Written Answers of 14 July 1989

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Ghana
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further support he is providing for Ghana's economic recovery.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The United Kingdom continues to be a major supporter of Ghana's economic recovery programme. My right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, signed a grant agreement for a further £20 million balance of payments finance when she visited Ghana at the end of June. This brings to £92·5 million the total of our balance of payments support to Ghana since its economic recovery programme began in 1983.

  Brazil (Minister's Visit)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the visit of the right hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Patten) to Brazil to discuss rain forest problems.

  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement of the objectives achieved by the Minister for Overseas Development on his recent visit to Brazil.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The main purpose of my visit was to sign, on 5 July, a memorandum of understanding on technical co-operation on environmental matters. On that day I also met President Sarney and other leading Brazilian figures. The agreement is the first of its kind which Brazil has made with an industrialised country and will provide the framework for a significant contribution to Brazil's environmental problems, especially in forestry where we have unique expertise.

  I also visited Sao Paulo and the Amazon region where I had discussions with the major research institutions. I saw our very successful Royal Geographical Society project at Maraca, visited an area reserved for the Yanomani Indians and saw a hospital provided for them.

  Our additional technical co-operation programme, the details of which we will now discuss with the Brazilian authorities, is likely to cover five areas: first, urban environment, in particular sewage and water treatment; secondly, the sustainable management of the Amazon rain forest, where we hope to be involved in establishing a new biological reserve in the Xingu river area; thirdly, collaborative research on the relationship between the forests and climate, involving the Institute of Hydrology; fourthly, research into the great potential of the genetic resources of the Amazon; and we hope to begin soon with a research project into aromatic plants undertaken by the
  650
  Goeldi museum in Belem; and, fifthly, training in the United Kingdom and in Brazil in matters related to these areas.

  The visit shows that important progress is possible in these fields if the countries concerned adopt a co-operative spirit. Throughout my visit, I made it clear that we recognise Brazil's sensitiveness and sovereignty and the Brazilian Government responded in a helpful and positive way. I am sure that both countries will gain from the partnership.

  Overseas Aid (Anniversary Review)
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the cost of publishing the anniversary review of British overseas aid.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  It cost just under £105,000 to produce 20,000 copies of the anniversary review, a unit cost of £5·23. Despite more pages, photographs and graphics this was less than the unit cost of previous annual reviews.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Mail Prices
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects the Post Office to announce the new prices for first and second class mail from October.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 13 July 1989]: Postal tariffs are a matter for the Post Office board. The Post Office announced on 3 July that it had proposed to the Post Office Users National Council that the standard charges should go to by 1 p, to 20p for first class and to 15p for second class letters, from 2 October.

WALES

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, when he will make a statement on local government finance for 1990–91.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  In due course.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he first became aware of the October 1988 meeting between the chairman and chief executive of the Welsh Development Agency and the regional director and the senior investment executive of the west Wales office of the Welsh Development Agency at which management buy-out proposals were discussed.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave on 5 July to the hon. Member for Alyn and Deeside (Mr. Jones),Official Report, col. 182.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give full details of factory building completed in west Wales by the Welsh Development Agency for each year from 1983–84 to the present, giving the location and description of each site and the area of building involved.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The information is as follows:
  651
  (a) Advance Factory Build

  (i) 1983–84

  Cillefwr Ind Est, Carmathen 8 units totalling 9k sq ft.

  Whitland Ind Est, Whitland 12 units totalling 24k sq ft.

  Dafen Ind Park, Dafen, Llanelli 6 units totalling 80k sq ft.

  Thornton Ind Est, Milford Haven I unit totalling 10k sq ft.

  Salterns Ind Est, Tenby 17 units totalling 32k sq ft.

  (ii) 1984–85

  Dafen Ind Park, Dafen. Llanelli 4 units totalling 70k sq ft

  (iii) 1986–87

  Kingswood Ind Est, Pembroke Dock 4 units totalling 5k sq fit

  (iv) 1988–89

  London Road, Pembroke Dock 3 units totalling 20k sq ft

  Cillefwr Ind Est, Carmarthen 5 units totalling 8k sq ft

  (b) Bespoke Projects

  (i) 1984–85

  Bespoke extension of 5k sq ft for Record Wire Wheels at Llandovery.

  (ii) 1987–88

  Bespoke extension of 3k sq ft for Animal Food Products at Llanybyther.

  Bespoke extension of I k sq ft for Neyland Training Initiative at Great Honyborough, Milford Haven.

  (iii) 1988–89

  Bespoke extension of 4k sq ft for Record Wire Wheels at Llandovery.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if there are proposals under consideration in any of the regional offices of the Welsh Development Agency for contracting out(a) services currently provided by the Welsh Development Agency in the investment and business advisory field or (b) work as local agents for land reclamation, urban renewal and inward investment;

  (2) what consideration has been given to contracting out services currently provided by the west Wales region of the Welsh Development Agency in the fields of (a) investment and business advice, (b) land reclamation, (c) urban renewal and (d) inward investment; and if he will provide details.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I would expect the Welsh Development Agency to keep under continuing review opportunities for private sector involvement. I would naturally consider any proposal put to me by the agency for contracting out services where this would guarantee an equivalent or better level of service and a lesser cost to the taxpayer. There are, however, no such proposals before me at present.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his reply of 5 July,Official Report, column 181, how much of the 62,000 sq ft of factory building in west Wales referred to has been completed to date.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  As I informed the hon. Gentleman in the reply to which he refers, the agency intends to start work on this factory space in the current financial year.

  NHS Hospitals
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many National Health Service hospitals in use today in Wales were built(a) before 1914 and (b) before 1939; and how many National Health Service hospitals have been started since 1979.
  652
  Mr. Peter Walker
  Information on the number of hospitals built before 1939 is not available centrally. Since 1979, seven new hospitals have been built and one is due for completion at the end of this year. Major developments have been started at three existing hospitals. Many other smaller developments have been built since 1979 or are in the process of construction throughout Wales. Since 1979, £700 million (at 1989–90 prices) will have been invested in the capital estates of hospital and community health services in Wales.

  Planning Applications
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what directions are given to Cadw to resolve planning applications by negotiation rather than by public inquiry; and if he will investigate the relative cost to his Department of resolving queries on applications by(a) negotiation and (b) by public inquiry under section 33 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  In additon to its functions in relation to listed buildings, Cadw's role as a branch of my Department is to advise both myself and local authorities, as planning authorities, on the effect of development proposals on ancient monuments. While Cadw is willing to discuss proposals and alternative schemes with developers before a planning application is made, it will also in appropriate cases maintain objections to development for which an application has been made and ask me to consider calling it in for my own determination. Where I agree, the public inquiry that follows ensures compliance with the principles of openness, fairness and impartiality and serves to maintain public confidence in the quality of decisions and the process by which they are reached. Negotiation on alternative proposals is not possible once the application is called in and is thus not an alternative to negotiation before the application; nor can costs be usefully compared.

  ESA Payments
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the policy of Welsh Water in respect of the clawback of ESA payments made to tenants of farms in Welsh Water's ownership.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  This is a matter for the board of that authority.

  Land (Public Ownership)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what records he maintains of land acquired into public ownership for allotment purposes; and for how long these records have been kept.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  None. Records on land acquired for allotment purposes are not held centrally.

