Written Answers of 19 July 1989

ENERGY

  Nuclear Power, East Midlands
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what discussion on nuclear power took place between Ministers or officials from his Department and John Harris, chairman of the East Midlands electricity board, on Wednesday 12 July; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Discussions between my right hon. Friend and the area board chairmen are confidential.

  Safe Integral Reactor
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what encouragement he is giving to the development or purchase of the safe integral reactor; and if he will make a statement.

  Items allocated

  To whom allocated

  Conditions/wishes expressed

  "The Artist's Studio" by Peter Tillemans

  Castle Museum, Norwich

  Conditional

  Bryant letters

  Imperial War Museum

  Unconditional

  Two busts by Roubiliac

  National Museums of Scotland

  Conditional upon remaining in situ at Mellerstain House

  Two portraits by Angelica Kauffman

  National Galleries of Scotland

  Conditional upon allocation to the Scottish National Portrait Gallery

  "Fabula" by El Greco

  National Galleries of Scotland

  Conditional

  Rubens Cameo

  Ashmolean Museum, Oxford

  Conditional

  Nine portraits

  National Galleries of Scotland

  Conditional upon remaining in situ at Cawdor Castle

  Naum Gabo Sculpture

  Leeds City Art Gallery

  Unconditional

  Flower painting by Jacob Marrel

  Bowes Museum, County Durham

  Unconditional

  "A Tartar Huntsman" by Rubens

  Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge

  Wish expressed that it be allocated to Fitzwilliam

  Items accepted but not yet allocated

  Date of acceptance

  "Allée à Chantilly" by Cezanne A press notice is being issued.

  23 March 1989

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Manufacturing
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the deficit in manufactured trade for 1989–90.

  Mr. Major
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Fearn) on 21 June at column 138.
  180
  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 17 July 1989 at column 52.

THE ARTS

  Items in Lieu of Tax
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he will specify the allocations made to public institutions in the United Kingdom during the half-year ended 30 June of individual works of art and museum objects pre-eminent for national, scientific, historical or artistic interests which have been accepted in satisfaction of inheritance tax or capital transfer tax, together with information, where applicable, as to conditions or wishes expressed by testators or executors in the matter of allocation; whether he will list the works of art and museum objects which are still awaiting allocation, with the respective dates of their acceptance in satisfaction of inheritance tax or capital transfer tax; and whether the customary press notice will be issued from the Office of Arts and Libraries covering the information given in his reply.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 12 July 1989]: The information the hon. Member requests is as follows:

  Trade Deficit
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give his latest estimate of Britain's end of year trade deficit in 1989 and 1990.

  Mr. Major
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bootle (Mr. Roberts) on 6 July at columns 217–18.

  Private Medical Insurance
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in deciding what treatments will be permitted under private medical insurance contracts which will be eligible for tax relief from 6 April 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I am pleased to be able to announce the Government's decisions.

  Our intention is that a comprehensive range of treatments will be permitted under private medical insurance contracts which attract tax relief. Contracts will therefore be permitted to cover charges for medical and surgical procedures (including diagnosis), the purpose of which is the relief of illness or injury, given or personally controlled by a registered medical or dental practitioner in the United Kingdom. Contracts may cover charges or fees, consequent on such procedures, for nursing (including home nursing), physiotherapy, speech therapy, chiropody, equipment, drugs, dressings, prostheses, hospital accommodation, other hospital services, transport, and convalescence in the United Kingdom for up to 14 days after an operation. Specialist fees and theatre fees will also be covered.

  In addition, contracts will be permitted to cover GP operations, including associated drugs, dressings and so on, but not subsequent prescriptions.

  The following will not, however, be permitted: "alternative medicine", dental procedures carried out in a general dental practice, general ophthalmic procedures not carried out in hospital, any medical or surgical procedures (other than GP operations) not carried out on an in-patient, outpatient or day patient basis, and cash benefits (except sums of up to £5 per night during private in-patient treatment).

  Regulations giving effect to these provisions will be laid before the House in the autumn.

  Pre-tax Income
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report, the amount and share of pre-tax income accruing to (a) the top 1 per cent., (b) the top 5 per cent., (c) the top 10 per cent., (d) the top 25 per cent., (e) the bottom 70 per cent., (f) the bottom 5 per cent. and (g) all taxpayers in the year 1989–90 and the amount and share of tax liability for each of these groups.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 19 June 1989]: Information is given in the table. Estimates are based on a projection of the 1986–87 survey of personal incomes and are provisional; they include estimates of occupational pension contributions and investment income not reported to tax offices.

  I regret that information on the bottom 5 per cent. of taxpayers is not available.

  Gross incomes before tax and share of income tax liabilities 1989–90

  Group of taxpayers

  Gross income before tax

  Income tax liabilities

  Top 1 per cent.

  Amount £ billion

  21·0

  6·7

  Share per cent.

  7·0

  13·0

  Top 5 per cent.

  Amount £ billion

  56·7

  15·1

  182

  Group of taxpayers

  Gross income before tax

  Income tax liabilities

  Share per cent.

  18·0

  30·0

  Top 10 per cent.

  Amount £ billion

  87·7

  20·8

  Share per cent.

  28·0

  41·0

  Top 25 per cent.

  Amount £ billion

  154·6

  31·9

  Share per cent.

  49·0

  62·0

  Bottom 70 per cent.

  Amount £ billion

  141·8

  16·5

  Share per cent.

  45·0

  32·0

  All taxpayers

  Amount £ billion

  313·7

  51·2

  Public Sector Debt
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the sterling component of the net public sector debt outstanding at(a) the end of December 1988; and (b) the end of the financial year 1988–89.

  Mr. Lilley
  Figures for public sector financial assets and liabilities at the end of December 1988 will be published in "Financial Statistics" for September as part of a breakdown of financial assets and liabilities for each main sector in the economy. These data do not identify the sterling component explicitly. The net public sector debt at the end of March 1989 will be published in the Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin for November. From these data it will be possible to make an estimate of the sterling component.

  VAT
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the procedures concerning value added tax within free ports; whether he will apply existing customs rules within free ports; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lilley
  [holding answer 17 July 1989]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) on 17 December 1987 at columns 651–52.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Licensed Teachers (Australasia)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any proposals to apply the licensing scheme to teachers from Australasia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  As my right hon. Friend announced yesterday, he proposes that overseas-trained teachers, including those from Australasia, should be eligible to be licensed teachers, and in certain cases should obtain qualified teacher status after only one term's service.

  Pupil Numbers
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the number of pupils between the ages of five years and 16 years in 1979; and what is the latest figure.
  183
  Mr. Butcher
  The numbers of pupils aged1 5 to 15 inclusive in January 1979 and January 1988 in all schools in England were as follows:

  Pupils (thousands)

  January 1979

  8,085·2

  January 1988

  6,462·3

  1 aged at previous 31 August.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has received recent representations from the Napier polytechnic students association, Edinburgh, about student loans; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland has forwarded to me a letter from Napier polytechnic students' association. I shall reply in due course.

  Departmental Establishment
  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science by how many the establishment of civil servants in his Department has changed as a consequence of the increased responsibilities of and expenditure on the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council and the Universities Funding Council.

  Mr. Jackson
  Setting aside the implications of the UFC's employing its own staff, the effect on the Department's staffing of the increased responsibilities of the two funding councils has been offset by the change to funding from the Department's votes for the polytechnics and colleges sector and by the need for transitional arrangements for that transfer.

  Inner London Education
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further plans the Government have to help the inner London boroughs with the cost of assuming responsibility for education.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The Government have decided to make available a transitional grant totalling £100 million in 1990–91 to assist the inner London boroughs and the City as they take on responsibility for education. We plan that the grant will be phased out over a five-year period. The precise profile of the grant and the method of distributing it will be announced in the autumn.

  Teachers (Vacancies)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table showing teacher vacancies by region in January 1989, distinguishing between vacancies in(a) nursery and primary schools and (b) secondary schools.

