Written Answers of 16 February 1989

TRANSPORT

  Fishing Vessels
  Mr. Buchan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his officials have held recently regarding the transitional period for the registration of fishing vessels under the terms of the Merchant Shipping Act 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The transitional period is prescribed in the Merchant Shipping (Registration of Fishing Vessels) Regulations which came into force on 1 December 1988. To date, nearly half the 13,000 transfer applications sent out for the new register have been returned. Officials at the registry of shipping and seamen are dealing with queries as fast as they can. Remaining qualified owners who return their applications in good time should be able to transfer their vessels before the end of the transitional period on 31 March.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total amount of revenue accruing to his Department in the last financial year as a result of the levying of light dues on United Kingdom registered fishing vessels; and what was the original estimate.

  Mr. Portillo
  Responsibility for collecting light dues is vested in the general lighthouse authorities. They have so far received about £120,000 in light dues paid for United Kingdom registered fishing vessels for the financial year 1987–88. Income for the year was originally estimated as about £1 million; the authorities are considering what further action to take to recover the outstanding dues.

  Highway Maintenance (Expenditure)
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the reasons for the underspend on local authority current expenditure on highway maintenance for 1987–88 being revised from £147 million to £91 million in the public expenditure White Paper 1988.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Prior to the 1989 public expenditure survey, expenditure by local authorities on professional and technical services for road maintenance has been included with similar expenditure on public transport under the separate head of professional and technical services. For the 1989 survey it was agreed with the local authority associations that this expenditure should be charged out to the services concerned. The change is referred to in paragraph 83 of Cm. 288. Because expenditure on professional and technical services for 1987–88 was above the planned figure, the effect was to reduce the underspend on the new definition of road maintenance expenditure. The figures in the 1989 survey (Cm. 608) are also based on revised estimates of expenditure which were not available when the 1988 White Paper (Cm. 288) was published.

  Public Inquiries
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the average time from the date of the decision to hold a public inquiry to the date when he announces his verdict on the inspector's report.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The length of time between the announcement of a public inquiry and the issuing of the decision letter by the Secretaries of State for Environment and for Transport depends on a number of factors. The main ones are the length and complexity of the scheme, the duration of the inquiry, the length of the inspector's report and the time taken to deliver it, and the implications of the inspector's recommendations.

  Twenty-nine inquiries into trunk road schemes were held in 1987 (the last year for which all inspectors' reports have been received). The Secretaries of State have yet to issue decisions on five major schemes: M3 Bar End-Compton, M40 Waterstock-Wendlebury, A1 Bramham-Wetherby and Wetherby-Dishforth (consecutive inquiries) and A6(M) Stockport North-South bypass. Of the remaining 24, the distribution of times taken between announcement of the inquiry and issuing of the decision letter was as follows:

  Announcement—Decision

  Months

  Number of Schemes

  1–3

  —

  4–6

  4

  7–9

  7

  9–12

  8

  13–18

  4

  over 19

  1

  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the number of public inquiries held during the last year into road proposals; what was their average duration; and what was the total cost.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Thirty-two inquiries into trunk road schemes were held in 1988. The following is a breakdown of lengths of inquiry:

  Length

  Number of Inquiries

  1 day

  6

  2–5 days

  8

  1–2 weeks

  5

  2 weeks-1 month

  5

  1–3 months

  6

  3–6 months

  1

  6 months-1 year

  1

  The direct costs of the facilities necessary for these inquiries (accommodation, photocopying etc.) came to £700,000. The figures for individual inquiries range between £285 and £370,000. Including counsel's and inspector's fees, the costs to the Department vary between £1 million and £2 million annually. It is not possible to assess the indirect costs of departmental and consultants' staff.

  Bus Companies (Sale)
  Mr. Higgins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has for a deadline by which municipal bus companies should be sold to the private sector.
  283
  Mr. Portillo
  The Government are encouraging local authorities to sell their bus companies and do not rule out the possiblity of seeking powers to require them to do so.

  Viaducts
  Mr. Bowls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is yet ready to publish a further report on the midland links viaducts.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  A 1988 report is published today.

  We welcome this report for the reassuring news that it brings and for the information that it conveys. It is important to keep the wider public informed about these vital elements in our motorway network. Copies have been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  The report confirms that the structures are sufficiently strong to carry the traffic which wants to use them.

  The major problem is damage arising from chloride contamination. This is attributable to the original salt-laden water penetrating the structures during the de-icing of the motorways in winters before 1983. We are no longer adding to this problem, as we now use urea. Measures to tackle the consequences of this contamination will be a considerable part of the future programme.

  The strategy for the future maintenance of the viaducts comes down to continuous monitoring, repair and maintenance. The accent will remain on value for money and will include further investigation into improving repair techniques.

  Highway Authorities (Finance)
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in the Official Report for each highway authority in England (a) its bid for capital allocations and transport supplementary grant for 1989–90, (b) the allocation announced in each case, (c) the allocation as a percentage of the bid in each case and (d) the percentage of each authority's transport supplementary grant allocation attributable to minor works.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The information requested is given in the following tables:

  Capital allocation for local roads 1989–90

  Highway Authority

  Bid

  Allocation

  Allocation as percentage of bid

  £ million

  £ million

  Per cent

  (A)

  (B)

  (C)

  City of London

  1·867

  0·630

  33·7

  Barking and Dagenham

  6·318

  4·580

  72·5

  Barnet

  2·003

  0·790

  39·4

  Bexley

  3·566

  2·780

  78·0

  Brent

  3·200

  1·190

  37·2

  Bromley

  9·998

  8·580

  85·8

  Camden

  3·256

  0·260

  8·0

  Croydon

  6·357

  1·110

  17·5

  Ealing

  12·373

  7·450

  60·2

  Enfield

  24·817

  24·210

  97·6

  Greenwich

  4·698

  2·590

  55·1

  Hackney

  4·349

  1·550

  35·6

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  6·794

  0·410

  6·0

  Haringey

  14·453

  11·880

  82·2

  Harrow

  9·120

  8·980

  98·5

  Havering

  1·063

  0·960

  90·3

  Hillingdon

  20·676

  10·340

  50·0

  Hounslow

  3·463

  1·630

  47·1

  284

  Highway Authority

  Bid

  Allocation

  Allocation as percentage of bid

  £ million

  £ million

  Per cent

  Islington

  2·012

  0·530

  26·3

  Kensington and Chelsea

  2·005

  1·570

  78·3

  Kingston upon Thames

  4·980

  3·870

  77·7

  Lambeth

  0·957

  0·610

  63·7

  Lewisham

  12·492

  11·030

  88·3

  Merton

  13·713

  9·400

  68·5

  Newham

  6·979

  2·420

  34·7

  Redbridge

  3·243

  0·900

  27·8

  Richmond upon Thames

  1·360

  0·610

  44·9

  Southwark

  7·490

  5·610

  74·9

  Sutton

  8·556

  2·330

  27·2

  Tower Hamlets

  0·873

  0·420

  48·1

  Waltham Forest

  2·421

  1·250

  51·6

  Wandsworth

  7·584

  2·690

  35·5

  Westminster

  18·785

  2·020

  10·8

  Bolton

  3·537

  1·770

  50·0

  Bury

  4·238

  3·620

  85·4

  Manchester

  13·078

  4·230

  32·3

  Oldham

  8·355

  2·700

  32·3

  Rochdale

  4·323

  1·160

  26·8

  Salford

  10·007

  5·600

  56·0

  Stockport

  2·536

  0·600

  23·7

  Tameside

  2·916

  1·500

  51·4

  Trafford

  14·706

  4·240

  28·8

  Wigan

  4·399

  3·210

  73·0

  Knowsley

  2·185

  0·750

  34·3

  Liverpool

  6·688

  4·420

  66·1

  St. Helens

  5·903

  4·850

  82·2

  Sefton

  1·425

  0·920

  64·6

  Wirral

  3·930

  2·610

  66·4

  Barnsley

  4·811

  1·730

  36·0

  Doncaster

  3·709

  1·900

  51·2

  Rotherham

  3·742

  2·020

  54·0

  Sheffield

  9·077

  2·330

  25·7

  Gateshead

  7·815

  4·760

  60·9

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  9·297

  6·010

  64·6

  North Tyneside

  2·035

  0·830

  40·8

  South Tyneside

  3·004

  1·290

  42·9

  Sunderland

  5·932

  2·740

  46·2

  Birmingham

  19·980

  11·200

  56·1

  Coventry

  9·202

  6·500

  70·6

  Dudley

  7·848

  1·650

  21·0

  Sandwell

  5·074

  2·550

  50·3

  Solihull

  2·207

  1·270

  57·5

  Walsall

  4·562

  2·550

  55·9

  Wolverhampton

  7·586

  4·300

  56·7

  Bradford

  11·919

  6·240

  52·4

  Calderdale

  3·697

  1·670

  45·2

  Kirklees

  4·599

  1·840

  40·0

  Leeds

  6·568

  4·300

  65·5

  Wakefield

  6·759

  1·300

  19·2

  Avon

  13·910

  10·140

  72·9

  Bedfordshire

  10·701

  9·050

  84·6

  Berkshire

  12·743

  4·880

  38·3

  Buckinghamshire

  7·217

  2·730

  37·8

  Cambridgeshire

  15·309

  5·710

  37·3

  Cheshire

  12·340

  6·310

  51·1

  Cleveland

  13·520

  9·720

  71·9

  Cornwall

  9·210

  4·390

  47·7

  Cumbria

  4·270

  1·630

  38·2

  Derbyshire

  11·000

  4·130

  37·5

  Devon

  15·055

  4·900

  32·5

  Dorset

  14·978

  7·540

  50·3

  Durham

  9·144

  4·640

  50·7

  East Sussex

  16·065

  6·720

  41·8

  Essex

  28·190

  15·430

  54·7

  Gloucestershire

  8·122

  3·930

  48·4

  Hampshire

  19·726

  10·880

  55·2

  Hereford and Worcester

  4·204

  2·300

  54·7

  Hertfordshire

  11·591

  7·950

  68·6

  285

  Highway Authority

  Bid

  Allocation

  Allocation as percentage of bid

  £ million

  £ million

  Per cent

  Humberside

  14·346

  11·920

  83·1

  Isle of Wight

  4·385

  1·470

  33·5

  Kent

  43·654

  25·000

  57·3

  Lancashire

  26·369

  12·820

  48·6

  Leicestershire

  17·300

  8·940

  51·7

  Lincolnshire

  6·540

  3·030

  46·3

  Norfolk

  12·469

  4·160

  33·4

  Northamptonshire

  14·672

  9·340

  63·7

  Northumberland

  5·001

  2·380

  47·6

  North Yorkshire

  11·789

  7·330

  62·2

  Transport Supplementary Grant 1989–90

  Highway authority

  Bid for TSG

  Gross accepted expenditure

  Gross accepted expenditure as percentage of bid

  Accepted expenditure for minor works as percentage of column E

  £ million (D)

  £ million (E)

  per cent. (F)

  per cent. (G)

  City of London

  1·368

  0·388

  28·4

  100·0

  Barking and Dagenham

  4·884

  4·590

  94·0

  9·6

  Barnet

  0·538

  0·582

  108·2

  100·0

  Bexley

  3·136

  2·536

  80·9

  12·8

  Brent

  1·500

  0·900

  60·0

  44·4

  Bromley

  9·033

  7·666

  84·9

  16·4

  Camden

  0·175

  0·172

  98·3

  100·0

  Croydon

  1·275

  0·588

  46·1

  100·0

  Ealing

  7·508

  6·440

  85·8

  16·2

  Enfield

  24·049

  23·916

  99·4

  1·7

  Greenwich

  4·626

  1·596

  34·5

  39·4

  Hackney

  2·515

  0·820

  32·6

  100·0

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  2·280

  0·284

  12·5

  100·0

  Haringey

  13·361

  11·824

  88·5

  1·9

  Harrow

  7·700

  7·750

  100·6

  8·4

  Havering

  0·353

  0·414

  117·3

  72·0

  Hillingdon

  17·755

  15·260

  85·9

  6·7

  Hounslow

  3·020

  1·578

  52·3

  42·5

  Islington

  0·806

  0·296

  36·7

  100·0

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1·802

  1·566

  86·9

  8·5

  Kingston upon Thames

  4·373

  4·022

  92·0

  11·5

  Lambeth

  0·347

  0·364

  104·9

  100·0

  Lewisham

  11·168

  10·628

  95·2

  5·2

  Merton

  12·963

  9·410

  72·6

  3·6

  Newham

  2·300

  2·044

  88·9

  16·8

  Redbridge

  1·851

  0·678

  36·6

  89·1

  Richmond upon Thames

  0·795

  0·326

  41·0

  100·0

  Southwark

  5·806

  5·354

  92·2

  9·0

  Sutton

  2·720

  1·914

  70·4

  23·4

  Tower Hamlets

  0·873

  0·140

  16·0

  100·0

  Waltham Forest

  1·571

  1·102

  70·1

  60·0

  Wandsworth

  4·183

  1·816

  43·4

  54·6

  Westminster

  13·799

  1·800

  13·1

  27·8

  Bolton

  2·227

  1·586

  71·2

  21·8

  Bury

  3·493

  3·396

  97·2

  12·8

  Manchester

  6·865

  3·006

  43·8

  37·8

  Oldham

  4437

  2·394

  54·0

  26·9

  Rochdale

  1·316

  0·526

  40·0

  100·0

  Salford

  9·312

  5·582

  59·9

  5·1

  Stockport

  0·987

  0·186

  18·8

  100·0

  Tameside

  1·263

  1·182

  93·6

  29·7

  Trafford

  11·421

  3·530

  30·9

  14·9

  Wigan

  3·629

  3·296

  90·8

  16·9

  Knowsley

  1·340

  0·596

  44·5

  73·2

  Liverpool

  4·138

  3·574

  86·4

  19·6

  St. Helens

  5·538

  4·608

  83·2

  7·0

  Sefton

  0·944

  0·654

  69·3

  54·4

  Wirral

  3·310

  2·568

  77·6

  13·7

  Barnsley

  3·172

  1·490

  47·0

  30·4

  Doncaster

  2·075

  1·472

  70·9

  14·5

  Rotherham

  2·340

  1·426

  60·9

  29·9

  Sheffield

  6·693

  1·870

  27·9

  39·1

  Gateshead

  6·124

  4·900

  80·0

  7·1

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  7·680

  6·026

  78·5

  7·4

  North Tyneside

  1·805

  0·620

  34·3

  100·0

  286

  Highway Authority

  Bid

  Allocation

  Allocation as percentage of bid

  £ million

  £ million

  Per cent

  Nottinghamshire

  15·981

  5·830

  36·5

  Oxfordshire

  11·139

  3·560

  32·0

  Shropshire

  6·729

  3·800

  56·5

  Somerset

  13·548

  8·680

  64·1

  Staffordshire

  13·000

  7·660

  58·9

  Suffolk

  11·798

  4·350

  36·9

  Surrey

  17·675

  11·400

  64·5

  Warwickshire

  11·375

  7·280

  64·0

  West Sussex

  7·662

  3·300

  43·1

  Wiltshire

  3·191

  1·430

  44·8

  287

  Highway authority

  Bid for TSG £ million (D)

  Gross accepted expenditure

  Gross accepted expenditure as percentage of bid

  Accepted expenditure for minor works as percentage of column E

  £ million (D)

  £ million (E)

  per cent. (F)

  per cent. (G)

  South Tyneside

  1·985

  0·830

  41·8

  24·7

  Sunderland

  5·125

  2·380

  46·4

  24·4

  Birmingham

  17·663

  9·658

  84·7

  10·4

  Coventry

  7·817

  6·106

  78·1

  3·3

  Dudley

  6·648

  0·836

  12·6

  77·8

  Sandwell

  4·089

  2·386

  58·4

  16·4

  Solihull

  1·487

  1·052

  70·7

  11·4

  Walsall

  2·339

  2·144

  91·7

  10·8

  Wolverhampton

  4·969

  4·396

  88·5

  7·3

  Bradford

  7·300

  6·306

  86·4

  10·9

  Calderdale

  1·463

  0·168

  11·5

  100·0

  Kirklees

  2·110

  1·250

  59·2

  31·8

  Leeds

  3·816

  3·132

  82·1

  24·5

  Wakefield

  3·013

  0·616

  20·4

  100·0

  Avon

  12·274

  9·892

  80·6

  7·2

  Bedfordshire

  10·392

  8·206

  79·0

  5·4

  Berkshire

  10·749

  4·390

  40·8

  10·9

  Buckinghamshire

  2·994

  2·658

  88·8

  2·0

  Cambridgeshire

  6·770

  5·346

  79·0

  8·6

  Cheshire

  6·821

  5·552

  81·4

  5·1

  Cleveland

  10·622

  9·584

  90·2

  4·4

  Cornwall

  6·690

  3·486

  52·1

  8·8

  Cumbria

  2·346

  1·280

  54·6

  44·1

  Derbyshire

  3·781

  3·080

  81·5

  18·9

  Devon

  11·661

  3·486

  29·9

  17·3

  Dorset

  14·117

  6·204

  43·9

  10·3

  Durham

  8·447

  4·480

  53·0

  15·6

  East Sussex

  11·768

  5·064

  43·0

  10·1

  Essex

  21·850

  15·048

  68·9

  5·2

  Gloucestershire

  6·822

  3·126

  45·8

  8·6

  Hampshire

  11·295

  10·164

  90·0

  5·0

  Hereford and Worcester

  2·385

  1·942

  81·4

  36·0

  Hertfordshire

  8·201

  8·200

  100·0

  0·1

  Humberside

  13·130

  10·442

  79·5

  5·5

  Isle of Wight

  3·513

  1·050

  29·9

  100·0

  Kent

  34·779

  22·862

  65·7

  4·1

  Lancashire

  22·003

  12·370

  56·2

  6·8

  Leicestershire

  11·349

  8·742

  77·0

  7·7

  Lincolnshire

  3·752

  2·378

  63·4

  52·4

  Norfolk

  8·777

  3·682

  42·0

  25·4

  Northamptonshire

  12·792

  8·400

  65·7

  10·0

  Northumberland

  3·518

  1·026

  29·2

  37·3

  North Yorkshire

  8·049

  6·856

  85·2

  10·8

  Nottinghamshire

  6·793

  5·008

  73·7

  13·3

  Oxfordshire

  7·641

  0·896

  11·7

  55·7

  Shropshire

  4·674

  3·358

  71·8

  4·8

  Somerset

  9·919

  8·070

  81·4

  3·1

  Staffordshire

  9·279

  5·984

  64·5

  13·4

  Suffolk

  8·188

  3·920

  47·9

  8·8

  Surrey

  15·727

  11·268

  71·6

  5·6

  Warwickshire

  9·325

  7·418

  79·5

  10·3

  West Sussex

  5·513

  3·052

  55·4

  14·1

  Wiltshire

  1·978

  0·818

  41·4

  73·3

  Notes:

  1 Column F does not take into account any adjustments arising from underspends on accepted expenditure in previous years.

  2 Transport supplementary grant will be paid at a flat rate of 50 per cent. of net accepted expenditure (ie after adjustment).

  3 For London, accepted expenditure for transport supplementary grant includes boroughs' shares of expenditure on urban traffic control managed by the City of London on behalf of the Secretary of State which is excluded from boroughs' bid. Hence the gross accepted expenditure, before adjustments, of some London authorities is greater than their TSG bid.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has now received the report of an efficiency scrutiny into his Department's activities in relation to local authorities' capital expenditure on roads; when he intends to publish the scrutiny and his response to its recommendations; and whether he intends to seek the views of the local authority associations before doing so.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  My right hon. Friend has received this report and will make a statement about its publication 288
  soon. The local authority associations have already been consulted on a number of the recommendations. Their views on some others which affect local authorities will be sought before final decisions on implementation are taken.

  London Area Computer Model
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will set out the results of the London
  289
  area computer model's evaluation of four transport options for London as developed by the transport and road research laboratory;

  (2) what is his Department's policy regarding the use of the London area computer model developed by the transport and road research laboratory and run by two transport consultancies; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he will make available the report by Martin Vorhees Associates and Colin Buchanan and Partners regarding the computer model used to evaluate transport options for London; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Lady to my answer of 15 February to the hon. Member for St. Helens, South (Mr. Bermingham) at column 214.

  Personal Injuries
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each police force area in England and Wales the total number of personal injury accidents during the Christmas period 1986 and 1987 and the percentage in each period which were caused as a result of alcohol.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The following table shows the total number of injury accidents between 20 and 31 December, 1986 and 1987, and the percentage of these accidents in which at least one driver or rider failed a subsequent breath test. Data are not collected on the causes of accidents, so the fact that a driver or rider failed the breath test does not mean that alcohol caused the accident. Some other accidents will have involved drivers or riders who, because of the severity of their injuries, could not be tested.

  Some police forces breath test a large proportion of drivers or riders involved in accidents, while others test only those who are suspected of drink-driving. This can lead to variations between police force areas in the proportions of drivers or riders who were found to be over the limit.

  Because of the small number of accidents involved in some police force areas, differences between two years are not necessarily significant.

  Accidents in England and Wales: percentage of accidents in which at least one driver or rider failed a roadside breath test: between 20 and 31 December 1986 and 1987

  All accidents

  Percentage failed

  Police force

  1986

  1987

  1986

  1987

  Metropolitan

  1,097

  1,075

  3·6

  3·5

  Cumbria

  51

  41

  7·8

  2·4

  Lancashire

  139

  133

  10·1

  6·8

  Merseyside

  178

  154

  6·7

  7·8

  Greater Manchester

  310

  271

  8·1

  5·5

  Cheshire

  103

  98

  5·8

  8·2

  Tyne and Wear

  130

  106

  8·5

  6·6

  Durham

  51

  42

  3·9

  9·5

  North Yorkshire

  68

  65

  2·9

  9·2

  West Yorkshire

  222

  213

  3·6

  7·0

  South Yorkshire

  106

  117

  12·3

  8·5

  Humberside

  86

  104

  8·1

  4·8

  Cleveland

  63

  58

  7·9

  5·2

  West Midlands

  242

  162

  4·5

  9·3

  Staffordshire

  112

  117

  8·0

  6·8

  West Mercia

  89

  102

  5·6

  6·9

  Warwickshire

  54

  57

  3·7

  3·5

  Derbyshire

  87

  87

  9·2

  1·1

  Nottinghamshire

  95

  99

  7·4

  3·0

  Lincolnshire

  58

  70

  12·1

  2·9

  290

  All accidents

  Percentage failed

  Police force

  1986

  1987

  1986

  1987

  Leicestershire

  87

  84

  16·1

  7·1

  Northamptonshire

  60

  60

  13·3

  10·0

  Cambridgeshire

  82

  64

  7·3

  9·4

  Norfolk

  104

  92

  7·7

  1·1

  Suffolk

  72

  68

  4·2

  1·5

  Bedfordshire

  57

  65

  5·3

  3·1

  Hertfordshire

  96

  90

  10·4

  1·1

  Essex

  200

  176

  7·0

  6·3

  Thames Valley

  237

  183

  7·2

  6·0

  Hampshire

  190

  197

  4·2

  7·6

  Surrey

  104

  114

  8·7

  8·8

  Kent

  166

  147

  7·2

  6·8

  Sussex

  140

  139

  2·9

  4·3

  City of London

  7

  5

  0·0

  0·0

  Devon and Cornwall

  164

  165

  5·5

  6·1

  Somerset and Avon

  127

  127

  7·1

  8·7

  Gloucestershire

  62

  53

  8·1

  7·5

  Wiltshire

  66

  68

  9·1

  1·5

  Dorset

  83

  55

  8·4

  12·7

  North Wales

  58

  62

  5·2

  4·8

  Gwent

  37

  29

  0·0

  3·4

  South Wales

  121

  113

  10·7

  6·2

  Dyfed Powys

  44

  49

  9·1

  10·2

  Total

  5,705

  5,376

  6·5

  5·7

  Unleaded Petrol
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in making unleaded petrol available at motorway service areas.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We are pleased to report that unleaded petrol should be available at all motorway service areas in England and Wales by this spring.

  A1
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in the Official Report the number of (a) road accidents and (b) fatalities on the A1 between Dishforth and Scotch Corner annually from 1979 to the latest available date.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 13 February 1989]: The details requested for the section of the A1 between Dishforth and Scotch Corner in North Yorkshire are:

  Year

  Number of Recorded Personal Injury Accidents

  Number of these Accidents which involve Fatality

  1980

  38

  1

  1981

  34

  4

  1982

  36

  3

  1983

  34

  3

  1984

  36

  3

  1985

  51

  1

  1986

  54

  4

  1987

  48

  2

  1988

  57

  0

  Weighbridges
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied with the accuracy of all public weighbridges in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  I have been asked to reply.
  291
  Public weighbridges in Great Britain are verified and stamped by local authorities to establish their fitness for use. I am satisfied that these arrangements are adequate to ensure the accuracy of these installations.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Bangladesh
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many scholarships have been offered in the United Kingdom to citizens of Bangladesh in each of the last 10 years out of United Kingdom public funds.

  Mr. Eggar
  The number of new scholarships and awards financed each year is as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1979

  214

  1980

  222

  1981

  263

  1982

  283

  1983

  325

  1984

  302

  1985

  265

  1986

  265

  1987

  340

  1988

  n/a

  Most of these awards (322 in 1987) have been provided through the Overseas Development Administration's technical co-operation training programme. Awards have also been provided through the Commonwealth scholarship and fellowship scheme, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office scholarships and awards scheme, the Department of Education and Science overseas students research awards scheme and through the British Council. Many awards are for a period of more than one year, so the total number of supported students and trainees in the United Kingdom in any year is much larger (more than 620 in 1987) than the number of new awards.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what levels of aid from multilateral and bilateral sources have been made to Bangladesh in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Eggar
  The information requested in respect of British aid is as follows:

  Year

  British bilateral aid

  British aid through multilateral channels

  £ '000 Total

  1979

  33,826

  n/a

  n/a

  1980

  66,190

  13,340

  79,530

  1981

  33,383

  17,350

  50,733

  1982

  23,537

  23,450

  46,987

  1983

  24,728

  24,710

  49,438

  1984

  35,656

  27,170

  62,826

  1985

  41,173

  17,770

  58,943

  1986

  38,321

  17,820

  56,141

  1987

  34,842

  n/a

  n/a

  Gross multilateral aid for 1979 was not split by recipient. Figures for 1987 (multilateral aid only) and 1988 are not yet available.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aid was offered to Bangladesh after the recent flooding.