  Football Spectators Bill (Working Party)
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many of his working party on the Football Spectators Bill represent non-Football League clubs in Wales;

  (2) whether he will list the members of his working party on the Football Spectators Bill, and their status and qualifications.
  653
  Mr. Peter Walker
  Membership is as follows:

  Mr. Richard Wallace (Chairman), Under Secretary, Welsh Office.

  Mr. Robin Baker, Superintendent, North Wales Police.

  Mr. Haydn Davies, Assistant Chief Constable, South Wales Constabulary.

  Mr. Chris Whalley, Community Affairs Officer, The Football League Ltd.

  Mr. Alan Evans, Secretary, Football Association of Wales.

  Mr. Tony Clemo, Chairman, Cardiff City AFC.

  Mr. Tony Rance, General Manager, Wrexham AFC.

  Mr. George Taylor, Company Secretary, Swansea City AFC.

  Mr. Linford Tatham, Director, Sports Council for Wales.

  Mr. David Powell (Secretary), Senior Executive Officer, Welsh Office.

  The Football Association of Wales represents the interests of football at all levels, and the Sports Council for Wales is concerned with sport as a whole, including football.

TRANSPORT

  Airport Security
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if any categories of person will be exempt from security searches when moving between the air and land sides at Britain's 19 principal airports, when he introduces new security regulations in October; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The requirements for certain airports to search personnel working at the airport before they enter restricted areas was promulgated in directions under the Aviation Security Act issued by the Department on 5 April. The search requirements come into force on 1 October. The only people who will be exempt are staff engaged on certain aviation security duties and persons (such as police officers, Customs and immigration officials) acting in the course of statutory duties which give them a right of entry to such areas in order to carry out those duties. The directions require airport managers to endeavour to persuade persons with statutory rights of entry to consent to being searched, and the Department has reached agreement with the police, Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and the immigration service on the regime which will apply to their staff.

  Transport (Elderly and Disabled People)
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre inspectors are reclassifying vehicles used in dial-a-ride and similar schemes for elderly and disabled people in Scotland; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will publish what information he has on the effect of removing vehicle excise duty exemption from ambulance class vehicles used in dial-a-ride schemes for elderly and disabled people.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I will write to the hon. Lady.

  Flights (Cancellation)
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many flights in and out of United Kingdom airports had to be cancelled as a result of staffing shortages at West Drayton on each day of the week commencing 1 July; and if he will make a statement on the extent of and reasons for the shortages.
  654
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I shall ask the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority to write to the hon. Member.

  London-Manchester Shuttle
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ask the Director General of Fair Trading to investigate the British Airways shuttle service between Manchester and London to see if they have sufficient staff, planes, equipment and air traffic slots to provide the service as advertised.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  No. We are not aware of any evidence to suggest that British Airways lacks sufficient staff, aircraft, or equipment to operate the service adequately. Air traffic control slots can be requested only by the operator up to 2¼ hours before take-off, and the timing of the slots allocated depend on the traffic conditions prevailing at the time.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he has had with British Rail in producing a business plan for the Channel tunnel rail link; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  I have asked British Rail to prepare an outline investment appraisal of its proposals for the Channel tunnel rail link.

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice has been given to date by the independent Safety Authority to the Intergovernmental Commission on the Channel tunnel on whether people should remain in their own road vehicles whilst in transit through the Channel tunnel; and what further advice is expected from the commission and on what time scale.

  Mr. Portillo
  In 1988, the Safety Authority recommended to the Intergovernmental Commission that design work for the Channel tunnel project could continue on the assumption that passengers in private cars would be allowed to remain in their vehicles in shuttle trains. A final decision on this was subject to Eurotunnel producing further evidence about the procedures and arrangements required to ensure the safety of passengers (for example, dealing with emergencies, fire detection and extinction etc.). A substantial amount of further work has been carried out by Eurotunnel, in particular tests on vehicle fires and procedures for the evacuation of passengers in emergencies. The Safety Authority is currently evaluating this and other relevant evidence as a basis for its eventual advice to the Intergovernmental Commission on the principle of the non-segregation of passengers and their vehicles. Decisions are likely to be reached by the commission before the end of the year and will he made public.

  Severn Bridge
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the debt outstanding on the Severn bridge for each year since the bridge opened and the toll revenue collected each year since it opened.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The figures are as follows:
  655

  Income £million

  Debt £million

  1966–67

  0·33

  13·62

  1967–68

  0·74

  14·55

  1968–69

  0·81

  14·97

  1969–70

  0·87

  15·29

  1970–71

  0·93

  15·62

  1971–72

  1·00

  15·91

  1972–73

  1·19

  16·17

  1973–74

  1·21

  16·92

  1974–75

  1·21

  17·94

  1975–76

  1·22

  19·66

  1976–77

  1·25

  21·13

  1977–78

  1·24

  23·70

  1978–79

  1·33

  25·93

  1979–80

  2·13

  27·54

  1980–81

  2·76

  28·91

  1981–82

  2·75

  30·97

  1982–83

  2·85

  36·79

  1983–84

  2·84

  46·07

  1984–85

  2·98

  56·03

  1985–86

  5·31

  65·07

  1986–87

  4·40

  76·77

  1987–88

  9·07

  85·23

  A1 (Motorway Status)
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects his Department's consideration of converting the whole of the A l from London to the North East to motorway status to be completed.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 10 July 1989]: We will be commissioning studies by consultants shortly. They will involve a good deal of work. The aim is to complete these and other studies announced in the White Paper "Roads for Prosperity" in time for the next regular road programme review.

EMPLOYMENT

  Grant Aid
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much in total grant aid has been made available under the following schemes for each of the last five years(a) assistance with fares to work scheme, (b) adaptation to premises and equipment scheme and (c) personal reader service scheme.

  Mr. Lee
  The information requested on(a) the assistance with fares to work (FTW) scheme, (b) the adaptation to premises and equipment (APE) scheme and (c) the personal reader service (PRS) scheme is as follows:

  Year

  FTW £

  APE £

  PRS £

  1984–85

  397,000

  244,000

  119,000

  1985–86

  460,000

  295,000

  210,000

  1986–87

  589,000

  256,000

  329,000

  1987–88

  694,000

  404,000

  325,000

  1988–89

  853,000

  423,000

  387,000

  Special Aids to Employment Scheme
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the approximate cost of the special aids to employment scheme for each of the last five years for which figures are available.
  656
  Mr. Lee
  The cost of the special aids to employment scheme for each of the last five years is as follows:

  Year

  Cost £

  1984–85

  927,000

  1985–86

  1,094,000

  1986–87

  1,700,000

  1987–88

  2,319,000

  1988–89

  3,361,000

  Job Interview Guarantee Scheme
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the job interview guarantee scheme.

  Mr. Lee
  [holding answer 20 June 1989]: The job interview guarantee will link the assistance already available through jobclubs and the employment service with new measures to enable longer term unemployed people to take job vacancies.

  These will include a job preparation course, tailored to meet employers' specific needs and "work trials", which offer short periods of work experience with potential employers to unemployed people while they remain on benefit. Where people need training for the vacancies on offer, training under employment training tailored to the employer's needs may be made available.

