -3

  Eastwood Park

  92

  134

  -31

  New Hall

  92

  120

  -23

  Finnamore Wood

  94

  116

  -19

  Send

  101

  101

  0

  Guys Marsh

  104

  180

  -42

  Askham Grange

  106

  134

  -21

  Latchmere House

  10

  127

  -13

  North Sea Camp

  110

  202

  -46

  Cookham Wood

  18

  120

  -2

  Aldington

  123

  127

  -3

  Huntercombe

  123

  180

  -32

  Hewell Grange

  127

  136

  -7

  Swinfen Hall

  133

  124

  7

  Whatton

  134

  167

  -20

  Portsmouth (Kingston)

  140

  150

  -7

  Usk (Prescoed)

  145

  238

  -39

  Thorp Arch

  146

  156

  -6

  Bullwood Hall

  147

  126

  17

  Lowdham Grange

  152

  304

  -50

  Morton Hall

  153

  192

  -20

  Pucklechurch

  159

  159

  0

  Hatfield

  167

  180

  -7

  Thorn Cross

  168

  300

  -44

  Northallerton

  172

  127

  35

  Wetherby

  179

  196

  -9

  Ashford

  181

  374

  -52

  Dorchester

  197

  152

  30

  Oxford

  197

  124

  59

  Spring Hill

  210

  210

  0

  Erlestoke

  214

  218

  -2

  Brockhill

  220

  161

  37

  Grendon

  220

  261

  -16

  Northeye

  226

  249

  -9

  Drake Hall

  231

  288

  -20

  Castington

  233

  300

  -22

  Dover

  236

  247

  -4

  Parkhurst

  238

  271

  -12

  Shepton Mallet

  240

  173

  39

  Styal

  241

  258

  -7

  Shrewsbury

  256

  174

  47

  Lancaster

  257

  186

  38

  Low Newton

  263

  185

  42

  Swansea

  269

  229

  18

  Aylesbury

  272

  296

  -8

  Wellingborough

  275

  344

  -20

  Reading

  282

  178

  58

  Coldingley

  296

  303

  -2

  Stocken

  298

  302

  -1

  Gloucester

  304

  200

  52

  Rochester

  306

  374

  -18

  Bedford

  312

  178

  75

  Rudgate

  313

  378

  -17

  Gartree

  315

  320

  -2

  Nottingham

  316

  245

  29

  Haverigg

  323

  337

  -4

  Onley

  339

  352

  -4

  Leicester

  341

  205

  66

  Hollesley Bay

  344

  451

  -24

  Everthorpe

  347

  304

  14

  Mount

  348

  484

  -28

  Canterbury

  352

  230

  53

  Stoke Heath

  361

  360

  0·3

  Exeter

  364

  310

  17

  Risley

  364

  318

  15

  Chelmsford

  367

  242

  52

  Albany

  381

  389

  -2

  Leyhill

  383

  384

  -0·3

  Hindley

  384

  312

  23

  Ranby

  390

  404

  -3

  Frankland

  393

  447

  -12

  Deerbolt

  394

  420

  -6

  Standford Hill

  399

  444

  -10

  644 645

  Establishment

  Population1

  Certified normal accommodation2

  Percentage overcrowding

  Full Sutton

  400

  432

  -7

  Ashwell

  404

  404

  0

  Blundeston

  405

  405

  0

  Long Lartin

  419

  432

  -3

  Acklington

  442

  448

  -1

  Cardiff

  449

  337

  33

  Holloway

  471

  517

  -9

  Preston

  478

  428

  12

  Littlehey

  481

  484

  -1

  Portland

  482

  527

  -9

  Wayland

  484

  484

  0

  Camp Hill

  497

  461

  8

  Garth

  498

  512

  -3

  Swaleside

  501

  504

  -1

  Ford

  504

  536

  -6

  Channings Wood

  533

  538

  -1

  Sudbury

  542

  601

  -10

  Maidstone

  553

  550

  1

  Lewes

  554

  371

  49

  Featherstone

  561

  509

  10

  Kirkham

  578

  632

  -9

  Bristol

  593

  552

  7

  Verne

  595

  600

  -1

  Lincoln

  596

  391

  52

  Dartmoor

  614

  615

  -0·2

  Norwich

  617

  485

  27

  Hull

  649

  402

  61

  Glen Parva

  656

  600

  9

  Winchester

  668

  471

  42

  Wakefield

  722

  756

  -4

  Feltham

  725

  846

  -14

  Wymott

  765

  816

  -6

  Lindholme

  797

  1,001

  -20

  Stafford

  814

  588

  38

  Highpoint

  822

  825

  -0·4

  Pentonville

  916

  641

  43

  Birmingham

  992

  578

  72

  Wormwood Scrubs

  1,010

  1,024

  -1

  Durham

  1,030

  729

  41

  Brixton

  1,054

  729

  45

  Leeds

  1,180

  627

  88

  Liverpool

  1,310

  967

  35

  Wandsworth

  1,545

  1,275

  21

  Manchester

  1,575

  997

  58

  1 Population figures are as reported by establishments on Friday 1 December 1989.

  2 Details of Certified Normal Accommodation (CNA) relate to the position on 8 October 1989, the latest date for which figures are currently available.

  Gaelic Broadcasting
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he expects to announce his plans for Gaelic broadcasting; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) when he expects to respond to Comunn na Gaidhlig's proposal for a Gaelic broadcasting council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  Representations for special support for Gaelic broadcasting remain under consideration. We hope to announce our conclusions on this as soon as possible.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information is available to him as to the date on which Detective Chief Superintendent Graham Melvin is expected to retire from the Metropolitan police.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  None; this is a personal matter for Mr. Melvin.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Part-time Work (EC Directive)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will seek to introduce legislation to incorporate the proposals included in the EC Council directive on part-time work (Com. (81) 775 as amended (Com. (82) 830).

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  No. Northern Ireland legislation on part-time work is in line with that in the rest of the United Kingdom.

  Roads
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Antrim, South on 5 December, if he will now carry out, at the earliest possible moment, a traffic census on Killead road, Killead village; and if he will indicate the number of heavy commercial vehicles included in the Ballyrobin road, Killead road and Oldstone road traffic census.
  647
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 8 December 1989]: Traffic flows between December and March are normally lower than during the rest of the year and may not give a reliable indication. The Department of the Environment does not intend to carry out a traffic census at this location at present.

  When the last classified traffic census was carried out in 1984 the number of heavy commercial vehicles using these roads was as follows:

  Number of heavy commercial vehicles per 16-hour day

  Road

  Number

  Ballyrobin road

  465

  Killead road

  1,105

  Oldstone road

  544

ENERGY

  Carbon Dioxide Emissions
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the Government's estimate for carbon dioxide emissions from energy use in Britain in 1988; and what are the latest estimates for carbon dioxide emissions in(a) 2000 and (b)

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  In 1987, the latest year for which I have estimates, United Kingdom energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, expressed as carbon, were 163 million tonnes.

  My Department's study, "An Evaluation of Energy Related Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Measures to Ameliorate Them", estimates emissions in the years 2000 and 2020 for a wide range of scenarios. These figures range between 174 and 206 million tonnes carbon in the year 2000 and between 188 and 316 million tonnes in 2020.

  The scenarios are not predictions of the future, but are intended to provide a framework for assessing possible response options. They cover a wide range of assumptions on economic growth and world fuel prices. Full details can be found in the report, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what projections the Government have made of the level of carbon dioxide emissions in Britain by the year 2005 from(a) transport, (b) energy, (c) industry and (d) in total.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Future carbon dioxide emissions will depend on many factors such as economic growth and consumer choices. Last month my Department completed a study entitled "An evaluation of Energy Related Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Measures to Ameliorate Them". That report included a range of possible future emission scenarios and is available in the Library of the House.

  The figures in the table, for energy-related emissions of carbon dioxide, are taken from that report. They assume a growth rate of 2·25 per cent. per annum and cover two alternative sets of assumptions on world fuel prices. Further details can be found in the report.
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  Scenarios for United Kingdom Energy Related CO2 Emissions in 2005

  Low Price case

  High Price case

  Electricity Supply Industry

  67

  68

  Other Industry

  56

  52

  Transport

  49

  46

  Domestic

  27

  25

  Miscellaneous

  14

  14

  Total

  212

  204

  Notes:

  1. Central Growth Assumption of 2·25 per cent. per annum.

  2. Emissions expressed as million tonnes carbon.

  3. All figures rounded.

  4. Industry includes agriculture.

  5. Transport includes marine bunkers and aviation.

  Contracts
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many contracts over £92,500 have been let by his Department in the 1988–89 financial year and in the present financial year to date; and how many of these were(a) automatically renewed and (b) advertised and therefore open to competition throughout the European Community.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The number of contracts awarded by my Department and covered by the provisions of the EC supplies directive, for which the current threshold is £92,000, was three in the 1988–89 financial year and one in the current financial year to date. Three of the contracts were let, and advertised, in accordance with the EC supplies directive.

  Energy Efficiency Office
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will place in the Library the review of the Energy Efficiency Office which led to the announcement of new objectives on 9 June 1988,Official Report, columns 632–33.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The objectives of the EEO are reviewed regularly. It is not normal practice to publish advice to Ministers.

  Nuclear Power Stations
  Mr Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps are being taken to set aside funds to deal with stage three decommissioning of nuclear power stations.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The nuclear generators will be making provisions in their accounts to deal with the decommissioning of their nuclear power stations.

  Magnox Reactors
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the amount set aside by the Central Electricity Generating Board to deal with the decommissioning costs of the Magnox reactors in(a) 1985, (b) 1986, (c) 1987, (d) 1988 and (e)

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The annual reports and accounts of the Central Electricity Generating Board show the provisions made to meet expenditure on the decommissioning of nuclear facilities, the long-term reprocessing of
  649
  irradiated nuclear fuel, and the treatment, storage and disposal of the resulting waste products. These reports are available in the Library of the House.

  The amount of provisions for decommissioning costs of the Magnox reactors is a matter for CEGB. I will ask the chairman of the CEGB to write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority last reviewed the decommissioning costs of Magnox reactors; and if he will publish their figures.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The UKAEA reviewed the CEGB's estimates of the costs of decommissioning its Magnox reactors in May of this year. A report was submitted to the Department. Figures cannot be published because of the report's commercial confidentiality.

  Flue Gas Desulphurisation
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when all large power station plants will be fitted with flue gas desulphurisation equipment.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The Government are committed to ensuring that the reductions in SO2 emissions required by the EC large combustion plant directive are achieved. The CEGB estimates that this will require the fitting of flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) equipment to 12GW of capacity, equivalent to six large power stations, at a cost of about £2 billion. There is no requirement that all existing large power stations should be fitted with FGD equipment.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Exchange Rate Mechanism
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times currencies in the exchange rate mechanism have been adjusted, giving the dates and the currency and its value before and after in each case.

  Mr. Lilley
  There have been 11 occasions on which exchange rates of currencies in the ERM have been realigned. For the detail I refer the hon. Gentleman to table 6 of "The European Monetary System: Recent Developments", IMF occasional paper number 48, and annex VIII of "The EMS: Ten Years of Progress in European Monetary Co-operation", both of which are in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the arrangements for reviewing the levels of currencies in the exchange rate mechanisms; and when revaluations take place.

  Mr. Lilley
  Reviews are carried out through consultation in the appropriate Community bodies. I refer the hon. Gentleman to paragraph 3·2 of the resolution of the European Council of 5 December 1978 on the establishment of the European Monetary System (EMS) and related matters.

  Stamp Duties
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what deliberations have been held on the future of stamp duties in the light of the consultative document issued in 1983.
  650
  Mr. Lilley
  Following the response to the consultative document, numerous changes have been made. Since 1985 we have abolished a number of stamp duties, including capital duty and unit trust instrument duty, and streamlined procedures for those that remain.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans he has to streamline the levying of stamp duty on unit trusts;

  (2) whether he will consider removing stamp duty from unit trust transactions;

  (3) whether he will eliminate stamp duty on the sale and re-purchase of trusts within a unit trust.

  Mr. Lilley
  I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget Statement.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the future of stamp duty being levied on unit trusts.

  Mr. Lilley
  I have received a number of representations from the unit trust industry suggesting altering the stamp duty charge on unit trusts.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what volume of share transactions attract the minimum rate of stamp duty each year.

  Mr. Lilley
  I regret the information is not available.

  Benefits and Allowances
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the documents produced by his Department available to hon. Members on the subject of the effects of ending(a) income tax allowances and (b) personal income tax allowances.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 12 December 19891]: A list of the direct revenue costs of tax allowances and reliefs is given in table 21.1.25 of "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1989–90 to 1991–92" (Cm. 621); but the figures cannot in general be interpreted as the tax yield from withdrawing a particular allowance or relief, because of the difficulty of estimating the behavioural changes which might result from such a move. The Financial Statement and Budget Report sets out the effects of proposed amendments to the tax system each year; and the Autumn Statement sets out the revenue effects of illustrative tax changes.

  British Aerospace
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish any notes or correspondence involving the Inland Revenue over the tax affairs of British Aerospace.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 12 December 19891]: The tax affairs of British Aerospace are subject to the normal confidentiality rules. However, in order to assist understanding of this matter, arrangements have been made exceptionally, with the agreement of British Aerospace, to provide to the Public Accounts Committee and the Trade and Industry Committee copies of the exchange of letters between the accountants of British Aerospace and the Inland Revenue which is referred to in the letter of 12 July 1988 from the then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to the chairman of British Aerospace.

  Charities
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether value added tax is payable for expenditure by charities (i) on indirect publicity, such as cost of adverts and (ii) on direct publicity, such as cost of envelopes for sending educational or fund raising material to inquirers.

  Mr. Ryder
  Printed media advertising supplied to charities for raising money for their work or for making known their aims and objectives is relieved of value added tax. Zero-rating also applies to envelopes and other stationery items, but only when these are printed with such fund-raising or educational publicity material.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Special Needs Pupils
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to allocate time in the core curriculum to independence training for special needs pupils and to follow up the programme.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  It is for schools themselves to determine how they deliver independence training and other elements of personal and social education. There is scope to do so within the targets and programmes of study of the core and foundation subjects, or as an independent subject, or as a cross-curricular theme.

  Some pupils with special educational needs (SEN) will have a statement which can modify or disapply the requirements of the national curriculum and so provide an individual curriculum which might include appropriate training for adult life.

  Pupil-teacher Ratios, Leicestershire
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the pupil-teacher ratios in Leicestershire primary schools for the years 1978 and 1988.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The pupil-teacher ratios within maintained primary schools in Leicestershire were 24 and 22·9 in 1978 and 1988 respectively.

  Accountancy Firms
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many outside accountancy firms are employed by his Department; whether such employment is subject to any guidelines; and whether he takes steps before employing an accountancy firm to discover whether that firm has been censured by Department of Trade and Industry inspectors in their inquiries under the Companies Act.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Department has consultancy contracts with four of the major accountancy firms. All the contracts have been arranged in accordance with the Treasury guidelines for the appointment to audit and other accountancy assignments in the public sector. The Department does not routinely consult the Department of Trade and Industry, but would do so it it were planning to employ a firm whose reputation was not well established.

  Pupil Expenditure
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the spending per pupil for each local education authority in England and Wales for the latest available financial year.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The latest information for local education authorities in England is for 1987–88 and is given in the table. Figures for Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Net institutional expenditure1 per pupil2

  Cash Terms

  Local Education Authority

  Primary £

  Secondary £

  Barking

  1,155

  1,745

  Barnet

  1,195

  1,7675

  Bexley

  1,030

  1,530

  Brent

  1,305

  2,195

  Bromley

  1,070

  1,645

  Croydon

  1,040

  1,825

  Ealing

  n/a

  n/a

  Enfield

  1,005

  1,580

  Haringey

  n/a

  n/a

  Harrow

  1,070

  1,775

  Havering

  1,005

  1,670

  Hillingdon

  1,075

  1,675

  Hounslow

  1,175

  1,675

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  1,055

  1,720

  Merton

  1,020

  1,470

  Newham

  1,205

  1,880

  Redbridge

  990

  1,600

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  1,075

  1,475

  Sutton

  980

  1,420

  Waltham Forest

  1,235

  2,345

  ILEA

  1,585

  2,610

  Birmingham

  940

  1,490

  Coventry

  990

  1,705

  Dudley

  915

  1,570

  Sandwell

  1,055

  1,630

  Solihull

  925

  1,450

  Walsall

  1,080

  1,645

  Wolverhampton

  1,070

  1,575

  Knowsley

  1,050

  1,735

  Liverpool

  1,105

  1,730

  St. Helens

  965

  1,505

  Sefton

  930

  1,460

  Wirral

  920

  1,480

  Bolton

  890

  1,425

  Bury

  1,045

  1,615

  Manchester

  1,095

  1,785

  Oldham

  1,005

  1,395

  Rochdale

  940

  1,650

  Salford

  985

  1,625

  Stockport

  935

  1,500

  Tameside

  995

  1,525

  Trafford

  965

  1,525

  Wigan

  955

  1,675

  Barnsley

  985

  1,470

  Doncaster

  1,045

  1,500

  Rotherham

  1,050

  1,440

  Sheffield

  n/a

  n/a

  Bradford

  1,060

  1,410

  Calderdale

  950

  1,440

  Kirklees

  985

  1,415

  Leeds

  1,030

  1,370

  Wakefield

  1,070

  1,495

  Gateshead

  1,080

  1,560

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  1,140

  1,725

  North Tyneside

  1,090

  1,660

  South Tyneside

  1,060

  1,585

  Sunderland

  925

  1,505

  Isles of Scilly

  1,540

  2,355

  Avon

  975

  1,435

  Bedfordshire

  1,030

  1,455

  Berkshire

  N/A3

  N/A3

  Buckinghamshire

  970

  1,505

  653

  Local Education Authority

  Primary £

  Secondary £

  Cambridgeshire

  910

  1,315

  Cheshire

  900

  1,390

  Cleveland

  970

  1,545

  Cornwall

  900

  1,345

  Cumbria

  1,060

  1,510

  Derbyshire

  990

  1,530

  Devon

  905

  1,380

  Dorset

  950

  1,320

  Durham

  1,050

  1,405

  East Sussex

  930

  1,385

  Essex

  920

  1,420

  Gloucestershire

  935

  1,385

  Hampshire

  950

  1,405

  Hereford and Worcester

  930

  1,330

  Hertfordshire

  975

  1,490

  Humberside

  995

  1,460

  Isle of Wight

  935

  1,350

  Kent

  855

  1,290

  Lancashire

  890

  1,450

  Leicestershire

  960

  1,565

  Lincolnshire

  900

  1,280

  Norfolk

  955

  1,385

  North Yorkshire

  915

  1,375

  Northamptonshire

  885

  1,375

  Northumberland

  945

  1,390

  Nottinghamshire

  1,020

  1,540

  Oxfordshire

  1,035

  1,560

  Salop

  945

  1,470

  Somerset

  900

  1,355

  Staffordshire

  980

  1,420

  Suffolk

  910

  1,305

  Surrey

  905

  1,415

  Warwickshire

  940

  1,400

  West Sussex

  890

  1,360

  Wiltshire

  940

  1,350

  Notes:

  1 Net Institutional Expenditure includes the cost of salaries and wages, premises and certain supplies and services. It does not include the cost of school meals, central administration and inspection, debt charges or revenue contributions to capital outlay.

