Written Answers of 20 February 1989

DEFENCE

  Anti-missile Defence System
  Mr. David Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has received a report on the practicability of a strategic anti-missile defence system for the United Kingdom; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have nothing to add to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on 26 January 1989 at column 754.

  Queen's Flight
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when renewals of aircraft in the Queen's Flight will be required; if he will make it his policy to purchase such aircraft from British manufacturers; and if he will make a statment.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Replacement dates for aircraft in the Queen's Flight are kept under review. Our procurement policy for such aircraft, as for other equipment, is aimed at meeting the requirement in the most cost-effective way.

  Service Children's Education Authorities
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what efforts are being made to ensure that teachers working for the service children's education authorities and who have separate contracts employing them to undertake lunchtime supervision are paid(a) the back-pay due to them and (b) regularly in the future on a monthly basis.

  Mr. Neubert
  Arrangements for the payment of senior lunch-time supervisory duties in respect of United Kingdom-based teachers employed with the service children's education authorities have been established effective from 1 December 1988. Payment will be paid on a termly basis. We expect to resolve the question of back-pay for hours worked prior to this date shortly.

  Lance Missile Replacement
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if has received any notification from the United States Defence Department on the replacement of Lance missiles with the multiple-launch rocket system missile.

  Mr. Archie Hamiliton
  The United States announced its choice of the M270 multiple-launch rocket system (mlrs) as a launcher for a successor missile to Lance to NATO's high level group on 5 December, publicly confirming this decision the following day. A nuclear missile for the launcher has not yet been selected. The choice of launcher and missile are national United States decisions; NATO has not yet agreed to the deployment of a Lance successor.

  Armilla Patrol
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement about the role of the Armilla patrol.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Armilla patrol is continuing to provide reassurance to British merchant shipping in the Gulf by independently patrolling international waters and remaining immediately available to go to their protection if necessary. Royal Navy ships will remain in the Gulf for as long as we judge that there remains a job to be done upholding freedom of navigation there.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Kampuchea
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what he has done to bring about substantial reconstruction and development aid for Kampuchea.

  Mr. Eggar
  We do not give Government-to-Government aid to the regime in Phnom Penh. We have, however, contributed £100,000 to the FAO appeal for Cambodia and £250,000 to the UNICEF programme there. In addition, my hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development has announced an increase of £500,000 to support projects, including humanitarian projects in Cambodia, proposed by British voluntary agencies for assistance under the joint funding scheme.

  AIDS
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway) of 13 February,Official Report, column 14, how the study referred to defines exceptional demographic change as a result of AIDS; and what evidence he has of such exceptional demographic change in sub-Saharan African countries.

  Mr. Eggar
  Data are insufficient at this stage to assess accurately the long-term impact of AIDS on populations. The objective of this research project is to obtain information on how communities have coped in the past with disease and disasters which have had an impact on their populations. This will assist policy-makers establish appropriate ways of fostering and supporting community self-help methods of alleviating the potential impact of AIDS.

  Amazonia (Dams)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in the light of the proposals of Electronorte for financing projects such as the Tucurui and Balbina dams in Amazonia, the United Kingdom executive director to the World Bank was instructed to support any electric power sector loan requested by Brazil

  Mr. Eggar
  The Tucurui and Balbina dams were constructed without World Bank loans. The World Bank has stated that it has financed no hydroelectric power schemes in Amazonia and has no plans to do so. I t is not the policy of Her Majesty's Government to disclose instructions given to our executive directors in international financial institutions.
  443
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Brazil about World Bank finance, and British private finance for Plan 2010, with regard to the proposals to build dams in Amazonia.

  Mr. Eggar
  None.

  Zambia
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what promises of aid were made by the United Kingdom to Zambia at the meeting of the World Bank consultative group held on 25 and 26 June 1988.

  Mr. Eggar
  The World Bank consultative group on Zambia did not meet in 1988 although an informal meeting among donors to Zambia was held under World Bank auspices in June. No promises of aid were sought or given.

  Brazil (Dam Projects)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance Her Majesty's embassy in Brasilia has given in support of British consultants seeking the consultancy for dams on the Xingu river near Altamira, and for the Grande Carajas project; and what steps the Overseas Development Administrations permanent delegation to the World Bank is taking to monitor the progress of these projects.

  Mr. Eggar
  No approaches have been made by United Kingdom consultants to the British Embassy in Brasilia on either of these projects. I understand that original proposals for hydroelectric power development on the Xingu river near Altamira are being reconsidered. Work on the Carajas iron ore mine project, which was financed in part by a World Bank loan, was completed some time ago.

  Amazonia (Indebtedness)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the development committee of the World Bank has taken to deal with the chronic indebtedness of countries in the Amazonian basin to private banks and international institutions and with what results; and what further action is proposed.

  Mr. Eggar
  The development committee has repeatedly endorsed the current case-by-case growth-oriented strategy. This approach has encouraged a number of Latin American countries to embark on the economic reforms required to overcome their debt difficulties and led creditor Governments to provide financial assistance in support of adjustment programmes. The committee has called on debtors and banks further to broaden the choice of market-based options for use in voluntarily negotiated arrangements.

  Brazil
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make available the World Bank's staff appraisal reports for all projects covered by the electric power sector loan requested by Brazil.
  444
  Mr. Eggar
  The proposed second power sector loan will not be for specific projects. The World Bank specifies that appraisal reports may be used by recipients only in the performance of their official duties; and their contents may not otherwise be disclosed without World Bank authorisation.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the latest arrangements that the United Kingdom director has agreed to in relation to the indebtedness of Brazil and its ability to meet its obligations to the International Monetary Fund, the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development and the International Development Association.

  Mr. Eggar
  The executive board of the IMF agreed a loan of $1·4 billion in July 1988; the executive board of the IBRD agreed a loan of $300 million for the agriculture sector in June 1988 (Brazil is not eligible for IDA lending). These loans are designed to support the economic reforms necessary if Brazil is to overcome its debt difficulties. Debt owed to the IMF and World Bank is only a small part of Brazil's debt.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the human rights record of the Brazilian Government in relation to the Amerindians of Amazonia; and how Her Majesty's Government propose to vote in the light of such considerations on the World Bank structural adjustment loan for Brazil.

  Mr. Eggar
  There has been widespread concern in the United Kingdom at the constitutional provision for Amerindian landholding. We watch this closely and are in touch with interested groups. The Brazilian authorities are well aware of our concern at reports of Amerindian deaths at the hands of gold panners and settlers. Our embassy in Brasilia is monitoring developments closely. We will take account of environmental and social considerations in forming a view of the proposed second power sector loan.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what were the projects for which loans were sought from the World Bank by Brazil during each of the last five years; what was the outcome; and how Her Majesty's Government instructed their representative on the World Bank executive board to vote;

  (2) what was the value of the loans made by the World Bank for each of the last five years to Brazil.

  Mr. Eggar
  Loans brought to the World Bank's executive board and approved in the past five years are listed in the table. It is not the policy of Her Majesty's Government to disclose instructions to our executive director.

  World Bank loans to Brazil: 1984–88

  Fiscal year ended 30 June

  Amount of loan $ million

  Purpose

  1984

  303

  Agricultural credit.

  65·2

  Agricultural development in north west Brazil.

  22·8

  Agricultural development and Environment Project.

  7·7

  Irrigation development project in north east Brazil.

  40

  Basic education in north and central west Brazil.

  445

  Fiscal year ended 30 June

  Amount of loan $ million

  Purpose

  20

  Technician training.

  250·6

  Power distribution systems in north east and north west Brazil, and in low income metropolitan areas of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.

  222·8

  Rural electrification.

  57·5

  Primary health care programme in Sao Paulo, strengthening health planning in federal government.

  352

  Expansion of small scale, export oriented manufacturing industries.

  210

  Highway rehabilitation and technical assistance.

  52·7

  Urban development in Parana.

  1,604·3

  1985

  100

  National Land Administration Programme.

  122·7

  Rural development in north east Brazil (2 loans).

  72

  Science and Technology education.

  400

  Electricity transmission.

  312

  Electricity distribution in highly industrialised areas.

  300

  Third development banking project for small-scale enterprises.

  200

  Financial rehabilitation of Federal Railway.

  16·3

  Water supply and sanitation in rural areas.

  1,523

  1986

  500

  Restructuring agricultural credit system.

  155

  Second agricultural extension project for small scale farmers.

  92

  North east rural development programme.

  57

  Irrigation project in north east Brazil.

  48

  Irrigation survey project in north east Brazil.

  500

  Power sector rehabilitation project.

  59·5

  Health project in north east Brazil.

  29

  Public sector management project.

  100

  Rehabilitation of flood damaged urban areas in the north east region.

  55

  Urban development in Salvador metropolitan region.

  24·5

  Urban development in state of Santa Catarina.

  1,620

  1987

  612

  7 loans for agricultural development in the states of Bahia, Ceara, Maranhao, Piau, Paraiba, Minas Gerais and Alagoas respectively.

  51

  Veterinary services.

  50

  Reduction of industrial pollution in Sao Paulo.

  74·5

  Strengthening the National Vocational Training System.

  174

  Highway rehabilitation in Sao Paulo.

  100

  Rehabilitation of Sao Paulo Railway Company.

  200

  Urban transport improvement in Brazil's nine largest cities.

  1,261·5

  1988

  300

  Agroindustry development.

  300

  Agriculture credit.

  195

  Infrastructure for irrigation development.

  446

  Fiscal year ended 30 June

  Amount of loan $ million

  Purpose

  132

  Mitigation of human cost of resettling families displaced by Itaparica reservoir.

  48·5

  Support for programme of planting of up to 165,000 hectares of forest and charcoal manufacturing infrastructure in Minas Gerais.

  109

  Health programme in north east Brazil, and help in developing an AIDS programme.

  20

  Technical assistance to improve efficiency of ports.

  175

  Reconstruction and rehabilitation following floods in Rio de Janeiro.

  80

  Water and sewerage to poor areas of urban centres.

  1,359·5

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken through the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to ensure that adequate funds are available to Brazil to undertake structural adjustment programmes.

  Mr. Eggar
  The World Bank has lent substantial sums to support the process of structural adjustment in Brazil, and the International Monetary Fund has lent in support of stabilisation policies. An effective response by international financial institutions is dependent on the Brazilian Government promoting an adequate macro economic framework that will re-establish stability and permit the resumption of sustainable growth.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with the World Bank methods of ensuring that Brazil repays its international debt on reasonable terms.

  Mr. Eggar
  As a member of the World Bank we participate in regular discussion of the World Bank 's lending programme in Brazil. These discussions cover Brazil's ability to meet its obligations to the World Bank. Paris Club creditors agreed last July to reschedule Brazil's official debt. Official creditors are agreed that Brazil's commercial debts are a matter for Brazil to negotiate with the banks themselves. We and the World Bank have both welcomed the elements of debt reduction in the innovative menu agreement reached between Brazil and the banks last year.

  Amazonia
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that the World Bank does not make loans for projects which, if carried out, would be likely to cause environmental or rain forest damage in Amazonia.

  Mr. Eggar
  Environmental concerns now receive considerable attention in the World Bank, due in part to the efforts of the United Kingdom and several other members. The reorganisation of the bank in 1987 strengthened its capacity to ensure that environmental costs and benefits are systematically addressed in project appraisal.

  Brazil and Colombia
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what environmental and cultural policy guidelines govern project lending by the World Bank and the intergovernmental group on Brazil and Colombia.

  Mr. Eggar
  The World Bank incorporates environmental and sociological considerations as an overall part of project design. Projects and programmes are required to meet economic and social objectives based on the most efficient and sustainable use of environmental resources. Projects which might affect indigenous groups or wildlands must incorporate components to mitigate any possible adverse effects. The bank can offer help to strengthen the local implementing agencies if this is necessary to ensure the successful design and implementation of the components.

  I have no information about any intergovernmental group on Brazil and Colomnbia.

  Rain Forests, Amazonia
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action has been taken as a result of the acceptance of the FAO tropical forest action plan; what was the response from the president of the World Bank to representations stressing Her Majesty's Government's belief in the importance of environmental factors in respect of other aid programmes; and what discussions he has had with fellow donors on means of donor co-ordination in protecting rain forests in Amazonia.

  Mr. Eggar
  Under the tropical forestry action plan more than 50 developing countries have asked for help over the formulation and co-ordination of their national forestry policies. The plan has already led to seven forestry sector reviews being completed, and another 36 are under way.

  The World Bank shares our view that the environmental aspects of development must be properly taken into account.

  My hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development has not had any formal discussions with other donors specifically about protecting the Amazon rain forests; but when I visited Brazil last year I made clear to the Brazilian President the concern felt in Britain about the environmental effects of deforestation in the Amazon and that season's disastrous fires. As signatories of the international tropical timber agreement, the United Kingdom and Brazil and other donor and developing countries are pledged to encourage the development of international policies aimed at the sustainable use and conservation of tropical forests.

  Amazonian Indians (Gathering)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he sent to the invitation to attend the gathering of Amazonian Indians at Altamira on 21 to 25 February.

  Mr. Eggar
  My hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development told the organisers that he was unable to accept the invitation because of earlier commitments but that he hoped to receive a report on the outcome of the meeting.

  Kayapo Tribe Homelands, Brazil
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has of the destruction of Kayapo tribe homelands in Brazil; and what representations he has received on that subject.

  Mr. Eggar
  My hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development met Chief Paulinho Paiakan of the Kayapo last November to hear his concerns for the future of his people if proposed hydroelectric power developments on the Xingu river, which would inundate a large area of rain forest, were to proceed. We understand that the Brazilian authorities are re-appraising the sites originally proposed.

  St. Helena Ferry
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the completion for the St. Helena ferry now that the Hall Russell company has gone into receivership; and what opportunities now exist for other British shipbuilding companies to be involved.

  Mr. Eggar
  It remains Her Majesty's Government's intention to complete the construction of the ship in the Hall Russell shipyard at Aberdeen if possible.

  UNESCO
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make an up-to-date statement giving a breakdown, by project, of the resources reallocated to development projects resulting from the savings arising from the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

  Mr. Eggar
  In the financial year 1987–88 the money saved by our withdrawal from UNESCO was re-allocated and spent as follows:

  Re-allocation of UNESCO savings final expenditure 1987–88

  £ Committed

  £ Spent

  Overseas Development Administration(ODA) technical co-operation training programme

  1,872,000

  1,772,848

  English language training courses

  799,000

  600,300

  ODA shared scholarship schemes

  320,000

  320,000

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office(FCO) scholarships and awards scheme

  640,000

  640,000

  ODA cultural projects

  100,000

  100,000

  Public expenditure survey transfer to FCO for cultural projects

  100,000

  100,000

  Chinese student scholarships in the United Kingdom

  950,000

  950,000

  Distance learning project in Commonwealth countries

  100,000

  100,000

  Nassau fellowships

  500,000

  650,131

  Commonwealth media development fund

  150,000

  150,000

  Royal Society

  112,000

  112,000

  Research in arid Commonwealth Africa

  300,000

  300,000

  Inter-governmental Oceanographic Commission

  96,000

  80,864

  Man and the Biosphere/International Hydrological Programme/ International Association of Hydrological Sciences

  200,000

  200,000

  Dissemination of results of research

  200,000

  200,000

  449

  £ Committed

  £ Spent

  Total

  6,439,000

  6,276,143

  Allocations for this financial year are similar.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary for State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was done with the £1,710,448 committed but not spent as referred to in his reply to the hon. Member for Falkirk, West on 29 July 1988,Official Report, columns 624–26, on savings arising from the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

  Mr. Eggar
  Underspending in the year in question permitted expenditure on other aid programmes. The cash limit for the year was virtually fully spent. It is not practical to identify the specific use to which these rather than other savings were put.

WALES

  Housebuilding
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many new local authority dwellings were completed in Wales in 1988; and if he will give comparable figures for 1974 and 1979.

  Mr. Grist
  Provisional returns for 1988 show that 789 local authority dwellings were completed. Comparable figures for 1974 and 1979 are 3,046 and 3,010 dwellings respectively.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest unadjusted figures for unemployment in(a) Newport, (b) Gwent and (c) Wales; and if he will give the equivalent figures for 1979 on the most nearly comparable basis.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  On 12 January 1989 the number of unemployed claimants in the Newport district, Gwent and Wales were 6,173, 18,614 and 116,245 respectively, Unadjusted figures for 1979 are not available on a basis that enables a valid comparison to be made. I am sure the hon. Gentleman will welcome the continuing downward trend in seasonally adjusted unemployment in Wales, which fell by 25,800 in the last 12 months and by 62,000 in the last 34 months.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people there were in employment in(a) Wales, (b) Mid Glamorgan and (c) the travel-to-work area in which Bridgend is situated in June 1979 and the latest month for which figures are available; and how many of these jobs were part-time.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  There were 1,157,000 people in employment or self-employed in Wales in June 1979. The comparable figure for June 1988 was 1,029,000. Of these, 165,000 and 190,000 respectively were female part-time employees. Figures for male part-time employees, and for Mid Glamorgan and the Bridgend travel-to-work area, are not available for the dates requested.

  Housing for Wales
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the chairman of Housing for Wales; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Grist
  My right hon. Friend and I have met the chairman of Housing for Wales on a number of occasions recently to discuss matters relevant to the setting up of the new body.

  Place Names Advisory Committee
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the place names advisory committee last met; and what it discussed.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The work of the place names advisory committee is carried out entirely by correspondence.

  Pupil Costs
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent per pupil in primary schools in Wales in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what was the comparable figure for 1978–79, at constant prices.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The figures were £909 (in 1986–87), and £747 (in 1978–79). This represents a real terms increase of 21·7 per cent.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to achieve his targets for maximum time on a waiting list for(a) operations and (b) out-patient appointments.

  Mr. Grist
  Health Authorities are not yet in a position to predict when all lists will meet the targets. However, officials of the Welsh Office will be keeping a close watch on the position through six-monthly reports from authorities.

  "Working for Patients"
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he had received in response to the Welsh Office booklet entitled "Working for Patients", as to the continuance of local government representation on the reconstructed health authorities in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  None.

  Road Communications
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to improve road communications in Wales.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Outline plans will be announced in the Welsh Office commentary on the public expenditure White Paper and the detail will be provided in the forthcoming edition of "Roads in Wales."

  Council of Ministers
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many meetings of the Council of Ministers a Welsh Office Minister has attended since 1979; and which Councils they were.
  451
  Mr. Peter Walker
  It has not been the normal practice of Welsh Office Ministers to attend meetings of the European Council of Ministers since or before 1979. They have, of course, frequently met members of the European Commission since 1979 to discuss issues of importance to Wales.

  Planning Appeals
  Sir Anthony Meyer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of appeals against refusals of planning permission by local authorities have been upheld by his Department during the last five years.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Thirty-seven per cent.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report the number of people listed as homeless in each of the Welsh districts, at the latest count.

  Mr. Grist
  The number of persons in households accepted as homeless during the third quarter of 1988 (July-September) are shown in the table:

  Number of persons in households accepted as homeless, July-September 1988

  Number

  Clwyd

  Alyn and Deeside

  131

  Colwyn

  25

  Delyn

  175

  Glyndwr

  9

  Rhuddlan

  49

  Wrexham Maelor

  310

  Dyfed

  Carmarthen

  54

  Ceredigion

  57

  Dinefwr

  40

  Llanelli

  88

  Preseli

  50

  South Pembrokeshire

  76

  Gwent

  Blaenau Gwent

  152

  Islwyn

  55

  Monmouth

  161

  Newport

  398

  Torfaen

  268

  Gwynedd

  Aberconwy

  14

  Arfon

  28

  Dwyfor

  29

  Meirionnydd

  45

  Ynys Môn

  40

  Mid Glamorgan

  Cynon Valley

  153

  Merthyr Tydfil

  47

  Ogwr

  319

  Rhondda

  98

  Rhymney Valley

  143

  Taff Ely

  75

  Powys

  Brecknock

  40

  Montgomery

  44

  Radnor

  6

  South Glamorgan

  Cardiff

  706

  Vale of Glamorgan

  247

  452

  Number

  West Glamorgan

  Lliw Valley

  38

  Neath

  169

  Port Talbot/Afan

  70

  Swansea

  125

  Wales total

  4,534

  British Steel (Job Losses)
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many meetings he personally has had with British Steel about the impending job losses in Wales and the closure of Velindre.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I maintain regular contact with the company about matters of mutual interest, and I have discussed the rationalisation of tinplate production in south Wales with British Steel management. I discussed this specific closure and the prospects for dealing with job losses two weeks ago.

  Welsh Water
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give in full the terms of his communication to the European Commission seeking clearance for limiting to 15 per cent, the maximum single holding in Welsh Water after privatisation and the complete text of the European Community's reply.

  Mr. Grist
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement made by the Commission Vice President, Sir Leon Brittan, on 7 February in which he said:"The proposed 15 per cent, limit on a single share holding presents no difficulty under community law so long as its application is non-discriminatory".

  Higher Education
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met representatives of the institutions of higher education in Wales; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend and I met the vice-chancellor of the university of Wales and the director of the polytechnic of Wales, together with a number of industrialists, on 25 July 1988. The topic of discussion was the interaction between higher education and industry.