  Mr. Butcher
  [pursuant to his reply, 20 June 1989, c. 81–82]: Information on the number of teacher vacancies in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in England is now available for all regions. The figures are:
  184

  Nursery and Primary schools

  Secondary schools

  North

  92

  62

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  200

  155

  North West

  307

  219

  East Midlands

  145

  145

  West Midlands

  222

  262

  East Anglia

  47

  59

  Greater London

  1,305

  819

  Other South East

  617

  542

  South West

  181

  161

  England

  3,116

  2,424

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Children Bill
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he intends to enact for Northern Ireland the provisions of the Children Bill, currently being enacted for Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  Preparation of legislation is already in hand to replace the Children and Young Persons A ct (Northern Ireland) 1968 and to revise enactments dealing with family law matters and, in the light of changes to be introduced by the Children Bill, a working party of officials is to give careful consideration to the implications for Northern Ireland. It is hoped that a consultation paper will be issued shortly inviting views.

  Care in the Community
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what conclusions he has reached about the recommendations in the Griffiths report on care in the community; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Health last week announced the Government's conclusions on the recommendations in the Griffiths report. On the same day, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security announced corresponding changes in the benefit system. Full details of the new arrangements, as they will apply to Great Britain, will be published in a White Paper later this year.

  The Griffiths report did not extend to Northern Ireland, where we already have an integrated administration structure for the health and personal social services. I have asked the health and social services boards in carrying out the current review of their management structures to ensure that their proposals meet the management needs of the personal social services as well as those of the health services, and facilitate the co-ordinated provision of health and social care. I have also kept in close touch with the Government's detailed consideration of the Griffiths recommendations, whose emphasis on the development of care in the community is very much in keeping with our own regional strategy for the health and personal social services.

  In particular, we are already committed to enabling people who need care to stay in or return to their own homes and neighbourhoods and live there with as much dignity and independence as their disabilities allow. This means making available improved and better co-ordinated services in the community. It means ensuring that

  185
  members of the public have access to the information and objective professional advice they need to make sensible choices about the way they run their lives. It means ensuring that an extensive range of services is available, including support for the dedicated relatives, friends, neighbours and volunteers who will continue to provide so much care so unselfishly. And it means ensuring that public money is used as effectively and efficiently as possible to meet the needs of clients of the health and personal social services and their informal carers.

  Substantial resources have been devoted in recent years to improving community care services in Northern Ireland. I will give some concrete examples of the progress that has been made between 1979–80 and 1986–87. Expenditure on community health services rose by 32 per cent. in real terms, and on personal social services by 29 per cent. Attendances by mentally ill people at day hospitals arose by 26 per cent. and at out-patient clinics by 40 per cent. Training centre places for mentally handicapped adults have almost doubled. Day care places for various groups rose by 28 per cent. The number of community psychiatric nurses more than trebled. In addition, Northern Ireland has shared in the rising national expenditure on social security benefits to support individuals in residential and nursing homes and other accommodation.

  Earlier this month I announced an additional injection of resources amounting to £6 million over the next three years, to be used as bridging finance to support patients discharged from long-stay hospitals. This brought the total bridging funds available to health and social services boards over the five-year period from 1987 to £18 million, all of it specifically targeted towards enabling mentally ill and mentally handicapped people to move out of long-stay institutions and into the community. There remains much more to be done, and I am confident that our health and social services boards will rise to the challenge.

  At present people who are unable to support themselves and need social care can look to two separate sources of help: to social security offices for payments towards the cost of places in residential and nursing homes and to health and social services boards for home care, day care and residential care services. This arrangement is not consistent with the priority which we wish to give to supporting people at home where that is otherwise possible and desirable. Social security payments for residential and nursing home care are not subject to any assessment of individual need for care.

  The same changes to the social security system will be introduced in Northern Ireland as in the rest of the United Kingdom, and funds will be transferred on the same basis to the boards. In the longer term, they will become fully responsible for funding the care element of public support for people in private and voluntary residential and nursing homes and for ensuring that services are developed and funds allocated in accordance with their assessment of individuals' care needs.

  As in Great Britain, residents of private or voluntary residential and nursing homes will from April 1991 be given access to help from the normal income support system and from housing benefit on a similar basis to the help they would receive in their own home.

  Existing residents of private or voluntary homes who are already in receipt of income support or who may
  186
  become eligible for such support at any point after that date will continue to be covered by the present arrangements.

  To derive maximum benefit from establishing boards as a unified source of public funding for community care, priority will be given to the development of assessment procedures so that services can be planned on the basis of full and accurate information about each individual's need and a better balance achieved between residential care and support for people living in their own homes. Close attention will be paid to devising arrangements which will provide members of the public with easily understood access to information about services and help suited to their individual needs. People who are thinking of entering a residential or nursing home, whether on a private basis or with public funding, are particularly likely to benefit from objective advice about any other options available to them.

  Boards will continue to meet the full cost of accommodating people in statutory homes, subject to their existing powers to charge according to resident's ability to pay. There will be no change in the benefit rules applying to residents in these homes.

  The new arrangements will clearly have expenditure implications for boards and my Department will take these into account when determining their financial allocations.

  I will be giving careful consideration to the development of suitable planning and monitoring arrangements to allow me to assess the implementation of the new policy.

  My Department issued a consultative document last November on the registration and inspection of private and voluntary residential and nursing homes, and is now considering the responses, totalling over 100, which have been received. Proposals for a Registered Homes Order will be brought forward later this year, to consolidate and update existing legislation.

  In Northern Ireland, the current strategy for the health and personal social services is to reduce the number of occupied beds in mental illness and mental handicap hospitals rather than to promote a programme of hospital closures. The substantial bridging funds to which I have already referred are being allocated against specific schemes identified by the four boards to develop and expand community facilities and services in advance of patients being discharged from hospital. Discharges of long-stay patients, who will have the greatest adjustments to make to life in the community, are already the subject of careful planning. They take place only after the patients concerned have taken part in a programme of rehabilitation and proper services and facilities are in place to support them in the community. Earlier this year, my Department invited tenders for a monitoring and evaluation project which will track all long stay patients discharged into the community over a three-year period; evaluate the care they receive; and focus on their quality of life and that of their informal carers. A paper will be published in the autumn which will spell out in greater detail the implications of these changes for Northern Ireland, and explain how they will fit in with the new arrangements to be introduced on foot of the current review of boards' management structures.

  I am confident that the Government's proposals, and in particular the establishment of a single source of funding for community care, will enable a higher priority than ever before to be given to the co-ordinated development of

  187
  services aimed at supporting people in their own homes, at providing more help for families and other informal carers and at developing the part played by voluntary and other interests in achieving these objectives.

PRIME MINISTER

  European Monetary Union
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister when the conference on European monetary union agreed at Madrid will take place; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to my statement to the House on 29 June on the outcome of the European Council in Madrid.

  Junk Bonds
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister what changes in the policies of Her Majesty's Government are envisaged arising from the increased use of junk bonds in relation to British companies; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  None.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Broadcasting
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assurances about the future regulatory framework for media ownership of satellite services broadcasting to the United Kingdom were given by the Government to satellite broadcasting companies prior to the launch of Sky Television.

  Mr. Renton
  Our proposals for regulating ownership in the independent television sector were published in paragraphs 6·48 to 6·53 of the White Paper "Broadcasting in the '90s: Competition, Choice and Quality" (Cm 517), which was presented to Parliament on 7 November 1988. These proposals were amplified in a written answer on 19 May at column 317.

  Mrs. Fatma Bassau
  Mr. John Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the appeal of Mrs. Fatma Bassau whose date of birth is 1 December 1964 reference B 253061, is scheduled for consideration.

  Mr. Renton
  I refer the hon. Member to my letter to him of 2 June. The Home Office explanatory statement will be prepared in its turn as soon as practicable.

  Citizenship Applications
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to shorten the time taken to deal with applications for British citizenship; and what is the current average time taken to process applications.