  2 The figures are based on LEA expenditure returns to DOE and pupil number returns to DES.

  3 N/A denotes that an expenditure return has not been received from 4 LEAs.

  Capital Allocations
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table giving the amounts for England of capital allocations for(a) county and voluntary controlled schools, (b) voluntary aided schools and (c) the total of (a) and (b) for each financial year from and including 1978–79 to 1990–91, expressed in (i) current prices, (ii) constant prices and (iii) an index of (ii) where 1978–79 = 100.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I shall reply to the hon. Member after the allocations for 1990–91 have been announced in the usual way.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table listing(a) the amounts of capital allocations for county and voluntary controlled schools for 1990–91 for which each local education authority in England has bid and (b) the amounts of capital grant for voluntary aided schools in their area which each local authority has asked of his Departments.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The information requested is set out in the table.
  654

  Total plans for county and VC schools1990–91 (£000s-cash)

  Total plans for VA schools1990–91 (£000s-cash)

  Barking

  1,365

  1,940

  Barnet

  2,690

  835

  Bexley

  4,512

  1,760

  Brent

  5,553

  822

  Bromley

  6,555

  175

  Croydon

  17,153

  1,086

  Ealing

  13,275

  178

  Enfield

  27,207

  1,652

  Haringey

  4,777

  2,760

  Harrow

  2,708

  208

  Havering

  8,275

  357

  Hillingdon

  6,840

  845

  Hounslow

  6,690

  299

  Kingston

  3,929

  317

  Merton

  10,512

  634

  Newham

  16,363

  213

  Redbridge

  5,619

  401

  Richmond

  5,547

  1,545

  Sutton

  13,785

  372

  Waltham

  11,301

  340

  City

  0

  0

  Camden

  3,981

  2,688

  Westminster

  5,112

  291

  Greenwich

  7,263

  324

  Hackney

  5,197

  521

  Hammersmith

  2,136

  549

  Islington

  6,991

  123

  Kensington

  7,663

  4,918

  Lambeth

  3,155

  563

  Lewisham

  6,991

  412

  Southwark

  6,408

  1,830

  Wandsworth

  13,508

  101

  Tower Hamlets

  23,870

  771

  Birmingham

  15,068

  1,287

  Coventry

  12,179

  1,129

  Dudley

  4,492

  2,700

  Sandwell

  7,422

  652

  Solihull

  5,498

  1,456

  Walsall

  3,521

  193

  Wolverhampton

  2,669

  0

  Knowsley

  6,049

  1,943

  Liverpool

  13,461

  5,548

  St. Helens

  3,567

  1,251

  Sefton

  5,941

  2,323

  Wirral

  6,329

  1,799

  Bolton

  3,213

  1,098

  Bury

  1,140

  1,013

  Manchester

  18,944

  1,529

  Oldham

  6,912

  1,143

  Rochdale

  11,104

  1,372

  Salford

  6,134

  552

  Stockport

  2,934

  575

  Tameside

  2,248

  103

  Trafford

  10,902

  456

  Wigan

  6,645

  1,524

  Barnsley

  1,980

  0

  Doncaster

  1,156

  345

  Rotherham

  3,077

  170

  Sheffield

  4,161

  510

  Bradford

  26,989

  1,237

  Calderdale

  2,285

  276

  Kirklees

  5,100

  183

  Leeds

  14,157

  9,332

  Wakefield

  5,900

  425

  Gateshead

  6,591

  455

  655

  Total plans for county and VC schools1990–91 (£000s-cash)

  Total plans for VA schools1990–91 (£000s-cash)

  Newcastle

  7,199

  941

  North Tyneside

  4,978

  1,017

  South Tyneside

  8,150

  146

  Sunderland

  8,581

  230

  Isle of Scilly

  300

  0

  Avon

  13,270

  2,527

  Bedfordshire

  11,824

  0

  Berkshire

  14,099

  1,046

  Buckinghamshire

  12,978

  2,782

  Cambridge

  26,194

  2,285

  Cheshire

  13,499

  5,714

  Cleveland

  6,963

  634

  Cornwall

  16,401

  1,336

  Cumbria

  10,052

  745

  Derbyshire

  20,121

  2,442

  Devon

  26,667

  1,007

  Dorset

  8,776

  6,620

  Durham

  14,826

  752

  East Sussex

  19,227

  1,860

  Essex

  36,837

  1,395

  Gloucester

  17,094

  5,374

  Hampshire

  21,937

  4,025

  Hereford and Worcester

  11,658

  1,653

  Hertford

  12,564

  648

  Humberside

  15,436

  1,058

  Isle of Wight

  5,458

  126

  Kent

  29,396

  3,786

  Lancashire

  32,079

  6,066

  Leicester

  15,863

  685

  Lincoln

  21,251

  830

  Norfolk

  8,374

  1,192

  North Yorkshire

  6,119

  774

  Northampton

  8,836

  85

  Northumberland

  5,516

  431

  Nottinghamshire

  10,977

  2,084

  Oxfordshire

  12,300

  4,223

  Shropshire

  8,964

  486

  Somerset

  11,300

  1,685

  Staffordshire

  14,935

  1,373

  Suffolk

  13,872

  447

  Surrey

  7,919

  1,534

  Warwickshire

  3,958

  1,936

  West Sussex

  10,432

  2,988

  Wiltshire

  17,088

  1,026

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to announce his allocations to local education authorities in respect of their capital expenditure on schools.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I expect to make an announcement before Christmas.

  Natural Environment Research Council
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has received the annual report of the natural environment research council for 1988–89; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The annual report of the natural environment research council has been submitted to me under the requirements of the Science and Technology Act 1965, and a copy is being laid before the House today.

  The report highlights the council's achievements in a year in which public interest in environmental matters significantly increased. I was particularly interested to note:
  656

  (a) the start of the biological ocean flux study, a major programme involving scientists from both NERC and higher education institutions, contributing to international research on the carbon cycle in oceans;

  (b) the collaborative research on the North sea, and progress in developing models to help predict water quality and the future effects of man's activities;

  (c) the advances in research on the contribution of air pollutants to forest decline and the mechanisms involved;

  (d) the development of a predictive system of biological monitoring and river quality, now incorporated in a software package and being developed further with support from the water industry;

  (e) the start up of the NERC extractive industry partnership scheme.

  I congratulate the council on these and its many other achievements and look forward to further progress in next year's report.

WALES

  Unemployment
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many travel-to-work areas in Wales had an unemployment rate(a) over 10 per cent., (b) between 5 per cent. and 10 per cent. and (c) below 5 per cent. in October.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Of the 34 travel-to-work areas in Wales, two had an unemployment rate of more than 10 per cent. at October 1989, 24 a rate between 5 and 10 per cent. and 8 below 5 per cent.

  Water
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how he intends to account to Parliament for his responsibility under EC legislation to ensure that individual and private water supplies meet European standards.

  Mr. Grist
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be accountable through the usual parliamentary procedures.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many times the Secretary of State's committee has met since the passing of the Water Act 1989; and what matters have been discussed;

  (2) if he will list the names of the individuals who comprise the Secretary of State's committee established under the Water Act 1989;

  (3) what matters he has referred to the Secretary of State's committee for Wales since the passing of the Water Act; what advice has been offered to him; and what action he has taken as a result.

  Mr. Grist
  The committee has yet to be appointed.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list his responsibilities under EC and United Kingdom legislation in respect of water supply quality.

  Mr. Grist
  The main responsibilities of my right hon. Friend in relation to the quality and sufficiency of water supplies are set out clearly in the Water Act 1989. The EC directives relating to drinking water quality have now been incorporated into subordinate legislation arising from the Act.
  657
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) in what way local authorities in Wales will be involved in testing and monitoring water supplies from Dwr Cymru, other suppliers and private supplies following the full implementation of the Water Act 1989;

  (2) what action he intends to take to bring private water supplies in Wales up to EC standards; and what grants are available to individuals and families who need work undertaken to achieve those standards;

  (3) what mechanism he has established to test private water supplies in Wales and to monitor the results of such tests.

  Mr. Grist
  Section 56 of the Water Act 1989 continues and reinforces the general duty of local authorities to monitor the wholesomeness and sufficiency of all water supplies in their areas. In this respect, I refer the hon. Gentleman to paragraphs 5–19 of Welsh Office circular 47/89, a copy of which is in the Library. Paragraph 12 of that circular also describes the important role of the drinking water inspectorate soon to be established under section 60 of the Act.

  From 1 April 1990, schedule 9 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, which amends section 604 of the Housing Act 1985, will come into force and this provides mandatory assistance for a property to have an adequate supply of wholesome water, subject to the grant applicant qualifying under the test of resources. On 29 November this year, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced that there is to be no limit on the amount which local authorities can spend on mandatory home renovation grants which can be used in this regard, next year.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what level of punishment and what directives can be called into effect in the event of a finding against the Government in the European Court following any prosecution for failing to meet directives on water quality.

  Mr. Grist
  The treaty establishing the European Economic Community does not convey to the Court of Justice express powers in terms of the enforcement of its judgments against member states but the United Kingdom would be under an obligation to comply.

  European Regional Development Fund
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest estimates available to him of the total level of receipts to Welsh eligible bodies in Wales from the European regional development fund in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Total European regional development fund payments to eligible Welsh bodies in each of the past five years are shown in the following table:

  £ million

  1984

  28·6

  1985

  47·0

  1986

  43·1

  1987

  43·8

  1988

  83·0

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest estimate available to him of the total level 658
  of commitments to eligible public bodies in Wales of grant aid from the European regional development fund in the current year and 1990.

  Mr. Grist
  The latest estimate for European regional development fund commitments to Wales for 1989 is £31 million. We expect that, following adoption of the Community support frameworks for objective 2 programmes, commitments will be made during the first three months of 1990 in respect of projects whose processing during 1989 has been delayed by the negotiation of the frameworks.

  It will not be possible to provide a reliable estimate of commitments for 1990 until discussions with the European Commission on future funding are complete.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest estimate available to him of the total level of commitments to eligible public bodies in Wales of grant aid from the European regional development fund in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Total European regional development fund commitments to eligible Welsh bodies in each of the past five years are shown in the following table:

  £ million

  1984

  63·0

  1985

  54·9

  1986

  49·7

  1987

  57·8

  1988

  63·3

  Natural Heritage
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what additional funding will be required for the purposes of merging the Nature Conservancy Council and Countryside Commission for Wales.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  This cannot be fully determined at this stage. However, appropriate provision will be included in the Estimates for 1990–91 to cover anticipated start-up costs for the new Countryside Council for Wales in that year, subject to parliamentary approval.

EMPLOYMENT

  Earnings
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the Official Report a table in the same form as that contained in his reply of 15 November, Official Report, column 279, in each case distinguishing between manufacturing and non-manufacturing: and if he will provide corresponding figures for (i) the period 1970 to 1979 or the longest available comparable shorter period and (ii) females over each period.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The increases in real earnings are provided in the table:

  Percentage increase

  Manufacturing

  Non-manufacturing

  1970–79

  1979–89

  1970–79

  1979–89

  Manual males

  Lowest decile

  19

  3

  18

  6

  Lower quartile

  17

  7

  17

  10

  659

  Manufacturing

  Non-manufacturing

  1970–79

  1979–89

  1970–79

  1979–89

  Median

  15

  12

  17

  13

  Higher quartile

  15

  16

  19

  15

  Highest decile

  16

  20

  21

  16

  Average earnings

  16

  14

  19

  13

  Non-manual males

  Lowest decile

  17

  21

  15

  19

  Lower quartile

  15

  25

  15

  27

  Median

  12

  31

  12

  33

  Higher quartile

  12

  37

  7

  38

  Highest decile

  7

  43

  3

  48

  Average earnings

  9

  36

  7

  39

  Manual females

  Lowest decile

  40

  7

  47

  11

  Lower quartile

  39

  7

  46

  14

  Median

  41

  9

  44

  17

  Higher quartile

  41

  14

  41

  22

  Highest decile

  39

  23

  32

  28

  Average earnings

  40

  14

  40

  20

  Non-manual females

  Lowest decile

  42

  17

  41

  21

  Lower quartile

  39

  22

  34

  27

  Median

  39

  29

  25

  35

  Higher quartile

  35

  39

  23

  46

  Highest decile

  32

  51

  15

  46

  Average earnings

  35

  38

  23

  39

  Notes:

  1. The increases shown do not relate to the same individuals at the different dates.

  2. Full-time adult employees in Great Britain.

  Source:

  3. New Earnings Survey data deflated by the RPI (all items), April of each year.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the Official Report a table providing corresponding figures to those given in his answer of 15 November, Official Report, column 279, for non-manual workers in all service industries (6–9) electricity (161) office machinery, etc. (33) retail distribution (64–65) railways (71) banking etc. (8) banking and bill discounting (814) business services (83) accountants, auditors and tax experts (836) social security (919) higher education (931) and school education (932) together with their weight in the earnings index in 1979 and 1989.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Comparable earnings figures for 1979 and 1989 are not readily available for the industries specified because of the change in the standard industrial classification in 1982 and it would involve disproportionate cost to compile the data on a consistent basis. The weights used in the average earnings index in 1979 are not available on a comparable industry basis: those available for 1989 are published on page 609 of the November 1989 issue of Employment Gazette.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the Official Report a table providing corresponding figures to that given in his written answer of 15 November, Official Report, column 279, for the manual workers in mechanical engineering (32) motor vehicles and their engines (351) textiles (43) footwear (451) clothing etc. (453) paper and paper products (471–472) internal combustion engines (3281) retail distribution (64–65) retail distribution of motor
  660
  vehicles (651) business services (83) hospitals etc. (951) and personal services (13.1) together with their weights in the earnings index in 1979 and 1989.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Except for footwear (SIC 451), comparable earnings figures for 1979 and 1989 are not readily available for the industries specified because of the change in the standard industrial classification in 1982 and it would involve disproportionate cost to compile the data on a consistent basis. The weights used in the average earnings index in 1979 are not available on a comparable industry basis: those available for 1989 are published on page 609 of the November 1989 issue of Employment Gazette. The available information for footwear (SIC 451) is given in the table.

  Full-time manual adult males in footwear industries—Great Britain

  Percentage increase

  Lowest decile

  1

  Lower quartile

  5

  Median

  14

  Higher quartile

  13

  Highest docile

  4

  Average earnings

  7

  Note:

  1. The increases shown are for April 1979 to April 1989 and do not relate to the same individuals at the different dates.

  Source: New Earnings Survey data deflated by the RPI (all items).

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many professionally qualified accountants are employed by the Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. Nicholls
  On 1 December 1989, four professionally qualified accountants were employed by the Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff, and of which grades are employed in the Health and Safety Executive's press department.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The number of staff, and their grades, employed in the Health and Safety Executive's press department as at 1 October 1989 is as follows:

  1 Grade 7

  3 Senior press officers (SIO grade)

  2 Press officers (IO grade)

  1 Executive officer

  1 Administrative officer

  1 Administrative assistant

  1 Personal secretary

  Factory Inspectors
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 23 November,Official Report, columns 19–20, how many actual training days have been organised, and on what dates, for factory inspectors, on each of these three sets of new regulations in 1989; and how many are planned for 1990.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Forty-three training days on the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations were organised for factory inspectors on the following dates in 1989:4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26 and
  661
  27 April, 3, 4, 9 and 10 May, 3, 5 and 10 October. None are planned in 1990. Thirty-one training days on the Control of Noise at Work Regulations were organised for factory inspectors on the following dates in 1989: 8, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 29 and 30 November and 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 14 and 15 December. One training day has been organised on 30 January 1990. No training days on the Electricity at Work Regulations were organised for factory inspectors in 1989. Training days for inspectors are planned for early 1990 but the dates have not yet been arranged.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the annual revenue budget of the Health and Safety Executive, excluding staff salaries, was spent on training of staff, in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The percentage of the Health and Safety Executive's annual revenue budget (that is, excluding capital expenditure) less expenditure on salaries, spent on training courses and related travel and subsistence costs over the last five years was as follows:

  Per cent.

  1984–85

  1·8

  1985–86

  2·5

  1986–87

  3·1

  1987–88

  3·5

  1988–89

  3·5

  Workplace Child Care
  Mr. David Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on the level and standards of provision of workplace child care facilities in different member countries of the European Community.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend has no comparable data on the extent of workplace child care facilities for all member countries of the European Community.

  Such information as my right hon. Friend has is contained in the European Commission April 1988 Consolidated Report "Childcare and Equality of Opportunity". This shows that most countries have some childcare services provided by employers and that services are most common in the public sector.

  Workplace facilities are not always the most practical method of child care provision.

  Sheltered Placement Scheme
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether detailed recommendations on the future of the sheltered placement scheme will be made in his Department's internal review on employment assistance to disabled adults.

  Mr. Eggar
  The future of the services provided by my Department for supporting people with severe disabilities in employment are among the matters under consideration within the internal review.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to expand the sheltered placement scheme which provides job opportunities for severely disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  We intend to inform sponsors as soon as possible about arrangements for the sheltered placement scheme in 1990–91.

  Disabled People
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment his Department has made of the demographic changes to the work force and the ability of disabled people to fill the associated skills gap in the work force.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Employment Department makes regular projections of the size and age structure of the labour force. The latest figures, based on 1987 based population projections and preliminary results of the 1988 labour force survey, were published in the Employment Gazette, April 1989, and cover the period up to the year 2000. The annual labour force survey collects information on the qualifications of those with work-limiting health problems and disabilities. It is clear that people with disabilities suffer higher unemployment rates than able bodied people and are under utilised in the labour market. The shortage of young people in the 1990s means that employers will have to make better use of their workers and seek new sources of recruitment, including people with disabilities.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment his Department has made of the need for anti-discrimination legislation to ensure equal employment opportunities for disabled people.

  Mr. Nicholls
  A consultative document covering the conclusions of the review will be published as soon as possible.

  Successive Governments have judged that education and persuasion of employers is the most effective approach to improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The role of legislation is one of the matters being considered in the review of services to the disabled currently being undertaken by this Department.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what help he has given to disabled persons to train them in the use of microtechnology.

  Mr. Eggar
  Many people are given the opportunity to acquire relevant skills and to train in the uses of microtechnology through all the Training Agency's programmes. People with disabilities play a full and growing part in those programmes.

  In addition, people who because of their disability are helped by the use of microtechnology-based equipment supplied through the special aids to employment scheme to undertake training or employment are entitled to any necessary introductory training in the use of that equipment.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what programmes he has commissioned aimed at changing employers' attitudes towards the employment of disabled people.

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department encourages employers to adopt good policies and practices in the employment of people with disabilities mainly through marketing action by the 65 area teams of the Disablement Advisory Service; promotion of the code of good practice in the employment of disabled people and of a number of supporting publications and videos; and the fit for work award scheme.
  663
  In addition, disablement resettlement officers and other jobcentre staff help employers to obtain suitable employees with disabilities, and financial help is available to help overcome specific barriers at work. My Department is currently reviewing its services for people with disabilities, and a consultative document will be published shortly.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefits (Uprating)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide a breakdown of the saving or cost of each measure announced in his uprating statement on 25 October,Official Report, columns 841–54, indicating where and to what extent the cost is due to uprating in line with the retail prices index, or Rossi index where appropriate, to September 1989.

  Mr. Newton
  As a result of all the increases in social security benefits I announced on 25 October, expenditure on my Department's programme will be some £2·8 billion higher in 1990–91 than if these were to be left unchanged. Increases in rates for contributory and non-contributory benefits generally were with reference to the September 1988 to September 1989 increase in the retail prices index (RPI) and for income-related benefits with reference to the increase in that index less housing costs (the Rossi index).

  Changes going beyond what is statutorily or conventionally undertaken by reference to one of these indices were as follows:

  £ million

  Additional increase in the higher rate of Invalidity Allowance

  +1

  Additional increase of 50p in the family premiums for income related benefits

  +33

  Additional increase of £1 in the Family Credit adult credit

  +16

  Additional increase in the Housing Benefit and Community Charge Benefit lone parent premium

  +2

  Additional increase in the allowance for personal expenses for Income Support claimants in hospital

  +1

  Additional increases in war widows age allowances

  +3

  Additional increase in the adult disability premiums in income-related benefits

  +18

  More than doubling of the disability premium for families with disabled children on income-related benefits

  +8

  Additional increase in the Therapeutic Earnings Limit

  (less than £1 million see below)

  In addition I made increases in certain payments and limits for which there is no statutory uprating requirement or established uprating convention:

  £ million

  Increases in Income Support limits for residential care and nursing homes

  +100

  £15 increase in the Social Fund Maternity Payment

  +3

  £5 increase in the War Pensioner's disregard in income-related benefits

  +4

  Increase of £8 in the Invalid Care Allowance earnings limit

  (less than £1 million see below

  664
  I also announced various structural changes to help the less-well-off, over and above increases in the benefit rates. The costs of these in the first full year (1991–92) are as follows:

  £ million

  New higher limit on the amount lone parents not on Income Support receiving Housing Benefit or Community Charge Benefit can earn without affecting benefit

  +11

  New higher Social Fund capital rule of £1,000 for elderly people on Income Support

  +2

  £10 Carer's premium in the income-related benefits

  +15

  Extension of Attendance Allowance to the terminally ill without a six month waiting period with consequent extension of Invalid Care Allowance

  +28

  Extension of Attendance Allowance for children under 2 years old with consequent extensions of Invalid Care Allowance

  +

  Extension of Mobility Allowance to the deaf-blind

  +5

  Extension of Invalidity Benefit to those on Employment Rehabilitation Courses

  1—

  Additional funds for the Independent Living Fund (1990–91)

  +19

  1 Estimated at a cost less than £1 million together with the additional increase in the invalid care allowance earnings limit and the therapeutic earnings limit mentioned above.

  I also took account, in deciding on my proposals, of two major improvements which took effect in October in advance of the uprating but entailing substantiallly increased social security expenditure in 1990–91. These were:

  1989–90 £ million

  1990–91 £ million

  Abolition of the pensioners' earnings rule

  +190

  +375

  Help for poorer pensioners who are disabled or over 75

  +85

  +199

  I also announced increases in statutory sick pay and statutory maternity pay. The lower rates will increase in real terms, as will the statutory sick pay standard rate threshold. There will be a lower increase in the statutory sick pay standard rate. Overall, these changes will increase expenditure by some £70 million to £80 million less than raising both rates and thresholds in line with the RPI. Had I decided to increase child benefit in line with the RPI, this would have cost some £250 million net of savings on other benefits.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families are currently unable to claim either family credit or income support due to the difficulty of deciding when a pattern of working over 24 hours a week is established; how long on average these families have been awaiting an outstanding claim for either income support or family credit; and how he proposes to ensure that the risk of failing to qualify for either family credit or income support, in such cases, be minimised.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Available information suggests that only a few hundred families are unable to qualify for either income support or family credit because the claimant or partner is working for 24 hours or more a week at the time of the claim, but cannot be regarded as normally engaged in such work for family credit purposes because it is casual or short-term. Claims from people in this situation have been dealt with, and decisions issued, as
  665
  and when they have arisen. We propose to lay regulations shortly to amend the definition of normally engaged in the family credit legislation so as to enable more such families to qualify for benefit.

  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether for the purpose of calculating claimants' entitlement to family credit, depreciation is an allowable business expense of which account should be taken to determine the annual net profit of self-employed persons and their average weekly earnings.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  No. Paragraph 22(5)(b) of the Family Credit (General) Regulations provides that in calculating net profit for family credit purposes no deduction shall be made in respect of the depreciation of any capital asset.

  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the latest available figures for the number of families in receipt of family credit in Blyth Valley.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  At the latest available date, the number of families receiving family credit who at the time of their award were living in the area covered by the Blyth local social security office was 700.

  Income Support
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has made a decision on the outstanding claim of Mr. and Mrs. Elliot of the Rodley boat centre to either family credit or income support.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 21 July 1989 at column 435 when my hon. Friend explained that decisions had been issued on Mr. and Mrs. Elliot's claims for both family credit and income support. I understand that they have made no further claim for either benefit. Mr. and Mrs. Elliot are, of course, free to claim either benefit again at any time if their circumstances are now such that they believe they may have become entitled.