  Historic Monuments
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make a statement on the future relationship between Cadw—Welsh Historic Monuments—and the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments for Wales.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The relationship between the Royal Commission (RCAHM(W) and Cadw—Welsh historic monuments—has been looked at in the context of a policy review of the activities and functions of the commission and the equivalent bodies for Scotland and England. This review is being conducted jointly with my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. We shall be announcing conclusions in due course.
  453
  Meanwhile, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has decided that certain issues of principle can be settled now in advance of the completion of the policy review. There is the question whether RCAHM(W) should be merged with Cadw and the suggestion in a consultancy report by Peat Marwick McLintock that consideration should be given to the transfer of some functions from Cadw to the Welsh Commission. Peats recommended that the Royal Commission should be retained as a separate body responsible for maintaining the national archive of heritage information and manage the NMR. My right hon. Friend and I are persuaded by this analysis and take the view that the Royal Commission should continue as a separate body.

  Peats emphasised that the arguments for and against the transfer of functions were finely balanced. We have decided that the Royal Commission should in future be recognised as the lead national body for oversight of the system of local sites and monuments records. In exercising this responsibility the commission would need to ensure proper liaison with Cadw regarding local decision-making and conservation of the built heritage of Wales generally.

  On the matter of transferring listing and scheduling to the Commission, we have concluded that as its purpose is to identify buildings and monuments which should be given special consideration in the planning and development control process, listing and scheduling should be linked to considerations of conservation, rather than record, and for that reason my right hon. Friend and I have concluded that it is more appropriate for Cadw to continue to provide advice to us on these issues.

  We do believe, however, that the Royal Commission should be more formally involved in this function and that a mechanism should be established that encourages Royal Commission staff to advise Cadw on sites they may visit. We have asked Cadw to consider this and recommend as appropriate. Provided the RCAHM(W)'s input to advice on listing and scheduling is formulated in such a way we take the view that the duty placed on the Royal Commission in 1908 to make its own direct recommendations to Government on buildings "worthy of preservation" should be regarded as overtaken by the development of the statutory framework of listing and scheduling and dropped from its responsibilities.

  Peats comment that as experts on heritage information, the Royal Commission is best placed to judge priorities and to deal with the rescue archaeology grant system. However, we consider that there are good policy and practical arguments for the same organisation handling all aspects of archaelogical casework—scheduled monument consent, negotiations with developers and rescue archaeology if that proves necessary. Accordingly, we feel that it is best for Cadw to continue to deal with rescue archaeology.

  Whatever the future dispositions of functions may be, there will always be areas where both Cadw's and the Royal Commission's expertise and concerns need to be taken into account by each other.

  With these issues of principle resolved, we consider that there is now a very satisfactory basis for a supportive and constructive future relationship between the Royal Commission and Cadw. I have written to the commission's chairman to inform him of our conclusions.

EMPLOYMENT

  Training (Expenditure)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much has been spent on training programmes in(a) the public sector and (b) the private sector, in each EEC country and the United States of America, Japan and Sweden (i) including the cost of training allowances, and (ii) excluding the cost of training allowances, in real terms at 1989 prices and as a percentage of annual gross domestic product for each year that information is available since 1980.

  Mr. Cope
  I regret that the information requested is not available.

  YTS
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the average weekly take-home pay for YTS leavers in the economic region of Yorkshire and Humberside; and what steps he is currently taking to review this.

  Mr. Cope
  Estimates from the youth cohort study for England and Wales, covering those young people who reached minimum school leaving age in the academic year 1984–85 and were surveyed in spring 1988, show that the average weekly take-home pay for those in a job in the economic region of Yorkshire and Humberside who said that they had had YTS experience within the previous three years was £71·27.

  The Government are continuing to fund the youth cohort study to establish information on this and other areas in the education, training and employment of young people.

  Departmental Leaflets
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the titles and code numbers of the 10 most issued leaflets published by his Department and indicate which of these leaflets has been issued in translation and in which languages.

  Mr. Cope
  The 10 most issued leaflets are as follows:

  Title

  Code Number

  1. Responsibilities of Claimants While Unemployed

  UBL 18

  2. Jobclub leaflet

  JCL 12

  3. Availability For Work (Tear-off slip)

  UBL 671

  4. Put you In The Picture

  REST L1

  5. Enterprise Allowance Scheme

  EAS 102

  6. Get into Training

  TA M66

  7. Better Off In Work

  BOI W 1

  8. Employment Training Action Plan

  M64

  9. How Unemployment Benefit Entitlement Is Decided

  UBL 48

  10. Be Your Own Boss

  EAS 113

  Publication 3 "Availability For Work" (UBL 671) is presently being prepared in the following 14 languages:
  Arabic; Bengali; Cantonese; French; German; Gujarati; Hindi; Italian; Punjabi; Somali; Spanish; Urdu; Vietnamese; Welsh.

  Leaflet 4 "Put You In The Picture" (REST L1) is produced in the following 12 languages:
  Arabic; Bengali; Cantonese; Gujarati; Hindi; Italian; Punjabi; Somali; Spanish; Urdu; Vietnamese; Welsh.
  455
  Leaflets 5 "Enterprise Allowance Scheme" (EAS 102) and 10 "Be Your Own Boss" (EAS 113) are at present only available in English, but editions are being prepared in the following eight other languages:
  Gujarati; Hindi; Bengali; Urdu; Punjabi; Cantonese; Vietnamese; Welsh.

  Leaflet 8 "Employment Training Action Plan" (M64) is produced in the following seven ethnic minority languages:
  Urdu; Punjabi; Chinese; Bengali; Gujarati; Hindi; Vietnamese.

  Retail Prices
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment in which years since 1959 the annual rate of increase in retail prices was lower than in the previous year.

  Mr. Lee
  In 1963, 1966, 1967, 1972, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1986.

  Press Notices
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many press notices his Department, including the Manpower Services Commission and Training Agency, issued in each 12-month period since 1979.

  Mr. Cope
  The information is as follows:

  Numbers

  1979

  425

  1980

  385

  1981

  415

  1982

  398

  1983

  464

  1984

  416

  1985

  496

  1986

  484

  1987

  402

  1988

  386

  Note: These figures do not include press notices issued on behalf of the Department of Employment, the Manpower Services Commission and the Training Agency through the Central Office of Information regional offices.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the numbers of people unemployed for more than five years in each of the travel-to-work areas.

  Mr. Lee
  The following information is also in the Library. The table shows the number of unemployed claimants who had been unemployed for more than five years in October 1988, the latest available date, for each of the travel-to-work areas in Great Britain.

  Number of claimants unemployed for more than five years in each travel-to-work area in Great Britain

  Travel-to-work area

  Number of unemployed claimants

  Andover

  57

  Ashford

  196

  Aylesbury and Wycombe

  270

  Banbury

  148

  Basingstoke and Alton

  156

  456

  Travel-to-work area

  Number of unemployed claimants

  Bedford

  231

  Bicester

  34

  Brighton

  1,184

  Canterbury

  171

  Chelmsford and Braintree

  229

  Chichester

  120

  Clacton

  202

  Colchester

  332

  Crawley

  200

  Dover and Deal

  155

  Eastbourne

  200

  Folkestone

  213

  Gosport and Fareham

  234

  Guildford and Aldershot

  335

  Harwich

  69

  Hastings

  277

  Hertford and Harlow

  632

  Hitchin and Letchworth

  193

  Isle of Wight

  330

  Medway and Maidstone

  1,282

  Milton Keynes

  308

  Newbury

  46

  Oxford

  525

  Portsmouth

  1,151

  Reading

  297

  Sittingbourne and Sheerness

  349

  Slough

  390

  Southampton

  1,064

  Southend

  1,705

  Thanet

  420

  Tunbridge Wells

  195

  Watford and Luton

  1,245

  Winchester and Eastleigh

  122

  Worthing

  234

  Beetles and Halesworth

  72

  Bury St. Edmonds

  63

  Cambridge

  259

  Cromer and North Walsham

  107

  Diss

  49

  Fakenham

  58

  Great Yarmouth

  396

  Haverhill

  37

  Huntingdon and St. Neots

  113

  Ipswich

  474

  King's Lynn and Hunstanton

  340

  Lowestoft

  241

  Newmarket

  112

  Norwich

  876

  Peterborough

  590

  Sudbury

  59

  Thetford

  124

  Wisbech

  182

  Woodbridge and Leiston

  71

  Heathrow

  1,744

  London

  23,676

  Barnstaple and Ilfracombe

  149

  Bath

  299

  Bideford

  75

  Blandford

  21

  Bodmin and Liskeard

  133

  Bournemouth

  480

  Bridgwater

  188

  Bridport

  30

  Bristol

  2,056

  Bude

  43

  Chard

  41

  Cheltenham

  274

  Chippenham

  99

  Cinderford and Ross on Wye

  248

  Cirencester

  47

  Dartmouth and Kingsbridge

  38

  Devizes

  30

  Dorchester and Weymouth

  120

  Exeter

  398

  Falmouth

  109

  Gloucester

  413

  457

  Travel-to-work area

  Number of unemployed claimants

  Helston

  85

  Honiton and Axminster

  78

  Launceston

  49

  Minehead

  42

  Newquay

  30

  Newton Abbot

  109

  Okehampton

  25

  Penzance and St. Ives

  142

  Plymouth

  1,208

  Poole

  207

  Redruth and Camborne

  291

  Salisbury

  141

  Shaftesbury

  51

  South Molton

  18

  St. Austell

  157

  Stroud

  182

  Swindon

  478

  Taunton

  211

  Tiverton

  55

  Torbay

  330

  Torrington

  30

  Totnes

  32

  Trowbridge and Frome

  186

  Truro

  114

  Wareham and Swanage

  27

  Warminster

  20

  Wells

  104

  Weston super Mare

  254

  Yeovil

  152

  Birmingham

  12,398

  Burton-on-Trent

  374

  Coventry and Hinckley

  3,412

  Dudley and Sandwell

  5,458

  Evesham

  105

  Hereford and Leominster

  316

  Kidderminster

  390

  Leek

  47

  Ludlow

  87

  Malvern and Ledbury

  129

  Oswestry

  80

  Rugby and Daventry

  235

  Shrewsbury

  291

  Stafford

  287

  Stoke

  1,700

  Telford and Bridgnorth

  1,066

  Uttoxeter and Ashbourne

  55

  Walsall

  2,718

  Warwick

  386

  Whitchurch and Market Drayton

  119

  Wolverhampton

  2,895

  Worcester

  457

  Alfreton and Ashfield

  435

  Boston

  164

  Buxton

  87

  Chesterfield

  1,010

  Corby

  216

  Derby

  1,494

  Gainsborough

  127

  Grantham

  143

  Horncastle and Market Rasen

  75

  Kettering and Market Harborough

  160

  Leicester

  1,806

  Lincoln

  683

  Loughborough and Coalville

  226

  Louth and Mablethorpe

  89

  Mansfield

  533

  Matlock

  68

  Melton Mowbray

  86

  Newark

  220

  Northampton

  465

  Nottingham

  3,802

  Retford

  155

  Skegness

  87

  Sleaford

  70

  458

  Travel-to-work area

  Number of unemployed claimants

  Spalding and Holbeach

  104

  Stamford

  69

  Wellingborough and Rushden

  189

  Worksop

  311

  Barnsley

  1,274

  Bradford

  2,548

  Bridlington and Driffield

  131

  Calderdale

  612

  Castleford and Pontefract

  591

  Doncaster

  1,626

  Goole and Selby

  202

  Grimsby

  902

  Harrogate

  103

  Huddersfield

  548

  Hull

  3,135

  Keighley

  148

  Leeds

  2,872

  Malton

  25

  Northallerton

  48

  Pickering and Helmsley

  19

  Richmondshire

  52

  Ripon

  23

  Rotherham and Mexborough

  1,978

  Scarborough and Filey

  162

  Scunthorpe

  594

  Settle

  18

  Sheffield

  4,692

  Skipton

  36

  Thirsk

  18

  Wakefield and Dewsbury

  1,044

  Whitby

  82

  York

  459

  Accrington and Rossendale

  316

  Blackburn

  622

  Blackpool

  876

  Bolton and Bury

  1,982

  Burnley

  429

  Clitheroe

  31

  Crewe

  332

  Lancaster and Morecambe

  358

  Liverpool

  14,312

  Macclesfield

  170

  Manchester

  9,176

  Northwich

  363

  Oldham

  805

  Pendle

  198

  Preston

  1,153

  Rochdale

  679

  Warrington

  605

  Widnes and Runcorn

  1,049

  Wigan and St. Helens

  3,683

  Wirral and Chester

  3,661

  Barrow in Furness

  261

  Carlisle

  372

  Kendal

  41

  Keswick

  22

  Penrith

  52

  Whitehaven

  268

  Windermere

  7

  Workington

  411

  Alnwick and Amble

  108

  Berwick-on-Tweed

  42

  Bishop Auckland

  651

  Darlington

  519

  Durham

  643

  Hartlepool

  965

  Hexham

  66

  Middlesbrough

  3,628

  Morpeth and Ashington

  585

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  6,654

  South Tyneside

  1,411

  Stockton-on-Tees

  1,661

  Sunderland

  4,173

  Aberdare

  372

  Aberystwyth

  47

  Bangor and Caernarfon

  421

  459

  Travel-to-work area

  Number of unemployed claimants

  Blaenau Gwent and Abergavenny

  646

  Brecon

  39

  Bridgend

  539

  Cardiff

  2,413

  Cardigan

  73

  Carmarthen

  88

  Conwy and Colwyn

  147

  Denbigh

  56

  Dolgellau and Barmouth

  35

  Fishguard

  41

  Haverfordwest

  247

  Holyhead

  333

  Lampeter and Aberaeron

  47

  Llandeilo

  22

  Llandrindod Wells

  32

  Llanelli

  350

  Machynlleth

  15

  Merthyr and Rhymney

  804

  Monmouth

  59

  Neath and Port Talbot

  352

  Newport

  994

  Newtown

  38

  Pontypool and Cwmbran

  466

  Pontypridd and Rhondda

  1,008

  Porthmadoc and Ffestiniog

  38

  Pwllheli

  48

  Shotton Flint and Rhyl

  761

  South Pembrokeshire

  114

  Swansea

  1,434

  Welshpool

  32

  Wrexham

  549

  Aberdeen

  522

  Alloa

  291

  Annan

  72

  Arbroath

  86

  Ayr

  572

  Badenoch

  27

  Banff

  69

  Bathgate

  600

  Berwickshire

  29

  Blairgowrie and Pitlochry

  73

  Brechin and Montrose

  78

  Buckie

  34

  Campbel town

  86

  Crieff

  16

  Cumnock and Sanquhar

  502

  Dumbarton

  471

  Dumfries

  182

  Dundee

  1,630

  Dunfermline

  414

  Dunoon and Bute

  92

  Edinburgh

  2,335

  Elgin

  86

  Falkirk

  709

  Forfar

  76

  Forres

  28

  Fraserburgh

  63

  Galashiels

  59

  Girvan

  75

  Glasgow

  12,713

  Greenock

  974

  Haddington

  65

  Hawick

  44

  Huntly

  21

  Invergordon and Dingwall

  142

  Inverness

  255

  Irvine

  1,092

  Islay/Mid Argyll

  36

  Keith

  35

  Kelso and Jedburgh

  21

  Kilmarnock

  479

  Lanarkshire

  3,145

  Lochaber

  76

  Lockerbie

  25

  Newton Stewart

  48

  460

  Travel-to-work area

  Number of unemployed claimants

  North East Fife

  103

  Oban

  53

  Orkney Islands

  81

  Peebles

  23

  Perth

  180

  Peterhead

  74

  Shetland Islands

  25

  Skye and Wester Ross

  53

  Stewartry

  51

  Stirling

  300

  Stranraer

  117

  Sutherland

  56

  Thurso

  58

  Western Isles

  96

  Wick

  93

  Loan Guarantee Scheme
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide the latest estimate of the numbers, location and cost of the jobs created by the loan guarantee scheme.

  Mr. Cope
  A review in 1988 of the loan guarantee scheme undertaken by National Economic and Research Associates for the Department of Employment found that in a sample of 106 firms that had used the scheme, 310 full-time additional jobs were created in the first year. The net Exchequer cost of the LGS per person leaving the unemployment count is estimated at £450. Statistics are not collected by my Department on the actual numbers or locations of jobs created by the loan guarantee scheme.

  Shipyard Workers
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he proposes to take following the number of successful appeals by former shipyard workers who had been denied unemployment benefit for 13 weeks, in respect of workers in other trades who have been made redundant under similar circumstances; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  The decision of the independent adjudicating authorities in relation to a redundant shipyard worker relates specifically to that particular worker and his terms of redundancy. Where applicable, British Shipbuilders workers whose circumstances were identical can have their benefit position reviewed. The decision has no direct effect on workers made redundant in other industries.

  Cigarettes (Cost of Living Index)
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what machinery exists to register appropriate changes to the weighting of components in the cost of living index to relate to changes in normal household consumption of different items; and if he will list those as applied to cigarettes in the last 30 years;

  (2) what weighting is given at the present time and 10, 20 and 30 years ago or at suitable convenient dates to cigarettes in the retail prices index or its predecessor.

  Mr. Lee
  The weighting of the retail prices index is updated at the beginning of each year. Since 1962 the weight for each component has been revised in the light of the latest available information on household consumption from the family expenditure survey. In the case of a
  461
  few items (including cigarettes) allowance is made for under-recording of expenditure in the survey, by supplementing its results with more comprehensive information from the consumers' expenditure estimates in the national accounts. As they are introduced the new weights are published in Employment Gazette. Those for cigaretes have been as follows:

  Weight for cigarettes in general RPI (parts per thousand)

  Date

  Weight

  1959–61

  70

  1962

  70

  1963

  69

  1964

  66

  1965

  67

  1966

  68

  1967

  64

  1968

  59

  1969

  60

  1970

  57

  1971

  53

  1972

  48

  1973

  44

  1974

  39

  1975

  42

  1976

  42

  1977

  42

  1978

  44

  1979

  40

  1980

  37

  1981

  33

  1982

  37

  1983

  36

  1984

  33

  1985

  34

  1986

  35

  1987

  33

  1988

  32

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Footwear
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the United Kingdom market share of footwear produced in Taiwan and Korea for each of the last five years; and what are the corresponding figures for the home share of the same market.

  Mr. Atkins
  The figures are as follows:

  United Kingdom Footwear Market (SIC 4510) Percentage (by value) taken by United Kingdom production for the home market and by imports from South Korea and Taiwan

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  United Kingdom

  55·5

  52·8

  54·5

  54·6

  52·9

  South Korea

  2·2

  2·1

  1·9

  2·0

  3·0

  Taiwan

  3·2

  3·8

  3·3

  2·9

  4·0

  Furniture (Foam Filling)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many representations he has received from retailers requesting Government compensation for loss of retail value of suites made from foam to the new standards but without the white label and therefore needing to be sold by 1 March.

  Mr. Forth
  I have received a small number of suggestions from furniture retailers that compensation should be paid to them for furniture which they are legally 462
  unable to sell after 28 February 1989 because it does not meet the requirements of the new regulations. Only one or two of these representations have referred to the temporary problem of furniture lacking the prescribed label but otherwise conforming. Any retailers placed in that position should make arrangements with the furniture manufacturer to obtain new permanent labels for furniture which otherwise meets the requirements of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulation 1988.

  Sanitary Towels and Tampons
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will take steps to encourage the sanitary tampon industry to standardise absorbency ratings.

  Mr. Forth
  No. This is primarily a matter for the industry to consider in the light of consumer demands. If a request were made to the British Standards Institution for work to be undertaken in this field, it would be considered on its merits.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will take steps to impose restrictions on the use of chemicals in the manufacture of sanitary tampons;

  (2) what information he has as to what chemical traces remain in sanitary towels after manufacture.

  Mr. Forth
  I have asked the industry what chemicals they add to tampons and sanitary towels and what checks they run on residues of pesticides and biocides in the cotton used. When I have this information our toxicologists will advise the Government on whether they pose any hazard.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will introduce legislation requiring manufacturers to label clearly packets with a comprehensive list of the contents of sanitary towels;

  (2) if he will introduce stricter controls on the manufacture of sanitary goods in respect of safety standards and sterile procedures for the manufacture of these goods.

  Mr. Forth
  No. 1 am satisfied that the existing voluntary prior approval scheme for tampons adequately ensures the safety of the public.

  Disposable Nappies
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will take steps to end the use of synthetic chemicals in the manufacture of disposable nappies which are similar to those used in sanitary tampons removed from sale in the United States of America because of their association with toxic shock syndrome in consumers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  No. Toxic shock syndrome is not a problem with babies. However, I will ask the industry which chemicals are added to disposable nappies and this information will be considered by our toxicologists.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if his Department will actively promote the use of chlorine-free paper pulp in the manufacture of disposable nappies.
  463
  Mr. Forth
  The brand leaders have gone over to unbleached disposable nappies and the remainder of the industry is likely to follow. It is a good example of the market responding to consumer preferences.

  Paper Industry (Bleaches)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will consult the paper industry on ways to encourage the use of different methods of bleaching.

  Mr. Forth
  I understand that no pulp mills in the United Kingdom bleach with chlorine. However I have asked the paper industry to provide unbleached alternatives to bleached paper products so that the consumer can have a choice.

  Wood Pulp
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the annual United Kingdom requirement for wood pulp.