  Mr. Eggar
  We have committed £25 million in emergency and rehabilitation aid in response to the recent 292
  floods in Bangladesh. This includes 50,000 tonnes of food aid, £5 million through British and local voluntary agencies and a commodity aid grant of £15 million to help meet rehabilitation requirements.

  Soil Erosion
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aid is given to India, Bangladesh and Nepal in respect of environmental issues to prevent soil erosion and flooding.

  Mr. Eggar
  In India, our forestry projects in Karnataka state promote tree planting which helps to improve degraded land. We are providing technical co-operation to the national bureau of soil survey and land use planning, one of whose roles is to help prevent environmental degradation. In Bangladesh, we have provided immediate flood relief and supported rehabilitation activities; and we are ready to play our part in any international or regional initiatives on flood alleviation which emerge from studies currently being undertaken by the United Nations and the World Bank. In Nepal, we are funding a study on the links between macroeconomic policies and environmental degradation and several projects to promote forest conservation and reafforestation. We have assisted in the production of a forestry master plan for the next 25 years.

  We are keen to do more in these areas and are exploring the options with each Government.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  TUA (Entry Clearance)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department received authorisation to issue entry clearance to TUA (reference IMM/90912); and if he will make a statement about steps taken by his Department to action this entry clearance.

  Mr. Eggar
  Her Majesty's embassy in Islamabad received authorisation for the entry clearance from the Home Office on 14 December 1988. On 19 December 1988 a letter was sent to the applicant inviting her to call at the embassy for entry clearance, which was issued on 5 January 1989.

  Bangladesh
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support and aid have been given to the army and police forces in Bangladesh for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Eggar
  The United Kingdom military training assistance scheme funds three instructors at the Bangladesh defence services command and staff college and attendance at military training courses in Britain.

  Assistance to the Bangladesh police has comprised technical, professional and command courses in Britain and basic drugs-related training, as well as provision of communications and drugs-related equipment.

  St. Helena
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the amount of the largest case of unpaid Customs duty that has come to his attention in the last six years on St. Helena.

  Mr. Eggar
  The largest case, amounting to £200.10, dated back to January 1983.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on whether the senior customs officer and government secretary of St. Helena were at any time in default of paying Customs duties or wharfage charges.

  Mr. Eggar
  The senior customs officer was for a while in default in respect of customs duty and wharfage on a vehicle, confectionery, building materials, groceries and films. He paid in full by April 1987. The government secretary at the time was technically in default, but this apparently arose from incorrect advice given to him.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was lost in uncollected Customs duties and wharfage fees in St. Helena in the last six years.

  Mr. Eggar
  Arrears of Customs duties totalling £124,671 were identified in January 1987. All arrears were collected by April 1987 with no losses.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the Westerdam based at St. Helena and any financial support given in the last 10 years.

  Mr. Eggar
  The MV Westerdam was purchased in 1981 by the St. Helena Fisheries Corporation as an offshore fishing vessel. The original purchase did not involve British Government funds but development aid funds totalling £140,000 were spent in 1985 to repair and refit her in preparation for an offshore fisheries survey, also financed from development aid funds. The vessel was sold at the end of 1988 and it is expected that the proceeds will be used by St. Helena Government on other fisheries-related projects.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many cases of unpaid Customs duties on St. Helena have come to his attention in the last six years; how many were eventually paid in full; and what was the result of any prosecutions.

  Mr. Eggar
  Fourteen cases of unpaid Customs duties were identified. All have been paid in full. No prosecutions were made.

WALES

  Child Care Workers
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of his Department's appropriate grant aid budget has been allocated to the training of child care workers over the last five years to date.

  Mr. Grist
  Support for social work training is provided as part of the overall support for social services spending through the rate support grant arrangements. Information 294
  on the proportion of rate support grant used for such purposes is not held centrally. However in 1988–89 a direct grant of £62,813 is being made available to assist in training professional and other staff who deal with cases of child abuse. As regards 1989–90 I would refer the hon. Lady to the announcement made by my hon. Friend on 23 November 1988, Official Report, columns 6–7.

  Caravan Sites
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of caravan sites not licensed by local authorities operated under the auspices of voluntary organisations in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  Approximately 850 sites in Wales have been approved by recreational organisations holding an appropriate certificate of exemption for use by no more than five caravans. In addition exempted organisations have established about 25 sites, on a permanent or seasonal basis, for varying numbers of touring caravans for which they have obtained the informal approval of the local authority. Further sites are used by exempted organisations for temporary holiday meetings and rallies of club members lasting no more than five days. Information on the number of temporary meetings is not hold centrally.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of caravan sites licensed under the Caravan Sites (Control of Development) Act 1960 by local authorities in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Health Visitors
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many qualified health visitors there were in post in Wales at 31 December 1988, on the most recent date for which the information is available; and, of those, how many were identified by the local health authority as being with a Welsh-speaking ability.

  Mr. Grist
  As at 31 December 1988, 659 (576 whole-time equivalent) health visitors were in post in the National Health Service in Wales. Information on the Welsh-speaking ability of these staff is not available centrally.

  Children in Care
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many children there were in local authority care for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Grist
  The numbers of children in care on 31 March in each year were as follows:

  Numbers

  1979

  4,882

  1980

  4,861

  1981

  4,628

  1982

  4,575

  1983

  4,387

  1984

  4,044

  1985

  3,752

  1986

  3,593

  1987

  3,481

  19881

  3,438

  1 Provisional figure.

  Trunk Roads (Mid-Wales)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the state of trunk roads in mid-Wales.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  A considerable number of improvements have been undertaken in recent years. Our plans for further improvements will be set out in the Welsh commentary on the public expenditure White Paper, and in the forthcoming edition of "Roads in Wales".

  Section 4 Grants
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many section 4 grants have been made for each of the past five years in Wales.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The section 4 scheme is administered in the Principality by the Wales tourist board. The information is as follows:

  Assistance offered (£ million)

  Offers made

  1984–85 outturn

  2·2

  87

  1985–86 outturn

  3·5

  162

  1986–87 outturn

  3·5

  145

  1987–88 outturn

  2·5

  119

  1988–89 forecast

  3·4

  150

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) whether he will provide detailed information of the locations at which the lead content of air in Cardiff was measured during the past two years; what levels were recorded; and if he will give the dates on which measurements were made and the methods used;

  (2) what evidence he has available of levels of lead pollution in the air in Cardiff over the last 10 years; what trends have been reflected in measurements taken during the period; and what steps he is taking to reduce lead pollution in the atmosphere in Cardiff and elsewhere;

  (3) what information he has on the level of lead in the atmosphere which is considered acceptable in the urban environment and the level which is considered to be detrimental to the health of pedestrians and of the public at large.

  Mr. Grist
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to him today by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, South-West (Mrs. Bottomley).

  Caldy Island
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has as to the local government services provided by(a) South Pembrokeshire district council and (b) Dyfed county council to the residents of Caldy Island, Pembrokeshire; and if he will indicate whether any specific payments are made by the residents for specific local government services.

  Mr. Grist
  This information is not held by the Department.

  Wrexham Maelor Hospital
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many operations were postponed at the hospital's request at the Wrexham Maelor hospital in January.

  Mr. Grist
  This information is not available centrally.

PRIME MINISTER

  Piper Alpha
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations she has received regarding the recovery of the bodies of men trapped in the wreckage of the Piper Alpha oil production platform.

  The Prime Minister
  Some hon. Members as well as two bereaved relatives have written to me recently urging that debris should be removed to search further for the missing victims. I well understand the particular distress of the relatives of the victims whose bodies have not been recovered.

  In addition, my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Energy and the Minister of State, Department of Energy met representatives of the bereaved and survivors on 15 February to hear their concerns personally.

  EC Expenditure
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will invite the next meeting of the European Council to seek a report from the Court of Auditors about the budget and spending of the European Economic Community; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The Court of Auditors' annual report on the Community budget is formally considered by the Council of Economic and Finance Ministers. I welcome the declared intention of the Spanish Presidency to ensure that concrete decisions are taken on the court's latest report.

  Newton
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit Newton, near Rugby.

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

  Documents (Leaks)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if, pursuant to her reply of 31 January,Official Report, column 161, to the right hon. Member for Islwyn (Mr. Kinnock) she will set out the criteria she uses in establishing inquiries into (a) the receipt and (b) the origination of leaks of official documents and (c) the stealing of such documents.

  The Prime Minister
  No. It is not my practice to comment on matters of this kind.

  President Gorbachev
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Prime Minister what dates have been fixed for a visit to the United Kingdom by President Gorbachev.

  The Prime Minister
  Mr. Gorbachev will visit the United Kingdom from 5 to 7 April.

  Railways
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to improve co-ordination between the Departments of Transport and of the Environment relating to the construction of new railway lines and the relevance of environmental factors related thereto; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The Departments of Transport and the Environment already co-operate on such issues. British Rail will be taking full account of environmental factors in putting forward its proposals for a new line between London and the Channel tunnel.

  Food
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will restructure ministerial responsibilities so that one Department of State is responsible for the food chain from feed for agriculture through supply and distribution to final consumption, embracing both tourism interests and the catering industry; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I have no plans to do so.

  Medical Treatment (Overseas Citizens)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the European Economic Community rules which require the United Kingdom to offer free medical treatment to residents of certain French overseas territories but not to residents of certain United Kingdom overseas dependencies; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  No. All the United Kingdom dependent territories which so wish have bilateral reciprocal health agreements with the United Kingdom. These provide that immediately necessary treatment is

  Review body reports

  Pay bill increase

  Range of increase

  United Kingdom public expenditure cost

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  £ million1

  Armed Forces

  6·8

  5–8

  272

  Doctors and dentists

  8·8

  8–14·1

  312

  Professions allied to medicine

  7·7

  7·6–7·8

  43

  Nurses, midwives and health visitors

  6·8

  26·7–6·9

  420

  Top salaries

  6·5

  34·9–10·6

  6

  1 The figures for public expenditure cost differ from those in the review bodies' reports. Their figures do not include some costs which count as public expenditure. The figure for doctors and dentists includes payments for GPs' expenses, not counted as pay. The figure for nurses includes £5 million for the flexible pay experiment and an estimated £3 million for a new grading structure for educational grades, which the review body has not yet costed.

  2 Three chief area nurses grade 4 in Scotland will get increases of 10–13·6 per cent.

  3 This figure does not allow for the recommendation to increase from 25 per cent. to 35 per cent. the quota of civil servants in grades 2 and 3 eligible for discretionary increments. The figure for the pay bill increase does however allow for this. The figure given for the range of increases also excludes restructuring for 13 immigration adjudicators who receive increases of 27·1 per cent.; and for the chief immigration adjudicator and the vice-presidents of the immigration appeal tribunal, who get 28·3 per cent.

  The Government have decided to accept in full the review bodies' recommendations on armed forces, on professions allied to medicine, and on nurses, midwives and health visitors.

  The Government have also decided to accept the recommendation of the review body on doctors and dentists for a basic increase of 8 per cent, for all the groups covered. In the Government's view the creation of 100 additional permanent consultant posts over the next three years, as proposed in the White Paper, "Working for
  298
  available under the NHS for conditions which arise during a temporary visit, on the same basis as to United Kingdom residents. Some of these agreements already also provide that some patients may be referred for treatment of pre-existing conditions free of charge under the NHS. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Health will be discussing with some West Indian and Atlantic dependent territories with whom we have reciprocal agreements—Montserrat, Anguilla, Turks and Caicos Islands, British Virgin Islands and St. Helena and its dependencies—the inclusion in their agreements of a similar facility to refer a limited number of patients for pre-existing conditions free of charge.

  The French overseas departments, as an integral part of France, are covered by the EC social security regulations. These allow for the provision of immediately necessary treatment on the same basis as residents of the host country. They also allow referral of patients specifically for treatment but the sending country must meet the full cost of the treatment in such cases.

  Pay Review Bodies
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the latest reports of the pay review bodies.

  The Prime Minister
  The 1989 reports of the review bodies on the pay of nursing staff, midwives and health visitors, and professions allied to medicine, the doctors and dentists, and the armed forces, and of the Top Salaries Review Body, have been published today. Copies are now available in the Vote Office. The Government are grateful to members of the review bodies for these reports and for the time and care which they have put into their preparation within the new timetable, enabling decisions to be taken ahead of the new financial year.

  The following table shows the increases in pay rates recommended by the review bodies, and their cost:

  Patients", which was published after the review body report was received will best achieve the objective of improving the long-term career structure for hospital doctors. The creation of these posts will therefore take the place of the increases recommended, in addition to the 8 per cent, basic increase, at the top of the consultants' scale and in the size of consultants' distinction awards. Subject to this, the Government accept the review body's recommendations.
  299
  The Government have decided to accept the recommendations of the Top Salaries Review Body in full, except that they consider that the pay of 2-star officers should be around 85 per cent. of the normally attainable maximum of grade 2 civil servants (which is also the pay point for 3-star officers) rather than linked to a performance point for grade 3 civil servants. This will give the 2-star officer a salary at the level recommended by the TSRB.

  The full cost of the awards by the Armed Forces Pay Review Body and Top Salaries Review Body groups will be met from within existing public expenditure programme totals for this year. In the case of the health services however, the Government recognise that the full costs could not be accommodated without adversely affecting services to patients. The Government have therefore decided to provide an extra £142 million for health authority cash limits from the reserve for next year. Of the remaining cost, £417 million is already fully covered within the allocations made for this year, leaving a balance of £44 million to be covered from cost improvements. The Government have similarly decided to provide an additional £62 million to the family practitioner services from the reserve for this year, bringing the total addition from the reserve to £204 million. Together with the increases in allocation already announced, the increase in provision for the National Health Service in 1989–90 over 1988–89 will therefore be £1,900 million. In total, taking account of lower employers' superannuation contributions, additional receipts and efficiency savings, the resources available for the National Health Service in 1989–90 will be £2,460 million more than in 1988–89.

  The pay rates and scales resulting from the decisions will be promulgated as soon as possible for all the groups concerned.

  Engagements
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 February.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 February.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 February.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 February.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 February.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 February.

  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 February.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 February.

  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 February.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 February.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 February.
  300
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 February.

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

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Estate Agents
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will make a statement on existing legislation and voluntary codes of behaviour which govern the practices of estate agents:

  (2) if he will introduce tighter controls over estate agents to eliminate unethical practices.

  Mr. Forth
  I am currently exploring with estate agency bodies and other interested parties whether and how it might be appropriate to supplement the existing consumer protection provisions of the Estate Agents Act 1979, which includes the consideration of a self-regulatory code of practice. I am also considering the review of the Act recently published by the Director-General of Fair Trading. I hope to be in a position to announce the conclusion of my review soon.

  Credit
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will take steps to monitor the credit market and in particular, the rates of interest available to personal borrowers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  My Department publishes the statistics of United Kingdom credit business monthly in the "Business Monitor", which is available from Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Rates of interest are a matter for commercial decision but the Consumer Credit Act (Total Charge for Credit) Regulations 1980 (SI 1980/51) prescribes all of the charges that must be included in the annual percentage rate of charge, so that this can be made known and that prospective borrowers can make fair comparison before entering into a credit agreement.

  Footwear Imports
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received on the EEC Commission investigation into the imports of footwear from the far east; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I have received several letters from hon. Members on this issue and also correspondence from members of the footwear industry. The results of the Commission's investigation are expected in the spring. We shall need to see the Commission's findings and recommendations before deciding our own position.

  Companies Act Investigations
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he intends to publish the report of the investigation under section 442 of the Companies Act into dealings in Consolidated Gold Fields shares which was commenced in December 1986.
  301
  Mr. Maude
  As my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary said on 24 January it is his intenion to publish this report as soon as possible. However, it would not be appropriate to do so until the issues raised by the report have been full considered.

  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish a table showing for all investigations under the Companies Acts since 1979 the date when the investigation was ordered, the date when the report was given to the Secretary of State, the date when published and the average time between the receipt of such reports and their publication.

  Mr. Maude
  Such a table could be provided only at disproportionate time and cost to my Department. Details of the appointment of inspectors and publication of their reports are contained in the annual report on companies which is presented to Parliament pursuant to section 729 of the Companies Act 1985 and which is published through Her Majesty's Stationery Office. A copy of each published report is also placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if the report of the inquiry under section 442 of the Companies Act to investigate dealings in the shares of Consolidated Golds Fields ordered in December 1986 was released to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission during its recent consideration of the Minorco bid for Consolidated Golds Fields.

  Mr. Maude
  Yes.

  Scottish and Newcastle Breweries
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will require the Monopolies and Mergers Commission to report to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in connection with its investigation into the proposed acquisition of Scottish and Newcastle Breweries plc by Elders IXL, on the structure of the shareholdings in Elders IXL, an examination of the financial standing of Elders IXL and its major shareholders, an assessment of borrowings of Elders IXL, and the structure and financing of the proposed bid for Scottish and Newcastle Breweries plc; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will require the Monopolies and Mergers Commission to report to him on the resources to be deployed by Elders IXL in connection with its proposed offer to purchase Scottish and Newcastle Breweries plc; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  The Monopolies and Mergers Commission is an independent body and it is for it to determine the direction of its investigation of a reference subject. Section 84(1) of the Fair Trading Act 1973 requires the commission to take into account all matters which appear to it in the particular circumstances to be relevant.

  Argentine (UK Imports)
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what action he is taking in response to Argentine resolution 3620/88 ANA which formalises discrimination against imports from the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Resolution 3620/88 ANA published on 3 January 1989 in the Official Bulletin publicly 302
  confirmed Argentina's unilateral discrimination against the United Kingdom. Argentina has kept British imports out by a variety of administrative measures since 1982, and still refuses to accept our shipping and air services. The United Kingdom does not discriminate against imports from Argentina; we lifted our embargo in 1985.

  We are committed to seeking more normal relations with Argentina and have proposed a series of initiatives to that end. The Argentine response has so far been disappointing and the publication of resolution 3620/88 ANA will do nothing to promote better relations.

  Our protecting power has already delivered a note of protest. We have drawn the resolution to the attention of the World Bank, since in our view it conflicts with the trade liberalisation policies being supported by a World Bank loan. The European Commission with which we are in close touch on this issue share our concern and have made it clear to the Argentine authorities that there is no scope for developing EC/Argentine relations as long as discrimination against our exports and air and shipping interests continues. Both these organisations have a role to play in persuading Argentina to drop this discrimination.

  Monopolies and Mergers Commission
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the British Railways board's Provincial service will be published.

  Mr. Maude
  The report is published today.

  The commission expressed satisfaction with the remarkable improvement in the sector's performance, and made 42 recommendations aimed at bringing about further improvement. It completed its report on 29 September 1988, within the six months allowed by the Secretary of State.

  The commission found that Provincial's initial strategy on formation in 1982 was to give priority to cost-cutting. Efforts to increase traffic came later as its organisation and particularly its marketing developed. The result had been a significant reduction in Provincial's call on Government grant. The commission found this very encouraging and a clear endorsement of the concept of sectoral management of the railway business. However, it saw the need for a closer look at individual services and believed that Provincial should now pay more attention to the quality of service it provided.

  Evidence submitted to the commission by local authorities and other groups showed a strong desire for improvement in Provincial's services both in quantity and quality. The commission said there could be substantial benefit in a closer local involvement in planning and paying for such services. It accordingly recommended that the board should discuss with Government Departments and other relevant bodies the case for transferring financial responsibility for supporting certain urban and rural services to local government.

  The commission was glad to note the action taken by the board to initiate reform of the collective bargaining machinery following the recommendations in the Network SouthEast report. It found that there was scope for significant further productivity gains and made a number of recommendations to this end.

  The commission also found that the board, in responding to competition from bus and coach services, was not abusing any monopoly situation existing in its

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  favour. Nor was it in relation to any matter falling within the terms of reference pursuing a course of conduct which operated against the public interest.

  British Rail will be producing a preliminary response to the commission's findings within three to four months, in the light of which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport will make a statement.

THE ARTS

  Victoria and Albert Museum
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what information he has on the extent to which the redundancy terms offered to staff at the Victoria and Albert museum as a result of restructuring differ from the terms available to all civil servants of those grades.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 15 February 1989]: I understand that the redundancy terms offered to the staff of the Victoria and Albert museum are those payable under the principal Civil Service pension scheme.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts when the trustees of the Victoria and Albert museum were first informed about the proposed restructuring of staff.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 15 February 1989]: I understand that the trustees of the Victoria and Albert museum were kept fully informed about the proposals.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what consultations have taken place and on what dates with staff about the proposed staff restructuring at the Victoria and Albert museum.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 15 February 1989]: I understand that consultations have taken place throughout the last year with staff about the proposed staff restructuring at the Victoria and Albert museum.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what is the annual salary cost of(a) administrative and (b) curatorial staff at the Victoria and Albert museum.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 15 February 1989]: I understand that the salary and other staff costs at the Victoria and Albert museum during 1988–89 are expected to total £12·1 million. It is not possible to divide this figure precisely between administrative and curatorial staff.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts whether the proposed staff restructuring at the Victoria and Albert museum is in accordance with Her Majesty's Treasury's grading guidance.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 15 February 19891]: The recently announced changes in the organisation of some departments of the Victoria and Albert museum folow a review of the museum's overall organisational structure. I understand that Her Majesty's Treasury's grading guidance is taken into account in all gradings at the Victoria and Albert museum.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Taxation
  Mr. Lester
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish figures for the percentage increase since(a)
  304
  1978–79 and (b) 1985–86 in (i) mortgage interest tax relief, (ii) of each of the private pension tax reliefs listed in Cm. 621, table 21.1.25, (iii) in the retail price index, (iv) in the index of average earnings and (v) as index of total personal incomes before tax with 1978 = 100.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Provisional estimates of the percentage changes in the items specified are given in the table.

  Percentage change

  1978–79 to 1988–89 percentage

  1986–86 to 1988–89 percentage

  Cost of tax relief for:

  Mortgage interest

  +395

  +16

  Employees' contributions to1 occupational pension schemes

  2

  +12

  Employers' contributions to1 occupational pension schemes

  2

  -21

  Investment income of1 occupational pension schemes

  2

  +13

  Lump sum payments to pensioners1

  2

  +11

  Contributions to personal pensions1 (including retirement annuity premia and FSAVCs)

  2

  3

  Retail prices index

  4+113

  4+13

  Average male earnings, (all occupations, adult rates)

  5+174

  5+28

  1 See footnotes 5 to 8 to table 21.1.25 of Cm. 621.

  2 Estimates of the costs of pension reliefs in 1978–79 are not readily available.

  3 Personal pensions and FSAVCs were not introduced until 1987–88.

  4 The RPI for 1988–89 is not yet available: percentage increases shown are for calendar years 1978 to 1988 and 1985 to 1988 respectively.

  5 Based on actual figures to 1987–88 and a growth rate of 8¾ per cent, for 1988–89, as assumed by the Government Actuary for the purposes of assessing the National Insurance Fund (as in chapter 3 of the 1988 Autumn Statement).

  Figures for total personal income before tax are not available for 1988–89. Percentage changes to 1987–88 are as follows:

  Percentage change

  1978–79 to 1987–88 percentage

  1985–86 to 1987–88 percentage

  +139

  +16

  Public Sector Debt
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of public sector debt was(a) created and (b) repaid in each of the last five financial years, and if he will give an estimate for 1988–89.

  Mr. Major
  Figures for the creation and the repayment of all public sector debt instruments are not readily available. However, figures for official sales and redemptions of Government marketable securities are given in table 3.5 of "Financial Statistics" (published by the CSO).

  Tax and Price Index
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the increase in the tax and price index in the 12 months to December 1988.

  Mr. Lilley
  In the 12 months to December 1988 the tax and price index rose by 4·8 per cent.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of Government income obtained from privatisation since 1979.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Since 1979 the Government have obtained net privatisation proceeds of £23½ billion.

  Credit Cards
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information is collected by the Treasury concerning bank credit card holders and their indebtedness; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  The relevant statistics are compiled by the Department of Trade and Industry and are published in its monthly press notice on credit business.

  Economic Policy
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the efficacy of his policy for slowing down the economy.

  Mr. Lilley
  There are clear signs that the recent interest rate rises are having the desired effect.

  Taxation
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will accept the recommendation of the Law Society of Scotland in its memorandum of observations on the Inland Revenue consultative document, "Residents in the United Kingdom: The Scope of United Kingdom Taxation for Individuals", that the concept of fiscal connection might be employed to introduce a measure of flexibility to the definition of residents with the aim of avoiding inequitable results.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  We are giving careful consideration to all the representations received on the consultative document, including those put forward by the Law Society of Scotland.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list by region and for Scotland and Wales and by Department the number of established Civil Service posts for each of the following categories:(a) administrative officers, (b) executive officers, (c) higher executive officers, (d) senior executive officers, (e) principal grade 7 and (f) assistant secretary grade 5.

  Mr. Brooke
  Figures for staff in post in principal Departments by economic planning region are available in table 3 of "Civil Service Statistics 1988", a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library. More detailed information about staff numbers by grade, region and Department could not be provided without disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the pay of Civil Service lawyers at grades 2 and 3.

  Mr. Brooke
  As indicated by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for 306
  Salisbury (Mr. Key) on 19 January at column 263, the Government have consulted the TSRB on the proposals affecting the pay of grades 2 and 3 lawyers in Sir Robert Andrew's report on the Government legal services.

  From 1 April 1989, greater use will be made of personal pay points on a selective basis for lawyers at these grades. Awards will be related to lawyers' skills, experience, marketability and value to the Department, taking account of the view of the head of the Government legal service in individual cases. The Government will give further thought, with the TSRB, to the implications for the development of performance pay at grades 2 and 3.

  Lawyers in London at grade 3, in common with other grade 3 civil servants, will benefit from the Government's acceptance of the TSRB's recommendation of a London allowance of £2,000.

  Tax Relief (Education)
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all tax relief schemes related to the provision of primary and secondary education in the private sector; and if he will give details of the total cost of such schemes to the Treasury for the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 14 February 1989]: I assume that the hon. Member has in mind tax reliefs for private educational establishments which have charitable status.