  Benefits and Allowances
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of recipients of attendance allowance at(a) the higher rate and (b) the lower rate by sex and standard age cohorts at the last date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is in the table.

  Recipients of invalidity benefit at 2 April 1988 and numbers who receive additional pension

  Thousands

  Men

  Women

  Age

  Total recipients

  Recipients of additional pension

  Total recipients add

  Recipients of additional pension

  All ages

  807·8

  608·3

  239·7

  174·7

  Under 20

  0·3

  0·3

  0·7

  0·2

  20–24

  5·6

  4·2

  7·6

  6·6

  25–29

  120

  9·6

  16·2

  14·4

  30–34

  22·5

  17·7

  19·5

  14·8

  35–39

  29·7

  21·1

  22·0

  14·4

  40–44

  47·2

  33·4

  25·6

  19·2

  45–49

  58·1

  38·8

  30·9

  21·1

  50–54

  94·8

  67·6:

  44·0

  32·6

  55–59

  149·5

  115·7

  53·0

  39·5

  666

  Attendance allowance: recipients by sex and age cohort at 31 March 1988

  Thousands

  Higher rate

  Lower rate

  Males

  Females

  Males

  Females

  All ages

  101

  186

  161

  264

  2–4

  4

  3

  5

  4

  5–9

  7

  5

  10

  7

  10–15

  6

  4

  9

  7

  16–19

  3

  2

  5

  4

  20–29

  6

  5

  12

  11

  30–39

  4

  5

  8

  9

  40–49

  5

  7

  9

  10

  50–59

  8

  11

  13

  14

  60–64

  8

  9

  12

  12

  65–69

  9

  12

  14

  16

  70–74

  10

  15

  15

  21

  75–79

  12

  23

  17

  33

  80 and over

  19

  84

  32

  117

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of recipients of invalid care allowance by sex and standard age cohorts at the last date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is in the table.

  Invalid care allowance: Recipients by sex and age cohort at 26 September 1989

  Numbers

  Age bands

  Males

  Females

  All ages

  19,044

  99,202

  Under 20

  111

  360

  20–24

  284

  1,933

  25–29

  535

  7,156

  30–34

  847

  12,232

  35–39

  1,304

  13,902

  40–44

  1,921

  15,504

  45–49

  2,324

  13,562

  50–54

  2,971

  14,489

  55–59

  4,202

  14,758

  60–64

  4,273

  '5,306

  65 and over

  272

  —

  1 All Females aged 60 and over.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of recipients of invalidity benefit by sex and standard age cohorts at the last date for which figures are available; and if he will further break down the figures by(a) receipt of an additional component and (b) receipt of each rate of invalidity allowance.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is in the tables.
  667

  Men

  Women

  Age

  Total recipients

  Recipients of additional pension

  Total recipients

  Recipients of additional pension

  60–64

  258–2

  210·9

  20·2

  11·9

  65 and over

  129·9

  89·0

  —

  —

  Recipients of invalidity benefit at 2 April 1988 who receive invalidity allowance1

  Thousands

  Men

  Women

  Age

  High rate

  Medium rate

  Low rate

  High rate

  Medium rate

  Low rate

  Total

  All ages

  130·9

  102·0

  104·6

  95·6

  53·7

  22·3

  509·1

  Under 20

  0·3

  —

  —

  0·7

  —

  —

  1·0

  20–24

  5·6

  —

  —

  7·5

  —

  —

  13·1

  25–29

  10·5

  —

  —

  15·4

  —

  —

  25·9

  30–34

  17·1

  —

  —

  18·0

  —

  —

  35·1

  35–39

  22·3

  —

  —

  20·2

  —

  —

  42·5

  40–44

  29·5

  4·1

  —

  16·3

  5·8

  —

  55·7

  45–49

  19·2

  16·4

  —

  8·1

  16·7

  —

  60·4

  50–54

  13·6

  30·3

  4·7

  4·1

  18·6

  6·7

  78·0

  55–59

  7·3

  30·2

  19·3

  3·8

  9·9

  11·3

  81·8

  60–64

  4·1

  17·3

  46·5

  1·5

  2·7

  4·3

  76·4

  65 and over

  1·4

  3·7

  34·1

  —

  —

  —

  39·2

  1 Numbers of recipients are those who actually receive some Invalidity Allowance (IVA) In addition there are 360,300 people who do not receive IVA because the rate of Additional Pension or guaranteed minimum pension they receive exceeds the rate of IVA which would have been payable

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of recipients of mobility allowance by sex and standard age cohorts at the last date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Scott
  The latest available information, as at 30 September 1989, is in the table.

  Recipients who transferred from vehicle scheme

  Other Recipients

  Age Groups

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  5–9

  —

  —

  5,001

  4,026

  10–14

  —

  —

  4,493

  3,667

  15–19

  1

  2

  5,775

  4,955

  20–24

  5

  4

  7,106

  6,223

  25–29

  17

  15

  7,808

  7,295

  30–34

  487

  311

  7,555

  7,980

  35–39

  860

  580

  9,517

  10,569

  40–44

  1,308

  952

  13,998

  15,915

  45–49

  1,077

  845

  17,699

  19,385

  50–54

  1,163

  902

  26,871

  28,156

  55–59

  1,458

  986

  41,642

  40,085

  60–64

  1,835

  1,103

  64,511

  54,608

  65–69

  2,303

  1,355

  61,787

  50,486

  70–74

  1,621

  965

  13,314

  12,605

  75–79

  1,294

  806

  —

  —

  80–84

  564

  495

  —

  —

  85 and over

  226

  219

  —

  —

  All ages

  14,219

  9,450

  287,077

  265,955

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of recipients of severe disablement allowance by sex and standard age cohorts at the last date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Scott
  The latest information, at 2 April 1988, is in the table.

  Men

  Women

  All ages

  103,400

  160,000

  Under 20

  11,200

  8,500

  20–24

  16,400

  11,300

  25–29

  13,600

  10,300

  30–34

  8,100

  11,000

  35–39

  10,300

  12,900

  668

  Men

  Women

  40–44

  8,700

  15,300

  45–49

  7,400

  16,100

  50–54

  5,300

  21,200

  55–59

  7,400

  28,100

  60–64

  8,300

  17,200

  65 and over

  6,600

  8,000

  Note: Figures are based on a 1 per cent. sample.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of national insurance contributions collected from employers is the responsibility of his Department; and how much that amounted to in the last available year broken down by each class of contributions.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Inland Revenue is mainly responsible for the collection of class 1 national insurance contributions. The Department of Social Security assumes responsibility for collection in certain limited circumstances and collects such contributions direct in certain instances—for example in respect of Civil Service and Her Majesty's forces employments.

  The Department also makes claims against insolvent employers. For the year ended April 1989 the Department collected about £1·5 billion in this way which represents about 5 per cent. of the total of class 1 national insurance contributions.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what collation of statistics his Department undertakes on how many claimants have been taken out of the priority categories eligible for community care grants; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Priority categories for community care grants have not been changed. Statistics relating to the number of refusals of community care grants on grounds
  669
  of insufficient priority are in annex 9(1A) of the Secretary of State's annual report on the social fund 1988–89, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Income Support
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give for each client group a table for rates of income support showing (i) the illustrative figures in the

  Income Support Client Group

  Technical annex to the 1985 White Paper

  Uprated by

  Compensation for 20 per cent. Community Charge Contribution3

  Proposed rates from April 1990

  1RPI

  2ROSSI

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Pensioners

  Age 80+ single

  428·5

  52·49

  50·19

  1·30

  53·75

  Age 80+ couple

  65·45

  80·18

  76·65

  2·30

  81·85

  Age 75·79 single

  40·60

  49·73

  47·5

  1·30

  51·10

  Age 75–79 couple

  63·25

  77·48

  74·07

  2·30

  79·20

  Age 60+ disabled

  single

  40·60

  49·73

  47·55

  1·30

  51·10

  couple

  63·25

  77·48

  74·07

  2·30

  79·20

  Age 60–74 single

  40·60

  49·73

  47·55

  1·30

  48·50

  couple

  63·25

  77·48

  74·07

  2·30

  75·55

  4Sick and Disabled

  Age 18–24 single

  36·25

  44·41

  42·46

  1·15

  44·20

  Age 25+ single

  42·85

  52·49

  50·19

  1·30

  52·10

  couple

  65·45

  80·18

  76·65

  2·30

  79·70

  Lone Parent

  5With 2 children

  65·00

  79·62

  76·12

  1·30

  78·75

  Unemployed

  Age 18–24 single

  24·00

  2940

  28·11

  1·15

  28·80

  Age 25+ single

  30·60

  3748

  35·84

  1·30

  36·70

  Couple no children

  48·00

  58·80

  56·21

  2·30

  57·60

  5Couple with 2 children

  78·95

  96·71

  92·45

  2·30

  95·55

  1 Based on movement in the index of Retail Prices between November 1985 and October 1989 (the latest date for which the index is available).

  2 Based on movement in the index of Retail Prices (less housing) between November 1985 and October 1989.

  3 Amounts included in benefit levels from April 1989. These amounts, which replaced those previously included from April 1988 to compensate for the 20 per cent. rates contribution, now form part of the overall benefit levels to be uprated from April 1990.

  4 In receipt of disability premium.

  5 Assumes one child under age 11 and one child aged 11–15.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out in detail the basis of his calculation, Official Report, 27 November, column 525, that pensioners' total incomes have increased by about 23 per cent. in real terms since 1979.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I refer the hon. Member to the article "Pensioners incomes and expenditure" which appeared in the Employment Gazette, of May 1987, a copy of which is in the Library. The same basis of calculation was used in arriving at the 1979–86 real terms increase of 23 per cent. in pensioners' average total net income.

  Child Abuse
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what Government funds are available for the range of assessment, treatment, and support services provided by local authority social services departments,
  670
  technical annex to the 1985 White Paper, (ii) the illustrative figures uprated by the retail prices index since then, (iii) the illustrative figures uprated by the Rossi index, (iv) the amounts provided to compensate for the 20 per cent. rates or poll tax contribution and (v) the proposed income support rates for April 1990.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The information requested is in the table:

  health authorities, and voluntary child care organisations, specified in her answer of 15 November, Official Report, column 339.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I have been asked to reply.

  This information is not available centrally. It is for local authorities and health authorities to determine the deployment of their overall resources to specific services in the light of legislative requirements, and local circumstances, needs and priorities. Government grants to voluntary organisations working in the field of child protection are usually paid as contributions to headquarters administration expenses.

SCOTLAND

  Nuclear Power Stations
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of employees at each nuclear power station in Scotland.
  671
  Mr. Lang
  I am advised by the South of Scotland electricity board, British Nuclear Fuels and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority that, as at the end of November 1989, the number of employees at Scottish power stations was as follows:

  Number

  Chapelcross

  630

  Dounreay

  11,838

  Hunterston A and B

  21,046

  Torness

  1634

  1 The figure of 1,838 represents the total number of employees at the Dounreay Nuclear Establishment; of these, only around 15 per cent. work on the operation or in close support of the prototype fast reactor.

  2 The figures do not include Headquarters and Central Services personnel involved wholly or partly with nuclear generation.

  Birds (Illegal Poisoning)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many birds, by species, were illegally killed by poisons in the Tayside region for each of the last two years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The numbers of birds, by species, reported to have been illegally killed by pesticides in Tayside region are as follows:

  Number

  1987

  Corvids

  3

  Gulls

  2

  Buzzard

  1

  1988

  Corvids

  20

  Buzzards

  2

  Gulls

  2

  Eagle

  1

  1989 to date

  Corvids

  3

  Buzzard

  1

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 4 December, on how many occasions during each of the last five years he has drawn to the attention of the Islay estates owners the requirements of the law relating to the illegal poisoning of birds.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The policy referred to in my answer of 4 December was introduced in 1988 following the golden eagle poisoning incidents on the Islay estate that year. The policy was also operated this year in the light of the poisoning incidents referred to in my previous answer. Prior to 1988, the attention of the Islay estates was not formally drawn to the incidents.

  Parliament House
  Sir Nicholas Fairbairn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the cost of the new lift being installed in Parliament house for the use of judges; and what is its purpose.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The cost of installing the new lift will be approximately £100,000. It will allow more ready access from judges' chambers to court rooms.

  Argyll and Clyde Health Board
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met with the Argyll and Clyde health board; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend has had no recent meetings with Argyll and Clyde health board.

  Lennox Castle Hospital
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients are resident in Lennox Castle hospital.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Seven hundred and eighty-five.

  Dr. John Myles
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what function is performed by Dr. John Myles in relation to the Scottish Development Department.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Dr. John Miles' function as ecological adviser is to assist the Scottish Development Department and other Scottish Departments to arrive at a better informed view of the effect of current and proposed policies affecting the living environment. One of his prime responsibilities is to interpret scientific information. He also advises on casework and assists in determining departmental ecological and environmental research requirements.

  Health Service
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each year since 1980 the total number of doctors employed .by the National Health Service and express this as a percentage of the 1980 figure.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is given in the following table:

  Year

  Total

  Percentage of 1980

  1980

  9,923

  100·0

  1981

  10,167

  102·5

  1982

  10,229

  103·1

  1983

  10,410

  104·9

  1984

  10,499

  105·8

  1985

  10,509

  105·9

  1986

  10,480

  105·6

  1987

  10,476

  105·6

  1988

  10,833

  109·2

  Natural Heritage Agency
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many permanent staff are likely to be employed by the proposed Natural Heritage Agency.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The proposed agency will be adequately staffed to carry out its important responsibilities but it is too soon to estimate the number of permanent posts.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what additional funding will be required for the purposes of merging the Nature Conservancy Council and Countryside Commission for Scotland into a new agency.
  673
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The proposed agency will have adequate resources to carry out its important responsibilities, but it is too soon to decide the precise level of funding which will be required.

  Western Scottish Bus Company
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has received from Touche Ross and Co. concerning the financial management of the Western Scottish bus company; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  None. Touche Ross and Co. has not been appointed to advise the Secretary of State or the Scottish transport group on matters concerning the management of the Scottish Bus Group subsidiaries or their privatisation.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has received from the Scottish Bus Group concerning recent management resignations from the Western Scottish bus company; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The management of Western Scottish Omnibuses Ltd. is a matter for the Scottish transport group and the company concerned. My right hon. and learned Friend is, however, aware that two second-level management staff have recently resigned from Western Scottish Omnibuses Ltd. Their reasons for doing so are a matter between the individuals concerned and the company.

  Power Generation
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to introduce a non-fossil fuel obligation within the Scottish electricity generating industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  There are no plans to introduce a non-fossil fuel obligation in Scotland at present.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to encourage wind-generated power in Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  Government research and development into renewable energy sources is managed by the Department of Energy. Since 1979 the Government have spent over £140 million (over £190 million at 1989 prices) on research into renewable energy sources with the aim of identifying those technologies which can economically meet the energy needs of the next century. A 10 to 15-year programme is presently under way in conjunction with the electricity industry which, if successful, should provide the basis for the commercial exploitation of wind power from the late 1990s onward.

  The Scottish Office has consistently stressed that Government support would be available for a viable Scottish development.

  Parliament Hall
  Sir Nicholas Fairbairn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of manufacture and erection of the two bronze plaques erected at the south end of Parliament Hall concerning the achievements of the Property Services Agency.
  674
  Mr. Chope
  I have been asked to reply. The costs were:

  £

  Plaque to commemorate the roof restoration

  540

  Plaque to commemorate the window restoration

  580

HEALTH

  Cash Allocations (Nottingham)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the cash allocation to Nottingham district health authority in constant prices for each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Initial cash allocations to Nottingham HA at 1989–90 prices since 1982–83 are:

  £ million

  1982–83

  162·7

  1983–84

  162·4

  1984–85

  157·6

  1985–86

  159·5

  1986–87

  167·7

  1987–88

  171·0

  1988–89

  174·7

  1989–90

  180·8

  Figures before the 1982 NHS reorganisation would relate to Nottingham area health authority, a much larger organisation than the current district health authority, and would therefore not be comparable.

  Demographic Changes
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the most recently available estimates of the percentage changes in demand on the hospital and community health services due to demographic change for each year from 1972–73 to 1995–96; and if he will put in the Library details of the methods used to arrive at these estimates.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  There has been a conventional practice in recent years of giving estimates of increased demand on services from demographic change expressed in expenditure terms. I have never believed that these figures are very useful as they imply, wrongly in my opinion, that increased spending is the only way in which increased demand can be met. Nevertheless I give the information requested in the table.

  Estimates of growth in demographic demand on the hospital and community health services for the years 1972–73 to 1995–96

  Year

  Per cent.

  1972–73

  0·0

  1973–74

  -0·1

  1974–75

  0·0

  1975–76

  0·1

  1976–77

  0·2

  1977–78

  0·3

  1978–79

  1·0

  1979–80

  1·3

  1980–81

  1·1

  1981–82

  0·4

  1982–83

  0·4

  1983–84

  0·5

  1984–85

  0·6

  1985–86

  1·3

  675

  Year

  Per cent·

  1986–87

  1·0

  1987–88

  1·0

  1988–89

  1·1

  1989–90

  0·9

  1990–91

  0·9

  1991–92

  0·7

  1992–93

  0·5

  1993–94

  0·3

  1994–95

  0·3

  1995–96

  0·9

  Details of the method used to arrive at the estimates are given in answer to question 2 of the Social Services Select Committee report, Session 1988–89, HC 418.

  NHS Reform
  Sir Barney Hayhoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what specific areas of expenditure on the family practitioner services are at present cash limited; which will be cash limited from April 1990; and which he plans to cash limit later.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  At present expenditure on family practitioner services is not subject to a cash limit.

  From April 1990, payments to general medical practitioners under the practice staff, cost rent and improvement grant schemes will be subject to a cash limit. From that date, general medical practitioners will for the first time be able to claim direct reimbursement for part of the costs of computer purchase, leasing and maintenance, and these payments will be subject to a cash limit.

  A cash limit will apply at national level to total expenditure from GP practice funds which are, subject to parliamentary approval, to be introduced from 1 April 1991. No cash limits will apply to this expenditure at practice level. The management allowance to be paid in relation to the GP funding initiative will be subject to a cash limit.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will commission management studies of the strategic effectiveness of the new National Health Service management structures as they develop, including those where the regional health authority splits into separate businesses, the district health authority secures trust status and certain individual services become trusts.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We are supporting a considerable number of development projects designed to test out in districts, hospitals and other units different aspects of our proposed improvements to make sure that workable systems are in place by April 1991. Many of the proposals will evolve throughout the coming decade. We intend to achieve steady incremental progress, informed by the lessons of experience. I see no need to commission management studies at this stage.

  Chiropractors
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received about giving Government recognition to qualified chiropractors; what response he has made; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  During the past two months, we have received representations, as part of a campaign, from the 676
  British Association of Chiropractors, individual chiropractors and patients, calling for the state registration of chiropractors.

  Practitioners of alternative or complementary therapies who are not registered with the General Medical Council and who are therefore not eligible to work within the NHS, are nevertheless at liberty to offer their services privately. It is for individual patients seeking the services of complementary practitioners, to satisfy themselves as to the competence of the practitioner concerned.

  If members of a particular profession are concerned to ensure that professional standards are maintained and believe that statutory regulation is the best way of achieving this end, then it is for the profession itself to take all necessary steps necessary to obtain their goal.

  Community Care
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which Department will be responsible for furthering paediatric physiotherapy in schools, whether mainstream or special, under the programmes proposed in the White Paper on community care.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  District health authorities will remain responsible for the development of paediatric physiotherapy services for children in mainstream and special schools. We expect that health authorities will continue to collaborate with local education authorities to improve these services.

  Whipps Cross Hospital
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ask the chairman of the North-East Thames regional health authority when he is likely to submit phase 2 of the Whipps Cross hospital development for approval; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  No. The timing of the submission of proposals for major capital developments to the Department of Health is for regional health authorities to decide.

  Racial Abuse
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to counter the racial abuse of National Health Service staff by some patients; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Members of minority communities play an invaluable part in the NHS, for which many of us have cause to feel profoundly grateful. We totally deplore any racially motivated abuse of them.

  Racial abuse or harassment is recognised as a form of violence in the report of the DHSS advisory committee on violence to staff which was chaired by my noble Friend Lord Skelmersdale. The report, which was published in July last year and a copy of which is in the Library, recommends that every unit should have a local strategy for dealing with violence, including preventive measures, suitable responses and support for staff who are victims. I t also emphasises the critical importance of reporting systems and of encouraging staff to report all incidents.

  We support this approach and hope that any member of staff who is subjected to or witnesses racial abuse will be

  677
  encouraged to report it to his or her manager whose immediate responsibility it is to ensure that suitable action is taken.

  Hepatitis C
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the percentage of blood donors shown to have hepatitis C in random tests carried out by the national blood transfusion service;

  (2)whether he proposes to introduce screening of blood donors for hepatitis C;

  (3)whether supplies of stored blood plasma are checked for indications of hepatitis C.

  Mr. Freeman
  A screening test for antibodies to hepatitis C has been available only since the middle of the year, and no confirmatory test is at present available. In a preliminary study the national blood transfusion service examined frozen blood samples, but this work cannot be used to predict likely infection in fresh blood donations.

  A systematic evaluation of the test on 15,000 donations at three transfusion centres is currently in progress. Results are not yet available. The introduction of the test for all blood donations is under review and will depend on the results of the evaluation and other scientific evidence supporting its benefit. Stored plasma is not tested for hepatitis C. It has not yet been shown that the test would reduce the possibility of transmission of disease in fractionated plasma products.

  Cancer
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for what were the rates of cancer of the breast and cervix in the north-east of England for those aged(a) 20 to 25 years, (b) 25 to 30 years, (c) 30 to 35 years, (d) 35 to 40 years, (e) 40 to 45 years, (f) 45 to 50 years, and (g) 50 to 55 years, and; what were the average rates for the rest of the United Kingdom for the same age groups, for each year from 1980; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The exact information requested could be provided only at a disproportionate cost. However, some information for the period 1980–84 is shown in the table.