  Mr. Forth
  Precise figures are not available, but it is estimated that in 1987 the United Kingdom requirements of wood pulp amounted to between 2 and 2½ million tonnes.

  Monopolies and Mergers Commission
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he will make public the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report on the supply of beer to the United Kingdom; and if it is his intention to make a statement on the report at the same time.

  Mr. Maude
  The report will be published as soon as possible. It is customary for my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to announce his response to a Monopolies and Mergers Commission report at the time of its publication.

  Consumer Credit
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, having regard to the proposals published in December 1988 for review of the consumer credit licensing system, he will consider extending the proposed powers to require information not only to those holding or seeking licences but also to anyone suspected on reasonable grounds of carrying out unlicensed consumer credit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  The Department's proposals for the consumer credit licensing system were contained in a consultation letter dated 26 October 1988. The proposed power for the Director General of Fair Trading to seek information would not be confined only to those seeking or holding licences, but would also extend to those suspected on reasonable grounds of carrying on any form of consumer credit business.

  Broadcasting
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, in the light of his proposals outlined in the White Paper on "Broadcasting in the 90s", he has plans to seek to amend or repeal the Marine Offences (Broadcasting) Act 1967.
  464
  Mr. Atkins
  Yes, we are considering strengthening the enforcement powers in the Act. The exciting proposals outlined in the White Paper reinforce the need for vigorous action against all unlicensed broadcasting.

  Sanitary Towels
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will take steps to encourage sanitary towel manufacturers to substitute biodegradeable plastics for non-biodegradeable plastics in their products.

  Mr. Forth
  I have no plans to do so, but I understand that the industry has approached higher educational establishments with a view to their carrying out relevant investigations.

  Paper Mills (Pollution)
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he last met representatives of the Paper Industries Research Association to discuss question of organochlorine pollution from pulp and paper mills; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  I have not held any meeting with the Paper Industries Research Association but my Department is in touch with the association about its studies in this field.

  Newspapers (Takeovers)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in how many of the 15 daily newspapers circulating in Northern Ireland the Monopolies and Mergers Commission inserted a notice inviting representations in connection with the proposed takeover of Belfast Newsletter and Sunday News by Thomson Regional Newspapers; what was the size of the notice in the press; and what is the normal size for similar notices published by the commission.

  Mr. Maude
  This is a matter for the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, which will be writing to the right hon. Member.

  Unigate (Dairy Crest Purchase)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will refer the purchase of part of Unigate's liquid milk business by Dairy Crest to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 17 February 1989] : The proposed acquisition is currently being considered by the Director General of Fair Trading who has a duty to advise the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on whether the proposed acquisition should be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on the proposed merger in anticipation of the director general's advice.

  Textiles and Clothing (Silberston Report)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will extend the time for receiving the report from Professor Aubrey Silberston into the effects on the United Kingdom economy of international trading policies on textiles and clothing, to allow Professor Silberston more time to consult widely and to ensure any
  465
  recommendations he makes are widely supported by United Kingdom textile and clothing interests; if he will consider inviting Professor Silberston to circulate his main conclusions before his study is finalised and presented to Ministers; and if he will arrange for Professor Silberston's report to be published when available.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding answer 17 February 1989]: The commissioning of the study was announced last September and the textile and clothing, and other interests have been given ample opportunity to let Professor Silberston know their views before the report is completed. Professor Silberston expects the report to be published in the summer.

  Takeover Bids
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many deputations of hon. Members he saw on takeover bids in 1988.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 15 February 1989]: Department of Trade and Industry Ministers saw approximately 10 such deputations in 1988.

ENERGY

  Market Research
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what market research he proposes to undertake in 1989 as part of his Department's programme to promote awareness of, and research in, technology transfer and renewable energy sources.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Market research is an esential part of our renewable energy research and development programme, both in determining the most appropriate methods of informing and influencing the future market for renewable sources of energy, and in gauging the success or otherwise of publications that flow from the programme.

  Technology transfer plans are being developed for each technology classed as economically attractive. During 1989 a number of market research studies are planned in order to obtain a better understanding of technical transfer processes and the characteristics of those market sectors relevant to the renewable technologies.

  Over the next weeks the first of these studies will be undertaken to provide detailed information on the size and scope of the market that needs to be addressed. The results will be used to develop and target the most appropriate promotion material in support of our technology transfer activities. Recently completed market research has shown that our publications have been well received by the general public, industry and professionals.

  Electricity Supply Industry
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the rate of return achieved by the electricity supply industry for the last year for which figures are available; and what were the figures in 1979–80.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  In 1987–88, the last year for which figures are available, the industry's current cost rate of return on average net assets was 2·42 per cent. In 1979–80 the figure was 0·5 per cent.

  Electricity Distribution Boards (Chairmen)
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he will next be meeting the chairmen of distribution boards; and what subjects he expects to discuss.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  My right hon. Friend and I meet the area board chairmen regularly to discuss various matters of mutual interest.

  British Coal (Engineering Workshops)
  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the British Coal national engineering workshops closed since July 1985; together with the number of redundancies declared with each workshop closure; and the number of redundancies declared in other British Coal national engineering workshops since July 1985.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This is a matter for the management of the British Coal Corporation and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  BNFL
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has been made with the implementation of the integrated dry route kiln (IDR) process to convert uranium hexafluoride into ceramic uranium dioxide at British Nuclear Fuels plc, Springfields.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This is a matter for British Nuclear Fuel plc and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  BNFL (Uranium Imports)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy to refuse permission for British Nuclear Fuels plc to import natural uranium from South Africa for processing and re-export.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I have nothing to add to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Merionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on 23 May 1988 at column 8.

  Pressurised Water Reactor (Construction)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will initiate a study of the net energy consumed and resultant carbon dioxide gas release from fossil fuels used in the manufacturing and construction of a 1300 Mw pressurised water reactor and in the manufacture, storage and processing of its fuel and resultant radioactive wastes; and if he will publish a table giving comparable information for a coal-fired station of the same net output and fitted with flue gas desulphurisation technology.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I do not consider that such a study would be worthwhile.

  Efficiency (Appliances)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will initiate a departmental study to compare the volume decrease in carbon dioxide emissions that could be achieved by introducing a policy of energy efficient light
  467
  bulbs and energy efficient labelling on refrigerators, water heaters and stoves, instead of building the equivalent number of power plant to provide the electricity saved.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  No. It has always been the policy of the energy efficiency office that energy-efficient lamps should be used wherever they are cost effective and appropriate.

  Under a recently concluded agreement by the European Committee of Manufacturers of Electrical Domestic Equipment, appliance manufacturers present the energy consumption data of major energy using domestic appliances in the same form. This allows comparisons by consumers no matter where in western Europe the appliances come from or are sold.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Diplomatic Properties (Rate Arrears)
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, pursuant to his answer of 7 February,Official Report, column 585, he will list the rate arrears for individual diplomatic properties; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Rates owed by missions on properties accepted by Her Majesty's Government as being in diplomatic use, and on which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are taking action with the missions concerned are:

  £

  Burkina

  6,456·00

  France

  107,479·02

  Costa Rica

  758·37

  Iran

  12,123·47

  Iraq

  134,504·91

  Laos

  2,215·91

  Libya

  24,486·95

  Morocco

  15,100·40

  Nigeria

  9,242·97

  Paraguay

  2,680·11

  Somalia

  10,677·84

  Sudan

  113,800·00

  Uganda

  33,051·17

  In certain cases the arrears are in dispute and under discussion between the mission and rating of Government property department.

  The following amounts are owed by diplomatic missions on properties which are not accepted as being in diplomatic use on which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is similarly taking action:

  £

  Grenada

  2,452·83

  Iran

  32,595·52

  Libya

  371,026·32

  Nigeria

  33,942·01

  Rail Ozhegov
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Russians about the fate of Rail Ozhegov.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Rail Ozhegov has only very recently come to our attention. We shall underline our concern 468
  about this case to the Soviet authorities at the next suitable opportunity, and shall continue to press the Russians until there is a satisfactory outcome.

  Kampuchea
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to seek to produce an international peace settlement on Kampuchea.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport (Mr. Favell) on 8 February at columns 739–40.

  South Africa (Hunger Strikes)
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has made known to the South African Government the concern felt by British people for the hunger strikers in Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have repeatedly urged the South African authorities to release all those detained without trial, and have done so again recently. We welcome the reported commitment by the South African Minister for Law and Order to give urgent personal consideration to the case of each detainee.

  Non-proliferation Treaty
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has made any specific representations to his counterparts in France and the People's Republic of China in regard to their respective joining the nuclear non-proliferation treaty before the 1990 NPT review conference.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  British Ministers and officials take advantage of every appropriate opportunity to urge all non-members (including France and China) of the non-proliferation treaty to accede, and will continue to do so. We attach great importance to securing the widest possible adherence to this treaty.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the date and venue for the fourth review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, scheduled for 1990, have yet been set.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The 1990 non-proliferation treaty review conference will probably take place in Geneva during August/September 1990. The precise dates and venue will be discussed and confirmed with other state parties at the first preparatory committee in New York on 1–5 May.

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations on Iraqi use of chemical weapons the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the hon. Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Waldegrave) made to the Government of Iraq on his recent visit to that country; and what was the response.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I repeated to the Iraqi Foreign Minister the serious view we take of use of chemical
  469
  weapons and the great importance we continue to attach to repeated Iraqi undertakings not to make further use of these weapons.

  Brussels Treaty
  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he now expects Her Majesty's Government to ratify the protocol dated 14 November in respect of the accession of Portugal and Spain to the modified Brussels treaty of 23 October 1954.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The protocol of accession of Portugal and Spain to the modified Brussels treaty was laid before the House on 2 February. It should therefore be possible to ratify the protocol early in March.

  Mr. Moshe Arens
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on his meeting on 15 February with Mr. Moshe Arens, Foreign Minister of Israel.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. and learned Friend had an important and constructive first exchange of views on Arab/Israel and other international issues. He looks forward to continuing the dialogue.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Community Care
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what evidence he has of any increased take-up in community care grants as against loans within the social fund budget.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Take up of community care grants has increased steadily over recent months. Expenditure in December 1988 was £3·9 million representing 79 per cent. of monthly profiled expenditure. Provisional figures for January 1989 show that expenditure increased to £5·1 million, representing 109 per cent. of monthly profiled expenditure. Expenditure on loans was £12·1 million in December 1988, representing 103 per cent. of monthly

  1984–851

  1985–86

  1986–872

  1988–89

  Number of claimants paid

  Amount paid £

  Number of claimants paid

  Amount paid £

  Number of £5 payments made

  Amount paid £

  Number of claims refused

  Number of claims refused

  Doncaster East

  218

  2,0347·53

  477

  11,783·44

  4,286

  21,430

  1,075

  6

  Doncaster West

  509

  5,776·11

  764

  28,808·23

  4,321

  21,605

  2,068

  —

  Wath-on-Dearne

  180

  1,890·61

  567

  14,368·33

  3,207

  16,035

  868

  —

  Total

  907

  9,701·25

  1,808

  54,960·00

  11,814

  59,070

  4,011

  6

  1 Details of the number of claims refused in 1984–85, 1985–86 and 1987–88 are not available

  2 It is estimated that 6,000 claimants received payments.

  Medical Boards
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidance is available to members of medical boards concerning cases involving their own patients or former patients.

  Mr. Scott
  Guidance on the subject is contained in handbooks which are issued to all adjudicating medical practitioners (medical boarding doctors). These are, "The 470
  profiled expenditure and was provisionally £10·6 million in January 1989 representing 96 per cent. of monthly profiled expenditure.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidance he proposes to give to local offices about exceeding nominal monthly social fund allocations in the light of the shortfall in spending evident in the early months of the financial year.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Guidance relating to the management of social fund budgets is contained in paragraphs 2000–2056 of the social fund manual. The Department has recently written to local office managers drawing attention to this guidance and reminding them that the objective is for payments to approach the year's budget as closely as possible while maintaining so far as possible consistency of priority-setting and decision-making throughout the year.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will revise the guidance contained in the social fund manual in order to ensure that the full budget is spent.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We have no plans to amend the existing guidance in the social fund manual regarding management of the social fund budget. The guidance relating to community care grants is currently being revised.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants in the Doncaster and Mexborough areas of South Yorkshire were paid under the cold weather payments scheme for the last five years; how much benefit has been paid in each of the last five years; and how many claims were refused.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The table shows the information requested for the Department's local offices covering the Doncaster and Mexborough areas of South Yorkshire. These offices made no cold weather payments in the winter of 1987–88.

  Handbook for Industrial Injuries Medical Boards" and "The Severe Disablement Allowance Handbook for Adjudicating Medical Authorities."

  Supported Lodgings
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on entitlement to(a) income support and (b) housing benefit for those in supported lodgings from April 1989.
  471
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  From April 1989, those people in supported lodgings who are entitled to income support will receive housing benefit to help with their accommodation costs and normal income support (including any appropriate premiums) for other expenses. This change will mean that many supported lodgers will be better off, after meeting charges for accommodation and the provision of care, than under existing benefit arrangements. As at present, those in supported lodgings who are not eligible for income support, but who have low incomes, will be able to claim housing benefit to help with their accommodation costs.

  Mr. N. Scott
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the reason for the delay in the case of the appeal to the social security appeal tribunal of Mr. N. Scott of 17 Elysdon drive, Gorton, Manchester, between the receipt of the adjudication officer's submission from his Department on 3 November 1988 and the receipt of Mr. Scott's letter of appeal by the tribunal on June 1988; and if he will take steps to ensure that no such delays occur in the future.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 30 January 1989]: Mr. Scott's appeal was one of a considerable number of similar appeals prompted by a welfare rights take-up campaign. There was a delay in submitting the appeal to the social security appeal tribunal whilst the adjudication officer sought advice from the regional adjudication officer on how to prepare the appeal submission.

  The flow of appeal submissions from the Department to the social security appeal tribunal will be affected when numbers dramatically rise as in the case of take-up campaigns. There has, however, been an improvement nationally in the time taken to process appeals. Latest statistics show that the national average time taken from the date of lodgment to the date of submission to the social security appeal tribunal is 18 days.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Inflation
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has received recent representations from the Confederation of British Industry about inflation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  My right hon. Friend has received representations from the CBI on economic priorities for 1989. His priority remains to bring inflation down, and the Government's policies will achieve this.

  Tax Concessions
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the value of tax concessions from his last Budget that have gone to each region.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I regret that regional estimates of the effect of the changes in taxation announced in the 1988 Budget are not available.

  Share Ownership
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he has any plans to promote wider share ownership.
  472
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  My right hon. Friend is always looking for ways in which further to promote wider share ownership.

  Capital Account
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which of the statistics produced by his Department give an indication of the current state, and changes in the state, of the capital account of the economy.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement regarding his Department's policy on the collection and publication of statistics showing the state of the capital account of the economy.

  Mr. Major
  The only statistics relevant to the capital account for which the Treasury is directly responsible are the official reserves. Other data on the capital account of the balance of payments are collected by the CSO and published regularly in "Economic Trends."

  Tax Avoidance
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to increase the rate of detection and prosecution of tax avoiders.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The Inland Revenue will continue its efforts to improve its effectiveness in counter-avoidance work, but tax avoidance itself is not a criminal offence.

  Relocation
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Civil Service jobs will be transferred to(a) Nottingham and (b) the Chalfont drive site, Aspley, Nottingham as a result of the Government's recent announcement.

  Mr. Brooke
  As indicated in my answer on 9 February 1989, at columns 751–2, to my hon. Friend, the Member for Beverley (Mr. Cran), the policy is for Departments themselves to review the location of their work. They are well aware of the benefits for regional and urban policy of transferring work to such areas, and will take this into account where appropriate.

  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to relocate staff for which he is responsible to the north-east of England, particularly Teesside.

  Mr. Brooke
  Departments for which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible have in hand the serious and substantial reviews of relocation opportunities referred to in the answer I gave on 9 February 1989, at columns 751–2, to my hon. Friend the Member for Beverley (Mr. Cran). Areas which are the focus of the Government's regional and urban policies, such as the north-east of England, will be considered where appropriate. Decisions will be announced once the essential processes of assessment, consultation and decision for each review have been completed.

  Budget Statement
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received about his forthcoming Budget Statement.
  473
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  We have received numerous representations from a variety of individuals and organisations.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the state-owned commercial sector in 1979 has now been transferred to the private sector.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Since 1979, around 45 per cent. of the state-owned sector of industry has been transferred to the private sector.

  Output per head (percentage change on year earlier)

  United Kingdom

  France

  Germany

  Italy

  USA

  Japan

  Sweden

  (a) Whole economy

  1981

  2·2

  1·8

  0·9

  0·9

  1·2

  3·0

  -0·1

  1982

  4·3

  2·4

  1·1

  0·6

  -1·7

  1·8

  1·0

  1983

  4·2

  1·0

  3·1

  0·8

  2·6

  1·4

  2·3

  1984

  1·0

  2·2

  2·6

  2·8

  2·9

  4·4

  4·6

  1985

  2·0

  2·0

  1·3

  2·4

  1·7

  4·0

  1·5

  1986

  2·4

  1·9

  1·3

  2·4

  0·7

  1·6

  0·0

  1987

  2·9

  2·0

  1·2

  3·3

  0·9

  3·3

  0·8

  19881

  2·6

  3·0

  2·9

  2·4

  1·7

  4·2

  0·0

  Period average

  2·7

  2·0

  1·8

  2·0

  2·2

  3·0

  1·3

  (b) Manufacturing

  1981

  3·5

  1·3

  0·3

  2·7

  2·7

  -0·1

  1·9

  1982

  6·5

  1·5

  0·4

  -0·2

  -0·6

  -0·3

  2·5

  1983

  8·5

  1·1

  5·0

  1·3

  9·9

  3·6

  5·7

  1984

  5·8

  3·2

  4·2

  8·3

  6·8

  8·0

  4·3

  1985

  2·9

  3·3

  3·1

  2·3

  2·7

  1·8

  0·1

  1986

  3·0

  2·5

  0·5

  4·3

  3·8

  -0·9

  -0·2

  1987

  7·1

  4·8

  0·3

  4·7

  3·8

  5·2

  7·3

  19882

  7·5

  5·6

  6·3

  4·7

  2·9

  7·2

  2·0

  Period average

  5·6

  3·0

  2·5

  3·5

  4·0

  3·1

  3·0

  1 The figures for 1988 are based on the quarterly averages of OECD estimates of total output for the whole year and actual employment for the first three quarters (except for the United Kingdom, for which actual average productivity for the first three quarters is used). These figures for 1988 are compared with the average level of productivity in 1987.

  2 The estimates for 1988 compare the average level of manufacturing productivity in the first three quarters (except for France and the United Kingdom, for which data are available for the first half and the whole year respectively) with the average level in 1987 as a whole.

  Trade Exhibitions
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency and Her Majesty's Stationery Office will not be attending the "Great North Meets the Buyer" exhibition on 4 and 5 April.

  Mr. Lilley
  CCTA and HMSO both decided not to participate in the "Great North Meets the Buyer" exhibition because experience of taking stands at such events has been disappointing, with a very low level of interest from potential suppliers.

  Amazonia
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how often he and other Ministers in the Treasury have met the executive director of the World Bank appointed by the United Kingdom to discuss the policies or reports of the World Bank in relation to Amazonia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer meets our executive director at the World Bank from time to time, usually at the spring and annual meetings of the bank and the IMF; a wide range of issues are discussed.

  Manufacturing Productivity
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the annual percentage increase in productivity in(a) the whole economy, and (b) the manufacturing sector in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the United States of America, Japan and Sweden, in each year since 1980.

  Mr. Major
  The information requested is set out:

  Pension Funds
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report details of tax reliefs which apply to the incomes and capital gains accruing to private occupational pension funds.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  If a pension scheme meets the conditions laid down for tax approval its investment income and gains are exempt from tax, but any trading profits or other forms of income are taxable.

  Hospital Radio Stations
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost per annum to the Treasury of exempting from the scope of value-added tax broadcasting and recording equipment used by hospital radio stations.

  Mr. Lilley
  I regret this information is not available.

  VAT
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has had about the effect of the imposition of value added tax on hospital radio equipment; and if he will make a statement.
  475
  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 17 February 1989] : My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has received a number of representations since the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Mr. Amess) on 27 October at column 447.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, pursuant to his answer of 6 February,Official Report, column 548, on value added tax zero rates, if he will list those matters still under discussion.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 16 February 1989] : The principal matter still under discussion with trade representatives is the question whether gas and electricity bills below a certain level should be eligible automatically for zero-rating, in the same way as is proposed for certain small scale deliveries of coal, oil and liquified petroleum gas. Interested trade and professional bodies have also been asked for technical comments on the draft legislation.

