Written Answers of 10 July 1989

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Tobacco
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether expenditure on advertising by the tobacco industry is treated as promotional activities for tax relief purposes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  In calculating their taxable profits, all businesses can deduct expenses (other than capital expenses) incurred wholly and exclusively for the purpose of their trade, including the cost of advertising.

  Government Data Network
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will place the operational specifications of the Government data network and its accompanying management summary in the Library.

  Mr. Brooke
  A copy of the GDN statement of service requirement is in the Library. The service is provided under the terms of a network agreement, the contract between Her Majesty's Treasury and Racal Data Networks Limited, and of access agreements between individual departments and the contractor. I am not aware of other documents which meet the hon. Member's description.

  Balance of Payments
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the actual balance of payments position at the end of each of the last 10 years; and what is his present estimate of the position at the end of the current year.

  Mr. Lilley
  The latest estimate of the current account for each of the last 10 years and the forecast for 1989, published in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1989–90", are set out in the table.

  £ million

  Current account

  1Balancing item

  1979

  -496

  1,044

  1980

  3,122

  570

  1981

  6,936

  277

  1982

  4,685

  -2,333

  1983

  3,893

  468

  1984

  2,077

  5,672

  1985

  3,355

  6,150

  1986

  151

  13,700

  1987

  -2,905

  12,356

  1988

  -14,936

  13,878

  21989

  -14,500

  1 Indicates errors and omissions in both capital and current account

  2 Forecast published in Financial Statement and Budget Report 1989–90, rounded to nearest £½ billion.

  Charitable Gifts (Tax Relief)
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his reply to the right hon. Member for Tonbridge and Mailing on 6 June,Official Report, column 120, what are his reasons for being unwilling to amend the give-as-you-earn scheme to enable the tax relief to accrue to the benefit of the donor's designated charity rather than to the donor.

  Mr. Lawson
  [holding answer 22 June 1989]: If the donor wishes to benefit the charity further, it is a simple matter for him to adjust the size of the donation, subject of course to the annual payroll giving limit.

  Forestry
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the annual cost of the tax reliefs available to the forestry industry which were abolished in the Finance Act 1988 for each year 1974 to 1988 at(a) cash prices and (b) 1989 prices.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 29 June 1989]: For recent years the annual revenue cost of the right of occupiers of commercial woodlands to elect to be assessed under schedule D is broadly estimated at £10 million.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates will be the annual cost to the Treasury of(a) the woodland grant scheme and (b) the farm woodland scheme at 1989 prices; and on what planting assumptions these estimates are made.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 29 June 1989]: Plans in Cm. 604 ("The Government's Expenditure Plans 1989–90 to 1991–92" chapter 4) include the following provision and planting targets for these schemes; costs vary from year to year.

  Table 1

  Woodland Grant Scheme

  Area of new planting (hectares)

  Forestry Commission grants (£ million)

  1989–90

  7,500

  4·4

  1990–91

  16,200

  9·4

  1991–92

  21,180

  12·3

  Notes:—The figures do not include:

  1. Restocking of felled woodland.

  2. Planting expected to be carried out under forestry grant schemes other than the Woodland Grant Scheme.

  3. Planting in Northern Ireland.

  Table 2

  Farm Woodland Scheme

  Area of new planting (hecatares)

  Planting grants (£ million)

  Annual payments (£ million)

  1989–90

  12,000

  6·9

  1·0

  1990–91

  12,000

  6·9

  3·1

  1991–92

  12,000

  6·9

  5·1

  Notes:

  1. The above figures include Northern Ireland.

  2. Annual payments follow 12 months after payment of the planting grants.

  3. The farm woodlands scheme was introduced on 1 October 1988 and is to be reviewed at the end of its first three years. The programme for 1991–92 anticipates that that scheme may be extended after the review.

  Business Expansion Scheme
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will give the total amount of tax relief given to business expansion scheme investment in housing from its inception to the most recent date for which figures are available and for each of the standard regions, Scotland and Wales;

  (2) if he will give the total number of applications approved for housing business expansion scheme investments in housing from its inception to the most recent date for which figures are available and for each of the standard regions of Scotland and Wales.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 29 June 1989]: No information on applications or the cost of the business expansion scheme tax relief for investments in residential property is yet available centrally from official sources.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the total amount of tax relief given to business expansion scheme investments in each of the years 1983–84 to 1988–89 inclusive and for each of the standard regions, Scotland and Wales.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 29 June 1989]: The estimated cost of relief for 1983–84 to 1987–88 is as follows:

  Companies receiving investments (numbers)

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  South East

  298

  399

  342

  381

  356

  East Anglia

  28

  32

  43

  40

  39

  South West

  56

  64

  64

  57

  68

  West Midlands

  55

  58

  51

  40

  38

  East Midlands

  38

  35

  29

  23

  29

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  43

  45

  35

  49

  42

  North and North West

  51

  86

  56

  76

  68

  Wales

  20

  18

  19

  19

  15

  Scotland

  59

  57

  38

  47

  76

  Northern Ireland

  7

  13

  15

  10

  7

  Unknown

  60

  —

  10

  —

  —

  Total

  715

  807

  702

  742

  738

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the total number of individuals obtaining tax relief for business expansion scheme investments in each of the years 1983–84 to 1988–89 inclusive and for each of the standard regions, Scotland and Wales.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 29 June 1989]: I regret that information on which to base reliable estimates of the numbers of investors receiving relief is not available centrally.

  Thames Riverbus
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sums under the business expansion scheme or any other provision have been paid to those who set up the Thames riverbus service.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 4 July 1989]: I regret that I am unable to provide the information requested on the business expansion scheme as details of the use of the scheme by particular individuals and companies are obtained by the Inland Revenue on a confidential basis. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply
  340

  £ million

  1983–84

  50

  1984–85

  75

  1985–86

  85

  1986–87

  95

  11987–88

  120

  1 Provisional

  A forecast of £100 million for the cost of relief for the business expansion scheme in 1988–89 was published in "The Government's Expenditure Plans, 1989–90 to 1991–92" (chapter 21), but no information is yet available centrally from official sources to provide a reliable estimate of the outturn.

  I regret that reliable estimates of the cost of relief by standard region and country are not available.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 29 June 1989]: Information on companies receiving investments through the business expansion scheme in 1988–89 is not yet available centrally from official sources. Estimates for earlier years are as follows:

  which my hon. Friend the Minister for Public Transport gave him on 4 July at columns 91–92 regarding a grant to the company from the Department of Transport.

  Taxation
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest available figures for the cumulative amounts since 1979 of(a) unclaimed tax relief, (b) tax fraud and evasion and (c) tax cuts expressed in real terms, 1989 prices.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 6 July 1989]: I regret that reliable estimates of the amount of unclaimed tax relief and the revenue lost through fraud and evasion are not possible. For information on reductions in income tax I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) of 4 April at column 8.

THE ARTS

  Arts Funding
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received on future funding of the arts in 1990–91 and beyond.

  Mr. Luce
  I announced in November 1988 the provisions for the arts programme for the years 1989–90 to 1991–92.

  Museums and Galleries (Oxford)
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Minister for the Arts when he last visited Oxford to visit museums and galleries there.

  Mr. Luce
  I had the pleasure of visiting the Ashmolean museum in Oxford on 3 July this year. On that occasion I was glad to be able to meet members of the local business community and to support an appeal for £3–2 million for the museum.

  British Library
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister for the Arts when he last met the director of the British library to discuss the level of revenue funding for the library.

  Mr. Luce
  I met the chairman and chief executive of the British library on 14 March 1989. Our discussion covered the library's long-term plans and Government funding.

  Arts Groups (Bulwell)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will examine the possibility of direct funding for the Bulwell and district arts groups.

  Mr. Luce
  No. I fund the arts on the arm's-length principle. It is for the Arts Council and regional arts associations to determine the allocation of funds to individual arts groups.

  Sponsorship
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what new measures he is introducing to increase sponsorship of the arts.

  Mr. Luce
  Since its inception in 1984 the business sponsorship incentive scheme has attracted over 1,000 new sponsors. To encourage even more businesses to support the arts, I have agreed that individual arts organisations may receive up to two awards this year instead of one, up to an aggregate of £25,000.

  Merseyside Arts
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Minister for the Arts whether Merseyside Arts will continue to be funded as an autonomous unit; and if he will make a statement on its future.

  Mr. Luce
  I have not yet received Mr. Wilding's report about the structure and organisation of the arts in England. No decisions have yet been taken about the future of Merseyside Arts or any other regional arts association.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Civil Service Careers
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what steps he is taking to promote careers in the Civil Service to students and sixth formers studying in Lancashire.

  Mr. Luce
  The Civil Service Commission, with help from Government Departments, has recently re-established its schools liaison network. The network, which extends to colleges of higher and further education, went fully operational in Lancashire in November 1988 and to date around 35 careers events have been attended. The liaison panel is also establishing closer links with local careers services, for example, by arranging talks and visits to departments.

  The Civil Service Commission is also strengthening its links with universities and polytechnics, including those in Lancashire. This includes increased representation at recruitment events, more visits to the institutions, and more direct involvement with their careers service.

  Additionally, many local departments are establishing and improving their own links with local academic institutions.

WALES

  Environment
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will set out the initiatives(a) he has taken since May 1979 and (b) intends to take on environmental protection and renewable energies; and if he will make a statement on the state of the environment in Wales.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Since May 1979, I have designated two environmentally sensitive areas in Wales. The ESA policy aims to promote the co-existence of conservation and efficient farming in areas perceived to be at risk from increasingly intensive methods of production.

  Emphasis on conservation and the control of pollution caused by farm operations has also been strengthened in the new farm and conservation grant scheme introduced in February this year. Three new conservation grants have been launched. These will encourage the regeneration of native woodland and of heather moors and assist in the cost of repairs to vernacular farm buildings. With a grant rate of 50 per cent. towards the cost of farm pollution control, the United Kingdom now has the most comprehensive anti-farm-pollution grant scheme in the European Community. It is only early days, but farmers are already showing increasing interest in applying for grants.

  I was also involved with the other Agriculture Ministers in the announcement of the United Kingdom set-aside scheme in June 1988. This constituted a practical guide offering advice and encouraging the management of set-aside land in the best interests of conservation and the environment generally.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and I have created a unified inspectorate of pollution with the remit to develop an integrated approach to pollution control. One of our other major initiatives has been to cut the maximum lead content of petrol by 60 per cent. which allied to a reduction in duty on unleaded

  343
  making it some lop cheaper than leaded 4-star, has resulted in unleaded petrol sales increasingly rapidly and currently accounting for almost 20 per cent. of the market.

  As to renewable energies, Wales has significant potential in this field, particularly in terms of wind and tidal power. Studies in these two areas are currently being undertaken at a number of sites throughout the Principality.

  On 19 June 1989, together with my right hon. Friends the other territorial agricultural Ministers, I issued a consultative document inviting comments on ideas for implementing, for beef and sheep, the European Community extensification scheme in the United Kingdom. Wherever possible, I will wish to ensure that extensification brings enviromental benefits.

  Furthermore, together with my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Environment, I am proposing to bring forward as soon as the parliamentary timetable allows, major legislation dealing with environmental protection. The Bill, among other things, will include measures dealing with air pollution control and reform of the waste disposal law. It will also introduce a new system of integrated pollution control for industry. In addition, we will shortly be announcing a number of proposals for legislation designed to ensure more effective action to be taken against litterers and litter.

  Business Finance
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consideration he has given to the Welsh Committee for Economic and Industrial Affairs' report "Finance for Business in Wales"; and whether he will act on the recommendations which fall within the remit of his office.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I met representatives of the committee on 19 June 1989 to discuss their report "Finance for Business in Wales". My officials will pursue with officials of the committee points arising out of that meeting.

  Bathing Water (Sewage Outfalls)
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if the proposed one-mile screened sewage outfall from Swansea will enable adjacent beach to meet the standards of European Community Bathing Water Directive 76/160/EEC; and what consideration has been given to the consequential effects on the opposite side of the Bristol channel.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The identified water adjacent to Swansea bay met the standards of the European bathing water directive 76/160/EEC for the 1988 season. The proposed 1 mile long sea outfall will form part of planned improvements designed with the specific aim of achieving the compliance of the identified waters of Swansea bay with the standards of that directive.

  Tidal currents in the Bristol channel, and the enormous dilution afforded, will reduce any impact of this discharge on the north Devon coast to negligible levels.

  Water Pollution
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give a breakdown of the likely chemical composition of the water flowing from the Taff and Ely rivers which are to be contained by the proposed Cardiff bay barrage.

  Mr. Grist
  The 1985 river quality survey showed that the quality of the River Taff varied between classes 1B and 2 and that of the River Ely between classes 2 and 3.

  Water quality modelling associated with the proposed Cardiff bay barrage is still being undertaken. I suggest that the hon. Gentleman write to the chairman of the Welsh water authority to obtain the latest position.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the estimated tonnage of sewage disposed of on an annual basis into the rivers of mid-Glamorgan.

  Mr. Grist
  Information is not available in the form requested. The consented volumes of all consented discharges are entered on to public registers maintained by Welsh Water and available for inspection at its offices during all reasonable hours.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list water supplies in South Wales that meet the minimum quality standards set by the EEC.

  Mr. Grist
  All water supplies which have not been notified as being subject to derogations or delays under the EC directive relating to the quality of water intended for human consumption (80/778/EEC) should meet the standards set by that directive.

  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has assessed whether the proposed 1-mile sewage outfall from Swansea will enable local beaches to attain the standard of European Community directive 76/160/EEC.

  Mr. Grist
  No. The specific aim of the proposed outfall is to achieve compliance of the identified waters of Swansea Bay with the standards of the directive, but design is at a preliminary stage and engineering studies have yet to be completed. Other local beaches listed under the terms of the directive complied with its standards during the 1988 bathing season.

  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has made to Welsh Water about sewage contamination on south Wales beaches; and how many of these beaches attain the water standards under directive 76/160/EEC.

  Mr. Grist
  Welsh Office officials are in touch with Welsh Water concerning their capital programme of improvements to bathing waters. Fifteen of the 22 bathing waters in south Wales listed under the directive complied with its standards during 1988.

  Port Dinorwic Yacht Harbour
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many letters his Department has received(a) in favour and (b) against his planning permission sought for the development of Port Dinorwic yacht harbour; and if he will make a statement.
  345
  Mr. Grist
  Following receipt of the planning appeal, the Department received seven letters in favour and 35 against the proposals for the development of Port Dinorwic yacht harbour.

  Planning Procedures
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new guidelines he has issued to Welsh Office inspectors considering planning appeals since June 1987; and if he will state the nature and objectives of such changes.

  Mr. Grist
  In considering appeals in Wales, planning inspectors follow guidance issued generally by the Welsh Office in the form of circulars and planning and mineral policy guidance notes. The Department issues no guidelines specifically to the inspectorate.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what grounds a public inquiry into a planning appeal can be reopened, after having been concluded; what are the procedures for permitting the reopening of an inquiry; who is allowed to submit that an inquiry should be reopened; who decides whether or not to reopen an inquiry following such a request; and on how many occasions in the last five years such an inquiry in Wales has been so reopened.

  Mr. Grist
  Where an appeal is to be determined by an inspector the current procedures which govern the reopening of the inquiry are contained in rules 17 and 19 of the Town and Country Planning Appeals (Determination by Inspectors) (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 1988 (SI 1988, No. 945). The decision whether or not to reopen the inquiry would be taken by the inspector except where a decision has been quashed in proceedings before any court, where it falls to the Secretary of State to direct that the inquiry be reopened, if he thinks fit. In cases where the appeal is to be determined by the Secretary of State the current procedures are set out in rules 16 and 18 of the Town and Country Planning (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 1988 (SI 1988, No. 944). The decision whether or not to reopen the inquiry would be taken by my right hon. Friend. Welsh Office records of planning appeals do not include information relating to the frequency of the reopening of public inquiries.

  Date

  Jointly with the Department of the Environment

  40/80

  Development Control—Policy and Practice

  28 November 1980

  46/83

  Planning Gain

  25 August 1983

  17/84

  Planning Controls over Hazardous Developments

  30 March 1984

  34/84

  Industrial Development

  4 September 1984

  1/85

  Use of Conditions

  7 January 1985

  3/85

  Planning Control over Oil and Gas Operations

  15 January 1985

  38/85

  Development and Employment

  16 July 1985

  58/85

  Guidelines for the Provision of Silica sand in England and Wales

  5 November 1985

  69/85

  Aesthetic Control

  10 December 1985

  8/86

  Development by Small Businesses

  20 March 1986

  58/86

  Policy on Major Retail Developments: Town and Country Planning (Shopping Development) (England and Wales) Direction 1986

  18 December 1986

  24/87

  Town and Country Planning (Use of Classes) Order 1987

  6 May 1987

  29/87

  Disposal of Colliery Spoil

  27 July 1987

  25/87

  Development involving Agricultural Land

  8 May 1987

  22/87

  Development of Contaminated Land

  17 August 1987

  54/87

  Opencast Coal Mining

  14 December 1987

  1/88

  Planning Policy Guidance and Mineral Planning Guidance1

  20 January 1988

  23/88

  Environmental Assessment

  12 July 1988

  346
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the general policy guidelines for his Department on town and country planning decisions which may require consideration of whether general economic considerations should overrule phyical and environmental material factors.

  Mr. Grist
  The appeal system operates on the basis of considering each case on its merits. Proper attention is paid to national and local policies, as expressed in circulars, planning and mineral policy guidance notes and development plans, but regard is also had to the individual circumstances of the applicant, to the need to give encouragement to small businesses and to the employment possibilities presented by commercial and industrial development proposals. All these factors are carefully weighed before reaching decision.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many inspectors he has within his Department who hear town and country planning appeals; and how many of these are Welsh speaking.

  Mr. Grist
  Fifteen members of the Welsh Office planning inspectorate held public local inquiries; of these two are Welsh speaking.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales in how many instances during each of the past 10 years the Welsh Office has upheld an appeal against a planning refusal in Wales which has involved the construction of more than one house or other domicile; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  Welsh Office records of planning appeals do not include the information requested.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what dates since May 1979 circulars have been issued by the Welsh Office on the determination of planning applications in Wales; and if he will list the titles and reference numbers, together with date of issue, for all such circulars.