  Newly diagnosed cases of cancer rates (per 100,000 population) for female breast1 and the cervix uteri2 by age group for Northern regional health authority, Yorkshire regional health authority and the United Kingdom: 1980–84

  TABLE 1

  Malignant neoplasm of the female breast

  Year and age group

  Northern RHA

  Yorkshire RHA

  United Kingdom

  1980

  20–24

  0·86

  1·53

  0·24

  25–29

  6·72

  5·94

  1·84

  30–34

  27·78

  26·78

  7·87

  35–39

  44·35

  41·67

  21·76

  40–44

  98·10

  97·83

  41·64

  45–49

  151·69

  153·37

  68·55

  50·54

  146·47

  123·42

  86·08

  1981

  20–24

  1·70

  0·75

  0·19

  25–29

  7·66

  9·39

  2·85

  30–34

  26·57

  20·50

  8·33

  35–39

  64·94

  61·36

  19·53

  40–44

  88·84

  114·00

  38·60

  45–49

  128·00

  134·28

  68·87

  678

  Year and age group

  Northern RHA

  Yorkshire RHA

  United Kingdom

  50–54

  113·61

  147·06

  88·83

  1982

  20–24

  —

  0·73

  0·23

  25–29

  9·63

  3·38

  1·83

  30–34

  24·34

  14·47

  8·77

  35–39

  64·23

  45·30

  19·63

  40–44

  109·20

  94·38

  39·56

  45–49

  144·66

  146·79

  68–66

  50–54

  123·51

  140·59

  87·85

  1983

  20–24

  1·63

  0·71

  014

  25–29

  3·83

  6·71

  2·33

  30–34

  22·12

  21·67

  80·5

  35–39

  38·61

  47·35

  20–61

  40–44

  82·19

  96·93

  38·12

  45–49

  147·64

  138·24

  64·57

  50–54

  120·98

  155·31

  89·64

  1984

  20–24

  1·60

  2·07

  0·48

  25–29

  10·32

  4·90

  2·69

  30–34

  28·38

  27·90

  8·75

  35–39

  48·71

  47·92

  20·68

  40–44

  71·83

  103·68

  37·19

  45–49

  126·28

  141·42

  65·43

  50–54

  144·47

  138·07

  87·11

  TABLE 2

  Malignant neoplasm of the cervix uteri

  Year and age group

  Northern RHA

  Yorkshire RHA

  United Kingdom

  1980

  20–24

  1·73

  4·60

  0·93

  25–29

  9·61

  7·63

  2·74

  30–34

  18·82

  21·42

  4·78

  35–39

  26·61

  28·41

  6·98

  40–44

  18·95

  26·68

  7·70

  45–49

  15·73

  14·13

  9·91

  50·54

  28·45

  30·13

  14·03

  1981

  20–24

  1·70

  2·24

  0·80

  25–29

  9·58

  17·08

  3·11

  30–34

  15·06

  23·54

  6·02

  35–39

  19·48

  27·47

  7·02

  40–44

  20·50

  27·00

  9·60

  45–49

  13·71

  27·47

  9·67

  50–54

  30·01

  25·49

  13·19

  1982

  20–24

  1·66

  2·92

  0·69

  25–29

  12·52

  17·77

  2·31

  30–34

  15·92

  27·33

  5·88

  35–39

  17·79

  28·52

  6·80

  40–44

  25·29

  39·16

  10·66

  45–49

  20·67

  18·35

  10·72

  50–54

  20·59

  17·82

  10·50

  1983

  20–24

  0·82

  5·66

  0·50

  25–29

  13·40

  22·65

  3·73

  30–34

  31·15

  35·00

  6·85

  35–39

  18·83

  22·47

  7·09

  40–44

  27·40

  27·70

  8·68

  45–49

  16·15

  26·24

  10·11

  50–54

  23·31

  22·04

  12·36

  1984

  20–24

  0·80

  2·76

  0·35

  25–29

  10·32

  13·88

  4·32

  30–34

  29·35

  32·97

  5·30

  35–39

  19·30

  36·92

  7·35

  40–44

  19·08

  31·98

  10·08

  679

  Year and age group

  Northern RHA

  Yorkshire RHA

  United Kingdom

  45–49

  20·48

  31·09

  9·16

  50–54

  19·19

  27·41

  12·04

  1 Assigned to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 9th revision code 174.

  2 Assigned to the ICD code 180.

  Pharmacists
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff are currently employed(a) in the Medicines Control Agency and (b) the drug tariff committee; and how many of these are qualified pharmacists.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  As at 1 November 1989 the Medicines Control Agency employed 297–5 staff (full-time equivalents); of these 52 are pharmacists*.

  There is no drug tariff committee. About 35 staff in the Department have duties concerned with the preparation of the drug tariff. Of these, five are pharmacists*.

  Note: * Members or Fellows of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.

  Midwives
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements are being made to pay interest on backdated regrading awards to midwives subject to delay by the appeals procedures.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The grading appeals are being dealt with under a longstanding agreement between the management and staff sides of the general Whitley council. It contains no provision for the payment of any interest should appellants be regraded on appeal.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to health authorities on the application of the grading criteria FII for midwives.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The grading criteria for the new clinical grading structure were agreed by both staff and management sides of the nursing and midwifery staffs negotiating council. Departmental guidance issued in 1988 on the implementation of the structure applied equally to nurses and to midwives. Copies are available in the Library.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information he has on the consistency of application of midwives' regrading criteria as between different health authorities;

  (2) what representations he has received about the consistency between health authorities in midwives' regrading and from whom; and what response he proposes to make.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Health authorities are expected to adhere to the agreed clinical grading definitions and the management guidance issued by the health Departments in grading midwifery posts. These require posts to be graded in accordance with the particular duties and responsibilities they carry. Variations between authorities in the proportion of posts graded at particular levels will therefore arise, for example because of different approaches to service organisation.
  680
  We have received a number of representations on the grading of midwives. The Government have made clear their position in their response to the fourth report from the Social Services Committee Session 1988–89 "Resourcing The National Health Service: Midwives' Regrading 1988–89".

  Clinical Grading Exercise
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the outcome of the review of the clinical grading exercise by the Manpower Services Commission(a) generally and (b) relating to midwives; and what action he has taken in response.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The clinical grading review for nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff was undertaken by the nursing and midwifery staffs negotiating council. It led to the introduction of a new grading structure for clinical posts, including midwifery posts, with effect from 1 April 1988. There was no review by the Manpower Services Commission.

  Tobacco Advertising
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons he has decided that some of the work of the committee for monitoring agreements on tobacco advertising and sponsorship should remain confidential; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The committee for monitoring agreements on tobacco advertising and sponsorship is an independent advisory committee. It is for the committee to decide on the confidentiality of reports it has commissioned. The committee's reasons for doing so were set out in the answer given to my hon. Friend on 27 October 1989 at column 631. I accept that the committee must have the freedom to determine the confidentiality of its own proceedings and of the work it has commissioned if it is to function efficiently.

  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many breaches there have been of the voluntary agreements with the tobacco industry on advertising and sponsorship in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Before the formation of the committee for monitoring agreements on tobacco advertising and sponsorship (COMATAS) in October 1986, there was no consistent record of breaches of the voluntary agreements. It was to remedy this position that COMATAS was set up. In it first annual report COMATAS recorded 41 breaches and in its second annual report, seven breaches of the voluntary agreement have been recorded and one further complaint was referred to the Advertising Standards Authority which judged it to be in breach of its code of practice.

  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many reports considered by the committee for monitoring agreements on tobacco advertising and sponsorships have not been made available to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The committee for monitoring agreements on tobacco advertising and sponsorship has commissioned and considered four reports on whether
  681
  certain parts of the voluntary agreements are being observed. These are: a study of poster advertising near schools by Survey Research Associates Ltd; a study of sports sponsorship by the centre for mass communication research at the university of Leicester; and two surveys on advertising at confectioners, tobacconists and newsagents by MaS Research, Marketing and Consultancy Ltd. They have not been made available to Parliament for the reasons given in my reply to my hon. Friend on 27 October at column 631.

  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the terms of reference of the committee for monitoring agreements on tobacco advertising and sponsorship to enable all the information made available to the committee to be made available to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The tobacco industry has recently agreed to meet Ministers with a view to opening renegotiations of the voluntary agreement on advertising. The role of the committee for monitoring agreements on tobacco advertising and sponsorship will be considered in this context.

  Medical Records
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what consideration he has given to the need to ensure confidentiality between patient and doctor, and to protect medical records stored on computerised systems from being sold to data processing companies;

  (2) who owns, and has responsibility for, a patient's medical records stored on a computer system; and what rights a patient has to access to the information stored in these records;

  (3) who owns, and has responsibilty for, a patient's medical records stored on index cards; and what rights a patient has to access to the information stored in these records;

  (4) who owns, and has responsibility for, a patient's medical records stored on a smart card; and what rights a patient has to access to the information stored in these records.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We are currently considering all these issues. We intend to issue a health circular on ownership, confidentiality and disclosure of personal health information in the NHS on which we propose to consult widely in the new year.

  Census Information
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will take steps to ensure that no information collected for the 1991 census, based on postal code areas, is used by insurance companies or building societies or others to withhold or weight policies based on that information;

  (2) if he will take steps to ensure that no information collected for the 1991 census is used to prepare mailing lists for any purpose.

  Mr. Freeman
  It would not be practicable for the Government to control the uses particular customers make of the aggregated data published from the Census. However, as with previous censuses, stringent measures will be taken to ensure confidentiality. No information on 682
  identified individual people or households will be passed to anyone other than employees of the registrars general. Furthermore, in order to guard against possible indirect disclosure of such information, no statistics, except, possibly, simple totals of people or households, will be published for areas containing very small numbers of households or people.

  Statistical summary tables relating to fairly small local areas have been produced since the 1961 census. These have proved to be of great value to a wide range of users in central and local government and in health authorities, as well as to industry and commerce. The facility to define such areas directly in terms of groups of postcodes as well as census enumeration districts will add to the usefulness of these statistics, particularly to local and health authorities; and, subject to the overriding requirement to avoid disclosing data about individuals, I am anxious that the most effective use should be made of the data which everyone is required by law to provide to the census offices.

  If census statistics were not made available for areas defined directly in postcode terms, it would still be possible for anyone to use maps and postcode directories published elsewhere in order to relate the statistics for any local area to the set of postcodes and to the set of addresses which fall within that area. Such uses could be prevented only by suppressing all census statistics for local areas. This would unnecessarily reduce the public availability of statistics collected by the census offices, and substantially diminish the value of the census.

  Irradiated Food
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has established that the eating of irradiated food by pregnant women is safe; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  International expert bodies, such as the joint expert committee on food irradiation and the international consultative group on food irradiation, and the national expert body, the advisory committee on irradiated and novel foods, have advised repeatedly on the safety and wholesomeness of irradiated foods. There is no evidence to suggest that irradiation of food up to an overall average dose of 10kgy presents a toxicological hazard or special nutritional or microbiological problems to the population at large or to specific groups of the population.

  Irradiation is one among several techniques for preserving and improving the safety of certain foods. The Government consider that all members of the public in the United Kingdom should be free to choose to enjoy the preservation and safety benefits of irradiated food and are therefore seeking powers in the Food Safety Bill to ensure that this choice is available within an appropriate control framework.

  Ambulance Service
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of Army personnel and vehicles deployed in London for each shift on ambulance duties since 1 November.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  A total of 51 Army vehicles were deployed in London with effect from 8 November. Each vehicle is crewed by two persons, making a total of 102 per shift.
  683
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list for each day since 1 October for the London area, per shift(a) the number of ambulance personnel on duty, (b) the number of vehicles available, and (c) the number of emergency calls and the number answered within seven minutes and 14 minutes;

  (2) what are the total number of patients moved by (a) the London ambulance service, (b) St. John's and (c) military vehicles per day in London since 1 October;

  (3) what is the average amount of money paid to a qualified ambulance person in London for September, October and November of the current year.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The management of the London ambulance service is the responsibility of the South West Thames regional health authority to whom I refer the hon. Member.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings have been held by(a) himself and (b) Duncan Nichol, chief executive of the National Health Service with (i) the trade union side of the Whitley council for ambulance staff and (ii) the Association of Professional Ambulance Personnel since 1 September.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State met representatives of the Association of Professional Ambulance Personnel on 24 November when their claim for recognition was discussed. I met them on 14 November to discuss their role in the current dispute. Duncan Nichol, National Health Service chief executive, met the trade union side of the ambulance Whitley council on 22 September, 24 and 26 October and 17 November in attempts to find a basis on which negotiations in the Whitley council might be resumed; he also met the Association of Professional Ambulance Personnel on 26 September and 17 November.

  Vehicle Emissions
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to assess the health implications of emissions from diesel-powered engines; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Department of Health's independent expert advisory committee on the carcinogenicity of chemicals in food, consumer products and the environment is currently considering findings from a series of recent epidemiological and experimental studies relating to effects on health of diesel exhaust in order to assess any possible impact on public health.

  Direct exposure to diesel exhaust fumes can cause irritation to the eyes and throat. Substances present in diesel fumes are known to be toxic to laboratory animals when they are exposed to high concentrations over a lifetime. However, human exposure to diesel fumes is normally transient and at much lower levels, and is not known to have any long-term effects on health.

  Oral Tobacco Products
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has decided to proceed with the proposed ban on oral snuff.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Letters have been sent today to the two companies affected to inform them that I have decided 684
  to make regulations under section 11 of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 which are being laid before Parliament today. The regulations will prohibit persons from supplying or from offering to supply, agreeing to supply, exposing for supply or possessing for supply any oral snuff. They will come into effect on 13 March 1990.

  The purpose of the ban is to protect our population, particularly our young people, from the serious health risks posed by these products, the use of which is causally associated with an increased risk of oral cancer. There is increasing evidence from the United States of America and Sweden that these products can become popular amongst young people. The Government's action should nip this dangerous new habit in the bud.

  When the Government originally proposed a ban on oral snuff last year, a three-month period was allowed for representations, and this period was subsequently extended by a month for the two companies involved. A large number of representations were received, the vast majority of which were in favour of a ban. The Government have considered all the representations with great care. It has also consulted its partners in the European community and other GATT signatories. However, no new evidence or arguments have come to light which suggest that the proposed ban is not justified.

  The products which will be covered by the ban are goods which consist wholly or mainly of tobacco in fine cut, ground or particulate form or in any combination of those forms and which are for oral use other than smoking. This does not include traditional chewing tobacco, loose tobacco for making up into cigarettes, pipe tobacco or snuff for nasal use.

DEFENCE

  Military Museums
  Sir David Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military museums, including regimental museums, are currently being maintained; and if he will list them with their locations.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are currently 99 military museums being maintained wholly or in part by the Ministry of Defence. This total includes regimental and corps museums, some of which are colocated or are in the process of moving to common premises, and those museums designated under the Heritage Act 1982. I will write to my hon. Friend with a list of these museums shortly.

  Nuclear Defence Industry (Scotland)
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the major employers in the nuclear defence industry in Scotland, their location and the number of employees at each;

  (2) if he will list the number of employees in the nuclear defence industry and related industries in Scotland.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The Ministry of Defence does not hold detailed information in the form requested, but a rough estimate of employment in Scotland related to nuclear defence is some 9,000 including Rosyth dockyard, Coulport, Faslane and the Clyde.

  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of defence bases in
  685
  Scotland, their location and the number of Scottish jobs at each base broken down into (a) armed forces and (b) MOD personnel.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The MOD's principal nuclear defence base in Scotland is the Clyde submarine base at Faslane. Other establishments providing support to the strategic deterrent programme are the royal navy armament depot at Coulport, Her Majesty's naval base at Rosyth and the naval reactor test establishment at Dounreay (HMS Vulcan). The figures for the number of personnel at present are as follows:

  Service

  Civilian

  Clyde submarine base

  3,797

  2,116

  RNAD Coulport

  65

  1,775

  HMNB Rosyth

  698

  11,936

  HMS Vulcan

  6

  420

  1 This figure does not include employees of the dockyard contractor.

  Some MOD staff are also employed in support of United States nuclear-powered submarines based at Holy Loch.

  Battle Tank (BAOR)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to the cancellation of the programmes to develop a new battle tank for the British Army of the Rhine, and the Trigat anti-tank missile.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  We keep our investment in all weapon systems, including main battle tanks and anti-tank missiles, under constant review.

  Toxic Chemicals
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all toxic chemicals held at military bases and military production sites; what are the quantities of such chemicals; and under what environmental regulations they are managed.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Information on the type and quantity of toxic chemicals held at military bases and military production sites is not held centrally. The Department is bound by the general duties imposed by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and by regulations made under it. Certain sites that produce noxious or offensive substances are registered with Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in accordance with the Control of Industrial Air Pollution (Registration of Works) Regulations 1989. Although the MOD is not bound by the provisions of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 or the Water Act 1989, it is a matter of general policy that it will aim to meet standards which are no lower than those in the community at large.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, at the recent meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in Brussels, the issue of the forthcoming amendment conference for the 1963 partial test ban treaty, and its implications for the modernisation of nuclear warheads for new NATO controlled nuclear weapons, was addressed.
  686
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend discussed a range of matters of mutual defence interest when he met his colleagues on the defence planning committee in Brussels in November, but it is not our practice to reveal the details of such discussions.

TRANSPORT

  European Council
  Mr. Haselhurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the outcome of the recent European Council of Transport Ministers meeting in Brussels; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Parkinson
  The meeting on 4 and 5 December, which was attended by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, saw important progress made towards the establishment of a single market in transport in two areas.

  First, the Council agreed an interim experiment for road haulage cabotage as a preliminary step to a full-scale regime from 1993. Although this is a small step in itself, it represents a major breakthrough in terms of liberalising cabotage generally.

  Secondly, the Council expressed its commitment to agree measures to liberalise air transport. From June 1993, airlines will be able to set their own fares subject only to "double disapproval"—that is, unless the countries at both the ends of the route reject the proposed fares. In the meantime, the present fare approval system will be made more flexible. Similarly, bilateral capacity sharing will be abolished from the end of 1992, and further relaxation will be made in the interim. The council also committed itself to ensure that uniform licensing criteria are introduced by June 1992 giving airlines established in a country the right to a licence. Altogether, this provided a clear basis for more detailed work over the coming months with a view to Council agreement under the Irish presidency. The Council adopted a directive on training for drivers of dangerous goods. The United Kingdom, supported by certain other member states, registered our concern in the minutes that future technical adaption should be consistent with the standards of the ADR.

  There were discussions but not agreements on the Commission's proposals for shipping "positive measures", and on the current state of negotiations with west African countries on shipping; on vehicles hired without drivers; on road safety; on driving and working hours; and on transport infrastructure. After a debate on Community railway policy, the Commission was invited to set up a working party to look at a high-speed rail network and the scope for technical harmonisation. The Commission reported the current state of play in its negotiations with Switzerland, Austria and Yugoslavia on transit. Under other business, there were brief references to transit quotas, and to lorry taxation.

  Life Saving at Sea
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many persons have been decorated with the bronze or silver medal for gallantry for saving life at sea in each year since 1974.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  There have been two awards of the sea gallantry medal (bronze) in the period: one in 1981 and the other in 1989. No sea gallantry medals (silver) were awarded.
  687
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken to alert master mariners, shipping companies, the lifeboat services, Her Majesty's Coastguard and other official institutions to the sea gallantry medal instituted by Act of Parliament to recognise acts of bravery at sea.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Department has not thought it necessary to publicise the award in view of its long standing.

  Traffic Noise
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made to the effect on householders of increasing traffic noise from existing roads; whether he has any plans to make such households eligible for the noise insulation grants available to residents affected by new road development, using the same noise level criteria; and whether he will evaluate the likely cost of such a measure.

  Mr. Atkins
  No general assessment has been made of the effect on householders of changes in traffic noise from existing roads. This is bound to vary substantially from case to case. In some cases, the building of new roads will reduce substantially the noise from existing ones.

  The Land Compensation Act 1973 makes provision for noise insulation only in the case of new or substantially improved roads. It is not accordingly open to the Department under the law as it stands to make noise insulation available more widely. The cost of making insulation available in relation to all existing roads was estimated in 1983 at £1,840 million for some 2·3 million properties.

  Vehicle Emissions
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he plans to introduce benzene vapour emission controls; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The benzene content of petrol is already controlled by regulations and by European Community directive 85/210/EEC. Petrol may contain no more than 5 per cent. of benzene. In practice the average content in this country is about 3 per cent.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to discourage the transportation of toxic waste(a) inland and (b) for import-export.

  Mr. Atkins
  When toxic waste is transported, it is treated in the same way as other dangerous substances and must comply with the appropriate regulations to ensure safe transport. The import and export of toxic and other wastes is a matter for the Department of the Environment.

THE ARTS

  Disabled Musicians
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what assessment he has made of the effect on disabled musicians of the recent closure of the music advisory 688
  service of the Disabled Living Foundation; and what funding his Department intends to offer towards providing such a service.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 12 December 1989]: I have asked for a report about the closure of this service and will write to my hon. Friend when I have received more information.

  Wilding Report
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he will extend the current closing date for responses to the Wilding report on "Supporting the Arts —A Review of the Structure of Arts Funding" to 31 January 1990.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 12 December 1989]: To avoid uncertainty in the arts world, I remain committed to announcing my response to Mr. Wilding's recommendations as soon as I am able. While, in reaching my decisions, I shall endeavour to take into account responses received after 31 December, I am reluctant to agree to a formal extension of the consultation period.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Companies Acts Investigations
  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his reply of 27 November,Official Report, column 97, if he will give his reasons for believing it unnecessary to conduct a review of the possibilities of prejudice to a criminal trial of individuals named in a Companies Act investigation when those individuals are, in advance of their trial, publicly disciplined by a self-regulatory organisation established under the Financial Services Act.