  Mr. Renton
  The average time taken to process applications completed during June 1989 was 18 months for registrations and 23 months for naturalisations.

  Despite the provision of a considerable number of additional staff to process citizenship applications, the
  188
  number of applications received at the end of 1987 was so great that there is no prospect of average processing times being reduced in the immediate future. However, we expect there to be an improvement during 1990–91 when the backlog of registrations has been cleared.

  Magistrates Courts
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now received the report of the scrutiny of the magistrates courts service which he announced on 17 January; and what action he proposes to take on it.

  Mr. Hurd
  I am today publishing the report of the scrutiny, which was completed on 4 July. The report includes wide-ranging proposals for the reconstruction of the magistrates courts service as an executive agency with a number of specific proposals directed towards improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the service while maintaining public confidence in the impartial administration of local justice. The major proposals would require legislation. The report, rightly, accepts as a fundamental principle that judicial decisions in the magistrates courts must be wholly independent of Government direction.

  I welcome the report's thorough and perceptive analysis of the problems facing the magistrates courts service. I welcome also its recognition of the considerable efforts now being made by the members of the magistrates courts service to improve its performance within the limits imposed by the present system.

  The proposals raise issues of considerable importance. Before reaching decisions on the scrutiny I should like the interested parties, including the bodies representing the magistracy, justices' clerks and their staff and local authorities, to let me have their considered views, and to provide an opportunity for public comment more generally. Consultations will begin shortly, and it would be helpful if initial comments could be sent to the Home Office (Room 418, Queen Anne's Gate) by 30 September.

  Drink-driving
  Mr. Bright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been convicted of drink-driving offences in(a) England and (b) Bedfordshire since 1 January 1985.

  Mr. John Patten
  The available information relates to findings of guilt for driving, etc. after consuming alcohol or taking drugs and is published annually by police force area in table 16 of "Offences relating to motor vehicles, England and Wales, Supplementary tables"; copies are in the Library. The latest issue relates to 1987; figures for 1988 will be published in the autumn.

  Breath Tests
  Mr. Bright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many roadside breath tests have been conducted by police officers in(a) England and (b) Bedfordshire since 1 January 1985.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information requested is published annually in a Home Office statistical bulletin "Statistics of breath tests, England and Wales"; copies are in the Library. Table 5 of issue 8/89 gives the figures for 1987; figures for 1988 will be published in August.

  Racial Attacks
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis about the progress of the investigation into the alleged racial attack involving murder upon an Asian family in their home in Flower and Dean walk, Stepney, on Sunday 9 July; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The conduct of the investigation is a matter for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. I understand that the police are conducting a major investigation into what appears at present to have been an attempted robbery which ended in murder.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the speed of police response to emergency calls alleging racial attack; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No record of the number of such representations is kept centrally. The report of the interdepartmental racial attacks group published in May 1989 recommends that, where there is public concern about the police response in cases alleging racial attacks, the police should monitor their response times carefully.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will request the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to publish an addendum to the latest edition of his annual report for 1988 on the force order on racial harassment issued in June 1987 which set out guidelines for the police investigating racial harassment and monitoring investigations of racial harassment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  While it is not the general policy of the Commissioner to make public force orders, an exception has been made to the extract from police orders of 26 June 1987 which dealt with racial attacks and harassment. This has been published as annex H of the report of the interdepartmental racial attacks group published in May 1989. Copies of this report are available in the Library of the House. The Government fully support the many initiatives taken by the Metropolitan police to combat racial attacks and harassment.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evaluation there has been of the effectiveness of the force order on racial harassment; whether it will be made public; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  An internal management review of force instructions on racial attacks and harassment was carried out in 1988. This showed that all divisions within the Metropolitan police have adopted the minimum requirements set down, with most providing additional services in consultation with their local communities. The review is not being made public, but is being used to spread good practice throughout the force.

  Commission for Racial Equality
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was allocated to the Commission for Racial Equality in 1987–88 and 1988–89.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Commission was allocated grant-in-aid of £10,845,000 in 1987–88 and £11,256,000 (provisional) in 1988–89.

  Crimes by Children
  Mr. Bright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to bring forward proposals to make parents accept responsibility for failing to prevent crimes by their children; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The debate about the proposals put forward earlier this year for increasing parents' responsibility for their children's offending is continuing. Views have been received from a number of interested parties covering matters including parental attendance at juvenile court hearings; parental liability for fines and compensation orders imposed upon their children; and the wider use of existing penalties. We shall decide how to proceed in the light of those and other responses.

  UKIAS
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of requests for advice or assistance with the preparation of immigration appeals made to the UKIAS in Glasgow in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Renton
  [holding answer 6 July 1989]: The United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service is an independent organisation and the Home Office keeps no central records of the number of people assisted by the service at its Glasgow office. UKIAS does, however, publish an annual report which gives information on its workload on a regional basis. Copies are available in the Library.

  Immigration Appeals
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the appellate authority about delays in presenting immigration appeals in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  [holding answer 6 July 1989]None. Delays in the hearing of appeals are essentially a matter for my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor who has responsibility for the immigration appeals system.

  Deaf Drivers
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response he has received from the European Commissioner for Transport regarding European Economic Community proposals to prevent the deaf and hard of hearing from driving minibuses, light goods vehicles and heavy goods vehicles.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Commission proposals are unlikely to lead to any change in the existing domestic arrangements for licensing the drivers of heavy goods vehicles, which exclude the deaf.

  In our negotiations with the Commission we are seeking to preserve our existing licensing arrangements as far as possible. These allow the deaf to drive minibuses and light goods vehicles. There have been no detailed negotiations about the draft directive as a whole so far.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Taiwan
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received from the Anglo-Taiwan trade committee about the opening in Taipei of the British visa-handling office; how many visas were processed on each of the first seven days after it opened for business; how many Taiwan Chinese are expected to apply for and to receive British visas via this office in 1989 and at what approximate annual rate as far as can be estimated; how much is charged in NT dollars for each visa that is issued; and if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the charges made by the United States and by other EEC member countries which issue, or have been issued on their behalf, visas in Taipei.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Anglo-Taiwan trade committee has given us the following information about the operation of its visa-handling unit:

  (i) Visas processed on each of the first seven days after opening

  Date

  Number

  Thursday 1 June

  21

  Friday 2 June

  65

  Monday 5 June

  129

  Tuesday 6 June

  73

  Wednesday 7 June

  71

  Thursday 8 June

  1Nil

  Friday 9 June

  188

  1National Holiday.

  (ii) The Anglo-Taiwan trade committee anticipates that approximately 26,000–27,000 Taiwan Chinese will apply for and receive United Kingdom visas via their office in 1989. It estimates that it will process around 40,000 applications in 1990 and forecasts an upward trend thereafter.

  (iii) The Anglo-Taiwan trade committee currently charges NT $1,250 for a single entry visa and NT $2,450 for a multiple entry visa.

  (iv) Visa charges levied in Taiwan by United States and other EC member countries

  Country

  NT$ charge

  United States

  250

  Belgium

  900–4,000

  Denmark

  1,500

  France

  205–410

  FRG

  660

  Greece

  1,700

  Ireland

  3,250

  Italy

  1,000

  Luxembourg

  900–4,000

  Netherlands

  1,000–4,000

  Portugal

  1,900–3,000

  Spain

  1,700

  Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
  Mr. Michael Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the current year's meeting of the committee on the peaceful uses of outer space; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The committee on the peaceful uses of outer space, which met from 5 to 15 June 1989, gave priority consideration to the ways and means of 192
  maintaining outer space for peaceful purposes. The Committee recommended that the general assembly endorse the initiative of the international scientific organisations to designate 1992 as international space year. In considering the report of its scientific and technical sub-committee, the committee debated the techniques of remote sensing of the earth from outer space, the uses of nuclear power sources in outer space, space transportation systems and the technical attributes of the geostationary orbit. The elaboration of draft principles relevant to the use of nuclear power sources in outer space was the main item considered by the committee in the debate on the report of its legal sub-committee. We attach considerable importance to the United Nations committee on the peaceful uses of outer space since its inception in 1959 and welcome its role as a focal point for international co-operation in the peaceful uses of outer space.