  Mr. Grist
  The following list is of extant circulars issued by the Welsh Office since May 1979 which gives advice on the determination of planning applications.
  347

  Date

  Jointly with the Department of Transport

  42/88

  Control of Development on Trunk Roads

  30 November 1988

  61/81

  Historic Buildings and Conservation Areas

  Undated

  47/84

  Land for Housing in Wales

  12 September 1984

  30/86

  Housing for Senior Management

  17 June 1986

  53/88

  The Welsh Language: Development Plans and Development Control

  20 December 1988

  1 Since January 1988, the Welsh Office and the Department of the Environment have been issuing policy guidance notes on land-use planning and development control. Planning Policy Guidance notes (PPGs) provide guidance on general and specific aspects of planning policy, while the series of Minerals Planning Guidance notes (MPGs) deals with the control of minerals development.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average cost of planning inquiries held under section 33 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 to(a) the Welsh Office, (b) local authorities and (c) the applicant.

  Mr. Grist
  This information is not available.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Local Management in Schools
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he last discussed the implementation of local management in schools with representatives of Cleveland county council; and whether he is satisfied with that county's proposals in respect of this initiative.

  Mr. Butcher
  My right hon. Friend has had no meetings with representatives of Cleveland county council specifically to discuss local management of schools (LMS). Officials from the Department's LMS unit have, however, met the LEA and are continuing to offer advice on their proposals. The authority's final scheme will be subject to the Secretary of State's approval; it would not be appropriate for me to anticipate the outcome of the statutory approvals process.

  Staff (Ethnic Minorities)
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many staff from ethnic minorities are employed in his Department in grades 1 to 4.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  None.

  P E Teachers
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received about his proposal to reduce the number of physical education teachers in schools by 20 per cent.; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the provisional allocation of intake numbers for initial teacher training for 1990, which my right hon. Friend announced in April. Representations have been received about the proposals for physical education from nine teacher training institutions and five other bodies.

  School Governors (Data Protection)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has issued advice to school governors concerning their legal responsibility to comply with the Data Protection Act when they are in possession 348
  or control of a computerised school admissions register; if school governors may volunteer information from registers for community charge purposes; if school governors may provide information from a register to a local education authority and specify that the information cannot be used for community charge purposes; if he has taken legal advice to ascertain whether each board of governors or school is an independent data user from the local education authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend has issued no guidance to school governors on their legal responsibilities to comply with the Data Protection Act, but this complex subject is currently being discussed with the office of the Data Protection Registrar. School governors hold and control school admissions registers for the effective exercise of their functions and all authorised circumstances of inspection or disclosure of content of registers are limited to the purposes of the Education Acts. School governors however have no powers to limit the legal requirement whereby community charge registration officers may require local education authorities to provide them with specified information extracted from school registers which is already in the possession of community charge registration officers.

  Newcastle University Students Union
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will raise with the governing body of the university of Newcastle the recent actions of Newcastle university students union in breach of section 43 of the Education Act (No. 2) 1986.

  Mr. Jackson
  I deplore attempts to restrict the rights of particular students and visitors. I understand that the proposal was unacceptable to the university of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and that the union's trustees, whose approval was required, have since refused to endorse the amendment.

  Soviet Studies
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide figures showing the numbers of students working in the field of Soviet studies for each year since 1979 at(a) undergraduate level and (b) postgraduate level.

  Mr. Jackson
  The numbers of students studying Russian language or Russian studies full-time at British universities were as follows:

  Undergraduates

  Postgraduates

  1979

  424

  77

  1980

  410

  71

  1981

  405

  55

  349

  Undergraduates

  Postgraduates

  1982

  403

  57

  1983

  453

  50

  1984

  522

  52

  1985

  516

  50

  1986

  539

  65

  1987

  524

  49

  East European Studies
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps his Department intends to take to give effect to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation council communiqu£ of 30 May, aimed at encouraging an increase of Soviet and eastern studies in universities of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries and of corresponding studies in eastern countries.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Department has been concerned for some time to improve teaching and research in Soviet and East European studies, and for this reason encouraged the University Grants Committee to set up a review of the state of undergraduate and postgraduate provision in this subject area. The work of the review working party has been carried forward under the auspices of the Universities Funding Council and I understand that it is due to report shortly. I shall be very interested to see the working party's report and recommendations.

  Teachers (Pay Negotiations)
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to hold further discussions with the teacher unions and employers about new pay negotiating machinery for teachers.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  As I told the hon. Members for Ceredigion and Pembroke, North (Mr. Howells) and for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Mr. Flannery) on 4 July at column 142, I am arranging to have further meetings with the teacher unions and employers later this month. I see our discussions as ranging more widely than the proposal for a teachers negotiating group set out in the Green Paper

  Nursery and primary

  secondary

  Total leavers, numbers

  as a percentage of those in service

  Total leavers, number

  As a percentage of those in service

  1979

  15,030

  8·0

  17,660

  7·8

  1980

  14,970

  8·0

  19,570

  8·5

  1981

  14,790

  8·1

  18,720

  8·0

  1982

  13,980

  7·9

  16,820

  7·2

  1983

  13,120

  7·7

  16,250

  7·0

  1984

  12,660

  7·7

  16,920

  7·4

  1985

  12,680

  7·9

  18,380

  8·1

  1986

  12,450

  7·8

  18,710

  8·4

  1987

  11,880

  7·4

  17,080

  7·9

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Disbarred Lawyers
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Attorney-General how many (i) barristers and (ii) solicitors have been disbarred from practice in each of the past five years for
  350
  of October 1987. I recognise that it will not be easy to find a solution which is acceptable to all parties. It is, however, essential that we get the new arrangements right and I have therefore decided to ask the interim advisory committee to sit for a further year to give time for this. I shall in due course ask the House to approve a one-year extension of the Teachers' Pay and Conditions Act 1987.

  In letters io the teacher unions and employers I have said
  "It was clear from our previous exchanges that there are widely differing views. You already know the importance I attach to getting the new arrangements right. With this in mind I see the agenda for our next round of discussions ranging more widely than the proposals for a Teachers' Negotiating Group set out in the Green Paper of October 1987 and look forward to exploring with you a number of new ideas.
  I hope you will join me in approaching these difficult issues in a constructive and open minded way, working together towards an objective we can share. I recognise, however, that it will not be easy to get things right. I have therefore decided to ask the IAC to sit for one more year, to deal with the 1990 pay settlement, to give us time to reach an agreed basis for stable, permanent new pay determination arrangements for the future. I will be asking Parliament later this year to agree to the necessary extension of the Teachers' Pay and Conditions Act 1987 and will announce the Committee's new remit in the early autumn."

  Teachers' Resignations
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers in(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools have submitted resignations in the last 12 months; what are the comparable figures for each preceding year since 1979, and what percentage of each total these figures represent.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  [holding answer 29 June 1989]: Information on the number of teachers resigning in the last 12 months is not yet available.

  The numbers of teachers leaving full-time service in the maintained nursery, primary and secondary sector in England in the years ending March 1979 to March 1987 (the latest year for which data are collected by the Department) are as the follows:

  (a) embezzlement, (b) incompetence, (c) criminal convictions other than fraud and (d) other reasons; and what percentage of total practising membership of each profession each annual total represents.

  The Attorney-General
  The number of barristers disbarred in each of the past five years is as follows:
  351

  Year

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  Total

  Total Number

  Percentage

  1984

  0

  0

  2

  0

  2

  5,203

  0·04

  1985

  0

  0

  1

  1

  2

  5,367

  0·04

  1986

  0

  1

  0

  1

  2

  5,494

  0·04

  1987

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  5,642

  0·02

  1988

  0

  4

  2

  2

  8

  5,902

  0·14

  Total

  0

  5

  6

  4

  15

  —

  —

  (a) = Embezzlement,

  (b) = Incompetence,

  (c) = Criminal convictions other than fraud,

  (d) = Other reasons.

  The information requested on the reasons for solicitors being struck off is not available, but the total number of solicitors struck off in each of the past five years is as follows:

  Year

  Struck off

  Total

  Per cent·

  1984

  18

  44,837

  0·04

  1985

  22

  46,490

  0·05

  1986

  20

  47,830

  0·04

  1987

  32

  48,937

  0·07

  1988

  29

  50,684

  0·06

  In the year ending 30 April 1989 a total of 49 solicitors were struck off. Practising certificates are issued during the period 1 November to 31 October and therefore the figure for the number of practising certificates issued in 1989 is not yet available.

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Attorney-General what information he has as to the average cost to the Crown Prosecution Service of employing(a) a non-civil servant solicitor, (b) a civil servant solicitor and (c) a barrister in magistrate court prosecutions.

  The Attorney-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service employs both barristers and solicitors as Crown prosecutors to conduct prosecutions in the magistrates courts. The average annual cost outside London of employing a Crown prosecutor is £29,004 and for a senior Crown prosecutor the cost is £35,805. These figures include general administration expenses and accommodation costs as well as salary costs. In London the average costs are higher.

  The Crown Prosecution Service also instructs solicitors and barristers in private practice to conduct prosecutions in the magistrates courts on an ad hoc basis as occasion requires locally. The fees paid to a solicitor in private practice lie between £85 and £150 for a half-day session and £125 and £300 for a full-day session (excluding VAT and s
  travelling expenses) depending on the area of the country and the work involved. The average fee paid to a barrister in private practice for a half-day session is £95 and for a full-day session is £150 (excluding VAT and travelling expenses).

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Policies (Environmental Impact)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the environmental impact of his Department's policies, in 352
  terms of noise pollution, toxic waste and radioactive waste management and disposal, requisition of land suitable for agricultural use.

  Mr. Ryder
  In exercising its responsibilities, including those relating to radioactive and other waste disposal, my Department takes account of the need to protect the environment and people. ADAS advises farmers, where appropriate, on ways to reduce noise levels. The Ministry's powers to requisition land suitable for agricultural use have not been used for some years.

  Food Labelling
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any plans to introduce legislation to make supermarkets use labels to show whether the meat they sell has been reared and slaughtered humanely; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  I have no plans to introduce such legislation which would, I believe, give rise to considerable practical problems regarding compliance and enforcement since it is impossible to distinguish analytically between meat from animals slaughtered or reared in different ways. There is nothing to prevent the provision of this type of information on a voluntary basis.

  Horticultural Development Council
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has completed his consultations on the future of the Horticultural Development Council.

  Mr. MacGregor
  My right hon. Friends, the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales, and I have now completed consultations with the council and with organisations representing those carrying on business or employed in the horticultural industry. The National Farmers Union of England and Wales and of Scotland, the Farmers Union of Wales, the Horticultural Trades Association, the Transport and General Workers Union, and the Horticultural Development Council itself, are all in favour of the continuation of the Horticultural Development Council. My right hon. Friends and I have, therefore, decided that it should continue provided it is clear that it has the support of growers themselves. This will be tested by an independent poll to be undertaken in October of all growers registered with the council. Final decisions about the future of the Horticultural Development Council will be taken once the results of the poll is known, and parliamentary approval for the decisions will then be sought.

  Near Market Research
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the proposals in his reply of 21 March,Official Report, column 515, to the hon. Member for Daventry to close in 1989–90 the experimental centres at Brogdale, Liscombe, Luddington and Rosewarne.

  Mr. MacGregor
  There have been full consultations about alternative funding of the experimental centres proposed for closure in my statement of 21 March 1989.

  As regards Liscombe experimental husbandry farm, a local industry consortium called Liscombe Research has secured a significant level of commitments by industry to fund a programme of near-market research and development. In view of the progress that has been made, 1 have decided that Liscombe experimental husbandry farm will not close in 1989–90 as originally proposed, in order to give the consortium more time to collect the balance of funds needed to meet the costs of such a research and development programme in 1991–92. A decision on whether Liscombe experimental husbandry farm can be kept open will be taken later this year when we have reviewed with Liscombe Research the funding arrangements which it is able to agree to for the next few years.

  No viable industry funding proposals have been received in relation to the experimental horticultural

  Thousands

  Country

  January

  February

  March

  April

  1May

  France

  972

  286

  15

  8,445

  734

  Belgium and Luxembourg

  491

  516

  334

  1,183

  700

  Netherlands

  8,547

  2,839

  3,588

  19,716

  19,603

  Federal Republic of Germany

  2,692

  2,698

  2,199

  7,522

  5,064

  Italy

  —

  —

  388

  280

  —

  Irish Republic

  21

  524

  485

  743

  1,133

  Denmark

  1,635

  680

  929

  2,139

  882

  Sweden

  —

  —

  —

  —

  54

  USA

  13

  10

  18

  45

  2

  Total Imports

  14,371

  7,553

  7,956

  40,073

  28,172

  1 May figures are latest available, subject to alteration.

  Source: HM Customs and Excise

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list those points of entry into the United Kingdom used for shell-egg importation and the percentage of imports at each location(a) inspected and (b) tested;

  (2) what action his Department is taking to ensure the quality and wholesomeness of eggs imported into Britain;

  (3) what are the arrangements under which his Department ensures the quality and wholesomeness of eggs imported into Britain.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Shell-eggs may be imported through all ports handling food. Arrangements have been made for the port health authorities and the public health laboratory service to monitor imported consignments for salmonella. This is done by taking a sample of 60 eggs from each lorryload tested.

  Imported eggs are also checked for compliance with the EC quality requirements by the agricultural Departments. But this checking is carried out at wholesale distribution points.
  354
  stations at Luddington and Rosewarne. These stations will accordingly be closed for research and development purposes by 30 November 1989 and arrangements put in hand for disposal of land and facilities surplus to requirements.

  Nor has any viable industry funding proposal been received in relation to the Brogdale experimental horticultural station. A decision on the details relating to the closure of this station will be announced later in 1989 when the Government have completed their discussions on arrangements for preserving the national fruit collection and its associated records which are currently located at Brogdale.

  Eggs
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to ensure the import of shell-eggs takes place only through ports of entry where inspection facilities exist.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  It is possible to take samples of eggs for inspection at all ports handling food.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state for each month of the current year to date the number of eggs imported into the United Kingdom by country of origin.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The figures are as follows:

  Quangos
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all the appointments he has made to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations together with the salary payable since June 1987.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I regret that I cannot provide a list except at disproportionate cost. However, much information about appointments is given in Ministry press notices and details of remuneration are set out in "Public Bodies 1988", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Food Act 1984
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any plans to amend either section 1 or section 2 of the Food Act 1984.

  Mr. Ryder
  The Government made detailed proposals for re-enacting and updating the powers in sections 1 and
  355
  2 as part of their consultations with a large number of organisations on the review of food legislation. We shall be bringing forward a food Bill as soon as the parliamentary timetable permits, which will take account of the responses we have received.

  Greenhouse Effect
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department is sponsoring or conducting any research into the cultivation of genetically engineered atmospheric carbon dioxide, as part of the Government programme to combat greenhouse global warming.

  Mr. Ryder
  I assume that the hon. Gentleman is referring to research into the cultivation of genetically engineered plants to use up atmospheric carbon dioxide, in which case the answer is yes. My Department is supporting research in this area in the context of work on genetic improvement of trees for farm forestry.

  Richmond Committee
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the report of the Richmond committee on food safety will be published.

  Mr. Ryder
  The committee on the microbiological safety of food, chaired by Sir Mark Richmond, has said that it aims to submit its first report to my right hon. Friend the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Health as soon as possible probably towards the end of 1989, and that it does not intend to make any interim statements before then. The report will be published.

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Chief Information Officer

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Principal Information Officer

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Senior Information Officer/Senior Executive Officer

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Senior Information Officer

  —

  —

  —

  4

  4

  Information Officer/Higher Executive Officer

  2

  2

  1

  1

  1

  Information Officer

  —

  —

  1

  4

  4

  Higher Executive Officer

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Assistant Information Officer/Executive Officer

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  Executive Officer

  5

  5

  6

  3

  1

  Administrative Officer

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  Administrative Assistant

  4

  4

  4

  2

  2

  Senior Paperkeeper

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  Paperkeeper

  3

  3

  3

  2

  2

  Personal Secretary

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Total

  24

  24

  27

  27

  26

  The change in the grade structure of the press office reflects the development of a more professional service in line with the demands of the modern media

  London Food Commission
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last received a request from the London Food Commission for a meeting; what the stated purpose of the meeting was; whether he agreed to the meeting; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  On 15 June the London Food Commission sought a meeting to discuss food irradiation prior to a formal announcement of Government policy on the subject. As this was received only very shortly before the date on which the announcement was due to be made, it was not possible to meet this request. I did, however, arrange for the commission to be sent a copy of the report by officials on the control framework that would be necessary for the introduction of this process.

  Intervention Board
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to relocate jobs in the intervention board to the northern region; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I and my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, for Wales and for Northern Ireland are considering with colleagues the board's proposals to locate part of its work away from the south-east of England.

  Press Office
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people have been employed in his press office by grade for each year for the last five years; what is the current total; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The complement for the press office by grade at 1 April for the last five years is as follows. The current total staff in post is 24, but equivalent information is not available for previous years.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Greenhouse Effect
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what specific proposals his Department has put forward for consideration and enactment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide and tropospheric ozone, since the seminar on the greenhouse effect held by the Prime Minister on 26 April.
  357
  Mr. Newton
  The Department is actively involved in the Government's consideration of the United Kingdom and international response to the greenhouse effect. As part of this, we have commissioned studies on CFCs aimed at determining the most effective means of achieving the reductions in the production and use of CFCs to which the Government are firmly committed. More generally, the DTI environmental programme lauched on 10 May is aimed at increasing business awareness of environmental issues and encouraging firms to recognise and respond positively to both the problems and the opportunities they present.

  Carpet Industry (Unfair Competition)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what action is being taken by the EEC Commission to stop the Belgian Government from subsidising that country's manufacturers of carpets.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Commission has found that the aid granted to the two subsidiaries, Idealspun and Fabelta, of the Belgian textile concern, Beaulieu, is illegal and incompatible with the Common Market, and has ruled that it must be repaid. In the Idealspun case, the European Court of Justice upheld the Commission and, because the aid has not yet been recovered, the Commission has now instituted legal proceedings against the Belgian Government for failing to fulfil its obligations under the treaty of Rome. In the Fabelta case, misleading assurances were given that the aid had been recovered and the Commission has now taken the Belgian Government to the European Court of Justice for failure to comply with its decision ordering recovery of the aid.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received from the

  United Kingdom crude balances of trade with EC partners 1980–88

  £ million

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  France

  -254

  -353

  225

  608

  1,111

  1,136

  -1,177

  -600

  -1,120

  Belgium/Luxembourg

  -122

  -357

  -548

  -554

  -636

  -667

  -251

  -504

  -704

  Netherlands

  441

  124

  131

  337

  12

  792

  -1,181

  -1,293

  -2,696

  Federal Republic of Germany

  -587

  -425

  -1,993

  -3,597

  -3,604

  -3,689

  -5,589

  -6,379

  -8,145

  Italy

  -394

  -588

  -712

  -918

  -905

  -827

  -1,203

  -1,071

  -1,711

  Irish Republic

  870

  1,031

  886

  766

  759

  814

  499

  343

  178

  Denmark

  -76

  -123

  -237

  -353

  -464

  -344

  -545

  -643

  -57

  Greece

  91

  92

  104

  115

  75

  15

  47

  89

  111

  Portugal

  56

  35

  49

  -79

  -258

  -256

  -296

  -148

  -117

  Spain

  -95

  -48

  -70

  18

  -369

  -221

  115

  65

  209

  Source: Overseas Trade Statistics.