  Charities are generally exempt from income tax, corporation tax and capital gains tax, provided that their income and gains are applied for charitable purposes only.

  The provision of education in a registered school is exempt from VAT.

  The detailed cost of these reliefs is not available.

  Company Cars
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates will be the cost to the Exchequer of tax subsidies on company cars in 1988–89; and what estimate he has made for the next five years.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 10 February 1989]: I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the fact that the company car scales do not fully reflect the value to an employee of having the private use of a company car. It is not possible to estimate the precise extent of the undervaluation. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Dover (Mr. Shaw) on 8 February 1989 at column 553.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Staff
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what new initiatives the Civil Service is taking to help recruit and retain staff in the 1990s.

  Mr. Luce
  Working mothers will be an important section of the labour force in the 1990s. The Civil Service recognises the need to offer working conditions and career opportunities that will be attractive to them. We have therefore revised our policy on financing child care schemes to give Departments the freedom to support these within running cost provisions, where this offers good
  307
  value for money. We have also clarified the rules on unpaid special leave to encourage Department to give a career break with a right of return for up to five years to staff with family responsibilities. Together with the existing programme of action to increase equality of opportunity for women at all levels we think these new measures will help to ensure that the service can recruit and retain staff in the labour market of the 1990s.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Small Claims
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Attorney-General how many small claims were brought in England and Wales during the last 12 months for which records are available; and how many and what percentage of such claims were brough by employees against employers.

  The Attorney-General
  The distribution of the nature and amounts of claims brought in county courts in England and Wales during 1987 is shown in table 4.3 of the 1987 edition of the annual command publication "Judicial Statistics". This was presented to Parliament in July 1988 and is available from the House of Commons Library. No data are collected on claims brought by employees against employers.

  Legal Aid
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Attorney-General what was the average time between the grant of a civil legal aid section 1 certificate and the payment for work done under that certificate and that in respect of all such certificates issued in each of the last 10 years.

  The Attorney-General
  The average time between the grant of a full civil legal aid certificate and the payment of the first main bill or notification of a nil claim in each of the last 10 years was as follows1

  Non-matrimonial (months)

  Matrimonial2 (months)

  1978–79

  30·3

  14·0

  1979–80

  29·5

  18·1

  1980–81

  29·1

  19·7

  1981–82

  27·5

  20·8

  1982–83

  28·2

  22·7

  1983–84

  28·7

  23·7

  1984–85

  28·0

  24·3

  1985–86

  27·2

  24·8

  1986–87

  28·4

  25·6

  1987–88

  30·0

  26·9

  1 The figures provided are approximations only, based on the overall volume of certificates issued and bills paid during each year.

  2 The figures produced relate to bills paid in respect of certificates issued after 1 April 1977. Information on certificates issued prior to that date is not available. This has necessarily distorted the true average time for matrimonial cases, particularly in the early years.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prisoners
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have been convicted for non-violent offences.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The latest readily available information is given in the table:308

  Sentenced population in prison service establishments in England and Wales: by offence group 30 June 1988

  Offence group

  Number1

  Violence against the person

  8,660

  Sexual offences

  2,690

  Robbery

  3,900

  Other offences

  20,900

  Not recorded

  1,840

  In default of payment of a fine

  560

  All offences

  38,550

  1 Provisional rounded estimates.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are serving total sentences of six months or less.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  According to the records held centrally, on 31 December 1988 about 2,920 prisoners, excluding fine defaulters and non-criminals, were serving sentences of six months or less.

  Civil Defence
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of his departmental guidelines for the evaluation of local authority civil defence plans submitted to his Department for inspection under the planned programme for implementation.

  Mr. John Patten
  Home Office guidance on the writing of civil defence plans is contained in the emergency planning guidance to local authorities, issued in 1985 and updated in these respects in 1987, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list, naming the local authority concerned, each plan required by schedule 2 to the Civil Defence (General Local Authority Functions) Regulations 1983 and evaluated under the planned programme for implementation, which is regarded as incomplete;

  (2) if he will list, naming the local authority concerned, each plan required by schedule 2 to the Civil Defence (General Local Authority Functions) Regulations 1983 and evaluated under the planned programme for implementation, which is regarded as having failed to take account of the Government's planning assumptions;

  (3) if he will list, naming the local authority concerned, each plan required by schedule 2 to the Civil Defence (General Local Authority Functions) Regulations 1983 and evaluated under the planned programme for implementation, which is regarded as containing little or no operational detail;

  (4) if he will list, naming the local authority concerned, each plan required by schedule 2 to the Civil Defence (General Local Authority Functions) Regulations 1983 and evaluated under the planned programme for implementation, which is regarded as amounting to little more than a statement of intent.

  Mr. John Patten
  No. As my right hon. Friend said in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Derby, North (Mr. Knight) on 31 January columns 94–95, even the best plans require further work. Details are discussed with individual local authorities, but plans are not categorised in the ways suggested.

  Police National Computer
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will allow routine and independent checks of the use of the police national computer to ensure that police procedures are adequate to maintain privacy.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Access to the police national computer is a matter for chief officers of police. Her Majesty's inspectors of constabulary check on access procedures in the course of their annual inspections of forces, however, and this is supplemented by regular audits carried out by forces themselves, and by officers based in the Home Office. The Association of Chief Police Officers keep procedures under regular review, and the Home Office participates in this work. The association is in close touch with the Data Protection Registrar. Against this background, I see no need for further measures.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will institute an independent review of procedures surrounding the use of personal data held on the police national computer by the Police Complaints Authority or the Data Protection Registrar; and whether he will make provision for either body to report to Parliament.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Police Complaints Authority was established to provide an independent element in the investigation of complaints against individual police officers. The authority has no power other than in relation to complaints against police officers, and a matter of this kind is not for it. The authority reports at least annually to my right hon. Friend, and its reports are laid before Parliament.

  The Data Protection Registrar has a duty under the Data Protection Act 1984 to promote the observance of the data protection principles laid down in that Act, and has power to investigate specific complaints made to him. He is, however, independent of the Government, and reports directly to Parliament. I shall arrange for his attention to be drawn to this question.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the precedents established by the Police Complaints Authority in its report HC425, concerning data held on police computers.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Police Complaints Authority submitted its report under section 97(2) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. This empowers the authority to make a report to my right hon. Friend on any matters coming to its notice under part IX of the Act to which it considers that his attention should be drawn by reason of their gravity or of other exceptional circumstances. Part IX of the Act deals with the procedures for investigating complaints against police officers.

  Decisions on when to submit a report under section 97(2) of the Act are a matter for the authority.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement concerning his Department's review of the Data Protection Act; and whether he can outline any timetable for reporting, legislative changes, or subsequent White Papers.
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  Mr. Renton
  The interdepartmental review committee will report to Ministers as soon as posible but no specific timetable has been set. We shall consider in due course what further action may be necessary in the light of the review committee's recommendations.

  Forensic Pathology
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the reasons for the delay in producing the report of the working party on forensic pathology.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand that the work has presented many difficulties, including the reconciliation of various conflicts of interest. As a result, it has taken time to draw up conclusions on which the various members of the working party could agree.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the dates when the current director of the forensic service science laboratory at Chepstow had meetings with the chief constables of each of the police forces which the laboratory serves.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  In the last two years, the director of the Chepstow forensic science laboratory has met chief constables of the forces which the laboratory serves on the following dates:

  1987

  23 March

  7 September

  23 September

  7 December

  17 December

  1988

  13 January

  3 March

  14 March

  24 March

  3 May

  6 July

  12 September

  25 November

  12 December

  15 December

  Most of these meetings were either regional gatherings attended by chief constables from a number of forces, or meetings of the laboratory's user board, which is chaired by a chief constable.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now received the working party report on forensic pathology.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The working party is to meet in April to consider the final draft of the report. It is hoped that the working party will submit its report to my right hon. Friend shortly thereafter.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times since 1984 has the Home Office working party on forensic pathology met.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Since December 1984, the working party has met formally on six occasions.

  Missing Persons
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief
  311
  constable as to how many people were reported missing in Leicestershire during each of the last five years for which records are available; and how many and what percentage were subsequently traced.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Statistics of missing persons are published by the chief constable in his annual reports (P.14 of the issue for 1987), copies of which are available in the Library.

  Illegal Parking
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been brought by local authorities under section 35 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 in each year since its enactment.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  CS Gas
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those individuals and authorities who have made representations to him about introducing a new range of police riot weapons capable of firing both plastic bullets and CS gas canisters.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Only CS equipment and plastic baton rounds and launchers of a type authorised by the Home Office may be used by police forces in England and Wales in situations of serious public disorder. Use of the equipment is subject to very strict conditions which my right hon. Friend announced in answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Lancashire, West (Mr. Hind) on 19 May 1986 at columns 15–16.

  Equipment for use in situations of serious public disorder is kept under review. The police have made representations about the current plastic baton round system and a number of different plastic baton round systems have been tested. No decision has been taken to replace the existing system.

  Immigration
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) why he requires the dates of birth of individuals involved in immigration cases, his reference PO26926/88 and 22975/88, about which the hon. Member for Leyton has made representations;

  (2) why he requires the full name of individuals involved in immigration cases, his reference PO26926/88 and 22975/88, about which the hon. Member for Leyton has made representations when the hon. Member provided the names made known to him;

  (3) whether he has any knowledge of the reason why the hon. Member for Leyton received from his Department on 8 February letters which were dated 30 October 1988 and 22 November 1988 asking for the full names and dates of birth of individuals involved in immigration cases about which the hon. Member has made representations.

  Mr. Renton
  When letters from Members making representations in immigration cases do not supply sufficient information for the papers of the individual concerned to be traced, further details have to be requested in order for the representations to be followed up. This applies to the cases and letters listed above. If hon. Members do not respond to requests for more information within a certain time a reminder letter is sent.

  AIDS
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take appropriate action to prevent discriminatory practices against prisoners in United Kingdom prisons who may be HIV positive or have developed symptoms of AIDS.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  In England and Wales the management of prisoners identified as HIV antibody positive is a matter for the governor and medical officer, taking account of local circumstances and the needs of the individual prisoner. Central guidelines stress the importance of enabling those who are well to participate as fully as possible in normal prison life. This is also emphasised in staff training and in an educational package which will shortly be available for use with prisoners. Plans for the care and support of prisoners who develop AIDS or AIDS-related illness are modelled on best practice in the general community. Referral to specialised facilities within the National Health Service is arranged when this is clinically indicated.

  Practice elsewhere in the United Kingdom is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

  Mr. D. R. Lidington
  Mr. Mullins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the responsibilities of Mr. D. R. Lidington.

  Mr. Hurd
  Mr. Lidlington is a special adviser who provides advice on a wide range of Home Office subjects.

  Police Force Areas
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by each police force area for England and Wales the total population and area in square miles.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The available information can be found at columns (f) and (g) of appendix 7 to the report of Her Majesty's chief inspector of constabulary for 1987, a copy of which is to be found in the Library.

  Petty Officer John Black
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commisioner of Police of the Metropolis as to why the Metropolitan police are not prepared to allow Mr. and Mrs. K. Crane of Melton Mowbray, or their solicitors, to see the report of two Scotland Yard officers who investigated the circumstances relating to the death in Spain of Petty Officer John Black, Royal Navy; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 15 February 1989]: Access to the report is a matter for the commissioner. It is a general rule that police reports following inquiries remain confidential.

  Probation Services
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many county probation services have framed explicit statements of local objectives.
  313
  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 8 February 1989]: Fifty four area probation services have produced statements of local objectives in one form or another. One has produced a statement of local priorities and one a review of local objectives, priorities and tasks.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Food Research
  Dr Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about his plans for the future of the institutes of food research.

  Mr. Jackson
  In line with the intentions first outlined in the Agricultural and Food Research Council corporate plan for 1984–1988, directors of the council's eight institutes have been asked to produce long-term for reorganising their activities on to a smaller number of sites.

  The institute of Food Research will present to the AFRC options for the restructuring of its three laboratories on to two sites. The council will then make a decision based on a detailed analysis and appraisal of these options and taking full account of the scientific programme of the institute.

  Primary Teachers
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set up a national scheme for one year placements of newly qualified primary teachers in areas of severe shortage of such teachers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  No.

  Physical Education (Qualifications)
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on the number of applicants to take(a) GCSE in physical education in 1988 and (b) O-level or GCE in physical education in the five previous years.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  In 1987, about 11,700 pupils in schools in England attempted CSE or GCE O-level examinations in physical education. Comparable information is not available in respect of previous years, nor yet centrally in respect of GCSE examinations taken in 1988.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many complaints he has received in respect of the conduct of ballots for grant-maintained schools; and if he will list in respect of each(a) the sender of the complaint, (b) the authority concerned and (c) the nature of the complaint.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  A number of parents, teachers, governors and others have expressed concern to my Department about the conduct of ballots and associated procedures at schools considering seeking grant-maintained status. Such expressions of concern are frequently made in confidence, and it would not be appropriate for me to provide the details requested. The purpose of my Department's letter of 13 February to chief education officers was to draw attention to the need for 314
  ballots and the associated procedures to be conducted fairly and responsibly, and to my powers to consider and determine formal complaints.

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he anticipates that orders relating to the introduction of parts of the national curriculum will be laid before Parliament.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I expect to lay orders for mathematics and science next month and for the first key stage in English around the end of April. The timing of further orders will depend on statutory consultations on proposals.

  Student Finance
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the estimated total cost of the review of the student finance which he established in June 1986; how many staff were engaged upon it; how many representations were received about it; and what overseas trips by Ministers, officials and consultants were undertaken, by whom and at what cost.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The review of student support was conducted within Government, under the supervision of a group of Ministers and officials of which the membership and secretariat numbered seventeen. Since most of the staff engaged in the review were ordinarily involved, to a greater or lesser degree, in matters relating to student support, the significant additional costs arising from the review were essentially those relating to overseas visits; the commissioning of surveys of students' income and expenditure; the hiring of a consultant to advise on student support arrangements in other countries; and the publication of the White Paper. Four trips overseas were undertaken by a Minister, accompanied by one official at a cost of £4,600. The other costs were:

  £

  Surveys

  235,000

  Consultancy

  10,000

  White Paper

  4,500

  The review received written evidence from over 100 organisations, seven petitions signed by a total of 1,300 people, and almost 1,600 letters.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many representations have been received about the proposals for student loans contained in the White Paper Cm. 520 from(a) organisations and (b) individuals; how many of these are in favour of the proposals and how many are against them.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  About 4,500, including about 140 formal responses from organisations, and expressing a variety of views.

  Surplus School Places
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table showing for each year from 1979 to date(a) the number of surplus school places removed, (b) the target number specified for that year in the public expenditure White Paper or elsewhere and (c) (a) expressed as a percentage of (b).
  315
  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The information is given in the table:

  Year

  The number of surplus school places removed 000s

  The Public Expenditure White Paper Target 000s

  per cent. (a)/(b)

  (a)

  (b)

  1979–80

  542

  470

  115

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  158

  160

  99

  1984–85

  155

  160

  97

  1985–86

  132

  168

  79

  1986–87

  118

  167

  71

  1987–88

  124

  139

  89

  1988–89

  n/a

  137

  —

  1989–90

  n/a

  133

  —

  The column (b) figures for 1987–88 to 1989–90 represent revised targets arrived at following discussion with the local authority associations.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total number of surplus school places available for removal represented by decisions made by him or pending in respect of proposals for the closure or reorganisation of schools.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The number of surplus places planned to be taken out of use following my approval of statutory school reorganisation proposals since May 1986 is 103,500. In addition substantial numbers of surplus places have been removed as a result of other action by LEAs, such as removing temporary classrooms, rationalising split sites, and mothballing surplus classroom accommodation. The remainder of the question can be answered only at disproportionate cost.

  School leavers 1986–87 maintained schools only

  1Percentages

  Attempting

  Achieving

  Total leavers (000's)

  CSE

  O-level

  A-level

  2lower grades

  3higher grades

  A-level passes

  London boroughs

  Barking

  2·38

  75·8

  59·7

  9·0

  76·3

  40·8

  7·5

  Barnet

  3·23

  64·5

  76·9

  32·3

  74·3

  66·2

  30·1

  Bexley

  3·25

  72·1

  66·5

  17·9

  81·1

  49·4

  16·2

  Brent

  3·06

  91·3

  70·5

  18·1

  89·4

  57·5

  11·8

  Bromley

  2·74

  81·5

  86·5

  26·0

  85·8

  58·2

  21·7

  Croydon

  4·25

  79·4

  67·5

  14·7

  81·0

  49·8

  14·1

  Ealing

  3·31

  82·4

  63·5

  17·3

  78·6

  46·6

  15·1

  Enfield

  3·31

  79·1

  75·6

  17·1

  81·4

  49·9

  13·9

  Haringey

  2·08

  78·5

  76·2

  12·7

  77·5

  40·2

  11·0

  Harrow

  1·63

  90·3

  89·0

  9·0

  84·0

  65·0

  7·4

  Havering

  3·55

  87·4

  79·4

  14·9

  85·3

  53·4

  12·9

  Hillingdon

  2·79

  87·7

  71·7

  14·4

  89·9

  51·1

  11·8

  Hounslow

  2·46

  78·7

  71·6

  14·4

  81·6

  52·0

  13·5

  Kingston upon Thames

  1·31

  74·3

  80·1

  26·6

  80·3

  60·5

  23·4

  Merton

  2·00

  74·3

  68·4

  15·5

  83·0

  54·1

  15·5

  Newham

  2·88

  78·0

  57·7

  11·5

  77·8

  47·3

  9·9

  Redbridge

  2·68

  75·3

  71·0

  22·6

  75·8

  55·1

  20·4

  Richmond upon Thames

  1·69

  86·7

  81·4

  0·7

  85·9

  65·2

  0·0

  Sutton

  2·00

  60·5

  80·0

  34·3

  78·2

  68·1

  33·7

  Waltham Forest

  2·03

  80·3

  67·4

  8·5

  75·8

  32·0

  6·3

  Inner London

  23·55

  76·1

  55·5

  11·7

  74·6

  43·1

  10·4

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  16·52

  81·7

  66·3

  12·1

  80·5

  43·3

  10·3

  Coventry

  4·61

  87·9

  74·4

  16·7

  84·6

  50·9

  13·9

  Dudley

  4·65

  89·7

  77·1

  8·3

  86·9

  52·6

  8·3

  Sandwell

  4·81

  83·2

  61·1

  9·0

  82·2

  39·1

  7·8

  Solihull

  3·62

  91·5

  83·8

  23·3

  87·2

  60·5

  20·9

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to announce his decisions in respect of applications for grant-maintained status.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my hon. Friend gave on 24 January at column 476.

  Medical Students (Top-up Loans)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations have been received concerning the introduction of top-up loans for medical students; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  About 200—mostly from hon. Members, who will receive a full reply.

  Examination Statistics
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Pembroke on 13 February,Official Report, column 5, concerning A-level, O-level and CSE examinations sat and achieved as a percentage of the year group, when the information requested will be available on the same basis as was provided on 11 January 1988, Official Report, columns 42–46.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information given in the table is presented in terms of leavers from maintained schools in England in 1986–87. This is on the same basis as provided to my hon. Friend in the Official Report for 11 January 1988, columns 42–46 for the year 1985–86.
  317

  Attempting

  Achieving

  Total leavers (000's)

  CSE

  O-level

  A-level

  2lower grades

  3higher grades

  A-level passes

  Walsall

  4·81

  79·3

  71·0

  14·6

  79·0

  49·4

  12·4

  Wolverhampton

  4·27

  84·5

  74·4

  12·1

  81·8

  42·2

  9·0

  Merseyside

  Knowsley

  2·49

  79·9

  66·0

  7·1

  76·3

  39·2

  4·1

  Liverpool

  6·80

  77·0

  68·9

  14·4

  74·1

  39·1

  12·3

  St. Helens

  2·75

  84·2

  77·4

  19·6

  78·4

  54·3

  18·0

  Sefton

  5·04

  82·1

  84·4

  18·2

  78·4

  59·1

  16·0

  Wirral

  5·29

  80·2

  79·9

  19·5

  79·3

  51·6

  17·8

  Greater Manchester

  Bolton

  4·56

  87·4

  83·6

  17·2

  83·8

  56·2

  14·7

  Bury

  2·86

  84·4

  90·9

  18·2

  82·1

  63·1

  16·1

  Manchester

  6·89

  73·6

  67·7

  15·3

  72·1

  43·0

  13·7

  Oldham

  3·27

  85·9

  70·2

  10·9

  84·6

  43·3

  8·9

  Rochdale

  3·30

  81·7

  80·0

  15·2

  80·8

  49·4

  11·0

  Salford

  3·34

  83·9

  78·3

  15·7

  81·6

  45·4

  12·9

  Stockport

  4·32

  82·9

  83·9

  19·6

  78·0

  55·1

  17·4

  Tameside

  3·73

  88·4

  80·8

  12·5

  85·6

  51·8

  9·9

  Trafford

  2·72

  84·5

  83·8

  19·4

  85·4

  59·8

  18·7

  Wigan

  5·76

  88·2

  89·3

  15·5

  86·3

  58·7

  14·2

  South Yorkshire

  Barnsley

  3·92

  85·4

  77·8

  10·8

  83·2

  38·3

  10·3

  Doncaster

  4·75

  83·9

  80·4

  16·0

  82·8

  46·9

  13·1

  Rotherham

  4·51

  82·9

  74·8

  13·1

  84·4

  40·7

  11·7

  Sheffield

  8·45

  85·4

  80·8

  13·0

  82·8

  47·7

  11·6

  West Yorkshire

  Bradford

  7·22

  84·9

  79·7

  13·3

  80·0

  45·6

  11·7

  Calderdale

  2·95

  82·9

  80·8

  16·6

  83·4

  48·8

  12·7

  Kirklees

  6·00

  88·2

  84·5

  15·7

  84·3

  47·9

  13·7

  Leeds

  9·99

  87·7

  80·3

  11·6

  82·6

  46·3

  11·2

  Wakefield

  5·09

  88·5

  74·4

  7·9

  84·5

  45·6

  5·4

  Tyne and Wear

  Gateshead

  3·31

  79·4

  58·8

  13·4

  77·8

  40·7

  11·4

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  3·23

  75·4

  63·3

  13·5

  76·4

  39·7

  11·0

  North Tyneside

  2·94

  77·4

  77·5

  20·2

  82·9

  49·9

  17·2

  South Tyneside

  2·15

  91·9

  63·7

  9·3

  91·4

  47·8

  8·3

  Sunder land

  5·02

  87·0

  73·0

  10·2

  86·6

  46·3

  8·2

  Counties

  Avon

  12·32

  84·9

  62·1

  17·0

  86·5

  54·1

  14·9

  Bedfordshire

  7·47

  89·7

  80·9

  18·9

  87·7

  58·1

  16·9

  Berkshire

  9·59

  82·2

  65·7

  20·5

  86·4

  57·5

  18·8

  Buckinghamshire

  8·35

  70·3

  68·1

  22·4

  79·3

  64·3

  21·4

  Cambridgeshire

  8·37

  86·8

  78·6

  15·8

  85·1

  54·3

  14·5

  Cheshire

  15·24

  86·3

  85·4

  17·9

  82·9

  55·8

  15·5

  Cleveland

  9·50

  85·0

  68·8

  16·3

  81·1

  50·3

  14·8

  Cornwall

  7·20

  86·0

  62·8

  16·2

  86·3

  58·1

  14·8

  Cumbria

  6·99

  85·8

  74·8

  16·9

  84·7

  54·8

  16·0

  Derbyshire

  14·41

  87·6

  66·4

  12·3

  86·0

  50·0

  11·0

  Devon

  12·84

  86·7

  63·9

  12·9

  88·9

  53·8

  12·1

  Dorset

  8·23

  80·9

  64·6

  15·0

  86·9

  57·7

  13·4

  Durham

  9·34

  82·5

  67·0

  11·9

  82·6

  51·7

  10·2

  East Sussex

  7·56

  80·2

  68·0

  19·4

  82·4

  51·6

  17·5

  Essex

  21·52

  86·5

  75·3

  14·8

  84·1

  55·5

  13·2

  Gloucestershire

  6·83

  81·2

  64·8

  17·0

  84·7

  56·6

  15·5

  Hampshire

  22·99

  86·7

  62·8

  14·4

  88·6

  57·9

  12·8

  Hereford and Worcester

  9·28

  86·1

  81·6

  16·9

  82·2

  56·5

  15·6

  Hertfordshire

  13·68

  86·3

  80·4

  21·1

  84·9

  61·6

  19·3

  Humberside

  13·78

  85·7

  73·3

  15·4

  82·6

  48·8

  13·5

  Isle of Wight

  1·64

  83·7

  50·3

  14·3

  85·2

  47·7

  13·6

  Kent

  21·87

  74·6

  66·4

  17·9

  84·0

  52·2

  16·4

  Lancashire

  20·59

  84·6

  79·4

  9·2

  82·2

  51·8

  8·3

  Leicestershire

  12·40

  85·0

  70·4

  20·2

  83·4

  49·8

  17·3

  Lincolnshire

  8·52

  78·6

  71·9

  17·3

  81·9

  53·6

  16·2

  Norfolk

  9·91

  81·9

  68·7

  10·5

  79·7

  50·3

  9·7

  North Yorkshire

  10·06

  85·1

  81·1

  19·5

  82·3

  57·7

  17·3

  Northamptonshire

  8·74

  87·8

  70·9

  13·2

  86·5

  47·0

  11·8

  Northumberland

  4·49

  87·4

  77·3

  19·5

  86·1

  60·7

  17·8

  Nottinghamshire

  15·35

  88·0

  71·6

  13·1

  87·4

  46·7

  11·6

  Oxfordshire

  7·67

  84·3

  67·7

  18·7

  86·7

  59·1

  16·1

  Shropshire

  6·84

  88·1

  84·6

  16·3

  88·2

  54·9

  14·3

  Somerset

  6·03

  88·7

  62·1

  9·4

  90·8

  51·1

  8·1

  318 319

  Attempting

  Achieving

  Total leavers (000's)

  CSE

  O-level

  A-level

  2lower grades

  3higher grades

  A-level passes

  Staffordshire

  15·72

  83·5

  77·4

  14·4

  82·4

  51 5

  13·4

  Suffolk

  8·62

  88·7

  77·9

  15·2

  86·4

  50·1

  14·0

  Surrey

  11·78

  79·4

  82·1

  27·4

  85·6

  62·5

  25·6

  Warwickshire

  6·63

  86·6

  77·4

  20·1

  86·9

  56·9

  17·8

  West Sussex

  9·40

  87·3

  71·8

  20·9

  88·6

  62·4

  19·6

  Wiltshire

  7·35

  88·8

  61·7

  11·2

  86·2

  48·8

  9·7

  Total England

  671·20

  83·6

  72·4

  15·6

  83·4

  52·0

  13·9

  Source: School leavers sample survey. Data subject to sampling error.