  The Attorney-General
  Self-regulating organisations recognised under the Financial Services Act are responsible for exercising their own discipline over those who have agreed to be bound by their rules, so as to ensure that their members are fit and proper to conduct investment business. Such organisations are also subject to the general duty at common law to refrain from acts which raise a real likelihood of interference with the administration of justice. I am satisfied that these obligations are well known and understood by those affected and have no reason to doubt that care is taken to strike the right balance according to the circumstances of particular cases.

PRIME MINISTER

  Constitution
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister which Minister would be responsible for putting proposals to Parliament on a constitutional separation of powers.

  The Prime Minister
  This would depend on the nature of the proposals.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Veterinary Medicines
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Truro of 5 December, which veterinary medicines were discussed with Monsanto on 15 November.

  Mr. Maclean
  The discussions concentrated on general licensing principles, although Monsanto's BST product was mentioned.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when representatives from(a) Eli Lilley and (b) Monsanto last met members of the Veterinary Products Committee; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Veterinary Products Committee met representatives from Eli Lilley on 19 April 1989, and from Monsanto on 20 September 1989, in both cases to review evidence submitted in support of a product licence application.

  Poultry
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number of premises in each county of England requiring inspection under the provisions of the testing of poultry flocks orders.

  Mr. Maclean
  It is estimated that the number of flocks subject to the requirements of the Poultry Laying Flocks (Testing and Registration etc.) Order 1989 in England is in the region of 28,000. The order does not contain specific inspection requirements, but I expect inspections to be concentrated particularly on the larger flocks, estimated at around 4,000, which will be required to be registered with my Department. Under the Poultry Breeding Flocks and Hatcheries (Registration and Testing) Order 1989 an estimated 3,000 breeding flocks and 120 hatcheries in England will be visited by my officials. A breakdown of these figures by counties is not available.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimate of the additional costs being borne by the local authorities in their enforcement of the order relating to the registration and testing of poultry flocks.

  Mr. Maclean
  I do not have information on the resources which local authorities are allocating to work in connection with the two new orders on registration and testing of poultry flocks, which came into force on 26 October 1989.

  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what scientific or veterinary studies have been carried out on the Government's slaughter policy for laying poultry; and whether any of these studies has produced evidence in favour of the policy.

  Mr. Maclean
  The evidence relating to salmonella infection in poultry flocks and eggs was reviewed by the House of Commons Agriculture Committee in its report of 28 February 1989. The Committee concluded that in seeking to address the problem of the rise in salmonella 690
  food poisoning cases the Government were right to make egg production the first focus of attention. In reaching this conclusion the Committee referred to the routes by which eggs may become infected via infected flocks, through faecal contamination and transovarian transmission, and welcomed the Government's announcement of the compulsory slaughter policy for poultry flocks. It is too early to reach definite conclusions about the effectiveness of this policy, but it is clear that the removal of infected flocks is helping to reduce the risk of salmonella infection in humans.

  Enzymes
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has authorised the use of any products containing enzymes from blood for the purpose of creating restructured fresh meat products; if he has received any requests for approval for trials of such products; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  No. No such requests have been received. The use of enzymes in food is subject to the general provisions of the Food Act. It is an offence to add any substance to food intended for sale so as to render the food injurious to health.

  Cetaceans
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the use of echo locators and side scanners and their effect on dolphin and porpoise behaviour.

  Mr. Gummer
  Echo locators and side scanners are standard equipment on modern fishing vessels to assist in the location of fish shoals for capture. I am not aware of any evidence to suggest that such equipment has any adverse effect on dolphin or porpoise behaviour.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the consequences of the use of nylon monofilament fish nets for the dolphin and porpoise population in British coastal waters.

  Mr. Gummer
  I am aware of the concern that monofilament fishing nets may accidentally ensnare dolphins and porpoises. However there has been no evidence that this is a significant problem in our waters. Nevertheless the fisheries Departments are planning a general monitoring scheme on the incidental capture of cetaceans in United Kingdom fisheries, so that we can keep the matter under closer review.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to introduce measures similar to those in the United States Marine Mammal Protection Act to protect the populations of cetaceans.

  Mr. Gummer
  I understand that the specific problem which the United States authorities have sought to address this year, under their Marine Mammal Protection Act, is the very large number of small cetaceans which may be caught in the Pacific purse-seine fisheries for yellow-fin tuna. There is no comparable situation within United Kingdom waters and therefore we have no plans to introduce similar measures. Our own legislation already
  691
  seeks to protect cetaceans by prohibiting their deliberate taking within our 200-mile limit and the import or sale of cetacean products in the United Kingdom.

  Global Warming
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies are(a) being conducted and (b) planned by his Department into the likely effects of the greenhouse global warming effect on farming and agriculture in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Gummer
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend, the Member for Cambridgeshire, South-East (Mr. Paice) on 4 December at column 112.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, during the meeting of the Council of European Agriculture Ministers in Brussels on 21 November, he put forward any policies aimed at modification of agricultural practices to mitigate the greenhouse effect, that is global warming.

  Mr. Gummer
  There was no discussion of the greenhouse effect at this meeting of the Council.

  Beef Premium
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to obtain agreement with the United Kingdom's European partners for the extension of the £27 beef premium to include heifers and to apply to herds in excess of 90 head.

  Mr. Gummer
  I see no prospect of being able to negotiate the inclusion of heifers in the beef special premium scheme. The United Kingdom voted against the imposition of a headage limit and I continue to regard it as discriminatory.

  Live Animal Exports
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what provision he makes for the inspection of live animal exports to ensure the provisions of the Transit of Animals (General) Order 1973 and the Protection of Animals Act 1911 are met.

  Mr. Maclean
  Veterinary inspections and supervised loadings of every consignment of farm animals exported for further fattening or slaughter are made in accordance with the Export of Animals (Protection) Order 1981. Under this order the state veterinary service (SVS) also oversees transport arrangements for breeding farm livestock where advice and guidance may be necessary. Enforcement of the 1973 order is primarily a matter for local authorities, but the SVS provides assistance and advice where necessary.

  Salmonella
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he has refused to grant licences for independent scientific tests under proper veterinary supervision to be carried out on flocks found to be infected with salmonella typhimurium and enteritidis.

  Mr. Maclean
  A licence may be given for samples to be taken for separate examination if this is requested by the 692
  flock owner. Decisions to require the slaughter of infected flocks are however based on the results of laboratory examinations carried out by my Department.

  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether broiler flocks affected by salmonella typhimurium and enteritidis can complete their growing cycle and be processed in the normal way to end up as raw meat in kitchens; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  There is no requirement for broiler birds to be tested for salmonella. Broiler breeder flocks are however required to be tested and, if found to be infected with salmonella enteritidis or salmonella typhimurium, will be slaughtered in order to minimise the risk of infection spreading through the production chain. Advice to consumers has been given on the precautions which should be taken in handling and cooking poultry meat.

  Animal Exports
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at what administrative level the numbers of animals exported for research purposes are collected.

  Mr. Maclean
  Her Majesty's Customs and Excise keep records of exports of live animals, but these do not distinguish between those sent for research purposes and other uses.

  Egg Imports
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many eggs were imported into the United Kingdom during the month of November; of these how many were(a) tested for salmonella, (b) condemned for salmonella contamination or (c) condemned for other reasons.

  Mr. Gummer
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as these data become available.

  Zoonoses Order 1988
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 4 December, what directions he has given for the disposal of carcases of birds slaughtered under the Zoonoses Order 1988.

  Mr. Maclean
  The methods of disposing of carcases from compulsory slaughtered flocks include burial and incineration, the method used in each case depending on local circumstances.

  Bovine Somatotropin
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what elements of the veterinary products committee examination of bovine somatotropin have not yet been completed.

  Mr. Maclean
  The veterinary products committee has yet to submit its recommendations on any of the BST products for which licence applications have been made. I understand that in accordance with the Medicines Act the committee is still reviewing a range of matters with the help of data being generated in field trials.

  Our Lady of Passion Monastery, Daventry
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much compensation has been paid to Our Lady of Passion monastery at Daventry; and if he will estimate the costs incurred by the monastery arising from the slaughter of 5,000 birds.

  Mr. Maclean
  Details of the amount of compensation paid for slaughtered poultry, in accordance with the provisions of the Animal Health Act 1981, are a matter between the flock owner and my Department. I am not in a position to estimate the costs incurred by Our Lady of Passion monastery.

  Liriomyza Huidobrensis
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will ban the importation of plants from Holland in order to control the spread of Liriomyza huidobrensis among plants;

  (2) what compensation is proposed for those growers compelled to destroy crops infested with Liriomyza huidobrensis;

  Title

  Contractor

  Status

  1. The performance of Microwave Ovens for Cooking and Reheating Foods.

  Mr. M. Duncan

  Completed

  2. Microwave Reheating Of Ready Meals

  IFR-Bristol

  Completed

  3. Destruction of Listeria monocytogenes during Microwave Cooking.

  IFR-Norwich

  Completed

  4. Effect of Microwave Cooking on Survival of Listria Monocytogenes in Cook-Chill Retail Products.

  CFDRA

  Completed

  5. Testing the Uniformity and Reproducibility of Reheating in Domestic Microwave Oven.

  IFR-Bristol

  Completed

  6. The Influence of the Physical, and Electrical Properties on the Quality of Foods Heated by Microwaves.

  CFDRA

  On-going

  The position is still being evaluated and further research will be commissioned as necessary.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he proposes to take to eliminate the use of microwaves designed for domestic use in commercial premises.

  Mr. Maclean
  My officials are holding urgent discussions with the Institution of Environmental Health Officers to establish how far this practice creates a problem, and with a view to taking whatever steps may be necessary to make sure that caterers have the right equipment to avoid any risk to food safety.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has become of the microwave ovens donated by manufacturers to facilitate the study recently completed by his Department.

  Mr. Maclean
  The microwave ovens do not belong to my Department as they were made available to the researchers by the manufacturers. Their fate is a matter for discussion between the manufacturers and the researchers at Bristol.

  Bananas
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the annual tonnage of bananas imported into the United Kingdom as a percentage of the European Community total in each of the last five years.
  694
  (3) what has been the incidence of Liriomyza huidobrensis infestation in plants over the last 10 years; and what steps he is taking to counter the problem.

  Mr. Maclean
  So far this year there have been 27 confirmed findings of the South American leafminer, Liriomyza huidobrensis. There were no findings in previous years. The Ministry is maintaining a policy of eradication of this pest to ensure that it does not become established in this country. As regards compensation and controls on the importation of plants from the Netherlands. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 6 December at column 248.

  Microwave Ovens.
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has sponsored within the last 12 months to assess the safety of microwaves in respect of food cooked therein; what research is either in progress or planned; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The research to assess the safety of food cooked in domestic microwave ovens commissioned within the last 12 months is as follows:

  Mr. Maclean
  The annual tonnage of bananas imported into the United Kingdom as a percentage of the European Community total in each of the last five years is as follows:

  United Kingdom imports of bananas as a percentage of total European Community imports

  per cent.

  11984

  16·7

  11985

  16·5

  1986

  13·2

  1987

  14·0

  1988

  13·5

  1 Excluding Spain and Portugal.

  Source: Eurostat.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the total tonnage of imports of bananas in each of the last five years from(a) Africa, Caribbean and Pacific suppliers, (b) Latin America and (c) other suppliers.

  Mr. Maclean
  The total tonnage of imports of bananas into the United Kingdom in each of the last five years from(a) African, Caribbean and Pacific signatories to the Lomé convention, (b) dollar area countries (incorporating Latin American sources) and (c) other suppliers are as follows:
  695

  1984 tonnes

  1985 tonnes

  1986 tonnes

  1987 tonnes

  1988 tonnes

  African, Caribbean and Pacific

  184,463

  222,678

  275,836

  271,620

  322,327

  Dollar area (including Latin American countries)

  120,854

  99,363

  59,541

  80,604

  61,654

  Other suppliers

  4,010

  1,506

  7,619

  7,193

  4,016

  TOTAL

  309,327

  323,547

  342,996

  359,417

  387,997

  Source: Her Majesty's Customs General Trade Tabulation Sheets.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what criteria the banana trade advisory committee take into account in its monthly meetings to assess the supply and demand position on imported bananas.

  Mr. Maclean
  In assessing the supply position the banana trade advisory committee considers estimates of future sendings from all ACP and EC origins given either by the traditional supplying countries or by the main importing companies. The committee also keeps in mind the minimum figure for imports of bananas from the dollar area guaranteed to the smaller banana importers. On demand, estimates are based on advice from all sectors of the trade and take account of the Government's own rising minimum supply requirement figures which are published for the year ahead.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions he has had with European Community Ministers concerning banana import policy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  None. But my officials have been in contact with their counterparts in other European Community countries and the European Commission. We wish to ensure that policy from 1993 onwards on bananas takes account of consumer interests and of the competition and efficiency objectives of the single market, and is consistent with our commitments to our Caribbean suppliers.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received on banana import policy in the last 12 months; and what reply he gave.

  Mr. Maclean
  We have received representations from a wide variety of interests in the past 12 months, including from United Kingdom trade, ripener and retailer interests and from our supplying countries. Our responses have reflected the balance of interests that is struck in our banana policy—the fulfilment of commitments to our traditional suppliers, the improvement of competition in the market and the improvement of banana quality.

  Food Safety
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the present membership of his food advisory committee and the committee on the toxicity of chemicals in food, consumers products and the environment and whether there have been any changes in either committee during the last 12 months.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Members of the food advisory committee (FAC) are as follows:
  696

  Name

  Occupation

  Dr. Ewan S. Page (Chairman) BSc, MA, PhD, CBIM FBCS

  Vice Chancellor, Reading University.

  Dr. Margaret Ashwell BCc (Hons) PhD, MIHEc, FIFST, FRSH

  Science Director, British Nutrition Foundation.

  Mr. Michael J. Boxall ACII, CBIM

  Company Secretary, Tesco Plc.

  Professor Douglas Georgala CBE, PhD, FIFST

  Director of Food Research, AFRC and Director of the Institute of Food Research.

  Dr. Tom Gorsuch OBE, BSc, PhD, FIFST

  Former Director of Research and Quality Control, Colmans of Norwich (Retired).

  Professor R. Marian Hicks BSc, PhD, DSc, FRCPath

  Science Director, United Biscuits (UK) Ltd Group Research and Development Centre.

  Mr. Roger Manley, FITSA

  Director of Trading Standards, Cheshire County Council.

  Miss Patricia Mann FCam, FIPA, CBIM

  Head of External Affairs, J. Walter Thompson Group and Editor of "Consumer Affairs".

  Mrs. Jill Moore OBE

  National Consumer Council and Chairman of National Federation of Consumer Groups.

  Dr. Bryan Nichols MSc, PhD

  Legislation and Health Policy Manager, Van den Berghs and Jurgens Ltd.

  Mr. Ronald Nicholson M. Chem A, FIFST, FIWEM, CChem, FRSC

  Regional Chemist, Public Analyst and Agricultural Analyst for the Regional Council of Strathclyde; and Public Analyst and Agricultural Analyst for the Western Isles Island Council.

  Mrs. Barbara Saunders

  Freelance consultant on consumer policy. Member of the European Commission's Consumer Consultative Committee.

  Mr. Tony Skrimshire C. Chem, FRSC, FIFST

  Director, Purchasing and Quality Assurance, H. J. Heinz Company Ltd.

  Professor Paul Turner MD, BSc, FRCP, Mr. Pharms Hon. FiBiol

  Professor of Clinical Pharmacology, St. Bartholomew's Hospital.

  697

  Name

  Occupation

  Dr. Roger G. Whitehead BSc, PhD, MA, FiBiol, C. Biol, Hon. MRCP

  Director of the Medical Research Council's Dunn Nutrition Unit Cambridge, UK and the Gambia, West Africa.

  The following appointments have been made since 1 December 1988: Professor D. Georgala; Mrs. J. Moore OBE; Mr. R. Nicholson; and Mrs. B. Saunders were appointed on 1 November 1989. The following members have retired; Dr. H. O. W. Eggins BSc, PhD, FI Biol, director of Bioquest Ltd; Mr. A. J. Harrison MBE, M. Chem A, C Chem, FRSC, FIFST, FRSH, chief scientific adviser, public analyst and official agricultural analyst to Avon county council, and public analyst and official agricultural analyst to Gloucestershire county council; Mrs. M. Stamper BSc, Dip Ed, part-time lecturer in biology, Lewes technical college and chairman of the National Federation of Women's Institutes' environmental and public affairs committee; and Dr. E. R. Young MB, MRCP, senior registrar in dermatology, Wycombe general hospital.

  These changes strengthen the consumer background of the FAC. Changes in membership of the FAC are always announced by press release.

  The membership of the committee on toxicity of chemicals in food, consumer products and the environment is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Health.

  Eggs
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will estimate the number of small egg producers which have gone out of business since the introduction of the Zoonoses Order 1989;

  (2) what is his estimate of the number of egg producers which have gone out of business since 1 January.

  Mr. Curry
  This information is not available.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he has taken to allow United Kingdom egg producers to compete fairly with other European Community egg producers since the introduction of the Zoonoses Order of 1989.

  Mr. Maclean
  The European Commission are drafting proposed measures on salmonella in poultry including the establishment of effective controls at the points of production, to apply throughout the Community.

  At present whilst imported eggs take a very small part of the market our exports have increased so far this year by over 90 per cent. compared with 1988. We are also developing an initiative to label British produced eggs as "British" to encourage consumers' confidence in British eggs.

  Food Premises
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on how many food premises come under the jurisdiction of the Duchy of Cornwall.
  698
  Mr. Maclean
  I understand that no food premises are managed directly by the Duchy of Cornwall. Certain of the Duchy's tenants are known to run food businesses, but details are not available centrally.

  Microwaved Food
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make a statement on the molecular structures of(a) milk products, (b) meat and (c) fish which has been microwaved;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the presence of the amino acids D-proline and cis-hydroxyproline in food which has been microwaved.

  Mr. Maclean
  Microwaving is simply one method of heating food. I am not aware of any good evidence that changes in food brought about by microwave heating would not also be brought about by other methods producing equivalent amounts of heat.

  I understand that the account of the research carried out at the University of Vienna and reported in The Lancet of 9 December was very incomplete. It failed to mention that a very small milk sample was microwaved at full power in a sealed tube to an unknown temperature (probably well in excess of 100 deg C) until it was brown. This heat treatment was far more severe than that received by other samples with which it was compared and bears no relation whatever to the way consumers would heat milk in the kitchen.

  Council of Ministers
  Mr. Lee
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Brussels Agriculture Council held on 11 and 12 December.

  Mr. Gummer
  I represented the United Kingdom at this meeting together with my hon. Friend the Member for Skipton and Ripon (Mr. Curry), the Parliamentary Secretary in my Department.

  The Council discussed a possible Community initiative on agriculture in the current GATT round. I emphasised the need for a constructive Community position, which would further the process of agricultural reform and the negotiations. Further discussions will now be held in the Foreign Affairs Council.

  The Council reached agreement in principle on a directive laying down arrangements for veterinary checks on certain animal products. This contains satisfactory safeguards so that the dismantling of controls at the border does not significantly increase the risk of the spread of disease. Special safeguards are included, benefiting countries, such as the United Kingdom, that do not vaccinate against food and mouth disease or are free from swine fever. The directive will be implemented at a date which will be decided by the Council taking account of arrangements to be put in place establishing a uniform Community system governing imports from third countries.

  Agreement in principle was also reached on a Council regulation specifying the level of checks member states must undertake on firms benefiting from payments under the guarantee section of the Community's farm fund. This should help to combat fraud.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Environmentally Friendly Technology
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the value of the global market in environmentally friendly technology; and what steps he is taking to urge British companies to take a major share of this market.

  Mr. Forth
  Environmentally friendly technology is a portmanteau term which can be applied to an enormous selection of goods and services, from biodegradable washing powder to the fitting of flue gas desulphurisation processes to power stations. It is, therefore, impossible to state a single figure for the global market. However, the current estimate of the world market for pollution control products and services is £100 billion a year.

  The Department of Trade and Industry has set up the business and the environment unit (BEU) to focus on specific key areas of the DTI environmental programme, such as waste management, clean technology and pollution control. The BEU helps United Kingdom companies to exploit the market opportunities for clean technology, pollution control equipment and services, and for other environmentally-friendly products. It gathers and maintains information on standards and world markets, assists United Kingdom companies to take advantage of the various support schemes available in this field and encourages United Kingdom companies to participate in environmental technology exhibitions at home and abroad.

  British Aerospace (Rover Deal)
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the correspondence between British Aerospace and the Government over the future of the golden share.

  Mr. Ridley
  Correspondence between British Aerospace and the Government over the future of the golden share from 1985 (when British Aerospace made its initial request to raise the foreign shareholding limit), to August 1989 when I decided to raise the BAe and Rolls-Royce limits following agreement with the European Commission, took place on the basis of commercial confidentiality. At the time of the Rover Group sale my right hon. and noble Friend, the then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, made it clear, as can be seen from his letter of 12 July which I have sent to the hon. Member, that he was sympathetic to BAe's case for a relaxation of the limit. The detailed proposals for raising the limit, common to both companies, had to be decided in consultation with the Commission which had since 1987 queried compatibility at the 15 per cent. foreign shareholding with EC law.
  700
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what he now estimates to be the value of the tax concessions made to British Aerospace during the Rover negotiations.