  In return, employers will enter into agreements with the employment service under which they guarantee to interview unemployed people who have taken one of these options for the vacancies they have available.

  The cities in which the job interview guarantee scheme will be piloted have now been chosen. They are:

  Dundee

  Glasgow

  Newcastle

  Sunderland

  Leeds

  Lower Don Valley (Sheffield/Rotherham)

  Manchester

  Salford

  Liverpool

  Birmingham

  Wolverhampton

  Nottingham

  Leicester

  London-Spitafields

  Docklands

  Southwark/Lewisham

  Bristol

  Plymouth (Davenport)

  Cardiff

  Merthyr Tydfil

  The scheme will be targeted on selected disadvantaged areas within these cities.

  Preparatory work in these locations is under way, and it is hoped that the first agreements will be made within the next few weeks.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Community Care (Durham)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what statistical information he has as to the reasons given to applicants by social fund officers at the local office in Durham City for the nil awards in respect of an application for community care grants.
  657
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The table provides the statistical information available for the 1988–89 year.

  Unsuccessful applications for community care grants by reason for refusal at Durham ILO

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  December

  January

  February

  March

  Total

  Savings over £500 meet the full cost

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1

  Not in receipt of IS and unlikely to qualify

  0

  0

  1

  3

  5

  1

  4

  2

  0

  1

  4

  1

  22

  Item(s) excluded by Direction

  0

  2

  1

  0

  2

  3

  1

  0

  0

  2

  4

  1

  16

  Applicant excluded by Direction

  0

  0

  0

  12

  17

  21

  14

  13

  7

  3

  6

  0

  93

  Applied for less than £30

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  5

  Adjusted amount less than £30

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Previous application and decision for the item

  0

  0

  0

  1

  4

  1

  1

  0

  2

  0

  1

  0

  10

  Help available from another source

  0

  2

  2

  5

  1

  0

  0

  0

  2

  4

  2

  1

  19

  Priority too low to meet from the budget

  0

  0

  3

  1

  1

  4

  0

  0

  2

  0

  3

  1

  15

  Alternative available to the whole application

  0

  2

  4

  2

  0

  0

  0

  1

  4

  1

  1

  1

  16

  Others not covered above

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  4

  10

  13

  6

  34

  Total

  0

  7

  11

  25

  30

  33

  20

  16

  21

  23

  34

  12

  232

  "A Good Deal for Deaf Children"
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consideration the Minister for the Disabled has given to the report from the National Deaf Children's Society entitled "A Good Deal for Deaf Children"; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  I have not yet received a copy of the report, but I look forward with interest to reading it.

  Private Residential Homes
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the maximum weekly payment made by his Department in Bradford to support elderly people in private residential homes.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Information is not available on this basis. Help through income support with the fees of residential care homes in Bradford is subject to the national limits. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced the current limits on 27 October 1988 at column 483.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received about the difference between charges levied by private residential homes in Bradford and the maximum weekly payment made by his Department to support elderly people living in such homes; what is the current minimum and maximum difference in Bradford; how many elderly people have been evicted from residential homes in Bradford in the last 12 months because of inability to pay fees; how many elderly people are now under notice to leave private residential homes because of inability to pay fees; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Help with fees in an independent residential care home can be available through income support, subject to national limits. The level of a person's charges is a matter for him and the proprietor to agree based on the services to be provided. We have had representations from Bradford and elsewhere about the levels of income support in relation to fees charged by homes. However, it is not our policy to meet all fees, however high, and the levels of income support are enough to meet the fees in the majority of cases. The Department does not collect information on the remaining points.

HEALTH

  Cyclotron Machine (St. Thomas's Hospital)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what grounds his Department decided to consult interested parties before making his decision to provide funds for the purchase of a cyclotron machine for St. Thomas's hospital; and if he will list the groups he consulted.

  Mr. Freeman
  No external advice was received before the decision was taken to contribute to the charitable funds being raised by the Cyclotron Trust.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he intends to continue to provide 60 per cent of the funds for the running costs of the cyclotron machine at St. Thomas's hospital in the light of concern over the safety of the machine; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  We have undertaken to meet up to 60 per cent. of the direct running costs of the cyclotron once it begins to operate, in so far as these are not met from other sources. We have given careful consideration to the views that have so far been expressed by the medical profession, but they have not produced any evidence which would cause us to change our views of the proposed project.

  Motor Neurone Disease
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the mortality statistics for motor neurone disease for each year from 1959 for which data is available.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information is shown in the table.

  Number of deaths from Motor Neurone Disease1 in England and Wales, 1959–1988

  Year

  Number of deaths

  Males

  Females

  Total

  1959

  308

  260

  568

  1960

  311

  227

  538

  1961

  306

  230

  536

  1962

  311

  228

  539

  1963

  290

  227

  517

  1964

  346

  258

  604

  1965

  375

  265

  640

  1966

  341

  271

  612

  1967

  343

  269

  612

  1968

  327

  278

  605

  659

  Year

  Number of deaths

  Males

  Females

  Total

  1969

  340

  268

  608

  1970

  342

  261

  603

  1971

  382

  339

  721

  1972

  385

  298

  683

  1973

  372

  307

  679

  1974

  367

  322

  689

  1975

  376

  338

  714

  1976

  402

  324

  726

  1977

  418

  358

  776

  1978

  384

  392

  776

  1979

  488

  386

  874

  1980

  402

  353

  755

  1981

  493

  390

  883

  1982

  458

  366

  824

  1983

  481

  461

  942

  1984

  565

  440

  1,005

  1985

  570

  533

  1,103

  1986

  591

  490

  1,081

  1987

  598

  525

  1,123

  21988

  592

  530

  1,122

  1 From 1959 to 1967 motor neurone disease and muscular atrophy was classified to the International Diseases of Classification (ICD) 7th revision code 356. Similarly from 1968 to 1978 motor neurone disease was classified to ICD 8th revision ICD code 348 and from 1979 onwards 9th revision ICD code 325.2 was used.

  2 Provisional.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the research projects on motor neurone disease funded by the Department in each year since 1959 for which data are available and the level of funding provided.

  Mr. Freeman
  At present, the health and personal social services research programme does not include any research specifically into motor neurone disease (MND). However, the Department of Health does fund a number of studies about service delivery where MND sufferers would be among the service users. These studies are as follows:(a) Research on aspects of physiotherapy provision, carried out by the Centre for Physiotherapy Research at King's college, London.
  (b) Research on speech therapy provision, in particular; a study of Communication Aid Centres being carried out by Dr. Anne Chamberlain at Leeds;
  a study on speech therapy services (demands and staffing) being undertaken by Dr. Philip Davies at Oxford.
  (c) Research on disability generally is relevant to MND. An important example is the OPCS disability survey which, of course, includes MND sufferers.

  A full list of earlier research into MND is not readily available. However, the Department's handbook of research and development, published annually, contains information about all directly funded research. Copies are available in the Library.

  Disabled People
  Mrs. Rosie Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has a specific policy on giving financial support to voluntary organisations dealing with disabilities which are run by the disabled.

  Mr. Freeman
  The major considerations in determining support to voluntary organisations dealing with disabilities are the services they offer to disabled people and the resources available. A number of organisations that we currently support are run by disabled people.
  660
  Mrs. Rosie Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department intends to review its level of funding to the British Council of Organisations of Disabled People.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Department is currently considering an application from the British Council of Organisations of Disabled People for funds under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 for the period 1989–90 to 1991–92.