  1 Excludes examination attainments at tertiary colleges or other further education establishments.

  2 O level grades D, E, CSE grades 2 to 5.

  3 O level grades A to C, CSE grade 1.

  University of Wales Registry
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much recurrent grant was awarded to the University of Wales registry for each of the years of its existence.

  Mr. Jackson
  Recurrent grants made to the Welsh registry on the advice of the University Grants Committee since 1979–80 are listed below. Information about previous years is available from "Statistics of Education—Volume 6" and, for the years before 1966–67, "Returns from Universities and University Colleges".

  Academic years

  £000

  1979–80

  1,325

  1980–81

  1,788

  1981–82

  1,933

  1982–83

  1,940

  1983–84

  1,987

  1984–85

  2,119

  1985–86

  2,199

  1986–87

  2,272

  1987–88

  2,412

  1988–89

  2,421

  Teachers' Pay and Conditions
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the second report of the interim advisory committee on school teachers' pay and conditions will be published.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  It is being published today. Its main recommendations are:

  a 6 per cent. increase in the main pay scale for teachers from 1 April 1989.

  a 7 per cent. increase in the value of the five rates of incentive allowances from 1 April 1989.

  a 7·5 per cent. increase in the salaries of the 55,000 Heads and Deputies from 1 April 1989.

  an extra 9,500 incentive allowances for the 1989–90 academic year, on top of the additional 18,000 already planned.

  a 5·6 per cent. increase in London allowances from 1 July 1988.

  I propose to accept the committee's recommendations in full. I am today initiating the consultation required by section 3(1) of the Teachers' Pay and Conditions Act 1987 by writing to the relevant local authority associations, teacher unions and bodies representing the interests of the governors of voluntary schools, setting out my proposals.

  The text of the letter is as follows:

  Teachers pay and conditions of employment

  1. On 14 September 1988 I asked the Interim Advisory Committee on School Teachers' Pay and Conditions to
  320
  examine and report to me on certain issues. I enclose a copy of the Committee's report which is being published today. The Committee's recommendations are summarised in Chapter 9 of its report. I propose to make an Order giving effect to the recommendations referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 below. But before I take a decision on what provision the Order should make, I invite your views. This letter therefore initiates the consultation required by Section 3(1) of the Teachers' Pay and Conditions Act 1987.

  2. I propose to accept the Committee's recommendations that

  (i) the salaries of all qualified teachers should be raised by a uniform 6 per cent. to the figures set out in paragraph 4.13 of the Committee's report with effect from 1 April 1989;

  (ii) the salaries of unqualified teachers should be raised by the same percentage (paragraph 4.13). The allowance for teachers of the visually impaired and hearing impaired would also be increased by 6 per cent.;

  (iii) the spot salaries for Heads and Deputies should be increased by 7·5 per cent. with effect from 1 April 1989 (paragraph 4.21);

  (iv) the rates of the London area allowances should be increased by 5·6 per cent. with effect from 1 July 1988 (paragraph 5.16);

  (v) the value of each of the incentive allowances should be increased by 7 per cent. with effect from 1 April 1989 (paragraph 4.34);

  (vi) the planned number of incentive allowances should be expanded from September 1989 by 9,500 (5,000 extra A allowances; 2,500 B allowances; 1,500 C allowances and 500 D allowances): (paragraphs 4.31 and 4.32). There will need to be some consequential revisions to the limits relating to incentive allowances in Annex A to Appendix I of the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document 1988 (paragraph 4.33).

  3. The Committee makes a number of other recommendations which would require amendments to the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document 1988 (the 1988 Document):

  a. that teachers returning to regular full-time or part-time teaching should be paid on re-entry at no lower point on the mainscale than when last employed as a regular full-time or part-time teacher (paragraph 5.21);

  b. that, contingent upon the introduction of the proposed licensed teacher arrangements, there should be discretion for local authorities or governors, as appropriate, to pay licensed teachers at either qualified or unqualified rates (paragraph 5.26);

  c. that local authorities (and, at the appropriate point, governors of schools with delegated budgets) should be given discretion to accelerate a teacher's progression to the top of the main scale (paragraph 5.29);

  d. that once the necessary regulations under Section 218 of the Education Reform Act have been made, a teacher who is awarded Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) retrospectively should be entitled to receive back pay from any authority he/she has worked for from the date from which his/her qualification runs, to make good any difference between what he/she was actually paid

  321
  up to the point when QTS was awarded and what he/she would have been entitled to as a qualified teacher (paragraph 5.41);

  e. that the discretions over pay and conditions currently exercised by local education authorities set out in Appendix I of the report should be transferred to governing bodies of schools with budgets delegated under Chapter III of Part I of the Education Reform Act 1988 (paragraph 7.24) and that the decision on whether it is "reasonably practicable to provide a supply teacher" should transfer to the governors in those schools where the governing body have been made responsible, under the relevant LMS scheme, for managing the arrangements for providing supply teachers (paragraph 7.26);

  f. that the functions, both mandatory and discretionary, currently allocated to LEAs under the 1988 Document should be allocated to governing bodies of grant maintained (GM) schools (paragraph 7.28);

  g. that where a GM school was formerly a voluntary school, a head teacher should carry out his-her professional duties in accordance with any trust deed applying to the school (paragraph 7.29);

  h. that salary safeguarding on a discretionary basis and discretionary safeguarding on London allowance and social priority allowance should apply in both directions between a GM school and its former maintaining authority (paragraph 7.31);

  i. that the provision in relation to cover at sub paragraph 35(9)(b)(ii) of the 1988 Document should be amended in the direction of wording suggested by the Professional Association of Teachers (paragraph 8.9);

  j. that the reference to payment for midday supervision at paragraph 23 of the 1988 Document should be deleted (paragraph 8.14);

  k. that the reference to education legislation in the "overriding requirements" section of head teachers' conditions of employment—paragraph 27(i) of the 1988 Document—should be updated to include the Education Reform Act 1988 (paragraph 8.24);

  l. that specific reference should be made in both head teachers' and school teachers' conditions of service to the Basic (including National) Curriculum, and, in the case of head teachers, to the collective worship requirements of the Education Reform Act (paragraph 8.25).

  Percentage

  Part of relevant income to which specified percentage applies

  One assisted pupil

  Each of two assisted pupils

  Each of three assisted pupils

  That part which exceeds £7,418 but does not exceed £8,066

  9

  6·75

  5·25

  That part (if any) which exceeds £8,066 but does not exceed £8,725

  12

  9·00

  7·00

  That part (if any) which exceeds £8,725 but does not exceed £10,032

  15

  11·25

  8·75

  That part (if any) which exceeds £10,032 but does not exceed £12,043

  21

  15·75

  12·25

  That part (if any) which exceeds £12,043 but does not exceed £14,668

  24

  18·00

  14·00

  That part (if any) which exceeds £14,668

  33

  24·75

  19·25

  Clinical Academic Staff (Pay)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether additional funds will be provided for the universities in 1989–90 in respect of pay for clinical academic staff.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the relevant Estimate, an additional £2·8 million will be provided in grant to the Universities Funding Council in 1989–90 in respect of pay for clinical academic staff. This increase takes account of the increase in funding for the hospital and community health service in respect of the recommendations of the Doctors and Dentists Review Body. It will be charged to the Reserve and so will not add to the public expenditure planning total.
  322
  I propose to accept all these recommendations.

  4.The Order I propose to make to give effect to all of the above would do so by bringing into effect a new School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document. The Committee's remaining recommendations do not require changes to the 1988 Document: I do not therefore propose to change the Document in response to those recommendations. Nor is it intended to revise the RSG settlements for 1989–90 on account of the proposals set out in paragraphs 2 and 3 above. The cost will be offset in part by the greater than expected reduction in the employers' contributions to the Teachers' Superannuation Scheme which I announced on 10 February.

  5. Any comments on the proposals set out above and on any other matters raised in the report are invited by 10 March. If you would like to express your views in a meeting would you let my office know of this as soon as possible so that any meetings can take place before Easter.

  6. Following these consultations a new School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document will be prepared. There will then be opportunity to comment on the precise wording of the amendments prior to the publication of the new Document and the laying before Parliament of an Order which will give effect to its provisions.

  7. The Interim Advisory Committee say that they hope it will be possible for a copy of the report to be seen by teachers in every maintained school. Enough copies of the report are being sent to each local education authority for a copy to be circulated in each school.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the level of parental contributions to the fees of pupils in the assisted places scheme in 1989–90.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Subject to the usual consultations and to parliamentary approval, the parental contribution scales will be adjusted upwards for the school year 1989–90 as set out below. In addition the allowance against parental income in respect of each dependent child other than the assisted place holder is to be increased to £1,000.

  Children (Employment)
  Mr. Archer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many prosecutions have been taken out as a result of investigations by education welfare officers in each year since 1973 for alleged offences in connection with the employment of children; how many employers have been so prosecuted; with what result; and what was(a) the highest, (b) the average and (c) the lowest penalty imposed following a conviction.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have been asked to reply.

  Information about alleged offences in connection with the employment of children does not separately identify prosecutions taken out as a result of investigations by education welfare officers.

  The available figures relating to prosecutions and fines for all forms of employment are as follows:
  323
  Industrial Undertakings

  Prosecutions by the Health and Safety Executive under

  Fines Imposed (£)

  Year

  Employers Prosecuted

  Information Laid

  Convictions

  Highest

  Lowest

  Average per conviction

  1981

  3

  4

  4

  150

  50

  75

  1982

  3

  4

  4

  480

  15

  178

  1983

  3

  3

  3

  400

  100

  200

  1984

  2

  6

  6

  600

  50

  233

  1985

  4

  8

  6

  1,000

  10

  242

  1986 (January to March)

  2

  4

  4

  150

  100

  138

  1986–87 (April to March)

  3

  11

  9

  300

  25

  208

  1987–88 (April to March)

  2

  12

  22

  300

  3—

  150

  1 Fines imposed as the result of information laid.

  2 Provisional.

  3 Guilty but absolute discharge.

  Agricultural Undertakings

  Information laid by Her Majesty's agricultural inspectorate

  Fines imposed (£)

  Year

  Informations laid

  Convictions

  Highest

  Lowest

  Average per conviction

  1981

  52

  47

  300

  15

  60

  1982

  31

  26

  400

  15

  116

  1983

  18

  17

  200

  35

  73

  1984

  16

  14

  500

  30

  118

  1985

  27

  26

  1,000

  25

  177

  1986

  25

  21

  400

  10

  85

  1987

  18

  16

  250

  50

  78

  1988

  3

  3

  25

  25

  25

  (January-March)

  Note: Figures from 1973 are not available

  Non-industrial under takings

  Figures notified to the Home Office for proceedings under Sections 18, 19 and 20 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933:

  Fine (£)

  Year

  Proceedings

  Highest

  Lowest

  Average

  1979

  23

  50

  5

  16

  1980

  26

  50

  3

  12

  1981

  24

  100

  5

  22

  1982

  17

  20

  3

  14

  1983

  11

  50

  10

  24

  1984

  12

  50

  20

  26

  1985

  11

  50

  10

  35

  1986

  2

  100

  40

  70

  1987

  8

  500

  10

  154

NORTHERN IRELAND

  RUC (Deaths)
  Mr. McCusker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members of the RUC and RUCR were killed as a result of road traffic accidents during (i) 1986 and (ii) 1987; how many were killed by terrorists in the same period; and of those killed during 1986, 1987 and 1988, how many were killed whilst on duty.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The information is as follows:
  324
  Section 1 of the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act 1920 and concerning the illegal employment of children.

  against persons at work who put at risk children under the age of 16 by the contravention of legislation applicable to agricultural activities

  Road traffic accidents

  Terrorism

  Total

  On duty

  Total

  On duty

  1986

  8

  2

  12

  8

  1987

  3

  nil

  16

  10

  1988

  11

  1

  6

  4

  Extradition
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions since 1979 his Department has made extradition applications for terrorist or other offences; and how often, by whom and for what reasons such requests have been rejected.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Information about extradition applications under the backing of warrants procedure with the Republic of Ireland is contained in the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East (Mr. Ross) on 13 December Official Report, column 516. In addition, five requests for extradition to the Republic of Ireland were made during 1988, of which one was granted and the remainder are pending.

  Information on extradition applications to other countries is not held centrally and would be available only at disproportionate cost. The number is likely to be small.

DEFENCE

  Nuclear Stockpile
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for
  325
  Sheffield, Central (Mr. Caborn) on nuclear weapons, the level of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's nuclear stockpile referred to therein is defined by (a) total explosive capacity, (b) collective lethality based on explosive capacity and accuracy or (c) number of deliverable warheads.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The nuclear stockpile referred to in the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Central (Mr. Caborn) on 30 January at column 31 is defined in terms of the number of nuclear warheads stockpiled in Europe.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all areas, objects, settlements, buildings and installations in the Workington constituency which pilots of low-flying military aircraft are currently advised to avoid, giving in each case the horizontal and vertical limits of avoidance.

  Mr. Neubert
  The whole of the United Kingdom is open for low flying except for major conurbations, danger areas and certain areas such as civil and military air traffic zones, airports, glider sites, high obstacles, and nuclear power stations. It is not our practice to release details of the United Kingdom low flying system.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the additional restrictions on night low flying introduced following the Tornado mid-air collision in Cumbria on 9 August 1988;

  (2) if a review of night low flying regulations is being conducted following the collision between two Tornados over Cumbria on 9 August 1988; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what additional flow control measures are currently in force for low flying at night, over and above those currently in force for daylight low flying.

  Mr. Neubert
  Although there was no evidence to suggest that there was anything wrong with the night low flying system itself, following the mid-air collision near Penrith in August 1988, a six-month trial of a revised night low level flying system was introduced with the aim of increasing the co-ordination of activity at night and improving deconfliction procedures. In this system, areas of the United Kingdom are allocated to commands on a nightly basis and commands are responsible for deconflicting their own aircraft. General flow of traffic from sector to sector in each area is in a clockwise direction around the country. Within these sectors aircraft are allowed to fly in any direction except where specifically prevented from doing so. At the end of the trial its effectiveness will be examined and any appropriate changes made.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when flow control was first introduced for low-flying aircraft in the Keswick area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  As an interim measure, following the mid-air collision near Keswick on 17 June 1987, an unidirectional traffic flow system was introduced in the whole of the Lake District. As a result of subsequent work a revised procedure came into operation on 1 September 326
  1987 which provided separation between aircraft flying along the valley of the A591 between the Grasmere arid Bassenthwaite lakes in a north westerly direction only, arid others overflying on various routes at higher levels.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what use is made by RAF Spadeadam of radar information from the national air traffic services radar stations located on(a)Green Lowther, Strathclyde and (b) Knock Fell, Cumbria;

  (2) what is the capacity of the radar equipment at RAF Spadeadam to monitor and control low-flying aircraft movements in low flying area 13.

  Mr. Neubert
  The arrangements for monitoring arid controlling aircraft using Spadeadam range (low-flying area 13) are entirely adequate. Information from the unmanned radar stations at Green Lowther and Knock Fell is not fed directly to RAF Spadeadam.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the low flying avoidances marked on military low flying charts are mandatory; arid what sanctions are used to enforce adherence to there restrictions.

  Mr. Neubert
  Aircrew are instructed not to fly low in avoidance areas unless prior approval has been granted by the Ministry of Defence. The RAF police conducts covert surveys from time to time throughout the United Kingdom in order to establish whether height and other rules are being observed and action is taken, where appropriate, against aircrew found to have infringed regulations.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what advice is given to military pilots concerning low flying over or in the immediate vicinity of the town of Keswick.

  Mr. Neubert
  As the hon. Member is aware, pilots are instructed to avoid overflying the centres of major conurbations and built up areas such as Keswick at low level. Although we cannot guarantee to avoid overflying the outskirts of major towns and smaller communities, pilots will make every effort to avoid populated areas wherever possible.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many foreign aircrew have infringed the regulations governing the United Kingdom low flying system since 1971.

  Mr. Neubert
  A record of the number of invesigations revealing infringements of the United Kingdom low flying system regulations by foreign aircrews since 1971 is not held centrally and could not be provided without disproportionate effort.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates and locations of all public meetings on low flying held by(a) the Royal Air Force and (b) his Department over the last five years.

  Mr. Neubert
  According to available records, the Ministry of Defence has held the following public meetings on low flying over the last five years:

  Date and location

  1984

  23 January—Newton Abbot, Devon

  327

  15 February—Stamford Bridge, Humberside

  13 March—Church Stretton, Shropshire

  16 October—Leominster, Hereford and Worcester

  31 October—Great Doddington, Northamptonshire

  12 November—Clifton Campville, Hereford and Worcester

  14 November—Hereford, Hereford and Worcester

  1985

  14 March—Marden, Hereford and Worcester

  5 June—Jedburgh, Borders

  6 June—Kelso, Borders

  6 June—Duns, Borders

  28 June—Rugby, Warwickshire

  24 September—Gedney Drove End, Lincolnshire

  22 October—Barnard Castle, Durham

  1986

  24 January—Alcester, Warwickshire

  1 May—RAF Spadeadam, Cumbria

  25 July—Scunthorpe, Humberside

  30 September—Hereford, Hereford and Worcester

  6 October—Wilmcote, Warwickshire

  9 October—Postbridge, Devon

  15 October—Raglan, Gwent

  18 November—Wilberfoss, Humberside

  1987

  30 January—Ashford, Kent

  20 March—Bedgebury School, Cranbrook, Kent

  30 April—Redditch, Hereford and Worcester

  30 June—Galashiels, Borders

  1 July—Penrith, Cumbria

  2 July—Morpeth, Northumberland

  27 July—Aberedw, Powys

  1988

  14 January—Tenbury Wells, Hereford and Worcester

  11 May—Braunston, Northamptonshire

  27 May—Dolgellau, Gwynedd

  15 June—Perth, Tayside

  22 June—Farndon, Nottinghamshire

  30 June—Crediton, Devon

  13 July—Stone, Staffordshire

  27 July—Kidwelly, Dyfed

  28 July—Tumble, Dyfed

  5 October—Morpeth, Northumberland

  Section

  Year

  Number of cases

  Rank

  Sentence

  Section 49

  1972

  1

  Flight Lieutenant

  Dismissed the Service

  Section 49

  1974

  1

  Aircraftman

  Dismissed the Service

  Section 49

  1983

  2

  Flight Lieutenant (tried together)

  Both awarded Severe Reprimands

  Section 51 and 52

  1985

  1 (charged under both sections)

  Flight Lieutenant

  £300 fine and Severe Reprimand

  Records are not kept centrally of any cases where disciplinary action is commenced but not proceeded with.

  Air Misses
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the total number of air misses involving military aircraft in United Kingdom airspace in each year since 1979; and how many of these were assessed as having(a) definite risk of collision, (b) possible risk of collision and (c) no risk of collision;

  (2) if the Civil Aviation Authority's new policy of publishing details of air misses in United Kingdom airspace applies to those involving military aircraft; and what consultations took place between his Department and the Civil Aviation Authority before the decision on the new information policy.

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Category1 A

  4

  8

  10

  15

  7

  12

  11

  15

  16

  n.a.

  Category1 B

  49

  41

  49

  38

  36

  37

  33

  36

  36

  n.a.

  328

  12 October—Halesworth, Suffolk

  18 October1—Malton, North Yorkshire

  1 RAF Presentation Team plus official from MOD Low Flying Presentation Team.

  On numerous occasions in the past the Directors of Public Relations (RAF) have additionally lectured to public audiences in various parts of the country but no records are held detailing those occasions.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when flow control was first introduced in the United Kingdom low flying system.

  Mr. Neubert
  Unidirectional traffic flows have been in use since before introduction of the current low flying system in 1979.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the maximum number of aircraft permitted to operate at any one time within low flying area 17(a) during daylight hours and (b) at night; and whether any alteration to these figures has been instituted in the last 10 years.

  Mr. Neubert
  It is not our practice to release such detailed information relating to the United Kingdom low flying system.

  Air Force Act 1955
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the occasions since 1971 on which proceedings have been instituted against Royal Air Force personnel under sections(a) 49(b) 51 and (c) 52 of the Air Force Act 1955; and what were the outcome of the proceedings in each case.

  Mr. Neubert
  The table provides the details of Royal Air Force personnel who have been convicted by court martial under the sections mentioned.

  Mr. Neubert
  In his statement on 3 March, columns 654–56 of the Official Report my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport set out the special reasons for making public the findings of the joint airmiss working group in relation to airmiss reports involving commercial air transport aircraft in United Kingdom airspace. This policy was introduced after discussions with the Ministry of Defence and applies to all such instances, including those where military aircraft are involved. In order to preserve the confidentiality of the airmiss investigation system, however, I will not publish any detailed information relating to other airmiss reports involving military aircraft. The relevant statistics on airmiss reports involving military aircraft in United Kingdom airspace are as follows:
  329

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Total risk bearing (A and B)

  53

  49

  59

  53

  43

  49

  44

  51

  52

  n.a.

  Category1 C

  75

  89

  84

  61

  61

  57

  46

  69

  58

  n.a.

  Risk not assessable

  2

  2

  2

  4

  1

  1

  2

  0

  1

  n.a.

  Total

  130

  140

  145

  118

  105

  107

  92

  120

  111

  133

  1A. Definite risk.

  B. Possible risk.

  C. No risk.

  Note A breakdown of the 1988 total is not yet available.

  Aircraft Accidents
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what access his Department has to the reports of aircraft accident inquiries relating to foreign military aircraft accidents in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Neubert
  Arrangements exist whereby appropriate information on foreign aircraft accidents in the United Kingdom can be made available to the Ministry of Defence, particularly where there are flight safety implications for our services.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if details of the circumstances and causes of accidents to foreign military aircraft occurring in the United Kingdom are recorded on the aircraft accident data computer in the Royal Air Force inspectorate of flight safety.

  Mr. Neubert
  No.

  Education
  Mr. Thorne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to be able to adopt a common syllabus for all British forces education service schools so that when parents move on military posting children should be able to continue their education with the least disruption.

  Mr. Neubert
  Currently, at the secondary level, service children's education authority schools largely follow the syllabi of the Southern examining group. Moreover, all service children's schools will introduce the national curriculum in accordance with the provisions of the Education Report Act 1988, and the timetable specified by the Secretary of State for Education and Science.

  DROPS
  Sir Ian Gilmour
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the nature of the trials carried out on the medium mobility DROPS vehicles delivered in October 1988; and if he will make a statement on the results in respect of their duration and mileage in road-running and in cross-country applications, and as to the conclusions drawn therefrom.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Two vehicles were delivered to Germany in October 1988 to take part in user trials, which lasted for two months. In the course of the trials, they took part in a major Army exercise, Iron Hammer, and overall convered distances in excess of 7,500 km each. The majority of the running was under realistic exercise conditions with about 10 per cent. Cross-country, 10 per cent. Off-road and the remainder on German roads and highways. The vehicles performed very satisfactorily, as expected, and confirmed their ability to meet the operational requirement for DROPS.
  330
  Sir Ian Gilmour
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the military implications of the reduction in the performance objectives for the medium mobility DROPS.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No; the Leyland-DAF medium mobility load carriers meet the operational requirement for DROPS.

  Sir Ian Gilmour
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what payments have been made to Leyland-DAF, additional to contract sums, to enable improvements to be made to DROPS vehicles.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Individual payments to contractors are commercial-in-confidence, but as forecast in my reply to my right hon. Friend on 22 January 1988 column 903 the modification costs were not substantial and were within the approved programme limits.

  Sir Ian Gilmour
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assurances have been given to Leyland-DAF with respect to the ordering of long lead-time items for DROPS vehicles.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  None.

  Director of Projects
  Sir Ian Gilmour
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the posting of the director of projects.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I presume that my right hon. Friend is referring to the director of projects formerly concerned with DROPS. His move was a routine career posting, the timing of which was related to the availability of a successor.

  SDI
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence: if he will list the agencies, companies and institutions in. Britain which have benefited from the strategic defence initiative research programmes under arrangements directly under the supervision of the Ministry of Defence, directly contracted to the United States of America, or subcontracted to the United States of America via third parties.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The British agencies, companies and institutions which have been awarded contracts by the Ministry of Defence, which were initiated through United States-funded SDI contractual arrangements made on a Government to Government basis, are as follows:

  1. Aerobee Defence Technology

  2. Admiral Computing

  3. Barr and Stroud

  4. British Aerospace

  331

  5. BMARC

  6. CAP Scientific

  7. Cranfield Institute of Technology

  8. Culham Laboratory

  9. EASAMS

  10. Ferranti

  11. Fluid Gravity

  12. GEC-Marconi

  13. Hunting Engineering

  14. Logica

  15. NEI-IRD

  16. Optical Coatings Ltd

  17. Plessey

  18. PA Defence Services

  19. Philips Components

  20. Racal

  21. Rolls-Royce

  22. Royal Ordnance

  23. Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

  24. Scicon

  25. Shorts

  26. Software Sciences

  27. Thorn EMI

  28. Theta Analysis

  The detail associated with SDI research contracts placed on United Kingdom entities by United States Government agencies or companies is a matter for the parties concerned.

  Contracts
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his practice to answer parliamentary questions asking for information on the details and value of individual contracts with outside firms.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No. However, information regarding the overall level of MOD business with a particular contractor is made available.

  Aldermaston and Burghfield (Programme Audit)
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of 18 January,Official Report, column 199, what was the nature of the information that was discussed at the eight meetings between his officials and the British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. team carrying out the programme audit at Aldermaston and Burghfield.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  MOD management information on the scope and overall objectives of the capital construction programme and the status at that time of the four major projects under review.