  Mr. Ridley
  No tax concessions were made to British Aerospace during the Rover negotiations. On the contrary, contractual arrangements were put in place effectively to deny Rover Group the benefit of tax losses in excess of £500 million which the group was entitled to carry forward under United Kingdom tax law. In that connection, the position remains subject to any applicability of section 768 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988, on which British Aerospace may seek a view from the Inland Revenue in accordance with the terms of the correspondence between British Aerospace's advisers and the Inland Revenue which has been made available to the Public Accounts Committee.

  As explained at the time of the final deal, certain contractual ring-fencing arrangements agreed in the March conditional terms were lifted so that the final contractual position with regard to disclaimed capital allowances and capital losses was no more, and no less, restrictive than under normal revenue law.

  Blood Products
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the quantity and value of imported blood products, distinguishing between factor 8 and other blood products, in each year since 1980.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information held centrally relates only to the usage of imported factor 8 concentrate and is given in the table. Information on the value of these imports is not held centrally.

  United Kingdom usage of imported Factor 8 concentrate (millions of international units).

  Number

  1980

  135·1

  1981

  135·5

  1982

  145·6

  1983

  139·5

  1984

  138·5

  1985

  50·9

  1986

  53·8

  1987

  59·2

  1988

  55·2

  1 Does not include users with acquired haemophilia.

  Export Initiative
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the number, nature and size of charges made for services under the export initiative(a) in March 1989, and (b) in October 1989.

  Mr. Redwood
  The information requested is as follows:
  701

  DTI Export Services

  Number of Charges

  Nature of Charge

  Size of Charge (income generated)

  Service

  March 1989

  October 1989

  March 1989

  October 1989

  March 1989 £k

  October 1989 £k

  Export Representative Service

  33

  11

  £517·50, £345·00, £172·50 depending on market

  As for March

  12·6

  1·91

  Overseas status review service

  21

  17

  £24·15

  As for MIEs below

  5·17

  1 ·61

  Market Information Enquiries [MIEs]

  No Charge

  108

  No Charge

  Up to 4 hours work at Posts overseas = £57·50 over 4 hours=£115

  No Charge

  9·00

  New Products Service

  No Charge

  1

  No Charge

  £57·50 per story

  No Charge

  0·06

  Export Intelligence Service

  69,000

  n/a

  £0·50p per notice

  n/a

  34·5

  n/a

  Overseas Trade Fairs

  424

  634

  See below

  See below

  548·00

  992·00

  It is difficult to compare the figures provided, as a new accounting system based on the use of the DTI service card for paying for most export services was introduced on 1 April 1989. The following should also be noted:

  Overseas trade fairs: for fairs opening prior to 1 April 1990, the charge is 40 per cent. of the DTI's direct costs of providing space and exhibition stand for first time participants at an event, 55 per cent. for second timers and 75 per cent. for regular exhibitors. For events opening after 1 April 1990 the charge is 50 per cent. for the first three participations in a particular country (five for Japan) and full cost thereafter. Some of the receipts in October will be under the former regime and some under the latter.

  Export Intelligence Service: elements of the export intelligence service have been contracted out to Export Opportunities Ltd. The information for October 1989 is commercially confidential.

  Chargecard for Exporters
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the contract awarded to Welbeck Financial Services Ltd. to operate the Department of Trade and Industry chargecard for exporters was subject to competitive tender; and how tenders were obtained.

  Mr. Redwood
  Yes. Five companies were invited to tender to operate the DTI service card.

  Ferranti
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether he will launch an investigation into the affair of Ferranti's acquisition of ISC;

  (2) if he will order an inquiry into alleged fraud involving the Ferranti Company.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have no plans to do so.

  The serious fraud office and the company fraud department of the metropolitan police are actively investigating allegations of fraud prior to, surrounding and subsequent to the merger of Ferranti plc and International Signal and Control Group plc.

  Accountancy Firms
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the auditing firms criticised by his Department's inspectors since June 1979 but which have nevertheless been allowed to make accounting policy through their membership of the Accounting Standards Committee or its working parties; and how such firms have come to be represented on the committee.

  Mr. Redwood
  Those voting members of the Accounting Standards Committee (ASC) who are accountants are nominated on a personal basis by their professional body and appointed by the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies, which has stipulated that they shall not regard themselves as delegates of sectional interests but shall be guided by the need to act in the general interests of the community and of the accountancy profession as a whole. Members of its working parties are appointed by the ASC itself.

  Inspectors
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, at any time since June 1979, any person has acted as an inspector for any of the Department of Trade and Industry's investigations whilst that same person was under investigation by other inspectors.

  Mr. Redwood
  Inspectors are appointed to investigate the affairs or membership of companies, not individuals. In one case an accountant was appointed to be an inspector during the course of another investigation which involved his firm as auditors of the company under inquiry, and in which he was subsequently criticised. These appointments were made in 1975 and 1977 respectively.

  Milbury plc
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action the Government have taken against auditors Arthur Young following the criticism of them in his Department's report on Milbury plc.
  703
  Mr. Redwood
  A copy of the inspectors' report was sent to the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. It subsequently announced that a committee of inquiry had been set up under the joint disciplinary scheme to look into certain matters arising out of the report.

  Bananas
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received in the last 12 months concerning the operation of the scheme of banana import quotas; and what reply he gave.

  Mr. Redwood
  During the last 12 months a few representations have been received from importers about the allocation of the dollar banana quota. We have explained that this is shared out amongst existing traders on the basis of past trade in dollar bananas. Newcomers are required to demonstrate their commitment before receiving an allocation. "Past trade" is the method used to distribute all other import administered quotas.

  Footwear Industry
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his response to the proposals in the European Economic Community consultative document on the import of footwear from Korea and Taiwan.

  Mr. Redwood
  My noble Friend the Minister for Trade is giving urgent consideration to the Commission's consultative document in the light of their findings and the views expressed by the United Kingdom industry and others. He expects to reach a decision on the appropriate action to be taken very shortly.

  Single European Market
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many seminars on the subject of the single European market have been organised by his Department during the last two years, broken down by region.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 12 December 1989]: My Department has organised 20 regional breakfast presentations and provided ministerial and official speakers for 1,423 conferences and seminars in the United Kingdom, primarily organised by private sector bodies, since the Europe "Open for Business" campaign was launched in March 1988.

  The regional breakdown of these figures is as follows:

  Breakfast

  Conferences

  presentations

  seminars etc.

  East Midlands

  1

  159

  North East

  1

  85

  North West

  1

  85

  South East

  5

  620

  South West

  2

  121

  West Midlands

  1

  150

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  2

  115

  Northern Ireland

  1

  5

  Scotland

  2

  7

  Wales

  2

  6

  The figures for conferences and seminars exclude speakers provided by the relevant Government Departments in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
  704
  My Department also organised a major conference on Europe "Open for Professions", held in London on 4 October this year.

  Batteries (Recycling)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress is being made towards the recycling of batteries; and if he will make a statement about the role of the Warren Spring laboratory.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 12 December 1989]: Battery recycling is well-established in the United Kingdom, but is mostly concentrated upon the larger land-acid and nickel-cadmium cells, and upon silver oxide and mercuric oxide button cells. Commercial recycling of the consumer types of alkaline manganese and nickel-cadmium batteries has not so far proved economically viable. Warren Spring laboratory, as part of a collaborative project, is carrying out research into methods of recovering these batteries from the domestic waste stream and the environmental, economic and technical issues which recovery involves.

  Inland Revenue
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he has taken in response to proposals relating to the Inland Revenue from British Aerospace referred to in a letter which was sent by Professor Roland Smith to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry between 6 July and 12 July 1988.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 11 December 1989]: It was agreed that British Aerospace could seek a view in advance from the Inland Revenue about the applicability of section 768 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 to proposals to be made by British Aerospace following its acquisition of Rover Group.

ENVIRONMENT

  Environmental Health Officers
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any new proposals for increasing the number of environmental health officers.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No. The number of environmental health officers needed to discharge statutory functions is a matter for each individual local environmental health authority to determine in the light of local circumstances.

  Wild Life
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals the Government have to protect wildlife.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 introduced for the first time in Great Britain comprehensive statutory protection for endangered wild species and their habitats. Protection is given to many species of wild animals and plants and to all birds; the lists of animals and plants are reviewed every five years.

  Planning
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to issue any further planning policy guidance notes or introduce any legislation on planning matters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  My hon. Friend will know that the Gracious Speech contained no proposal for planning legislation in this Session. We do propose, however, to issue several new or revised planning policy guidance notes in the coming months.

  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider seeking to amend legislation on planning procedures to include permission to demolish dwelling houses in the scope of planning applications.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My right hon. Friend has considered this carefully, but he does not believe that there is a need to extend planning controls over demolition.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received regarding planning procedure.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My right hon. Friend receives a number of representations about planning procedure. In particular, over 400 individuals and organisations have responded to a consultation paper entitled "Efficient Planning" which we issued on 28 July.

  Historic Buildings
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the planned expenditure of his Department on the royal parks, the royal palaces and other historic buildings in 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Trippier
  The gross planned expenditure figures are £165·9 million for 1990–91 and £169–7 million for 1991–92. They include the re-use of income such as trading and visitor receipts for the occupied palaces, parks and the new Historic Royal Palaces Agency, and include grant-in-aid to English Heritage. This expenditure will permit improvements in the standards of presentation and preservation of our heritage and increase the enjoyment of visitors, and represents a significant increase over the current year.

  Evironmental Protection
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received on environmental protection.

  Mr. Trippier
  Very many, particularly in relation to the proposals which we wish to include in this session's Environmental Protection Bill.

  Nature Conservancy Council
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met the chairman of the Nature Conservancy Council; and what was discussed.
  706
  Mr. Chris Patten
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Merionnydd Nant Conwy. (Dr. Thomas).

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the reorganisation of the Nature Conservancy Council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding the Government's plans for the future of the Nature Conservancy Council.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations from Welsh hon. Members he has received on the decision to set up separate bodies to deal with nature conservancy issues in England, Scotland and Wales.

  Mr Trippier
  My Department has received a large number of representations about the reorganisation of the NCC covering a wide spectrum of views. Common to almost all the representations has, however, been the need to maintain a sound science base and for appropriate arrangements for addressing nature conservation issues with a Great Britain or international dimension. All representations received were taken into account in the formulation of the Government's proposals for a statutory joint committee, announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 23 November.

  Rent Arrears
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment by what amount local authority rent arrears rose in 1988–89.

  Mr. Chope
  Local authority figures for 1988–89 are not yet available. However, in 1987–88, local authority rent arrears amounted to £226 million or 5·7 per cent. of the total rent roll. This constituted a 15 per cent. increase over the arrears outstanding in 1986–87 of £195 million.

  Rates (Basildon)
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the rate increase for Basildon district council for each of the last three years.

  Mr. Hunt
  The change in the local rate for Basildon district council was 0·2 per cent. for 1987–88, minus 6 per cent. for 1988–89 and 57–2 per cent. for 1989–90.

  South Africa (Sporting Links)
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take further steps to stop or discourage sporting links with South Africa.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Government policy on sporting links with South Africa is set out in the Gleneagles agreement. We remain fully committed to the agreement and take every opportunity to give effect to that commitment.

  Pollution (Irish Sea)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken by his Department in conjunction with others to monitor the level of pollution in the Irish sea.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Regular monitoring for a wide range of purposes and substances takes place in the Irish sea, undertaken mainly by the National Rivers Authority in the case of rivers and estuaries and the Fisheries Departments for offshore site. The Department of the Environment also contributes, as does the work of dedicated research agencies such as the Natural Environment Research Council.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many single person households with an existing rates liability can expect to benefit from the poll tax transitional relief scheme.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I estimate that about 110,000 single adult households will benefit from the community charge transitional relief scheme.

  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much more the rate support grant figure for 1989–90 would be increased if 2,000 of the residents of Langbaurgh were black.

  Mr. Chope
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what help will be available under the poll tax transitional relief scheme to private tenants who presently pay a combined rent and rates bill to their landlord.

  Mr. Chope
  Private tenants who pay a combined rent and rates bill to their landlord will be eligible for community charge transitional relief on the same basis as other chargepayers. They will be entitled to transitional relief provided that a comparison between their assumed rates bill for 1989–90 and either one or two assumed community charges (depending on the number of community chargepayers in the property) shows an increase of more than £156 a year.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what allowance he has made for local factors when setting the levels of community charge or poll tax which he considers will meet standard spending needs for local authorities in Northumberland.

  Mr. David Hunt
  My right hon. Friend's detailed proposals for the calculation of standard spending assessments were set out in the draft revenue support grant distribution report issued at the time of his announcement to the House on 6 November. The same method will apply to all authorities with similar functions and will make use of a large number of indicators to reflect local conditions.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment has been made of the administrative costs of the poll tax transitional relief scheme.

  Mr. Chope
  An estimate of the administrative costs of the community charge transitional relief scheme will be 708
  made on the light of a study being undertaken for the Department by Peat Marwick McLintock and discussions with the local authorities associations.

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for ;he Environment when his analysis of the effect on various households types of the losses and gains upon introduction of the poll tax using the charges listed in his 6 November statement will be available.

  Mr. Chope
  Shortly.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take note of the representations made by Stoke on Trent city council expressing its concerns about the Department of Environment letter of 6 November about the loss of £18 million of Government grants to charge payers in the city; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  All representations, including those from Stoke on Trent city council, will be taken into account before my right hon. Friend makes final decisions about the revenue support grant settlement for 1990–91.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 5 December,Official Report, column 120, what were the changes in the regulations to ensure that people being cared for in the community will receive the same relief from the standard community charge as those in residential care homes.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Regulation 6 of the Community Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Regulations 1989, which were laid before the House on 7 December, prescribes, among other things, two extra classes of property for the purposes of the standard charge. One class covers property which is unoccupied because the person who formerly lived there is resident somewhere else for the purpose of receiving personal care. The other covers property which is unoccupied because the person who formerly lived there has moved in order to provide personal care to someone else. The maximum multiplier for both classes is zero for 12 months after the property becomes unoccupied. Charging authorities have discretion to allow a longer period of relief for such properties.

  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many students there are in full-time education and receiving an increase from their employers since qualifying for the 80 per cent. student discount under the poll tax rules.

  Mr. Patten
  I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science that these statistics are not available.

  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate has been made of the number of student nurses who will give up their training because they are unable to meet the full cost of their poll tax obligation.

  Mr. Patten
  No estimate is necessary since no such effect is likely.

  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what would be the full cost of extending to student nurses the rights to poll tax rebates available to other full-time students;
  709
  (2) what is the likely number of full-time student nurses who will be obliged to pay the full cost of the poll tax.

  Mr. Patten
  I understand that there are approximately 43,500 pre-registration nursing students in schools of nursing, and that by the end of March next year there will be approximately 1,500 nurses being trained under Project 2,000. Project 2,000 student nurses will qualify for student relief from the community charge. Over the next few years the scheme will be extended to cover all pre-registration nursing trainees receiving their training in schools of nursing.

  Based on these figures, and an average community charge of £278, the revenue forgone from extending student relief to all pre-registration students would be about £9·3 million.

  Mr. Fishburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give for each local authority the total as returned by community charges registration officers of(a) the numbers of persons subject to a personal community charge, excluding students eligible for relief under section 13 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, (b) one fifth of students eligible for relief under section 13 of the 1988 Act and (c) the estimated full-year equivalent of the number of individuals liable to contribute to a collective community charge of the authority in 1990–91, in response to the notice issued on 21 November under section 139A of the Local Government Finance Act 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The response to the notice was excellent and the results demonstrate that authorities have been very successful in compiling their community charges registers. Every community charges registration officer made a return although one return received at the last minute was illegible having been corrupted in the course of facsimile transmission.

  The total of the forms received is 99·95 per cent. of the Government's estimate based on OPCS information. The information for individual authorities has been laid in the Library of the House.

  I do not propose to recalculate the figures circulated with the consultation letter of 6 November 1989 to local authority associations using this new information until I have completed my consideration of the representations made in response to that letter.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he could give the total amounts of support from central Government for the expenditure of Somerset county council in the years 1987–88, 1988–89, and 1989–90 and the latest estimate for such support for 1990–91.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 11 December 1989]: The available information is as follows:

  Central government grants1 to Somerset county council

  £ million

  1987–88

  89·7

  1988–89

  94·3

  1989–90

  93·5

  1 Comprising rate support grant, specific and supplementary grants.

  Somerset county council, as a precepting authority, will not receive revenue support grant in 1990–91 and no estimates of specific grants payable in 1990–91 are available for individual authorities.

  Lakes and Rivers
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those lakes and rivers in England and Wales that show signs of acidification.

  Mr. Trippier
  The second report of the Department's acid waters review group, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House, identified those areas of the United Kingdom that are susceptible to acid deposition as well as the location of known acid waters. Further studies under the Department's air pollution research programme are continuing and will be published.

  Unified Business Rate
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has recently received any representations regarding the implementation of the unified business rate in England and Wales.

  Mr. Haynes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions he has held with representatives of the small business community on the introduction of the unified business rate; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has received a number of representations from individual businesses and business organisations on aspects of the new unified business rate in England.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from businesses in the south-east of England regarding the implementation of the unified business rate.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations from businesses in the south-east and elsewhere on aspects of the new unified business rate.

  As a result of representations from bodies representing small businesses, my right hon. Friend announced on 27 July that the threshold for more generous transitional arrangements would be doubled to £15,000 and £10,000 rateable value for properties, respectively, in London and elsewhere. He also announced on 6 November his provisional view that the non-domestic rating multiplier for 1990–91 would be 36p, a figure below that expected by the business community and generally welcomed by it. And, on 7 December, he laid before Parliament an order to allow where necessary for larger annual reductions in rate bills during the transitional period than previously expected.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce the unified business rate for 1990–91; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson) on 29 November, at column 252.

  Globe Theatre
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce a decision about the scheduling of the Globe theatre.
  711
  Mr. Trippier
  Having considered the advice of his professional advisers English Heritage and representations received, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has today included the remains of the recently discovered Globe theatre on the schedule of ancient monuments. I should like to acknowledge the leading part which the developers, Hanson, played in financing the archaeological excavation which led to the discovery of the remains.

  Rented Housing
  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to expand the numbers of council houses and cheaper rented houses in rural communities to deal with the increase in homelessness and the developing queues for rented housing.

  Mr. Chope
  We have planned for a major increase over the next three years in public funding through the Housing Corporation for new subsidised rented housing development by housing associations. Some of the extra resources will go to rural areas, and we have recently announced an increase in the targets for the Housing Corporation special rural programme aimed at smaller villages. Rural areas should also benefit from the encouragement we have given to private investment in the rented sector through deregulation of rents and tax relief under the business expansion scheme.

  Engagements
  Mr. Stanbrook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 13 December.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  My official engagements for Wednesday 13 December are:

  Meetings with ministerial colleagues, DOE Ministers and Officials.

  Cabinet Committee meeting.

  Ministerial meeting.

  First order questions.

  Address national parks conference.

  Cabinet Committee meeting.

  DOE official engagement.

  Meeting with colleagues and officials.

  Barn Elms
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what safeguards there are for the preservation of the reservoirs at Barn Elms, Barnes.

  Mr. Howard
  Section 8 of the Water Act confers duties on the water companies in respect of all their land to further conservation, protect the landscape and public access and provide for recreation. These duties are enforceable by the Secretary of State who has approved a statutory code of practice, debated in the House in July, on conservation, access and recreation which gives guidance to companies on the performance of these duties and promotes good practice.

  Section 152 of the Water Act further provides that water companies may not dispose of land in national parks, the Broads, areas of outstanding natural beauty or sites of special scientific interest without the consent of the Secretary of State or in accordance with a general authorisation; and that the Secretary of State may require that such land be first offered for sale to a suitable conservation body or that it be indefinitely protected by convenants or management agreements.
  712
  Barn Elms reservoir was notified as an SSSI in 1975 under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. 1 understand that the Nature Conservancy Council, which is responsible for this matter, is considering the representations it has received about its proposal announced in 1988 to denotify the reservoir as an SSSI. If Barn Elms reservoir remains an SSSI it will fall within the scope of the controls under section 152 relating to disposals of environmentally sensitive land.

  The safeguards are in addition to the ordinary protection afforded by planning legislation.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from Oxfordshire county council concerning the community charge levels for 1990–91.

  Mr. Chope
  We have received a letter from the cluef executive of the county council making representations on the proposals for the grant settlement.

  The Secretary of State will consider the points made before he makes his final decisions on the settlement.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received from local authorities about the community charge.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier by my hon. Friend, the Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities, to the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours).

  Inner Cities
  Mr. Irvine
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to revive inner city areas.

  Mr. David Hunt
  A wide range of action is being undertaken under the Government's Action for Cities initiative to revive our inner cities. Expenditure under the initiative has increased from £3 billion in 1988–89 to £3·5 billion in 1989–90. In developing our policies for the future we will seek to develop a genuine partnership between all those involved in the regeneration of their areas. On 6 December I announced the formation of a new ministerial team to spearhead and co-ordinate action in the inner cities. Each city action team and inner city task force will have its own Minister committed to advising and assisting the CAT in its vital regeneration work.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to increase grant rates for London housing associations.

  Mr. Chope
  The annual review of grant rates is currently under way.

  City Grants
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses for rent have been provided with the aid of city grants; and if he will make a statement.
  713
  Mr. Moynihan
  One city grant project providing dwellings specifically for rent has so far been approved —the construction of 22 flats at Coach lane, North Shields.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many authorities in West Yorkshire are considered for city grants in their area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Applications for city grant are invited from three of the five local authority areas in West Yorkshire. The new grant has been very successful since its introduction in May 1988 and the available resources are being fully utilised by projects within the areas from which applications are invited.

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many city grants have been awarded to Nottingham since 1988; and what is their total value.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Ten city grants totalling £7·5 million have been approved to support projects in Nottingham. This is the largest number of grants approved for any local authority area.