  Human Rights
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give a breakdown by country of the names of those individuals who are the victims of human rights abuses and upon whose behalf he has made representations to the authorities in the country in question during the last six months; and if he will indicate, where appropriate those cases which have satisfactorily been resolved.

  Mr. Eggar
  In the last six months we have made representations on behalf of many individuals who are the victims of human rights abuse. Those representations have been made to the authorities in a wide range of countries and, in some instances, have helped to bring about a satisfactory resolution of the cases involved.

  It would not be in the interests of current or future victims of abuse if we were to make public the details of our representations about individual cases.

  Foreign Affairs Council
  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council held on 17 July.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The first Foreign Affairs Council of the new French presidency took place in Brussels on 17 July. My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary, my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development, and I attended for the United Kingdom.

  The Council had a procedural discussion on the handling of further work on the economic and monetary issues considered at the European Council in Madrid. It also exchanged views inconclusively on the broadcasting directive.

  In the light of the discussion of western support for reform in Poland and Hungary at the Paris economic summit, the Council considered appropriate action and noted that the Commission will urgently submit a proposal for the supply of surplus food stocks to Poland, and will convene a meeting of a wider group of interested countries.

  The Council considered the Community's trade relations with the United States and asked the Commission to continue its efforts to resolve the dispute over hormones in meat.
  193
  The Council discussed further the Community's position for the renegotiation of the Lomé convention. Final agreement was not possible: the Council will consider the matter further in October.

  In their capacity as representatives of the Governments of member states, Ministers appointed the President and members of the new Court of First Instance, which will begin work in the autumn.

  In the margins of the Council, the Austrian Foreign Minister formally handed over to the presidency Austria's application for membership of the Community.

  Office

  Loans

  Grants

  90–100 per cent.

  Over 100 per cent.

  90–100 per cent.

  Over 100 per cent.

  April

  May

  June

  April

  May

  June

  April

  May

  June

  April

  May

  June

  Barnsley East

  X

  X

  X

  X

  X

  Barnsley West

  X

  X

  X

  Doncaster East

  X

  X

  X

  X

  X

  X

  Doncaster West

  X

  X

  X

  Rotherham North

  X

  X

  X

  X

  X

  Rotherham South

  X

  X

  X

  X

  Sheffield North East

  X

  X

  X

  X

  X

  X

  Sheffield North West

  X

  X

  X

  X

  X

  X

  Sheffield South East

  X

  X

  X

  X

  X

  X

  Sheffield South West

  X

  X

  X

  X

  X

  Wath on Dearne

  X

  X

  X

  X

  X

  X

  Industrial Injuries Advisory Council
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has accepted the findings of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council's recent report on chlamydiosis and Q fever; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council's report on chlamydiosis and Q fever is published today and a copy has been placed in the Library. The Council concludes that there is sufficient evidence to prescribe Q fever and chlamydiosis as industrial diseases under the terms of section 76(2) of the Social Security Act 1975 and recommends that both be added to the schedule of prescribed diseases. We have accepted these recommendations and regulations have been laid today which will bring them into operation on 9 August 1989.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Lester
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the effect on the number of families entitled to family credit if all wives in paid work stopped working.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I regret that the information requested is not available.

  Standards of Living
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the average increase in living standards of couples with children whose main source of income is social security benefit since 1979.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 10 July 1989]: The latest available information is that from 1979 to 1985, the

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Social Fund
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) which of his Department's offices in the county of South Yorkshire have spent more than 100 per cent. of their profile allocation for social fund loans and social fund grants for(a) April, (b) May, and (c) June;

  (2) which of his Department's offices in the county of South Yorkshire have spent between 90 per cent. and 100 per cent. of their profile allocation for social fund loans and social fund grants for (a) April, (b) May, and (c) June.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested is set out in the table. Details of actual expenditure are available in the Library.

  living standards of supplementary benefit recipient couples with children improved on average by 16 per cent. This estimate uses the methods and assumptions of the "Households Below Average Income" statistics and is based on net income before housing costs ie net income from all sources.

TRANSPORT

  Docklands Light Railway
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what increases in the capacity of the Docklands light railway are now planned to take place; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  London Regional Transport is planning to double the capacity of the railway between Tower Gateway and the Isle of Dogs early next year with the introduction of two-unit trains. A further increase is planned for early 1991 with the delivery of new trains, bringing the capacity of the railway from Tower Gateway to some 6,500 passengers per hour compared with 1,750 at present. Improvements at Tower Gateway station will be completed early in 1990 to match the increased train capacity and to provide better facilities for passengers.

  The design concept of the Canary Wharf station has been agreed and will be integrated into the construction programme for the railway. The scale of the station development at Canary Wharf and the complexity of construction at Bank station, have caused some delays in the programme.

  Completion of the first tunnel at Bank station is now scheduled for late 1990. The aim is to provide a single-tunnel service as soon as possible, provided that that can

  195
  be done satisfactorily in the light of current forecasts of increased passenger demand. Completion of both tunnels is scheduled by late 1991, with full service provision following normal commissioning procedures. I have asked LRT to do everything it can to advance the opening dates for the new services.

  M11 (Service Area)
  Mr. Haselhurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will announce his decision on the proposal to site a motorway services area on the M11 at Birchanger.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Transport expect to announce their decision shortly.

  Underground (Safety)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will direct London Underground Limited to publish the hazard analysis report into Tottenham Court Road station; and if he will place a summary of the report in the Library.

  Mr. Portillo
  The report was commissioned by London Underground Ltd. and publication is for it to consider.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will meet the chairman of London Regional Transport to discuss a date for the completion of the complete study to be made of the movement of passengers through the central underground system to assess properly all risks to staff and passengers to which they may be exposed, and the safe passenger capacity as recommended by the railways inspectorate in its report of an investigation into the management of safety concerning passengers and staff in stations on the London Underground dated 28 April; if he will report the conclusions of these discussions to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  I understand that London Underground Ltd. hopes shortly to appoint selected consultants to conduct the study. The work will be completed as soon as possible but it is too soon to say when that will be.

  Warning Lamps
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list any classes of vehicle that have an entitlement to use blue lamps but are not used for police, fire or ambulance purposes;

  (2) if he will list those regulations that are currently in force that control the use of blue lamps on police, fire, ambulance or any other types of vehicle;

  (3) if he will specify what is covered by the terms (a) warning beacon and (b) special warning lamp as used in road traffic regulations; and if he will list those regulations that are currently in force that control where on a vehicle these may be attached.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  In addition to ambulances and motor vehicles used for fire brigade and police purposes, the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1984 allow the following categories of emergency vehicle to use blue lamps:Motor vehicles owned by a body formed primarily for the purposes of fire salvage and used for those or similar purposes;
  196
  Motor vehicles owned by the Forestry Commission or a local authority and used from time to time for the purposes of fighting fires;
  Motor vehicles owned by the Secretary of State for Defence and used—

  (i) for the purposes of the disposal of bombs or explosives,

  (ii) by the Naval Emergency Monitoring Organisation for the purposes of a nuclear accident or an incident involving radio-activity,

  (iii) by the Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue Service for the purposes of rescue operations or any other emergencies, or

  (iv) by the Royal Air Force Armament Support Unit; motor vehicles primarily used for the purposes of the Blood Transfusion Service provided under the National Health Service Act 1977 or under the National Health (Scotland) Act 1978;

  motor vehicles used by Her Majesty's Coastguard Auxiliary Service for the purposes of giving aid to persons in danger or vessels in distress on or near the coast;
  motor vehicles owned by the National Coal Board and used for the purposes of rescue operations at mines;
  motor vehicles owned by the Royal National Lifeboat institution and used for the purposes of launching lifeboats; and
  motor vehicles primarily used for the purposes of conveying any human tissue for transplanting or similar purposes.