  Organ Transplants
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines have been issued by his Department relating to the removal and transplantation of organs from anacephalic infants.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Chief Medical Officer wrote to regional medical officers on 1 February 1988 (PL/CM0(88)3). This letter drew to their attention a report of the working party, from the conference of medical royal colleges on organ transplantation in neonates. A copy has been placed in the Library.

  Expenditure
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the cumulative total of his Department's expenditure since May 1979 to date over and above the expenditure level prevailing in May 1979.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 29 June 1989]: Between 1979–80 and 1989–90 total gross expenditure on the health and personal social services programme in England has increased by nearly 36 per cent. in real terms. The table shows gross expenditure in each year since 1979–80 at 1989–90 prices and the cumulative real terms increases during this period:

  HPSS Gross Expenditure 1979–80 to 1989–90 at Current Prices

  £ millions

  at 1989–90 prices

  Cumulative increase in real terms

  1979–80

  18,574

  —

  1980–81

  20,208

  1,634

  1981–82

  20,591

  2,017

  1982–83

  20,978

  2,404

  1983–84

  21,353

  2,779

  1984–85

  21,804

  3,230

  1985–86

  21,868

  3,294

  1986–87

  22,869

  4,295

  1987–88

  24,006

  5,432

  1988–89

  24,884

  6,310

  1989–90

  25,230

  6,656

  Compensation Payments
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, by regional health authority, the number of compensation payments made exceeding £100,000 paid in each year from 1984–85 to 1987–88.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 3 July 1989]: The number of compensation payments exceeding £100,000 notified to the Department in each year 1984–85 to 1987–88, together with the amounts involved, is as follows:
  661

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Region

  Number of cases

  Amounts £

  Number of cases

  Amounts £

  Number of cases

  Amounts £

  Number of cases

  Amounts £

  Northern

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yorkshire

  —

  —

  1

  385,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Trent

  —

  —

  1

  270,000

  3

  115,000

  —

  —

  130,000

  375,000

  East Anglian

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  151,222

  —

  —

  North West Thames

  1

  220,760

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  North East Thames

  1

  235,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  430,000

  South East Thames

  —

  —

  1

  154,095

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South West Thames

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  600,000

  —

  —

  150,498

  108,434

  Wessex

  —

  —

  1

  275,000

  1

  175,000

  —

  —

  Oxford

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  550,000

  —

  —

  South Western

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  350,000

  West Midlands

  —

  —

  1

  250,000

  2

  175,000

  1

  220,000

  260,000

  Mersey

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  375,000

  North Western

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  207,000

  —

  —

  Note: The figures shown represent the total amount of the award/settlement, excluding costs. They do not take account of the fact that the health authority's liability may have been reduced (in a case involving a medical accident) by a contribution from a medical defence organisation.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Economic and Finance Council
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the latest meeting of the European Community's Economic and Finance Council.

  Mr. Lawson
  The ECOFIN Council met in Brussels on 10 July. I represented the United Kingdom.

  The Council discussed the economic situation in the Community and the Commission's second quarterly review; and confirmed the economic policy guidelines set out in the 1988–89 annual economic report adopted last December. The Commission and the presidency explained their plans for implementing the decisions on European monetary union reached at the recent European Council at Madrid.

  War Graves (VAT)
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in which year and on whose authority value added tax was first imposed on the maintenance of United States war graves in the United Kingdom; when and on whose authority war graves in the United Kingdom and European Economic Community nations were exempted from such value added tax charges; and when he proposes taking action to ensure that the war graves of our American and Commonwealth allies are not less favourably treated than those of our former enemies.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 6 July 1989]: In 1985 Her Majesty's Customs and Excise ruled that suplies in the
  662
  United Kingdom of goods and services for the American Battle Monuments Commission were chargeable with VAT.

  There was an exchange of notes between the Governments of the United Kingdom and the United States of America in 1952 regarding relief from taxation of United States Government expenditures in the United Kingdom. Information is not presently available on the position in other countries of the European Communities.

  Her Majesty's Customs and Excise is looking into the background to the ruling in 1985 to see whether it was correct then and is appropriate now.

  Manufactured Goods (Imports)
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he intends to take to increase the volume of information provided by Customs and Excise marketing agents relating to imported manufactured goods; and how he intends to make the information available to British manufacturers.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 10 July 1989]: Customs and Excise is now making available to its approved marketing agents, in addition to traditional United Kingdom trade statistical data, the names and addresses of consignees shown on import declarations, listed against the commodities they import. This new facility has been available since 22 May 1989. The information covers importations from 1 January 1989 and is updated monthly. Commodities are distinguished by an appropriate commodity code; these are published in the Customs and Excise tariff. In most cases information is made available at the more detailed nine-digit level, but in

  663
  some instances it is provided at a less detailed level where to provide at nine-digit level would lead to disclosure of confidential quantity and value data. Information covers the whole range of imported, including manufactured, goods.

  The marketing agents will supply the information in a form and manner which is convenient to their customers, and at an attractive price. British manufacturers who wish to obtain this data should therefore contact a marketing agent. This new service was announced by Customs and Excise in a press notice dated 1 June 1989 in which the names and addresses of the approved agents are listed.

  Barclays Bank
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what mention was made in the discussions or negotiations with Barclays bank over the charge to value added tax for the redevelopment of its new headquarters of the bank's co-operation with the Government scheme for top-up loans.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 12 July 1989]: None.

  ESA Payments
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the policy of the Crown Estate Commissioners in respect of the clawback of ESA payments made to tenants of farms within the estate.

  Mr. Lawson
  The only designated environmentally sensitive areas which affect the Crown Estate are in Wales.

  The Crown Estate Commissioners are content that either commoners with registered rights or tenants on the Crown Estate within environmentally sensitive areas should, if they so wish, enter the ESA scheme without any payment to the Crown Estate.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Television Licences
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what would be the total cost of allowing pensioner households currently holding a colour television licence to pay only a monochrome licence fee; and what would be the additional cost per licence for non-pensioner licence holders if this additional cost was met through increases in the licence fee.

  Mr. Renton
  The cost would be about £260 million a year in terms of revenue lost to the BBC, which would mean that other licence holders would have to pay about £22 more for their licences.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the number of television licences and the number of households; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  It is estimated that there are about 22,150,000 households in the United Kingdom, the Channel islands and the Isle of Man. As at 31 May 1989 there were 19,440,211 television licences in force.

  Police National Computer
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he received the County NatWest report into the future of the police national computer 664
  organisation; if he will place a copy in the Library; what assessment he has made of considerations of security, accountability and public confidence which are addressed in the report; and what action he proposes to take on the recommendations contained therein.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The County NatWest report was received on 22 May; a copy of that part relating to the future of the police national computer organisation has been placed in the Library. The Department is now consulting senior management, the trade unions, the local authorities and the police service on its findings, including the issues referred to by the hon. Member. We shall be considering carefully the report's recommendations, together with the results of this consultation process, in due course.