  Note: 1988 figures are provisional.

  Foreign Investment
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he is able to make an estimate of the level of(a) Japanese, (b) German and (c) American investment in the United Kingdom for each year from 1978 to date.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 7 July 1989]: Information is available only triennially on the level of Japanese, West German and United States direct investment in the United Kingdom. The latest available figures relate to the end of 1984. These, together with figures to the end of 1978 and end 1981, were published in table 11 of "Business Monitor MO4" (census of overseas assets).
  358
  British carpet industry about unfair overseas competition, especially from Belgium, arising from state subsidies available to the Belgian carpet industry.

  Mr. Atkins
  I am well aware of industry's concern about the provision of state aid to the Belgian carpet industry as a result of various representations received by my Department.

  Car Industry (EC Instructions)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has received from the European Economic Community Commission about the respective responses of the French and United Kingdom Governments to the representation and instructions issued by the Commission on British Leyland and Renault cars respectively.

  Mr. Atkins
  The United Kingdom's 1988 state aid application in respect of the Rover Group was the subject of a Commission decision on 13 July 1988. The Commission has the right to monitor certain aspects arising out of the decision and I have no reason to believe that it is other than satisfied with the current position. In the Renault case I understand that discussions are continuing between the Commission and the French Government on the implementation of the conditions attached to the Commission's decision of 29 March 1988.

  Trade Deficit (EC)
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish figures showing the trade deficit or surplus of the United Kingdom with each of its EC partners for each year since 1980.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding answer 7 July 1989]: The figures are given in the table.

PRIME MINISTER

  "Who Framed Colin Wallace?"
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will acquire for the Library of No. 10 Downing street a copy of the book, "Who Framed Cohn Wallace", by Paul Foot, published by Macmillan's.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Overseas Visits (Gifts)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list all those gifts she has received in her official capacity over the past 12 months while on overseas visits.
  359
  The Prime Minister
  No.

  EC Membership
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Prime Minister what benefits have been brought to(a) Greenock and Port Glasgow and (b) Strathclyde from membership of the European Community.

  The Prime Minister
  Strathclyde has received substantial benefits from Community membership. Details of major financial awards are as follows:

  Award (£ million)

  European Regional Development Fund (Grants) (1979–88)

  367

  European Investment Bank (Loans) (1978–88)

  237

  European Coal and Steel Community 1 (Loans) (1979–88)

  88

  692

  In addition, Strathclyde receives substantial grants for employment and training initiatives under European social fund (£31·52 million for 1987–89). A regional breakdown of the grants from the agricultural guidance fund is not available, but Strathclyde has shared in the Scottish total of £385 million3 (1979–88).

  The European Commission has also approved the Strathclyde integrated development operation worth over £270 million in regional and social fund grants up to 1992. A decision is awaited from the Commission on the Government's bid to establish Strathclyde's eligibility under the RENAVAL community programme for shipbuilding areas.

  Greenock and Port Glasgow have shared in these awards, although separate statistics for the area are not available. Inverclyde district, however, has received some £34 million in regional fund grants since 1979.

  Notes:

  1 Figure relates to Article 56 reconversion loans. Regional breakdown of other ECSC assistance is not available.

  2Excludes Strathclyde share of UK-wide schemes.

  3 Excludes Scottish share of market support expenditure incurred by the Intervention Board for Agriculture.

  Cenotaph (Illumination)
  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will set in train a study with a view to illuminating on a permanent basis the Cenotaph in Whitehall prior to Remembrance day 1989.

  The Prime Minister
  Such a study is already in hand. If the outcome is favourable the aim will be to have the lighting installed before Remembrance day 1989.

  Sewage Pollution
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to her answer of 4 July, if she will require Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to consider and report on both the 2km sewage outfall from Swansea and the 900m outfall proposed adjacent to Royal Portbury dock in Avon.

  The Prime Minister
  Before granting a discharge consent for any new sea outfall scheme, Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution must be satisfied that any discharges will not cause identified bathing waters in the 360
  vicinity to fail to meet the standards of the EC bathing water directive. The length of the outfall required to achieve this will depend on local factors such as tides, currents, depth of water and prevailing winds. Studies to determine the optimal length of the sewage outfall at Royal Portbury dock were carried out prior to the granting of the discharge consent; and similar studies will be carried out for any proposed outfall at Swansea.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Wandsworth Prison
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates were working in prison workshops at Wandsworth prison on 29 June.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  A total of 207 inmates were employed on 29 June as follows:

  Workshops

  Inmates employed

  Laundry

  66

  Tailoring

  36

  Light textiles

  36

  Leatherwork

  22

  Woodwork

  17

  Brushes

  30

  Sunday Trading
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has recently received about Sunday trading.

  Mr. Renton
  Between 1 January 1989 and 3 July 1989 we have received 863 written representations broadly in favour of Sunday trading and 1,211 against.

  Prison Officers' Houses
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the prison officers' houses, which were vacant in Culcheth, have now been sold; how long they had been empty; what his Department received for the sale of this property; how many houses remain to be sold; when he expects these to be disposed of; if the prison officers' hostel is unsold; how long it has been unused; and what are the plans for this.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  All the 39 empty prison officer houses at Culcheth have been sold. Most have been vacant for seven to eight years. These properties, together with the prison officers' hostel, were sold for £540,000. Under the terms of the sale, the purchaser will bring the roads and other services on the whole estate up to the standard required for adoption by the local authority at nil cost to the Home Office. Six further houses that became vacant during 1988–89 are to be sold as soon as possible on the open market. The remaining 67 properties on the estate are used as prison officers' quarters, 47 of which are the subject of applications under the prison service discount sales scheme. The prison officers' hostel, which the purchaser proposes to demolish, has been unused for about seven years. The purchaser proposes to build houses on the site.

  Chinese Students
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish a special fund to assist Chinese students in the United Kingdom who experience financial difficulties as a result of deciding not to return to China; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  Chinese nationals who do not qualify under the immigration rules but who do not wish to return to China are being allowed to remain here exceptionally for a further six months. Employment restrictions will be removed in such cases, which will allow those concerned to claim benefit if they are available for employment.

  Wakefield Prison
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each month since April(a) the minimum staffing levels agreed under fresh start and (b) the actual staffing levels, for Her Majesty's prison, Wakefield.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The minimum staffing levels agreed under fresh start at HMP Wakefield as at April 1988 were:

  Morning

  Afternoon

  Evening

  Saturday and Sunday

  80–84

  91–99

  72

  Monday and Friday

  99

  98

  78

  Tuesday

  101

  101

  82

  Wednesday and Thursday

  101

  119

  82

  The only subsequent change to these levels is that since April 1989 the provision for Saturday and Sunday
  362
  mornings is now 80 to 82. The number of officers in post (including principal and senior officers) at HMP Wakefield in each month since 1 April 1988 is as follows:

  Numbers

  1988

  April

  406

  May

  420

  June

  423

  July

  425

  August

  425

  September

  424

  October

  423

  November

  422

  December

  422

  1989

  January

  417

  February

  418

  March

  418

  April

  426

  May

  425

  June

  425

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since April 1988 it has not been possible to undertake routine strip searches on prisoners in Her Majesty's prison, Wakefield, following domestic visits, because of staffing shortages.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Strip searches are in most cases carried out at the discretion of local management, and have been conducted as considered necessary.
  363
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since April 1988 the association time of rule 43 prisoners in Her Majesty's prison, Wakefield, has been curtailed due to staffing shortages.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand that loss of association for vulnerable prisoners occurred on four occasions, none of which was due to staff shortages.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the frequency of routine cell searches at Her Majesty's prison, Wakefield.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It is not the practice to disclose detailed information about security arrangements such as the frequency of cell searches.

  Eversure Textiles (Dispute)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the South Yorkshire police giving the latest estimate of the total cost of policing the dispute over trade union recognition at Eversure Textiles in Sheffield; how many police were on duty throughout the first day of the dispute; what has been the minimum and maximum number of police officers on duty each day, to date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the chief constable that the estimated additional cost of policing the dispute up to and including 6 July is £4,300. There were 34 officers on duty throughout the first day of the dispute. Since the third day, the number of officers deployed has been between eight and 11.

  Wrongful Imprisonment
  Mr. Terry Fields
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by constabulary for the past 10 years the number of persons who have been released after wrongful arrest, the numbers of persons who have sued the police for both false imprisonment and injury whilst in custody and the amounts recovered in compensation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Drugs
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been prosecuted for possessing the drug Ecstasy.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The drug MDMA (commonly known as Ecstasy) has been separately identified in the statistics seizures dating back to 1 January 1988. Our provisional figures show that as a result of such seizures made in 1988, a total of 10 persons have been prosecuted for possession.

  Private Events (Control)
  Dr. Glyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has come to a conclusion on the implications of the report from the chief constable of 364
  Thames Valley on the incident which occurred on the industrial estate at White Waltham on Saturday 24 June in relation to police powers and penalties.

  Mr. Hurd
  I have received a further report from the chief constable of Thames Valley police on the events of the weekend of 1 and 2 July 1989. The police were able to take action against a number of parties. The chief constable emphasised the need for good intelligence about the likely location of the parties as the basis for successful enforcement action both by police and local authorities. In at least one case the environmental health officer of the local authority obtained an injunction under the noise control provisions of the Control of Pollution Act 1974. In other cases, the owners of premises have co-operated by withdrawing permission or denying access where no authority had been sought be the organisers.

  I set out in reply to earlier questions from my hon. Friend on 29 June at columns 517–18 the comprehensive set of controls which already applies to parties of this kind. It is clear that the main need is for those with advance knowledge of any such party to tell the police so that these controls can be enforced. On this basis, the police in Thames Valley and other police force areas have been able to prevent in advance or shut down a number of such parties which had the potential for disorder recently, some of them potentially large ones.

  The police have a range of powers to deal effectively with any criminal offences which may be committed. Steps have been taken to strengthen the police co-ordination and intelligence handling arrangements in order to target enforcement action better.

  The public entertainment law already requires organisers to provide adequate standards of safety and hygiene at events of this kind. If that law is ignored, adequate hygiene and safety arrangements may not be made. I am therefore giving further consideration to the need to strengthen the penalties available for breaches of the public entertainment law.

  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is now in a position to give his Department's provisional response to public requests for further actions to control so called acid house parties and similar pop concert type events.

  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to give powers to the police to control an ostensibly private party numbering more than 1,000 people which takes place on private land but without the consent of the landowner; and if, where the landowner has agreed to the party taking place, the Secretary of State will provide powers of enforcement for lavatory or first aid facilities to be available and to inform the local constabulary or the local authority in whose area the site for the party is situated.

  Mr. Hurd
  There is already a comprehensive set of controls which applies to parties of this kind. I refer my hon. Friends to the reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Windsor and Maidenhead (Dr. Glyn) today.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  German Reunification
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about German reunification; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to a question from the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 7 June at column 161.

  Grenada
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Grenadan authorities for the restoration of a constitutional court system; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  No. As an independent Commonwealth country, it is for Grenada to determine its own judicial system.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Grenadan authorities to lift the death sentence imposed on the defendants in the Grenada 17 trial; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The appeals of all 17 persons convicted in Grenada of the murder of Prime Minister Bishop and of other crimes in 1983 are currently being heard in Grenada's court of appeal. It would be improper for Her Majesty's Government to make representations to the Government of Grenada concerning the 14 appellants sentenced to death while the legal process continues.

  Diplomatic Relations
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of state for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration he has given to the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with(a) Libya and (b) Syria; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We could not consider restoring diplomatic relations with either Libya or Syria without firm evidence that those countries had given up support for international terrorism.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration he has given to the return of British diplomats to Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The embassy will reopen as soon as circumstances permit it to do a useful job. It is still too early to predict when this will be. Meanwhile, officials may from time to time have to visit Kabul to deal with matters relating to the administration and maintenance of our embassy compound. But such visits will in no way affect our attitude towards contacts with the Kabul regime.

  Bulgaria
  Dame Jill Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the numbers of the Turkish minority population of 366
  Bulgaria who have been obliged to leave in the course of 1989; what representations he has made to the Bulgarian Government, and with what effect; in which international fora Her Majesty's Government have raised this abuse of human rights; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We understand that over 100,000 members of Bulgaria's Turkish minority have fled to Turkey since mid-May. It is probable that the first wave, perhaps several thousand, were deported and that the rest have left voluntarily (albeit as a consequence of long-term harassment), taking advantage of a recent relaxation in Bulgaria's laws on travel.

  We have made representations bilaterally to the Bulgarian authorities, invoking stage 1 of the "human dimension" mechanism of the CSCE Vienna concluding document. Numerous other countries have made similar demarches. We also drew attention to the plight of Bulgaria's Turkish minority during the recent conference on the human dimension of the CSCE in Paris. The Bulgarian authorities have provided some information on their policies, but have not so far taken steps to improve the lot of the Turkish minority. We have also raised this matter regularly in UN fora.

  We call on the Bulgarian authorities to ensure that those who wish to leave for Turkey may do so in an orderly fashion, and that the rights of those who wish to remain in Bulgaria are respected.

  Drugs
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will arrange for inquiries to be made by Her Majesty's representatives in Lisbon as to the manufacturers' list price in Portugal for the drugs listed and ensure that the information contains details of pack size, whether any discounts are available and the terms Adalat 10 mg caps, Adalat retard 20 mg caps, Aldomet 250 mg caps, Amoxil 500 mg caps, Brufen 400 mg tabs, Capoten 25 mg tabs, Feldene 10 mg caps, Feldene 20 mg tabs, Gaviscon liq 250, Inderal LA 160 mg tabs, Natrilix 2·5 mg tabs, Prothiaden 75 mg tabs, Septrin tabs, Serc tabs, Tagamet 200 mg tabs, Tagamet 400 mg tabs, Timoptel eye dps 0·5 per cent., Ventolin inhaler, Zantac 15 mg tabs and Zyloric 300 mg tabs;

  (2) if he will arrange for inquiries to be made by Her Majesty's representatives in Brussels as to the manufacturers' list price in Belgium for the drugs listed and ensure that the information contains details of pack size; whether any discounts are available, and the terms Adalat 10 mg caps, Adalat retard 20 mg caps, Aldomet 250 mg caps, Amoxil 500 mg caps, Brufen 400 mg tabs, Capoten 25 mg tabs, Feldene 10 mg caps, Feldene 20 mg tabs, Gaviscon liq 250, Inderal LA 160 mg tabs, Natrilix 2·5 mg tabs, Prothiaden 75 mg tabs, Septrin tabs, Serc tabs, Tagamet 200 mg tabs, Tagamet 400 mg tabs, Timoptel eye drops 0·5 per cent., Ventolin inhaler, Zantac 150 mg tabs and Zyloric 300 mg tabs;

  (3) if he will arrange for inquiries to be made by Her Majesty's representatives in Paris as to the manufacturers' list price in France for the drugs listed and ensure that the information contains details of pack size; whether any discounts are available, and the terms Adalat 10 mg caps, Adalat retard 20 mg caps, Aldomet 250 mg caps, Amoxil 500 mg caps, Brufen 400 mg tabs, Capoten 25 mg tabs, Feldene 10 mg caps, Feldene 20 mg tabs, Gaviscon liq 250, Inderal LA 160 mg tabs, Natrilix 2·5 mg tabs, Prothiaden

  367
  75 mg tabs, Septrin tabs, Serc tabs, Tagamet 200 mg tabs, Tagamet 400 mg tabs, Timoptel eye drops 0·5 per cent., Ventolin inhaler, Zantac 150 mg tabs and Zyloric 300 mg tabs;

  (4) if he will arrange for inquiries to be made by Her Majesty's representatives in Madrid as to the manufacturers' list price in Spain for the drugs listed and ensure that the information contains details of pack size; whether any discounts are available, and the terms Adalat 10 mg caps, Adalat retard 20 mg caps, Aldomet 250 mg caps, Amoxil 500 mg caps, Brufen 400 mg tabs, Capoten 25 mg tabs, Feldene 10 mg caps, Feldene 20 mg tabs, Gaviscon liq 250, Inderal LA 160 mg tabs, Natrilix 2·5 mg tabs, Prothiaden 75 mg tabs, Septrin tabs, Serc tabs, Tagamet 200 mg tabs, Tagamet 400 mg tabs, Timoptel eye drops 0·5 per cent., Ventolin inhaler, Zantac 150 mg tabs and Zyloric 300 mg tabs;

  (5) if he will arrange for inquiries to be made by Her Majesty's representatives in Athens as to the manufacturers' list price in Greece for the drugs listed and ensure that the information contains details of pack size; whether any discounts are available, and the terms Adalat 10 mg caps, Adalat retard 20 mg caps, Aldomet 250 mg caps, Amoxil 500 mg caps, Brufen 400 mg tabs, Capoten 25 mg tabs, Feldene 10 mg caps, Feldene 20 mg tabs, Gaviscon liq 250, Inderal LA 160 mg tabs, Natrilix 2·5 mg tabs, Prothiaden 75 mg tabs, Septrin tabs, Serc tabs, Tagamet 200 mg tabs, Tagamet 400 mg tabs, Timoptel eye drops 0·5 per cent., Ventolin inhaler, Zantac 150 mg tabs and Zyloric 300 mg tabs;

  (6) if he will arrange for inquiries to be made by Her Majesty's representatives in Rome as to the manufacturers' list price in Italy for the drugs listed and ensure that the information contains details of pack sizes whether any discounts are available and the terms Adalat 10mg caps, Adalat retard 20mg caps, Aldomet 250mg caps, Amoxil 500 mg caps, Brufen 400mg tabs, Capoten 25mg tabs, Feldene 10mg caps, Feldene 20mg tabs, Gaviscon liq 250, Inderal LA 160mg tabs, Natrilix 2.5mg tabs, Prothiaden 75mg tabs, Septrin tabs, Serc tabs, Tagamet 200mg tabs, Tagamet 400mg tabs, Timoptel eye drops 0·5 per cent, Ventolin inhaler, Zantac 150mg tabs and Zyloric 300mg tabs.

  Mr. Eggar
  No. Her Majesty's embassies do not have the resources to undertake inquiries of this nature which, in any case, can be pursued through normal commercial channels.