  Current requirements controlling the use of blue lamps on emergency vehicles are given in regulations 11(2), 13, 15 and 23(6) of the regulations.

  The regulations specify that a warning beacon means a lamp that is capable of emitting a flashing or rotating beam of light throughout 360° in the horizontal plane. A special warning lamp is defined as a lamp fitted to the front or rear of an emergency vehicle, capable of emitting a blue flashing light and not any other kind of light. Schedule 15 to the Regulations sets out the positioning requirements for warning beacons. There are no specific fitting provisions laid down for special warning lamps.

  Public Transport Strike (Publicity)
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the newspapers in which the advertisement entitled "If there is a Public Transport Strike Tomorrow" appeared on 11 July; what was the cost of each advertisement; and what was the total cost of the production and displaying of the advertisement.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 18 July 1989]: The advertisement appeared on 11 July in southern editions of the Daily Mail, Daily Express, Today, The Star, The Sun, and Daily Mirror; and national editions of The Times, The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, The Independent, Financial Times and in the London Evening Standard.

  The total cost of this advertising including production was £190,733·59. Information about the breakdown of costs by each newspaper, as requested, is commercially confidential.

  Street Lighting
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those programme areas which are eligible for allocations for improved street lighting in residential areas.

  Mr. Trippier
  I have been asked to reply.

  All highway authorities are eligible to apply to the Department of Transport for capital allocations in respect of roads, and these may cover expenditure on street lighting schemes in residential and other areas. The 57 local authorities which are eligible to receive urban

  197
  programme funds are listed in "DOE Inner City Programmes 1987–88", a copy of which is in the Library. The urban programme has supported a number of projects in inner city areas which have included the provision of improved street lighting as part of a package of measures designed to reduce crime and improve the environment. Urban programme resources are not allocated to particular project types. It is for each local authority to decide whether it wishes to include projects involving street lighting improvements in its inner area programme.

SCOTLAND

  Eye Tests
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the number of National Health Service eye tests carried out in Scotland in the last three months and the number carried out over the same period in 1988.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Information about the number of National Health Service sight tests carried out in Scotland between 1 April 1989 and 30 June 1989 is not yet available. The latest figures available show that 337,069 sight tests were undertaken under general ophthalmic services between 1 January and 31 March 1989. The comparable figure for the same period in 1988 is 309,417.

  Atlantic Salmon Conservation Trust (Scotland)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on procedures for the regulation of charities in Scotland in the light of the Atlantic Salmon Conservation Trust (Scotland) case.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement on the regulation of charities in Scotland later this year.

  Housing Defects
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of Dorran-type houses investigated by the Building Research Establishment were shown to be(a) suffering from current corrosion of steel enforcing bars, (b) sound, and (c) liable to structural defect within the next 30 years; and if he will give a breakdown of the analysis by district council area.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Building Research Establishment visually inspected a sample of about 100 Dorran two-storey houses and 30 Dorran bungalows in Scotland, and of these one house and one bungalow were examined in detail. Corrosion of reinforcement was found in the ring beam of the houses, but all houses and bungalows were found to be structurally sound at the time of inspection. All components tested showed carbonation of the concrete, and this condition could lead to corrosion of the steel reinforcement within the next 30 years.

  Information is not available by district council area.

  Findhorn Bridge
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of erecting a temporary bridge on the A96; and what is the estimated cost of anticipated repairs to the old Findhorn bridge.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The cost of buying, installing and maintaining the temporary bridge is 198
  £235,000. The total cost of the temporary diversion—that is, bridge and approach roads—was £579,000, of which aproximately £120,000 is for re-usable temporary bridging.

  The cost of strengthening and refurbishing the existing Findhorn bridge is estimated to be £706,000.

  EC Projects
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the value of the projects described in the European Commission's publication, "Second Programme of the European Communities to Combat Poverty", and give the reasons for Scotland's exclusion.

  Mr. Lang
  Scotland did not take part in the second EC programme to combat poverty because the size of the programme and the net benefit which Scotland could have expected to gain from it did not justify participation. A complete evaluation of the programme is not yet available.

  Airports
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the (i) economic, (ii) technical, (iii) safety and (iv) national and international criteria on which his decision not to grant Glasgow airport a gateway status was based.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The criterion against which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport judged the request of BAA plc for a review of the lowland airports policy was that set out in the 1985 White Paper "Airports Policy"; the absence of a steady improvement by 1989 in Prestwick's financial results. The data provided by BAA plc showed that there had been such an improvement, and my right hon. Friend announced accordingly that a review would not take place.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the national and international airlines flying to and from Scotland which support his decision to keep Prestwick as Scotland's only gateway airport.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Representations have been received on Prestwick's long haul gateway status, but it would be for the airlines concerned to make their views public, if they wished.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the following organisations about his decision to retain Prestwick airport as Scotland's only gateway airport: (i) Confederation of British Industry Scotland, (ii) Glasgow chamber of commerce, (iii) Edinburgh chamber of commerce, (iv) Association of British Travel Agents, (v) Scottish Council (Development and Industry) and (vi) Scottish tourist board; and which supported and which opposed his decision.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Representations to my right hon. and learned Friend about Scottish lowland airports policy have been received from a number of organisations, but it would be for those concerned to make their views public, if they wished.

  School Meals
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the results of the annual census of school meals in Scotland held in January; what were the corresponding 1988 results; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  the information obtained from the census is set out in the table. The 1989 census is the first following the changes in entitlement to free school meals introduced under the Social Security Act 1986 on 11 April 1988. It

  Education Authority Schools (including nursery and special schools)

  1989

  1988

  Number

  As percentage of pupils present

  Number

  As percentage of pupils present

  Pupils present on Census day

  713,034

  —

  729,505

  —

  Pupils taking school meals

  on payment

  223,456

  31·3

  184,780

  25·3

  free

  105,232

  14·8

  145,219

  19·9

  total

  328,688

  46·1

  329,999

  45·2

  Pupils bringing own food on school premises

  104,266

  14·6

  98,488

  13·5

  A detailed statement of the returns from education authorities from which these national figures are derived is being placed in the Library.

  Primary

  Secondary

  1989 Per cent.

  1988 Per cent.

  1989 Per cent.

  1988 Per cent.

  Pupils taking school meals

  51·5

  50·0

  42·1

  41·8

  Pupils bringing own food

  22·2

  20·6

  5·3

  5·3

  All authorities provide the fixed traditional 2 course The figures are as follows; meals and cafeteria style meals, with the latter accounting for 64 per cent. of all meals served.

  1989

  Percent. of pupils present

  1988

  Percent of pupils present

  Paid

  Free

  Total

  Paid

  Free

  Total

  Pupils taking fixed meals

  74,345

  44,327

  118,672

  16·6

  97,635

  109,937

  207,572

  28·5

  Pupils taking cafeteria meals

  149,111

  60,905

  210,016

  29·5

  87,145

  35,282

  122,427

  16·8

  Staffing Review
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to issue the final circular on staffing in Scottish schools following publication of the draft circular arising from the staffing review in June 1988.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 3 May 1989]: I am considering the precise form of final guidance to authorities, taking account of relevant developments since last June.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Petitions
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council (1) if he will institute a review of the wording required of petitions in order to make the submission of petitions less likely to be invalid because of petitioners not using a precise form of words;200
  confirms the Government view that these changes would not have a detrimental effect on the uptake of school meals, and the number of pupils taking meals as a percentage of those present is greater than that at the 1988 census. Under the new arrangements the children's rates of family credit include an element to cover the cost of school meals. The significant increase in the number of children taking paid meals, which corresponds with the drop in free meals, suggests that many families are receiving and using family credit for the purpose intended.

  The following table shows, as percentage of pupils attending their respective sectors, those primary and secondary pupils taking meals or bringing their own food.