  Royal Ordnance (Site Sales)
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the outline planning applications submitted by Royal Ordnance in respect of its Waltham Abbey and Enfield, North sites had been determined before the sale of Royal Ordnance to British Aerospace.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No. The applications were submitted in January 1987 and had not been determined when the sale took place in April 1987. The applications were rejected in June 1987. One is now the subject of an appeal.

  Accountants and Cost Estimators
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many qualified accountants and technical cost estimators, whose principal tasks are to assist and advise 332
  in the pricing and post-costing of non-competitive contracts, are employed by his Department; and what is their average salary.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Procurement Executive employs 122 qualified accountants and 513 technical cost officers to assist in the pricing and post costing of non-competitive contracts. The main working grades within each group are on national salary scales with maxima of £18,245 and £14,558 respectively. The majority of these staff are located outside the London area; however those based in the inner London weighting area receive an additional £1,750.

  Soldiers (Family Compensation)
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement of the size of the offers of compensation to families of the six soldiers killed in Lisburn; and what means are available to him to ensure that compensation goes beyond the concept of financial loss arising from death.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I have been asked to reply on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

  Under the criminal injuries legislation in Northern Ireland, a soldier's family will be compensated for any financial loss or expenses resulting from his death. Compensation is paid as a tax-free lump sum representing the value of past and capitalised future loss and is assessed broadly on the basis of common law practice. The general objective of the statutory scheme is to ensure that the victim or, if he has died, his dependants, do not suffer financial hardship. It is not and could not be designed to put an arbitrary assessment on the value of a life lost to bereaved members of the dead person's family. Such a loss is beyond price.

  Nevertheless, in recognition of the immediate problems which may be faced upon bereavement by the closest members of the family, amending legislation (which came into force on 1 July 1988) provides for the payment of a bereavement award of £3,500 but, as in common law, it is payable only to the spouse of a victim or the parents of an unmarried minor. These same principles are followed by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in Great Britain, but exceptionally in Northern Ireland there is no upper limit on financial loss compensation where the death was caused by a terrorist act.

  Offers of compensation have been made to the parents of the three single soldiers killed at Lisburn and to the widow of a fourth who was married. Compensation will be assessed in the two remaining cases when outstanding information on the widow's financial loss is received. In the case of the single soldiers, the offers were based on the financial contributions each made to his parents and the length of time the contributions might reasonably have been expected to continue; this is the common law practice. The offer made to the widow of the married soldier took account of the deceased's earnings and his promotion prospects, projected to the normal date of retirement. Any applicant who is dissatisfied with the amount of compensation determined has a statutory right of appeal to the courts.

  In addition to statutory compensation, payments are made by the Government under the armed forces pensions scheme and the war pensions scheme. Under the former, financial support in the form of a pension and a tax-free lump sum is provided for widows and dependent children

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  and in the case of a single soldier whose death is attributable to service a tax-free lump sum is paid to his estate. The minimum lump sum paid to the estate of an unmarried soldier below the rank of corporal is £8,792 and the estates of single corporals and sergeants receive at least £11,336 and £12,498 respectively.

  The widow of a soldier whose death is attributable to service is entitled, for a period of six months, to a short-term pension under the armed forces pensions scheme based on her husband's daily rate of pay, and thereafter to an attributable family pension for herself and any children. A tax-free lump sum is also payable. The annual pension for the widow of a soldier below the rank of corporal amounts to £3,312 plus £879 per child and for the widows of corporals and sergeants to £4,457 plus £1,134 per child and £4,980 plus £1,250 per child respectively. For the same ranks the minimum lump sum entitlements are £13,188, £17,004 and £18,747.

  Under the latter the widow of a soldier with a rank up to and including sergeant would, if under 40 and without dependent children, be entitled to an average pension of £12·40 per week. Otherwise she would be entitled to an average weekly pension of £53·55 and £12 for each dependant child. Allowances for age (for widows over age 65), rent and the education of dependant children may also be paid.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Families (Benefits)
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish figures showing the number of (i) family income supplement claimants in 1987 and (ii) family credit claimants at the latest date available broken down into one and two earner families.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  At April 1987, the latest date for which information is available, 209,000 families with one earner and 11,000 families with two earners were in receipt of family income supplement. Equivalent information for family credit is not available.

  Social Fund
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in the Official Report, the text of his Department's circular reference RD LO 113.88 on the social fund.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The document to which the hon. Member refers is, in fact, an internal management communication which is not normally intended to be in the public domain. Its purpose is to give information to local office managers.

  The text of the document is as follows:
  "You will be aware that the take up of Community Care Grants (CCGs) nationally has been lower than anticipated. Both statistical information and a significant level of feedback from regions and local offices indicate a variety of reasons for this but three in particular stand out. They are:

  a lack of co-operation from statutory and voluntary agencies;

  instances of rigid interpretation of the guidance which itself gives an impression of rigidity by its phraseology; insufficient publicity.

  I am now writing to seek your co-operation and help in taking action to encourage take up of CCGs. Clearly the situation varies from office to office and it is for you to decide
  334
  what action needs to be taken locally. The information and guidance in the following paragraphs is designed to assist you in that task.
  Despite the widely publicised controversy which has surrounded the Social Fund it is evident that many statutory and voluntary agencies remain unclear as to the potential of the CCG scheme for helping their clients. It is also the case that attitudes towards the Social Fund within Social Services and Social Work Departments are changing or show signs of doing so.
  With these points in mind your local liaison arrangements should be reviewed to see where existing contacts might be strengthened or expanded or links established with new groups or those who have rejected previous approaches. Liaison must be an ongoing exercise.
  The scope for launching further initiatives aimed specifically at other organisations should also be explored. These could include the Home Help Service, Health Visitors, Age Concern, Housing Associations involved in resettlement work as well as other agencies which represent people in Community Care Priority Groups. Such initiatives might include talks by LINOs1, SFOs2 or local management. Alternatively, approaches might include letters outlining the Social Fund to the range of local organisations. Visitiing officers should also be aware of the potential help available from the Social Fund.
  Recent HEO3SF seminars have emphasised the need for flexibility in interpreting guidance rather than rigid adherence to it as a set of rules. Clearly a consistent approach to decision making is required but within the parameters of that consistency, flexibility in the interpretation should be applied to individual cases where this is justified on the particular circumstances. Work is currently under way to clarify the guidance in Part 6 of the SFM4 and an amendment is likely to be published early in 1989 which will reflect the required approach.
  The revision of Part 6 will also provide further guidance on the intention behind Direction 4(a)(ii) that a CCG may be awarded to help prevent people going into institutional care rather than simply an immediate threat of entering care. This is in line with the principal aim of the CCG scheme of helping applicants to enable them to live as independent a life as possible in the community. I would be grateful if you could ensure that SFOs and HEOs are made aware of this clarification to the guidance.
  You will wish to know that HQ are currently examining the adequacy of present publicity arrangements and considering what additional measures might be taken to advertise the availability of CCGs and so encourage take-up.'

  1 Local Information Officers.

  2 Social Fund Officers.

  3 Higher Executive Officer.

  4 Social Fund Manual.

  Family Credit
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for family credit have been made for each month since April 1988; how many claims have been paid during the same periods; and what has been the average income of claimants and the average housing costs showing rent separately, of claimants during this period.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The number of family credit claims and awards is as follows:

  Claims received

  Awards made

  April

  96,505

  40,213

  May

  41,721

  June

  52,293

  36,145

  July

  46,100

  37,912

  August

  46,376

  40,249

  September

  47,759

  24,158

  October

  56,373

  44,944

  November

  57,850

  46,234

  335

  Claims received

  Awards made

  December

  44,834

  35,797

  January

  63,638

  42,712

  No information is available about the average income or housing costs of claimants.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many children there are in families claiming family credit; and what is the number of children in families entitled to family credit.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  In December 1988, the latest date for which information is available, there were approximately 520,000 children in families receiving family credit. An estimate of the number of children in families eligible for family credit cannot be made until information from the 1988 family expenditure survey is available.

  Staff Dispersal
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the number of employees to be taken on by the Department of Social Security in Glasgow, Wigan and Belfast as a result of the dispersal of jobs presently located in London which was announced on 16 January;

  (2) how many of the posts created by the dispersal announced on 16 January he expects to be filled (i) by transfer of existing staff from local Department of Social Security offices in the areas involved, (ii) by transfer for existing staff from London, and (iii) by hiring of new staff;

  (3) what is the planned reduction in staff numbers in the Department of Social Security local offices in those areas gaining new posts as a result of the dispersal announced on 16 January.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  As a direct result of the movement of work from 21 London offices announced on 16 January, we shall be creating around 450 jobs in Glasgow, 350 in Belfast and 260 in Wigan. Detailed recruitment plans will be a matter for the manager of each social security centre (SSC), but staff who wish to move from London or from local offices in the area of the SSC will have the opportunity to do so. We shall not be able to estimate the numbers involved until we have sought the views of staff affected. Current calculations show that, over the year 1989–90, there will be staff savings of about 310 for offices within daily travelling distance of the Glasgow SSC and about 280 for Wigan. Staff savings in the Northern Ireland Civil Service, are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Pensions
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list in the Official Report, for each constituency in Scotland, the number of males and females in receipt of the state retirement pension.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Information is not collected about the number of retirement pension recipients in any particular locality. However, at 30 September 1988 there were 788,380 retirement pension recipients in Scotland as a whole, of whom 256,850 were men and 531,530 women. These figures exclude those receiving graduated pension only.
  336
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will institute a system of age priority when reviewing claims or hearings for war pensions or disablement pensions whereby age will be a factor in determining the degree of priority accorded to new claims.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We are grateful for the suggestion. However, war pension claimants are predominately elderly, and relating priority to age would lengthen the processing of most claims. Priority is already given to claimants identified as having a short life expectancy.

  Agency Benefits Unit
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average time taken by the agency benefits unit to process forms AG1 submitted by practitioners; and whether he will take steps to speed up the process.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  In the period 12 December 1988 to 3 February 1989 forms AG1 were cleared on average within 6·6 working days of receipt. This average masks a wide variation in clearance times due to the need to seek further information in some cases, and a more representative measure is that, in the same period, 61·2 per cent. of forms were cleared within five working days and 80·8 per cent. within 10 workings days.

  The number of staff in the agency benefits unit was increased in December 1988. We are also looking at the design of form AG1 in the light of experience, with a view to improving its effectiveness and reducing the need for follow-up inquiries.

  Benefits (Leicestershire)
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security why Miss A., a constituent of the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton, referred to in the letter from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, the hon. Member for Fareham dated 11 November reference PO(35)2487/23, is required to apply for jobs regularly despite being unable to obtain employment because of her son's disabilities; and why she cannot be issued with a permanent order book.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Social security legislation requires that an able-bodied adult should be available and looking for work as a condition of receiving benefit. However, for some people this rule would be inappropriate and so there are exceptions to it. One of these exemptions applies to a person who is looking after a person in receipt of attendance allowance, and Miss A comes into this category during the school holidays when she cares for her 19-year-old son. The payment of benefit by order book is not possible when Miss A is required to register for work, and becomes so only for the holiday periods when she cares for her son.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security why Miss A., reference PO(35)2487/23, received no order book over the Christmas holidays, although she had previously notified the social security office in advance of the dates of her handicapped son's holiday.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Over the Christmas period Miss A. continued to receive her full entitlement to benefit from the unemployment benefit office because she continued to register as available for work.
  337
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether, in making a decision over Miss A., reference PO(35)2487/23, he took account of the fact that the school holidays of her handicapped son are significantly different from those in Leicestershire.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No. The relative lengths of school holidays are not relevant when considering the question of Miss A.'s entitlement to benefit, although they could affect the method of payment adopted by the local office.

  All recipients of mobility allowance: average extra expenditure on travel1

  Severity category2

  1–2

  3–4

  5–6

  7–8

  9–10

  1–10

  (Standard deviation)

  A. Average weekly extra expenditure on travel

  Pensioners (£)

  1—

  1·70

  2·80

  2·80

  1·80

  2·40

  (3·80)

  Non pensioners (£)

  2·30

  3·40

  3·60

  3·70

  2·30

  3·20

  (5·30)

  All disabled adults (£)

  2·60

  2·90

  3·40

  3·40

  2·20

  3·00

  (4·90)

  B. Proportion with extra expenditure on travel

  Pensioners (per cent)

  1—

  43

  53

  52

  37

  46

  Non-pensioners (per cent.)

  45

  60

  50

  50

  36

  48

  All disabled adults (per cent.)

  43

  54

  51

  50

  36

  47

  C. Base: Sample numbers of mobility allowance recipients

  Pensioners

  21

  40

  43

  50

  41

  196

  Non-pensioners

  53

  87

  111

  121

  101

  473

  All disabled adults

  74

  127

  154

  172

  142

  669

  1 Base too small to show statistics.

  2 Overall measure of severity constructed by OPCS to classify people with different numbers and types of disability (category 1 least severe, category 10 most severe)

  Part A of the table shows extra expenditure averaged over all recipients of the relevant benefit, irrespective of whether they actually reported extra expenditure: sample numbers are too small to compute a reliable average confined to those who reported extra expenditure. Part B shows the proportion of those who reported extra expenditure.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in the Official Report tables relating receipt of attendance allowance at each rate to the amount of extra expenditure on home services, classified according to severity of disability from the data

  All recipients of higher rate attendance allowance: average extra expenditure on home services1

  Severity category2

  1–2

  3–4

  5–6

  7–8

  9–10

  1–10

  (Standard deviation)

  A. Average weekly extra expenditure on home services

  Pensioners (£)

  3—

  3—

  3—

  1·70

  1·70

  1·60

  (6·10)

  Non-pensioners (£)

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  2·00

  1·50

  (7·10)

  All disabled adults (£)

  3—

  3—

  3—

  1·40

  1·80

  1·60

  (6·40)

  B. Proportion with expenditure on home services

  Pensioners (per cent.)

  3—

  3—

  3—

  29

  17

  22

  Non-pensioners (per cent.)

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  9

  12

  All disabled adults (per cent.)

  3—

  3—

  3—

  27

  15

  19

  C. Base: Sample numbers of higher rate AA recipients

  Pensioners

  2

  3

  16

  58

  135

  213

  Non·pensioners

  1

  3

  10

  25

  64

  105

  AH disabled adults

  3

  5

  26

  83

  199

  317

  1Source: OPCS surveys of disability 1985–88.

  2 Overall measure of severity constructed by OPCS to classify people with different numbers and types of disability (category 1 least severe, category 10 most severe)

  3 Bases too small to show statistics.

  Mobility Allowance
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in the Official Report tables relating receipt of mobility allowance to the amount of extra expenditure on travel, classified according to severity of disability from the data in the survey by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys on the financial circumstances of disabled adults living in private households; and if he will tabulate separately pensioners and non-pensioners.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 23 January 1989]: The information requested is as follows:

  in the survey by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys on the financial circumstances of disabled adults living in private households; and if he will tabulate separately pensioners and non-pensioners.

  Mr.Scott
  [holding answer 23 January]: The information requested is as follows:
  339
  Part A of the table shows extra expenditure averaged over all recipients of the relevant benefit, irrespective of whether they actually reported extra expenditure: sample numbers are too small to compute a reliable average

  All recipients of lower rale attendance allowance: Average extra expenditure on home services1

  Severity category2

  1–2

  3–4

  5–6

  7–8

  9–10

  1–10

  (Standard deviation)

  A. Average weekly extra expenditure on home services

  Pensioners (£)

  3—

  3—

  9·00

  2·10

  5·80

  4·50

  (22·40)

  Non-pensioners (£)

  3—

  3—

  0·20

  0·30

  0·50

  0·30

  (1·70)

  All disabled adults (£)

  3—

  3—

  5·00

  1·70

  4·30

  3·20

  (18·60)

  B. Proportion with extra expenditure on home services

  Pensioners (per cent.)

  3—

  3—

  30

  22

  24

  23

  Non-pensioners (per cent.)

  3—

  3—

  8

  5

  7

  7

  All disabled adults (per cent.)

  3—

  3—

  20

  18

  19

  18

  C. Base: Sample number of lower rate AA recipients

  Pensioners

  4

  16

  43

  120

  139

  322

  Non-pensioners

  5

  12

  37

  40

  56

  149

  All disabled adults

  9

  28

  80

  160

  195

  472

  1Source: OPCS surveys of disability 1985–88.

  2 Overall measure of severity constructed by OPCS classify people with different numbers and types of disability (category 1 lest severe,category 10 most severe).

  3 Bases too small to show statistics.

  Part A of the table shows extra expenditure averaged over all recipients of the relevant benefit, irrespective of whether they actually reported extra expenditure: sample numbers are too small to compute a reliable average confined to those who reported extra expenditure. Part B shows the proportion of those who reported extra expenditure.

HEALTH

  Health Hazards
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that consumers are advised promptly and effectively when health hazards related to foodstuffs become known to his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Action on health hazards related to foodstuffs depends on the nature and seriousness of the hazard. We do ensure that consumers are warned of hazards as quickly as possible.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state for the 10 district health authorities with the longest waiting lists in the latest available returns(a) the length of wait and (b) the type of procedure or surgery to which the wait applies.

  Mr. Freeman
  Waiting information about individual districts is published in "Hospital Waiting Lists—Regional and District Summaries", copies of which are available in the Library. The summaries provide a percentage breakdown by time waited and by surgical specialty. We do not collect waiting information centrally by type of operation.

  The 10 district health authorities with the largest waiting lists at 31 March 1988 were:

  Bloomsbury

  Sheffield

  340
  confined to those who reported extra expenditure. Part B shows the proportion of those who reported extra expenditure.

  Norwich

  Leicestershire

  North Staffordshire

  Liverpool

  Barking, Havering and Brentwood

  Bristol and Weston

  Newcastle

  Shropshire

  Halton General Hospital
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the future development of Halton general hospital.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Mersey regional health authority has established a sub-committee to look into the future development of Halton district general hospital. The sub-committee is due to report back to the RHA sometime in the spring.

  Abortion
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he now expects to publish the findings of the study commissioned by his Department in 1976 into post-abortion syndrome.

  Mr. Freeman
  I understand that the results of this study should be written up later this year and that the researchers then expect to submit it to a learned journal for publication.

  Nursing Homes
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursing home places are available in Staffordshire; and if he will give the location and number of beds and cost per place of each.

  Mr. Freeman
  The latest information held centrally is that on 31 December 1986 there were 659 beds in establishments in Staffordshire registered with health authorities as nursing homes. I understand that the
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  number is likely to have increased substantially since then. Information on location and cost per place is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to write to the chairman of the Staffordshire health authorities for further information.

  Cervical Smears
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any information about the frequency of availability of cervical smears in other western European and north American countries and the mortality rates from cancer of the cervix.

  Mr. Freeman
  We have no detailed information on the frequency of availability of cervical smear testing in these countries. Mortality rates for western European and north American countries are given in the 1988 "World Health Statistics Annual", published by the World Health Organisation, a copy of which is in the Library. In England and Wales the death rate from cervical cancer fell by 14 per cent. between 1976 and 1986.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he gives about the age at which cervical smears should be made available.

  Mr. Freeman
  Guidance to health authorities on cervical cancer screening is contained in health circular HC(88)1, which was issued in January 1988 and has been placed in the Library. We have asked health authorities to invite all women aged 20 to 64 for routine screening by March 1993, unless their GP has indicated that they should be excluded. Women aged 65 and over who have not had two consecutive negative smears in the last 10 years should also be screened. Smears should also be taken at any age if clinically necessary.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give details of those district health authorities which make provision for cervical smears more frequently than on a three yearly basis.

  Mr. Freeman
  This information is not currently available centrally. Regional health authorities have been asked to provide it in their outturn reports for 1988–89.

  Census
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is his intention to include questions on(a) ethnic origin and (b) disability in the 1991 census.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Government's proposals for the 1991 census in Great Britain were published in a White Paper (Cm. 430) on 19 July 1988.

  A question on disability is not included in the proposals. The census will, however, include a question on long-term illness in which each person will be asked whether he or she has any long-term illness, health problem or handicap which limits his or her daily activities.

  A question on ethnic group is to be included in the census test in April 1989 and the results studied by the Government before deciding whether to include such a question in the final plans for the 1991 census.

  Aluminium (Baby Milk)
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he has any plans to ban the sale of those baby milks which have been identified as containing high levels of aluminium;

  (2) if he will issue guidelines on risks to babies from drinking milks which have been identified as containing high levels of aluminium.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to my replies to the right hon. Member for Stoke on Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) and the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan (Mr. Wray) on 6 February at columns 491 and 501 respectively.

  Listeria
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has received any data on whether the use of microwave ovens for reheating cook-chill meals will eliminate listeria.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The research projects listed by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in his reply to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on 9 February 1989 at columns 780–81 include one on microwave ovens. The information obtained from these studies will be made available to my Department.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the safe threshold of listeria in food consumed by a pregnant women.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The 1988 World Health Organisation working group indicated that virtually nothing is known about the infectious dose of listeria monocytogenes in man, although it may be related to host susceptibility. Advice was given to pregnant women and other vulnerable groups last week about certain soft cheeses and other foods which may present a risk.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the relationship between the increase in listeriosis and the consumption of cheeses over the most recent convenient period.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Although it is most likely that listeriosis is a foodborne disease, the cause of most cases is as yet unknown. However, high numbers of listeria have been found in several varieties of soft cheeses, and a number of cases of listeriosis—both in this country and abroad—have been associated with eating heavily contaminated soft cheese. For this reason, the Government's chief medical officer has advised pregnant women and people recovering from serious illness to avoid eating soft cheese.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has received any report from the public health laboratory service on the incidence of listeria in pre-cooked chickens.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  At my Department's request, the public health laboratory service recently carried out a survey of the prevalence of listeria monocytogenes contamination in certain cooked chilled foods. This showed that 12 per cent. of the pre-cooked ready-to-eat poultry purchased from retail outlets contained listeria. monocytogenes. Adequate reheating will destroy the organism.
  343
  This was the basis of the advice given to pregnant women and other vulnerable groups on Friday 10 February that they should thoroughly reheat such foods. The recent survey was fully taken into account when that advice was issued. The latest survey does not indicate a degree of risk which would justify dietary advice to healthy adults who would be very unlikely to suffer adverse effects from the levels of contamination detected.

  I will be laying regulations under the Food Act to ensure better temperature controls in retail refrigerated units. We have been engaged in talks with the Ministry of Agriculture, manufacturers, retailers and caterers aimed at developing a code of practice and improving procedures in the handling of retail cooked poultry and chilled meals.

  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases have been identified in the past 10 years of meningitis caused as a result of consuming United Kingdom-produced listeria-infected cheese.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  There has been one case of listeria meningitis in the past 10 years which was microbiologically associated with a United Kingdom-produced cheese. The cause of most cases of listeriosis remains unknown, although it is most likely that it is foodborne.

  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of listeria in the United Kingdom have been identified in the past 10 years as having been caused by cheese made from unpasteurised milk products produced(a) within the United Kingdom, (b) in France and (c) in any other country; and if he will publish the scientific evidence available to him on the risk presented by such cheese.

  Mr. Kenneth Clark
  Two reported cases of listeriosis have been directly attributed to the consumption of cheese made from unpasteurised milk, one produced in the United Kingdom and one in France.

  There has been a variety of published evidence indicating the risk associated with both unpasteurised and pasteurised soft cheeses. In particular, the "Report of the WHO Informal Working Group on Foodborne Listeriosis", Geneva 15–19 February 1988 and "Occurrence in the UK of Listeria specis in Raw Chicken and Soft Cheeses" published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology 1988 Vol. 6. However, as he indicated in his public statement on 10 February 1989, the Government's chief medical officer has recently been taking further expert advice on the risks.

  Lead Pollution
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health
  (1) what evidence he has available of levels of lead pollution in the air in Cardiff over the last 10 years; what trends have been reflected in measurements taken during the period; what are the figures for other cities in the United Kingdom; and what steps is he taking to reduce lead pollution in the atmosphere in Cardiff and elsewhere in England and Wales;

  (2) what information he has on the level of lead in the atmosphere which is considered acceptable in the urban environment and the level which is considered to be detrimental to the health of pedestrians and of the public at large.
  344
  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies given to him today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Environment.

  Cheese
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance and control he has given during the last 12 months to assist port health authorities in their inspection of cheese imports for listeria contamination.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  In February 1988, port health authorities were asked to direct their monitoring of imported soft cheeses to those in which a problem had previously been identified.

  Private Dental Treatment
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether income tax relief for those over 60 years will apply to payments made to private dental capitation schemes for dental patients.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I have been asked to reply. The precise treatments that will be covered and the conditions which will apply are under consideration.

  Salmonella
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for
  Health (1) if he has any evidence of the incidence of(a) salmonella enteritidis and (b) any other strain of salmonella in (i) farmed salmon and (ii) other farmed fish;

  (2) what is the procedure for monitoring the produce of salmon farms to ensure its safety for human consumption.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 23 January 1989]We are not aware of any evidence which shows that salmonella enteritidis, or any other strain of salmonella, has been isolated from farmed salmon or other farmed fish.

SCOTLAND

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the effect of interest rate levels on Scottish farmers.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend is well aware of the concerns of Scottish farmers about interest rates. We estimate that interest payments by Scottish farmers in 1988 were only slightly higher than in 1987. What happens in 1989 will depend upon the course of interest rates and the level of farmers' indebtedness.

  The Government believe that, despite problems caused by short-term movements in interest rates, keeping inflation under control must remain our top priority since farming stands to benefit as much as other sectors of the economy from low inflation.

  Egg Production
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received any recent representations from the National Farmers' Union of Scotland about egg production; and if he will make a statement.
  345
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Officials of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland have met representatives of the National Farmers Union of Scotland to discuss what further action might be taken to tackle the problem of salmonella in eggs. The union generally welcomed the measures announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 18 January at columns 214–15.

  Hunterston A Power Station
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the breach of safety licence by the South of Scotland electricity board at its Hunterston A Magnox nuclear plants on 25 August 1988.