  Racial Hatred
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to seek additional powers to control and prevent static rallies likely to stir up racial hatred.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  In its White Paper "Review of Public Order Law" (Cmnd 9510, May 1985), the Government concluded that the likelihood of incitement of racial hatred should not be a ground for banning a procession and that there should be no power to ban public assemblies. It is an offence under part III of the Public Order Act 1986 to use threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour or to publish or distribute material which is intended or likely to stir up racial hatred.

  Broadcasting
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will respond to the speech of the hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington on 13 June,Official Report, columns 871–72, on how hard pornography emanating from an established European television channel can be prevented from being transmitted in the United Kingdom by satellite or other means.

  Mr. Renton
  I wrote to my hon. Friend on this subject on 6 July. In that letter I said:"It was to avoid precisely this sort of problem that we were keen to secure agreement on provisions in the Council of Europe convention on transfrontier television which would preserve acceptable standards of taste and decency. I am pleased to say that we were successful in that objective. Article 7 of the convention requires that programmes should not be indecent or contain pornography. This is also reflected in article 22 of the draft directive, which places on broadcasters a responsibility to ensure that they do not transmit programmes which might seriously impair the physical, mental or moral development of minors, in particular those that involve pornography or gratuitous violence."

  Immigration
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the flow of people of Indian sub-continent cultural origin into and out of the United Kingdom in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement as to the reasons, where applicable, for the imbalance in the flows.

  Mr. Renton
  The information is not available in the form requested. "People of Indian sub-continent cultural origin" include British passport holders.
  665
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the net inflow of visitors from Hong Kong in each of the last eight weeks; and what was the comparable figure in 1988.

  Mr. Renton
  It is not possible from the available information to provide the figures requested.

  Prison Officers' Houses
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to the answer of 10 July,Official Report, column 358, who purchased the 39 prison officers' houses at Culcheth: why they had remained vacant for between seven and eight years; and at what price he expects to sell the six houses that became vacant during 1988–89.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The 39 prison officers' houses at Culcheth were purchased by Beazer Urban Developments Limited. Properties had remained vacant and surplus to requirements for between seven and eight years for a variety of reasons. These included the need to ascertain whether any would be needed to accommodate staff from the new prison at Thorn Cross, which opened in 1985; the need to clarify the requirements of the local authority as regards upgrading the roads and sewers to make them suitable for adoption; and the need to negotiate an easement for a new rising pumped main through adjoining land. The prices of the six houses that became vacant during 1988–89 have yet to be finally determined by the district valuer, but are likely to be in the region of £45,000 for the five three bedroom semi-detached houses, and £30,000 for the two bedroom semi-detached house.

  Mr. K. Hussain
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Mr. K. Hussain, whose reference is H4/8/12/88, first applied for British citizenship; and when a decision is to be taken on his application.

  Mr. Renton
  As the hon. Member knows, we have been unable to trace this application on the reference given. To do so we would need Mr. Hussain's full name and his date and place of birth. I shall write to the hon. Member once we have this information.

DEFENCE

  Weapons Displays (Council Bans)
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has as to how many councils have placed a ban on static weapon displays by the armed forces on council property; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Five councils have asked that the armed forces should exclude or limit displays of weapons when mounting recruiting or promotional events in their areas.

  Independent Schools
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many independent schools in respect of which grants were available to service families have ceased to be eligible for such funds in the last five years; and if he will state the reasons.
  666
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There is nothing I can add to the answer which was given to my hon. Friend on 9 June at column 257.

  Army Polo Teams
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that every serving Army officer is made aware of the content of his reply to the hon. Member for Northampton, North on 6 July,Official Report, column 266.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There is no need to draw the attention of every `serving Army officer to the reply of 6 July. In this matter, as in any other, an officer who is in any doubt should consult the regimental adjutant or his commanding officer.

  Nuclear Submarines
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when West Glamorgan county council is to be informed of the nuclear-powered warship safety committee's decision regarding berthing of nuclear submarines at Swansea; to whom it is to be communicated; what form the consultation with the council will take; what issues it will cover; and what powers the council has to stop the use of such a berth at the port.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  [holding answer 13 July 1989]: The Ministry of Defence will be in touch with the chief executive of West Glamorgan county council as soon as the Royal Navy is ready to proceed. A public safety plan will need to be drawn up in consultation with council, fire, police and health officials. The disposition of naval vessels is a matter which affects national security, and as such it must remain the responsibility of central rather than local government. A defence policy can be effective only if applied on a national basis.

SCOTLAND

  Voluntary Services
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list those hospitals in which WRVS or other voluntary bodies' facilities for the provision of patients' and or relatives' services have been either removed or reduced;

  (2) why facilities made available to the WRVS at Stirling Royal infirmary have been reduced.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Proposals to remove or reduce the facilities used by the WRVS or other voluntary bodies for the provision of services to patients and others are a matter for the health board responsible for the hospital, in consultation with the voluntary body concerned. Information on this is not held centrally, but I am not aware of any case where the health board and the voluntary body have failed to reach an agreement.

  Forth Valley health board and the WRVS discussed the future of the WRVS canteen at Stirling Royal infirmary because wards in the immediate vicinity of its site were being relocated. Both parties concluded that the canteen should move to a new site in the maternity-gynaecology block nearby. The new canteen opened during May. WRVS facilities have not been reduced since the existing

  667
  canteen has also been kept open because not all the wards have yet been relocated. No final decision has been taken about the future of the site.

  I have written recently in response to a letter from the Scottish chairman of the WRVS, emphasising my appreciation for the work of such organisations, which is greatly appreciated by health boards and, most important, by patients and their relatives.

  Scottish Health Service Advisory Council
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Scottish Health Service Advisory Council will be able to initiate and pursue matters without prior approval by himself; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The remit of the Scottish Health Service Advisory Council is:"Where requested by or agreed with the Secretary of State to advise him on the exercise of his functions under the National Health Service Acts and to give advice on good practice to Health Boards, other Health Managers and those delivering Health Services."

  Lothian Health Board
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the attendance of each of his appointments to Lothian health board together with the possible totals, for each member of the board and its sub-committees for the years(a) 1987–88, (b) 1988–89 and (c) 1989–90.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not held centrally.

  Appointments
  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many posts in Scottish institutions of higher education funded directly by his Department have been filled without advertisment over the period from 1983 to June 1989.

  Mr. Lang
  The arrangements for filling staff vacancies in the grant-aided colleges are for the college authorities to determine. The information requested is not collected by the Scottish Education Department.

  Transport (Elderly and Disabled People)
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish what information he has on the number of dial-a-ride and similar schemes for the elderly and disabled currently operating in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information on the number of dial-a-ride and similar schemes operating in Scotland is not held centrally.

  Dental Education
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what decision he has reached on whether to reduce places for dental education in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The report of the working party to review dental provision in Scotland made recommendations for reductions in places for dental education in Scotland. With the agreement of my right hon. Friend the 668
  Secretary of State for Education and Science, my right hon. and learned Friend sent the report to the Universities Funding Council and asked the council to consider the working party's advice in reaching decisions on undergraduate dental education.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the proportions of dental school graduates from the three dental schools in Scotland who stayed on to practice in Scotland, giving the information broken down by school and for each year since 1977 for which figures are available.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information is not held centrally in the form requested, but studies in recent years suggest that under 50 per cent. of the graduates of the Edinburgh school practice in Scotland whereas well over 50 per cent. of the graduates of the Dundee and Glasgow schools do so.