  The figures are as follows;

  (2) if he will take action to permit the modernisation of the language required to be used on petitions in order to assist potential petitioners.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I have no plans to do so. If the hon. Member can demonstrate that the language required to be used on petitions has caused widespread difficulty for petitioners he should bring the matter to the attention of the Select Committee on Procedure for its consideration. The growth in the number of public petitions presented over the last decade, from 42 in 1979–80 to 356 in 1987–88, suggests that there is no problem and hon. Members may consult the Clerk of Public Petitions when necessary.

  Planted Questions
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will launch an inquiry into the practice of planting questions.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I have no plans to do so.

HEALTH

  Self-Governing Hospitals
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the cost of producing the communications pack called "Self-Governing Hospitals—An Initial Guide", a Members' briefing and a video.

  Mr. Mellor
  The estimated cost of the staff communications pack of self-governing hospitals which included "Self-Governing Hospitals—An Initial Guide", "Self-Governing Hospital—Briefing for NHS Managers" and a video, was £300,000.

  Eye Tests
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will instigate a study to establish whether extending the range of people who are exempt from eye test charges could reduce hospital referrals.

  Mr. Mellor
  No. We have no reason to believe such a study is necessary. GPs are well aware that only those patients who require diagnosis and treatment of a suspected eye condition should be referred to hospital eye departments.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average cost to(a) a hospital and (b) an ophthalmic medical practitioner to give an eye test; and what assessment he has made of the reasons for any differences.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not have centrally information on the average cost of providing sight tests in hospitals. However, the current fee of £8·69 paid to an ophthalmic medical practitioner (OMP) for conducting an NHS sight test includes an expenses element of £2·13 based on the recommendation of the doctors and dentists review body. In framing its recommendation the review body took note of the results of an inquiry, which reported in 1988, into the expenses of OMPs. No comparison between the costs of undertaking sight tests in hospitals and by OMPs has been made.

  Benzodiazepines
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide for each of the last three available years a breakdown of the number of prescriptions issued by community pharmacists for the following benzodiazepines(a) diazepam, (b) temazepam, (c) lorazepam, (d) nitrazepam and (e) oxazepam.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information is as follows:

  Number of prescriptions dispensed

  Millions

  England

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Diazepam

  4·4

  4·2

  4·1

  Temazepam

  5·1

  5·8

  6·2

  Lorazepam

  2·6

  2·6

  2·4

  Nitrazepam

  5·0

  4·7

  4·4

  Oxazepam

  0·6

  0·6

  0·6

  The above data are estimates based on a sample of approximately one in 200 prescriptions dispensed by retail pharmacists and drug stores.

  Staffing (Gateshead and Newcastle)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the qualified staffing per capita levels in(a) Gateshead district health authority and (b) Newcastle district health authority.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information which I understand the hon. Member requires is set out in the table.

  Gateshead

  Newcastle

  DHA

  DHA

  1. Enrolled nursing and midwifery staff per 100,000 resident population

  146·4

  359·0

  2. Registered nursing and midwifery staff per 100,000 resident population

  273·9

  734·7

  3. In-patients treated in year ending 31 March 1988

  21,729

  92,352

  Items 1 and 2—Source—Department of Health Annual Census of non-medical manpower (September 1987).

  Item 3—Source—Department of Health returns from Health Authorities on number of patient stays year ending 31 March 1988. Form SH3A.

  Cyclotron Machine
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the cyclotron machine for which the Government provided funds will be owned by the National Health Service.

  Mr. Freeman
  Details of the operational arrangements for the proposed project have yet to be settled in consultation with those concerned.

  NHS Reform
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many responses he has received to date on the White Paper "Working for Patients".

  Mr. Mellor
  We have received more than 8,500 representations since the White Paper was published on 30 January.

  Patients' Records
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he proposes to take to improve the transfer of patient medical records from one general practitioner to another.

  Mr. Mellor
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Taunton (Mr. Nicholson) on 22 June at column 216.

  Porton Down
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the future of the centre for applied microbiology and research at Porton Down near Salisbury.

  Mr. Freeman
  The centre for applied microbiology and research (CAM R) is a public body managed by the public health laboratory service (PHLS). As with any body spending public funds, reviews are carried out from time to time on how effectively those funds are being used and whether they are being spent on activities which properly
  203
  belong within the public sector. The Department and the PHLS are currently carrying out such a review of the arrangements for the management of CAM R. No decisions have yet been made, but we will ensure that the centre's essential public health work continues.

  HIV
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will give such details as can be released without breach of confidentiality of any cases in which National Health Service injury benefits compensation has been paid to a worker who had acquired the HIV infection;

  (2) how many cases of HIV infection alleged to be acquired at work have been, and are currently being investigated to date for National Health Service injury benefit compensation; and how many of these have been accepted.

  Mr. Mellor
  No benefits have been paid under the National Health Service (Injury Benefits) Regulations in respect of HIV infections. There has been only one occasion where a claim has been made under the injury benefit regulations alleging that a HIV infection was attributable to National Health Service employment. That claim was subsequently withdrawn while still under consideration when the source of the infection was traced to a previous employment.

  AIDS Research
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list in the Official Report the amounts of (a) Government and (b) non-Government investment in AIDS research over the latest period for which figures are available.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Government have allocated the following sums for AIDS research since 1984:

  £ million

  1984–85

  0·17

  1985–86

  0·66

  1986–87

  2·46

  1987–88

  10·36

  1988–89

  13·95

  We do not hold information about non-Government investment in AIDS research.

  "Working for Patients"
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role nurses will have on the new family practitioner committees envisaged in "Working for Patients".

  Mr. Mellor
  The nurse member will be a full member of the newly constituted family practitioner committee in England, contributing to all its intended functions and activities and will bring to the committee special skills and experience bearing on the increasingly important part which nursing plays in modern general practice.

  Disability
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial support Her Majesty's Government are giving to the activities of the British Council of Organisations of Disabled People; and if he will make a statement.
  204
  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Greenwich (Mrs. Barnes) on 14 July at columns 657–58.

  Electromagnetic Fields
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what legislation he plans to bring forward. in the light of the National Radiological Protection Board's recommendations in their recently published "Guidance to Restrictions on Exposure to Time-varying Electromagnetic Fields," and the 1988 recommendations of the International Non-ionising Radiation Committee.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Commission is not planning to propose new legislation on non-ionising electromagnetic fields. However, the Health and Safety Executive will take account of the National Radiological Protection Board's recommendations in any further guidance it issues, but does not expect that any major revision of current guidance will be needed.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Livestock Compensatory Allowance
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Western Isles on 30 June,Official Report, column 585, how many individual farmers as landowners will receive livestock compensatory allowance payments annually; what information he has in respect of how much is paid out in total and how much to individual farmers and landowners in hill livestock compensatory allowance payments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  We estimate that about 65,000 producers in the United Kingdom's less-favoured areas will receive hill livestock compensatory allowances this year, and that total expenditure will be of the order of E 120 million. We do not have a breakdown of these figures between landowners and other claimants.

  Set-aside Scheme
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many whole farms have been set aside from agricultural production under the European Community scheme in each county in England and Wales.

  Mr. Ryder
  Following are the numbers of participants who have set aside in the crop year 1988–89 the whole area used in the base year 1987–88 for relevant arable crops. This area is not necessarily the whole of the farm concerned.

  Number of participants

  England

  Avon

  6

  Bedfordshire

  9

  Berkshire

  5

  Buckinghamshire

  20

  Cambridgeshire

  16

  Cheshire

  5

  Cleveland

  1

  Cornwall

  13

  Cumbria

  1

  205

  Number of participants

  Derbyshire

  7

  Devon

  20

  Dorset

  5

  Durham

  4

  Essex

  32

  Gloucestershire

  18

  Hampshire

  12

  Hereford and Worcester

  4

  Hertfordshire

  14

  Humberside

  11

  Isle of Wight

  —

  Kent

  22

  Lancashire

  —

  Leicestershire

  8

  Lincolnshire

  4

  Greater London

  2

  Greater Manchester

  —

  Merseyside

  —

  West Midlands

  1

  Norfolk

  23

  Northamptonshire

  14

  Northumberland

  6

  Nottinghamshire

  7

  Oxfordshire

  11

  Shropshire

  —

  Somerset

  10

  Staffordshire

  6

  Suffolk

  36

  Surrey

  13

  East Sussex

  18

  West Sussex

  29

  Tyne and Wear

  —

  Warwickshire

  13

  Wiltshire

  9

  North Yorkshire

  21

  South Yorkshire

  2

  West Yorkshire

  3

  Total

  461

  Wales

  Gwent

  3

  Dyfed

  7

  Total

  10

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate how many full-time and part-time jobs have been lost as a consequence of the set aside scheme for agricultural land in England and Wales; and if he will estimate how many of those job losses are attributable to whole farm set aside.