  Iraq
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will reconsider the imposition of economic sanctions and the ending of export credits to Iraq in the light of the mass evictions of Kurdish Iraqi citizens from border areas and the Iraqi Government's refusal to allow independent observers into the depopulated area.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We do not believe that unilateral economic measures would be effective in ending human rights abuses in Iraq. It is better to maintain a working relationship if we are to influence Iraq's behaviour. We continue to press the Iraqi authorities for full details of their present resettlement programme, and to allow diplomats and journalists to be able to visit the areas concerned.
  368
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether he has obtained details from the Iraqi Government on which towns and villages in Iraqi Kurdistan have been depopulated in recent weeks;

  (2) whether, in the light of the Iraqi ambassador's recent statement of the Iraqi Government's intention to depopulate an additional stretch of Iraq's border, he has obtained the names of the towns and villages within this area which now face imminent eviction of the population.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We continue to press the Iraqi authorities for details of their Kurdish resettlement programme. The Iraqi Government also issued a statement on 26 June providing some further information.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the eviction of Kurds from border areas in Iraq.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We remain seriously concerned at allegations of forced resettlement of Kurds in northern Iraq. We continue to press the Iraqi authorities to allow journalists and diplomats to visit the areas concerned to see for themselves.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the report of European Community representatives in Baghdad on the human rights situation in Iraq will be made available in the Library.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Reports compiled by EC ambassadors are confidential documents under the rules of European political co-operation. It is not, therefore, open to us to make such reports publicly available.

  European Court
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the decisions of the European Court have not yet been implemented by each of the member states of the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  According to table 10 of the "Official Journal of the European Communities" C310, volume 31 of 5 December 1988 (available in the Library), at 31 December 1987 the information was as follows:

  Number

  Italy

  28

  Belgium

  10

  Germany

  9

  France

  5

  Netherlands

  4

  Greece

  4

  Denmark

  2

  United Kingdom

  2

  Ireland

  1

  The two judgments listed against the United Kingdom have now been implemented.

EMPLOYMENT

  Accident Rates
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the accident rate per 1,000 trainees on YTS and for employees generally.

  Mr. Cope
  The rate of accidents reported to the Training Agency per 100,000 trainees on YTS in the year ended 31 March 1988 was 804. This includes types of accidents which would not be reportable to HSE in the case of employees generally. The rate of accidents to all employees reported to HSE in the same year was 734 per 100,000, but this figure does not allow for the known substantial under-reporting, so the figures are not comparable.

  Detailed research shows that YTS trainees are no more at risk than employees generally and could be less so.

  1970

  1971

  1972

  1973

  1974

  1975

  1976

  1977

  1978

  1979

  Average number of establishments found per inspector not displaying notices or having inadequate notices

  105

  96

  80

  76

  73

  74

  69

  61

  57

  54

  Average number of establishments found per inspector not keeping time records or keeping inadequate time records

  200

  191

  164

  161

  146

  143

  123

  114

  108

  105

  Average number of establishments found per inspector not keeping wage records or keeping inadequate wage records

  40

  46

  41

  40

  36

  35

  28

  26

  26

  26

  Average number of establishments found per inspector not giving statutory customary holidays

  <1

  <l

  <1

  <1

  <1

  <1

  <1

  <1

  <1

  <1

  Average number of establishments found per inspector not giving statutory annual holidays

  <1

  <1

  <1

  <1

  <1

  2

  2

  4

  5

  7

  Average number of establishments found per inspector underpaying holiday remuneration

  28

  23

  23

  26

  28

  31

  31

  30

  26

  21

  Average number of establishments found per inspector underpaying (other than holiday remuneration)

  38

  37

  45

  53

  47

  66

  72

  72

  62

  61

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Average number of establishments found per inspector not displaying notices or having inadequate notices

  59

  58

  57

  64

  74

  70

  87

  84

  117

  Average number of establishments found per inspector not keeping time records or keeping inadequate time records

  102

  98

  88

  98

  101

  94

  114

  90

  106

  Average number of establishments found per inspector not keeping wage records or keeping inadequate wage records

  27

  23

  20

  22

  17

  13

  15

  17

  23

  Average number of establishments found per inspector not giving statutory customary holidays

  <1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  2

  not applicable

  Average number of establishments found per inspector not giving statutory annual holidays

  6

  6

  5

  4

  5

  4

  6

  not applicable

  Average number of establishments found per inspector underpaying holiday remuneration

  21

  26

  26

  25

  29

  25

  31

  not applicable

  Average number of establishments found per inspector underpaying (other than holiday remuneration)

  69

  73

  61

  64

  53

  50

  58

  59

  82

  Factory Inspectors
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of factory inspectors in post(a) in 1979 and (b) currently; and what are the reasons for the change.

  Tourism
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the future of the section 4 tourism grant scheme.

  Mr. Lee
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Yardley (Mr. Bevan) on 6 July.

  Wages Councils
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many firms have been discovered in contravention of wages council legislation, per inspector, for each year since 1970.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Wages inspectorate statistics are compiled in terms of establishments rather than firms. With this proviso, the information requested is in the following tables. The figures under each heading are not mutually exclusive.

  Mr. Nicholls
  On 1 April 1979, 742 factory inspectors were in post in the Health and Safety Executive. On 1 July 1989, the total was 621·5 compared with 592 on 1 April 1988.

  In order to contain public sector manpower and spending there were staff reductions in HSE, as in the Civil Service as a whole. HSE continues to meet its responsibilities with improvements in efficiency brought about by the use of careful targeting.
  371
  Increased Government provision to the Health and Safety Commission and Executive over previously planned levels of £6·7 million gross for 1988–89 and £8·3 million gross for 1989·90 have allowed the Executive to increase factory inspector numbers. The Executive plans to have 640 factory inspectors in post by April 1990.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which of those local authorities listed as participating in employment training,Official Report, 27 February, columns 34–38 as training managers and training agents have now withdrawn from the scheme.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The following local authorities participating in employment training as training managers have now withdrawn from the scheme:

  Barrow borough council

  London borough of Barnet

  London borough of Merton

  Nottinghamshire county council

  Rochdale Metropolitan borough council.

  Wolverhampton metropolitan borough council will not be renewing their existing contract at the end of August 1989. Similar action is expected from Leicester city council and Cleveland county council.

HEALTH

  Administrative and Clerical Staff
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many whole-time equivalent administrative and clerical staff were employed in the National Health Service in England on(a) 30 September 1979, (b) 30 September 1987 and (c) 30 September 1988.

  In-patient waiting list1,by Regional Health Authority, England 1974–1988

  Region

  31 December 1974

  30 September 1975

  30 September 1976

  30 September 1977

  30 September 1978

  30 September 1979

  30 September 1980

  30 September 1981

  30 September 1982

  30 September 1983

  30 September 1984

  30 September 1985

  30 September 1986

  30 September 1987

  30 September 1988

  Northern

  29,178

  32,435

  34,364

  33,659

  35,677

  42,288

  35,538

  33,105

  49,958

  44,478

  38,798

  36,154

  36,880

  34,898

  36,044

  Yorkshire

  31,468

  32,877

  34,689

  37,165

  39,903

  47,223

  40,982

  37,701

  53,033

  49,363

  47,026

  45,763

  46,597

  47,689

  51,279

  Trent

  44,717

  46,867

  50,885

  52,154

  58,516

  66,498

  57,895

  56,851

  73,509

  69,156

  65,324

  62,190

  60,842

  54,442

  55,076

  East Anglian

  19,390

  18,106

  22,031

  22,408

  25,636

  27,971

  25,772

  25,596

  32,935

  33,080

  31.148

  27,388

  27,860

  30,960

  33,417

  North West Thames

  37,939

  38,563

  43.421

  41,640

  42.870

  43.595

  42.476

  41,587

  40,785

  41,015

  40.022

  40,265

  43,710

  40,273

  44,770

  North East Thames

  37,622

  35,570

  41,077

  43,543

  46,045

  53,146

  49,032

  48,515

  58,207

  58,911

  63,563

  66,406

  74,926

  71,812

  79,384

  South East Thames

  39,286

  38,793

  45.797

  43,798

  47,398

  49,920

  45,484

  45,559

  51,820

  51,627

  51,642

  50,087

  56,768

  56,794

  55,619

  South West Thames

  25,767

  25,093

  30.295

  30,579

  33,538

  37,244

  34,540

  33,923

  36,456

  37,470

  35,389

  36,752

  36,073

  34,185

  41,005

  Wessex

  29,148

  29,669

  32.591

  32,533

  35,809

  40,222

  38.173

  40,275

  45,317

  46,879

  45,227

  42,003

  42,726

  42,217

  41,607

  Oxford

  28,913

  25,972

  31.606

  31,480

  36,065

  36,180

  33,900

  32,562

  35,734

  36,082

  35,339

  33.309

  33,249

  31,343

  32,996

  South Western

  40.842

  42,718

  44.389

  46,177

  45,175

  45,876

  43,691

  42,821

  47,142

  47,534

  46,562

  43,639

  43,686

  40,094

  43,411

  West Midlands

  60,766

  63,351

  72,536

  74,662

  79.397

  87,693

  80.937

  79,952

  86,544

  83,598

  83,119

  80,974

  79,261

  74,965

  72,461

  Mersey

  24,813

  25,344

  30,221

  28,803

  31.165

  38,572

  34.060

  33.105

  37,674

  34,274

  31,400

  30,141

  30,126

  30,245

  32,121

  North Western

  60,236

  58,168

  66,893

  64,560

  63,123

  71,948

  65,513

  60,252

  69,697

  62,525

  59,417

  58,465

  61,143

  62,099

  63,839

  Special health authorities

  7,339

  6.026

  7,469

  7,935

  8,044

  7,350

  7,888

  7,589

  7,054

  7,763

  8,623

  7,713

  8,054

  9,145

  8,044

  England

  517,424

  519,552

  588.264

  591,096

  628,361

  695,726

  635,881

  619,393

  725,865

  703,755

  682,599

  661,249

  681,901

  661,161

  691,073

  Nurses
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give for the latest available date and for each district health authority and regional health authority the total number of nursing posts, the number of vacant nursing posts and the latter as a percentage of the former; and the number of nursing posts for qualified nurses, the number of vacant posts for qualified nurses and the latter as a percentage of the former.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information requested is not collected centrally.
  372
  Mr. Mellor
  The information is shown in the table.

  NHS staff in post in England at 30 September Whole-time equivalents1

  Administrative and clerical2 3

  1979

  103,000

  1987

  114,600

  19884

  116,300

  1 Figures are rounded to nearest one hundred (100) whole-time equivalents.

  2 Includes general managers.

  3 Figures for 1987 and 1988 include some "Other Statutory Authorities" staff not included in previous years (some 700 WTE in 1987).

  4 1988 figure is provisional.

  Source: Department of Health annual census of NHS non-medical manpower.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give for each regional health authority and for England as a whole the total in-patient waiting list recorded in each hospital waiting list return since 1 January 1974.

  Mr. Mellor
  The total in-patient waiting list for each regional health authority and for England in each year since 1974 is given in the table.

  Hospital Closures
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list for each health region the complete hospital closures since January 1979 giving, in each case(a) the name and address of the hospital, (b) the area health authority or district health authority, (c) the number of beds, (d) the type of hospital and (e) the date of closure;

  (2) if he will list for each health region the partial hospital closures since January 1979 giving, in each case (a) the name and address of the hospital, (b) the area

  373
  health authority or district health authority, (c) the number of beds, (d) the type of hospital and (e) the date of closure.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) on 11 May at column 497 which refers to lists, placed in the Library of all hospitals/units approved for full or partial closure, by region and district and in year order, since 1979. The further information requested is not available centrally.

  Prescriptions
  Sir Neil Macfarlane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of prescriptions dispensed and the total net ingredient cost for England and Wales, for the years 1977 to 1988.

  Mr. Mellor
  The number of prescriptions dispensed in England during the period together with the net ingredient cost before discounts and excluding dispensing fees are:

  Prescriptions millions

  Net ingredient cost£ million

  1977

  311·1

  456·3

  1978

  323·6

  544·7

  1979

  321·3

  623·4

  1980

  320·4

  754·6

  1981

  317·3

  880·3

  1982

  329·5

  1,031·8

  1983

  333·9

  1,157·6

  1984

  340·6

  1,252·1

  1985

  339·9

  1,329·0

  1986

  344·4

  1,453·1

  1987

  358·5

  1,636·1

  1988

  371·0

  1,852·2

  The information relating to Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Medical Records
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received concerning the right of access of patients to medical records; what replies he has made; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  There have been a number of representations over the years. The number increased after the Access to Personal Files Act became law. During its passage through the House medical records were excluded from its provisions but the Government undertook to have talks with the medical profession about a voluntary code of practice on access to medical records. These talks have resulted in a draft code, on which the Department is consulting interested parties such as doctors, dentists, nurses, midwives, health visitors, patient interest groups and NHS management. As soon after that consultation as is practicable the Department will issue the code. A copy of the draft code is in the Library.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been during each of the last three years(a) the total assistance and grants given by his Department to help disablement organisations and (b) grants given in each of these years to the British Council of organisations of disabled people; and if he will review his adequacy of
  374
  support being given to those organisations which involve disabled people directly, in the policy development and decision taking affecting the well-being of disabled people.

  Mr. Freeman
  With regard to grants to help disablement organisations, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood), on 18 April 1989 at columns 133–34. Grants to the British Council of Organisations of Disabled People have been as follows:

  Year

  £

  1986–87

  10,000

  1987–88

  4,500

  1988–89

  10,000

  We do support the work of many organisations which involve disabled people directly and expect to do so increasingly in the future as new bodies become established.

  Eye Tests
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will extend his Department's definition of a near relative of glaucoma sufferers in his criteria for free eye tests to include nephews and nieces.

  Mr. Mellor
  The criteria that free NHS sight tests should be available to parents, brothers, sisters or children aged 40 years or over of diagnosed glaucoma sufferers was reached after advice from doctors and full consultation with other interested parties. We have no plans to change or extend this definition to include nephews, nieces, any other relative or age group.

  Cook-Chill Food
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has carried out into the health effects of nutrient depletion on long stay patients in hospitals whose diet is mainly cook-chill meals.

  Mr. Freeman
  The recent review of cook-chill and cook-freeze guidelines by an expert group took into account relevant scientific papers and drew upon its expert knowledge. The expert group concluded that, providing the guidelines are followed, food produced by the cook-chill system is as good nutritionally as food from conventional catering.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to introduce the temperature regulations recommended in the Social Services Select Committee report on listeria in respect of cook-chill retailed food and cook-chill catered food.

  Mr. Freeman
  Draft regulations which embody new storage temperature requirements were issued for consultation on 4 July 1989. We intend to make new regulations later this year.

  Dental Charges (Refunds)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many applicants for a refund of their dental charges have been turned down since the introduction of charges on the grounds that they did not claim within one month of the original payment; and if he will make a statement.
  375
  Mr. Feeeman
  I regret that the information requested is not available.

  Blood
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the profit made by the blood transfusion service on each 1,000 pints of donated blood bought by private sector health institutions; what method is used to determine the price at which blood will be sold to the private sector; how much blood was sold in total for each of the last 10 years to the private sector for all blood groups and the rarest blood groups; what was this as a percentage of total blood donations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  No profit is made on any blood or blood components supplied to non-NHS hospitals by the national blood transfusion service. Since 1 April 1984 charges have been made to the private sector to recover the cost to the NHS of collection, processing, handling and transport. No charge is made for the blood itself. Information about the groups supplied is not held centrally. Blood issued to non-NHS hospitals is shown in the table.

  National Blood Transfusion Service: England and Wales1

  Year

  Total blood donations

  Units of blood issued to non-NHS hospitals

  Units of blood issued as a percentage of total donations

  1979

  2,020,919

  n/a

  n/a

  1980

  2,094,177

  n/a

  n/a

  1981

  2,127,432

  n/a

  n/a

  1982

  1,942,997

  31,437

  1·6

  1983

  2,017,018

  40,786

  2·0

  1984

  2,038,937

  49,232

  2·4

  1985

  2,007,931

  54,327

  2·7

  1986

  2,023,841

  64,040

  3·2

  1987

  1,989,779

  84,361

  4·2

  21988

  2,033,005

  75,961

  3·7

  1 The figures relate to Wales and 12 regions in England as information is not available for Oxford region.

  2 Provisional.

  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether blood donation shortages have been reported to his Department in any of the last 10 years by any public body for use by National Health Service institutions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  I regret that systematic information about representations received over the last 10 years could not be supplied except at disproportionate cost. Up to 1 October 1988 the day-to-day responsibility for maintaining blood supplies rested with regional transfusion centres (RTCs) and the Department would not necessarily have been informed of any local shortages. The national directorate of the blood transfusion service was established from 1 October 1988, and arranges the transfer of blood to RTCs experiencing temporary shortages.

  Eggs
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many consignments of imported eggs have been impounded on the grounds of poor quality since 1 December 1988;
  376
  (2) how many consignments of imported eggs have been condemned by officials of his Department since 1 December 1988.

  Mr. Mellor
  It is not practicable for port health authorities to impound or condemn any imported egg consignments because of the time needed by public health laboratories to produce confirmation test results.

  The arrangements are that any positive findings are reported to the Department and the relevant producer country is then advised so that action can be taken to deal with the contamination at source.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those public health laboratories which participate in testing consignments of imported eggs.

  Mr. Mellor
  Reports on tests on samples of imported eggs have so far been received from public health laboratories at Ashford, Hull, Ipswich and Norwich.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements he has agreed with port authorities for the testing of samples of imported eggs at public health laboratories.

  Mr. Mellor
  Since 4 April 1989 port health authorities have agreed to check as many consignments of imported eggs as practicable and to notify the Department where public health laboratory reports of contaminated eggs are received.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources he has made available to public health laboratories specifically to enable them to conduct tests on samples of consignments of imported eggs.

  Mr. Mellor
  Funding for public health laboratories involved with the testing of imported egg samples is contained within their overall resource allocation.

  Children Bill
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate for the costs of staff training arising from the provisions of the Children Bill.

  Mr. Mellor
  One off costs of staff training arising from the Children Bill are estimated at £4·6 million at 1988–89 levels for local authority staff. The estimates have been dicussed with the local authority associations and will be reviewed when the level of central Government support for local authority expenditure is determined. There will also be costs of training judicial and court staff which are a mater for my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor and my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

  Community Care
  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will outline the procedure he will be establishing for inspecting and monitoring the quality of community care services provided by the private and voluntary sectors;

  (2) under the new arrangements, which agency will have primary responsibility for people who are mentally ill and are also either elderly or have a physical handicap;

  (3) what safetguards will be established to protect consumer should services provided by private or voluntary organisations for community care go out of business or fail to meet national quality standards.
  377
  Mr. Mellor
  The Government have been considering the future organisations and management of community care services following Sir Roy Griffiths report "Community Care: Agenda for Action" and the many views received in response to it. Its deliberations are now complete and we hope to make a statement this week.