  Gaelic Broadcasting
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to back the case for a Gaelic broadcasting council funded on a similar basis to S4C.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 13 July 1989]: The implications of the recent White Paper for Gaelic broadcasting are still under consideration. An announcement will be made in due course.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Eggs
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any plans to define in egg marketing regulations a fresh egg; and whether he intends to make sell-by stickers compulsory.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The egg marketing standards regulations of the European Community define quality standards for "fresh eggs", and require that the date or period of packing should be shown on the pack and provide that a sell-by date may also be added.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to introduce heavier fines for shops found selling bad eggs or other produce; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The Eggs (Marketing Standards) Regulations 1985 already prescribe a substantial fine of up to £2,000 for an offence relating to the marketing of substandard eggs. Under the Food Act 1984 it is an offence to sell unfit food. The maximum fine applicable is again £2,000. In each particular case it is for the courts to decide upon the appropriate level of fine within the maximum.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to initiate further spot checks in the United Kingdom to test the quality of eggs; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The egg marketing inspectorate already carries out a systematic schedule of inspection visits to egg packing centres and wholesalers, and provides
  669
  technical assistance to trading standards officers at retail outlets, to ensure that eggs meet with requirements for quality, weight and labelling as prescribed by the egg marketing standards regulations of the European Community.

  Anthrax
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any record of anthrax being confirmed in any wild animals during the last 10 years.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Anthrax is not notifiable in animals in the wild and there are no records of cases having occurred in Great Britain.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what steps he is taking to determine the cause of the current outbreak of anthrax in Wales;

  (2) whether he has any evidence of contaminated animal feed being the cause of the current outbreak of anthrax in Wales.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Detailed epidemiological investigations have been undertaken including attempts to culture anthrax from food hoppers and environmental supplies. All results have been negative.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has concerning the incubation period of anthrax in(a) humans, (b) cattle, (c) sheep and (d) pigs.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The incubation period of anthrax in animals is variable in all species and can range from 24 hours to 14 days. In man, incubation can be up to seven days, and is normally between two and five days.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in the light of the current outbreak of anthrax in Wales, he will now introduce a compulsory slaughter and compensation scheme in respect of this disease.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have no plans to do so.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of anthrax have been recorded in the United Kingdom in each of the farm animal species during each of the last five years.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The information requested is set out as follows:

  1988 3 cattle

  1987 6 cattle

  1986 12 cattle; 2 sheep; 1 horse

  1985 6 cattle

  1984 9 cattle

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has concerning the susceptibility of bovine spongiform encephalopathy-infected cattle to other bovine ailments.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  BSE-infected cattle are susceptible to all other bovine ailments.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Prisons (Education Services)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the amount of financial assistance given at present by the Inner London education authority towards education services at each London prison.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The responsibility for education in Her Majesty's prisons rests with the Home Office. It discharges this responsibility by contracting with the relevant local education authorities to provide an education service to prisons. The Inner London education authority provides this service to Her Majesty's prisons in London. The cost of this provision is met by the Home Office.

  Special Needs
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will use his powers under the Education Act 1981 to ensure compliance with the terms of the Act by the seven local education authorities which have failed to offer assessment and statementing procedures for more than 80 per cent. of children in their special schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  The Department has considered the statements made in the fact sheet written by Mr. Will Swann and published recently by the Centre for Studies on Integration in Education (CSIE), in the light of the latest available statistical returns. A number of local education authorities have been asked for further information about the number of pupils who attend special schools and do not have statements of special educational needs. In the light of their replies the Secretary of State will consider what further action may need to be taken.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice he is giving to those local authorities where the proportion of children with special needs segregated in special schools is increasing.

  Mr. Butcher
  It is for local education authorities to decide how they arrange to make the special educational provision required by pupils for whom they have made a statement of special educational needs. Section 2(2) of the Education Act 1981 places LEAs under a duty to secure that pupils with statements are educated in an ordinary school subject to the conditions described in section 2(3) of that Act. The Department will shortly be issuing a revised circular of guidance regarding the implementation of the 1981 Act.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether head teachers will be required to notify community charge registration officers of the names and home addresses of all pupils in secondary education over 18 years of age.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  No. Community charge registration officers are not empowered to demand information other than from precepting or charging authorities or to approach schools directly.

  Independent Schools
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many independent schools have been closed following a notice of complaint in the last five years.

  Mr. Butcher
  Since April 1984, five independent schools have closed following the issue of a notice of complaint.

  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to introduce an accreditation for independent schools supervised by Her Majesty's inspectorate.

  Mr. Butcher
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to introduce an accreditation scheme for independent schools.

  Dental Education
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the proportion of students admitted to each of the three dental schools in Scotland in October 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983 who graduated on time, and the proportion who failed to graduate in dentistry; and what the corresponding proportions are for dental schools in the United Kingdom as a whole.

  Mr. Jackson
  Information is not available centrally which directly relates graduate output with entrants to dentistry courses. The numbers of graduates in clinical dentistry in each of the three dental schools in Scotland in the last four years were as follows:

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Dundee

  48

  n/a

  33

  44

  Edinburgh

  45

  53

  47

  36

  Glasgow

  60

  67

  63

  70

  All United Kingdom

  830

  n/a

  731

  729

  n/a not available.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has asked the Universities Funding Council to reach a decision on the undergraduate education recommendations of the report on dental provision in Scotland.

  Mr. Jackson
  With the agreement of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has sent the report of the review of dental provision in Scotland to the Universities Funding Council, and asked the council to consider the working party's advice in reaching decisions on undergraduate dental education.

  Motor Neurone Disease
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to increase funding for research into cause and treatment of motor neurone disease, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The main agency through which the Government fund medical research is the Medical Research Council, which receives a grant-in-aid from this Department. The council's grant for 1989–90 is £176 million, an increase of 17 per cent. over its grant for 672
  1988–89 of £150 million. The council itself determines the allocation of the funds at its disposal. The council is always willing to consider soundly-based proposals for new research programmes in competition with other proposals.

  Dental Schools (Scotland)
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish figures on the average academic attainment in terms of points scores in Scottish certificate of education highers and general certificate of education A-levels for entrants to the three Scottish dental schools and also the number of applicants per place for each school for each of the last nine years.

  Mr. Jackson
  This information is not collected by the Department.

  Grant-maintained Status
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will clarify the role of teacher governors in decisions by school governing bodies on whether to ballot parents on grant-maintained status.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The Government's intention, as reflected in the provisions of the Education Reform Act, is that teacher governors should play a full part in a decision on whether to ballot parents about grant-maintained status for the school. I am considering what amendments might be made to the School Government Regulations 1987 to ensure they reflect that intention. Revised regulations will be brought into force at the beginning of the next school year.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Fermanagh (Ministerial Visits)
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when any junior Minister from the Northern Ireland Office last visited either Newtownbutler or Rosslea Royal Ulster Constabulary station in south-east Fermanagh; and what was the cost of the security operation thus entailed.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  No Minister has visited Newtownbutler or Rosslea RUC station recently.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  South Africa (Nuclear Missile Test)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any information on the Republic of South Africa's plans to test a nuclear capable intermediate-range ballistic missile system developed with the aid of Israel.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Although we are aware of recent press reports on this subject, we cannot substantiate them. We have, however, instructed Her Majesty's embassies in Pretoria and Tel Aviv to inquire with the relevant authorities about the validity of the reports.