  Private Medical Insurance
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all the organisations with which he is discussing his proposals for private medical insurance tax relief.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 17 February 1989]: Inland Revenue officials are holding detailed discussions on the relief with the Association of British Insurers, the British United Provident Association, Private Patients Plan, the Western Provident Association, the Bristol Contributory Welfare Association, the Exeter Hospital Aid Society and the Civil Service Medical Aid Association.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the dates on which his Department is meeting the private medical insurance industry to discuss tax reliefs for private medical insurance.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 17 February 1989]: A meeting took place on 9 February, and there will be further meetings as and when needed.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he is considering making it possible to gain tax relief for private medical insurance by extending family medical insurance policies to cover elderly patients;

  (2) if tax reliefs for nursing home care are to be included under pensioners' medical insurance tax relief proposals in his discussions with the private medical insurance industry;

  (3) when he will publish the results of his discussions with the private medical insurance industry on tax reliefs for medical insurance for pensioners.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 17 February 1989]: The details will be published in the Finance Bill.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the papers on which he is basing his discussions with private medical insurance companies on tax reliefs.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 17 February 1989]: No.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will invite representations from health councils, health boards and health authorities to join his discussions on private medical insurance tax reliefs.
  476
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 17 February 1989]: If authorities wish to make representations to the Government on this subject I have no doubt that they will do so in the usual way.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research has taken place into cost of private medical insurance tax reliefs.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 17 February 1989]: Estimates of the cost of tax relief for private medical insurance for the elderly are being derived using information from various sources, including providers of private medical insurance.

  Lloyd's
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from Lloyd's in connection with the effect of recent financial legislation on the conduct of business in the London insurance market; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 16 February 1989]: These matters have been raised at various meetings with Lloyd's. I have corresponded with my hon. Friend recently about the effects of legislation on Lloyd's business. I am placing a copy of my letter to my hon. Friend of 15 February 1989 in the House of Commons Library.

  Visible Trade Deficit
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the non-oil visible trade deficit with(a) the EEC and (b) the rest of the world each year since 1970; and what percentage these represent of total non-oil visible trade in each year.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information is in the table:

  United Kingdom non-oil trade1

  OTS basis

  Year

  Crude balance with

  As percentage of exports and imports with

  European Community

  Rest of the world

  European Community

  Rest of the world

  £ billion

  Per cent.

  1970

  +0·1

  -0·3

  +1·4

  -3·0

  1971

  -0·1

  +0·4

  -2·7

  +3·5

  1972

  -0·5

  -0·0

  -7·2

  -0·3

  1973

  -1·3

  -1·0

  -13·3

  -6·3

  1974

  -2·1

  -0·9

  -15·9

  -4·1

  1975

  -2·1

  +1·2

  -14·3

  +5·0

  1976

  -2·1

  +0·7

  -10·6

  +2·3

  1977

  -2·3

  +1·2

  -9·3

  +3·4

  1978

  -3·3

  +1·4

  -1·1

  +3·5

  1979

  -4·6

  -0·7

  -12·7

  -1·5

  1980

  -2·7

  +0·2

  -7·2

  +0·5

  1981

  -4·3

  +1·3

  -11·4

  +2·7

  1982

  -6·7

  +0·9

  -15·4

  +1·7

  1983

  -10·0

  -2·1

  -20·0

  -3·6

  1984

  -11·7

  -3·4

  -20·0

  -1·6

  1985

  -12·2

  -2·2

  -18·5

  -3·0

  1986

  -13·8

  -3·2

  -18·9

  -4·3

  1987

  -14·6

  -3·5

  -17·7

  -4·5

  1988

  -17·6

  -9·4

  -19·0

  -10·9

  1 Oil taken as Standard International Trade Classification Division 33.

  Note: Figures may not add due to rounding.

  Source: Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom.

  Family Incomes
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the net income after housing costs of a married man with children aged 13 and 16 years earning(a) £104 and (b) £105 per week;

  (2) what is the net income of a married man with children aged three, eight and 11 years paying average rent and rates as used in the tax/benefit model tables earning (a) £65 per week and (b) £80 per week;

  (3) what is the net income after benefits of a married man with children aged four and six years earning (a) £60 per week gross and (b) £140 per week gross;

  (4) what is the net income under current tax and benefit structure of a married man with children aged three, eight and 11 years with gross earnings of (i) £65 per week and (ii) £105 per week;

  (5) what is the net income under the current tax and benefit structure of a married man with children aged four and six years earning (a) £80 per week and (b) £90 per week.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer my hon. Friend to table 1 of the tax/benefit model tables for April 1988, copies of which are in the Library.

PRIME MINISTER

  National Savings Bank
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has recived about the increase in the minimum deposit made by the National Savings Bank; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and I have received a number of representations. The average cost of each transaction is well over £1 in Post Office agency fees and National Savings bank running costs. It is not sensible to seek deposits so small that they are wholly or largely absorbed by the cost of processing. Deposits under £5 represent only 1 per cent. by value of all ordinary account deposits made in a year.

  Earnings
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Prime Minister what are the latest figures available for gross average earnings in(a) Scotland, (b) rural Scotland and (c) Great Britain.

  The Prime Minister The information available from the Department of Employment's new earnings survey is given below. As the survey does not provide results for areas within the regions of Scotland, it is not possible to provide estimates for rural Scotland. The regions given below are mainly rural; other Scottish regions have rural areas but also include large urban areas.

  Average Gross Weekly Earnings of Full-Time Employees on Adult Rates Whose Pay for the Survey Pay-period Was Not Affected by Absence

  April 1988

  £ per week

  men

  women

  Scotland

  233·3

  152·2

  Borders Region

  n/a

  n/a

  Dumfries and Galloway Region

  205·3

  n/a

  478

  April 1988

  £ per week

  men

  women

  Highland Region

  224·2

  137·3

  Island Authorities

  n/a

  n/a

  Great Britain

  245·8

  164·2

  As the survey covers a sample of about 1 per cent. of employees who are members of PAYE schemes for tax purposes, it does not cover, for example, the self-employed or those earning less than the PAYE limit, and cannot provide reliable estimates for every region of Scotland.

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will dismiss from the Government the hon. Member for Grantham (Mr. Hogg), the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department. for his statements relating to the alleged sympathy shown by certain solicitors in Northern Ireland for terrorist organisations.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Ministerial Responsibilities
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Prime Minister if there have been any changes in the responsibilities of the Secretary of State for Health and of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food as a result of the establishment of the committee which she will chair, as announced by the Chief Medical Officer, Sir Donald Acheson, on Friday 10 February.

  The Prime Minister There has been no change in the respective responsibilities of the Secretary of State for Health and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The plans to which the Chief Medical Officer referred on 10 February, and on which the Secretary of State for Health announced further details on 14 February at column 180, concern the establishment of an expert committee on the microbiological safety of food, under an independent chairman.

  Food Safety Group
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will take steps to ensure that all those who are invited to join the expert group set up to examine food-related issues have no commercial interests in the food industry.

  The Prime Minister
  On 14 February at column 180 my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Health announced the setting-up of an expert committee on the microbiological safety of food. The committee's membership and terms of reference and method of working are under consideration and will be announced shortly.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if she will require the expert group, set up to examine food-related issues, to make recommendations on the suitability of cook-chill catering within hospitals;

  (2) if she will take steps to suspend the further introduction of cook-chill catering in hospitals until the expert group, set up to examine food-related issues, have had the opportunity to examine the incidence of listeria in pre-cooked, refrigerated foods.

  The Prime Minister
  In 1980 the Department of Health issued guidelines on cook-chill catering in the National
  479
  Health Service and elsewhere. We remain satisfied that provided these guidelines are followed food produced by this system is safe. The expert committee on microbiological safety of food will, of course, be free to examine any aspect of microbiological food safety.

  President Ershad
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Prime Minister if she discussed human rights and democracy with President Ershad of Bangladesh; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I had a wide-ranging discussion with President Ershad, covering both bilateral and regional issues.

  Israeli Foreign Minister
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement on her meeting on 15 February with Mr. Moshe Arens, Foreign Minister of Israel.

  The Prime Minister
  I had a very good discussion of Arab/Israel issues with Professor Arens. We agreed that negotiations should start as soon as possible, but will need careful preparation. We also discussed the position of Jews in the Soviet Union.

TRANSPORT

  Tyres
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many motor vehicles in each of the last three years failed the MOT test because of inadequate tyre tread; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Inadequate tread is one of the tyre defects that can lead to a test failure and is not separately recorded. Tyre failure figures during annual tests for the last three years, based on a 2 per cent. sample return from testing stations are:

  Number

  1985

  1,249,822

  1986

  1,525,449

  1987

  1,862,980

  In addition to inadequate tread, the tyre failure statistics include several other reasons for failure. These include lumps, bulges or tears caused by structural deterioration, a tyre with a cut which reaches the ply or cord, a tyre which is fouling on any part of the vehicle and a tyre which is of a different nominal size or structure type from the other which is on the same axle.

  British Rail and London Underground (Women Workers)
  Mr. Fishburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many women in total and in proportion to the total work force are currently employed by (i) British Rail and (ii) London Underground.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Department does not have this information. As it relates to a matter within the management responsibility of the operators may I suggest that the question be addressed to them.

  Motorway Safety
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take measures to encourage greater lane discipline in motorway driving.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State last year announced a package of measures to improve motorway safety with particular emphasis on improving driving standards. Since then, we have distributed over 2 million copies of the motorway leaflet containing advice on the correct use of lanes. The Department gave its full support and co-operation to the Association of British Insurers, which recently produced a video "Happens All The Time" aimed at 17 to 24-year-olds and concentrating on motorway driving skills.

  We are aware of the frustration and danger associated with poor lane discipline. We work hard to encourage safe and considerate use of motorways through the highway code, the manual "Driving", stuffer leaflets, posters and television filler films. We shall not relax our efforts.

  We would welcome national and regional television coverage of motorway driving which could raise awareness of good and bad or dangerous habits.

  BR and London Underground (Passenger Numbers)
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce restrictions on the number of passengers permitted on board carriages on British Rail and London Underground trains; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  No. I am not aware of any evidence that such measures are necessary.

  Vehicle Excise Duty
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in the Official Report the current rates of vehicle excise duty applicable to each category of vehicle in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  There is a large number of rates. Full information is contained in leaflet V149, "Rates of Vehicle Excise Duty" available from the House of Commons Library.

  Bicester Perimeter Road
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects work to be completed on the Bicester western and eastern perimeter road.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  This is the responsibility of the Oxfordshire county council.

  Banbury Ring Road
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects work to begin on stages II and III of the Banbury inner ring road.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  This is the responsibility of the Oxfordshire county council.

  Disabled People (Transport)
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of the composition of the Disabled Persons Transport Committee and list the names and disablement links of its membership.
  481
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Disabled Persons Transport Committee was set up under the Transport Act 1985 to advise the Sectary of State on matters relating to the needs of disabled people in connection with public passenger transport.

  The chairman and members are appointed by the Secretary of State after consultation with relevant bodies. The Act specifies that, so far as is reasonably practicable, at least half of the membership of the committee should consist of people who are disabled.

  Current membership is as follows:

  Chairman: Sir Peter Baldwin KCB (Chairman, South East Thames Regional Health Authority)

  Mrs. Jill Allen-King MBE (Joint Committee on Mobility of Blind and Partially Sighted People)

  Keith Brown (Board member, London Regional Transport

  W. Buchanan (Adviser on Disability, British Railways Board)

  Lewis Carter-Jones (Vice Chairman, Access to the Skies Committee)

  Clive Davis (Royal National Institute for the Deaf)

  John Dobinson (Transport and Disability Consultant)

  James Elder-Woodward (Strathclyde Regional Council)

  Mrs. Claudia Flanders (OBE) (Transport and Disability Consultant)

  Lady Greengross (Age Concern)

  Graham Stevenson (Transport and General Workers Union)

  John Hannan MP (All Party Disablement Group)

  Joe Hennessy (OBE) (Disabled Drivers Association)

  Peter Large (CBE (Joint Committee on Mobility for the Disabled)

  Bob Ley (South Wales Transport, retired)

  Bert Massie OBE (Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation)

  Brian McGinnis (MENCAP)

  Trevor Meadows (National Advisory Unit for Community Transport)

  Leslie Stephenson (P & O European Ferries)

  Dr. Adrian Stokes OBE (Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation)

  Robert Taylor MBE (Birmingham International Airport)

  Bottesford Bypass
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what traffic accidents have taken place on the A52 bypass around Bottesford, Leicestershire, since it opened recently; whether he will now reconsider his rejection of the traffic management proposals previously made to him by the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton and borough and parish councillors; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  There has been only one reported accident on the A52 Bottesford bypass since it opened on 6 February. The police do not consider that it was caused by the junction layout. We have no proposals to alter the junctions. They are appropriate for the conditions and the volumes of traffic. We shall continue to monitor the situation. Motorists are asked to treat a new road with particular respect.

  Heavy Lorries
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) fatal and (b) serious accidents in 1987 involved heavy goods vehicles.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  In 1987 there were 776 fatal accidents and 3,509 serious accidents which involved heavy goods vehicles.

  Roads (Maintenance)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the totals for maintenance from 1976 to 1987 on(a) motorways, (b) trunk roads, (c) local authority maintained A roads and (d) other roads used as lorry routes.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The information is not available for all these categories. Capital expenditure on renewal of motorways and all-purpose trunk roads in England over the period was as follows:

  £ million

  1976–77

  29

  1977–78

  33

  1978–79

  45

  1979–80

  60

  1980–81

  64

  1981–82

  108

  1982–83

  144

  1983–84

  123

  1984–85

  147

  1985–86

  157

  1986–87

  181

  1987–88

  213

  Lorries (Noise Limits)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current maximum permitted noise limit for new lorries.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The current limit for the heaviest lorries is 88 dB (A). From 1 October 1989 these vehicles will have to meet a limit of 84 dB (A). Britain took a lead in securing the limits set by European Community Directive 84/424/EEC, which we are implementing from the earliest dates permitted. This will mean that during the 1980s the noise from the heaviest lorries will almost have been halved.

  Lorry Action Areas
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many lorry action areas have been designated; and what effect they have had on local situations.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  None. The Department is taking steps to ameliorate lorry nuisance in other ways including building bypasses, research aimed at helping manufacturers build quieter heavy vehicles and the lorry management study.

  Lorry Operating Centres
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the effect of the Transport Act 1982 in siting of lorry operating centres.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  A review of the effects of the environmental provisions in the Transport Act 1982 concluded that they struck a fair balance between the interests of people affected by operating centres in their neighbourhood and those of the road haulage industry. A copy of the review was deposited in the Library in December 1986.
  483

  Weighbridges
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many weighbridges have been set up in the United Kingdom; how many lorries were checked in 1987; how many were overweight; how many of these lorries were over 38 tonnes; and what was the average fine.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Department of Transport has so far a network of 63 weighbridges. A total of 126,000 lorries were weighed in 1987–88, by the Department's traffic examiners and local authority trading standards Departments. Of these 28,500 were found to be overloaded, 5,700 of them over 38 tonnes. The average fine imposed by the courts for overloading found by the Department's traffic examiners was £156.

  Heavy Lorries (Pollutants)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the figures for pollutants from heavy goods vehicles in 1987; and what steps are being taken to reduce such emissions.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The estimates, in thousands of tonnes, are as follows:

  Thousand/tonnes

  Carbon monoxide

  46

  Hydrocarbons

  95

  Oxides of nitrogen

  399

  We shall be implementing the new limits on these pollutants contained in European Community Directive 88/77/EEC at the earliest possible date permitted, which is 1 October 1990.

  Heavy Lorries (Licence Fees)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the current licence fees for heavy goods vehicles in each weight category; and what are their allocated road track costs.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  There is a large number of rates of vehicle excise duty. Full information is contained in leaflet V149 "Rates of Vehicle Excise Duty". Information on the road track costs of vehicles is published annually in the "Allocation of Road Track Costs Bulletin". Both are available from the House of Commons Library.

ENVIRONMENT

  Housing Management
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the report on effectiveness of housing management, which his Department commissioned from the centre for housing research, Glasgow university; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Copies of the report have been placed in the Library today. It shows that authorities and associations housed the same kinds of people and provided similar kinds of services, although their scale of operation was different.

  While the report concludes that there is no general crisis in the management of social rented housing, there were
  484
  considerable variations between the best and the worst performers amongst both local authorities and associations. In both cases quality of management was the key to their performance as a landlord. Housing associations were found to have more satisfied tenants in better maintained homes but they spent more to achieve this. Some of the best of both types of landlord operated very economically in the most difficult circumstances.

  However, tenants of authorities and associations saw scope for improved services. They wanted more local offices, better repairs services and more genuine consultation by their landlords. A substantial minority were willing to pay more for better services.

  This report has important messages for all committee members and housing staff in authorities and associations. Although it is reassuring to know that a majority of tenants were satisfied with the services provided by their landlords, many tenants were not, and they found it difficult to influence their landlords: quite simply landlords do not listen enough. Moreover, many authorities and associations fail to keep in mind the need to be effective, efficient and economical. The measures in the recent Housing Act and current Bill are designed to address these problems directly.

  It emerged clearly that tenants wanted better contacts and services and that local managers were more effective but no more expensive than those working from the town hall. This is a message which the Department has been promoting for a decade, through the priority estates project and Estate Action.

  I shall be exploring with the Housing Corporation how associations' management efficiency can best be monitored and improved, and also how the widespread public ignorance of housing associations revealed by the report can be overcome.

  I congratulate Professor Maclennan and his team on producing a report which sheds much light on the future of social rented housing and will help all those concerned to move forward on a better informed basis.

  Tenants
  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what are his Department's plans to monitor and to publish information on a regular basis concerning(a) the level of private sector capital investment: (i) through commercial landlords; and (ii) through social landlords (x) in building new dwellings for letting and (y) in rehabilitating or converting existing property for letting under the assured tenancy or assured shorthold tenancy provisions of the Housing Act 1988, part I and (b) the rate of return on capital provided by such investment;

  (2) what are his Department's plans to monitor and to publish information on a regular basis concerning the number of empty dwellings brought into letting (a) under the assured tenancy provisions and (b) under the assured shorthold tenancy provisions of the Housing Act 1988, part I, on a commercial basis (i) by non-resident landlords and (ii) by resident landlords;

  (3) what are his Department's plans to monitor and to publish regular information concerning the number of properties let (a) under the assured tenancy provisions and (b) under the assured shorthold tenancy provisions of the Housing Act 1988, part I (i) by commercial landlords and (ii) by social landlords (1) through new buildings, (2)

  485
  through rehabilitation or conversion of existing property, (3) through re-letting of existing property and (4) through transfers of property from the public sector;

  (4) what are his Department's plans to monitor and to publish regular information concerning (a) the number of complaints (i) of harassment and (ii) of illegal eviction reported to local authorities each month (1) by private tenants whose agreement commenced before 15 January and (2) by private tenants whose agreement commenced after 15 January, (b) the number of staff employed by local authorities whose job it is to respond to such complaints: (i) as tenancy relations officers and (ii) as other officers within the council and (c) the number of actions commenced by local authorities in response to such complaints against private landlords or their agents: (i) for harassment and (ii) for illegal eviction, under the provisions of the Protection from Eviction Act, as amended by the Housing Act 1988, part I;

  (5) what are his Department's plans to monitor and to publish information regularly concerning the level of rents charged (a) by commercial landlords and (b) by social landlords (i) for property newly built for letting, (ii) for property newly rehabilitated or converted for letting, (iii) for property relet and (iv) for property transferred from the public sector for letting (1) under the assured tenancy provisions and (2) under the assured shorthold tenancy provisions of the Housing Act 1988, part I.

  Mr. Trippier
  The need for statistics data collection and research will continue to be kept under review by our Department and results will continue to be published as they become available.

  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans his Department has to monitor and to evaluate the impact on the Government's policy of promoting care in the community of the changes in succession rights introduced by the Housing Act 1988, part I, for tenants of private landlords.

  Mr. Trippier
  The need for research into the effects of part I of the Housing Act 1988 will be considered in the usual way as part of the Department's research programme.

  Land (Iver)
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to determine the appeals against enforcement notices and a compulsory purchase order issued by the South Buckinghamshire district council in relation to land at Swallow street, Iver.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend expects to issue these decisions shortly.

  Bathing Water (North-West England)
  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of whether all identified bathing waters around the Fylde coast will meet the enterovirus standard of EC directive 76/160/EEC after construction of the proposed long sea outfall for the Fylde coast.

  Mr. Howard
  It is for Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to consider all relevant aspects of the proposals from North West water authority in determining its applications for discharge consents.
  486
  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list North West Water's environmental quality objectives for all identified bathing waters on the Fylde coast, Morecambe bay and the North Cumbrian coast.

  Mr. Howard
  The quality standards in directive 76/160/EEC.

  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the process whereby bathing waters in the North West region were identified for compliance with EC directive 76/160/EEC.

  Mr. Howard
  The waters were identified in consultation with the North West water authority on the basis of the criteria set out in the Government's response to the tenth report of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution. These, in turn, are consistent with criteria set out by the European Commission.

  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to ensure that all identified bathing waters in the North West region will meet the provisions of EC directive 76/160/EEC by 1995.

  Mr. Howard
  My officials are discussing with North West water authority, the implications—both financial and engineering—of bringing all their identified bathing waters us to EC standards by 1995.

  Sewage Discharge (Fylde)
  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the cost of North West Water's advertising campaign in support of applications for consent to discharge raw sewage from a long sea outfall and three short outfalls on the Fylde coast.

  Mr. Howard
  This is a matter for the North West water authority, which is required to advertise all applications for discharge consent.

  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement on the differences between top and bottom currents at and around the likely areas of impact of the proposed long sea outfall discharge off the Fylde coast;

  (2) if the intended frequency of routine stormwater discharges from three short sea outfalls along the Fylde coast satisfies guidelines for disposal of sewage to the sea agreed in 1988 between Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and the water industry.