  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for ring fencing National Health Service resources to ensure funding released by the closure of wards and hospitals will be directed towards community care.

  Mr. Mellor
  Health authorities must remain responsible for determining their own expenditure priorities in the light of their knowledge of local needs and circumstances.

  OPCS
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will announce the result of his review of the future location of the work of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

  Mr. Freeman
  Yes. The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) has three main sites in London, Titchfield and Southport where there are about 660, 840 and 600 staff respectively. The number of staff at the Southport site is expected to fall by about 250 during 1991 as a result of the computerisation of the NHS central register.

  I have concluded that most of the division which oversees the registration of births, marriages and deaths, now based largely in London, should move to Southport. It is having great difficulty in recruiting and retaining administrative staff in London, and the effectiveness and efficiency of its operation is being jeopardised. about 170 posts from London and about 80 posts from Titchfield will move to Southport. Some other services at present based in London, mainly in central support areas, will move to Titchfield when accommodation becomes available there. The moves will be co-ordinated with the planned run-down of other Southport work and will probably be completed by mid 1992.

  Both the public search room and the OPCS library, which are used regularly by the public, will remain in London. The professional statistical work of OPCS, covering population and medical statistics, the census and social surveys, will also remain in London because of the importance of day to day links with customers in Government Departments, which have been strengthened in accordance with the machinery of Government review in 1986.

ENERGY

  British Petroleum
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will use his departmental shareholding in British Petroleum to put pressure on British Petroleum to stop its destruction of parts of the Jamari rain forest in Brazil.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I have been asked to reply.

  No. The Government now hold only about 2 per cent. of the ordinary share capital of British Petroleum plc. Even when their shareholding was much larger, the Government did not use their rights as a shareholder to intervene in the commercial decisions of the company.

  Research and Development
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will list Government expenditure on research and development in the area of energy efficiency for the years 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987 and 1989;

  (2) if he will list the proposed funding for research and development in the area of energy efficiency for the years 1990–91 and 1991–92;

  (3) what amount of funding is being allocated to research and development in the area of energy efficiency in the current financial year.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The information requested is as follows:

  Expenditure on energy efficiency research, development and demonstration1 2

  Year

  £'000s

  1980–81

  2,015

  1982–83

  6,841

  1984–85

  6,564

  1986–87

  8,197

  1988–89

  9,077

  1989–90

  8,850

  1 For the year 1989–90 the figure is the estimate provision. Prior years are outturn.

  2 All figures exclude expenditure on the monitoring and targeting programme.

  Figures for future years will be published shortly in the 1989 Annual Review of Government-Funded R & D.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give a breakdown of his Department's spending on research and development in the following sources of energy for 1988, its plans for 1989 and its plans for future years(a) nuclear fission in thermal reactors, (b) nuclear fission in fast breeder reactors, (c) nuclear fusion, (d) renewable energy sources as a whole, (e) tidal power, (f) solar, (g) windpower, (h) wave power, (i) hiofuels, (j) wet rock geothermal, (k) dry rock geothermal, (l) other renewable sources, (m) conventional fossil fuel sources and (h) any other sources of energy; and whether he will give comparable figures for other European Economic Community countries.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The figures requested are as follows:

  Expenditure in £ million

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Thermal reactors (safety research only)

  19·53

  17·27

  Fast breeder reactor

  104·55

  98·58

  Fusion

  26·21

  26·60

  All renewables

  15·01

  16·80

  Tidal

  1·18

  1·00

  Solar

  1·42

  1·90

  Wind

  3·91

  5·00

  Wave

  0·14

  0·20

  Biomass

  1·48

  2·00

  Wet rock geothermal

  0·06

  0·15

  Dry rock geothermal

  3·50

  2·90

  Other renewable

  3·32

  3·65

  Fossil fuels

  0·72

  2·56

  Other sources of energy

  —

  —

  Figures for future years will be published shortly in the 1989 Annual Review of Government Funded Research and Development, in the usual format for that publication.

  Figures for other European Community countries can be found in the annual review published by the

  379
  International Energy Agency "Energy Policies and Programmes of IEA Countries", the most recent of which was produced in 1988. Expenditure figures and forecasts for other countries may not be on the same basis as for the United Kingdom.

  Nuclear Generating Stations
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the estimated value of the nuclear generating sectors of the Central Electricity Generating Board and the South of Scotland Electricity Board.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Fife, North-East (Mr. Campbell) on 19 October 1988 at column 859.

  Nuclear Power Stations
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the estimated operating lifespans of the United Kingdom's remaining nuclear power stations in commission.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This is an operating matter for the utilities concerned. I have asked the chairmen of the CEGB and SSEB to reply to the hon. Member.

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he intends proceeding with his plan to include the nuclear power plants within electricity privatisation; whether he intends transferring the ownership of physical assets of nuclear power plants currently owned by the Central Electricity Generating Board to the private sector; what is his latest estimate of the costs of decommissioning nuclear power stations and disposing and reprocessing of nuclear waste; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Parkinson
  The Government's plans for privatising the electricity industry were set out in the White Paper, "Privatising Electricity" (Cm. 322) and in the Electricity Bill, and were debated at length during the passage of the Bill. These remain the Government's policy.

  The CEGB estimates that the average cost of decommissioning each of its existing nuclear power stations, in current prices and assuming a delay of around 100 years before the final stage of decommissioning, will be about £300 million, including the costs of disposal of waste arising. The costs of reprocessing spent fuel will depend on the commercial negotiations between the CEGB and BNFL which are currently underway.

  Electrical Appliances (Efficiency)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans(a) to introduce legislation to ensure that electrical appliances are labelled to give details of their energy use so that consumers may choose the most energy efficient brand of any given type of appliance and (b) to press the European Communities to regulate to ensure labelling of electrical appliances.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. Member for Truro (Mr. Taylor) on 16 May 1988 at column 299 and to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 20 February 1989 at columns 470–71.
  380
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to press the European Communities to regulate the energy efficiencies of electrical appliances to ensure that they achieve minimum efficiency standards that would be set by the EC and updated along with technological developments.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  No.

  Mr. Elliot Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether his Department has evaluated claims that use of electricity could be reduced by 70 per cent. without reducing the present level of electricial services if the most energy efficient electrical appliances currently available were used throughout the country, and if other conservation measures including combined heat and power/district heating schemes, prohibiting wasteful energy systems, tightening building regulations' were introduced.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  My Energy Efficiency Office is in the process of commissioning a study on the energy efficiency of electrical appliances. However, improvements in efficiency in domestic appliances, as with improvements in industrial processes, and construction and use of combined heat and power systems, do not necessarily lead to a reduction in the use of electricity. The increased efficiency may be taken as increased warmth or increased production, and increased energy efficiency may mean changing from another fuel to electricity.

  Environmental Damage
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set out the conclusions of his Department's evaluation of the environmentally damaging aspects of(a) nuclear power, (b) coal-fired power plants, (c) oil-fired power plants, (d) gas-fired power plants, (e) large scale inland hydropower, (f) low-head hydropower, (g) estuarial power generating tidal barrages, (h) wind power, (i) solar water heating, (j) photoelectric solar power, (k) pump-storage power schemes, (l) off-shore wave power, (m) on-shore wave power, (n) ocean thermal electric power, (o) geothermal power, (p) refuse fuelled power plants, (q) biomass fuelled power plants and (r) combined heat and power pebble-bed/fluidised bed plants; and if he will make a statement on the benefits of each type of plant in regard to mitigation of greenhouse global warming.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The latest comprehensive and systematic evaluation of the full range of energy supply technologies undertaken for my Department was reported in Energy Paper 54 and its complementary "background papers" volume ETSU-R-43. Both of these publications are available in the Library of the House. Thy describe in general terms the principal environmental impacts of each technology. Environmental considerations form an integral part of many of the Department's R & D projects.

  As part of the study leading to Energy Paper 54, consideration was given to the additional benefits of these technologies if restrictions on CO2 emissions were necessary. However, the results were not quantified. The current United Kingdom work in support of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group on "Response Strategies" should improve our analysis of the cost and benefits in regard to climate change for many of the technologies listed.

  Fusion
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the likely cost of electricity produced from fusion sources.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  At present, work on fusion is still at the stage of establishing whether fusion is a scientifically feasible source of power. It is too soon to make any reliable estimate of the likely cost of electricity from fusion sources.

  Offshore Wind Generation
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether his Department has any plans to fund the setting up of a pilot programme of offshore wind generation.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The chairman of the CEGB announced in 1988 the proposal to build an offshore wind turbine generator as part of a joint programme with the Department. Following withdrawal of the prospective industrial partner from wind turbine manufacture, alternatives are now being considered.

  Department of Energy research, development and design expenditure on renewable energy (£ million)

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Wind

  0·6

  0·8

  0·9

  2·5

  2·5

  4·8

  5·4

  3·7

  4·0

  3·9

  Wave

  3·0

  3·3

  4·4

  3·1

  1·0

  0·4

  0·4

  0·1

  0·2

  0·1

  Geothermal aquifers

  1·3

  1·7

  2·6

  1·5

  1·8

  1·1

  0·3

  0·1

  0

  0·1

  Geothermal hot dry rocks

  0

  0·6

  5·6

  3·0

  2·9

  4·6

  3·5

  3·5

  3·6

  3·5

  Solar

  1·2

  0·9

  0·7

  1·4

  0·9

  0·5

  0·7

  0·9

  1·1

  1·4

  Biomass1

  0·1

  0·4

  0·4

  1·2

  0·7

  1·1

  0·8

  1·3

  2·2

  1·5

  Tide

  0·6

  1·4

  0·4

  0

  0

  0·3

  0·1

  0·1

  1·4

  1·2

  Hydro/General studies

  0·8

  0·8

  Technology transfer and promotion

  0·7

  1·0

  ETSU services

  1·4

  2·2

  2·3

  2·0

  1·9

  2·1

  2·0

  2·3

  2·3

  2·5

  8·2

  11·3

  17·3

  14·7

  11·7

  14·9

  13·2

  12·0

  16·3

  16·0

  1 Includes expenditure on "waste as a fuel" projects under the Energy Efficiency Office demonstration scheme·

  Note: Up to 1986–87 total for research and development also includes expenditure on low head hydro and general studies· These are separately identified for 1987–88 onwards· For 1987–88 onwards general studies includes work by the chief scientist's group.

  Department of Energy expenditure on nuclear programmes (£ million)

  Fast reactor

  Fusion

  Thermal reactor

  Other

  Total

  1979–80

  76·4

  13·0

  17·2

  38·9

  145·5

  1980–81

  90·8

  14·8

  22·8

  57·8

  186·2

  1981–82

  98·2

  22·5

  35·7

  49·0

  205·4

  1982–83

  96·4

  21·6

  36·0

  60·8

  214·8

  1983–84

  114·9

  22·1

  30·5

  36·3

  203·8

  1984–85

  102·5

  25·6

  25·6

  32·4

  186·1

  1985–86

  102·0

  21·1

  29·1

  37·4

  189·6

  1986–87

  99·4

  18·9

  15·6

  50·0

  183·9

  1987–88

  75·8

  20·8

  16·7

  59·0

  172·3

  1988–89

  182·5

  24·9

  17·4

  132·0

  1256·8

  1 Excludes restructuring costs·

  Note: All figures are in cash of the day.

  Safety Inspectors
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the number of safety inspectors employed by his Department to look after offshore oil safety.

  Mr. Parkinson
  The number of safety inspectors employed by the Department of Energy to look after offshore oil safety was 41 at 1 July 1989.

  Non-fossil Fuel Sources
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the amount of public sector support given directly or indirectly since 1979 to each non-fossil fuel source of power including all forms of renewable energy.

  Mr. Parkinson
  Expenditure since 1979 by the Department of Energy on its renewables programme and payments made to the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) in support of its nuclear energy programme are set out in the tables. Other public sector contributions towards the renewables programmes in which the Department is involved are mainly from the Central Electricity Generating Board, together with other parts of the electricity supply industry, the Science and Engineering Research Council and the Natural Environment Research Council. Other public sector contributions to the UKAEA's nuclear energy programme are from the Department of the Environment, British Nuclear Fuels, the electricity supply industry and NI R EX. Figures for these other public sector contributions are not readily available over the period and could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Magnox
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if the timetable for closing the Central Electricity Generating Board's magnox nuclear power stations will alter as a result of privatisation.

  Mr. Parkinson
  This is a matter for the CEGB.

  Electricity Generation
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the latest estimate of the cost per kilowatt hour of generating electricity by(a) nuclear plant and (b) coal-fired power stations.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that my hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bedfordshire, North (Sir T. Skeet) on 15 December 1988 at column 679.

  Electricity Council
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when the Electricity Council intends to publish its annual accounts for the electricity supply industry.

  Mr. Parkinson
  This is a matter for the Electricity Council. I shall ask the chairman of the council to write to the hon. Member.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disabled People
  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has any plans to change the earnings rule to increase the amount which disabled persons may earn before losing benefits.

  Mr. Scott
  People receiving sickness benefit, invalidity pension or severe disablement allowance can do work of a therapeutic nature with their doctor's approval without affecting their benefit entitlement, provided that their earnings do not exceed £28·50 per week. This level was last increased in April 1989 and is reviewed annually.

  The amount that disabled people can earn without affecting their income support was increased from £4 to £15 per week in April 1988. The same disregard of £15 applies also to housing benefit and will be extended to the community charge benefits. There are no current plans to increase these disregards.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth, 11 April,Official Report, column 500, when sections 2, 3, and 8 (ii) of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 will be implemented.

  Mr. Scott
  We are still in detailed discussions with the local authority associations about section 7; these will be followed by work on the remaining sections.

  Fraud (North West)
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what has been the rate of successful prosecutions for social security fraud in the North West since the inception of the scheme offering £75 payments to those who supply relevant information to investigating officials;

  (2) what was the rate of successful prosecutions for social security fraud in the North West prior to the introduction of the £75 inducement;

  (3) when his Department's inducement programme in the North West was introduced.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Department does not operate such a scheme.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to introduce poll tax rebates for those who care for the elderly within the family home.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Community charge rebates may be claimed by all people who are liable for a full personal community charge or for collective community charge contributions, including people who are caring for the elderly within the family home. The amount of rebate will depend upon the claimant's financial resources, personal circumstances and community charge liability.

  Food Vouchers
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what powers social fund officers have to make payments by means of food vouchers; and what guidance they have received on the use of such powers.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Social fund officers are empowered by section 33(1A) of the Social Security Act 1986 (as amended by the Social Security Act 1988, schedule 3, paragraph 10) to make social fund payments in the form of vouchers.

  Guidance on the issue of vouchers is contained in the social fund manual, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Leaflets
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total cost of production and distribution of the leaflet entitled, "Our Business Is Service."

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) on 26 May at columns 749–50.

  Benefit Costs
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the per capita level of spending on social security benefits(a) in real terms and (b) indexed with 100 as 1979, since 1979.

  Mr. Scott
  I regret that it is not possible to provide the information requested. There is no reliable precise estimate of the total number of people who receive social security benefits. Many people receive more than one benefit at the same time and detailed records of the numbers of all multiple beneficiaries and the various combinations of benefits held by them is not kept. Information is collected on the numbers in receipt of each individual benefit (table 15.6 of Cm. 615) and some combinations of benefit but it is not sufficiently comprehensive to determine a per capita level of spending.

  Caerphilly Local Office
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he has on the reasons why 8·5 per cent. of the annual social fund budget for loans and grants was unspent during 1988–89 in the Caerphilly office; and how many applications for loans or grants in that office during the year in question were refused.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  During the financial year 1988–89 the Department's office at Caerphilly made awards which
  385
  accounted for 98·6 per cent. of the loans budget allocation, and 91·5 per cent. of the community care grants budget allocation.

  The underspend on the community care grants budget occurred because the office had anticipated the need to fund start up grants arising from two local housing developments. In the event, the Wales and West housing association development did not result in any applications and the Newydd housing association development was cancelled.

  Information about the number of loan and grant applications which were unsuccessful may be obtained from data in the Library.

  Private Residential Care
  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will outline the mechanism for ensuring that social security resources currently spent on private residential care and nursing homes are directed towards community care.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Income support remains available both to those in need of the high levels of personal care provided by independent homes and to those in need of care who remain in their own homes.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether social grant is counted as income for the purpose of calculating poll tax rebate entitlement for the spouse of a student.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Yes.

  Giro Cheques
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will instruct the Department of Social Security offices to post giro cheques to claimants on Thursdays to increase the chance of their arriving before post offices close at midday on Saturdays.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Paydays for claimants are allocated evenly across the week to spread the work for the benefit of Post Office and local office staff alike. However, it is not normal practice to issue giro cheques on a Friday for the reason cited in the question.

DEFENCE

  Soviet Submarine (Accident)
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Her Majesty's Government were informed by the Soviet Government of the disabling accident to the nuclear reactor of the Echo-2 class Soviet submarine which occurred on 26 June.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I have been asked to reply.

  This accident was of such a minor nature that no notification from the Soviet Government was expected and none was received.

  Low Flying
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many air-misses involving military aircraft operating in the night low-flying system were reported(a) between 10 October 1987 and 31 May 1988 and (b) between 10 October 1988 and 31 May 1989.

  Mr. Neubert
  There were no air miss reports involving military aircraft operating in the night low-flying system for the period 10 October 1987 to 31 May 1988, and one reported for the period 10 October 1988 to 31 May 1989.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the refinements made to the revised night low-flying system with effect from 1 June.

  Mr. Neubert
  The major refinement made to the revised night low-flying system, with effect from 1 June, was to centralise the co-ordination of the system and the responsibility for deconfliction at the tactical booking cell at RAF West Drayton.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures have been taken since October 1988 to separate rotary and fixed-wing low flying over the United Kingdom(a) at night and (b) during the day.

  Mr. Neubert
  As with all aspects of low flying training, flight safety is under continuous review. Since October 1988, greater separation of rotary and fixed-wing low flying at night has been achieved through the designation of specified geographical areas for either predominantly fixed-wing or predominantly rotary-wing activity. No additional measures to separate fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft during daytime operations have been considered necessary since October 1988.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which units were responsible for(a) co-ordination of the night low-flying system and (b) deconfliction in the night low-flying system prior to the introduction of the revised system on 1 June.

  Mr. Neubert
  Co-ordination and deconfliction of night low flying during the trial period, to the introducion of the revised night low flying system on 1 June, were the responsibility of HQ strike command, RAF Germany and HQ 3rd air force.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of low-flying sorties over the United Kingdom in each year since 1979 by United Slates air force aircraft, providing a breakdown of the figures by aircraft type.