  Green Bill
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had about funding for local authorities tor measures in the proposed green Bill.

  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friend has regular meetings with representatives of the local authorities to discuss local authority finance, including the case for additional spending. In addition we have considered carefully the responses from local authorities to the several consultation papers issued by my Department proposing legislation to improve the effectiveness of local pollution control.

  Telford
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met the chairman of the Telford development corporation to discuss the future of the town.

  Mr. Chope
  I last met Mr. Frank Jones on 29 November when we discussed a number of matters of mutual interest.

  Improvement Grants
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what amount of money is allocated for improvement grants for the year 1989–90; what amount is proposed for the year 1990–91; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  We make general allocations to local authorities to cover spending on the whole range of housing activities. Within their total resources, and the requirements of the housing legislation, councils are free to decide how much to devote to improvement grants, and how much to other purposes.

  Rural Development
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what provisions he intends to make on the drawing up on the next 10 years strategic plans to ensure that rural development is adequately provided for; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  A framework for planning at the local level will be provided by regional guidance and revised and simplified strategic plans. We have already issued guidance to help metropolitan and London authorities prepare unitary development plans. For other areas, a planning policy guidance note issued for consultation on 27 November encourages county councils to prepare advice for the Secretary of State on regional planning issues and to review their structure plans. These will include policies on the rural economy, based on current Departmental advice.

  Development Programmes
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to ensure that developers take full account of environmental considerations and consult with relevant environmental authorities before embarking on development programmes.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Local planning authorities are required to consult a wide range of bodies on planning applications and to take all material considerations into account when deciding whether to grant planning permission. These provisions have been widened and strengthened by the Town and Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1988 under which applicants must provide environmental statements for projects which are likely to have significant environmental effects; the Nature Conservancy Council and Countryside Commission must be consulted about all applications to which these regulations apply. While there are no statutory requirements for developers to consult public bodies with environmental responsibilities prior to submission of planning applications, developers are advised (for example in my Department's recently published booklet "Environmental Assessment—A Guide to the Procedures") to undertake such consultations so as to ensure that schemes are designed with environmental considerations in mind.

  Homelessness (Wakefield)
  Mr. Buckley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the number of homeless people in the area of the Wakefield district council; what action has been prepared to help these people; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The City of Wakefield metropolitan district council reported 832 households as having been accepted as homeless during the period from the third quarter of 1988 to the second quarter of 1989.

  Homelessness was one of the issues discussed by officials of my Department and representatives of the authority at a meeting last month to discuss the council's housing investment programme submission. It is one of the factors taken into account in making the HIP allocations, being announced this week.

  Water Privatisation
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the new measures of protection the water consumer will now have available as a result of the completion of water privatisation.

  Mr. Howard
  The Water Act 1989 established a new regulatory framework to accompany privatisation which will ensure the protection of customers in respect of the quality and standard of service they receive and the price they pay.

  These measures include the establishment of a new National Rivers Authority, separate from the companies, with direct responsibility for the health of the water environment and regulation of environmental standards, and the introduction of a new drinking water inspectorate which will help ensure that the new legal standards for drinking water quality are met.

  A new independent regulator of the water and sewerage industry, the director general of water services has been appointed. His main tasks are to enforce the new system of economic regulation of the industry and to protect the interests of customers.

  Companies will be subject to a new system of price control. Customers' interests will be protected in respect of the charges they pay as these will be limited in the first instance by the K factors set by the Secretary of State. It will be the director general's responsibility to ensure that these K factors continue to reflect correctly the obligations imposed on the companies. He will also have a duty to ensure that the prices fixed by the companies are fair between different classes of customers, so that domestic and industrial customers both pay their fair share.

  The director general will also be responsible for monitoring the companies' performance in providing satisfactory levels of customer service and for ensuring that they comply with the conditions under which they are appointed. These provide amongst other things that the companies prepare and publish codes of practice for customers setting out the services to be provided and to publish codes of practices on disconnections and on leakage. A guaranteed standards scheme has been established setting out certain standards for day-to-day relations between companies and domestic customers. If standards are not met then customers will be entitled to a payment or credit of £5. In addition companies are required to prepare asset management plans and submit them to the director general. This provides an assurance to customers that companies have made long-term plans for the maintenance of their underground assets and for the expenditure and investment required to maintain and improve their systems.

  Customer service committees will be established to represent customers' interests in each of the ten regions. The CSC's, who will report to the director-general, will be able to investigate complaints and report on any matter which appears to them to affect customer's interests.

  Privatisation will also provide a spur to greater efficiency and thus benefit the consumer.

  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total value of the planned investment programme over the next 10 years of the privatised water companies in England and Wales.

  Mr. Howard
  The estimated investment expenditure by the 10 newly privatised water and sewage businesses in 716
  England and Wales, required by the programmes of which account was taken by the Secretaries of State in setting the initial levels of K, is £24·6 billion in prices prevailing at November 1989.

  Global Warming
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans the Government have to increase the monitoring of global warming.

  Mr. Trippier
  The science review working group of the WMO/UNEP intergovernmental panel on climate change, chaired by the United Kingdom, is assessing the requirements for monitoring with regard to global warming and climate change. The Government will take the panel's report, due in the autumn of 1990, into account in planning appropriate monitoring programmes.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if any assessment has been made of the contribution to global warming made by nitrate and nitrate fertilisers.

  Mr. Trippier
  Assessments of the effect of fertiliser use, including those containing nitrates, on the emission of nitrous oxide from soil have been made but are subject to great uncertainty. The state of understanding of emissions and future concentrations of all the major greenhouse gases is one of the topics included in the science review, chaired by the United Kingdom, of the intergovernmental panel on climate change which will report in the autumn of 1990.

  Pollution (Eastern Europe)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations are being made regarding environmental pollution from eastern European countries.

  Mr. Trippier
  No representations have been made recently. However, the Government are working actively to encourage the adoption of environmentally sound and sustainable policies in eastern European countries. To assist with this my Department has just announced a contribution of £50,000 for the east Europe programme of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Efforts are being pursued specifically through the group of 24 and its working groups on aid to Poland and Hungary and also through the 300 million ecu aid fund for these countries established by the European Community. We are urging that pollution surveys should be undertaken in Poland and Hungary as a first step in establishing an environmentally-sound base for sustainable aid in those countries.

  Fossil Fuel Power Stations
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many fossil fuel power stations the Government expect to have been retrofitted to reduce sulphur emissions by the year 1992.

  Mr. Trippier
  The United Kingdom is committed to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions from existing large plants by 20 per cent. by 1993, 40 per cent. by 1998 and 60 per cent. by 2003. Meeting this commitment will involve a range of measures by United Kingdom industry, including
  717
  retrofitting at least 12,000 MW of electricity generating capacity with flue gas desulphurisation equipment. The Central Electricity Generating Board has already begun to retrofit Drax power station, which contributes one-eighth of CEBG output, but the retrofit will not be completed until after 1992.

  Research
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the planned percentage increase in expenditure by his Department on environmental research in 1992–93 over the current year.

  Mr. Neale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total increase in planned expenditure by his Department's environmental research programme in the next financial year.

  Mr. Trippier
  The expenditure by the Department on environmental research is planned to increase by 20·6 per cent. in 1992–93 over the current year, amounting to an increase of £7·4 million over the provision for the current year of £36 million. Of this increase, £5·2 million is planned for the next financial year.

  Funding, Sheffield
  Mr. Duffy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what private and public funding has been hitherto available to the Sheffield development corporation.

  Mr. Moynihan
  We have made available £17·5 million grant-in-aid to Sheffield development corporation between its designation in June 1988 and the end of March 1990. A further £19 million has been allocated for 1990–91.

  It is estimated that private sector investment totalling nearly £200 million will have been committed to developments within the corporation's area by the end of the current financial year.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what extra resources local authorities will receive over the next two years to tackle the problem of homelessness.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Carlisle (Mr. Martlew) on 4 December at column 36.

  Mr. Bright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the problems caused for Luton by outside local authorities housing homeless people in the borough who subsequently become eligible for housing by the borough council.

  Mr. Chope
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the number of homeless people in the area of Barnsley district council; what action he is prepared to take to help these people; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The number of households reported to my Department as having been accepted by Barnsley 718
  metropolitan borough council as homeless during the period from the third quarter of 1988 to the second quarter of 1989 was 160.

  Homelessness in the area was discussed at a meeting between councillors and officers of Barnsley metropolitan borough council and officials of my Department in early October to discuss the council's housing investment programme submission, and is one of the factors involved in making decisions on the housing investment programme allocations for 1990–91, being announced his week.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of homeless people in the Greater London area on 29 November.

  Mr. Chope
  Local authorities make returns to the Department on numbers of households accepted as homeless on a quarterly and not daily basis.

  The figures for the latest quarter ending 30 June 1989 are in the Library.

  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional resources housing associations will receive over the next two years to reduce the problem of homelessness.

  Mr. Chope
  The Housing Corporation, which provides grants and loans to housing associations, will receive an additional £36 million in 1990–91, and £37 million in 1991–92, as part of the Government's homelessness initiative. This is additional to the Housing Corporation's main programme of capital expenditure, in the distribution of which a high priority is given to schemes designed to alleviate homelessness.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the likely effect of his recent announcement on homelessness, 15 November,Official Report, columns 243–44, on those who are currently sleeping rough.

  Mr. Chope
  It is too early to say what will happen to particular groups of people. We have invited bids from local authorities and housing associations, for the £250 million of extra resources we have made available to tackle problems of homelessness in the pressure areas, and we are also inviting charitable, and voluntary organisations to apply for further resources to intensify and improve their services to people who are actually or potentially homeless.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the latest figures for the number of households accepted as homeless.

  Mr. Chope
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Green Belt
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his policy towards the maintenance of green belt land.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My right hon. Friend continues to be fully committed to upholding green belt policy as set out in planning policy guidance note 2.

  Football Clubs (Membership Scheme)
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that the necessary technology exists to implement the Government's identification card scheme for association football.
  719
  Mr. Moynihan
  The working party which was set up by the football authorities to undertake preparatory work for the national membership scheme has issued an invitation to tender to the seven companies and consortia which are bidding for the contract to operate the scheme. It will be for the Football Membership Authority to decide on the technology on which the scheme should be based and to ensure that it has been tested properly.

  Rented Accommodation
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on his policy for increasing the provision of low-cost rented accommodation.

  Mr. Chope
  The Government have taken a variety of measures to encourage the supply of rented housing, including the deregulation of private letting and the encouragement of private investment in housing associations. In addition public funding for the Housing Corporation is being substantially increased from £815 million this year to £1,736 million by 1992–93, mainly for the development of new rented housing by housing associations.

  Recycling
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to require householders to segregate their household rubbish for recycling.

  Mr. Heathcoat- Amory
  The Government have no such plans at present, but my Department and the Department of Trade and Industry will be monitoring closely the results of the "Recycling City" experiment in Sheffield which involves the issue to several thousand households of blue bins for the purpose of segregating recyclable waste. If successful it is hoped that the experiment, which is receiving Government support, will be widely replicated.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures his Department is taking to encourage the spread of waste recycling practices and technology.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My Department is currently considering adding recycling to the categories of project eligible for support under the environmental protection technology (EPT) scheme which encourages the development of environmentally responsible technologies. In addition my Department and the Department of Trade and Industry are supporting a range of studies and research projects relating to waste recycling and the "Recycling City" project in Sheffield in which several thousand households are participating.

  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to visit Sheffield to observe its experimental waste recycling project.

  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to visit the "Recycling City" project in Sheffield, but I opened the kerbside collection stage of the project on 21 November. The project will be closely monitored by my Department and the Department of Trade and Industry.

  Stonehenge
  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made by English Heritage on the establishment of a new visitor centre at Stonehenge.

  Mr. Trippier
  I am pleased to say that agreement has recently been reached between the Ministry of Defence and English Heritage about an access route, across MOD land, to the site of the proposed new visitor centre at Larkhill West, just north of Stonehenge. There remains a considerable amount of detailed preparation and planning work to be done but I know that English Heritage will now be directing their energies wholeheartedly, in discussion with MOD, the local authorities and other interested parties, towards making significant early progress with these next stages.

  English Heritage's aim is to develop a visitor centre worthy of Stonehenge's international importance as a world heritage site and a major attraction to tourists. It hopes that the centre will cater for up to 1 million visitors each year and plans to include a full, imaginative interpretation of Stonehenge using the latest exhibition techniques to inform visitors. In recognition of the importance which the Government attach to the development of appropriate visitor facilities at Stonehenge, we included in the £3 million additional funding which we are allocating to English Heritage in 1990–91 a sum of £500,000 to enable extra resources to be used to be put into working up the project as rapidly as possible.

  Water Authorities
  Mr. James Lamond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the increase in salaries for chief executives and chairmen of the water authorities over the past two years and since flotation.

  Mr. Howard
  The chairmen of the English water authorities, and those chief executives appointed to the authorities' boards by the Secretary of State, received salary increases of between 8·7 per cent. and 10·1 per cent. With effect from 1 July 1988 and an increase of 7·5 per cent. with effect from 1 July 1989. The salaries of chief executives who were not board members were a matter for the authorities themselves. Following the flotation directors' salaries as well as staff salaries are now for the privatised companies to determine. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales was responsible for approving the salaries of the chairman and chief executive of the Welsh Water Authority.

  Litter
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to encourage householders and businesses to be more accountable for the litter outside their premises.

  Mr. Trippier
  I shall continue to encourage householders, businesses and everyone else to take a responsible attitude towards litter, wherever it might be. We are currently looking at ways to involve commercial frontagers in the cleaning up of their immediate environment.

  Dogs
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the registration of dogs.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  We have received 1,600 ministerial letters and 2,500 letters from members of the public which expressed a wide range of opinions on the subject of dog registration. The same was true of the 300 responses received to the consultation paper.

  Estate Action
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total provision for Estate Action over the current year and 1990.

  Mr. Chope
  The Estate Action budget for 1989–90 is £190 million. A further £190 million will be made available for 1990–91.

  Private Tenancies
  Mr. Wall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has made any estimate of the rate of decline in the number of private tenancies since the introduction of the Housing Act 1988.

  Mr. Chope
  No. The fundamental reason for the introduction of part I of the Housing Act 1988 was to increase the supply of privately-rented accommodation. It is too early to make a firm assessment as to the impact of the new regime on the rental market. We shall be carrying out detailed evaluations as soon as practicable. But initial impressions are very encouraging. In particular, it is estimated that more than £350 million has been invested in business expansion scheme companies letting homes on assured tenancies. With an average price of £50,000 per property, that means an extra 6,000 to 7,000 homes available for letting.

  Drinking Water
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice his Department provides to those concerned about the quality of their drinking water.

  Mr. Howard
  The Water Act 1989 and regulations made under it clarify and strengthen the requirements for drinking water quality. In addition to the local authorities' continuing role of checking the quality of water supplies, the new drinking water inspectorate will seek to ensure that drinking water standards are met. Also, it is now a criminal offence for water undertakers to supply water which is unfit for human consumption.

  Trafford Park
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, if he will pay an official visit to Trafford park.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  I hope to be able to take up my hon. Friend's invitation to visit Trafford park later next year in conjuction with a visit to the Trafford park industrial council AGM.

  Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any indication of the savings being achieved by local authorities as a result of the introduction of compulsory competitive tendering for certain services.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No precise figures are available at present, but the evidence suggests that substantial savings can be achieved as a result of the new requirements for competition in local government services. This is true whether work is awarded to an outside contractor or is retained in-house. As I explained in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Romsey and Waterside (Mr. Colvin) on 1 December at column 212 the results of a research project on the effects of compulsory competitive tendering should be available in the spring.

  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what powers he has to take action against local authorities which fail to let contracts under compulsory competitive tendering on an impartial basis.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Secretary of State has powers under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 and the Local Government Act 1988 to direct that an authority shall cease to have power to carry out certain types of work or that they may only carry out such work subject to specified conditions, if it appears to him that the authority have acted anti-competitively or breached any of the other requirements of the legislation.

  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the minimum and maximum contract periods specified in the Department of the Environment's circular on compulsory competitive tendering; what are the periods prescribed by the Welsh Office for Wales; and what are the reasons for the differences between the two.

  Mr. Patten
  The Local Government Act 1988 (Defined Activities) (Specified Bodies) (England) Regulations 1988 specified minimum and maximum contract periods for the activities subject to compulsory competition under the Local Government Act 1988. They are as follows:

  Tablel I

  Specified periods for authorities with education functions

  Activity

  Minimum period years

  Maximum period years

  Collection of refuse

  5

  7

  Cleaning of buildings

  3

  4

  Other cleaning

  4

  6

  Catering for purposes of schools and welfare

  4

  5

  Other catering

  4

  6

  Maintenance of ground

  3

  4

  Repair and maintenance of vehicles

  4

  6

  Table II

  Specified periods for authorities without education functions

  Activity

  Minimum period years

  Maximum period years

  Collection of refuse

  5

  7

  Cleaning of buildings

  4

  6

  Other cleaning

  4

  6

  723

  Activity

  Minimum period years

  Maximum period years

  Catering for purposes of schools and welfare

  4

  6

  Other catering

  4

  6

  Maintenance of ground

  4

  6

  Repair and maintenance of vehicles

  4

  6

  The Local Government Act 1988 (Defined Activities) (Specified Periods) (Wales) Regulations 1988, as amended by the Local Government Act 1988 (Defined Activities) (Specified Periods) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 1988, specified the following periods:

  Table III

  Specified periods for authorities with education functions

  Activity

  Minimum period years

  Maximum period years

  Refuse collection

  5

  7

  Building cleaning

  3

  4

  Other cleaning

  3

  5

  Catering

  3

  5

  Ground maintenance

  3

  4

  Vehicle maintenance and repair

  3

  5

  Table IV

  Specified periods for authorities without education functions

  Activity

  Minimum period years

  Maximum years period years

  Refuse collection

  5

  7

  Building cleaning

  3

  5

  Other cleaning

  3

  5

  Catering

  3

  5

  Ground maintenance

  3

  5

  Vehicle maintenance and repair

  3

  3

  Differences in the specified contract periods reflect decisions made by my predecessor and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales in the light of circumstances pertaining in England and Wales respectively.

  English Heritage
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much the grant-in-aid to English Heritage is planned to increase over the next two years.

  Mr. Trippier
  We are allocating an additional £3 million to English Heritage in 1990–91 and an additional £3·02 million in 1991–92, taking its total grant-in-aid in that year to £79·8 million—a 56 per cent. cash increase over 1984–85. These significant extra sums reflect the Government's recognition of the importance of the heritage to the quality of life, and its major contribution to the tourism industry. The increases will enable English Heritage to build on its successful record in several different ways. It will be able to invest more in the maintenance and presentation of its key historic sites—already a source of significant enjoyment and education for an increasing number of adults and youngsters. I am particularly pleased that some of the increase can be earmarked for preparatory work on the proposed new visitor centre at Stonehenge—one of our most outstanding national monuments. Other areas of English Heritage's724
  important responsibilities which will benefit from these extra resources include archaeology and the review of some lists of historic buildings which were produced in the early 1970s and are not up to the standards of the more recent lists.

  Action for Cities
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the achievements of the action for cities programme.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Excellent progress continues to be made in the regeneration of our inner cities under the Government's action for cities programme, expenditure on which is planned to increase from £3 billion in 1988—89 to about £3·5 billion this year. Unemployment in the 57 inner city target areas has fallen by nearly a quarter over the last year. Massive investment is taking place in reclaiming derelict land and in new factories, housing, shopping centres, roads and other infrastructure. Recorded crime fell significantly in the Metropolitan police force areas over the last year. The Government are working in partnership with business, local government, the voluntary sector and local people to build on the progress already made and to ensure that the pace of inner city regeneration is maintained. On 6 December I announced the formation of a new ministerial team to spearhead and co-ordinate action in the inner city areas. Each city action team and inner city task force will have a Minister to advise and assist it in its vital regeneration work.

  Housing, Hackney
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to visit Hackney to discuss housing.

  Mr. Chope
  No. The Department has regular contacts with the borough and has recently held a meeting with the council in the current housing investment programme round.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the toxic waste material which is held in Wath upon Dearne, Rotherham to be removed.

  Mr. Trippier
  My officials are in close touch with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the other parties involved. We are pressing hard for the early removal of this material.

  "Keep Safe" Scheme
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will report on the progress of the "Keep Safe" security grants scheme in the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

  Mr. Moynihan
  This crime prevention scheme was first approved by my Department in 1985. Some 5,500 security installations have now been completed. The scheme has received a total of £386,000 in urban programme funds to date, of which £141,900 has been approved for works to be undertaken this year.

  River Pollution
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures the National Rivers Authority has taken against polluters since it was established.

  Mr. Howard
  The National Rivers Authority has taken positive steps against polluters by the prosecution of offenders, the issue of warning letters, and the recovery of costs relating to pollution incidents. I understand that since 1 September the NRA has decided to institute legal proceedings in 102 cases of water pollution.

  Greenhouse Effect
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures Her Majesty's Government have taken to secure international agreement on the need for action on the greenhouse effect.

  Mr. Trippier
  We actively support the work of the inter-governmental panel on climate change and in particular the United Kingdom chairs its working group on scientific assessment. The United Kingdom is leading efforts to gain support for an international framework convention on climate change. This was unanimously supported at the recent conference of environment Ministers in the Netherlands. Our leading role in promoting international initiatives on climate change was underlined by the Prime Minister's speech at the United Nations on 8 November.

  Rents
  Mr. Rees
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will meet housing associations and local authorities to discuss proposals to determine criteria for affordable rents.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  My hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning frequently meets representatives of local authorities and housing associations, and questions of rent policy are discussed when appropriate.