  Mr. Howard
  These are matters to be considered in determining the applications from North West water authority for the Fylde coast scheme.

  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information is available to Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution on black, grey, or red list substances present in existing discharges to enable them to form a view on appropriate consent conditions for the proposed long sea outfall for the Fylde coast.

  Mr. Howard
  The North West water authority has provided information on the likely presence of various substances—including those in the black, grey and proposed red lists—as part of the applications for the
  487
  discharges making up the Fylde coast improvement scheme. This information will be considered by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and if the scheme is found to be acceptable, appropriate conditions will be included in any discharge consents granted.

  Sewage Pollution (Lytham St. Armes)
  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide estimates of what proportion of sewage pollution experienced by Lytham St. Annes is due to bacterial levels in the river Ribble; and what proportion is due to existing local discharges of sewage.

  Mr. Howard
  The relative proportions vary, but I understand that the Ribble is usually the larger contributor.

  Sewage Treatment Works
  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will revise his Department's estimate of the potential efficiency of conventional inland sewage treatment works in eliminating faecal bacteria from the aqueous phase of sewage.

  Mr. Howard
  Conventional inland sewage treatment works are designed primarily to reduce the biochemical oxygen demand and the suspended solids content of sewage. At the same time, treatment also substantially reduces the faecal bacteria count in the sewage effluent which is discharged. The efficiency with which bacteria are removed varies from works to works and, for this reason, the Department has made no overall estimate.

  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the effect on bacterial levels in the river Ribble of uprating the Clifton Marsh sewage treatment works to include full conventional treatment and disinfection using environmentally benign methods.

  Mr. Howard
  The North West water authority is currently evaluating the effects of uprating Clifton marsh sewage treatment works, including the effects on bacterial levels in the river Ribble.

  Sewage Disposal (Guidelines)
  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the guidelines for disposal of sewage to the sea agreed in 1988 between Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and the water industry.

  Mr. Howard
  I have placed copies in the Library of the House today.

  Biodegradeable Plastic
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has taken to encourage the use of biodegradeable plastic.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 7 February at columns 518–19.

  Dioxins
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he has any knowledge of evidence that dioxins have been found in paper products made from chlorine-bleached wood pulp;
  488
  (2) if his Department has any information on how dioxins find their way into human tissue;

  (3) what information he has on level of dioxin pollution present in air in the United Kingdom;

  (4) what information he has on the major source of dioxins resulting from industrial processes.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 14 February at columns 189–90 which made reference to the statement currently being prepared on the known source of dioxins, their possible health effects and the expected exposure of the public to them.

  Information is available in the scientific literature and from measurements in the United Kingdom that dioxins may in some circumstances be formed during the manufacture of certain chemicals and pesticides and during the combustion of organic materials.

  As far as is known no measurements have been made in the United Kingdom on the levels of dioxins in ambient air.

  Dioxins, if present in food, air or other products, may be absorbed into the body via the digestive system, via the respiratory system or by contact with the skin, respectively.

  Information has been published in the scientific literature on the levels of dioxins found in certain paper products made from chlorine bleached wood pulp.

  All these issues will be addressed in the forthcoming statement.

  Sanitary Towels
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the level of inshore sea and beach pollution caused by used sanitary tampons and the plastic liners from sanitary towels.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Where there is visible evidence of sanitary towels and tampons it is usually attributable to discharges from short outfalls. These are being replaced as part of our programme to bring bathing waters up to EC standards. Many existing outfalls have screening and maceration facilities to break down such material into unrecognisable form. Design criteria for all new long sea outfalls provide for the removal of all solids retained by fine screening and their disposal by incineration or to landfill, and consequently, the effective disposal of sanitary towels and tampons. For these reasons, we believe pollution of inshore sea and beach areas from this source is a declining one.

  Football League
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask The Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions he has had with the Football League.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I met representatives of the Football League and the Football Association on 10 February to discuss aspects of the Football Spectators Bill.

  Ozone Layer (International Conference)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to issue an invitation to the energy and environment research unit at the Open University to send observer delegates to the
  489
  forthcoming international conference on the ozone layer and environmental protection sponsored by Her Majesty's Government in London in March.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Participation in the "Saving the Ozone Layer" London conference on 5 to 7 March is for Governments only. Already over 90 countries have accepted our invitation, and we expect at least 75 delegations to be led at ministerial or equivalent level. A small number of scientists and industrialists will take part in specialist discussions. Relevant United Nations agencies have been invited to send observers, but, because of restrictions of space, it will not be possible to extend invitations to any other observers.

  BNFL
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to conduct an environmental audit of the nuclear fuel cycle production and management process carried out by British Nuclear Fuels plc at its Springfields, Capenhurst, Calder and Windscale works at Sellafield and Chapel Cross facilities to ascertain the amounts of carbon dioxide and chlorofluorocarbons gases released in processing and refrigeration.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No.

  Preservation Orders
  Mr. Lord
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those interested and professional bodies he has consulted or plans to consult during the current review of the procedures covering preservation orders.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Informal discussions are being arranged with various bodies, which so far include the following:

  Arboricultural Association

  Association of District Councils

  Association of County Councils

  Association of Metropolitan Authorities

  Civic Trust

  Coed Cymru

  Convention of Scottish Local Authorities

  Countryside Commission

  Countryside Commission for Scotland

  Country Landowners Association

  Council for the Protection of Rural England

  Department of the Environment, South-East Regional Office

  Farmers Union of Wales

  Forestry Commission

  London Tree Officers

  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  Nature Conservancy Council

  National Farmers Union

  National Farmers Union of Scotland

  National Trust for Scotland

  Planning Aid for London

  Royal Scottish Forestry Society

  Scottish Wildlife and Countryside Link

  Timber Growers UK

  Tree Council

  Some other bodies may be submitting written comments.

  Mr. Lord
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what time has been allowed for consultation with interested parties during the current review of the procedures covering tree preservation orders; and what representations he has received asking him to extend it.
  490
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  It will be appropriate to carry out formal consultations if and when the Government put forward proposals for changes in the present legislation and procedures, and an adequate period of time would be allowed for that purpose. No representations have been received about the conduct of consultations.

  Water (Expenditure)
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will express at current prices total capital expenditure on water in England and Wales for each year since 1984–85; and if he will estimate planned capital expenditure on water in England and Wales for each year until 1990–91.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The capital expenditure for the English water authorities is set out in the table. Figures for the Welsh water authority are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales. The remaining information requested by the hon. Member is not available.

  Capital expenditure England only

  Year

  Number

  1984–85

  799

  1985–86

  848

  1986–87

  957

  1987–88

  1,049

  1988–89

  1,303

  1. 1987–88 prices (£ million) deflated using the 'public works non-roads' (PWNR) index.

  2. 1988–89 figure provisional.

  Croxteth Country Park
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will discuss the future of the Croxteth country park with district councils on Merseyside in order to encourage support for its continued existence; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Consultations with the Merseyside district councils on the proposals by the Merseyside residuary body to transfer Croxteth hall and country park to Liverpool city council with an endowment of £3 million have already taken place. We hope to make an announcement shortly.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will extend the period of consultation for his consultation paper, "The Role and Functions of Waste Disposal Authorities"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Government share the strong concern expressed by local authorities and others about the need to improve legislation on waste disposal at the earliest opportunity. Examining the role and functions of waste disposal authorities is a central element of the review that has been undertaken, and it is important to proceed as quickly as possible should an early opportunity for legislation arise. We hope authorities will h able to provide their views on the proposals within the consultation period of two months.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has yet received the report of Her
  491
  Majesty's inspector of pollution following his inspection of the Merseyside waste disposal authority; and if he will take its evidence into account before proceeding with his proposals contained in the consultation paper, "The Role and Functions of Waste Disposal Authorities".

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We have yet to receive the report of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution on the performance of waste disposal authorities. The Secretary of State will take account of all relevant information and views in finalising his proposals to improve the law governing waste manangement.

  Water Metering
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what provision will be made for water metering in the limit on charges to apply to water undertakings under the model instrument of appointment.

  Mr. Ridley
  The abolition of the domestic rating system means that water undertakers will have to introduce alternative means of charging. This is quite independent of the privatisation of the industry. Although the Government regard metering as potentially the fairest method of charging, it will be up to each undertaker to decide how it wishes to charge.

  Each undertaker will want to take into account its own local circumstances and information on practicality, costs and effects of alternatives, before deciding whether to introduce widespread metering. Those decisions will be crucially important to customers and should be made on the best available information, over the next three years as a result of the metering trials which the industry is carrying out with Government financial assistance.

  The trials are making good progress. Some preliminary findings are set out in the first interim report, which I am today placing in the House of Commons Library. However, neither these findings nor other data that may become available over the next few months will provide sufficient information to allow for the cost of introducing widespread water metering in the initial charges limit to be assigned to each water undertaker on their appointment later this year. Therefore, I propose to amend the model instrument of appointments to provide for these initial charges limits to be adjusted subsequently by the Director General of Water Services in order to cover the reasonable cost of introducing widespread metering.

  I propose that each adjustment should be subject to an average cash ceiling per installation, to promote economy in the development of metering solutions. In setting this ceiling the director general would be able to take into account information on the cost of installing meters in the trial area, and later from each undertaker's metering programme. There would also be provisions to ensure that the additional revenue raised would be put towards metering and no other purpose.

  The detailed licence provisions will be discussed with the water industry.

  Shellfish Waters
  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why there are no designated shellfish waters in the Morecambe bay area under the provisions of EC directive 79/923/EEC.

  Mr. Howard
  We do not consider it appropriate to include Morecambe bay within the scope of the directive.
  492
  Discharges to the Morecambe bay area are controlled under the Control of Pollution Act 1974, and the Public Health (Shellfish) Regulations 1934 provide adequate protection to the health of the public with regard to the consumption of shellfish.

  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how his Department has responded to the advice of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution, 10th report, 1984, that competent authorities should use the provisions of part II of the Control of Pollution Act to designate more shellfish waters in the interests of public health and the protection of commercial shellfisheries.

  Mr. Howard
  The provisions of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 have been used to extend control of all discharges to coastal waters. We have not considered it appropriate to designate more shellfish waters under the provisions of directive 79/923/EEC as the Public Health (Shellfish) Regulations 1934 provide adequate protection to the health of the public with regard to consumption of shellfish.

  English Heritage and Royal Commission on Historical Monuments
  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the future relationship between English Heritage and the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments in England.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The relationship between the royal commission (RCHME) and English Heritage has been looked at in the context of a policy review of the activities and functions of the commission and the equivalent bodies for Scotland and Wales. This review is being conducted jointly with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales. We shall be announcing conclusions in due course.

  Meanwhile my right hon. Friend has decided that certain issues of principle can be settled now, in advance of the completion of the policy review. These are the question whether RCHME should be merged with English Heritage, and the suggestion in a consultancy report by Peat Marwick McLintock that consideration should be given to the transfer of some functions from English Heritage to the RCHME.

  Peat's conclusion from their study was that RCHME performed a distinctive role in maintaining the national archive of heritage information. We are persuaded by their analysis, and take the view that RCHME should continue as a separate body.

  The arguments for transfer of functions were for the most part finely balanced. We have decided that RCHME should in future be recognised as the lead national body for oversight of the system of local sites and monuments records. In exercising this responsibility we have asked RCHME to ensure proper liaison with English Heritage, and to take into account their interest in SMRs as an input to the monument protection programme, to the decisions of local planning authorities, and to conservation generally.

  We have concluded that the existing statutory arrangements under which English Heritage provides advice to the Department on the listing of buildings of special architectural or historic interest and scheduling of

  493
  ancient monuments remain appopriate. The main purpose of listing and scheduling is to identify buildings and monuments which should be given special consideration in the planning and development control process. Listing and scheduling are, therefore, linked to considerations of conservation rather than of record, and for that reason we conclude that it is more appropriate for English Heritage to continue to provide advice to us on these issues. But in doing so, we have stressed that it must make effective use of RCHME's expertise in the architectural and historic qualities of buildings and monuments.

  Finally on the funding of rescue archaeology, we feel that there are good policy and practical arguments for the same agency handling all aspects of archaeology casework—scheduled monument consent, negotiations with developers, and rescue archaeology if that proves to be necessary. Accordingly we believe that it is best for English Heritage to continue to deal with rescue archaeology. But, again, we have stressed the need for RCHME's expertise to be fed into the running of the rescue archaeology programme. With these issues of principle resolved, we consider that there is now a very satisfactory basis for a supportive and constructive future relationship between the Royal Commission and English Heritage. We have written to their chairmen to inform them of our conclusions.

  Pollution
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received a report from Government researchers based at Warren Spring on lead in the air in Cardiff; what significance he places on the latest available figures for Cardiff; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 16 February 1989]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the

  Police authority

  Number of posts requested 1989–90

  1Date of application

  2Posts approved

  Percentage posts approved from application

  Avon and Somerset

  35

  8 November 1988

  20

  57

  Bedfordshire

  24

  18 January 1989

  16

  67

  Cambridgeshire

  40

  18 September 1987

  18

  45

  Cheshire

  10

  2 June 1987

  8

  80

  Cleveland

  20

  12 July 1988

  15

  75

  Cumbria

  62

  4 October 1988

  12

  19

  Devon and Cornwall

  32

  15 September 1986

  19

  59

  Dorset

  40

  18 September 1987

  22

  55

  Durham3

  16

  24 March 1988

  18

  113

  Essex

  85

  14 December 1988

  23

  27

  5 November 1987

  Greater Manchester

  258

  and 22 November 1988

  45

  17

  :Gwent

  33

  5 February 1987

  12

  36

  Hampshire

  47

  28 April 1988

  20

  43

  Hertfordshire

  70

  28 November 1988

  20

  29

  Humberside

  83

  22 October 1987

  20

  24

  2 October 1987

  Kent

  66

  and 22 June 1988

  27

  41

  Lancashire4

  96

  4—

  15

  16

  Leicestershire

  89

  8 September 1988

  27

  30

  Merseyside

  35

  30 November 1987

  22

  63

  Norfolk

  50

  17 November 1988

  24

  48

  Northamptonshire

  26

  6 October 1988

  15

  58

  15 October 1987

  Northumbria

  84

  and 14 November 1988

  30

  36

  North Wales

  31

  5 November 1987

  4

  13

  North Yorkshire

  50

  12 October 1987

  15

  30

  Nottinghamshire

  88

  27 June 1988

  24

  27

  5 October 1987

  South Wales

  77

  and 26 October 1988

  28

  36

  South Yorkshire

  50

  14 October 1987

  27

  54

  494
  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales, my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, Central (Mr. Grist) on Friday 17 February 1989.

  Resources Allocation
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which Government Departments use his Department's list of programme and partnership authorities for the allocation of resources and in what ways; and if he will list in the Official Report the allocations made to such authorities in 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88.

  Mr. Newton
  I have been asked to reply.

  The list of 57 urban programme areas is used by the Government in a variety of ways to help target a range of measures which come within their Action for Cities initiative. In many cases this does not involve allocation of resources to local authorities; more often it is used to inform the selection of locations for new initiatives or as a guide to assessing eligibility for certain grant schemes.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Police Numbers
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will construct a table showing for each police authority what the bid was for increases in establishment in the latest allocation; when each hid was received in writing by the Department; what award he made in the case of each bid; and what percentage that award represents of the bid.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information requested is as follows:
  495

  Police authority

  Number of posts requested 1989–90

  1Date of application

  2Posts approved

  Percentage posts approved from application

  9 December 1987

  Staffordshire

  90

  and 9 December 1988

  22

  24

  Surrey5

  64

  24 August 1988

  10

  16

  Sussex

  122

  27 October 1988

  17

  14

  7 January 1987

  Thames Valley

  209

  and 22 September 1988

  44

  21

  Warwickshire

  14

  12 April 1988

  11

  79

  West Mercia

  40

  25 October 1988

  28

  70

  West Midlands

  350

  24 November 1988

  62

  18

  West Yorkshire

  237

  27 November 1987

  32

  14

  Wiltshire

  36

  20 September 1988

  11

  31

  TOTALS

  2,759

  783

  28

  1 In some cases increases for police forces were considered on the basis of posts unmet from previous applications, always subject to the authority's confirmation that funding was available.

  2 Includes posts for which Home Secretary indicated approval in principle if application was made.

  3 14 out of 16 posts applied for were approved plus indication of agreement in principle for four training posts if authority made application.

  4 No written application received. Increases considered on basis of information obtained from the authority about a provisional application.

  5 Application for 127 posts over 1989–90 and 1990–91. Assumption that 64 intended for 1989–90.

  Strip Searches
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many strip searches were made of female prisoners on remand in Her Majesty's remand centres at(a) Pucklechurch, (b) Low Newton, (c) Risley, and (d) Her Majesty's prison Holloway in each month of 1988, giving the number of prisoners involved and the number of times each was searched; what items the possession of which was a breach of any rule of the establishment or of any law were discovered in any such search indicating how many in each category; in how many cases remand prisoners refused to be searched and were restrained while the search was being conducted; and what were the reasons for the search under the following headings: (a) making a remand appearance at court, (b) attending trial, (c) cell change, (d) inter-prison visit, and (e) other reasons;

  In connection with remand hearings

  Trial

  Cell change

  Inter-prison visit

  Other reasons

  January

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  February

  14

  —

  —

  —

  5

  March

  4

  —

  —

  —

  3

  April

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  May

  —

  —

  1

  —

  2

  June

  —

  —

  1

  —

  2

  July

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  August

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  September

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Between 1 January and 30 October 1988, there were three, and between 31 October and 31 December 1988,

  Inmate

  Cell changes and cell searches

  Court appearances

  Before or after visits

  Other reasons

  January

  A

  1

  —

  2

  —

  B

  1

  —

  —

  2

  C

  1

  —

  1

  1

  February

  A

  1

  —

  —

  —

  B

  1

  —

  —

  —

  C

  1

  —

  1

  —

  496
  (2) how many strip searches were made of convicted female prisoners in Her Majesty's prisons (a) Holloway, (b) Cookham Wood, (c) Styal and (d) Durham in each month of 1988, giving the number of prisoners involved and the number of times each person was searched; what items the possession of which was a breach of any prison rule or of any law were discovered in any such search indicating how many in each category; in how many cases prisoners refused to be searched and were restrained while the search was conducted; and what were the reasons for the search under the following headings: (a) cell change, (b) attendance at court, (c) before/after receiving a visit, and (d) other reasons.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Comprehensive records of strip searches are available only in respect of category A women prisoners. Between 1 January and 27 September 1988, one such prisoner was held on remand in Risley remand centre. During this period, she was strip searched on the following numbers of occasions:

  there were four convicted category A women prisoners in Durham. These prisoners were strip searched on the following occasions:
  497

  Inmate

  Cell changes and cell searches

  Court appearances

  Before or after visits

  Other reasons

  March

  A

  1

  —

  2

  —

  B

  1

  —

  3

  —

  C

  1

  —

  —

  2

  April

  A

  2

  —

  3

  —

  B

  2

  —

  3

  —

  C

  1

  —

  1

  —

  May

  A

  1

  —

  2

  —

  B

  1

  —

  —

  —

  C

  3

  —

  —

  —

  June

  A

  2

  —

  2

  —

  B

  1

  —

  1

  —

  C

  1

  —

  1

  2

  July

  A

  —

  —

  —

  —

  B

  1

  —

  —

  —

  C

  —

  —

  —

  —

  August

  A

  2

  —

  3

  —

  B

  2

  —

  —

  —

  C

  2

  —

  1

  2

  September

  A

  —

  —

  2

  —

  B

  1

  —

  4

  —

  C

  1

  —

  1

  2

  October

  A

  1

  —

  2

  —

  B

  2

  —

  4

  —

  C

  1

  —

  1

  —

  D

  —

  —

  —

  —

  November

  A

  1

  —

  2

  1

  B

  1

  —

  3

  1

  C

  2

  —

  1

  1

  D

  2

  —

  1

  1

  December

  A

  1

  —

  3

  —

  B

  1

  —

  5

  —

  C

  2

  —

  1

  —

  D

  2

  —

  2

  —

  No unauthorised article was discovered on any of these occasions. On no occasion did any of these prisoners refuse to be strip searched.

  Robert Weekes
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made by his Department in considering any necessary amendments to law and practice following from the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Robert Weekes, 2 March 1987, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The implications of the judgment are still under consideration. Further applications by life sentence prisoners have been heard by the European Commission of Human Rights and we shall take account of the progress of those applications in considering whether any amendments may be necessary to our law and practice.

  Broadcasting
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, following his White paper on
  498
  broadcasting in the 1990's, he has plans to enable a series of national independent radio stations to operate in addition to local radio stations.

  Mr. Renton
  Yes. Paragraph 8.4 of the broadcasting White Paper (November Cm. 517) sets out our proposals for three national commercial radio stations.