  Mr. Neubert
  Central records are not held in a form which would allow the data requested to be provided.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the scope and purpose of the additional low-flying activity in the Wash area at weekends between 6 May and 25 June.

  Mr. Neubert
  The only unusual military low flying activity identified in the general area of the Wash over the period in question was of Hercules transit activity on 3-4 June associated with exercise Blue Lanyard, about which those hon. Members, whose constituents were likely to be affected were notified in advance in the customary manner.
  387
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the figure for the proportion of RAF Germany low-flying training in 1988 which made use of the United Kingdom low-flying system, provided in the answer from the hon. Member for Romford (Mr. Neubert) to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy of 10 May,Official Report, column 475, included low-flying sorties by RAF Germany aircraft which originated from and terminated at airfields in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Neubert
  Yes.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the differences, in terms of the nature and force of their applicability to military low-flying aircraft, between(a) restricted areas for aviation, as shown on Civil Aviation Authority maps, (b) prohibited areas for aviation, as shown on Civil Aviation Authority maps, (c) provost-marshal prohibited areas, (d) provost-marshal restricted areas, (e) avoidance areas and transit areas in the United Kingdom low flying system, as shown on the Civil Aviation Authority chart entitled "Chart of United Kingdom Areas of Intense Aerial Activity and Military Low Flying System", and (f) military low-flying avoidances in force around individual installations and sites but which are not shown on the Civil Aviation Authority chart entitled "Chart of United Kingdom Areas of Intense Aerial Activity and Military Low Flying System."

  Mr. Neubert
  All restrictions applying to military low flying aircraft are detailed in United Kingdom military low flying regulations and marked, as appropriate, on military low flying charts. There are no differences in the nature and force of the applicability to military aircraft of the categories of restriction listed.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration is being given to authorising low flying at less than 250ft over the United Kingdom during exercises other than work-up training for exercises in the United States of America and Canada.

  Mr. Neubert
  Training in tactical training areas consists mainly of work-up training for operational low-flying exercises in the United States and Canada. Occasional continuation training may also be carried out to maintain aircrew skills between such exercises, thereby reducing the quantity of work-up training required. There are no plans to change this.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy on retaining central records of requests from foreign air forces, including the United States air force in the United Kingdom, for authorisation to fly in the United Kingdom low-flying system at less than the normal minimum height; and when this policy was first established.

  Date

  Place

  Accident

  Category

  Cause

  Red Arrows aircraft crashed during

  1. 17/5/1980

  Brighton Seafront

  display

  5

  Aircrew error

  2. 19/8/1980

  Valley Airfield

  Tyre burst on landing

  4

  Not positively determined

  3. 28/7/1982

  Valley Airfield

  Aircraft stalled

  5

  Aircrew error

  4. 20/10/1982

  Chivenor

  Birdstrike caused loss of power

  5

  Birdstrike

  5. 24/6/1983

  Isle of Man

  Flew into a ridge

  5

  Aircrew error

  6. 29/7/1983

  40 NM SWP Brawdy

  Engine surge, failed to relight

  5

  Not positively determined

  7. 29/7/1983

  Barnstaple Bay

  Mid-air collision (2 Hawks)

  5

  Aircrew error

  8. 21/3/1984

  Akrotiri

  Hit ground

  5

  Aircrew error

  9. 31/8/1984

  Sidmouth, Devon

  Engine surge, failed to relight

  5

  Technical fault

  388
  Mr. Neubert
  Records of any formal requests by foreign air forces for authorisation to carry out training in the United Kingdom at less than normal height would be handled in accordance with the normal and long-standing arrangements applicable to public records in the Ministry of Defence.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the approximate proportion of RAF Germany low-flying training in each year between 1979 and 1987 which has made use of the United Kingdom low-flying system.

  Mr. Neubert
  As my answer to the hon. Member on 11 May 1989 at column 475 made clear, accurate figures are not available prior to 1988. It is assessed, however, that for 1987 the proportion of RAF Germany fixed-wing low level sorties that made use of the United Kingdom low flying system was between 20 per cent. and 30 per cent.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of available flying days in the revised night low-flying system from 1 June are allocated to(a) RAF strike command, (b) RAF Germany, (c) RAF support command, (d) the United States air force, (e) other NATO air forces and (f) other users.

  Mr. Neubert
  With the recent centralisation of co-ordination of night low flying at the tactical booking cell at RAF West Drayton, the use of the United Kingdom night low flying system is not allocated to commands on a daily basis.

  Provost-Marshal Areas
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list all provost-marshal prohibited areas which have been(a) established and (b) disestablished since 1979, stating the reason for establishment or disestablishment in each case;

  (2) if he will list all provost-marshal restricted areas which have been (a) established and (b) disestablished since 1979, stating the reason for establishment or disestablishment in each case.

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

  Hawk Aircraft
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many accidents have occurred involving RAF Hawk aircraft since 1979; and if he will indicate the causes of such accidents where possible.

  Mr. Neubert
  Details of major accidents to RAF Hawk aircraft since 1979 are as follows:
  389

  Date

  Place

  Accident

  Category

  Cause

  10. 25/10/1984

  4 NM SW Port Madoc

  Control restriction

  5

  Not positively determined

  11. 7/11/1984

  Near Mona Airfield

  Birdstrike

  5

  Birdstrike

  12. 30/1/1985

  Bristol Channel

  Reported aileron restriction

  5

  Not positively determined

  13. 17/4/1985

  Wattisham Airfield

  Canopy came off aircraft

  5

  Aircrew error

  14. 26/9/1985

  Decimomannu

  Mid-air collision (2 Hawks)

  5

  Aircrew error

  15. 7/7/1986

  Valley Airfield

  Tyre burst on take off

  5

  Not positively determined

  16. 3/11/1986

  Scampton

  Engine surge, incorrect relight

  5

  Aircrew error

  17. 16/11/1987

  Welton

  Mid-air collision (2 Hawks)

  5

  Aircrew error

  18. 22/1/1988

  Scampton Airfield

  Red Arrows display practice

  5

  Aircrew error

  19. 13/5/1988

  ½NM S of Brawdy

  Engine failure on take off

  5

  Servicing error

  20. 24/6/1988

  Scampton Airfield

  Accident on take off

  4

  Aircrew error

  21. 14/6/1989

  15 NM SE Llanbeder

  Mid-air collision

  Under investigation

  Notes:

  1. Category 4 Damage not repairable on site.

  2. Category 5 Aircraft damaged beyond repair.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Hawk training aircraft are operating with the RAF and other air forces; and what design modifications have been made to the aircraft as a result of accidents.

  Mr. Neubert
  A total of 172 Hawk aircraft have been taken into service by the Royal Air Force. The aircraft has met fully its original design specification. As with all aircraft, modifications are introduced from time to time in the light of operational experience. The number of Hawk aircraft operational with other air forces is not a matter for my Department.

  Cardigan Bay (Accident)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he is now in a position to publish in the Official Report details of the military aircraft accident which occurred on 14 June over the Cardigan bay area.

  Mr. Neubert
  On the afternoon of 14 June, while engaged on a training flight under instruction and practising a formation rejoin at 10,000 feet, two RAF Hawk aircraft from RAF Valley collided some 15 miles south-east of Llanbeder. One pilot, a Royal Navy officer, ejected successfully. Unfortunately, the pilot of the second aircraft—a Royal Air Force officer—did not eject and was killed. Wreckage fell on two sites about eight miles apart. A board of inquiry was convened in the normal way. A summary of the results of the inquiry will be published in due course.

  Smoking
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the figures for smoking prevalence in the armed forces; if he will estimate the number and type of smoking-related diseases prevalent in the armed forces as a result of these smoking rates; what plans he has to reduce the incidence of smoking in the armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  There are presently no current figures available for smoking prevalences in the armed forces. A recent survey into the health of service men, once analysed, will provide a comparison of smoking rates within the services at home and abroad. A British regional heart survey in 1981 produced the following statistics on smoking incidence in the armed forces: Never smoked 12 per cent, Ex-smokers 30 per cent., Current smokers 58 per cent. Service statistics on illness and causation are not kept in a manner which would enable a true identification of 390
  smoke-related illness. The Ministry of Defence is ever aware of the need to reduce cigarette smoking by service men and has a continuing health education campaign aimed at all ranks and levels.

  Nuclear Submarines (Decommissioned Reactors)
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where the decommissioned pressurised water reactors removed from British nuclear submarines are stored; and what is the method of that storage.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Only one nuclear-powered submarine Dreadnought, has so far been decommissioned. The defuelled reactor belonging to this vessel is inside the reactor compartment which remains an integral part of the submarine. Dreadnought has been berthed at Rosyth naval base since 1983.

  HMS Southampton
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he hopes to announce the contract for the refit of HMS Southampton.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Shortly.

  Defence Land
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the total area of defence lands in 1979 and to date; and what plans he has to(a) release more, or (b) acquire further such lands.

  Mr. Neubert
  On 1 April 1979 the total freehold and leasehold land and foreshore held by the Ministry of Defence was 621,118 acres (251,358 ha). The equivalent figure on 1 April 1989 was 596,265 acres (241,300 ha); some 79 per cent. of this consists of ranges, training areas and airfields.

  The MOD continues to keep the size of its estate under review. Land which is surplus to defence requirements is disposed of; receipts from the sale of land and buildings were £150 million in 1988–89, nearly double that of any previous year.

  There remains, however, a shortage of training land for the Army and additional areas are being acquired when they become available.

SCOTLAND

  Community Charge
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the information on how many people in Scotland have and have not paid the poll tax to be available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  It will be some while yet before reliable information becomes available from local authorities on payment levels of the community charge. Such information as is available from local authorities is not a reliable guide to the numbers of people who are declining to pay, because it cannot as yet take account of those who, for example, have decided to pay by lump sum, who may still be awaiting rebated bills or who have decided to delay their first payment until the last moment before they become liable to pay the full annual amount. Local authorities recognise these factors and are, I understand, generally satisfied with the progress so far made in collecting the community charge.

  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance has been given to Scottish members of Her Majesty's forces living in Germany about requirements to pay the community charge in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Guidance prepared by the Ministry of Defence on all aspects of the community charge as it affects service personnel has been issued to all units and commands at home and overseas. Copies of this guidance have been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  River Pollution
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the level of nitrate pollution in each of Scotland's river purification board areas.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested on levels of nitrate pollution in Scotland is not held centrally. Individual river purification boards will have information on nitrate levels in their areas; a number of boards publish this in summary form in their annual reports which are available in the Library.

  Warrant Sales
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many warrant sales were granted each year from 1979 in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The numbers of warrants of sale and reports of warrant sales from 1979 to 1987 (the latest year for which figures are available) are set out in the table below.

  Warrants to sell

  Reports of sale

  1979

  3,838

  226

  1980

  5,829

  231

  1981

  4,634

  287

  1982

  4,886

  477

  1983

  5,195

  403

  1984

  5,644

  512

  392

  Warrants to sell

  Reports of sale

  1985

  5,916

  693

  1986

  5,836

  678

  1987

  6,927

  650

  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to abolish warrant sales in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Arrangements for the enforcement of court decrees for debt were recently reformed in the Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987 following a detailed review by the Scottish Law Commission. The Government have no plans at present for further major reform of these arrangements.

  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has as to how many persons have finance companies initiated proceedings against in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information is kept on which finance companies have been successful in getting orders for warrant sales in Scotland since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not collected centrally.

  AIDS
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the number of patients who have died as a result of AIDS-related diseases in 1989, and for each other year for which figures exist.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The numbers of AIDS deaths in Scotland reported to the Communicable Diseases (Scotland) Unit in each year for which figures are available are given below.

  Number

  1984

  3

  1985

  2

  1986

  6

  1987

  12

  1988

  14

  19891

  14

  1 End of June.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the numbers of patients in Scotland diagnosed as having developed AIDS in 1989, and for each other year for which statistics exist.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The numbers of AIDS cases in Scotland reported to the communicable diseases (Scotland) unit in each year for which figures are available are as follows:

  Number

  1984

  3

  1985

  2

  1986

  7

  393

  Numbers

  1987

  25

  1988

  36

  19892

  27

  1 End of June.

  Hospices
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow,Official Report, 19 June, column 49, he will outline the reasons for the delay in answering the hon. Member's letter of 28 March regarding Scottish hospices.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The reason was simply the careful consideration that I gave to the hon. Member's letter, to which I have now replied.

  Tree Planting
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has evaluated the effect of the withdrawal of tax incentives for the private planting of trees upon the rate of new tree planting.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North on 9 May 1989(Official Report, column 332).

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress of his Department's reforestation programme introduced to help combat the greenhouse effect.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Although forestry policy has not been aimed specifically at combating the greenhouse effect, over the past 10 years nearly 250,000 hectares of land has been afforested in Great Britain.

  Labour Statistics
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in respect of Strathclyde(a) the average rate of unemployment and the European community average in the last three years and (b) the percentage of industrial employment in total employment and the European Community average.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 7 July 1989]: The figures are as follows:

  (a) Unemployment

  Annual average percentage

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Strathclyde region

  19·2

  18·4

  15·8

  European Community

  10·8

  10·4

  10·0

  (b) Industrial employment

  Share of industrial employment in total employment percentage

  1984

  Strathclyde region

  37·3

  European Community

  34·3

  Note: The figures are not directly comparable as a result of definitional differences.

  Shipbuilding and Ship Repair (Redundancies)
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of redundancies in the shipbuilding and ship repair industries in Strathclyde since 1 January 1984.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 7 July 1989]: There are no comprehensive statistics on redundancies. The number of redundancies involving 10 or more workers confirmed to the Employment Department/Training Agency as having occurred in Strathclyde region in the shipbuilding and shiprepairing industry since 1 January 1984 was 4,221. This figure relates to redundancies confirmed up to 31 May 1989 and figures for 1989 are provisional.

ENVIRONMENT

  Atmospheric Pollution
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he plans to undertake any joint initiative to further reduce lead in the atmosphere.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  At the end of 1985, the maximum amount of lead permitted in petrol was reduced by 0·4 to 0·15 grammes per litre: This produced a 50 per cent. drop in airborne levels. However, lead from petrol still accounts for about 80 per cent. of lead in the air. The Government therefore fully support the move to unleaded petrol. The chancellor's budget incentive has resulted in unleaded petrol being on sale at about lop per gallon cheaper than leaded fuel. The Government funded a major advertising campaign in April; further promotional initiatives are co-ordinated by the unleaded petrol group which I chair. The measures taken so far have contributed to the rapid uptake of the fuel which now accounts for over 20 per cent. of the market; the average for last year was just 1 per cent.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is yet able to indicate what the average poll tax for England would be based on 1989–90 local government expenditure; and which local authorities would be above or below that figure.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax.

  Illustrative 1989–90 community charges will be published in due course.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether a community charge registration officer asking for telephone numbers on the same form as chargepayers are meant to sign certifying that the information given on the form is complete is operating within the limits of his Department's guidelines.

  Mr. Gummer
  A registration officer may require only such information as is necessary to enable him to compile and maintain the community charges register. In the case of the personal community charge this will usually consist of the names and addresses of adults living in a particular poperty and the dates of birth of those who will become 18 during the lifetime of the register. Information about telephone numbers need not be provided to a registration
  395
  officer, and the Department's model form and guidance advise registration officers that if they seek any additional information of this kind they should make it clear that there is no obligation on individuals to provide it, and that no penalty can or will be imposed if they do not.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that(a) merchant seamen and (b) Royal Navy seamen, who are away from shore for more than six months in a year, are treated equally in respect of liability for the poll tax.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax.

  The determination of a person's sole or main residence is a matter for community charges registration officers. I have no reason to believe that registration officers will adopt different criteria in relation to the two groups of people mentioned by the hon. Member.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the leaflets on the business rate and the collective community charge will be available; for what reasons the leaflets on(a) poll tax rebates and "You and the Community Charge" and (b) "Exemption Students, Second Homes and Appeal" were produced in different styles; and what are the estimated production and distribution costs of (i) the rebate booklet, (ii) "You and the Community Charge" and (iii) the other leaflets referred to above.

  Mr. Gummer
  As the information which the hon. Member requests is very detailed I am writing to him.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to exempt children on approved full time courses at colleges of further education, and who are not in receipt of any maintenance grant, from the poll tax; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 4 July 1989]: The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax. Most young persons will be liable to the community charge either upon reaching their 18th birthday or at the date on which their parents are no longer entitled to child benefit, whichever is the later. Full time students will pay only 20 per cent. of the charge whilst others on low incomes can claim rebates of up to 80 per cent.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to prevent landlords making an additional charge for poll tax purposes where rates were previously included in rent; what steps he is taking to ensure that appropriate reductions in rent are made when rate revenue ends; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 4 July 1989]: The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax. Legislation would be neither necessary nor appropriate in this area. The Department will be producing shortly a booklet on the impact between the community charge and rents in the series "You and the Community Charge".

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions his officials have had with the office of the Data Protection Registrar; and what steps he is taking to monitor the information being requested by community charge registration officers as a part of the registration process in England and Wales.
  396
  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 6 July 1989]: My officials are in regular contact with the office of the Data Protection Registrar. It is for individual community charges registration officers to ensure that their requests for information are within their statutory powers and that they comply with the Data Protection Act 1984.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to introduce a community charge concession for those who care for elderly friends or relatives in the community.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer, 6 July 1989]: No special provisions are necessary. I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 29 June 1989 to the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. McAllion) Official Report, column 502.

  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the extent of mischievous registration for community charge in each local authority.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 6 July 1989]: I understand that the registration process is proceeding in a generally satisfactory manner. A few mischievous responses to registration forms have been reported in the press.

  Football Spectators Bill
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Football League clubs have indicated their support for the Football Spectators Bill[Lords]; and if he will indicate those doing so in the Official Report.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My consultations on the FSB have been with the Football Association and the Football League, who were represented on my working party on the national membership scheme last year. I have not formally consulted individual League clubs.

  River Calder (Pollution)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ask the North West water authority to implement the necessary work to prevent pollution of the River Calder in Burnley from Black Clough.

  Mr. Howard
  I understand that the North West water authority is considering measures to remedy this pollution. Under the provisions of the Water Act, it will become the responsibility of the National Rivers Authority.

  Clifton Marsh Sewage Works
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what the effect would be on bacterial levels in the River Ribble of uprating Clifton Marsh sewage treatment works to include full conventional treatment and disinfection using environmentally benign methods;

  (2) If he willprovide estimates of what proportion of sewage pollution experienced by Lytham St. Anne's is due to (a) bacterial levels in the River Ribble and (b) existing local discharges of sewage.