  Mr. Lang
  On 25 August 1988, the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate was informed that fuel supply valves in the Hunterston A diesel generator system had been found in a closed position. No release of radioactivity had occurred and there was no immediate danger to the public or staff. However, in view of the alleged breach of a key operating rule requiring that sufficient diesel generating plant be kept ready for use in an emergency the South of Scotland electricity board was prosecuted and a fine of £1,500 was subsequently imposed by the Kilmarnock sheriff court on 6 February 1989.

  The open way in which the South of Scotland electricity board reported the incident to the nuclear installations inspectorate and the thoroughness of the investigations carried out by both parties are indicative of the determination of both the Government and the South of Scotland electricity board to maintain stringent nuclear safety standards. I am confident that the operators and the nuclear installations inspectorate take very seriously their responsibility in this regard, and that they will continue to do so after privatisation of the electricity industry.

  Extradition
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions since 1979 his Department has made extradition applications for terrorist or other offences; and how often, by whom and for what reasons such requests have been rejected.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information in respect of requests made to foreign and Commonwealth Governments is not available centrally and cannot be obtained except at disproportionate cost. In relation to the Republic of Ireland, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East (Mr. Ross) on 8 December 1988.

  Highlands (Adverse Weather)
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what further consultations are planned and by what methods, with the following involved in or affected by the recent adverse weather conditions in the Scottish Highlands(a) Highland regional council, Inverness district council, Ross and Cromarty district council, (b) riparian landowners and tenant farmers in the Conon valley and residents in Conon Bridge, (c) the North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board and (d) the British Waterways Board.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My noble Friend the Minister of State visited areas affected by flooding on 346
  Wednesday 8 February, and met a number of local representatives at that time. Reports have been requested from the North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board, Highland regional council and Inverness district council and we are in touch with the British Waterways Board. We are preparing a report on the River Conon floodbank arrangements and will be discussing proposals with those affected. Further consultations will be undertaken with interested parties as and when appropriate.

  River Conon (Flooding)
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to set up an inquiry into the recent flooding of the River Conon, Ross-shire, to include consideration of(a) the role of the hydro board with regard to water control, flow and release in and from nearby dams, (b) the question of suitability of previous embankment repairs on a limited basis, (c) the recommendations for comprehensive flood protection schemes as outlined in earlier consultants' reports; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board has been asked for a report on its releases of water prior to and during the recent flooding. The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland is preparing a report on the damage sustained by floodbanks. Until these reports have been studied it is too early to make any statement either on the suitability of the present arrangements or on a comprehesive flood protection scheme such as that outlined in the earlier consultants' report.

  Mental Handicap Nurses
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will list, for each health board, the number of mental handicap nurses from each of the old grades who have been assimilated to each of the new grades.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not held centrally and could be gathered only at disproportionate cost.

  Structural Funds
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report full details of the programmes which his Department intends to submit to the European Economic Community Commission in Brussels for support under objective 5b of the reformed Community structural funds.

  Mr. Lang
  It would be premature to speculate on programmes before the areas eligible for assistance under objective 5b are known.

  House Buyers
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the financial incentives available for first-time housebuyers since 1979, showing any changes n the amounts offered; and whether any further measures are planned.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Government introduced the right to buy for public sector tenants in 1980 as a major means of promoting owner-occupation.
  347
  Since then discount levels have been increased, and we have introduced a number of other improvements to the scheme to make it easier for tenants to purchase their homes. We have also introduced provisions to enable local authorities to offer grants to assist their tenants to obtain accommodation other than as a tenant of the local authority. Also, we have retained tax relief on mortgage interest which gives substantial help to most housebuyers in Scotland, and the limit on qualifying loans was increased from £25,000 to £30,000 in April 1983.

  Under the Homeloan scheme, first-time buyers who are registered and have saved with an approved institution for at least two years can apply for a bonus on their savings of up to £110 and a loan of £600, interest free, for up to five years. The house price limits in the Homeloan scheme are kept under review. On 9 February the Government laid an order which proposes increases in the limits in all areas in Great Britain. However, the Homeloan scheme has been ineffective, and the Local Government and Housing Bill introduced on 1 February, includes powers for bringing the scheme to an end in Great Britain.

  The operation of right to buy, and mortgage tax relief, are kept constantly under review.

  Tourism
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many and what value of section 4 grants have been made for each of the past five years in Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  The level of grants and approvals under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969 is as follows:

  Financial year

  Number of approvals

  Value of assistance (£ million)

  1984–85

  92

  2·3

  1985–86

  158

  3·8

  1986–87

  136

  2·9

  1987–88

  125

  5·2

  1988–891

  75

  4·5

  1 Estimate.

  Newbattle Abbey College
  Mr. Eadie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his reply of 1 February,Official Report, column 306, what response he has now made regarding the approach made to him concerning Newbattle Abbey college, Dalkeith.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend hopes to be able to respond shortly.

  NHS Video
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the cost of the video recording concerning the Government's proposals for the National Health Service that is being shown to National Health Service staff in Scotland; whether any bodies or indviduals independent of the Government were given an opportunity to contribute to this public information exercise; how much staff time will be taken up in viewing this material; and if he will provide facilities for alternative comments on the future of the National Health Service to be projected to National Health Service employees.
  348
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  As regards costs, I refer the hon. Member to my reply of today to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Wallace). The video recording includes contributions from several people in the Health Service as well as members of the Government. I hope that all those who work in the Scottish Health Service will have the opportunity to see the 15-minute video presentation, which explains the Government's proposals set out in the White Paper "Working for Patients". Since these proposals will affect everyone concerned with the delivery of health care in future, it is in keeping with the best practice of responsible management to ensure that the proposal are clearly explained. That does not apply to the variety of comments that may arise from other sources.

  Rates
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing(a) rates per household and (b) rates per adult for 1988–89 for each district and region in Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  Rates per household 1988–89 £

  Average rale bill per adult 1988–89 £

  Borders

  360

  211

  Central

  478

  249

  Dumfries and Galloway

  385

  212

  Fife

  475

  258

  Grampian

  394

  215

  Highland

  363

  209

  Lothian

  582

  314

  Strathclyde

  533

  279

  Tayside

  466

  263

  Berwickshire

  355

  214

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  358

  205

  Roxburgh

  356

  209

  Tweeddale

  379

  224

  Clackmannan

  450

  237

  Falkirk

  427

  226

  Stirling

  585

  297

  Annandale and Eskdale

  382

  210

  Nithsdale

  398

  210

  Stewartry

  399

  235

  Wigtown

  355

  199

  Dunfermline

  465

  244

  Kirkcaldy

  459

  254

  North East Fife

  525

  292

  Aberdeen City

  432

  231

  Banff and Buchan

  346

  192

  Gordon

  393

  221

  Kincardine and Deeside

  398

  224

  Moray

  337

  182

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  381

  243

  Caithness

  313

  174

  Inverness

  428

  230

  Lochaber

  359

  213

  Nairn

  423

  234

  Ross and Cromarty

  365

  213

  Skye and Lochalsh

  253

  165

  Sutherland

  248

  164

  East Lothian

  595

  317

  Edinburgh City

  603

  333

  Midlothian

  557

  275

  West Lothian

  514

  271

  Argyll and Bute

  446

  277

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  887

  423

  Clydebank

  468

  241

  Clydesdale

  507

  257

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  546

  271

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  431

  221

  Cunninghame

  514

  283

  349

  Rates per household 1988–89 £

  Average rate bill per adult 1988–89 £

  Dumbarton

  584

  309

  East Kilbride

  570

  280

  Eastwood

  791

  399

  Glasgow City

  506

  274

  Hamilton

  553

  280

  Inverclyde

  515

  263

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  485

  259

  Kyle and Carrick

  579

  303

  Monklands

  523

  255

  Motherwell

  502

  251

  Renfrew

  541

  284

  Strathkelvin

  607

  280

  Angus

  426

  242

  Dundee City

  486

  278

  Perth and Kinross

  465

  255

  Edinburgh Western General Hospital
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about Lothian health board's proposals to close the paediatric unit and the evening accident and emergency unit at Edinburgh Western general hospital.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Lothian health board is considering the responses received to a consultative document issued on 25 November about changes to paediatric services in its area. The board proposes to open a purpose-built medical paediatric ward at the new district general hospital at Livingston and to provide the accident and emergency services and the medical paediatric in-patient services for the remainder of its area at the Royal hospital for sick children, Edinburgh. Outpatient medical paediatric services will continue at the Western general hospital, Edinburgh and the surgical paediatric workload there will increase following other recent changes to paediatric services in Edinburgh.

  "Working for Patients"
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department has spent on publicity in relation to the White Paper, "Working for Patients".

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 14 February 1989]: A total of £36,384·13. We spent £21,177·50 plus £3,176·63 VAT on the production and duplication of video cassettes, and £12,030 on copies of an explanatory leaflet, the better to explain the White Paper's proposals to the 150,000 people working in the Health Service in Scotland, and to a number of other interested groups.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Institution of Professional Civil Servants
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next plans to meet representatives of the Institution of Professional Civil Servants; and what matter he expects to discuss.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  My right hon. Friend has no current plans to meet representatives of the Institution of Professional Civil Servants. However, my noble Friend the 350
  Parliamentary Secretary has recently attended the annual delegate conference of the AFRC branch of the IPCS al its invitation.

  Forestry Commission
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Forestry Commission; and what matters they discussed.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I last met the chairman of the Forestry Commission on 3 October 1988 when we discussed progress in the task of clearing and replanting woodlands damaged by the previous October's storm in south-east England.

  Farmers (South Wiltshire)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to meet farmers in south Wiltshire to discuss the outlook for farmers in 1989.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have no specific plans to do so at present, though my colleague the Parliamentary Secretary, Baroness Trumpington, will be meeting the South Wiltshire branch of the NFU on 10 March to discuss various agricultural matters.

  Sheepmeat
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the reform of the European sheepmeat regime.

  Mr. MacGregor
  There have been some preliminary discussions on the Commission proposals for reform of the sheepmeat regime, with some member states insisting that the revised voluntary restraint agreement with New Zealand should be concluded first. I do not anticipate rapid progress.

  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when he next meets the Council of Ministers, if he will discuss the sheepmeat variable premium scheme.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  A proposal to phase out the sheep variable premium scheme forms part of the European Commission's proposals for a review of the sheep regime. It will be discussed on the next occasion that these proposals are placed before the Council of Ministers.

  Food and Farming Year
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to ensure that the Food and Farming Year celebrations highlight the success of British agriculture.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The main purpose of Food and Farming Year is to make the success of British agriculture and the food industry more widely understood. A wide-ranging programme of events both national and regional has been put together by a Committee representing all parts of the industry. And with full support from the Ministry.

  58. Mr. Harris: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food who will be funding events in celebration of British Food and Farming Year.
  351
  Mr. MacGregor
  The funding of British Food and Farming Year has been undertaken by the industry itself. The viability of the national events such as the festival in May in Hyde park, the travelling exhibition and the teachers' resource pack has been assured by generous sponsorship from major companies. The many local activities are being similarly supported by local organisations and farmers. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has provided funds for an educational pack illustrating certain current agricultural issues and is linking its own centenary exhibition with the Hyde park festival. The Crown Estate and the Countryside Commission have also given assistance.

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps have been taken to improve the welfare of horses, ponies and other equines since 1979; what further measures he proposes to take and when; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Horses and other equines have always been protected by the general legislation on animal welfare. Since 1979 they have benefited from the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act and the Protection Against Cruel Tethering Act. My Department hopes this year to finalise a draft order and code of practice giving horses statutory protection in markets for the first time, and we are also preparing new measures on welfare at slaughter.

  Agricultural Valuers
  Mr. Marland
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives of agricultural valuers and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  I met representatives of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors on 9 November 1988. My right hon. Friend the Member of Suffolk Coastal (Mr. Gummer), then Minister of State, met the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers on 10 June 1988, when he spoke at their AGM. I have been hoping to meet the CAAV for some time and will do so as soon as a mutually convenient date can be found.

  Food Policy
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he plans to meet the National Consumer Council to discuss his Ministry's food policy.

  Mr. Ryder
  My right hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, South (Mr. MacGregor) last met the chairman of the council on 8 November to discuss the council's report on consumers and the common agricultural policy. I also met the council on 7 December when we discussed a wide range of topics. I firmly believe that close liaison between my Department and consumer groups is essential and I, my ministerial colleagues and officials, have regular contact with the council on matters of mutual interest and concern.

  Salmon
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received concerning the present circumstances surrounding the north-east salmon fishery.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received concerning the north-east salmon fishery.

  Mr. Leadbitter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received regarding the prohibition of the use of T nets in the southern area of the Northumbrian water authority area.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  We have received a number of representations about the salmon net fisheries off the north-east coast of England. A recent report to Ministers of a public inquiry into a proposed byelaw has been published and we shall be reviewing the fishery, and salmon net fisheries in eastern Scotland, presenting a report to Parliament, as required by the Salmon Act 1986.

  Research and Development
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any plans to meet trades unions to discuss research and development.

  Mr. Ryder
  I have arranged for the trade union side in my Department to be kept fully informed of developments in the normal way. My noble Friend Baroness Trumpington attended the annual delegate conference of the AFRC branch of the IPCS on 9 February.

  Flood Protection
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the Government's present estimate of costs in long-term flood protection.

  Mr. Ryder
  Following a comprehensive review of flood prevention requirements undertaken with the assistance of drainage authorities, the Government identified the need for an increased long-term programme of work, and have made additional funding available for both local and water authority schemes. Government funding for flood prevention work undertaken by these authorities and internal drainage boards will be £21 million, £24 million and £30 million for the next three years on capital programmes of £57 million, £66 million and £81 million respectively.

  Nature Conservancy Council
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Nature Conservancy Council; and what matters they discussed.

  Mr. Ryder
  I met the chairman of the Nature Conservancy Council on 7 November last year when we discussed a wide range of subjects.

  Woodlands
  Mr. Lord
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made in the planting and regeneration of lowland woodlands in England; and if he will make a statement.
  353
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the latest figures on the number of farmers applying to join the farm woodland scheme.

  Mr. MacGregor
  By 31 January 1989, some 650 farmers throughout the United Kingdom had applied to plant a total of about 4,600 hectares of woodland under the farm woodland scheme. This is an encouraging start. A substantial proportion of the proposed planting will be with broadleaves. Although final figures are not yet available applications to the Ministry indicate that broadleaved planting may account for around 75 per cent. of the area planted across the country as a whole.

  Most applications already submitted should be approved in time for planting to go ahead this season. Although it is unlikely that any further applications received from now on will obtain approval for planting this spring, I would encourage any interested farmers to start making plans and preparing applications for next year.

  More generally, we are seeing the success of our broadleaves policy with broadleaved trees being incrasingly used for the creation of new woods and the regeneration of older woodland. Most new planting in England will be in the lowlands in future.

  Fisheries (Research and Development)
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the future of fisheries research and development.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  We consider that the Government should focus their resources on basic and strategic science and research of a public good nature and necessary to carry out its responsibilities. Against that background we have reviewed publicly funded fisheries research and development and are now discussing with industry organisations the extent to which they are ready to fund certain research at Torry research station which is primarily concerned with the development of new products and processes.

  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the new co-ordinator of fisheries research and development for Great Britain is to be based in London or Edinburgh.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Since 1972 this appointment has been made alternately for three-year periods by my Department and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland. My director of fisheries research, based in Lowestoft, became co-ordinator in January 1989.

  Whaling
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he was last in touch with the International Whaling Commission; and what issues were raised.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Reflecting our serious concern on whaling issues, I have recently authorised the United Kingdom commissioner to propose a resolution to the International Whaling Commission dealing with the current whaling operating being undertaken by Japan for scientific research studies. If adopted, the resolution will 354
  formally call upon Japan to cease her research plans until the major concerns identified by the International Whaling Commission scientific committee have been addressed and resolved.

  Torry Research Establishment
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on future funding of his Department's research establishment at Torry, Aberdeen.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Research needed in support of the Government policies for food safety and quality and related underpining work will continue to be publicly funded. Other research primarily concerned with the development of new products and processes is more appropriate for industry funding; and we are discussing with industry organisations the extent to which they will be ready to fund such work at Torry, in addition to the services which Torry research station already provides on a repayment basis.

  Fishing Ports
  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next expects to visit fishing ports in the north of England.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have recently visited a number of fishing ports in the north of England and I will do so again.

  Animal Diseases
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his Department's policy for controlling animal diseases.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The Government's policy is to maintain this country's freedom, through stringent domestic and import control measures, from serious animal diseases such as foot and mouth disease. For other, less serious diseases, which do occur, the policy may be one of eradication, control or the provision of advice. In determining what action is appropriate an essential, consideration is the need to safeguard the public from those animal diseases which can be transmitted to man.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Dr. Bray
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research is being undertaken into the cause, method of transmission and prevention of bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Research studies revealed that the most likely cause of bovine spongiform encephalopathy was the feeding of ruminant-based material to cattle. This practice was banned from 18 July last year. Various other research projects are being undertaken, including a study to determine whether cattle-to-cattle transmission can take place. There is no evidence that the disease can be transmitted to humans.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to make public the report of the Southwood committee on the human health implications of bovine spongiform encephalopathy; and if he will make a statement.
  355
  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I and the Secretary of State for Health have just received the report of the Southwood working party. It is being considered urgently and will be published soon.

  Deer (Tuberculosis)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further measures he proposes to take to contain the spread of tuberculosis in farmed and wild deer.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I announced my proposals for the control of tuberculosis in farmed deer on 15 December 1988 Official Report, columns 674–75. Urgent consideration is now being given to the comments made on the proposals by interested organisations. I have no plans to introduce measures for wild deer.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in each of the last five years how many cases of tuberculosis have been confirmed in persons engaged in working with farmed deer in the United Kingdom; and whether any such cases have been confirmed as originating from deer.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I have been asked to reply. Under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985, employers are required to report cases of tuberculosis among their employees if the employees in question work with persons or animals or with human or animal remains or with any other material which might be a source of infection. Since the regulations came into operation in April 1986 one case of tuberculosis in a person working with farmed deer has recently been 356
  reported, but this case has not been confirmed. I regret that comparable information for previous years is not available.

  Poultry Feed
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he intends to amend the ingredients regulations relating to poultry feedstuffs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  Officials of my Department are currently engaged on discussions in Brussels on a proposal which would require suppliers of feeding-stuffs, including mixed poultry feeds, to declare the ingredients or categories of ingredients which have been used. This would supplement the detailed information already required for such products.

  In addition, further controls are to be introduced on the processing and importation of animal protein, and codes of practice are being drawn up which will cover the handling, storage and manufacture of poultry feeding-stuffs and their components.

  National Farmers Union
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the president of the National Farmers Union; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave on 13 February to my hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) at column 88.

  Beef Support
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the livestock industry following the announcement of revised support arrangements for beef.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  My right hon. Friend and I have had representations from various sectors of the industry. These have been concerned in particular with the rate of suckler cow premium and the method of operation of the new special premium for beef and we are currently considering these issues.

  Sheep
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the state of the sheep sector.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The sheep sector remains buoyant. Returns are good and exports are encouraging.

  Country Landowners Association
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the president of the Country Landowners Association; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Ryder
  I last met the president of the Country Landowners Association on 6 December 1988 when we discussed environmentally sensitive areas and national parks. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food also met the president yesterday to discuss landlord-tenant matters.

  Food Prices
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the rates of increase in food prices(a) in the 1970s and (b) in the 1980s; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  The information is as follows:

  (a) Rate of increase in Rate of increase in food prices in the 1970s

  Rate of increase in food in the prices in the 1980s

  Year

  per cent. per annum

  Year

  per cent. per annum

  1970

  7·0

  1980

  12·1

  1971

  11·1

  1981

  8·4

  1972

  8·8

  1982

  7·9

  1973

  15·0

  1983

  3·2

  1974

  18·0

  1984

  5·6

  1975

  25·6

  1985

  31

  1976

  20·0

  1986

  3·3

  1977

  19 ·0

  1987

  3·1

  1978

  7·1

  1988

  3·5

  1979

  12·0

  —

  —

  Source Retail Price Index

  Between May 1979 and December 1988, the average annual rate of increase in food prices was 5·6 per cent. These figures reflect the success of the Government's food policies and can be compared with the rate of increase in food prices of 165·7 per cent. per annum between October 1974 and May 1979, the period in office of the last Labour Administration.

  European Ministers
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next hopes to meet his counterparts in the European Community; and what matters he hopes to discuss.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I will next meet my counterparts in the European Community at the Agriculture Council scheduled for 6 and 7 March when I expect the main agenda item to involve continued discussions on the Commission's price proposals for 1989–90 and related issues.

  Food Additives
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking in accordance with the provisions of section 4(2) of the Food Act 1984 to restrict, as far as practical, the use of substances of no nutritional value in foods.

  Mr. Ryder
  Before making regulations on the composition of food under the Food Act 1984 Ministers seek the advice of independent expert advisory committees including where appropriate advice on need and safety. In making their recommendations the committees are required by Ministers to take account of section 4(2) of the Act.

  Agriculture Act 1947
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to seek to amend the Agriculture Act 1947.

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

  EC Intervention Stores
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest estimate of the total cost of European Economic Community intervention stores in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The estimated total cost of intervention storage and related expenditure in 1988–89 is £50·466 million.

  Meat and Livestock Commission
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Meat and Livestock Commission; and what they discussed.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  My right hon. Friend and I maintain regular contacts with the chairman of the Meat and Livestock Commission to discuss matters of mutual interest.

  Food Advisory Committee
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the Food Advisory Committee; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Ryder
  I met the retiring chairman of the Food Advisory Committee and his successor on 7 December 1988.
  359
  Agendas of the committee's meetings are publicly available.

  Intensive Farming
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies he is undertaking into the effects on the food chain of intensive animal farming.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  My Department undertakes and commissions a great deal of research into food safety, including animal diseases transmissible to man through the food chain. Research into animal diseases takes full account of animal husbandry methods. In addition the steering group on food surveillance ensures that the safety of food supplies are effectively monitored.

  Salmonella
  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the current level of salmonella enteritidis in poultry flocks.

  Mr. Ryder
  Since salmonella enteritidis does not cause overt clinical disease in adult poultry it is not possible to give precise figures of the extent of the infection without extensive testing, which in the absence of a simple, rapid and sensitive test for salmonella enteritidis, is not possible. However, the Zoonoses Order 1975 requires isolations of salmonella to be reported. As indicated by my hon. Friend the Member for Calder Valley (Mr. Thompson) in a written reply yesterday, provisional figures indicate that 370 isolations of salmonella enteritidis in 1988 were reported.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date he received the information on eggborne salmonellosis, contained in the joint report of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Department of Health and BEIC working group; and if he will list the actions he has taken since then to advise the public about any risks and to promote the reduction of salmonella contamination in laying flocks.

  Mr. MacGregor
  [holding answer 14 February 1989] :I received the report of the MAFF, Doll and BEIC working group on salmonella and eggs on 10 January this year. As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell) on 6 February Official Report columns 570–72 I have placed a copy of that report in the Library of the House and I am distributing copies to members of the public who request it.

  On 18 January I set out, in my reply to a question from the hon. Member for Suffolk, Central (Mr. Lord) Official Report columns 214–15, the range of measures we had already been taking and were proposing to take to tackle the salmonella problem at each point along the chain from poultry feedingstuffs, through the breeding flocks and hatcheries to the commercial egg producers.

  I subsequently announced on 10 February, in a written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Hereford (Mr. Shepherd) Official Report column 831 that we should shortly be taking powers to provide where necessary for the compulsory slaughter of laying flocks in which salmonella has been confirmed. This announcement was a logical follow-up to the one made by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary on 27 January, in a written answer to a question from my hon. Friend the hon.
  360
  Member for Daventry Official Report columm 806 that notices are being issued under the Zoonoses Order 1975 to egg producers with flocks known to be or suspected of being infected with salmonella enteritidis or other similar types of salmonella, to prevent the producers concerned from selling eggs in a raw state for direct human consumption.

  Other announcements were made by the Government before 10 January and further ones will be made as appropriate.

  Nitrates
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps his Department have taken to investigate the use of nitrates in intensive farming; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  My Department supports a wide range of research into the efficient use of both organic and inorganic fertiliser, and ways of reducing nitrate leaching. This indicates that the process of nitrate leaching is complex and that the use of nitrogen fertilisers is one of a number of factors affecting it.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the Government's response to the recent European community directive on agriculture practices and nitrates in water.

  Mr. Ryder
  The European Community directive referred to is only a proposal at this stage and the Government are still examining it. Our general view on how the nitrate problem should be tackled was, however, explained in my right hon. Friend's written reply of 24 November.

  Agricultural Fraud
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to detect and take legal proceedings on instances of agricultural fraud.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Lloyd) on 13 February 1989, at columns 87–88.

  Food Safety
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to improve standards of food safety.

  Mr. Ryder
  I shall maintain my Department's comprehensive food surveillance programme and ensure its future development in line with changing circumstances in the food production industry.

  I shall remain ready to take action wherever the results of our surveillance work show this to be necessary.

  "Agriculture in the United Kingdom 1988"
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the future of the farming industry, in the light of "Agriculture in the United Kingdom 1988", and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The Government appreciate that the necessary transition of the CAP to a greater market
  361
  orientation will cause difficult problems of adjustment for many farmers. However, without reforms the CAP risked collapsing under its own weight and this would not be in the interests of the industry. Public expenditure for agriculture remains high and indeed over the period from 1979 to 1988–89 there was an increase of 7½ per cent. In real terms. The Government introduced a range of policies aimed at helping farmers through this period of adjustment.

  Milk Marketing Board
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he is next due to meet the chairman of the Milk Marketing Board to discuss the dairy sector.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  My right hon. Friend the Minister and I have regular contacts with the chairman of the Milk Marketing Board to discuss various issues affecting the dairy industry.

  Sea Fish Industry Authority
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Sea Fish Industry Authority; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  On 26 January when we discussed the Sea Fish Industry Authority's request for an increase in levy. The possibility of industry funding for research and development work undertaken by Torry research station on behalf of the industry was also discussed.

  Set-aside Scheme
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the progress of the set-aside scheme.

  Mr. Ryder
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Rochford (Dr. Clark) on 13 February 1989 at column 88.

  Food Legislation
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about his consultation procedure on updating the legislation on food.