  Tibet
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to monitor the internal situation(a)

  673
  in Tibet in general and (b) in Lhasa in particular, with regard to possible human rights abuses by Chinese forces; what representations he has made in 1989 to the Chinese authorities regarding their occupation of Tibet; what steps he is taking to pursue the proposal put forward by the Dalai Lama for a self-governing Tibet under Chinese sovereignty; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Although the imposition of martial law has reduced the outward flow of information on Tibet, the British embassy in Peking continues to monitor the situation closely by all available means. We have made clear to the Chinese authorities on many occasions the real concern in this country about human rights in Tibet. While we continue to believe that the most promising solution to the problem of Tibet is through dialogue between the Chinese Government and the Tibetan people, including the Dalai Lama, our immediate concern in recent weeks has been to bring home to the Chinese authorities our sense of shock and outrage at the brutality with which they suppressed those who were demonstrating for democracy in Peking.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he is having with the Government of Cyprus as to threats that Turkish people leaving Bulgaria could be settled in the Turkish-occupied town of Famagusta; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The Turkish Cypriot offer to resettle ethnic Turkish refugees from Bulgaria in Varosha, the sector of Famagusta controlled by the Turkish army, was one of a number of topics I discussed with President Vassiliou on 10 July. We agreed that implementation of that offer would adversely affect the prospects for negotiation of a settlement of the Cyprus problem through the current intercommunal talks.

  French Revolution
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy not to join in celebrations of Bastille day in France on 14 July or the bicentenary of the French revolution.

  Mrs. Chalker
  France is a close ally and partner. My right hon. and learned Friend will be in Paris on 14 to 16 July for the ceremonies marking the bicentenary of the French revolution and the declaration of the rights of man, followed by the Economic Summit.

  Human Rights
  Mr. Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations he has made complaining about the denial of human rights in the last five years in Czechoslovakia.

  Mr. Eggar
  We have made a number of representations about human rights to the Czechoslovakian authorities over the last five years, but the precise information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations he has made complaining about denial of human rights in the last five years in Burkina.
  674
  Mr. Eggar
  None.

  Mr. Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations he has made complaining about denial of human rights and the use of torture in the last five years in Barbados.

  Mr. Eggar
  None.

  Mr. Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations he has made complaining about the denial of human rights in the last five years in Brunei.

  Mr. Eggar
  None. We expressed concern about certain aspects of human rights in Brunei at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. The Brunei Government are aware of our concern.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations he has made complaining about denial of human rights in the last five years in Burundi.

  Mr. Eggar
  We have made a number of representations to the Burundi authorities about human rights over the last five years. Following the ethnic violence last August we made a demarche to the Government of Burundi in concert with our EC partners. We are pleased to note the recent efforts of the Burundi Government to improve the human rights situation.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations he has made complaining about denial of human rights in the last five years in Bhutan.

  Mr. Eggar
  None.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations he has made complaining about denial of human rights in the last five years in Cyprus.

  Mr. Eggar
  None.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations he has made complaining about denial of human rights in the last five years in Kiribati.

  Mr. Eggar
  None.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations he has made complaining about denial of human rights in the last five years in the Marshall Islands.

  Mr. Eggar
  None.

  Entry Clearance
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the hours of opening at the following posts(a) New Delhi, (b) Bombay, (c) Dhaka, (d) Islamabad, (e) Karachi, (f) Nairobi and (g) Dar Es-Salaam; and how many staff were employed at each post dealing with entry clearance matters on 1 January and for each of the 10 years before.

  Mr. Eggar
  This information is not readily available. I will reply to the hon. Member in due course.

  Mr. I. A. Alikazi
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Mr. Irfan Abdul Alikazi, whose date of birth is 13 October 1969, first applied to the post in Bombay to enter the United Kingdom; on what dates he has been interviewed at the post; and when a decision is to be taken on his application.

  Mr. Eggar
  The information requested is not readily available. A further reply will be sent to the hon. Member in due course.

  Mr. M. Yasin
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Mr. Mohd Yasin, who was born in 1962 and whose reference is SN 81140, first applied to the post in Islamabad to enter the United Kingdom; and when a decision is going to be taken on his application.

  Mr. Eggar
  The information requested is not readily available. A further reply will be sent to the hon. Member in due course.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  No-fault Compensation
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Attorney-General what progress has been made with Recommendation 62 of the Review Body on Civil Justice that consideration should be given to the feasibility of a no-fault scheme for less serious road accidents.

  The Solicitor-General
  The Government have accepted the recommendation of the report of the review body on civil justice that the Lord Chancellor should consider the feasibility of a no-fault compensation scheme, restricted to less serious road accidents and financed by private insurance.

  The review body pointed out that a number of advantages might flow from the introduction of such a scheme. It suggested that it would reduce uncertainty for claimants, avoid the delays and costs associated with litigation and, by removing disputes from the courts, reduce pressure on the court system.

  On the other hand, as the review body made clear, one disadavantage of such a scheme is that motor insurance premiums could rise. Such a proposal gives rise to a number of other difficult issues, including the threshold of seriousness that will determine whether an accident falls outside the scheme; whether it should cover accidents where the highway authority is held to have been at fault; and whether certain categories of driver, for example, drinking drivers, should be excluded from the scheme. There is also the danger that such a scheme could undermine efforts of insurance companies to make drivers who cause accidents bear some of the costs through higher premiums. These difficult issues will need to be carefully studied and weighed alongside the possible advantages before any such scheme can be taken forward.

  As the review body proposed, consideration of the feasibility of introducing such a scheme will be the subject of consultation with the insurance industry. Other interested parties, including the motoring organisations,
  676
  will also be invited to submit their views. Since no-fault insurance schemes are already in operation in various other countries, including New Zealand and a number of states in the United States, the study will need to take account of the experience of these countries.

  It must be emphasised that this is a feasibility study, and it would therefore be wrong to assume at this stage that it will necessarily result in a change in existing arrangements.

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish illustrative figures for 1989–90 in respect of Her Majesty's Government's new system of local government finance so that comparison can be made with current local government taxes.

  Mr. Gummer
  I hope to publish illustrative figures for 1989–90 community charges later this month.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will tabulate what a typical married couple with two children and one wage-earner living in the London borough of Waltham Forest would pay(a) in community charge and (b) in a system of capital value rates plus local income tax paid in proportions of 80 to 20, respectively, if the wage earner earned (i) £10,000, (ii) £15,000, (iii) £20,000, (iv) £25,000 and (v) £30,000 and lived in (i) rented accommodation, (ii) property owned by that wage earner worth £60,000 and (iv) property owned by that wage earner worth £90,000, making the same assumptions as in his reply to the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Sir H. Rossi) on 22 March at column 626.

  Mr. Gummer
  The information requested is provided in the table.