  Vehicles (Removal)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his written answer to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North of 10 February, if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to the number of occasions on which he upheld a complaint by a vehicle owner against the towing-away of a vehicle on the ground that it was an unreasonable exercise of this power and as to the recompense made in each case, for the latest 12 month period for which figures are available.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the Commissioner that between 1 October 1987 and 30 September 1988, the most recent 12-month period for which complete statistics are available, the charge payable following vehicle removal was waived or refunded in 2,292 cases. Information about the reasons for the waiving or
  499
  refunding of the charge or about cases where any compensation was paid could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Eviction
  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are his Department's plans to collect and to publish information on(a) the number of criminal proceedings (i) for harassment and (ii) for illegal eviction commenced by (1) local authorities, (2) private individuals and (3) the police under the provisions of the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 as amended by the provisions of the Housing Act 1988 part I, (b) the number of such proceedings in which (i) the defendant was convicted and (ii) the plaintiff was awarded compensation and (c) the level of (i) fines and (ii) damages awarded in such proceedings.

  Mr. John Patten
  Information is collected and published annually for prosecutions under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, Supplementary Volume 1, 1987" under offence class 87. A copy is in the Library of the House.

  It is possible from the information collected centrally to identify separately the number of prosecutions for (i) harassment and (ii) illegal eviction, including the number of convictions, compensation awarded and the level of fines imposed. However, information is not collected centrally on the number of prosecutions commenced by (1) local authorities, (2) private individuals and (3) the police or on damages awarded.

  Figures for prosecution following the Housing Act 1988 part I will not be available until the autumn of 1989.

  Tagging
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department where he will be introducing tagging as a condition of bail; and what criteria he will use in choosing these areas.

  Mr. John Patten
  We hope to conduct trials of electronic monitoring, with the co-operation of the courts and others concerned, in Nottingham, north Tyneside and in a third area still to be decided. In identifying possible areas for the trials to take place, we have had in mind primarily the numbers of defendants now remanded in custody by the courts concerned.

  Absconders
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the police national computer holds details of(a) the names or (b) the crimes committed by persons serving in Her Majesty's prisons who have absconded.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Information on the names of absconders may be held on the wanted missing persons file of the police national computer where, in the police's view, this information would be operationally useful.

  In addition, an individual's record on the index of criminal names held on the PNC may be amended to indicate that he or she is an absconder, where the police consider that this would be operationally useful.

  Details of an absconder's criminal convictions will be available on the convictions record of the PNC, if he or she
  500
  were first convicted of a recordable offence in 1981 or later. Broadly speaking, recordable offences are offences for which a term of imprisonment may be given.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will supply a list of offences for which prisoners who have currently absconded from Her Majesty's prisons were convicted.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Information is not available in the form requested, and reliable information is not available for the period before 1981. Records of prisoners unlawfully at large on 31 December 1988 having, between 1 January 1981 and 31 December 1988, escaped or absconded from a prison in England or Wales (including prisoners who escaped from escort or failed to return from home leave or temporary release) embrace charges or convictions for all offences under the offence classification headings used in published prison statistics (eg, in table 1.7 of the 1987 volume, Cm. 547) except cruelty to children, gross indecency with children, theft of motor vehicle, in charge or driving under the influence of drink or drugs, drunkenness, vagrancy and courts martial prisoners. The records show the principal offence where the prisoners were charged with, or convicted of, more than one type of offence. In some cases, the offence is not recorded.

  Prisoners (Suicides)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) suicides and (b) attempted suicides there were in prisons in England and Wales in 1988.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Verdicts of suicide have been returned on 26 inmates who died in prison department establishments in England and Wales during 1988. Inquests have yet be be held on five other inmates who died in prison department custody during this period and whose deaths are thought to have been suicide.

  Figures are not available for reported apparent suicide attempts for the calendar year 1988, but there were 343 reported instances in the period 1 April 1987 to 31 March 1988.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) suicides and (b) attempted suicides occurred in (i) Holloway, (ii) Brixton, (iii) Wormwood scrubs, (iv) Leeds, (v) Manchester, (vi) Birmingham, (vii) Liverpool and (viii) Wandsworth during 1988.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information requested is given in the following table:

  Suicides

  Attempted suicides1

  Holloway

  0

  19

  Brixton

  1

  16

  Wormwood Scrubs

  2

  9

  Leeds

  4

  12

  Manchester

  2

  8

  Birmingham

  2

  11

  Liverpool

  0

  27

  Wandsworth

  1

  8

  1 The number of incidents reported to the prison department as specific suicide attempts.

  Female Prisoners
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many female prisoners served sentences separated from their children, aged 18 months or under, in 1988.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. A census on 11 August 1986 showed that 340 females in custody were known to be mothers of 455 children aged five years or under. Of those 455, 93 aged 18 months or under were not with their mothers in prison.

  Prison Discipline
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he proposes to take to deal with increasing prison indiscipline; and what assessment he has made of the reasons for this trend.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There are provisions in the prison rules which enable suitable charges to be brought against prisoners alleged to have committed disciplinary offences. The statistics relating to offences punished do not suggest that there has been an overall increase in indiscipline in recent years.

  Prison Building Programme
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated cost of each of the prisons under construction or planned within the prison building programme.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Irving) on 20 January 1989 at column 349. This provides the requested information in relation to all the new prisons in the current building programme on which sufficient progress has been made for preliminary estimates to be produced.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the original estimated cost and the actual cost of building each of the completed prisons within the Government's prison building programme since 1979.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Irving) on 20 January 1989 at column 348.

  Prison Statistics
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were being held in police cells in England and Wales on 10 February.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  A total of 245.

  Refugees
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria he employs in deciding how to use his powers under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 in respect of special provision for refugees resettled in the United Kingdom via British colonies or Commonwealth countries.
  502
  Mr. John Patten
  Under the terms of section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966, grant may be paid to local authorities only to assist with special provision required because of the presence of substantial numbers of immigrants from the Commonwealth. Refugees of non-Commonwealth origin who have arrived in the United Kingdom via a Commonwealth country are not considered to be within the scope of the legislation.

  Police (Foreign Hospitality)
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department gives to senior police officers about accepting hospitality from foreign Governments.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have not issued particular guidance on this matter.

  Prison Sanitation
  Mr. David Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the report of Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons on prison sanitation will be published; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  The report of a review of prison sanitation, conducted by Judge Stephen Tumim and his staff, is published today. I am grateful to 'Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons for this valuable contribution to our work on improving conditions for prisoners and welcome the detailed research which has gone into his recommendations. I am placing copies of the report in the Library and making further copies available for the Vote Office.

  Judge Tumim's principal recommendation is that access to sanitation should be provided at all times for all inmates in prisons in England and Wales within a period of seven years. This should be done either by providing in-cell sanitation, or by using electronic means to allow individual prisoners to leave their cells, or by providing additional staff to allow for manual unlocking at the request of the prisoner. Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons stresses that, apart from improving hygiene and increasing self-respect, the abolition of slopping out would help both inmates and staff by allowing a better use of time.

  I entirely share Her Majesty's chief inspector's view that the ending of slopping out would make a substantial difference to the lives of prisoners and of staff. It should be a high priority. All prisons built or designed since this Government came to office in 1979 have either integral sanitation within the living accommodation or free access to sanitation. About half of the existing accommodation now has access to night sanitation. There is, therefore, already considerable experience of the regimes which can be provided where slopping out can be avoided. Prison service management is well aware of the advantages to be gained. They are committed to ensuring that better regimes are achieved as the programme for improving facilities progresses.

  At the beginning of this decade, it was thought that the most effective way of providing integral sanitation in existing establishments was to convert one cell in three to provide separate sanitary annexes with toilets and hand-basins for each of the other two. This system involves major structural alterations and requires whole wings to be vacated simultaneously. It thus reduces the

  503
  number of prison places and can be undertaken only in conjunction with major refurbishment. This inevitably makes progress slow.

  Recognising that the best may be the enemy of the good, prison service staff during the past few years have looked for alternative methods of achieving the same ends more quickly and at less cost. Among these alternative methods were electronic unlocking and the installation of toilets and wash-basins in existing cells without major building works or net loss of places. Tests carried out by the prison service directorate of works of these new methods have proved successful. As Her Majesty's chief inspector acknowledges, this work has provided the cornerstone for the recommendations in his report.

  I am accordingly glad to be able to accept without reservation Her Majesty's chief inspector's recommendation that integral sanitation should be installed in many existing cells during the next seven years. A provisional programme for adding more than 6,500 cells to those already scheduled for conversion has been identified as practicable in the light of the tests already mentioned. Work has already begun or will be beginning in each of the 27 establishments listed as soon as the necessary arrangements can be made. In addition electronic unlocking is to be installed at Bullwood hall and New hall. This new programme will reduce the current 50 per cent. of places without access to sanitation to about 13 per cent. by the end of the century, that is about 8,000 places. This is a considerable improvement on the figures of 25 per cent. or 14,500 places which had been anticipated.

  Each establishment not listed, and in which there is not already access to night sanitation, will be examined during the next year to determine the best way of providing such access, taking account of its individual circumstances, including the present state of its fabric and future plans for its use. In some instances it may not be practicable either to install integral sanitation or to introduce electronic unlocking. A decision whether to provide the high level of staffing required to allow for manual unlocking will have to depend on other staffing priorities. I cannot, therefore, give an absolute undertaking as to when slopping out will end totally. But the number of places without access to night sanitation will be very substantially reduced within seven years.

  The other main recommendation in the report relates to the position of works staff and the need to enable them to fulfil their role effectively within establishments. The prisons board, as one of its key priorities for 1989–90, has required governors to produce and achieve a planned works maintenance programme making maximum use of the professional skills of works officers and of inmate labour. The conclusions of the review of the regional and headquarters organisation of the prison service which was announced recently on 3 February 1989 at column 420, will also be relevant to this recommendation, which will be implemented in the light of these two associated initiatives.

  I endorse what is said in the report about the importance and useful part played by works staff in maintaining our establishments.Their commitment and expertise will be a significant factor in our ability to put Her Majesty's chief inspector's proposals into effect.

  Establishments where integral sanitation is being or will be
  installed

  Bedford

  Birmingham

  Bristol

  Brixton

  504

  Camp Hill

  Canterbury

  Cardiff

  Durham (H wing only)

  Everthorpe

  Leicester

  Lincoln

  Low Newton

  Maidstone

  Northallerton

  Norwich

  Nottingham

  Onley

  Oxford

  Pentonville

  Portland

  Pucklechurch

  Reading

  Shepton Mallet

  Shrewsbury

  Swansea

  Usk

  Wandsworth

  Mrs. Limbada (Karachi)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the British authorities in Karachi first contacted his Department about Mrs. AL, wife of MY, reference IMP Y53167/3(5); when she was interviewed; what other steps were taken by his Department in processing this case; and when the case was finally referred to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  Mr. Renton
  [holding answer 17 February 1989]: The entry clearance officer in Karachi referred Mr. Mohammed Yousuf's application to the immigration department on 20 January 1987. The Department wrote to Mrs. Limbada on 19 February 1987 and in the light of her response concluded that an interview was necessary. Owing to a combination of pressure of work and Mrs.Limbada's absence from the United Kingdom it did not prove possible to arrange an interview until 10 August 1988. The interview report was sent to the entry clearance officer shortly afterwards. Due to an oversight, however, the entry clearance officer was not asked to reach a decision on the application until 25 February 1989. Following a re-interview of Mr. Yousuf on 12 February, the entry clearance officer decided to refuse the application.

  Justices' Clerks
  Mr. Gerald Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many justices' clerks are paid in excess of the JNC for justices' clerks national salary arrangements in(a) London and (b) the rest of England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 17 February 1989]: The salary scales approved within the JNC for justices' clerks do not directly apply to inner London. In the rest of England and Wales magistrates' courts committees are expected to pay justices' clerks in accordance with agreements reached in the JNC and approved by the Secretary of State for grant purposes.

  No instance of payment in excess of JNC agreed salary scales has been drawn to my attention.

  Extradition
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since 1979 his
  505
  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. John Patten
  [holding answer 16 February 1989]: The readily available information for extradition requests from England and Wales to foreign states, Commonwealth countries and (by police forces) to the Republic of Ireland is given in the following tables. Requests involving terrorist offences are specified where known. The Irish statistics are based mainly on information provided by police forces. Full details of reasons for refusals of requests in individual cases are not readily available; but the reasons include insufficient evidence, that the fugitive was a national of the requested state, and that the alleged offences were time-barred under the law of the requested state.

  Extradition requests to foreign states

  Year

  Number of requests

  Number refused

  Country of refusal

  1979

  4

  1980

  1 12

  1 2

  Netherlands Germany

  1981

  1 13

  1982

  11

  1

  France

  1983

  13

  1984

  21

  1

  Netherlands

  1985

  16

  2

  Netherlands

  1986

  15

  1

  France

  1987

  27

  2

  France

  Austria

  1988

  1 20

  1 1

  Belgium

  1 Includes one case involving terrorist offences

  Extradition requests to Commonwealth countries

  Country of refusal

  Number of requested

  Number refused

  1979

  New Zealand

  3

  1

  1980

  2

  —

  1981

  Barbados

  3

  1

  1982

  Sri Lanka

  5

  1

  1983

  3

  —

  1984

  5

  —

  1985

  Zimbabwe

  6

  1

  1986

  New Zealand

  6

  2

  1987

  7

  —

  1988

  3

  —

  Extradition requests to Commonwealth countries

  Number of requests

  Number refused

  1979

  53

  1

  1980

  54

  1

  1981

  43

  2

  1982

  41

  1

  1983

  31

  —

  1984

  29

  —

  1985

  23

  —

  1986

  112

  11

  1987

  5

  2

  1988

  28

  11

  1 Includes one case involving terrorist offences.

  2 Includes two cases involving terrorist offences.

  Missing Persons
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many adults and how many children,506
  respectively, are known to have gone missing in the Metropolitan police district during each of the last three Christmas periods.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 19 December 1988]: The available information is given in the following table:

  Adults and children reported missing in the Metropolitan Police District in December and still missing on 16 December 1988

  Month reported missing

  Adults aged 18 or over

  Children aged under 18

  December 1985

  10

  2

  December 1986

  24

  5

  December 1987 1

  20

  5

  1 New counting procedures were introduced from the beginning of 1987, hence the figures for previous years are not comparable.

SCOTLAND

  Woodland Grants
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current average consultation period required for consideration of schemes submitted under the woodland grant scheme.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Up to the end of January, the average time that elapsed between woodland grant scheme applications being sent out by the Forestry Commission for consultation and applicants being notified of the outcome was between 45 and 50 days.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce regulations to exempt all craft workshops from the standard community charge provisions of the Abolition of Domestic Rates etc. (Scotland) Act 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  Under section 10 of the Abolition of Domestic Rates etc. (Scotland) At 1987, as amended, the standard community charge will be payable in respect of dwellinghouses which are not subject to non-domestic rates and which are not the sole or main residence of any person. Premises which are used exclusively as craft workshops will remain subject to non-domestic rates after 1 April 1989 and will not, therefore, attract liability for the standard community charge.

  Taxi Licensing
  Mr. David Marshall
  to ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek to introduce legislation to permit a local authority to allow the transfer of taxi operators' licences.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No.

  "Working for Patients" (Video)
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library the video prepared for his Department explaining the proposals in the White Paper, "Working for Patients".

  Mr. Rifkind
  Yes.
  507

  Pupils
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many pupils in Scottish schools stay at hostels away from home; and how many of these go home each weekend.

  Mr. Rifkind
  This information is not held centrally.

  "Scottish Education in the Nineties"
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the total number of requests received for copies of the video, "Scottish Education in the Nineties" giving a breakdown per (a) school, (b) parent-teacher associations, (c) school councils, (d) education authorities and (e) other.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  To date requests have been made for 216 copies in addition to a wide initial distribution which included all schools. These requests break down as follows:

  Number

  Schools

  2

  Parent Teacher Associations

  2

  School Councils

  0

  Education Authorities

  164

  Others

  48

  216

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total cost in producing the video, "Scottish Education in the Nineties", and what was the total number of cassettes produced.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  For the cost of production I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Fife, Central (Mr. McLeish) on 17 January at column 162. A total of 5,000 copies of the video were made.

  Cheese
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations have taken place between Ministers from his Department and the Association of Scottish Hard-Cheese Makers about the Government's attitude to unpasteurised milk cheese production.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There have been no consultations with the Scottish Company of Cheese-Makers Ltd. which represents the major hard-cheese makers in Scotland. The manufacturers represented by the company do not use unpasteurised milk in making there cheeses.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the annual number of cases of listeria in Scotland involving(a)unpasteurised milk cheese production and (b) pasteurised milk cheese production, in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Over the past five years there have been 112 cases of human listeriosis but in none of these has there been a positive association with cheese.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to make an assessment of the effect 508
  of recent Government statements on the market prospects of Scottish-produced unpasteurised milk cheese; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Informal soundings indicate that sales of cheese made in Scotland from unpasteurised milk remain steady.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many workers are directly employed in Scottish farm cheese production made from unpasteurised milk.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  At the end of 1988 there were 12 Scottish farm cheese production units using unpasteurised milk, employing some 30 people.

  Potato Policy
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what further representations he has received about the Government's consultation paper on potato policy in Scotland; and if he will make a statement about plans to withdraw financial support from the potato sector in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Representations on the proposals set out in the consultation paper have been received from interested organisations and individual potato producers. These are now under consideration; decisions have yet to be taken about future arrangements for potato marketing in Scotland.

  Waste Disposal
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what regulations have been established for the transportation of domestic and commercial waste in Scotland from other areas of the country.

  Lord James Douglas Hamilton
  Controlled waste arising within the United Kingdom for disposal in Scotland is governed by the Control of Pollution (Licensing of Waste Disposal) (Scotland) Regulations 1977 and the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1980. The licence conditions determine, among other things, the nature of wastes which may be disposed of at a site. The Special Waste Regulations make provision for a system of consignment notes to be used by those who produce, transfer for disposal or dispose of special waste in order to notify the waste disposal authorities concerned.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he takes to prevent clinical waste beting transported for disposal in Scotland without public knowledge; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas Hamilton
  Under the Control of Pollution Act 1974, all waste must be disposed of at a site which is being used in accordance with a licence issued by the waste disposal authority for the area (the district or islands council). Conditions prescribing the working practices are invariably attached to such licences; these may include requirements relating to the type and quantities of waste which may be accepted. The waste disposal authority must keep a register of licences available for public inspection at its principal office, and every authority does so.
  509
  The Special Waste Regulations 1980 control the movement of dangerous wastes, but clinical wastes are rarely considered to be so dangerous as to fall under the regulations.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much and what type of clinical waste was transported from London to Scotland for disposal in Glasgow, as revealed by the London waste regulatory authority.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information of this kind is not held centrally. Responsibility for monitoring the safe disposal of waste is a matter for the local waste disposal authority concerned.

  Electronics
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current level of output in the electronics industry in Scotland; and what was the level in 1979.

  Mr. Lang
  The latest figures show electronics output in Scotland in the second quarter of 1988 to have been 134, based on 1985 equal to 100. This compares with an average annual figure for 1979 of 37. Since 1979 electronics output in Scotland has increased more than three-and-a-half fold.

  Productivity
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the growth in productivity in the Scottish(a) manufacturing, (b) agricultural and (c) mining industries for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Lang
  The average annual increase in productivity in these industries in Scotland since 1979 is set out in the table.

  Output per head: Percentage change on previous year

  Manufacturing 1Divisions 2–4

  Agriculture 2Class 01

  Coal extraction 1 3Class 11

  1980

  +1·0

  +14·5

  +3·5

  1981

  +6·6

  +5·1

  +1·9

  1982

  +8·0

  +13·3

  +0·8

  1983

  +5·8

  -7·4

  +1·0

  1984

  +6·5

  +20·7

  -41·6

  1985

  +3·7

  -5·0

  +98·8

  1986

  +2·7

  +13·0

  +35·1

  1987

  +7·3

  +3·5

  +26·1

  1988

  n/a

  4 - 6·8

  n/a

  1 Output per employee in employment.

  2 In agriculture, output per full-time person employed, includingthe self-employed with part-time and casual employees being converted to full-time equivalents.

  3 Coal extraction includes the manufacture of solid fuels as wellas deep-mined and open-cast coal production.

  4 Provisional.

  Research Projects
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all the research projects carried out with public funds, directly or indirectly, on the Scottish historical(a) cultural, (b) political, (c) economic and (d) social, institutions.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Office has not supported, directly or indirectly, any research projects on Scottish historical institutions.
  510

  Manufacturing
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) full-time and (b) part-time jobs were created in the manufacturing industry for each year since 1975.

  Mr. Lang
  Figures are available only for full-time jobs from the regional data system which contains employment data for manufacturing units employing 10 or more people. The figures are the annual increases in number of jobs for the units which had increases. The figures after 1984 are likely to be under-estimates pending an up-date of the system using census of employment data for 1987.

  Year

  New Jobs (000's)

  1975

  47·7

  1976

  40·8

  1977

  41·5

  1978

  37·3

  1979

  27·7

  1980

  18·4

  1981

  27·2

  1982

  20·8

  1983

  22·9

  1984

  25·8

  1985

  26·1

  1986

  23·4

  1987

  17·0

  Source
  Regional Data System.

  Departmental Expenses
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were, for each year since 1978, the total expenses of the Scottish Office.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The table shows the departmental running, costs of the Scottish Office, excluding the Scottish prison service, which are borne on class XVI vote 21 in 1988–89 and comparative outturn since 1983–84.