  Mr. Ryder
  I and my right hon. Friends consult widely with all interested parties when proposing new or updated food legislation, in accordance with our obligations under the Food Act 1984.

  Agriculture and Food Research Council
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received concerning possible redundancies in the Agriculture and Food Research Council.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any plans to meet representatives of those working for the Agriculture and Food Research Council to discuss the future of research and development.
  362
  Mr. Ryder
  My Department has received a number of letters about the closure of particular facilities which have been drawn to the attention of the Secretary of State for Education and Science. On 9 February my noble Friend the Baroness Trumpington attended the annual delegate conference of the Agriculture and Food Research Council branch of the Institution of Professional Civil Servants where similar concerns were expressed to her.

  Bees
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to deal with the outbreak of European foul brood disease amongst the bee population of Great Britain.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  In connection with the upsurge of European foul brood in Dorset I am taking the action authorised by the Bee Diseases Control Order 1982. This makes European foul brood a notifiable disease and empowers me to have affected colonies destroyed or treated, depending on the extent of infection, and to impose standstill notices on diseased colonies and on neighbouring colonies where this is considered necessary.

  Agriculture Extensification
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will raise with the Council of Ministers the policy of agriculture extensification.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell).

  Strawberries
  Sir David Price
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to prevent the spread of colletotrichum and Acutatum commonly known as black spot in strawberry plants in the United Kingdom; and what discussions he has had with his European colleagues to prevent the further importation of the disease from the mainland of Europe.

  Mr. Ryder
  We have taken a number of measures, in consultation with the National Farmers Union and representatives of the strawberry nuclear stock growers, to prevent strawberry black spot spreading in the United Kingdom. Where outbreaks occur, these measures require the control of movement of plants, compulsory spraying regimes and destruction of infected plants at the end of the cropping programme, followed by various hygiene measures. In addition, samples of all known imports of strawberry plants will be subject to inspection and where necessary laboratory tests to establish freedom from infection.

  Detailed discussions have taken place between my officials and the Netherlands plant protection authorities about preventing infected plants from the Netherlands being exported to the United Kingdom. The Netherlands authorities have undertaken to consider further action, and we are in close touch with them.

  Potato Marketing Board
  Mr. Haynes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now make a statement on the future of the Potato Marketing Board.
  363
  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Romsey and Waterside (Mr. Colvin) on 14 February at column 161.

  Poultry
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current state of the poultry industry.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The market for poultry meat is less buoyant than it was throughout 1988 although wholesale prices remain relatively stable. Egg sales still appear to be significantly below normal levels, but packer to producer prices have shown improvement after falling sharply in December last year.

  Baby Milk
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will name those brands of baby milk on which he has information that they contain high levels of aluminium; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  The Department of Health's independent expert medical and scientific advisory committee on toxicity of chemicals in food, consumer products and the environment recently considered the results of analyses by my Department of the aluminium content of infant formulae. The committee advised that in the light of these results there was no need for action to reduce the aluminium intakes from these products.

  It is not my practice to disclose information on the brands of goods monitored as part of food surveillance.

  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidelines have been issued by his Department on the safety of baby milk; and if his Department has any plans to instruct manufacturers of certain brands to withdraw them from sale.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the right hon. Member for Stoke on Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) on 6 February at column 491.

  Milk
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of liquid milk consumed in 1987 in England and Wales was not heat treated.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  It is difficult to establish a precise figure, but in the light of information published by the Federation of United Kingdom Milk Marketing boards in the 1988 edition of "Dairy Facts and Figures" I estimate that 2 to 3 per cent. of milk sold for liquid consumption in England and Wales in 1987–88 was not heat treated.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list(a) the number of milk bottling plants which currently produce green top milk, (b) what proportion of milk production this represents, and (c) what proportion of unpasteurised milk it represents.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Green top milk must be bottled on the farm. It follows that there are no milk bottling plants handling green top milk.
  364
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will give the total level of milk production in 1988; and if he will give proportions accounted for by(a) green top bottled milk, (b) other bottled milk, (c) pasteurised milk for other than liquid consumption, and (d) unpasteurised milk for other than liquid consumption;

  (2) if he will estimate the level of United Kingdom consumption of unpasteurised milk.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I have given today to the hon. Member for Carlisle (Mr. Martlew). Further information is set out in the 1988 edition of "United Kingdom Dairy Facts and Figures". There is a copy in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many inspections have been held of on-farm dairies producing for direct sale green top milk which have revealed listeria contamination during each of the last three years;

  (2) what steps he has taken during the last two years to improve the hygiene of on-farm dairies;

  (3) what steps he has taken during the last two years to improve the quality of unpasteurised milk sold direct to the public.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The production and processing of all milk is subject to strict controls under the Milk and Dairies Regulations. Producers who hold a licence to sell unpasteurised milk for liquid consumption under the special designation "untreated" are visited regularly by dairy husbandry advisers who check that the physical condition of the premises and the methods of production are in compliance with the regulations. In addition, samples of milk are taken for testing, but the milk is not tested for specific pathogens.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the sale by county of(a) pasteurised and (b) unpasteurised milk in the latest available year.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The information requested is not readily available.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he proposes to hold with consumer organisations before banning the sale of unpasteurised milk; and what representations he has received from them asking for such a ban.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The consultation exercise that my right hon. Friend announced on 3 February will range widely and will include consumer organisations. I have already received various representations arguing that a ban would be in the best interests of consumers.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish the scientific and medical advice on the basis on which he proposes to ban the sale of unpasteurised milk.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have been mainly influenced by information on outbreaks of food poisoning associated with consumption of untreated milk. Figures for the years 1982–88 were provided by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health in response to a question from the hon. Member for Carlisle (Mr. Martlew).

  Pesticides
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department is funding concerning the toxicity of pesticides approved for slug control on(a) hedgehogs and other wild mammals, (b) birds and (c) amphibians.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Before pesticides are approved their effects must be researched by manufacturing companies and data submitted in support of the application. These are evaluated by independent experts before any approvals for use are granted by Ministers. Research conducted by my own Department at Boxworth is aimed at comparing the relative effects on wildlife of broadcasting and of drilling slug pellets. My Department also operates a scheme for investigating suspected wildlife poisonings and slug control products are occasionally implicated in these.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those pesticides approved for use by his Department for slug control known to be toxic to(a) hedgehogs and other wild mammals, (b) birds and (c) amphibians.

  Mr. MacGregor
  All slug control pesticides have been assessed for environmental and wildlife hazards and the labels of approved products carry the relevant precautions to avoid harmful effects to birds and animals.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those pesticides approved by his Department for the destruction of slugs.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Four active ingredients are approved for slug control: aluminium compounds; copper compounds; methaldehyde and methiocarb. Products containing these are listed in HMSO reference book "Pesticides 1988."

  Cheese
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the volume of imports of soft cheese made from unpasteurised milk by country of origin for each of the last two years.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The import statistics do not separately identify cheese made from unpasteurised milk.

  Butter
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the replies to the hon. Member for Pembroke on 31 January,Official Report, column 184, and 6 February 1989, Official Report, column 697, what information is available to his Ministry from Eurostat as to the percentage of the United Kingdom packet butter market accounted for by the following countries (a) the United Kingdom, (b) Ireland, (c) France, (d) New Zealand, (e) Denmark, (f) the Netherlands and (g) Belgium and Luxembourg.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Eurostat does not contain information on the United Kingdom packet butter market.

  Hedges
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will lay a report before Parliament on the state of hedges in England and Wales.

  Mr. Ryder
  No representative studies have been undertaken of the condition of hedges in England and Wales because of the difficulties caused by variations between hedgerow types in different locations and serving different purposes.

  My Department is always ready to provide advice to farmers on hedgerow management, and grants are available for hedgerow planting and laying under the new farm and conservation grant scheme which subject to parliamentary approval will operate from next Monday.

  Coastal Waters
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement on the environmental quality of British coastal waters.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  All marine environmental quality standards, both EC and national, are met in British coastal waters. Levels of contaminants have generally been falling and are low. The quality of our seas is improving and I continue to seek further improvements wherever practicable.

  Waste Dumping
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what controls are applied to the dumping of waste in British waters.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I impose strict controls on dumping to ensure that no harm is caused to the marine environment. All wastes licensed have been subject to thorough scientific tests. Only very limited categories of waste are authorised. Where disposal on land is practicable sea disposal is not licensed.

  Most of the material which I license for dumping at sea is dredged spoil from harbours and estuaries. We must keep our ports open. This is, of course, also the case in other European countries, some of whom dump much more both in volume terms and contamination terms than we do. All the spoil which I license for dumping meets the relevant international rules to avoid marine pollution

  Of 30 sea dumping licences for liquid industrial waste in 1987 some 20 have been reviewed in detail and either withdrawn or a firm intention to terminate given. The 10 remaining licences for liquid industrial waste are currently under review to investigate whether safe disposal on land is practicable.

  Five licences for marine incineration have already been terminated and alternatives for the remaining eight are being carefully studied.

  In the case of sewage sludge, this material is more than 95 per cent. water. Trace levels of contaminants in sewage sludge have been reduced by more than 60 per cent. since 1980. It was agreed at the North sea conference in 1987 not to increase contaminant levels and I am seeking to reduce them further. I am currently reviewing with the water authorities the availability of alternative methods of disposal for the sludge, including land disposal options.

  Covent Garden Market
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has decided what action he intends to take in respect of the possible privatisation of the Covent Garden market.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I am currently considering the options available on the future of the market, including the possibility of privatisation. As a first step, I have decided to commission an independent commercial feasibility study on the possibilities of privatisation, and will shortly be asking for tenders for this appointment from appropriate organisations.

EMPLOYMENT

  London Jobcentres
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the median time notified vacancies remain at London jobcentres, broken down by classification.

  Mr. Cope
  The table shows the latest available information which is also in the Library. Analysis of median durations is shown in respect of(a) vacancies filled by jobcentres over the period 5 September to 2 December 1988 and (b) the stock vacancies remaining unfilled at jobcentres on 2 December 1988. Median durations are not estimated in respect of the total time that all vacancies, including notifications subsequently cancelled, remain in the jobcentre records.

  Median duration in weeks of filled and unfilled vacancies at jobcentres in Greater London by occupation

  (a)

  (b)

  Occupation

  Filled vacancies1 5 September to 2 December 1988

  Unfilled vacancies2 2 December 1988

  Managerial and professional

  2·4

  4·8

  Clerical

  1·0

  4·0

  Cashiers

  1·9

  3·8

  Secretaries and typists

  2·1

  4·1

  Other non-manual

  1·3

  4·7

  Textile processing crafts

  1·7

  3·0

  Food processing crafts

  2·8

  3·7

  Glass and ceramic crafts

  1·9

  4·8

  Printing and bookbinding crafts

  1·8

  5·4

  Textile and leather working

  3·1

  5·4

  Woodworking crafts

  1·5

  4·1

  Metal making and treating

  1·0

  3·5

  Setters

  2·3

  4·0

  Turners

  3·1

  4·7

  Setter operators

  2·9

  4·9

  Tool makers

  2·0

  7·0

  Fitters and fitter machinists

  2·8

  4·5

  Vehicle making

  2·5

  3·5

  Instrument makers

  2·8

  6·8

  Electrical and electronic

  2·3

  4·6

  Plumbing crafts

  2·3

  3·1

  Constructional metal crafts

  2·1

  5·0

  Painting and coating crafts

  0·3

  3·8

  Construction crafts

  0·7

  3·8

  Mining crafts

  30·1

  31·86

  Electricity power plant operators

  38·7

  34·0

  Craftsmen and foremen N.E.S.

  2·1

  3·3

  General labourers

  0·2

  4·0

  Clerical sales and security

  0·3

  4·3

  Catering and domestic

  0·7

  3·5

  Road sweeping and personal service

  1·3

  3·3

  Farming and fishing etc.

  1·1

  4·9

  Processing making and repairing

  1·5

  4·2

  368

  (a)

  (b)

  Occupation

  Filled vacancies1 5 September to 2 December 1988

  Unfilled vacancies2 2 December 1988

  Assembly packaging

  0·5

  4·2

  Construction

  0·2

  4·3

  Goods driving

  1·4

  3·0

  Other transport operating

  0·3

  3·9

  Storekeeping and materials moving

  0·8

  2·9

  Miscellaneous

  0·2

  3·0

  All occupations

  0·8

  3·9

  1 The time since notification exceeded by 50 per cent. of the vacancies filled by jobcentres.

  2 The time since notification exceeded by 50 per cent. of unfilled vacancies registered at jobcentres.

  3 Medians are likely to be affected by the small number vacancies in these cases.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many vacancies flowed through London jobcentres in the last 12 months.

  Mr. Cope
  The inflow of vacancies notified to jobcentres in Greater London, over the 12 months to December 1988 was 407,800, with a total outflow of 420,100 either filled or cancelled vacancies from the jobcentre records. These totals are based on the monthly seasonally adjusted series. They do not represent the total flow of vacancies in the economy.

  Vacancies (London)
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of vacancies London employers notify to jobcentres.

  Mr. Cope
  A survey of employers in Greater London, carried out for the Employment Department by IFF Research Ltd. In June 1988, found that 45 per cent, of vacancies that had been filled during the preceding year had at some stage been notified to a jobcentre. At any one time, though, it is estimated that only 20 to 25 per cent, of available vacancies will have been notified to jobcentres.

  Agriculture (Accidents)
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many YTS trainees have suffered reportable accidents while working in the agricultural industry in each of the last five years, for which records are available.

  Mr. Cope
  A new computer system is currently being updated to provide more detailed analysis of YTS incident information. Accident information before 1988 by industry is not available.

  Information for 1988 is as follows:

  1988 Agricultural accidents1

  Fatal

  Major injuries2

  Minor injuries

  Total number reported to the Training Agency

  None

  48

  183

  Number which would not have been reported to HSE

  None

  8

  28

  1 Training Agency accident figures for YTS have been compiled on a similar basis to those prepared by the Health and Safety Executive for employed people. However, the agency's figures include a number

  369
  of accidents, in particular road traffic accidents during scheme time and accidents to trainees in educational establishments, which may not have been reportable to the executive had the individuals been employed.

  2 From 1 April 1986 major injuries have been classified according to severity criteria laid down in the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 (RIDDOR).

  Horse Racing
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many YTS trainees have suffered reportable accidents while working in the equestrian and horse racing industry, in each of the last five years for which records are available.

  Mr. Cope
  A new computer system is currently being updated to provide more detailed analysis of YTS accident information. Accident information before 1988 by industry is not available.

  Equestrian accidents: 19881

  Fatal

  Major injuries2

  Minor injuries

  Total number reported to the Training Agency

  None

  20

  61

  Number which would not have been reported to HSE

  None

  2

  5

  1 Training Agency accident figures for YTS have been compiled on a similar basis to those prepared by the Health and Safety Executive for employed people. However, the agency's figures include a number of accidents, in particular road traffic accidents during scheme time and accidents to trainees in educational establishments, which may not have been reportable to the executive had the individuals been employed.

  2 From I April 1986 major injuries have been classified according to severity criteria laid down in the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrances Regulations 1985 (RIDDOR).

  Child Employees (Accidents)
  Mr. Archer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many notifiable accidents there have been to children in the course of legal employment in each year since 1973, categorised by age of child and severity of accident.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The available information collected under current regulations is set out in the table. It relates to all young people aged 13 to 15 described as employees in injury reports.

  Injuries to employees aged 13 to 15 reported under RIDDOR1 to all enforcing authorities

  Fatal

  Major

  Over 3 day

  Total

  1986–872

  aged 13

  —

  6

  2

  8

  aged 14

  1

  7

  2

  10

  aged 15

  —

  10

  15

  25

  1987–882 3

  aged 13

  —

  2

  3

  5

  aged 14

  —

  12

  1

  13

  aged 15

  1

  10

  24

  35

  1 Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985.

  2 Year commencing I April: analyses of data by age before 1981 are not available. Between 1981 and 1985 the apparent numbers of employed children being injured in the course of work were inflated by extensive mis-reporting and mis-coding of injuries to non-employed children and reliable figures are therefore not
  370
  available. However, following a careful examination of the narrative reports of injuries to children at work from 1981 to 1984, a note was published in Health and Safety Statistics 1984–85, available in the House of Commons Library.

  3 Provisional.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information the new training and enteprise councils will have to make available in their three year business plans and proposed annual reports; and how much of this information will be publicly available.

  Mr. Cope
  Details of what information training and enterprise councils will need to provide in their three-year business plans and annual reports are under consideration. A council's report will however be a public document, and they will also have to publish a synopsis of their business plans.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether the new training and enterprise councils will make publicly available, scheme by scheme, statistics showing the ethnic backgrounds of the YTS and employment training trainees recruited by their local training managers-managing agents; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  The arrangements under which training and enterprise councils will operate are being developed and these matters are being given consideration. Councils will be required to continue and develop equality of opportunity on YTS and employment training.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information training and enterprise councils will make publicly available on the health and safety performance of the YTS and employment training schemes they are responsible for; and what information will be made publicly available in the case of accidents leading to serious injury or the death of a trainee.

  Mr. Cope
  The detailed arrangements under which training and enterprise councils will operate are being developed and these matters are being given consideration. Councils will be required to promote high standards of health and safety on YTS and employment training.

  YTS
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what monitoring of YTS managing agents will be taking place in 1989–90; if all existing YTS-approved training organisations will be subjected to a full review of their training arrangements on all 10 criteria that make up approved training organisation status; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  The key features of the arrangements for 1989–90 are as follows:

  (i) Agreement of development plans and performance targets for training outputs.

  (ii) Review of achievements throughout the year.

  (iii) Selective involvement in development work.

  (iv) Annual review of performance.

  (v) Negotiation of subsequent contract.

  In addition, selective inspections are carried out by the training standards advisory service.

  Compliance with the 10 ATO criteria will be fully reviewed and used in the annual review of performance. In

  371
  addition, a formal re-examination of approved status can be made at any time if evidence from the monitoring arrangements shows this to be necessary.

  Working Population
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the current estimates and

  Estimates and projections of the population of working age

  Thousand

  Men aged 16 to 64 years

  Women aged 16 to 59 years

  Estimates

  Projections

  Estimates

  Projections

  1979

  1983

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1979

  1983

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  North

  980

  993

  993

  992

  989

  985

  900

  898

  899

  901

  896

  893

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1,522

  1,561

  1,573

  1,575

  1,580

  1,579

  1,389

  1,407

  1,423

  1,429

  1,430

  1,430

  East Midlands

  1,197

  1,241

  1,276

  1,285

  1,291

  1,297

  1,083

  1,115

  1,146

  1,157

  1,166

  1,172

  East Anglia

  578

  608

  632

  639

  647

  653

  519

  545

  572

  580

  586

  593

  South East

  5,317

  5,476

  5,587

  5,610

  5,663

  5,682

  4,907

  4,995

  5,118

  5,148

  5,176

  5,193

  Greater London1

  2,183

  2,185

  2,203

  2,203

  2,214

  2,213

  2,040

  2,026

  2,052

  2,056

  2,062

  2,063

  South West

  1,305

  1,369

  1,418

  1,433

  1,440

  1,450

  1,201

  1,243

  1,296

  1,315

  1,317

  1,327

  West Midlands

  1,641

  1,681

  1,696

  1,703

  1,702

  1,701

  1,477

  1,495

  1,510

  1,519

  1,526

  1,528

  North West

  1,991

  2,025

  2,037

  2,039

  2,039

  2,034

  1,839

  1,836

  1,848

  1,855

  1,853

  1,850

  Wales

  863

  879

  890

  896

  892

  891

  790

  798

  806

  813

  810

  810

  Scotland

  1,577

  1,627

  1,648

  1,649

  1,654

  1,655

  1,490

  1,511

  1,523

  1,526

  1,528

  1,526

  1 Included in South East.

  Source: Office of Population Censuses and Surveys and General Register Office for Scotland.

  Employment Training
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, what safeguards he is taking to ensure the confidentiality of the personal information given to employment training training agents and managers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Personal information held on computer systems of training agents and training managers is already protected by the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1984.

  Training Agency officials are considering whether any further safeguards for the protection of personal information are necessary.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what personal information employment service staff and claimant advisers may obtain on an employment training trainee from the trainee's training manager or training agent; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Patrick Nicholls
  No information about the personal characteristics or personal circumstances of a trainee should be passed to the employment service by a training agent or training manager.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people who are direct entrants on employment training and not transferred in have left employment training since it began; and how many have left employment training after being transferred in from a constituent part.

  Mr. Nicholls
  To the end of December 1988, the latest date for which information is available, 39,500 people had left employment training. It is estimated that of these about 20,000 had been direct recruits. The remainder had chosen to transfer from other programmes.

  Trade Unions
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what estimates his Department has made as 372
  projections of the population of working age, men and women, by standard region including Greater London, for 1979, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989.

  Mr. Lee
  The figures requested are given in the table:

  to the number of employees who belong to trade unions under (a) pre-entry closed shop arrangements and (b) post-entry closed shop arrangements.

  Mr. Nicholls
  On the basis of the 1984 workplace industrial relations survey, it was estimated that approximately 500,000 employees worked under pre-entry closed shop arrangements and around 3·1 million under post-entry closed shop arrangements. We expect to be able to update these estimates shortly in the light of our review of the closed shop.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Eadie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when the hon. Member for Midlothian can expect an answer to his letter dated 3 February, written on behalf of the Miners' Parliamentary Group, requesting a meeting with him.

  Mr. Cope
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has asked me to meet the hon. Member and the meeting has been arranged.

  Tourism
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many and what value of section 4 grants have been made for each of the past five years in the north Devon area.

  Mr. Lee
  I regret that this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many and what value of section 4 grants have been made for each of the past five years in the Duchy of Cornwall.

  Mr. Lee
  Under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969, the English tourist board has offered assistance to projects in Cornwall, during the last five years, as follows:
  373

  Financial Year

  Number of projects

  Total assistance offered £

  1984–85

  41

  572,870

  1985–86

  43

  433,009

  1986–87

  55

  757,556

  1987–88

  36

  568,948

  11988–89

  22

  618,625

  1 To January 1989.

  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many section 4 grants have been made for each of the past five years in the West Country tourist board area; and what was their total value.

  Mr. Lee
  Offers of assistance made by the English tourist hoard under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969 to projects in the West Country tourist board area during the five years up to March 1988 were as follows:

  Year

  Number of projects

  Total value of assistance offered £

  1983–84

  116

  2,760,000

  1984–85

  125

  1,934,000

  1985–86

  156

  2,464,000

  1986–87

  201

  3,519,000

  1987–88

  157

  3,125,000

  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will lift his suspension of section 4 grants for the south-west of England to bring their regulations in line with those for Scotland and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  No. The particular scheme of assistance operated in England under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969 has been suspended pending consideration of this and a number of other issues arising out of the review of tourism policy.

  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many section 4 grants have been paid out to firms in Devon during each of the past five years for which statistics are available.

  Mr. Lee
  Under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969, the English tourist board has offered assistance to projects in Devon, during the last five years, as follows:

  Financial Year

  Number of Projects

  1984–85

  43

  1985–86

  73

  1986–87

  83

  1987–88

  78

  1988–891

  47

  1 (to January 1989)

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list all projects financed by section 4 tourism grants in each region during each year since 1979 giving in each case the size of the grant and the percentage of the total expenditure on the project this represented.

  Mr. Lee
  This information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has as to what was the labour force participation rate for(a) men and (b) women in the age groups (i) 16 to 19 years, (ii) 20 to 24 years, (iii) 25 to 54 years, (iv) 55 to 64 years and (v) 65 to 74 years, in 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985 and 1988, for the United Kingdom, France, West Germany, Italy, the United States of America, Japan and Sweden.

  Mr. Lee
  This information is not available for all the countries listed at the detailed level requested. The table below gives the available data common to all countries. More detailed information on European Community countries is included in the Eurostat publication "Labour Force Survey Results", copies of which are kept in the Library.

  Total labour force as a percentage of population aged 15–64

  1970

  1975

  1980

  1985

  1986

  United Kingdom

  Males

  94·4

  92·1

  90·5

  88·9

  88·5

  Females

  50·7

  55·1

  58·3

  60·6

  61·6

  France

  Males

  86·9

  84·3

  81·7

  76·7

  76·3

  Females

  48·5

  51·1

  54·4

  54·9

  55·3

  Germany

  Males

  92·5

  87·0

  83·6

  80·0

  79·8

  Females

  48·1

  49·6

  50·0

  50·3

  51·1

  Italy1

  Males

  86·8

  n/a

  82·8

  79·3

  79·3

  Females

  33·5

  n/a

  39·6

  41·0

  42·3

  United States

  Males

  87·1

  85·4

  84·7

  84·0

  84·4

  Females

  48·9

  53·2

  59·7

  63·8

  64·9

  Japan

  Males

  89·4

  89·7

  89·0

  87·8

  87·6

  Females

  55·4

  51·7

  54·9

  57·2

  57·4

  Sweden

  Males

  88·8

  89·2

  87·8

  84·2

  84·1

  Females

  59·4

  67·6

  74·1

  77·6

  73·3

  Source: "Labour Force Statistics 1966–1986" (OECD) except UK(DE).

  1 Population aged 14–64.

  Single Parents
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many single parents are on each Government training scheme; how many single parents on those schemes take up the child care allowance available; what is the total annual cost of the child care allowances scheme; and what is the estimated cost of providing child care allowance on training schemes for all married women who could potentially enter those schemes.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 15 February 1989]: Information on lone parents on Government training schemes is available only for employment training, which is the only such scheme under which child care allowances are available.

  Over 2,000 lone parents have already joined employment training. Information on how many of them are claiming for child care payments will not be available until the end of April but, so far, advances of just over £1

  375
  million have been made to training managers in respect of their commitments to child care allowances. The cost of making child care allowances to all married women who could potentially enter Government training schemes is difficult to estimate but would undoubtedly be substantial.