  Illustrative annual liability in Waltham Forest under a system of capital value rates combined with local income tax 1988–89

  Earnings

  (i) and (ii) Property value £60,000 owned or rented

  (iii) Property value £90,000 owned or rented

  Illustrative community charge 1988–89

  £

  £

  £

  £

  (i)10,000

  645

  925

  269

  (ii)15,000

  715

  995

  269

  (iii)20,000

  785

  1,070

  269

  (iv)25,000

  860

  1,140

  269

  (v)30,000

  930

  1,210

  269

  The ability of a person in rented accommodation would be the same as for a person living in property owned by that person of the same value. The figures are based on the illustrative tax rates placed in the Library on 23 June 1988 and are for 1988–89. It is assumed that the family has no entitlement to rebates. Taxable income is taken as earnings less £4,095, the married man's allowance in each case.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the environment from his latest information how much local authorities are planning to spend in 1988–89 and 1989–90 on(a) revenue and (b) capital in setting up the community charge; what were the comparable allowances made in the rate support grant settlement and in capital allocations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  On revenue, returns made by authorities in England show a provisional outturn of £33 million for 1988–89 and a budget figure of £203 million for 1989–90. On capital, the provisional outturn figure is £28 million for 1988–89. No figures are yet available for 1989–90. The resources made available to authorities are, on revenue, £110 million in the rate support grant settlement for 1989–90; and on capital, allocations of £25 million for 1988–89 and allocations of £135 million for 1989–90.

  Football Matches (Ministerial Visits)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of occasions when he or any of his Ministers visited a football ground or football match within(a) the last 12 months and (b) the last two years; and if he will state the grounds or matches visited.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I have attended the following football matches since my appointment as Minister for Sport:

  Venue

  Date

  Charlton Athletic v Arsenal

  3 October 1987

  Tottenham Hotspur v Wimbledon

  31 October 1987

  Charlton Athletic v Chelsea

  20 December 1987

  Right to buy shared ownership claims received by DOE region

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Northern

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1

  1

  2

  2

  —

  East Midlands

  5

  2

  5

  —

  —

  Eastern

  10

  18

  7

  7

  8

  London

  49

  78

  29

  25

  33

  South East

  35

  36

  64

  100

  19

  South West

  6

  8

  4

  2

  2

  West Midlands

  2

  1

  —

  —

  8

  North West (including Cumbria)

  14

  6

  —

  —

  —

  England

  122

  150

  111

  136

  70

  Playgrounds
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the regulations covering the construction of children's playgrounds.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 13 July 1989]: The construction of childrens' playgrounds is not subject to regulation. However, British Standard BS 5696 recommends specifications for construction and performance of play equipment intended for permanent installation out of doors, and a code of practice for its installation and maintenance. The code of practice is currently under revision. Furthermore, a new British Standard BS 7188, which will specify methods of test for impact-absorbing playground surfaces, is to be published later this year.
  678

  Venue

  Date

  Manchester United v Charlton Athletic

  1 January 1988

  Luton Town v Derby County

  16 January 1988

  Charlton Athletic v Liverpool

  23 January 1988

  Hartlepool United v Crewe Alexandra

  27 February 1988

  Derby County v Arsenal

  26 March 1988

  Charlton Athletic v Newcastle United

  23 April 1988

  Millwall v Newcastle United

  19 November 1988

  Charlton Athletic v Luton Town

  14 January 1989

  Charlton Athletic v Kettering Town

  28 January 1989

  Millwall v Liverpool

  29 January 1989

  Fulham v Bristol City

  18 February 1989

  Brentford v Bury

  25 February 1989

  Charlton Athletic v Manchester United

  22 April 1989

  I have also attended the FA Cup and Littlewoods Cup finals in 1988 and 1989 as well as attending international matches.

  In addition I have visited the grounds of Reading FC, Liverpool FC and Aston Villa FC on non-match days.

  I understand that my hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Water and Planning and my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Southampton Itchen (Mr. Chope), have also attended matches.

  Shared Ownership Claims
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of shared ownership claims received by local authorities by each region in England and for England as a whole during each year from 1980–81 to 1988–89.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 10 July 1989]: The available information is shown in the table:

  Bristol Channel (Beaches)
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will pay an official visit to the beaches along the English side of the Bristol channel, to observe the degree of pollution apparent both on the beach and in the sea.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 13 July 1989]: My right hon. Friend has no plans to visit the Bristol channel. He receives regular reports from the Wessex and South West water authorities on the quality of bathing waters along the English side of the Bristol channel, and local authorities are responsible for dealing with the pollution of beaches. Water authorities have been asked to draw up improvement programmes with the aim of bringing all bathing waters identified under the EEC bathing water directive into compliance by the mid-1990s.

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Sir Hugh Rossi
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he proposes to take in the light of the findings of the Warren Spring laboratories on the problems associated with the United Kingdom chlorofluorocarbon bank contained in refrigeration equipment and plastic foam estimated to comprise 100,000 tonnes.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 13 July 1989]: My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced on 10 May that he was commissioning an independent study of the impact of business of the existing and envisaged control on emissions of ozone-depleting substances. The consultants engaged should deliver their report to him late this summer. The commissioning of a second phase at an early date is under consideration. It would study the technology-practical arrangements and economics of the recovery, recycling or destruction of such substances from products and industrial processes: this would cover the question of the CFC bank referred to by my hon. Friend.

  National Rivers Authority
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many additional posts have been created in(a) the water authorities and (b) the National Rivers Authority as a result of the split of regulatory functions for each water authority region.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 13 July 1989]: The establishment of the National Rivers Authority as a separate regulatory body has been undertaken on the basis that the NRA must have the staff it needs to carry out its statutory functions. It is recognised that this may require some additional staff in the areas of pollution control, water resources and support services, but it is not possible to assess how many additional posts in either the water authorities or the NRA are specifically attributable to the separation of the regulatory functions beyond the 55 to 60 new posts at the NRA's central policy unit.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people will be employed by the National Rivers Authority for each regional unit on 1 September.
  680
  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 13 July 1989]: The best estimate of the numbers of staff who will be employed in the regional units of the National Rivers Authority on 1 September is as follows:

  Number

  Anglian

  1,015

  Northumbrian

  130

  North West

  762

  Severn Trent

  784

  Southern

  543

  South West

  379

  Thames

  1,290

  Welsh

  664

  Wessex

  371

  Yorkshire

  531

  These figures may be subject to minor changes between now and vesting day. In addition, there will be some 55 to 60 staff in the central policy unit in London.

  K Formulae
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends(a) to issue and (b) to make public the K formulae for each water authority and each statutory water company.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 13 July 1989]: I intend if possible to issue decisions on K formulae to the water authorities and to announce those decisions within the next month. Ks for the statutory water companies will be finalised and announced later in the year.

  EC Competition Policy
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has recently had discussions with the European Commissioner for Competition on the implications for European competition policy of water privatisation.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 13 July 1989]: I have had no recent discussions with the Commissioner, Sir Leon Brittan, who issued a statement on 7 February saying that the Commission had not found anything in the Government's water privatisation proposals which would raise problems as far as Community law is concerned in the fields of competition or company capital structure.

  ROAD ACCIDENT NO-FAULT SCHEME PROPOSAL
  ROAD ACCIDENT NO-FAULT SCHEME PROPOSAL
  ECONOMIC GROWTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
  ECONOMIC GROWTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
  COCAINE AND HEROIN SEIZURES
  COCAINE AND HEROIN SEIZURES