  £million

  1983–84 outturn

  93·0

  1984–85 outturn

  97·2

  1985–86 outturn

  100·7

  1986–87 outturn

  105·1

  1987–88 outturn

  108·2

  1988–89 Provision

  117·3

  Comparable information for the years prior to 1983–84 could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Doncaster (Books Expenditure)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the total expenditure on text and library books in the Doncaster local education authority for(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools at the end of each year since 1978–79 in cash terms and in real terms, using 1987–88 prices; and what were those figures as a percentage of the national average.

  Mr. Butcher
  The available information is given in the table:
  511

  Expenditure on text and library books1—Doncaster

  Primary schools

  Secondary schools

  Cash terms £000s

  1987–88 real terms2 £000s

  Proportion of England total Percentage

  Cash terms £000s

  1987–88 real terms2 £000s

  Proportion of England total Percentage

  1979–80

  132·5

  232·7

  0·7

  198·2

  348·0

  0·7

  1980–81

  135·1

  200·3

  0·6

  173·7

  257·5

  0·6

  1981–82

  144·8

  195·4

  0·6

  215·7

  291·1

  0·7

  1982–83

  158·4

  199·5

  0·6

  253·9

  319·8

  0·7

  1983–84

  144·1

  173·5

  0·5

  243·9

  293·9

  0·7

  1984–85

  128·3

  147·1

  0·5

  235·5

  270·0

  0·7

  1985–86

  168·0

  182·7

  0·6

  240·5

  261·7

  0·7

  1986–87

  178·3

  187·8

  0·6

  306·7

  322·9

  0·7

  1 The figures are based on LEA expenditure returns to DOE.

  2 The cash figures for the earlier years have been repriced using the Gross Domestic Product (Market Prices) Deflator.

  School Leavers (Doncaster)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table in the Official Report, showing the proportion of school leavers in Doncaster who continued into(a) university education and (b) other higher education for each year since 1979; and what was the national average in each year.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information is not readily available in the form requested. The table gives for the Doncaster local education authority and for England, the proportion of school leavers from maintained schools who intended to proceed to a course of further or higher education. The figures are drawn from a 10 per cent. sample of pupils at each school. Sampling error is a major consideration where a local education authority, such as Doncaster, has a relatively small cohort of school leavers. Such error alone could be the cause of fluctuations in the figures from year to year.

  Proportion of school leavers intending to proceed to a course of further or higher education

  Maintained schools

  Percentages

  Academic year

  Doncaster local education authority

  England

  1978–79

  11·2

  18·9

  1979–80

  10·5

  20·0

  1980–81

  14·1

  24·5

  1981–82

  14·1

  25·7

  1982–83

  14·1

  25·0

  1983–84

  16·1

  25·9

  1984–85

  16·1

  25·9

  1985–86

  15·4

  26·5

  1986–87

  15·9

  26·4

  Pupil Expenditure
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide a table showing for(a) England and (b) Cheshire the level of expenditure in constant terms per child in (i) primary education and (ii) secondary education for each year from 1978 to the latest available year.

  Mr. Butcher
  The available information is given in the table:512

  Net institutional expenditure 1per pupil 1986–87 real terms 2

  Year

  Primary schools

  Secondary schools

  Cheshire£

  England£

  Cheshire£

  England£

  1978–79

  685

  710

  1,015

  1,035

  1979–80

  680

  710

  1,000

  1,010

  1980–81

  725

  765

  1,065

  1,075

  1981–82

  740

  790

  1,050

  1,110

  1982–83

  760

  810

  1,065

  1,125

  1983–84

  775

  830

  1,080

  1,160

  1984–85

  775

  830

  1,100

  1,185

  1985–86

  785

  840

  1,135

  1,215

  1986–87

  810

  900

  1,235

  1,340

  1 The figures are based on LEA expenditure returns to DOE andpupil number returns to DES.

  2 The cash figures for the earlier years have been repriced to1986-87 real terms using the Gross Domestic Product (Market Prices)Deflator.

  Schools (Opting-out)
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if any schools in Derbyshire have had ballots in schools to opt out of local education authority control.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  To date two schools in Derbyshire have held ballots on grant-maintained status. The parents at Netherthorpe school voted in favour of an application to seek grant-maintained status; the parents at Chesterfield school voted against.

  Secondary Schools (Home Economics)
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what advice he is giving to local education authorities about the teaching of home economics in secondary schools;

  (2) what representations he has received about the absence of home economics from the national curriculum foundation subjects in secondary schools.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend has received a large number of representations from organisations, parents and teachers about the place of home economics in the school curriculum. Home economics is a valuable subject and is expected to remain a popular choice, outside the national curriculum, for many pupils. Within the national curriculum, home economics can contribute to teaching the attainment targets and programmes of study for science, to be finalised next month. Home economics can also contribute to design and technology (D & T). The
  513
  D & T working group has been asked to take this into account in advising on attainment targets and programmes of study for D & T.

  Secondary Schools (Classics)
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what advice he is giving to local education authorities about the teaching of classics in secondary schools;

  (2) what representations he has received about the absence of classics from the national curriculum foundation subjects in secondary schools.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Hunter) on 31 January at columns 171–72. My right hon. Friend has received a large number of representations from organisations, parents and teachers about the place of classics in the school curriculum.

  Nursery Schools
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what regulations or guidance concerning school premises and pupil-teacher ratios have been issued in respect of nursery schools and classes.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Premises for maintained nursery schools and classes are subject to the Education (School Premises) Regulations, 1981. The last central guidance on the staffing of this provision was issued 16 years ago, by way of circular 2/73 and administrative memorandum 21/73. The Government have no plans to update this. They look to authorities to determine the appropriate levels of staffing for this provision in the knowledge that the prevailing ratios—a pupil:teacher ratio of 22·9:1 within an overall pupil:adult ratio of 102:1—are better than those envisaged in 1973.

  Audenshaw High School, Tameside
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many representations he has received(a) in favour and (b) against Audenshaw high school, Tameside, opting out of the local education system.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend has received 21 statutory and two non-statutory objections to Audenshaw high school's application for grant-maintained status. No letters of support have been received. There is no formal provision for such representations.

  Institut Laue Lange, Grenoble
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on British participation in the research of the Institut Laue Lange at Grenoble.

  Mr. Jackson
  The level of British participation in the Institut Laue Langevin after 1992 will be considered in the light of advice received in due course from the SERC.

  School Trips (Supervision)
  Dr. Glyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to improve the existing 514
  machinery for the control of supervision by teachers on school trips and the enquiries which are made in the case of fatal accidents on these trips; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  Detailed arrangements for these matters are the responsibility of the local education authorities. My Department has provided guidance for them in the booklet "Safety in Outdoor Pursuits" (HMSO). A new and fuller document will be available shortly, incorporating new material prepared in the light of recent accidents. It will be sent free to all schools, colleges and local education authorities.

  Church-aided Schools, Lancashire
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what studies his Department has undertaken of capital spending on church-aided schools in Lancashire.

  Mr. Butcher
  Each year my right hon. Friend invites governors of aided schools in Lancashire and other LEAs to assess the need for new school building projects, and to formulate and submit appropriate plans through the LEA. Five new major building projects at aided schools in Lancashire were recently approved for a start in 1989–90; this was the largest number of new starts approved for any LEA.

  Assessment of Performance Unit
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the future of the assessment of performance unit.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Responsibility for the assessment of performance unit (APU) will be transferred from my Department to the School Examinations and Assessment Council (SEAC) with effect from 1 April 1989. This will allow the APU's programme of work to be closely integrated with SEAC's wider programme of monitoring and evaluation, on which I have invited the council's advice by the end of July.

  Human Genetics
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will outline any proposals to attract funding from agencies or other sources towards international co-ordination within the community to organise research into the mapping of the human genome, and in particular the application of work resulting from a human genetics programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 15 February 1989]: As, part of the allocation of science budget funds announced on 7 February 1989, the MRC was allocated £11 million over three years for the United Kingdom human genome mapping project. This project will serve as a national focus, for activities in this field, and will link with related international research. In additon to the newly allocated funds, the MRC already spends £9 million annually on genetics research of relevance to the project, and it is estimated that the United Kingdom medical research charities spend a similar sum.

  The European Commission has prepared a formal proposal for a programme entitled "Predictive Medicine: Human Genome Analysis" and this will be considered by the Council later this year.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Creche Facilities
  Mr. Bowls
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what steps he is taking to encourage more creche facilities in the Civil Service.

  Mr. Luce
  I outlined new arrangements for financing Civil Service child care schemes in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Batley and Spen (Mrs. Peacock) on 16 February at column 311. Departments now have the freedom, within overall running cost provisions, to support child care schemes which can be justified in value for money terms. A part-time child care development officer has been appointed to the Cabinet Office, equal opportunities division to offer advice and practical help to Departments as required. A number of Departments are already developing plans for childcare provision for the under-fives. These include my own Department, the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office. The Civil Service college at Sunningdale is planning a creche which will be available to both staff and students.

  Retail Prices Index (Error)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service pursuant to his answer of 13 January,Official Report, columns 773–74, if he will list the number of organisations entitled to receive funds in respect of the RPI error; what are the individual amounts involved; which of these organisations received a payable warrant and on what date; which of these organisations were asked to repay the warrant pending parliamentary approval; whether a motion has yet been tabled for parliamentary approval for authorisation of payment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  The organisations benefiting funds from the error in calculation of the RPI and the amounts awarded to them on 1 August 1988 are:

  £

  Civil Service Benevolent Fund

  1,229,000

  Civil Service Retirement Fellowship

  330,000

  Civil Service Club

  150,000

  Civil Service Sports Council

  44,000

  Post Office and CS Sanatorium Society

  150,000

  Civil Service Pensioners' Alliance

  35,000

  Occupational Pensions Advisory Service

  20,000

  Payable warrants were sent to each of the organisations on 3 August 1988. The Civil Service pensioners alliance, occupational pensions advisory service and the Post Office and Civil Service Sanatorium Society were asked to repay the awards pending authorisation of a supplementary estimate for funds which has been submitted for parliamentary approval.

THE ARTS

  Sir Douglas Bader (Memorabilia)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what action is being taken to preserve for the nation wartime memorabilia that belonged to Sir Douglas Bader; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  Owners are free to dispose of their property as they wish. In the event that an owner wishes to enjoy the 516
  property abroad, items over 50 years of age and worth certain monetary values would require an export licence in the normal way.

  Scientific Periodicals
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister for the Arts, pursuant to his answer of 8 February,Official Report, column 994, what discussions he has had with the British Library about the pricing of scientific periodicals.

  Mr. Luce
  The British Library draws my attention to the cost of scientific periodicals and other materials when it presents its financial forecasts, and I take these into account when making my arts budget allocation.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts (1) what advice the Arts Council gives to its clients on fulfilling their statutory obligations to employ people with disabilities;

  (2) what information he has on the expenditure of the Arts Council on developing policy on disability and the arts;

  (3) how many people who are registered disabled have been employed by the Arts Council in each of the last five years;

  (4) what information he has on the percentage of the Arts Council's training budget spent on arts and disability;

  (5) what information he has on the provision of access for the disabled at the Arts Council's offices with regard to (a) ramps, (b) induction loops, (c) signers and (d) Braille signs;

  (6) what information he has on the expenditure of the Arts Council on facilities for people with disabilities at its offices at 105 Piccadilly;

  (2) what information he has on the number of job applications received by the Arts Council from people with disabilities in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Luce
  As I explained to the hon. Member in my reply earlier today, the Arts Council is committed to equal opportunities for disabled people both in its own employment and throughout the arts world. The council actively seeks to recruit staff with disabilities and currently employs six people who consider themselves to be disabled. This represents over 3 per cent. of its total staff. The council has also actively endorsed the same positive approach in its clients, as set out in the council's code of practice on the arts and disability. The council monitors the implementation of the code through its regular evaluation of client organisations. For more detailed information about the implementation of the council's policy at its headquarters and in the field, the hon. Member may wish to write to the chairman of the Arts Council.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts(a) how many employees and (b) what percentage of employees of the Arts Council were registered disabled, in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 14 February 1989]: The Arts Council is committed to equal opportunities for disabled people and actively seeks to recruit staff with disabilities. As part of this policy, it has conducted a number of surveys amongst its staff. Since these began in December 1986, only one employee has been found to be formally

  517
  registered as disabled. However, six existing employees consider themselves to be disabled although they have chosen not to register. This represents over 3 per cent. of the Arts Council's total staff.

  Northern Ballet
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received about the Arts Council's proposed funding arrangements for Northern Ballet; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what representations he has had about the future of Northern Ballet theatre.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 16 February 1989]: I have received a number of representations from interested parties. The funding of northern ballet is, however, entirely a matter for the Arts Council.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of how many firms, businesses and employers in the East Londonderry constituency employ more than 25 persons.

  Mr. Viggers
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate as to how many firms, businesses and employers there are in the areas covered by the Department of Social Security offices at(a) Strabane, (b) Londonderry, (c) Limavady, (d) Magherafelt, and (e) Coleraine which employ more than 25 persons; what is his estimate of the total number of persons employed by all those firms in those areas; and what is the total number of employees in those areas.

  Mr. Viggers
  Information on the number of enterprises with more than 25 employees is not available in the form requested. Statistics on the number of employees relate to district council, rather than social security office areas. Latest available figures, based on the September 1984 census of employment records, are as follows:

  Number

  Strabane

  7,480

  Londonderry

  27,930

  Limavady

  5,920

  Magherafelt

  7,640

  Coleraine

  15,810

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will publish in the Official Report his estimate as to how many firms and businesses in the East Londonderry constitituency employ more than 25 persons;

  (2) if he will publish in the Official Report his estimate as to how many firms and businesses in the Foyle constituency employ more than 25 persons.

  Mr. Viggers
  The information is not available in the form requested.
  518

  Supplementary Benefit
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information is available on the numbers of claims for additional requirements, including backdated claims under supplementary benefit, which were granted from 1 January to 10 April 1988 and those granted from April 1988.

  Mr. Needham
  Under the supplementary benefit scheme additional requirements were an integral part of benefit entitlement and claims for them were not made or recorded separately. Accordingly the information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement indicating the total amounts of money paid under all supplementary benefit regulations in each social security office from 11 April 1988.

  Mr. Needham
  The information requested is not available.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  European Legislation
  Mr. Mates
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many recommendations for debate were made by the Select Committee on European Legislation in the last session.

  Mr. Wakeham
  In 1987–88 there were 117 such recommendations.

  Mr. Mates
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many hon. and right hon. Members took part in the deliberations of Standing Committees on European Documents who were not members of the Standing Committee, in the last Session.

  Mr. Wakeham
  In 1987–88, six hon. Members took part in deliberations of Standing Committees on European Documents, of which they were not a member.

  Debates
  Mr. Mates
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many debates were held following recommendations of the Select Committee on European Legislation on the Floor of the House in the last Session of Parliament.

  Mr. Wakeham
  In 1987–88, 29 debates were held on the Floor of the House, covering 84 documents, in addition to 15 debates in Standing Committee, covering 31 documents.

HEALTH

  General Practitioners (Rural Area)
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to meet representatives of the British Medical Association to discuss the future of general practitioners in rural areas.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Consultations with the general medical services committee of the British Medical
  519
  Association have been continuing for about one year on the detail of implementing changes to GPs' terms of service and remuneration system. These consultations will cover changes to the family doctor services throughout Great Britain, as proposed in the White Papers "Promoting Better Health" and "Working for Patients" including matters of special relevance to rural general practice. I last met the representatives of the GMSC for a discussion of progress in these consultations on 9 February 1989. I have no present plans for a further meeting.

  "Working for Patients"
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what National Health Service staffing information he collects centrally; and what information relating to the number of vacant posts in all National Health Service staff categories was considered in the National Health Service review which led to the White Paper, "Working for Patients."

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  My Department collects detailed information on staff-in-post as at end of September each year. Less detailed statistics are available for other quarter points in the year

  Information on vacant posts is collected annually for consultants and senior registrars (hospital services) and for RMO, DMO, SCM, senior registrars and registrars in the community services.

  RAWP System (North Staffs)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money will be lost by North Staffordshire district health authority as a result of the Government's proposals to change the basis of allocations on the resource allocation working party system.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  No money will be lost by the district health authority from its present allocation but in future years, district health authorities, like regional health authorities, will be funded for their own populations weighted to take account of age and propensity to sickness. This will provide a fair basis for the calculation of the district's share of future growth in NHS revenue.

  Tampons
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence there is that tampons produced from chlorine-bleached fibres can provide a means whereby dioxins enter the human body.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to her on 14 February at column 179.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to require sanitary tampon manufacturers to print warnings regarding toxic shock syndrome on the packets.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will issue safety guidelines for sanitary tampon manufacturers;

  (2) if he will take steps to alert consumers of sanitary tampons to medical research which has suggested that there are health problems related to them.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 14 February 1989]: Four years ago the Government set up a voluntary prior
  520
  approval scheme with the sanitary protection industry, under which manufacturers submit to Government any new tampon or tampons to which there have been significant changes in design or materials, and toxicologists from the Department of Health scrutinise them to decide whether they pose a health hazard. I am satisfied that this scheme is adequate to safeguard the public and I commend it as a good example of a responsible industry voluntarily looking after the interests of its customers. Sanitary tampon manufacturers already include with their products leaflets giving consumers information on toxic shock syndrome and personal hygiene.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will now include sanitary towels and tampons among the articles covered by the good manufacturing practice specified by the Department of Health.

  Mr. Freeman
  No. The voluntary prior approval scheme set up four years ago by the Government and the sanitary protection industry already ensures that any new tampon or major change in tampon design or materials can be properly checked to decide whether or not they pose a health hazard.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will fund research on the health effects of using sanitary tampons.

  Mr. Freeman
  We look to the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant-in-aid from the Department of Education and Science, for the support of biomedical research.

  Cigarettes
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, when negotiating the renewal of voluntary agreements with the tobacco industry, he will make it his policy to seek a ban on the sale of single cigarettes on the grounds that they cannot carry a Government health warning; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The sale of single cigarettes is one aspect of the larger problem of tobacco sales to children. This area is already covered by the Protection of Children (Tobacco) Act 1986 and the Government are looking into ways of improving the enforcement of this legislation.

  Cot Deaths
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department's scientific and medical advisers have investigated the studies into electromagnetic wave theory and possible relationships with cot death syndrome; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Neither this Department nor the National Radiological Protection Board, which has a responsibility to advise on hazards from electromagnetic fields, are aware of any authoritative, peer-reviewed studies that have demonstrated an association between sudden infant death syndrome and exposure to these fields at any frequency.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether he will list those research projects which are currently receiving Government funding and which examine the possible causes of cot death syndrome; and whether he will list the academic or medical institutions at which such research is taking place;
  521
  (2) what is the total sum of grant made available by his Department for research into the causes of cot death syndrome in the current financial year; and what is the projected sum for the financial year 1989–90.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Medical Research Council is the main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research in the United Kingdom. The MRC receives its grant-in-aid from the Department of Education and Science. I understand that in 1987–88, the latest financial year for which figures are available, the MRC spent approximately £83,000 on research into sudden infant death syndrome. The following list shows the current research supported by this money.a. Clinical Research Centre—Division of Clinical Sciences, Harrow, Middlesex.
  Project Title: Arterial oxygen saturation monitoring for respiratory disease, heart failure, cot death, anaesthesia.

  (ii) Grant Holders in University Departments
  a. Professor V. Duhowntz, Department of Paediatric and Neonatal Medicine, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London.
  Project Title: Continuous 4 channel EEg monitoring in the high risk neonate.
  b.Professor J. K. Stothers, Department of Paediatrics, London Hospital Medical College, London.
  Project Title: An investigation into the incidence and clinical significance of obstructive apnoea in children.
  c. Professor A. D. Milner, Department of Child Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham.
  Project Title: Apnoea bardycardia and high frequency oscillation in the neonatal period.
  d. Professor P. J. Watt, Department of Microbiology, University of Southampton.
  Project Title: Respiratory Syncytial Virus Polypeptides: age-related antibody responses and the significance of material IGC.

  In the same year, the council made available a further £322,000 for other research which may contribute to the understanding of the sudden infant death syndrome.

  Former Ministers (Facilities)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, further to his answer of 13 February,Official Report, col. 79 what is the cost of granting the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health the temporary use of a room at the Department plus the part-time assistance of an administrative officer to manage and safeguard the papers.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  There is no additional cost as the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health is using a room that was vacant pending the refurbishment of the building. The administrative officer spends up to a maximum of three hours a week managing and safeguarding the papers at an approximate cost of £170 for the nine weeks of research.

  Sea Bathing
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will consider Government funding for urgent research into the extent of infection from viruses associated with sea bathing.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment on 31 October 1988 at column 546.

  Babies (PCDFs)
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response his Department has made to reports about the effects on babies of high levels of PCDFs.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Department is aware of studies i n Japan and Taiwan which tentatively suggested health effects in babies whose mothers were exposed to cooking oil containing polychlorinated biphenyls contaminated with PCDFs. The Department's advisory committee on the toxicity of chemicals in food, consumer products and the environment is currently reviewing the toxicity data on PCDDs and PCDFs, including these studies, and the committee's advice is expected shortly.

  Cancer (Paper Products)
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department has any statistics regarding increased lifetime cancer risk resulting from dioxin exposure via paper products.