  Hot Food Shops
  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what support he has given to Bexley council in its attempt to control the number of hot food shops in Welling.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My Department's development control policy note 11 "Service Uses in Shopping Areas" gives advice on the planning considerations which are relevant to proposals for hot food shops.

  Bed and Breakfast
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many families accepted as homeless are currently living in(a) bed-and-breakfast accommodation and (b) other forms of temporary accommodation.

  Mr. Chope
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  New Homes
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest information he has on the number of new homes which stand unsold and unoccupied.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department does not collect information on the number of new homes which are unsold and unoccupied.

  Public Inquiries
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for changes in the environmental criteria relating to major public inquiries.

  Mr. Moynihan
  We have no proposals to change the procedures for major planning inquiries. Environmental considerations will invariably be an important issue at such inquiries. In the case of planning applications made on or after 15 July 1988 for many projects likely to have significant environmental effects, developers are also required to provide an environmental statement of the implications to their proposals.

  New Towns
  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the policies of the Government on future new town developments.

  Mr. Chope
  The new towns programme in England is coming to a conclusion. New settlements however are an option that planning authorities in England can explore, in co-operation with private developers, in formulating their housing policies. New settlements could have a role to play in reducing pressure for new housing in existing towns and villages, but whether to proceed by this means and the finding of suitable locations is generally a matter for decision at the local level, through the development plan process.

  My right hon. Friend has no responsibility for planning or new towns in Scotland or Wales.

  Olympic Games
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice and support is being given by his Department to those bodies bidding to hold the 1996 olympic games in Manchester.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The Government wish Manchester every success in its bid to host the 1996 olympic games and will offer the bid team whatever promotional help they can. We have already offered assurances about paying full regard to the olympic rules and byelaws and doing all within our power to facilitate entry and unrestricted movement to members of the olympic family.

  Projects (Kirklees)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of city grants that have been made during the current year to projects in Kirklees for(a) housing, (b) industrial and (c) commercial; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  in the current financial year, city grant of £222,649 was approved for an industrial project at the
  727
  Ringway industrial centre in Kirklees on 5 April 1989. The project, costing £788,000 in all, involves the development of 1·75 acres of former railway yard to provide four business warehouse units, with landscaping and car parking facilities.

  Regeneration Projects
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much city grant has been awarded to regeneration projects in Derby since July.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Two offers of city grant totalling £1·6 million have been made to support projects in Derby since July 1989.

  Housing, Bradford
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to reach decisions on grant applications for new homes to rent and for sale on the Lower Grange estate in Bradford; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  On 13 November, my Department received an application for Estate Action support in respect of the dwellings on the Lower Grange estate which the City of Bradford metropolitan council intend to refurbish.

  Housing (Land Prices)
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the average land price content of the average priced house in the south east, the north west and England and Wales as a whole in 1979 and the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Chope
  The table shows average land prices per plot as a percentage of average new house prices. Land prices are restricted to purchases by the private sector of sites with planning permission and are therefore directly comparable with the average price of new houses than all houses (including secondhand purchases).

  Land price per plot as a percentage of new dwelling price

  1979

  1988

  South East (excluding London)

  20

  45

  North West

  14

  15

  England and Wales

  17

  34

  Climate Change
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what role the United Kingdom delegation played at the Noordwijk conference on climate change.

  Mr. Trippier
  I believe the United Kingdom delegation contributed positively to a final declaration in which the nearly 70 countries present were able unanimously to endorse our call for an international framework convention on climate change, to support the work of the inter-governmental panel on climate change, and to recognise the need to stabilise emissions of carbon dioxide. Maintaining this international consensus will be essential to effective action to combat the greenhouse effect.

  Carbon Dioxide Emissions
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of the world's carbon dioxide emissions come from the developed world and the underdeveloped world.

  Mr. Trippier
  Figures for carbon dioxide emissions from developed and undeveloped countries are subject, to uncertainty due both to the definition of the terms and the assessment of emissions for particular countries. Recent estimates, defining developed countries as industrialised countries and centrally planned economies suggest that the undeveloped world accounts for about 15 per cent. of world carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion.

  Pollution Control
  Mr. Aspinwall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to legislate to put control of all forms of pollution within the same statutory framework of regulations.

  Mr. Trippier
  Pollution control requires different forms of expertise. The Government will be bringing forward legislation to provide more effective frameworks for controlling pollution best dealt with at the local level, and new systems at the national level for controlling the most dangerous or difficult processes.

  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for he Environment if he will make a statement on the ways in which the concept of integrated pollution control will help to protect the environment.

  Mr. Trippier
  Integrated pollution control (IPC) adopts a preventative approach to pollution control. The most polluting substances will be prevented or minimised at source and all substances will be rendered harmless. IPC applies the concept of the "best available techniques not entailing excessive cost" which provides an inbuilt dynamic to higher standards as techniques and technology improve. IPC will seek to achieve the best practicable environmental option, taking account of the effects on the environment as a whole.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what predictions can be made about the levels of pollution from internal combustion engines between the present time and 2010.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Department has asked Warren Spring laboratory to revise the projections of exhaust emissions from road transport previously published in 1987 to take account of the new emission regulations agreed this year and the full range of current traffic projections.

  Company Awareness
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to encourage British companies to be more aware of environmental concerns.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Department aims to increase the level of environmental awareness generally. It supports the Department of Trade and Industry in the latter's business
  729
  and environment programme, for example by working with the DTI and others to organise conferences for industry on environmental issues.

  The Department of the Environment also operates an environmental protection technology scheme, which encourages technical innovation through grants to aid the development of low waste and pollution control technology. The Department has recently published a booklet "Clean Technology" obtainable from the EPT Office, Room B357, Romney house, 43 Marsham street, London SW1P 3PY.

  Sports Council
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met the chairman of the Sports Council; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My most recent formal meeting with the chairman of the Sports Council was on 16 November at my meeting with the chairmen of the regional councils for sport and recreation. We discussed a number of issues including the Sports Council's grant-in-aid for 1990–91, my recent working party report on sport for people with disabilities, school sport and the impact of the new local authority capital expenditure rules on sport.

  Tyne and Wear Development Corporation
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next plans to visit the Tyne and Wear development corporation.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has no plans to visit the Tyne and Wear development corporation at present. However my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities plans to visit the corporation tomorrow.

  Football Spectators Act
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date he expects the provisions of the Football Spectators Act to be fully operational at all grounds.

  Mr. Moynihan
  We want the national membership scheme to be in place as soon as practicable. We will approve its introduction when we are satisfied that it will be effective, workable and safe. Against this background, it will be for the Football Membership Authority, in conjunction with the chosen supplier, to come forward with an acceptable timetable for implementation.

  Wildlife and Trees
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the impact of pollutants on wildlife and trees especially in England and Wales.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Department's review groups on acid waters and terrestrial effects have assessed the impacts of pollutants on freshwaters, crops, trees and vegetation in the United Kingdom. Copies of the reports have been placed in the Library of the House.

  In the north and south-west of England, in Northern Ireland and in many parts of Scotland and Wales, there are areas with soils and underlying rocks sensitive to acid
  730
  deposition. In some of these areas the deposition of pollutants has caused water and soil acidification. The principal impact on wildlife is a reduction of fish and invertebrate species in affected streams, and a consequent reduction in habitat for species which feed on them. The terrestrial effects review group identified air pollution as a potential stress on trees, but was unable to specify where or to what extent trees were adversely affected. The Department has decided to set up a further review group specifically to look at the latest evidence on the impact of air pollution or tree health.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to legislate to separate local authority responsibilities in the regulation and management of waste disposal.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Environmental Protection Bill will include measures to separate local authority waste disposal operations into arm's length local authority controlled companies. The waste regulation authorities will then be responsible for the licensing and enforcement of both public and private sector facilities.

  Mortgage Arrears
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of households who have been evicted as a result of mortgage arrears in the past 12 months.

  Mr. Chope
  The latest information on building society mortgages covers the 12 months to 30 June 1989. The Building Societies Association reported that societies took 12,730 properties into possession during this period. This figure represented 0·166 per cent. of building society mortgages outstanding at 30 June 1989. In the year to 30 June 1988, 21,000 properties were taken into possession, which represented 0·288 per cent. of outstanding mortgages. Figures for other mortgage lenders are not available.

  Housing Corporation
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the projected increase in the budget of the Housing Corporation between the present year and 1992–93.

  Mr. Howard
  The Housing Corporation's capital programme of grants and loans to housing associations is planned to increase from £818 million in 1989–90, to £1,736 million in 1992–93, more than doubling over three years.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has a meeting scheduled with Nirex before Christmas, to discuss the disposal of low and medium level nuclear waste.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has a meeting scheduled with Nirex before Christmas, to discuss the disposal of low and medium level nuclear waste.
  731
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has a meeting scheduled with Nirex before Christmas to discuss the disposal of low and medium level nuclear waste.

  Mr. Trippier
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond).

  North Sea
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has on whether algae, in the North sea, have given off significant quantities of dimethyl sulphide; and if he will make a statement on the next stage of the Natural Environment Research Council project on evaluating seasonal cycles in the North sea.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I understand that measurements of dimethyl sulphide (DMS) taken on NERC cruises as part of the NERC North sea community research project show a pronounced seasonal pattern. High levels of DMS in spring and summer, coinciding with the period of maximum algal activity, contrasted with low levels in the autumn/winter. Maximum DMS values in water occurred in April/May with high concentrations along the coast of France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. These results suggest that in the spring/summer the North sea algal production of DMS contributes at a rate equivalent to 25 per cent. of the rate for man-made emissions over Europe.

  The 15-month NERC observational cruises programme in the North sea in now concluded. The next stage of the project involves detailed data analysis and interpretation, and the incorporation of data into models of the seasonal cycle of parameters in the North sea.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy towards compliance with the proposals made by the European Environment Commissioner on 29 November to clean up the North sea; and if he will estimate the likely cost of this programme to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Howard
  The hon. Member may be referring to a proposal published by the Commission last month for a directive concerning municipal waste water treatment. If adopted, this would establish, inter alia, minimum standards of treatment before disposal for sewage from populations above a certain size. It would apply to discharges to all inland and coastal waters across the European Community. No discussions have yet taken place within the Council of Ministers on the proposals. The Department has commissioned Consultants in Environmental Sciences Ltd to assess the likely impact, including the cost, of certain aspects of the proposals. Their report is due early in the new year, and a copy will be made available to the House.

  Radioactivity (Sellafield)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what problems with the levels of airborne radioactivity in the B-30 receiving pond facility at Sellafield have been reported to him in the past year.

  Mr. Trippier
  None.

  Water Rates
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is considering bringing in any statutory procedures regarding disconnection for non-payment of water rates, by either a private or public authority.

  Mr. Howard
  No. Section 49 of the Water Act 1989 already lays down the procedure a water undertaker must follow before a water supply may be disconnected for non-payment of charges.

  Housing (Lambeth)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why Lambeth borough council has been refused participation within the London mobility scheme for housing.

  Mr. Chope
  I understand that the London borough of Lambeth is currently suspended by the joint committee of the London area mobility scheme from the Greater London mobility scheme because it has not been contributing sufficient lettings to it. The suspension will, however, be lifted as soon as performance improves.

  In the meantime tenants wishing to move from the borough can still do so through the other schemes operated by the London area mobility scheme—including the inter-borough nomination scheme and the mutual exchange bureau.

  Trees
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what analysis he has made of the effects of acid deposition on trees; and what steps he is taking to mitigate the effects.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  An initial analysis of the effects of air pollution, including acid deposition, on trees was made by the United Kingdom terrestrial effects review group (TERG) in a report published in July 1988. Copies of the report are available in the House of Commons Library. Since then, additional scientific data have come to light both in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. Consequently a sub-group of TERG has been set up specifically to evaluate these extra data. The group will report in January 1991.

  In order to mitigate the effects of acid deposition on the environment as a whole we are making substantial reductions in sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions from large combustion plants at a cost of over £2 billion. In addition we have agreed major reductions of NOx emissions from motor vehicles at a cost of about £1·5 billion per annum.

  Housing (Blyth Valley)
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total value of dwellings owned by Blyth Valley local authority calculated on the basis of 1988–89 right-to-buy sales and the total loan debt outstanding.

  Mr. Chope
  Under part VI of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, in determining housing revenue account subsidy, the Secretary of State may infer aggregate values of houses and other property within local
  733
  authorities' housing revenue accounts from the average values of any of the houses and other property they have disposed of. The latest figure calculated on this basis for Blyth Valley is £158 million. This is subject to variation in the light of any futher information supplied by the local authority.

  The total outstanding loan debt on dwellings in the ownership of Blyth Valley district council for 1988–89 as reported to the Department of the Environment by the local authority was £40·2 million.

  Business Rates
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated business rate, in tabular form, for shops with a floor space of 500 sq ft, 2,000 sq ft, 5,000 sq ft, and 10,000 sq ft for each of the years 1989–90 to 1994–95 if situated in Sheen road, Richmond, showing percentage increases for each year over the actual for 1989–90.

  Mr. Chope
  It is not possible at this stage to make the estimates for which the hon. Member asks.

  My right hon. Friend announced on 6 November his provisional view that the national non-domestic rate poundage for 1990–91 would be 36 pence. In subsequent years the poundage will increase by the rise in the retail price index or by such lesser amount as the Chancellor of the Exchequer determines.

  The valuation office is currently carrying out a revaluation of non-domestic property and is required to deposit with local authorities the new rating lists in draft by 31 December.

  There will be transitional arrangements to phase in the effect of the uniform business rate and the revaluation. The maximum increase in rate bills for properties in London will be 20 per cent. in real terms for those with new rateable values of £ 15,000 and above and 15 per cent. for those with values between £500 and £14,999. Large reductions in bills will also be subject to phasing.

  NCC and Countryside Commission
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what considerations of policy led to his decision to retain the Countryside Commission and the Nature Conservancy Council as separate bodies in England.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Government took into account the ecological, demographic and social circumstances in England and decided that the needs of nature conservation and the protection and enjoyment of the countryside would be best served by the retention of separate bodies for those purposes in this country.

  Conservation Agencies
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he will adopt to provide environmental auditing and accountability of the proposed new conservation agencies in Great Britain.

  Mr. Trippier
  The new conservation agencies in England, Scotland and Wales will be directly accountable to the Secretaries of State for the Environment, Scotland and Wales, respectively for the stewardship both of their individual and joint functions.
  734
  Environmental auditing is normally understood to mean the quantification of environmental costs and benefits in the economic or development context, rather than a means of assessing the work of public agencies.

  Radioactive Contamination (Harwell)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are being taken to clean up the radioactive contamination at the Harwell tank farm, following the discovery of radioactive waste contamination on 24 May; what assessment has been made of the effects on Atomic Energy Research Establishment workers and members of the public of this leak; and what has been the cost of the clean-up operation to date.

  Mr. Trippier
  Low level radioactive contaminated water from the tank farm area is being treated in the Harwell effluent plant. The effect of the contamination on workers and members of the public is insignificant. Approximately £20,000 has been spent on the clean-up operation to date.

  Boundaries
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to introduce regulations governing the height of trees and hedges which form part of boundaries between private properties, similar to planning regulations which currently govern the height of boundary walls.

  Mr. Moynihan
  No.

  Pollution Inspectorate
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current level of understaffing at Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution; and what proposals he has to meet the problem.

  Mr. Trippier
  The staff compliment for Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution was increased from 219 to 240 from 2 October 1989. Staff in post at 1 November 1989 was 199. Most of the vacancies are for pollution inspectors and to fill these posts Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution are undertaking a recruitment campaign offering exceptional salary increases of 28·5 per cent. over those offered in the last recruitment round.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the annual report of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution will be published.

  Mr. Trippier
  The annual report for 1988–89 will be published as soon as possible in the new year.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how often samples of the flue gases from the Rechem plant at Pontypool are analysed for dioxin and polychlorinated biphenyl content by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution; and if he will summarise the results of such analysis by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution since 1987.

  Mr. Trippier
  Flue gases from the Rechem plant at Pontypool are sampled by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and analysed specifically for polychlorinated biphenyl approximately twice a year. Figures are
  735
  considerably less thay 0·01 mg/m3. Sampling and analysis for dioxins and dibenzofurans is carried out less frequently. The latest summary figures for January 1989 are:

  Tetrachlorodibenzodioxins (total)—less than 0·025 ng/m3

  Tetrachlorodibenzofurans (total)—0·12 ng/m3

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest total number of staff employed by(a) Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and (b) the National Rivers Authority.

  Mr. Trippier
  Staff in post in Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution at 1 November were 199.

  Staff in post in the National Rivers Authority at 31 October were 6,332.

  Mr. Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which regional office of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution will be responsible for meeting the environmental demands of Cleveland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The regulatory responsibilities of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in Cleveland will be discharged by the Northern region of HMIP, based in Leeds.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if replacements have been found for the three senior inspectors who resigned in 1989 from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 12 December 1989]: One senior member of staff resigned from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in 1989 and will leave at the end of the year. Arrangements are in hand to appoint a successor. Two senior members of staff resigned in 1988. Their posts have been absorbed into the reorganised structure of the inspectorate, details of which were announced on 2 October 1989.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what reasons were tendered by the individuals concerned for the resignations from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution by Mr. Michael Thayer and other senior inspectors.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 12 December 1989]: It is not customary to disclose details of personnel matters.

  Environment White Paper
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish the proposed White Paper on the environment; and whether it will outline the structure of the proposed Scottish heritage agency.

  Mr. Trippier
  We intend to publish a White Paper by next autumn; it is too soon to comment on the detailed content.

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on how many people are involved in monitoring air pollution in(a) the United States of America, (b) Britain and (c) other member countries of the European Community.
  736
  Mr. Trippier
  This information could be obtained only at excessive cost. However, the United Kingdom acid deposition and air pollution monitoring networks, referred to in my answer of 7 December to the hon. Member for Hackney, South and Shoreditch (Mr. Sedgemore) are co-ordinated by about 33 staff at Warren Spring laboratory. Some of these sites are run by other consultants.

  Many local authorities and other organisations in the United Kingdom monitor air pollution for their own purposes.

  Pensions
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations have been made to him by the local authority associations and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy on the funding of pensions liabilities; and when he will respond to such representations.

  Mr. Christopher Patten
  I have received a number of representations on this subject. I shall be responding shortly.

  South Downs
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to designate the South Downs as a national park; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The South Downs is already designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty. My right hon. Friend has no plans to designate it as a national park.

  PSA
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement on his meetings with the Property Services Agency staff unions;

  (2) when he next intends to consult trade unions about the privatisation of the Property Services Agency and the Crown Suppliers.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend met the PSA trade unions on 26 September. It was a constructive meeting and he looks forward to having further meetings with them as the PSA progresses towards privatisation.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his reply of 6 December,Official Report, column 412, he will specify in what respects the briefing document sent to hon. Members by trade unions in respect of Property Services Agency legislation, was tendentious.

  Mr. Chope
  My judgment is based on the document as a whole.

  Housebuilding
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest figures for housebuilding in the public sector, starts and completions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The latest figures for housebuilding up to the end of October 1989 were released on 4 December 1989. A copy of the press notice is in the Library.

  Ordnance Survey
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the future of Ordnance Survey.

  Mr. Trippier
  As Britain's national mapping organisation, the Ordnance Survey has earned wide respect and recognition for its surveying and cartographic activities. At the same time, the Government have encouraged Ordnance Survey to develop and expand its business on increasingly commercial lines. It is therefore proposed that Ordnance Survey should become a next steps agency and this is expected to take place in 1990.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the average management and maintenance costs per dwelling owned by housing associations in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 12 December 1989]: The information requested is not available. The hon. Gentleman will, however, find some information on this subject in a report called "The Nature and Effectiveness of Housing Management in England" by the centre for housing research, university of Glasgow. Copies of the report, which was published earlier this year, are available in the Library.

  Pollution (Mersey)
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the current pollution level of the Mersey; and what measures are planned to improve its quality.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 4 December 1989]: The water quality of the Mersey estuary has improved since 1980 as a result of North West Water's programme of building interceptor sewers to divert sewage from outfalls to sewage treatment works. This continuing programme, which includes construction of a major new sewage treatment works at Sandon dock in Liverpool due to open next year, now forms part of the Mersey basin campaign project to improve the water quality and landward aspects of the Mersey system at an overall estimated cost of £4 billion. The project involves North West Water, central and local government, and business and voluntary organisations.

  The National Rivers Authority is responsible for monitoring river and estuarial quality, and for securing any improvements which it considers are needed to meet new statutory water quality objectives to be set by the Secretary of State.

  VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
  VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
  POLICE COLLEGE: SENIOR COMMAND COURSE
  POLICE COLLEGE: SENIOR COMMAND COURSE
  DIETARY SUGARS AND HEALTH
  DIETARY SUGARS AND HEALTH
  COMMUNITY CARE: RESPONSE TO BISHOP HUDDLESTON'S OBSERVATION
  COMMUNITY CARE: RESPONSE TO BISHOP HUDDLESTON'S OBSERVATION
  MINISTERS AND SHARE PORTFOLIOS: POLICY
  MINISTERS AND SHARE PORTFOLIOS: POLICY
  EUROPEAN COUNCIL OF TRANSPORT MINISTERS, 4th-5th DECEMBER
  EUROPEAN COUNCIL OF TRANSPORT MINISTERS, 4th-5th DECEMBER
  WILDING REPORT: RECOMMENDATIONS AND RESPONSES—PLANS
  WILDING REPORT: RECOMMENDATIONS AND RESPONSES—PLANS
  RATING: SEASONALLY OPERATED PROPERTY
  RATING: SEASONALLY OPERATED PROPERTY
  ORDNANCE SURVEY: FUTURE
  ORDNANCE SURVEY: FUTURE
  GLOBE THEATRE: SCHEDULING
  GLOBE THEATRE: SCHEDULING