  Mr. Howard
  Details of how much of the bacterial content of the bathing waters at Lytham St. Annes
  397
  emanates from local discharges or from the river Ribble are not available. I understand that the North West water authority believes that the Ribble is a major influence and that the output from Clifton Marsh sewage treatment works is a major component of the bacteriological levels in the river. They are investigating a number of options for improving the quality of the discharge from Clifton Marsh sewage treatment works, including secondary treatment and disinfection.

  Rate Arrears
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the 30 local authorities in England with the largest amounts of rate arrears, with the amounts outstanding and the number of people owing in each case.

  Mr. Gummer
  The latest information from CIPFA published statistics on gross rate arrears, including non-domestic rate arrears, show that the 30 local authorities in England with the largest amounts of rate arrears are as below. Information about the number of people and businesses owning rates is not available.

  Gross arrears outstanding

  £1000

  Lambeth

  233,263

  Liverpool

  25,230

  Brent

  16,661

  Southwark

  313,856

  Camden

  13,085

  Newham

  211,284

  Manchester

  310,702

  Westminster

  9,816

  Hackney

  19,559

  Birmingham

  8,490

  City of London

  7,828

  Lewisham

  7,419

  Ealing

  7,242

  Leicester

  6,796

  Tower Hamlets

  5,443

  Waltham Forest

  25,410

  Wandsworth

  5,390

  Bristol

  5,315

  Islington

  5,185

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  25,031

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  4,943

  Greenwich

  4,544

  Haringey

  4,323

  Barnet

  14,007

  Wirral

  3,856

  Kensington and Chelsea

  13,756

  Doncaster

  3,743

  Harrow

  13,704

  Wolverhampton

  3,301

  Sefton

  2,947

  Notes: Gross arrears are at 31 March 1988 unless otherwise indicated:

  1 As at 31 March 1987.

  2 As at 31 March 1986.

  3 As at 31 March 1985.

  Inspectorate of Pollution
  Mr. Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the impact on dealing with emergencies of the regionalisation of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The inspectorate has no general responsibility for dealing with emergencies.
  398
  However, one of the objectives of the proposed reorganisation is to increase the effectiveness of the inspectorate across the whole range of its activities, which includes for example the control of emissions from scheduled processes and discharges from premises subject to the Radioactive Substances Act 1960.

  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution's responsibility for dealing with the consequences in the United Kingdom of overseas nuclear accidents remains as set out in the Department of the Environment publication "The National Response Plan and Radioactive Incident Monitoring Network (RIMNET)—a Statement of Proposals", a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what impact his proposed structural changes to Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution will have on the county of Cleveland; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what impact the regionalisation of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution will have on the county of Cleveland; by what extent field work will be reduced as a result of increased travelling; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Cleveland will be the responsibility of the Northern region of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, based in Leeds. The detailed working arrangements that are being drawn up for each region are being designed to facilitate the integration of pollution control, and thus increase the effectiveness of the inspectorate.

  Mr. Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what proposals he has to place Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution on a regional basis; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what structural changes he proposes to make to Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Proposals are being developed for the reorganisation of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in order to integrate its responsibilities for air pollution control, radioactive substances, water pollution and other wastes on a regional basis.

  Three regions are being established to cover the North, South West and South East. This approach was adopted to ensure sufficiently large management units to secure an adequate mix of skills.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future policy of the Government with regard to toxic waste incinerators.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Incineration will continue to play an important role in United Kingdom waste disposal arrangements. It is the only safe disposal route for some toxic wastes and it can reduce the volume and toxicity of many other wastes thus helping to conserve landfill capacity.
  399
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his best estimate of the species of mammals and birds most at threat from the dumping of toxic waste in the North sea.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Present levels of toxic waste entering the North sea do not represent a general threat to sea birds or marine mammals resident in United Kingdom waters. Moreover, as a result of important measures agreed at the second North sea conference in 1987 levels of toxic substances discharged to the North sea will fall substantially.

  Persistent organic contaminants, including PCBs and pesticides, can accumulate in the blubber of marine animals which are at the top of the food chain. They have been implicated in damage to local populations of marine mammals in parts of the Wadden sea off the German and Dutch coasts. It has been shown that the heavy load of contaminants in this area comes largely from the Rivers Rhine, Weser and Elbe.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his priority to seek to ensure that each county authority has a toxic waste disposal facility capable of meeting the requirements of indigenous industries in each county.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No. Waste disposal authorities have a responsibility to ensure that there are adequate safe disposal facilities for all waste arising in their areas, but they are not precluded from making agreements with other authorities. They are required to submit plans to my hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment showing that satisfactory arrangements are in place or in prospect.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to tighten up and enforce existing regulations governing the disposal of toxic and other dangerous waste substances so as to safeguard the public from the effects of unsupervised disposals of these substances.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Stringent controls over the disposal of waste already exist. Waste disposal authorities (WDAs) are responsible for supervising disposal and safeguarding public health and the environment. Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution monitor the performance of WDAs and aim by reports and advice to secure improvements. Legislation to strengthen and enhance existing controls is to be introduced at the earliest opportunity.

  Bristol Channel (Pollution)
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what reports he has received and what reporting system is in the use from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, in relation to pollution by sewage of beaches along the coastlines of the Bristol channel.

  Mr. Howard
  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution does not report on bathing water quality or beach pollution. Water authorities report to the Department of the Environment on the quality of bathing waters under the terms of the EC Bathing Water Directive and local authorities are responsible for dealing with the pollution of beaches.
  400
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the water pollution inspectorate last reported on the water quality in the Bristol channel and the degree of sewage deposits on the beaches; when the inspectorate will next make such a report, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave him earlier today.

  Radio 1 Green Week
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the "green week" held by Radio 1, beginning 26 June; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  None.

  Nature Reserves
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement concerning the proposed sell-off of national nature reserves.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. and learned Member to the statement made by my noble Friend the Minister of State for Housing, Environment and the Countryside on 3 May in another place.

  Cacti
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why his Department, to avoid the risk of rabies being introduced, requires a prospective importer of a cactus plant to notify the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of his intention.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The requirement to consult the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food about rabies controls applies only to imports of live animals. I will ensure that this is made clear in the Department's standard letter acknowledging applications for import permits.

  Possession Orders
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the latest available figures on the number of possession orders awarded to building societies and banks against mortgage holders during 1988 and the first two months of 1989.

  Mr. Trippier
  The number of possession orders awarded in England and Wales during 1988 against holders of private sector mortgages was 43,108. The figures do not distinguish between building societies, banks and other private mortgage lenders. The provisional figures for the first two months of 1989 are 3,819 during January and 3,564 during February. Most possession orders do not result in properties being taken into possession.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the rise in interest rates on the number of mortgaged properties that will be taken into possession or where possession will be granted during 1989.

  Mr. Trippier
  Evidence available for the United Kingdom in the last decade does not indicate any simple
  401
  correlation between changes in the number of mortgaged properties taken into possession and changes in interest rates.

  Defective Houses
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will waive the age limitation on defective timber framed houses purchased by residents under the right-to-buy legislation from Ashford council in Kent so that they can be designated as defective under the Housing Act 1985.

  Mr. Trippier
  There are no age limitations on the types of houses which can be designated as inherently defective under the housing defects legislation. Proposals to remove the current age limits under the home improvement grant system are contained in the Local Government and Housing Bill.

  Land, Dorset
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report, for each of the last three years, details of all sites in Dorset, on the register of public unused and underutilised land, stating the ownership thereof, and the number of acres of each site.

  Mr. Trippier
  I am arranging for copies of tables giving this information in the most convenient form available to be placed in the Library of the House. Details of sites removed from the register are based on information provided by 30 June 1989.

  Endangered Species
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether products made from the skin of the Nile crocodile require an import licence under CITES.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Yes.

  Emergencies
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether expenditure incurred by a local authority in dealing with a major emergency, for which the Secretary of State provides discretionary financial assistance under the Local Government and Housing Bill, will be immune from grant penalties.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There are no grant penalties under the new local government finance system.

  Environmental Impact Assessment Seminar
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department will be represented at the 10th international seminar on environmental impact assessment to be held in Aberdeen during July.

  Mr. Chope
  No.

  National Park Quarries
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the impact of the construction of de-sulphurisation plants at power stations on the demand for limestone from quarries in national parks.
  402
  Mr. Trippier
  No assessment has been made of the demand for limestone from quarries in national parks arising specifically out of the the CEGB's flue gas de-sulphurisation programme, although my Department has commissioned a research project into high purity limestone resources and the demand for non aggregate uses. The report will be published at the beginning of next year.

  The CEGB has indicated that the complete 12 GW retrofit programme would account for less than 2 million tonnes of limestone per year (less than 2 per cent. of current production). The board also announced in August 1987 that it would not take limestone from quarries in national parks for the three existing power stations selected for retro-fitting with the flue gas de-sulphurisation process. The board went on to state that it hoped to follow a similar policy when obtaining limestone for new stations. That assessment was made in the knowledge of the Government's policy on mineral working in national parks set out in the statement by my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, West on 9 April 1987 (HC 393/394). I understand that the board's policy towards limestone supply has not changed since their August 1987 announcement.

  Returnable Glass Bottles
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made on the implementation of directive 339–185.

  Mr. Atkins
  I have been asked to reply.

  Good progress is being made under the United Kingdom's programme for implementing the Beverage Containers Directive. For glass, we are on course to achieve the target of doubling the number of bottle banks to 5,000 by 1992, and the volume of glass being recovered is increasing rapidly: 275,000 tonnes were recycled in 1988. The amount of metal recovered from cans is also increasing and will be boosted still further by the Aluminium Can Recycling Association's recent launch of a nationwide scheme with 250 collection centres. British Steel is encouraging local authorities to become involved in extracting steel cans from household waste and about 900 million cans are now being recovered annually in this way. For plastic containers, both the British Plastics Federation and the British Soft Drinks Association are supporting recycling schemes and are actively participating in the Sheffield Recycling City experiment involving door-to-door collection and separate plastics bottle banks.

  Packaging
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research he has commissioned into the environmental benefits of bio-degradable packaging and shopping bags.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 6 July 1989]: None. The plastics industry is continuing to develop bio-degradable plastics. We expect manufacturers and users of packaging to take advantage of such developments in responding to the demands of consumers.

  Regent's Park
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the acreage of land leased with St. John's lodge to which the public do not have free access; what was the equivalent acreage in 1979; and whether any changes have been requested by the current lesses.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 6 July 1989]: St. John's lodge with its associated buildings and private gardens occupy approximately 24 acres and are owned by the Crown Estate. That position has not changed since 1979. The Government have agreed with the Crown Estate that the present access route from the Inner Circle to the gardens behind the lodge will be closed to the public and a new public access route provided further to the east. This will not affect the area of Regent's park to which the public are admitted.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total land acreage of Regent's park to which the public have free access and what was the equivalent figure in 1979.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 6 July 1989]: The public have free access to approximately 253 of the 358 acres of Regent's park.

  The figures have not changed since 1979.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the total income from Regent's park in the way of leases, concessions, franchises and charges, respectively in 1978–79 and each successive year;

  (2) what was the total spending by his Department on Regent's park in 1978–79 and each succeeding year.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 6 July 1989]: Detailed income and expenditure figures for individual Royal parks are available only from 1987–88. The figures for Regent's park are as follows:

  1987–88

  1988–89 (provisional)

  £

  £

  Total Expenditure

  1,884,902

  2,027,222

  Total Income

  137,485

  144,631

  These figures exclude some items of income and expenditure, such as the costs of policing the Royal parks, which are recorded centrally.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when London zoo first asked to be allowed to take over a further 10 acres of Regent's park;

  (2) whether any users of Regent's park have been consulted about the use of an extra 10 acres of the park by London zoo;

  (3) what considerations his Department will use in assessing which 10 acres of Regent's park can be taken over by London zoo.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 6 July 1989]: The suggestion that the Zoological Society of London should take over an extra ten acres of land under the terms of the Crown Estate Act 1961, arose in considering the consultant's report on the scope for improving the zoo's financial performance and led to my right hon. Friend's announcement on 11 May 1988. In agreeing the location of
  404
  the ten acres we shall be concerned to minimise the impact on the park and to protect the historic landscape as far as possible. The Zoological Society of London has consulted local residents and amenity groups on the principle of the 10 acres. As soon as further plans have been developed, the Society will ensure that the views of local individuals and groups are sought again.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any request has been received by his Department to take over part of Regent's park besides the request by London zoo.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 6 July 1989]: The Crown Estate has asked to take over a piece of parkland of approximately 50 square metres on the edge of the Outer Circle near Hanover Gate Lodge. This will allow access to six villas being built by the Crown Estate on land that it owns. In exchange, the Crown Estate is making available for park use a small section of garden of similar size next to Chalbert Gate footbridge. This will improve the presentation of that area. There will be no loss of public amenity.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any request has been received to block any path, entrance or route within the outer circle of Regent's park.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer, 6 July 1989]: No such request has been receiwd. London zoo's proposals to use an additional ten acres of Regent's park currently include an extension of the southern boundary of the zoo. This would require the rerouting of the existing footpath outside that boundary along the new perimeter line.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department has any plans to charge for access to any part of Regent's park to which the public have free access at present.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 6 July 1989]: No.

  Severe Mental Impairment
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to the joint Department of Health/Department of the Environment working party to consider development in the assessment of severe mental impairment.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 7 July 1989]: There is, and will continue to be, close liaison between my Department and the Department of Health on this matter.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Electricity Privatisation
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the cost to date of advertising by his Department on the privatisation of the electricity supply industry; and what is the estimated total cost.

  Mr. Viggers
  Nothing to date—as expenditure on advertising is not likely to be incurred until well into the privatisation process, no estimate of the cost has yet been made.
  405
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated cost of the privatisation of the electricity supply industry in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Viggers
  It is not possible to say at this stage since advisers have not yet been appointed.

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the predicted number of consultants who will be required to assist in the development of proposals for the privatisation of the electricity supply industry.

  Mr. Viggers
  It is expected that consultants will be required to advise on financial, legal, technical and accounting matters.

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the salary for the position of the financial adviser to assist in the development of proposals for the privatisation of the electricity supply industry.

  Mr. Viggers
  The fees will be negotiated at the time of appointment.

  Students
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current number of(a) full-time and (b) part-time students in Northern Ireland; and what are the projections for these figures for the next 10 years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 6 July 1989]: Figures for enrolment on higher education undergraduate and postgraduate, and vocational further education courses in 1988–89 are as follows:

  Full-time

  Part-time

  32,734

  48,239

  In addition, there are an estimated 80,000 part-time enrolments on continuing education and non-vocational further education courses.

  Projections for these figures for the next 10 years are not available.

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the number of people who applied for educational maintenance allowances in each of the last seven years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 6 July 1989]: The figures for 1982–83 are not readily available, but the applications for educational maintenance allowances in Northern Ireland for the succeeding six years are as follows:

  Number

  1983–84

  5,973

  1984–85

  5,219

  1985–86

  4,420

  1986–87

  3,599

  1987–88

  3,206

  1988–89

  2,446

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received 406
  from the Fair Employment Agency regarding the White Paper, "Top-up Loans for Students"; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 6 July 1989]: The agency wrote to me on 13 March expressing concern that the partial substitution of loans for grants could discourage poorer people from entering university, and could therefore have the effect of diminishing Catholic participation in higher education. In noting the agency's view, I remain convinced that its fears are misplaced. In any event, as already indicated in the White Paper, the Government intends to monitor the introduction of the new funding arrangements, so as to measure their effects on such matters as participation by social class or gender.

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what would be the cost at 1988–89 prices of introducing educational maintenance allowances for 16 and 17-year-olds in full-time education in schools and colleges at(a) the same rates as income support for young people and (b) the same rate as training allowances paid to 16 and 17-year-olds on YTP schemes.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 6 July 1989]: The estimated costs would be (a) £22 million and (b) £31 million.

  Veterinary Services
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he estimates that officials from the Department of Agriculture (Northern Ireland) will complete their considerations regarding the future needs on veterinary manpower and training in the light of the Riley report of 1989.

  Mr. Viggers
  [holding answer 6 July 1989]: The Government announced on 7 June 1989 a review of veterinary manpower needs in both the public and private sectors. The review will be conducted by a committee under the chairmanship of Dr. E. S. Page. The Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland will be contributing as required to the committee's work, which it is hoped will be completed by the end of the year.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Short Money
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what representations he has received about the amount paid in assistance to Opposition parties.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Since 21 June 1988, when the House approved the existing arrangements for payment of financial assistance to Opposition parties, I have corresponded with a right hon. Member and an hon. Member from the party opposite on two separate matters and answered two parliamentary questions.

  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Lord President of the Council by what percentage assistance to Opposition parties increased in the last year for which figures are available; and to what amount.

  Mr. Wakeham
  In accordance with the Resolution of the House of 21 June 1988, the amount of Short money
  407
  paid to Opposition parties in 1988 was £1,203,322·97p, which includes arrears of £319,000 due in 1987. The amount paid in 1987, in accordance with the previous Resolution, was £597,741·27p. This represents a percentage increase of 101·3 per cent. between the calendar years 1987 and 1988. However, because of the change in basis of calculation of Short money, this comparison is of limited value.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Lord President of the Council by how much assistance to Opposition parties increased in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I refer my hon. Friend to my answer earlier today to the hon. Member for Fulham (Mr. Carrington). The amount paid increased by £605,581·70.

  Questions
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Lord President of the Council whether he proposes to make any changes in the question rota for the next Session of Parliament.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I have no such plans at present.

  European Legislation
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what progress he has made in his review of the consideration of European legislation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I am still considering the issues involved, taking account of the views of the Procedure and European Legislation Committees.

TRANSPORT

  Disabled People (Mobility)
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures his Department has taken to increase mobility for people with disabilities.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The many measures that we have taken and our plans for the future are set out in "Transport and Disability, a Statement of Aims and Priorities" recently published by the Department. Copies have been placed in the Library. Drawing on the expert advice of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, Britain is a world leader in improving mobility for disabled people.

  British Rail (Privatisation)
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has now formulated a timetable for the privatisation of British Rail.

  Mr. Portillo
  No decision has been taken on privatisation. My right hon. Friend has made it clear that privatisation could not take place during the current Parliament, although the necessary studies are already in hand.

  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about proposals to privatise British Rail.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about proposals to privatise British Rail.
  408
  Mr. Portillo
  A small number from interested organisations and from individuals.

  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had concerning the possible privatisation of British Rail.

  Mr. Portillo
  The work which is currently being undertaken on the possible privatisation of British Rail has been discussed fully with British Rail. In addition a small number of representations has so far been received from interested organisations. My right hon. Friend expects to consult widely in due course if a decision is made to privatise.