  Mr. Freeman
  Research indicates that levels present in such products are very low and they would be expected to present a negligible risk. However, we have asked the relevant trade associations to provide information on levels found in products on sale in the United Kingdom. A further assessment of risks to health will then be made.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health. what information he has on research conducted by the United States Environment Protection Agency into the risks of cancer from paper products.

  Mr. Freeman
  I understand that the Environment Protection Agency is preparing a report with the American paper industry which is expected to be ready by April 1989.

  Birth Deformities
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department is aware of any research indicating links between dioxins and birth deformities.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Department is aware of toxicological studies indicating that some dioxins can cause deformities in certain species of laboratory animals. The significance of these findings for humans is currently being assessed by the Department's advisory committee on the toxicity of chemicals in food, consumer products and the environment as part of a review of all the toxicity data on PCDDs and PCDFs. The committee's advice is expected shortly.

  Aluminium (Home Cooking)
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, in view of the scientific evidence linking aluminium with Alzheimer's disease, he has considered the control on the use of aluminium in food processing, including cooking utensils and aluminium foil; and what advice he has for home cooks.

  Mr. Freeman
  No controls on the use of aluminium in food processing are warranted. My replies to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) on 27 January at columns 797–799 explain the known medical effects of aluminium from all sources.

  Dioxins
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department is carrying out or funding about the effects of paper and similar products containing dioxins on the health of people.

  Mr. Freeman
  None. Research in Sweden has shown that levels present in those products are extremely low and are likely to present a negligible risk to health. However, the Department's committee on toxicity of chemicals in food, consumer products and the environment has been asked to advise on the possible health effects from dioxins.

  Cook-chill Food
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) on what date the Yorkshire regional health authority determined to introduce cook-chill catering in hospitals throughout the region;

  (2) on what date members of staff of the Yorkshire regional health authority were informed that a policy decision had been made to introduce cook-chill catering in hospitals throughout the region.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The decision to introduce cook-chill catering into hospitals within Yorkshire region was taken at the regional health authority meeting on 24 March 1988. Information about the decision and its implementation was formally communicated to Yorkshire district health authorities and the media the same day. Similar information was conveyed to staff in the region in the RHA's newspaper "Health View", April 1988 edition.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals in the Yorkshire region currently operational, or in the process of construction, have facilities to receive and distribute cook-chill food.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The proposed new Halifax district general hospital, all hospitals within the Wakefield and Dewsbury boundaries, all hospitals administrated by Bradford health authority with the exception of the Bradford royal infirmary, St. Luke's hospital and Linfield mount hospital, the Alfred Bean hospital, Driffield and the Brumby hospital, Scunthorpe.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which cook-chill installations currently in operation within the National Health Service contravene his Department's 1980 guidelines.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I expect health authorities to satisfy themselves that cook-chill installations all conform to my Department's cook-chill guidelines.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if facilities exist to ensure it is possible for the requirement of the Yorkshire health authority's expert group that all cook-chill food must be served within 15 minutes of reheating to be met following the proposed introduction of cook-chill catering in Wakefield's hospitals.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I understand that the DHA's arrangements, using heated trolleys, would meet this requirement and I expect the DHA to ensure that performance is monitored.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 30 January to the hon.
  524
  Member for Wakefield if, in the light of scientific and medical evidence of the potential importance of listeria monocytogenes in cook-chill catering, he will now withdraw the 1980 guidelines prepared by the expert group.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 7 February 1989.]: We remain quite satisfied that, provided the 1980 guidelines on cook-chill catering are followed, the food produced by this system will be safe.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, pursuant to his answer of 2 February to the hon. Member for Wakefield, he will list the published and unpublished papers on the safety of cook-chill and low temperature pathogens considered by his Department's expert group.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 7 February 1989]: The purpose of convening an expert group is to ensure a broad information base for decisions on the preparation of guidance. The group considered a wide range of information on the scientific basis of the cook-chill system from a variety of sources. It is not possible to compile a complete list of all material which members of the group will have taken into account when formulating the guidelines.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the evidence presented at a symposium on cook-chill catering at Danbury technical college held on 9 July 1988, by a consultant microbiologist at Plymouth health authority on the incidence of patients with listeriosis treated in Plymouth hospitals during 1987 and 1988.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 7 February 1989]: The evidence presented by a consultant microbiologist from Plymouth health authority at this symposium showed that all patients found to have listeriosis in Plymouth hospitals during 1987 and 1988 acquired this infection before their admission.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to give his replies to the questions tabled for priority written answer on 7 February and to which a holding reply was given relating to cook-chill catering and his Department's expert group, and to Plymouth.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I replied to the hon. Member today.

  Hospice Nurses (Pay)
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the funding of the pay award to nurses working in the hospice movement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  In 1988–89 the Government made available to health authorities an additional ?5.5 million to meet the costs of the nurses' clinical regrading exercise incurred by hospices and mainly charitable hospitals with which they had contractual commitment or to which they regularly gave financial support. This allocation was made because of the exceptional nature of the increase in pay costs and about one quarter of it was expected to go to hospices.

  That sum is being carried forward to 1989–90, and increased by 5 per cent. The Government have not

  525
  included any further provision in the additional funds being made available in respect of the 1989 nurses' pay award, but health authorities may wish to provide extra financial support from the very significant overall increase in financial resources at their disposal in 1989–90.

  My Department has asked for more information to be collected on the general pattern of financial support of hospices by health authorities and will consider the need for any further action in the light of this.

  Chief Nursing Officer (Letter)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter sent by the chief nursing officer to all district and regional nursing offices on 18 January.

  Mr. Freeman
  I shall be placing copies of the letter and accompanying paper in the Library.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the consequences on employment and pay scales for nurses resulting from the guidelines on nursing contained in the letter sent from the chief nursing officer to all district and regional nursing offices on 18 January.

  Mr. Freeman
  We do not envisage that there would be any consequences on employment and pay scales for nurses arising from this letter.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the purpose and status of the letter sent by the chief nursing officer to all regional and district nursing officers on the role of nurses.

  Mr. Freeman
  The purpose of the letter on nursing routines and improving efficiency, which was sent by the Chief Nursing Officer and chairman of the standing nursing and midwifery advisory committee at the specific request of members to regional and district nursing officers and to the chief nursing officers of special health authorities, was to encourage local nursing and midwifery advisory committees to study the use of some routine nursing practices with a view to considering whether they were still relevant in their local circumstances. They were asked to take whatever action they considered necessary to develop innovative ideas to increase the efficiency of effectiveness of nursing care, so that unnecessary practices can be eliminated, releasing nurses to provide a quality service which not only benefits patients but provides increased job satisfaction for nursing staff.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response there has been to the letter sent on 18 January to all regional and district nursing officers from the Chief Nursing Officer about the role of nurses.

  Mr. Freeman
  Some nursing officers have already replied in a positive way indicating the initiatives and developments they are undertaking.

  Sickle Cell Anaemia and Thalassaemia
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Stoke on Trent, North,Official Report, 9 February, column 802, if he will review his decision not to include a question on local funding arrangements in his Department's questionnaire to all district health authorities on screening and counselling for sickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia.
  526
  Mr. Freeman
  The questionnaires were issued to district health authorities on 22 June 1988 and the Department is currently analysing their responses. The need to see further information will be considered in the light of this analysis.

  Listeria
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will detail the number of cases of United Kingdom produced cheeses in which listeria infection has been identified over the past 12 months; if he will express that number as a proportion of the total United Kingdom cheese production over the same period; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 16 February 1989]: One case of listeriosis associated with United Kingdom produced cheese has been reported to the Public Health Laboratory Service in the past 12 months. Cheese production in the United Kingdom in 1987, the last year for which figures are available centrally, totalled 263,900 tonnes.

  There has been a variety of published evidence indicating the risk associated with both unpasteurised and pasteurised soft cheeses. In particular, I draw the hon. Member's attention to the "Report of the WHO Informal Working Group on Foodborne Listeriosis", Geneva 15–19 February 1988 and "Occurrence in the UK of Listeria species in Raw Chicken and Soft Cheeses" published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology 1988 vol. 6. However, as 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.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of listeriosis have been attributed to(a) unpasteurised milk, (b) unpasteurised milk products, (c) pasteurised milk, and (d) pasteurised milk products in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 16 February 1989]: Confirmed reports to the Public Health Laboratory Service show that in England and Wales there have been two cases of listeriosis associated with products made with unpasteurised milk, one in 1986 and one in 1988. In both cases, the milk was heated beyond pasteurisation temperatures during the manufacturing process. There have been no reports of listeriosis attributed to either pasteurised or unpasteurised milk, or to products made with pasteurised milk.

  Cheese
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many instances have been notified to his Department of poisoning caused through the consumption of contaminated soft cheese or unpasteurised milk during each of the last three years.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 16 February 1989]: Confirmed cases of food poisoning associated with the consumption of soft cheese and unpasteurised milk reported to the Public Health Laboratory Service in the years from 1986–88 are as follows:

  Unpasteurised milk

  Soft cheese

  1986

  347

  1

  1987

  366

  —

  1988

  122

  1

  527
  1 Provisional.

  There has been a variety of published evidence indicating the risk associated with both unpasteurised and pasteurised soft cheeses. In particular, I would draw the hon. Member's attention to the "Report of the WHO Informal Working Group on Foodborne Listeriosis", Geneva 15–19 February 1988 and "Occurrence in the United Kingdom of Listeria species in Raw Chicken and Soft Cheeses" published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology 1988 volume 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.

  Salmonella
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any evidence of the incidence of(a) salmonella enteritidis, and (b) any other strain of salmonella in cooked prawns.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 23 January 1989]: Studies on imported cooked prawns by the Public Health Laboratory Service between 1976 and 1986 show that a small number of the samples tested contained isolations of a wide variety of serotypes of salmonella. Any action on such imported produce is a matter for the port health authorities. In 1986 and 1988 there were no reported outbreaks of food poisoning associated with cooked prawns. In 1987 there were two reported outbreaks possibly associated with this food.

  Radiated Food
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he intends to bring in legislation requiring all radiated food to be clearly marked.

  Mr. Ryder
  I have been asked to reply.

  Ministers have agreed for advice from officials on the regulatory framework, including labelling that would be necessary for irradiation of food on general sale to be permitted in this country. This advice is expected shortly.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Poultry
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he now intends to ban the use of animal protein, other than fish meal, for feeding poultry.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  As I announced in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Torridge and Devon, West (Miss Nicholson) on 19 January at column 314–15, I have no plans to do so. My officials have routinely inspected all protein processing plants to monitor their compliance with the Diseases of Animals (Protein Processing) Order 1981 which requires the manufacture of a salmonella-free product. A new statutory provision to stop the supply of salmonella-contaminated animal protein has been introduced recently and further control measures are under consideration.

  Research and Medical Staff
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many research 528
  medical or scientific staff in his Department with expertise in (a) egg production, (b) milk and cheese production, (c) food poisoning and (d) consumer demand there were in (i) 1979 and (ii) 1988.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 16 February 1989]: Details are as follows:

  1979

  1988

  (a) Egg production

  418

  325

  (b) Milk and cheese production

  473

  377

  (c) Questions relating to food poisoning are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.

  (d) Expertise in consumer demand is available widely in the Ministry for different commodities. Total staff numbers could not be ascertained without disproportionate cost.

  Suckler Cow Premium
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to ensure that British farmers receive the maximum allowable nationally funded element of the suckler cow premium once changes to the beef variable premium scheme have been agreed by the Council of Ministers.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The Government are considering the appropriate rate for the suckler cow subsidy in the light of the changes being made to the beef regime and will announce the rate in good time before the start of the 1989 scheme on 15 June.

  Beef (Special Premium)
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make a statement on the method of payment of the special premium which is to be introduced to replace the beef variable premium scheme;

  (2) what male animals will qualify for the special premium after abolition of the beef variable premium scheme; and how the numbers so entitled will be verified.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  As a result of the agreement reached by the EC Council of Agriculture Ministers at its meeting on 23–24 January 1989, the United Kingdom's beef variable premium is to be replaced by a premium on male cattle paid at a rate of £28·42 per head up to a maximum of 90 head per producer.

  The premium is payable once only in the lifetime of each animal. We have the option to pay the premium either on animals retained by the producer on his holding, or on animals sold by producers for slaughter whether sold direct to slaughterhouses or through liveweight auction markets. The Government are currently considering which of these two systems should be applied and the appropriate administrative arrangements for ensuring compliance with the 90 head limit. The legal texts implementing the arrangements have yet to be agreed and adopted by the Council. The intention is that the new arrangements should come into effect on 3 April 1989.

  Beef (Hormone Implants)
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the import from the United States of America of beef from animals where growth was artificially induced by hormone implants.
  529
  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The import of beef from the United States of America has now been prohibited because the US authorities are not complying with the European Community's requirement that beef imports should be certified as derived from animals not treated with hormone growth promoters. The Government have consistently opposed the ban on hormones because we believe that it has no scientific basis. We are continuing to work for a solution to the trade difficulties with the United States which it has caused.

  Universities (Research)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether those working in universities on research commissioned by his Ministry are required to sign a declaration under the Official Secrets Act; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  This is not our normal practice, though it may be considered necessary if the work involves access to sensitive or commercial information.

  Cheese
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) on what evidence he indicated that he was considering a ban on unpasteurised milk cheese production; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what evidence he has that cheese produced from unpasteurised milk is less safe than that produced from pasteurised milk; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) which representatives of the dairy products industry he consulted prior to his statements concerning soft cheese; and if he will indicate the company or organisation with which each is associated.

  Mr. Ryder
  I refer the hon. Member to the consultation document which I shall shortly place in the Library of the House.

  Fylde Coast (Sea Outfall)
  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the frequency and nature of contacts between his Ministry and North West Water in connection with the proposed construction of a long sea outfall from the Fylde coast.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Officials were informed of North West Water's work at an early stage. Before plans were drawn up MAFF was asked to provide information about fisheries in the Fylde coast area. After consultation with local fisheries organisations this information was provided with a view to seeking to ensure that interference with fisheries was avoided. MAFF has since sought from North West Water information about the possible locations of the discharge and the nature and likely effect of the effluent. The Ministry has now been formally consulted under the Control of Pollution Act 1974 on the proposed outfall.

  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how his Ministry intends to obtain sufficient baseline ecological data to enable it to form a view as to the necessity for consent limits for the proposed long sea outfall for the Fylde coast.
  530
  Mr. Donald Thompson
  My Department undertakes a continuing programme of routine monitoring of contaminant levels in fish and shellfish. In addition, information would be obtained, as appropriate, from work undertaken by other relevant organisations.

  Shellfish
  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what information is held by his Ministry on the virological quality of shellfish harvested in Morecambe bay and adjoining coastlines;

  (2) what information is held by his Ministry on the bacteriological quality of shellfish harvested in Morecambe bay and adjoining coastlines.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The Ministry is aware of the status of the shellfisheries as determined by the environmental health departments of the local authorities concerned.

  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information is held by his Ministry on the chemical quality of shellfish harvested in Morecambe bay and adjoining coastlines, with particular reference to compounds identified as black, grey or red list.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Both shellfish and finfish from the Morecambe bay area are sampled as part of the Ministry's national monitoring programme. Samples the edible mussel Mytilus edulis were collected in 1985 from Morecambe and Barrow-in-Furness and analysed. for the metals mercury, cadmium, lead, copper and zinc, the pesticides HCH, HCB, dieldrin and DDT and PCBs. In addition a sample of brown shrimp (crangon crangon) was obtained from the Lune Deeps area in 1982 and analysed for metals.

  Using the guidelines listed in appendix 3 of the MAFF aquatic environment monitoring report No. 16, a copy of which is in the Library of the House, contaminant levels found would not be considered to be elevated in any of these samples.

  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the potential for hydro-transportation of sediment-associated viruses from the proposed long sea outfall for the Fylde coast to shellfisheries in Morecambe bay and the adjoining coastlines.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  This is one of the factors that the Ministry will take into account in providing comments on the proposal under the terms of the Control of Pollution Act 1974. Relevant to the Ministry's consideration will be the design characteristics of the proposed outfall and the location of the shellfisheries concerned.

  Meat (Transhipment)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures are taken by his Ministry, and port or local council officials to ensure that meat landed in Great Britain for onward transhipment to a third country is not sold for use in Great Britain.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  All meat entering Great Britain, whether intended for consumption here or for transhipment to a third country, must comply with our animal and
  531
  public health requirements. There are no health reasons, therefore, to require that meat in transit is not diverted for sale in Great Britain.

  Feedstuffs
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to introduce statutory measures for the monitoring of feedstuffs which contain non-animal products.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  As part of the further measures to combat the salmonella contamination of animal feed I intend to introduce statutory monitoring requirements for complete animal feedingstuffs.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ban the importation of salmonella-contaminated feedstuffs.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  A very small proportion of compound animal feedingstuffs is imported. The majority of imports are of the raw materials including animal protein for incorporation into feedingstuffs. The importation of animal protein is already prohibited except under the authority of a licence. These licensing arrangements are being strengthened to further reduce the risk of contaminated products entering the country.

  Fisheries (Research)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place the details of near market research projects in fisheries in the Library.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I will place in the Library the list of projects at Torry research station which we have identified for termination unless industry funding can be arranged. These projects are primarily concerned with the development of new products and processes. We will be continuing to fund work at Torry which is needed in support of Government policies for food safety and quality.

  No near market projects are being carried out at my Department's other fisheries laboratories.

  Veterinary Officers
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many veterinary officers he has employed in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The number of veterinary officers permanently employed in all grades of the Ministry's state veterinary service throughout England, Scotland and Wales for each of the last 10 years is:

  Number

  1979

  580·5

  1980

  578·5

  1981

  563·5

  1982

  557·0

  1983

  549·0

  1984

  539·5

  1985

  527·5

  1986

  506·5

  1987

  464·5

  1988

  444·5

  532
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the recruiting of staff with veterinary qualifications to his Ministry.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  My Ministry regularly recruits, via the Civil Service Commission, staff with veterinary qualifications for posts in England, Scotland and Wales.

  Staff with veterinary qualifications who are recruited into the Ministry must be members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

  Listeria
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has of listeria being passed to poultry via contaminated feedstuffs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Clinical listeriosis in poultry is extremely rare. I know of no evidence indicating that listeriosis has been passed to poultry from contaminated feedingstuffs.

  Salmonella Enteritidis
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many or what proportion of birds are monitored when laying flocks of poultry are investigated for salmonella enteritidis.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  At present, a statistical sampling technique is used to detect salmonella enteritidis in poultry which ensures a very high confidence level of detecting the disease. Statutory provisions for the bacteriological monitoring of poultry laying flocks are to be introduced shortly.

  Livestock Stress
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research has been undertaken by his Department into the possible connection between livestock stress and vulnerability to infection.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food funds research at the Institute of Animal Health on the influence of social and other stress on immunosuppression in poultry vaccinated against Marek's disease virus, and on the effects of stress in early life on the incidence and pathogenesis of infectious stunting syndrome in poultry.

  In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food funds programmes of research into the causes and effects of stress in farm animals and its objective assessment, and into the causes/pathogenesis and immune responses to infections. Connections between stress and vulnerability to infections are continually kept in mind and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will commission further investigations as considered necessary.

  Southwold Harbour
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects his Department to resolve its consideration of the navigation and coast protection interests relating to the repair scheme for Southwold harbour put forward by Waveney district council; and if he will make a statement.
  533
  Mr. Ryder
  These proposals raise questions of navigational safety which still have to be resolved. I understand that Waveney district council is seeking expert advice, which it is hoped will help to resolve the difficulties.

  Slaughterhouses
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to reduce the incidence of cross-infection in slaughterhouses.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Statutory hygiene controls, enforced by local authorities, apply at all stages of meat production to reduce the risk of cross contamination. My Department is continuously seeking ways of further reducing the incidence of cross infection.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations have been 534
  received from EEC inspectors regarding the conditions in British slaughterhouses over the last two years; and what response has been made to these representations.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The reports made by EC commission inspectors on individual plants are confidential. They are discussed with the inspectors, with the local authority concerned and with the plant management and any corrective action which is necessary is put in hand.

  Bovine Somatotropin
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to introduce legislation to require that all milk containing bovine somatotropin is clearly marked.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  No. All milk contains traces of bovine somatotropin.

  ROYAL COMMISSION ON ANCIENT AND HISTORICAL MONUMENTS FOR WALES: POLICY REVIEW
  ROYAL COMMISSION ON ANCIENT AND HISTORICAL MONUMENTS FOR WALES: POLICY REVIEW
  ROYAL COMMISSION ON HISTORICAL MONUMENTS OF ENGLAND: POLICY REVIEW
  ROYAL COMMISSION ON HISTORICAL MONUMENTS OF ENGLAND: POLICY REVIEW
  MISS LUCY STEVENS
  MISS LUCY STEVENS
  HOUSING MANAGEMENT REPORT
  HOUSING MANAGEMENT REPORT
  NHS HOSPITALS: USE OF FRESH EGGS
  NHS HOSPITALS: USE OF FRESH EGGS
  CANCER DEATH STATISTICS
  CANCER DEATH STATISTICS
  SEAT BELT OFFENCES
  SEAT BELT OFFENCES
  FIREARMS LEGISLATION: PUBLICATION AND CONSOLIDATION
  FIREARMS LEGISLATION: PUBLICATION AND CONSOLIDATION
  PRISON SANITATION REPORT
  PRISON SANITATION REPORT