ENVIRONMENT

  Football Clubs
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many football clubs in England and Wales the hon. Member for Lewisham, East (Mr. Moynihan) has visited since becoming Minister of Sport; and if he will list the clubs visited.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I have visited the following Football League clubs since my appointment as Minister for Sport:

  Charlton Athletic

  3 October 1987

  20 December 1987

  23 January 1988

  23 April 1988

  8 October 1988

  14 January 1989

  28 January 1989

  Derby County

  26 March 1988

  Hartlepool United

  27 February 1988

  Luton Town

  16 January 1988

  Manchester United

  1 January 1988

  Millwall

  19 November 1988

  29 January 1989

  Oxford United

  23 November 1988

  Tottenham Hotspur

  31 October 1987

  West Ham United

  8 January 1989

  Reading

  5 May 1988

  Aston Villa

  19 May 1988

  Arsenal

  9 August 1988

  Liverpool

  16 November 1988

  Housing (Rural Areas)
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to encourage the provision of low-cost housing in rural areas.

  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide additional finance for housing in small rural communities.

  Mr. Trippier
  I refer my hon. Friend and the hon. Member to the answer that I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Beverley (Mr. Cran) on 8 February at columns 726–27.

  Bed-and-Breakfast Accommodation
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the latest figures for families in bed-and-breakfast accommodation in England and Wales.

  Mr. Trippier
  Latest estimates of households temporarily placed in bed-and-breakfast accommodation by English local authorities appear in table 4(a) of "Local authorities' action under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England. Results for the third quarter of 1988. Supplementary Tables", which is available in the Library.

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

  Housing Defects
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any proposals to reform the Housing Defects Act 1984.

  Mr. Trippier
  We have recently consulted on possible changes intended to streamline the housing defects scheme of assistance for house owners; copies of the Department's consultation letter are in the Library. We are considering responses and will reach decisions as soon as we can.

  Isle of Dogs Enterprise Zone
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether firms located in the Isle of Dogs enterprise zone at 26 April 1992, when the enterprise zone scheme ceases, will become liable for payment of unified business rates at the full amount.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The consultation document on the arrangements for phasing in the effects of the uniform business rate and the 1990 revaluation issued by the Department yesterday, copies of which are in the Library, proposes that phasing of rate bills should not apply to properties in enterprise zones when those come to an end.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide a breakdown on a year by year basis of the total rate allowance claimed in the Isle of Dogs enterprise zone.

  Mr. Trippier
  The information is as follows:

  £

  1982–83

  1,093,665

  1983–84

  1,509,245

  1984–85

  2,290,567

  1985–86

  2,192,527

  1986–87

  3,192,998

  1987–88

  5,077,452

  1988–89

  11,697,261

  London Docklands
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will give the new address of each firm that has been relocated from the London docklands urban development area with London Docklands development corporation assistance;

  (2) if he will provide a breakdown by economic sector of those firms that have been relocated from the London docklands urban development area with London Docklands development corporation assistance;

  (3) how many firms have been relocated from the London docklands urban development area with London Docklands development corporation assistance; and what was the total cost to the corporation of these relocations.

  Mr. Trippier
  I shall write to the hon. Member.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide an estimate of the number or proportion of the jobs attracted to the London docklands urban development area that have gone to residents of the London boroughs of Newham, Tower Hamlets and Southwark and the basis for any estimate given.
  377
  Mr. Trippier
  Of the 20,317 jobs attracted to the LDDC area since 1981, some 4,955, approximately one in four, have gone to residents of Newham, Southwark or Tower Hamlets.

  This estimate is based on surveys of employment in the LDDC area in 1985 and 1987 commissioned by LDDC, and relates only to "employing establishments". There are a further 5,668 jobs in "other employments", for example one man businesses and construction sites. An unknown proportion of these jobs will also be held by residents of the three boroughs.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 23 January,Official Report, column 457, if he will provide a breakdown by economic sector of the 41 firms employing 10 or more people that closed between 1981 and 31 March 1988 in the London docklands urban development area.

  Mr. Trippier
  The information requested is as follows

  SIC code

  Number of firms

  1 Energy and water

  1

  2 Extraction of minerals; Manufacture of metals

  3

  3 Metal goods/vehicles industry

  3

  4 Other manufacturing

  8

  5 Construction

  4

  6 Distribution, Hotels, Catering, Repairs

  14

  7 Transport and Communications

  8

  41

  Enterprise Zones
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what sums have been paid to each local authority in the United Kingdom in lieu of rates forgone from enterprise zones for each of the years 1985–86, 1986–87, and 1987–88, respectively.

  Mr. Trippier
  Payments to local authorities in England in lieu of rate revenue forgone in enterprise zones for the years 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88 are

  Rate revenue foregone in enterprise zones in England

  Local authority

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  £

  £

  £

  Allerdale DC

  194,144

  395,657

  223,208

  Burnley BC

  191,357

  298,216

  374,204

  Corby DC

  2,218,820

  2,910,965

  3,525,720

  Dudley MBC

  2,013,690

  3,075,557

  4,140,797

  Gateshead MBC

  2,638,897

  5,033,264

  8,245,316

  Gillingham BC

  328,307

  442,456

  537,537

  Glanford BC

  91,352

  69,187

  84,998

  Gravesham BC

  270,000

  464,379

  405,000

  Hartlepool BC

  416,477

  484,173

  882,353

  Hyndburn BC

  105,716

  172,022

  225,206

  Liverpool City Council

  1,853,441

  1,514,011

  2,279,287

  Middlesbrough BC

  436,244

  599,627

  830,644

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne City Council

  1,396,925

  1,423,770

  1,323,318

  Newham LBC

  140,523

  160,579

  16,398

  Pendle BC

  54,720

  100,113

  125,379

  Rochester Upon Medway City Council

  763,131

  907,536

  1,117,189

  Rossendale BC

  68,711

  143,707

  152,348

  Rotherham MBC

  616,295

  900,000

  1,322,538

  Salford City Council

  1,316,946

  2,402,410

  3,114,988

  Scunthorpe BC

  617,481

  884,015

  1,262,052

  Tower Hamlets LBC

  2,052,004

  3,032,419

  5,061,054

  Trafford MBC

  1,777,069

  2,536,069

  2,761,715

  378

  Local authority

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  £

  £

  £

  Wakefield MBC

  871,066

  1,144,653

  1,210,739

  Wellingborough BC

  224,653

  466,823

  2,448,341

  Wrekin DC

  555,602

  1,608,298

  1,804,880

  Note The table shows payments made in each financial year. Claims in respect of any one financial are not always made before the end of that year and may consequently be paid in a following year.

  Grants (London)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the proposed allocations of city partnership and programme authority grants to London boroughs for 1989–90 and for 1988–89.

  Mr. Trippier
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. Patnick) on 1 February at columns 215–17 and to the hon. Member for Burnley (Mr. Pike) on 3 February at columns 428–29.

  Accommodation Agencies
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to conduct a review of the conduct of accommodation agencies.

  Mr. Trippier
  I have no plans to do so.

  Housing Statistics
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list his initial housing investment programme allocations to local authorities in(a) inner London, (b) outer London, (c) the south-east outside London, (d) East Anglia, (e) the south-west, (f) the east midlands, (g) the west midlands, (h) Yorkshire and Humberside, (i) the north, (j) the north-west and (k) England as a whole for (1) 1989–90, (2) 1987–88, (3) 1985–86, (4) 1983–84, (5) 1981–82 and (6) 1979–80 at constant 1989–90 prices.

  Mr. Trippier
  A table giving the information requested has been laid in the Library. Since 1981–82 local authorities have been able to supplement their allocations by expenditure financed from capital receipts. Nationally, two thirds of local authorities spending power on housing in 1989–90 is expected to come from capital receipts.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the number of local authority dwellings let through the national mobility scheme and for London's other schemes(a) in total and (b) to homeless households between 1 April 1987 and 31 March 1988, in (i) Greater London, (ii) in metropolitan areas, (iii) in non-metropolitan areas in the south-east, (iv) in all non-metropolitan areas and (v) in England as a whole;

  (2) what was (a) the total number of households and (b) the number of homeless households taking up nominations made between 1 April 1987 and 31 March 1988 by local authorities to secure housing association or new town tenancies in (i) Greater London, (ii) other metropolitan areas, (iii) in non-metropolitan areas in the south-east, (iv) in all non-metropolitan areas and (v) in England as a whole;

  (3) what was (a) the total number of homeless households and (b) the number of homeless households in

  379
  priority need for whom local authorities accepted responsibility between 1 April 1987 and 31 March 1988, for securing accommodation in (i) Greater London, (ii) in other metropolitan areas, (iii) in non-metropolitan areas in the south-east, (iv) in all non-metropolitan areas and (v) in England as a whole;

  (4) how many local authority dwellings were (a) vacant and available for letting on 1 April 1987 and (b) became available for letting between 1 April 1987 and 31 March 1988 (i) through new build, (ii) through acquisition, modernisation or conversion, (iii) through other means, including vacation by existing tenants in (a) Greater London, (b) in other metropolitan areas, (c) in non-metropolitan areas in the south-east, (d) in all non-metropolitan areas and (e) England as a whole;

  (5) what is the number of local authority dwellings let to new tenants as secure tenancies (a) in total and (b) to homeless households between 1 April 1987 and 31 March 1988 in (i) Greater London, (ii) in metropolitan areas outside London, (iii) in non-metropolitan areas in the south-east, (iv) in all non-metropolitan areas and (v) in England as a whole.

  Mr. Trippier
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him yesterday.

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many nations are sending delegates or observers to the March conference on limitation of the use of chlorofluorocarbons.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Invitations to the "Saving the Ozone Layer" London conference on 5 to 7 March have gone to over 150 countries active within the United Nations environment programme (UNEP). We already expect over 90 to be represented, some 75 at ministerial level. We are receiving further acceptances daily.

  Rating Reform
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what instructions he proposes to give to(a) community charges registration officers, (b) charging authorities, and (c) valuation and community charge tribunals, concerning the provision of material in ethnic minority languages and translation facilities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ridley
  A practice note on the community charge canvass issued last November advised registration officers of the need to provide guidance in languages other than English in some areas. To assist those authorities with substantial ethnic minority populations the Department will make available translations of the model form and notes in Urdu, Bengali, Hindi, Gujarati and Punjabi. Camera-ready copy will be available to registration officer and charging authorities, free of charge, early next month.

  Lead Pollution
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the level of lead in the atmosphere which is considered acceptable in the urban environment and the level which is considered to be detrimental to the health of pedestrians and to the public at large.
  380
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  In order to help protect humans against the effect of lead in the environment, the EC directive on lead in air (82/884/EEC) sets a limit value of 2 microgrammes per cubic metre of air (2 mg/m3), expressed as an annual average of measured levels.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will provide detailed information of the locations at which the lead content of air in Cardiff was measured during the past two years; what levels were recorded; and if he will give the dates on which measurements were made, and the methods used.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Lead in air levels have been monitored since 1985 at a site in Waungron road, Cardiff. Monitoring has been continuous, using Warren Spring laboratory's M-type sampler, a method which complies with the requirements of the EC directive of lead in air (82/884/EEC).

  The following results have been recorded:

  Year

  Annual Average Lead Concentrations (mg/m3)

  1985

  1·28

  1986

  0·63

  1987

  0·67

  Results for 1988 are not yet available.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has available of levels of lead pollution in the air in Cardiff over the last 10 years; what trends have been reflected in measurements taken during the period; and what steps he is taking to reduce lead pollution in the atmosphere in Cardiff and elsewhere in England and Wales.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Lead in air levels in Cardiff have been continuously monitored since 1985. From 1 January 1986 measured levels have decreased by approximately 50 per cent. following the reduction in the permitted lead content of petrol to 0·15 g per litre. To bring about further reductions in lead in air levels, the Government are continuing vigorously to encourage the wider use of unleaded petrol.

  Drinking Water
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 17 January to the hon. Member for Cornwall, North (Mr. Neale),Official Report, column 147, on which date he wrote to the South West water authority informing it that an emergency derogation under article 10 of the EC drinking water directive (80/778/EEC) would not be appropriate.

  Mr. Ridley
  No letter was sent to the South West water authority to inform it that an article 10 derogation would not be appropriate. On 24 October 1988 my Department wrote to the authority agreeing to its withdrawal of its application for a derogation.

  Landfill
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will take steps to make funds available for remedial action at the landfill site at Moss lane, Rixton, Warrington, to make the site safe, in the light of the evidence of unauthorised dumping;
  381
  (2) if he will make a statement on the circumstances surrounding the dumping of waste designated for incineration at the landfill site at Moss lane, Rixton, Warrington, and as to the nature of the waste and the period over which it was dumped;

  (3) if he will institute a public inquiry into the dumping of toxic waste at the landfill site at Moss land, Rixton, Warrington;

  (4) what information he has as to (a) the source and (b) the nature of the waste designated for incineration which has been dumped at a landfill site at Moss lane, Rixton, Warrington;

  (5) what assessment he has made of the threat to public health of the discovery of waste designated for incineration being dumped at a landfill site at Moss lane, Rixton, Warrington.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State of the Environment what information he has as to clinical waste derived from AIDS patients which are disposed to landfill.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 9 February 1989]: I have asked Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to carry out a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deposit of clinical waste at the landfill at Moss lane, Rixton, Cheshire, and particularly what enforcement action WDA is proposing to take. There are no plans to instigate a formal public inquiry.

  Local Councils (Statistics)
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will state in tabular form, for(a) Tower Hamlets, (b) Richmond upon Thames, (c) Sutton London borough, (d) Calderdale and (e) Stockport metropolitan district (i) which political party or groups of parties control the council, (ii) what has been the percentage change in spending by the council in each financial year since 1986–87, (iii) what has been the change in staffing levels in whole-time equivalents for each year since 1985 and (iv) what has been the change in the rate poundage, expressed as a percentage for each financial year since 1986–87;

  (2) if he will give in tabular form for (a) Bedfordshire county council, (b) Cambridgeshire county council, (c) Cheshire county council, (d) Cumbria county council (e)

  Table B

  Changes in staffing levels1 since 1985

  Authority

  Total staff (full-time plus part-time)2

  Change at June, compared with a year earlier

  at June 1985

  31986

  1987

  198

  Bedfordshire

  18,441

  +972

  +852

  +191

  Cambridgeshire

  19,182

  +1,732

  +1,082

  +191

  Cheshire

  35,123

  +1,069

  +1,872

  -646

  Cumbria

  19,044

  +9

  +286

  +100

  Devon

  30,930

  +728

  +866

  +138

  Gloucestershire

  16,913

  +175

  +709

  +99

  Humberside

  34,790

  +416

  +1,929

  -146

  Isle of Wight

  4,000

  -51

  +63

  +131

  Lancashire

  51,345

  +148

  +406

  +2,109

  Leicestershire

  32,649

  +510

  -146

  +2,133

  Shropshire

  13,882

  +328

  +524

  -123

  Somerset

  15,031

  +477

  +703

  +704

  Warwickshire

  17,204

  +65

  +959

  +283

  Wiltshire

  19,493

  +142

  +840

  4—

  Tower Hamlets

  4,764

  +1,726

  +374

  4—

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  5,320

  +181

  +146

  +195

  London borough of Sutton

  5,459

  -260

  +449

  -21

  382
  Devon county council, (f) Gloucester county council, (g) Humberside county council, (h) Isle of Wight county council, (i) Lancashire county council, (j) Leicestershire county council, (k) Shropshire county council, (l) Somerset county council, (m) Warwickshire county council, and (n) Wiltshire county council (i) which political party of groups of parties has control of the council, (ii) what has been the percentage change in spending by the council in each financial year since 1986–87, (iii) what has been the change in staffing levels, in whole-time equivalents, for each year since 1985, (iv) what has been the change in the rate poundage expressed, as a percentage, for each financial year since 1986–87, (v) which councils are a nuclear-free Zone and (vi) which councils, acting as a local education authority employ staff to teach peace studies as part of the curriculum.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 13 February 1989]: The information for the authorities listed is as follows:

  Table A

  Percentage change in net current expenditure and local rate poundage

  Percentage change in net current expenditure

  Percentage change in local rate poundage

  1986–87 to 1987–88

  1987–88 to 1988–891

  1986–87 to 1987–88

  1987–88 to 1988–89

  Bedfordshire

  9·1

  9·4

  21·1

  6·1

  Cambridgeshire

  10·0

  12·1

  6·2

  4·9

  Cheshire

  10·0

  13·6

  9·1

  10·0

  Cumbria

  9·4

  5·7

  2·7

  5·5

  Devon

  9·5

  10·3

  7·3

  11·3

  Gloucestershire

  11·6

  8·7

  7·9

  11·9

  Humberside

  8·7

  9·0

  10·7

  20·3

  Isle of Wight

  9·4

  7·7

  10·0

  9·7

  Lancashire

  10·7

  9·1

  7·3

  18·5

  Leicestershire

  9·8

  8·9

  5·0

  11·0

  Shropshire

  10·1

  9·9

  7·6

  8·7

  Somerset

  11·7

  11·5

  7·8

  11·7

  Warwickshire

  12·0

  6·7

  7·9

  15·9

  Wiltshire

  9·4

  12·1

  9·9

  7·8

  Tower Hamlets

  2·6

  1·9

  4·7

  11·6

  Richmond upon Thames

  8·2

  5·9

  12·3

  10·7

  London Borough of Sutton

  11·4

  12·9

  18·9

  9·6

  Calderdale

  6·9

  12·2

  5·1

  18·1

  Stockport

  10·3

  8·4

  8·6

  8·8

  1 Using local authority 1988–89 budgets.

  383

  Authority

  Total staff (full-time plus part-time)2

  Change at June, compared with a year earlier

  at June 1985

  31986

  1987

  198

  Calderdale

  8,827

  +453

  +255

  -4

  Stockport

  11,003

  +260

  +587

  +802

  1 Figures are for general services (ie excluding law and order services).

  2 Full-time equivalent figures are not available at individual authority level.

  3 The abolition of the Greater London council and Metropolitan county councils in April 1986, and the consequent transfer of staff to the London boroughs and Metropolitan districts, will have affected individual authorities differently.

  4 Data not available.

  Only three authorities of those listed—Richmond-upon-Thames, London borough of Sutton and the Isle of Wight—are currently controlled by a single party. In each case SLD has overall control.

  Information is not held centrally on authorities which have declared themselves to be nuclear free zones, or which employ staff to teach peace studies as part of the curriculum.

  Sea Water (Pollution)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give up-to-date figures on the volume of sewage pumped into British coastal waters each day and the percentage of sewage that is untreated.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 14 February 1989]: Approximately 2 million cu m of sewage are discharged into coastal waters in England and Wales each day. The discharge of sewage into the sea is regulated under the Control of Pollution Act 1974 and water authorities have to obtain consents which are legally enforceable from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. In addition, all new long sea outfalls must be designed so as to ensure that the affected bathing waters meet the mandatory requirements of the EC bathing water directive.

  Local Authorities (Funding)
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total rate support grant to Cambridgeshire county council in each year from 1983–84 to 1989–90 in(a) cash terms and (b) 1989 prices together with the amount of grant withheld in those years when expenditure exceeded Government targets for the county council.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 14 February 1989]: The table shows the latest figures for total rate support grant payable to Cambridgeshire county council for each year from 1983–84 to 1989–90 in both cash and 1989–90 prices.

  In 1984–85 the grant of Cambridgeshire county council was abated by £4·152 million in cash terms (£5·311 million at 1989–90 prices) because its total expenditure exceeded Government targets.

  Rate Support Grant payable to Cambridgeshire County Council under latest supplementary report and 1989–90 settlement report

  £ million

  Cash prices

  1989–90 prices

  1983–84

  76·567

  102·897

  1984–85

  76·122

  97·373

  1985–86

  72·378

  87·842

  1986–87

  63·220

  74·251

  1987–88

  66·786

  74·507

  1988–89

  61·977

  65·075

  1989–90

  54·807

  54·807

  Water Charges
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report (a) the domestic water charges and (b) the industrial metered water charges per cubic metre to be levied by each English and Welsh Water Authority after 1 April 1989; and what charges were levied in the previous financial year.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 15 February 1989]: Information in the form requested by the hon. Member is not yet available.

  Repairs
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the number of tenants who have(a) applied for and (b) received payment for repairs carried out under the right to repairs scheme introduced under the Housing and Building Control Act 1984 in (i) 1986, (ii) 1987, and (iii)1988; what is the total cost of payments made under this scheme in each of these years; and what has been the cost to the Government and local authorities in introducing and administering this scheme.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 15 February 1989]: The number of claims and their total cost in each of these years is shown in the table. The Department has incurred total costs of some £40,000 in informing tenants of the scheme and on training them; administrative costs for the scheme are not identified separately. Information on local authorities' costs other than on meeting claims is not collected by the Department.

  England

  Total number of claims received for payment

  Total number of claims agreed1 for payment

  Total amount agreed1 £

  1986

  46

  42

  4,400

  1987

  24

  22

  1,900

  1988 (Q1) (provisional)

  1

  1

  200

  1 Accepted by landlords as payable.

  Rivers (Derbyshire)
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many storm sewage overflows discharge into Derbyshire rivers; how many of these are subject to consent conditions other than volumetric conditions; and how many failed to achieve their consent conditions during the last 12 months for which figures are availble.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 15 February 1989]: Information on discharge consents is not held by the Department in a form which would allow the identification of discharges in any particular area. Details of consents

  385
  granted are, however, on the public registers maintained by water authorities—in the case of discharges in the Derbyshire area, by the Severn-Trent water authority.

  Conditions normally imposed in consents for storm overflows are of volumetric nature relating to the point at which they commence operation. Non-compliance with any condition other than those does not therefore arise.

  Caravan Sites
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many (i) local authority and (ii) authorised private, individual sites under section 6 of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 exist in each of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk; and if he will also list those districts within these counties which have(a) applied and (b) been approved for designation under section 12 of the Act as amended by the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 15 February 1989]: My Department holds records of sites provided under section 6 of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 with grant aid from the Exchequer. Although this excludes private sites, information collected for the Department's latest six-monthly count reveals the number of caravans on such sites. The details are as follows:

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  County

  Number of local authority sites at 1 January 1989

  Number of caravans on local authority sites as at 20 July 1988

  Number of caravans on private sites as at 20 July 1988

  Bedfordshire

  7

  125

  11

  Cambridgeshire

  12

  269

  178

  Essex

  9

  84

  66

  Hertfordshire

  9

  183

  27

  Lincolnshire

  4

  127

  3

  Norfolk

  3

  56

  24

  Suffolk

  2

  74

  80

  Applications for designation under section 12 of the 1968 Act, as amended, are as follows:

  (b) Applications pending

  (b) Applications granted

  Bedfordshire

  —

  All districts

  Cambridgeshire

  East Cambridgeshire

  Huntingdon

  Peterborough

  Essex

  Epping Forest

  —

  Hertfordshire

  —

  Broxbourne

  Watford

  Dacorum1

  Welwyn-Hatfield1

  Lincolnshire

  —

  Boston

  Lincoln CB

  West Lindsey

  Norfolk

  —

  Great Yarmouth

  Suffolk

  —

  Babergh

  Ipswich

  Mid Suffolk

  Suffolk Coastal

  1 Formal order making in progress.

  Cambridgeshire County Council
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the annual changes in (i) total 386
  expenditure and (ii) net expenditure after block grant for Cambridgeshire county council for each year from 1983–84 to 1988–89.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 15 February 1989]: The information requested is as follows:

  £ million cash prices

  Annual changes in

  Total expenditure

  Total less block grant

  1983–84—1984–85

  11·274

  11·719

  1984–85—1985–86

  8·392

  12·136

  1985–86—1986–87

  26·739

  35·897

  1986–87—1987–88

  19·609

  16·043

  1987–88—1988–89

  28·781

  33·590

  Structure Plan (North-East Hampshire)
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce his decisions in respect of alterations to the north-east Hampshire structure plan.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 15 February 1989]: I am considering the report of the examination in public and will send my proposed modifications to Hampshire county council as soon as possible.

  Water (Grants)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what funds will be available to water plcs after privatisation to cover schemes presently eligible for European regional development fund grants.

  Mr. Chope
  It is not known what sums will be available for providing grant from the ERDF. Areas eligible for grant and the value of the proportion of the fund they will attract have not yet been finalised by the European Commission.

  Applications for grant will also need to satisfy the criteria laid down in the EC regulations.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what sums each water authority has received as EC European regional development fund grants in each of the last four years.

  Mr. Chope
  The value of ERDF grants awarded to water authorities for infrastructure schemes in eligible areas in each of the last four years is as follows:

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Anglian

  3·876

  —

  —

  —

  North West

  5·351

  40·582

  22·995

  3·305

  Northumbrian

  5·342

  3·546

  18·793

  7·032

  Severn Trent

  3·352

  6·027

  6·886

  0·804

  South West

  0·595

  2·958

  3·747

  10·827

  Yorkshire

  12·865

  0·905

  3·751

  4·873

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what sums South-West Water received in EC European regional development fund grants in 1987–88.

  Mr. Chope
  In the United Kingdom financial year 1987–88 ERDF grant to the value of £10·829 million was awarded to the South West water authority.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Production Costs
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what is(a) the annual cost and (b) the nominal average cost per Member of the yearly production of (i) the full Vote bundle, (ii) the Official Report, (iii) written parliamentary questions and (iv) oral parliamentary questions.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The annual cost of production for (i) the full Vote bundle and (ii) the House of Commons 388
  Official Report is currently estimated at £5 million and £7·2 million respectively. Written and oral parliamentary questions form part of the above and are not separately identifiable. The annual cost figures quoted are for all copies produced, not just those supplied to Members, and—in the case of the Official Report—cover daily and weekly debates, indexes, bound volumes and Standing Committee debates.

  Based on 1988 volumes and current prices, the annual cost per Member of supplying one copy of (i) the Vote bundle and (ii) the daily Official Report would be £3,235 and £761 respectively.

  NUCLEAR FUEL: CONTRACTS
  NUCLEAR FUEL: CONTRACTS
  MOTABILITY INITIATIVE: UNLEADED PETROL
  MOTABILITY INITIATIVE: UNLEADED PETROL
  UDCs AND RBs: CHAIRMEN'S SALARIES
  UDCs AND RBs: CHAIRMEN'S SALARIES
  PRIVATE "SECURE ACCOMMODATION"—YOUNG PEOPLE
  PRIVATE "SECURE ACCOMMODATION"—YOUNG PEOPLE
  SERVICEMEN'S PENSIONS
  SERVICEMEN'S PENSIONS