  Mr. Ryder
  Losses of agricultural jobs are to be expected as farming adjusts to a more rigorous price policy, but alternative non-agricultural activities on farms will generate new jobs. Set-aside is designed both to work with stabilisers to achieve the adjustment of agricultural production and to provide new opportunities for farmers to use their land for non-agricultural purposes. I will be in a position to form a judgment on the employment effects of set-aside when I have the results of the evaluation of the scheme commissioned by my Department.

  White Papers
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, for each of the last three White Papers issued by his Department, for which legislation has been started, he will state the time elapsed between their 206
  publication and the First Readings of any Bills connected with them; and if he will do the same for the last three White Papers issued by his Department prior to May 1979.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  In recent years it has not been usual practice for my Department to issue White Papers in advance of the publication of bills. Information for the period prior to May 1979 is not readily available.

  Cereals Co-responsibility Levy
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will press for the discontinuation of the cereals co-responsibility levy in future years.

  Mr. Ryder
  Yes. I will continue to press for the levy to be replaced by price cuts, which are a far better way of dealing with a surplus.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report the declared purpose of funds generated by the cereals co-responsibility levy; and how have they actually been spent.

  Mr. Ryder
  When the Commission of the European Communities proposed the introduction of the cereals co-responsibility levy in 1986 it declared that the objective of the levy was to make producers more aware of market realities and to make them contribute to financing the burden placed on the European Community budget by surplus production. Income from the levy has been used to offset expenditure in the cereals sector.

  Imported Eggs
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many representations he has received over the new arrangements for the testing of imported eggs for salmonella which(a) allege that the safeguards are inadequate or (b) propose that the importer, rather than the taxpayer should pay the cost of testing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have received a considerable number of representations about the arrangemens for testing imported eggs for salmonella. However, I am advised that the sampling rate of 60 eggs per lorry load is adequate to enable the risk of infection from imports to be established. There are no powers to charge importers for testing under the Imported Food Regulations 1984.

  Global Warming
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research is being carried out by his Department to determine the impact of global warming on British agriculture.

  Mr. Ryder
  My Department is planning to commission research in 1990–91 on the impact of climate change in agriculture; on the effects of climatic change on crop responses, pests and diseases; quantification of methane emissions by ruminants on farms and the reduction of such emissions; and desk studies to estimate the possible impact of climatic change on land drainage.

  Free-range Eggs
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has plans to help small free-range egg producers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have no such plans.

  Pasties
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will arrange for an EWP licence to export meat products within the European Community to be issued to Trade Routes in Ivybridge, Devon, to enable them to export pasties to Spain.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  An EWP approval number is issued to a plant operator rather than an export agent, such as Trade Routes, for a meat product plant which satisfies the hygiene standards of production required for intra-Community trade.

  Pasties, however, are regarded as meat preparations for intra-Community trade purposes and are the subject of bilateral agreements between member states. Negotiations are in progress with the Spanish authorities intended to secure their agreement to British exports of these preparations.

  National Fruit Collection
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is now in a position to make a statement on the future of the national fruit collection at Brogdale.

  Mr. Ryder
  I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member as recently as 17 July.

  Meat Tenderisers
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he intends to publish the results of recent research into the effects of meat tenderisers administered to cattle.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The results of research into the effects of meat tenderisers administered to cattle were published in Meat Science in 1987. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Quangos (Appointments)
  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 January 1989.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding reply 13 July 1989]: The following list shows appointments and re-appointments that I have made either alone or jointly since 1 January 1989 to the Executive etc, Bodies and Public Corporations set out under my Department in "Public Bodies 1988" of which a copy is in the Library. It also shows current remuneration.
  208

  Appointment

  Remuneration

  Meat and Livestock Commission

  R. W. Mattes

  Deputy Chairman

  £21,293 p.a.

  Mrs. E. Rose

  Independent Member and Chairman of Consumers Committee

  £10,225 p.a.

  J. G. Steer

  Member

  £5,030 p.a.

  C. G. Smith

  Member

  £5,030 p.a.

  R. E. Meuric Rees CBE

  Member

  £5,030 p.a.

  H. G. Marshall

  Member

  £5,030 p.a.

  J. F. Royan OBE

  Member

  £5,030 p.a.

  Agricultural Training Board

  J. E. Smith

  Chairman

  £6,216 p.a.

  M. J. Curtis

  Deputy Chairman

  £5,699 p.a.

  N. J. Mallett

  Member

  Expenses only

  J. S. Burnett

  Member

  Expenses only

  D. H. Roberts

  Member

  Expenses only

  A. Fooks MBE

  Member

  Expenses only

  J. A. Kilgour

  Member

  Expenses only

  I. Monckton

  Member

  Expenses only

  M. D. Pollard

  Member

  Expenses only

  G. J. Baird

  Member

  Expenses only

  Dr. Kathleen Anderson

  Member

  Expenses only

  Apple and Pear Development Council

  B. J. Collingridge

  Member

  £25 per day

  S. F. Hay

  Member

  £25 per day

  C. Graham

  Member

  £25 per day

  N. Longe

  Member

  £25 per day

  P. R. D. Tippett

  Member

  £25 per day

  Mrs. T. Wickham

  Member

  £25 per day

  Covent Garden Market Authority

  R. Smith OBE

  Member

  £4,790 p.a.

  Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

  Mrs. A. Lennox-Boyd

  Trustee

  Expenses only

  Home-Grown Cereals Authority

  G. B. Nelson

  Chairman

  £14,567 p.a.

  Mrs. V. Boakes

  Independent Member

  £2,510 p.a.

  M. Garrod

  Member

  £2,510 p.a.

  D. Walton

  Member

  £2,510 p.a.

  J. Dillon-Robinson

  Member

  £2,510 p.a.

  D. George

  Member

  £2,510 p.a.

  R. Pirie

  Member

  £2,510 p.a.

  K. Hairs

  Member

  £2,510 p.a.

ENVIRONMENT

  Sewage Sludge
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mrs. Taylor),Official Report, 28 June, column 955, he will set out the basis for his statement that incineration of sewage sludge may be the worst environmental option.

  Mr. Howard
  Incineration of sewage sludge needs a significant input of energy in the form of oil or gas to achieve the necessary combustion efficiency. The ash which sludge incinerators produce contains relatively high concentrations of heavy metals, up to 50 times the levels in sludges disposed of in liquid form to agricultural land or to sea. Therefore, special protective measures must be taken at the landfill sites where it is deposited to ensure long-term environmental safety. Unlike other sludge treatment processes, incineration carries a risk of
  209
  uncontrolled discharge of contaminants to the atmosphere if operational breakdown causes faulty combustion or inefficient cleansing of exhaust gases.

  For these reasons, incineration is used only where the sludge producer has no practicable alternative available. Only about 10 per cent. of the sludge produced in other EC member states is dealt with by incineration.

  New Town Development Corporations
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue guidance to new town development corporations that they should, when issuing press releases about intended 7(1) submissions, issue them also to hon. Members whose constituencies are affected by such submissions.

  Mr. Trippier
  New town development corporations are being asked to follow this procedure.