  Rail Services
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has had from the Better Rail Campaign for improved services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, met representatives of NUR, ASLEF and TSSA after the NERA report was published last year. Since then we have received about 700 representations from hon. Members and members of the public.

  Road Traffic
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he plans to take steps to slow the increase of motor traffic on roads.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  No. It would be neither proper nor popular to try to stifle economic growth or to deny more ordinary people the freedom that car use brings.

  We encourage the movement of freight by rail where there are clear environmental reasons. Investment in public transport is rising to record levels.

  We do much to promote measures to reduce vehicle speeds and improve the environment in residential areas.

  Better driving, management and maintenance could save some 20 per cent. of fuel and significantly reduce pollution.

  With a 20 per cent. reduction in fuel usage, pollution levels would be no more than they were 10 years ago.

  Automatic Ticket Barriers
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many personal and property injuries have been reported from automatic ticket barriers in the past six months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  No major injuries were sustained by passengers using automatic ticket barriers, though 31 minor personal injuries were reported. I understand that there were 99 cases of damage to property.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on automatic ticket barriers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  In addition to five early-day motions, just over 100 representations have been received from Members of Parliament and members of the public since 1 January 1989.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any proposals to ensure the
  409
  travelling public have a choice between using an automatic ticket barrier or presenting their ticket to a member of staff.

  Mr. Portillo
  It is a matter for the operator concerned. London Underground stations with automatic gates have a separate manually-operated gate, under the control of uniformed staff, for use by passengers with physical disabilities or who are laden with bulky shopping or with pushchairs or small children.

  Air Fares
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects to meet the EEC counterparts to discuss European air fares; and if he will make a statement on competition between European airlines.

  Mr. Channon
  I understand that the French Presidency plans to hold a meeting of EC Transport Ministers on aviation issues in the autumn.

  We shall be pressing for further liberalisation, which by increasing competition will lead to lower fares.

  National Bus Company
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what clawback provisions in relation to which assets at which locations were set out in contracts for the sale of National Bus Company subsidiaries to successful bidders.

  Mr. Portillo
  Mortgage charges were placed on 18 properties as part of the sale of 14 National Bus Company subsidiaries, so that the National Bus Company receives a share in any development profit if these properties are sold within 10 years.

  Air Traffic
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the Civil Aviation Authority's policy on air traffic congestion.

  Mr. Channon
  I have received numerous representations on a variety of air traffic control policy issues.

  Fast London Rail Study
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the report on the east London rail study to be published.

  Mr. Portillo
  I expect to announce the outcome of the ELRS shortly.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the report on the east London rail study to be published.

  Mr. Portillo
  Shortly.

  Luton Airport
  Mr. Bright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what rate of aircraft movements per hour from Luton international airport has been assumed in the study of airspace management in the London area currently being conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority.
  410
  Mr. Channon
  In paragraph 3.47 of its consultation document "Civil Aviation Policy 548" the Civil Aviation Authority said that it had assumed a peak rate of about 16 aircraft movements per hour for Luton airport.

  British Rail (Electrification)
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many British Rail electrification projects the Government have approved since 1979.

  Mr. Channon
  Since 1979 the Government have approved nine electrification schemes, worth over £600 million in current prices. In addition the Government have approved a package of Channel tunnel-related investment including some £35 million of electrification work. British Rail has itself approved a further 14 smaller schemes.

  Pedestrians (Casualties)
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he proposes to tackle pedestrian road casualties.

  Mr. Channon
  In 1988 there were at least 1,750 pedestrian deaths on our roads, and 57,000 other injuries. Tackling these unnecessary accidents is one of my top priorities.

  I announced a series of proposals in the document "Pedestrian Safety: New Proposals for Making Walking Safer" on 19 April. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of Transport what representation he has had from British Rail regarding private sector involvement in the construction of the Channel tunnel rail links; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The British Railways Board will report to me on its progress in securing private sector involvement in the rail link schemes.

  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to meet the chairman of British Rail to discuss direct passenger services from the north, north-west, midlands, south-west and Scotland to European destinations using the Channel tunnel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  I have discussed these matters with British Rail which is still working on the plan which it is producing under section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act.

  Mr Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has made any progress with his plans to encourage participation by the private sector in British Rail's high-speed rail link; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  British Rail is currently discussing its proposals for the high speed rail link with a number of private sector interests.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet the chairman of British Rail to discuss the rail link from the Channel tunnel.
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  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend and I meet the chairman regularly to discuss a wide range of issues, including from time to time, the Channel tunnel rail link. Our next meeting is tomorrow.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much Government investment is taking place this year in Nottinghamshire(a) on roads and (b) on rail.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Department's planned investment on roads in Nottinghamshire in the year 1989–90 is £14·806 million. This includes new construction, preparation of new schemes, maintenance on trunk roads and motorways and TSG support for county council schemes.

  The Government do not invest directly in railways. British Rail cannot provide information on its investment on a county basis.

  East London Assessment Study
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultation he proposes with people affected by the east London assessment study plans after publication of the consultants' report.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms. Ruddock) on 24 April at column 441.

  M1 (Sheffield)
  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much of the transport supplementary grant has been allocated in 1989–90 for developing the Sheffield M1 link via Mossborough.

  Mr. Bottomley
  Transport supplementary grant is paid at a flat rate of 50 per cent. on an accepted programme of expenditure for each local highway authority. Expenditure of £1·025 million on the Sheffield—M1 link via Mossborough is part of Sheffield city council's 1989–90 accepted programme.

  Road Deaths
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were killed on Britain's roads in 1978 and 1988.

  Mr. Bottomley
  In 1978, there were 6,831 deaths in road accidents in Great Britain. Provisional figures for 1988 show that 5,041 people died on the roads, a fall of just over one quarter.

  In the same period traffic has increased by 40 per cent. and the number of vehicles licensed has increased by 30 per cent.

  Routemasters
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the implications for central Government financial support of London Regional Transport of the proposed sale of 50 Routemasters to Japan.

  Mr. Portillo
  Income from the sale of surplus assets by London Regional Transport offsets its need for Government grant.

  British Rail
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects to meet the chairman of British Rail; and what subjects he expects to discuss with him.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Pembroke (Mr. Bennett) and the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mrs. Dunwoody) earlier today.

  Western Environmental Improvement Route
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many letters he has received regarding the possible development of the western environmental improvement route; and what was the number in favour and the number against this proposed route.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The large response to the public consultation held earlier this year is being analysed.

  A decision on the future of the western environmental improvement route will not be taken until we reach conclusions on the west London assessment study. We intend to announce the outcome of the public consultation.

  Public Transport
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to prepare for a marked expansion of public transport within conurbations.

  Mr. Portillo
  The central and east London rail studies are considering proposals for three new rail lines in London as well as a programme to upgrade the existing network. The four London assessment studies are looking at whether public transport improvements might help to solve the problems which those studies are addressing.

  The Department is considering a number of light rail projects in urban areas outside London for which grant support is being sought under section 56 of the Transport Act 1968.

  London Regional Transport
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the chair of London Regional Transport; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I met Mr. Wilfred Newton on 3 July. A variety of matters were discussed.

  Barnstaple Roads
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy on the early construction of the Barnstaple downstream bridge and the completion of the bypass around Barnstaple.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  My right hon. Friend will open the trunk road bypass of Barnstaple on 18 July. Devon county council is entirely responsible for the timing and priority accorded to its schemes for the Barnstaple downstream bridge and stage IV of the urban relief road.

  Submarines and Fishing Boats
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received about incidents involving submarines and fishing boats; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Department has received one representation. It was dealt with by way of ministerial correspondence.

  Lane Rentals
  Mr. Aspinwall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his assessment of how much lane rental contracts have saved motorists.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  From their introduction in 1984 until March 1988, lane rental contracts on motorways and trunk roads are estimated to have saved about 2,000 days of delay worth £35 million to road users. Results for 1988–89 are not yet available.

  Rail Freight (Wales)
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has had any recent discussions with the chairman of British Rail about the provision of European freight facilities in south-east Wales.

  Mr. Portillo
  I have discussed with British Rail its plans for Channel tunnel services.

  British Rail is still working on the plan which it is producing under section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act.

  Motorway Driving
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department has conducted research to establish whether there is a form of technology that could be used on motorways as a means of establishing whether a particular driver is driving too close to the vehicle in front.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Existing technology can be used on motorways to help establish whether a particular driver is driving too close to the vehicle in front. It is for the police to decide when it may be appropriate to set up such equipment, and whether it is likely to be effective in persuading drivers to comply with the safe following distances recommended in the highway code.

  Some police forces are also experimenting with the use of video camera to bring home to drivers the dangers of following too close.

  Drivers should use their eyes, minds and experience.

  Roads (Oxfordshire)
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent by his Department on roads in Oxfordshire over the last five years; and how much he anticipates being spent over the next five years.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Figures are not readily available in the form requested. In the three years from April 1986 to March 1989 the Department spent £37·8 million in connection with motorway and trunk road new construction and maintenance in Oxfordshire, excluding land costs.
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  We are planning to spend a further £47·5 million this financial year, mainly on A43 Peartree Hill-Wendlebury, A41 Bicester bypass stage 1, and the M40 Waterstock-Wendlebury scheme for which the contract was let on 28 June.

  In addition, for the five-year period from April 1985 to March 1990, £3·148 million has been made available to the county council under transport supplementary grant for local road schemes.

  Further expenditure will depend upon progress with the scheme and availability of funds.

  Transport Investment (Nottinghamshire)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much Government investment is taking place this year in Nottinghamshire(a) on roads ad (b) on rail.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Department's planned investment on roads in Nottinghamshire in the year 1989–90 is £14·806 million. This includes new construction, preparation of new schemes, maintenance on trunk roads and motorways and TSG support for county council schemes.

  The Government do not invest directly in railways. British Rail cannot provide information on its investment on a county basis.

  Trees
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many trees were planted by his Department in England in 1988–89.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  One million four hundred thousand.

  Drink-Driving
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider introducing a programme to change the attitudes of drunk drivers.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We announced proposals to carry out a major experiment in the use of rehabilitation courses designed to influence the attitudes of drunk drivers in the White Paper "The Road User and the Law" published on 7 February this year. In England and Wales, enabling powers will be required for the courts to order rehabilitation for those convicted of drink-drive offences. In Scotland, we are looking into the possibility of setting up a trial scheme employing the existing powers of the courts.

  Motorway Safety
  Mr. Dickens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has for making motorways safer.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  In April last year, the Secretary of State announced a package of measures designed to improve the overall level of safety on motorways. Many of these measures were implemented rapidly. Others, involving regulatory procedures or new research are for the longer term.

  We are anxious to improve the standard of driving on motorways. We have produced 11 million leaflets offering advice on the key safety rules for motorway driving. We

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  are encouraging newly qualified drivers to take additional tuition on motorway driving after passing the L test and before actually taking to the motorway.

  The motorway safety package included measures to improve safety at roadworks. From 1 August last year, speed limits at major motorway roadworks and contraflows were made mandatory and traffic at these sites is being monitored by video equipment. At contraflows, lorries are now normally restricted to the near side lane.

  New regulations are currently being prepared which will allow vehicles at the end of a slow moving queue to switch on their hazard warning lights.

  The "Lane Closed" gantry signal (flashing red lights) is being replaced so as to display a red cross which will be more readily understood. Similarly, the symbol showing the end of restrictions will be replaced by the word "End". These changes will be implemented progressively, over several years.

  A trial of 70 mph speed limit repeater signs on the M1 has been taking place since last September to establish their effect on vehicle speed.

  We shall shortly be experimenting with "Chevron markings" to see if they help drivers to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front.

  The Department is also co-operating with some private sector companies to produce road safety publicity material. Amongst recent initiatives is a video recently produced by the Association of British Insurers called "Happens All The Time". This brings home the main lessons on safer motorway driving to 17 to 24-year-olds.

  Sprinter Trains
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last discussed the supply of Sprinter class trains with the chairman of British Rail.

  Mr. Portillo
  In April of this year, when I gave approval for a further tranche of class 158 express Sprinter trains.

  "New Roads by New Means"
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received in response to his consultation document "New Roads by New Means".

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We have received a number of representations to date, mostly positive. The consultation period does not expire until 14 July.

  British Rail (Inadequate Services)
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce legislation to make British Rail financially accountable to its customers for failed or inadequate services.

  Mr. Portillo
  British Rail's conditions of carriage already allow for refunds to be considered in cases where timetabled connections cannot be made or where services have been altered, withdrawn or suspended for any reason.

  I have no present plans for legislation.

  Air Traffic Control
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority to discuss air traffic control delays.
  416
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State frequently meets the chairman of the authority to discuss a whole range of topics of mutual interest.

  Horne Report
  Mr. Archer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now announce a timetable for introducing legislation to implement the recommendations of the Horne review in connection with public utility undertakings engaging in works on the highway.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Detailed proposals for legislation have been prepared following extensive consultation on the Home report. Comments from interested parties on these proposals are currently being considered.

  Legislation will be introduced as soon as there is a suitable opportunity.

  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his reply of 12 June,Official Report, column 334, to the hon.Member for Pontefract and Castleford (Mr. Lofthouse) about the Horne report, what he regards as a suitable opportunity.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The earliest available opportunity.

  Pedestrians (Injury Compensation)
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will introduce legislation to provide compensation for pedestrians injured by cyclists.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  A pedestrian injured by a negligent cyclist can already seek compensation through the courts. Regular cyclists should try to ensure that their normal household insurance policies are extended to cover injury to third parties caused when cycling. This is in fact often the case under such policies anyway.

  A1/M1 Link
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to approve tenders for the A1/M1 link Thrapstow-Brampton.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Tenders for the western part of the Thrapston to Brampton section of the M1 to A1 link road (contract 7) are due for return on 4 August. A contract will be awarded when the checking procedures have been carried out.

  A41 (Bypass)
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the difference in the approved route as between the first and second inquiry covering the Northchurch to Kings Langley A41 bypass.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The centre line of the Kings Langley and Berkhamsted bypasses was established by orders made under the Highway Act following the first inquiry. Draft amendment orders considered at the second inquiry would, if made, modify that line to the minor extent necessary to reflect the dual carriageway standard and grade separation of the junctions now proposed.

  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the second inquiry into the A41 bypass covering
  417
  Northchurch to Kings Langley (a) opened and (b) closed; when the inspector was expected to report; and when it is anticipated he will report.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The second inquiry into draft line, side roads and compulsory purchase orders for the Kings Langley arid Berkhamsted bypasses opened on 27 April 1988 and closed on 6 September 1988. The inspector's report was received in March.

  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the first inquiry into the A41 bypass covering Northchurch to Kings Langley(a) opened and (b) closed; and when the inspector reported.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The first inquiry, into the draft line orders for the Kings Langley and Berkhamsted bypasses, opened on 3 February 1983 and closed on 12 May 1983. The inspectors's report is dated 26 September 1983.

  M66
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to change the level of the parapet on the Brinnington road and Lingard lane road bridges and the Lapwing lane footbridge over the M66.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  No. The parapets meet the Department's standards applied throughout the country.

  Transport Supplementary Grant
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill, of 27 June,Official Report, column 376, if he will state the amount of transport supplementary grant allocated to Liverpool city council for the Park road relief road in 1988–89 and 1989–90.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Expenditure on this scheme accepted for transport supplementary grant was £300,000 in 1988–89 and £2,060,000 in 1989–90. The grant payable on those figures would be £150,000 and £1,030,000 respectively.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are his Department's procedures to ensure that funds allocated to a council as transport supplementary grant are spent on the project for which they were intended.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Transport supplementary grant is not a specific grant paid in support of individual projects. It is paid towards the cost of accepted programmes of expenditure on named major schemes and on blocks of minor works expenditure on roads of more than local importance.

  If an authority's expenditure on its approved programme in any year is significantly less than the amount accepted for TSG, an adjustment may be made to the grant paid in a subsequent year to ensure that grant is not paid twice on the same piece of planned expenditure.

  Severn Bridge
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the inspector's report into toll charges on the Severn bridge; and when he expects to announce his decision on the inspector's recommendations.
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  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  As soon as possible.

  Thames Riverbus Service
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the agreement between his Department and the Thames Riverbus service concerning the payment to the service of a £500,000 grant.

  Mr. Portillo
  I have arranged for a copy of the agreement to be deposited in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why the agreement between his Department and the Thames Riverbus service concerning the payment of a £500,000 grant specifies that the service must be maintained to only some of the piers served by the Riverbus at the time the agreement was made.

  Mr. Portillo
  The provision concerning a service to certain piers was designed to ensure that a substantial core service would be provided so that Riverbus would contribute to the relief of road congestion and encourage the development of riverside areas in need of regeneration. The piers specified for this purpose in the agreement, Charing Cross, Festival, Swan Lane, London Bridge/City and West India, were those serving the core route.

  Manchester Airport Rail Link
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the Government's current position about the Manchester airport rail link; what recent contact he has had with British Rail in relation to the project; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Thurnham) earlier today.

  Trawlers (Accidents)
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents involving fatality have occurred to fishing trawlers which remain unexplained; and what is the number of deaths recorded.

  Mr. Portillo
  During the last 12 months, Department of Transport marine surveyors have been appointed to investigate all accidents to United Kingdom fishing vessels involving fatalities. In the cases where the investigation is complete, the probable causes have been established.

  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions accidents involving Royal Navy or United States submarines and fishing trawlers have resulted in fatality; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  There have been no known fatal accidents involving United Kingdom registered fishing vessels and United Kingdom or United States submarines.

  Underground Fares
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to meet the chairman of London Regional Transport to discuss Underground fares.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend and I meet the chairman of London Regional Transport (LRT) regularly to discuss a range of issues.

  FV Fay (Sinking)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has about the sinking of the FV Fay at 5 am on Thursday 6 July; if there were any British or North Atlantic Treaty Organisation submarines in the area at the time; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Fay was returning home from the Isle of Man after acting as escort boat for a charity event. Some two hours after sailing it was found that the vessel 420
  was flooding. A Mayday signal was sent before the boat had to be abandoned. A rescue operation was mounted involving aircraft, helicopters and lifeboats and all hands were picked up.

  An investigation is being carried out. At this stage the cause of the sinking is not clear; it does not, however, appear that any other vessel was involved and, in particular, it has been established that no British or other NATO submarines were in the vicinity. The incident took place in waters that are too shallow for dived submarine operations.

  NUCLEAR WASTE: TRANSPORT VIA WANDSWORTH ROAD STATION
  NUCLEAR WASTE: TRANSPORT VIA WANDSWORTH ROAD STATION
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  DISCONTINUED DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOL PROPERTY: SALE
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  HORTICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
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