  Hazardous Wastes
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidelines and safeguards exist to control the disposal of radioactive wastes together with domestic wastes on local authority landfill sites.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Small amounts of low-level solid radioactive wastes are authorised under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 for disposal with ordinary domestic refuse. Strict limits and conditions are contained in certificates of authorisation issued under the Act to ensure that such disposals present no hazard to the public, to the refuse collectors or at the disposal site.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the availability of anti-static devices containing polonium 210 in the United Kingdom in the light of their withdrawal in the United States of America because of radioactive contamination.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Anti-static devices containing polonium 210 imported from the United States have been withdrawn in the United Kingdom. A United Kingdom manufacturer currently supplies most devices now used in this country. These devices are robust and there is no evidence of radioactive contamination.

  Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total area of areas of outstanding natural beauty in England; and what proportion of this total lies within each of the standard planning regions.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information is as follows:

  Standard1 region

  Per cent, of total

  North

  12

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  2

  East Midlands

  3

  East Anglia

  5

  South East

  34

  South West

  34

  West Midlands

  6

  North West

  4

  England

  100

  18,455 sq km

  210
  1 These coincide with the economic planning regions.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his policy on housing and homelessness in the light of the resolution of the Assembly of the Baptist Union of Great Britain passed in April on housing and homelessness, a copy of which has been sent to him.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to make all local authorities follow the same criteria for the definition of homelessness; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is reviewing the homelessness legislation and hopes to announce conclusions soon.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give figures for the first quarter of 1988 to the first quarter of 1989 and for five years and 10 years, previously, on a yearly basis, for(a) lettings to homeless households, (b) expenditure on homeless households, (c) numbers in bed and breakfast accommodation and other forms of temporary accommodation, (d) the level of homelessness identified, (e) the average cost per family per week in bed and breakfast, (f) the total number of children and total of under-fives in bed and breakfast and (g) the average length of stay in temporary accommodation for each local authority in England and Wales.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 11 July 1989]: The information requested is not yet available for 1988–89. The available information is listed hereafter.

  Information on lettings to homeless households as reported by local authorities in England in their housing investment programme returns (HIPI) is available in the "HIP I All Items Print" for 1988 (columns E5b, E9b and E10b), for 1984 (columns D5a, D9b and D10a) and for 1979 (column J3b13).

  Information on net expenditure on homeless households by local authorities in England and Wales is given in the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy publication "Homelessness Statistics Actuals" for 1987–88 and 1983–84 (column 22) and for 1978–79 (column 20).

  The number of households in temporary accommodation for each local authority in England and Wales at the end of 1988 is available in table 9 of edition No. 89 of "Local Housing Statistics". For the end of 1983 and 1978 the information is in table 12 of editions Nos. 70 and 52 respectively of the same publication.

  Annual figures for the number of households accepted as homeless for each authority are also given in "Local Housing Statistics". The latest available are for 1987 (table 9(b) of edition no. 86). For 1983 the information is given in a table placed in the Library in answer to a question by the hon. Member for Woolwich (Mr. Cartwright), on 15 May 1987. For 1978 the information is available only for half-years and is given in edition 52.

  The latest information on homelessness (Q1 1989 figures) is available in table 7 of "Local authorities' action under the homeless provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England. Results for the first quarter 1989. Supplementary Tables".
  211
  Total expenditure by local authorities in England and Wales on bed and breakfast accommodation together with the number of household days placed in bed and breakfast as reported to the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) are given in "Homelessness Statistics Actuals" for 1987–88 and 1983–84 (columns 14 and 17) and for 1978–79 (columns 12 and 15).

  Information on the total number of children and under-fives in bed and breakfast accommodation and the average length of stay in temporary accommodation is not available centrally.

  Copies of all the documents and publications referred to are in the Library. For further information about Welsh authorities I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Rhododendrons
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the threat to woodlands and wild landscapes which comes from the spread of rhododendrons.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department has not carried out specific work on this subject, but in 1984 the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology published a report noting that in many areas of Britain there was evidence of significant increases in the spread of rhododendron. The Forestry Commission controls rhododendron on its own land where it is affecting tree growth and gives advice as appropriate to owners of private woodlands. In addition the commission is undertaking research on alternative means of control, including methods of limiting regrowth after cutting.

  House Prices
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the information currently held by local authorities on domestic property price movement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Information held on domestic house price movements is a matter for individual local authorities and no record of practice is kept centrally. The Department itself obtains informatiom from building societies and banks; and regional and national analyses of house price movements from these sources are published regularly.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the organised dumping sites where asbestos may be dumped in the area covered by Greater London.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has a record of some 32 waste disposal facilities licensed to deposit asbestos waste in the London area. Further details of these sites will be available on the public register of licensed sites maintained by the London waste regulation authority.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what checks are made, and how, by officers of his Department as to the following of rules when asbestos waste is dumped.
  212
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The responsibility for the conditions under which asbestos waste is deposited on licensed sites rests with the relevant waste disposal authorities.

  General guidance on the disposal of asbestos wastes is given in waste management paper No. 18, published by the Department, and in the Institute of Waste Management's code of practice for the disposal of asbestos waste, which was supported by the Department.

  Bed-and-Breakfast Accommodation
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of families placed in bed-and-breakfast accommodation by the London borough of Wandsworth as of 1 July.

  Mr. Trippier
  This information is reported quarterly by local authorities and I referred the hon. Member to the latest available figures in the reply that I gave him on 15 June 1989. [Official Report, Vol. 154, column 538].

  Pollution Standards
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek powers to ensure that new factories and workshops conform to European Community standards of environment pollution and noise pollution.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Government intend to strengthen the pollution control powers available to local authorities and introduce a system of integrated pollution control for major industrial processes which will be applied by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. Taken with the creation of the National Rivers Authority under the Water Act 1989, our proposals will create a powerful pollution control regime which will ensure compliance not only with European Community standards, but in many cases with more stringent standards. There are no European Community standards of environmental noise pollution for new factories and workshops. Controls are exercised through the planning system and the statutory nuisance provisions of the Control of Pollution Act 1974.

  HAT, Southwark
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) over what period of time any ballot on the proposed creation of a housing action trust in Southwark will be open to those eligible to vote;

  (2) to whom spoilt ballot papers will be referred during the count of votes cast after any ballot on the proposed formation of a housing action trust in Southwark;

  (3) what provisions will be made for those, such as the elderly, infirm and disabled unable to take part in any ballot on the proposed creation of a housing action trust in Southwark;

  (4)what steps will be taken to ensure the maximum participation by residents in any ballot on the creation of a housing action trust in Southwark;

  (5)whether any vote on the proposed creation of a housing action trust in Southwark will take the form of (a) a postal vote, (b) a ballot box vote or (c) both;

  (6) whether he will ask the Electoral Reform Society to encourage residents to vote in any ballot on the proposed formation of a housing action trust in Southwark;
  213
  (7) which individuals are entitled to attend and observe the count of the votes cast after any ballot on the proposed formation of a housing action trust in Southwark;

  (8) who will have the responsibility for conducting the count of the votes cast after any ballot on the proposed formation of a housing action trust in Southwark.

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

  We shall certainly encourage the Electoral Reform Society to take all reasonable steps to ensure that eligible tenants have an opportunity to vote in a housing action trust ballot.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when the new terms of the tenancy agreement will be finalised in relation to the proposed creation of a housing action trust in Southwark;

  (2) if he will now publish a draft tenancy agreement that would operate in the event of the establishment of the proposed housing action trust in Southwark.

  Mr. Trippier
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer to her questions yesterday.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether tenants leaving the Gloucester Grove and North Peckham estates in Southwark after the compilation of the register of those entitled to vote in any ballot on the creation of a housing action trust will retain voting rights.

  Mr. Trippier
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers that I gave her yesterday.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many members of the proposed Southwark housing action trust would be nominated by the council.

  Mr. Trippier
  When I met Southwark council and tenants' representatives on 24 May I said that a trust for Southwark could consist of a chairman and up to 10 other members. Half these other members could be tenants and council representatives. Tenants and the council are welcome to suggest candidates. The Secretary of State is required to consult the local authority before appointing such members.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discretion would be given to the proposed housing action trust in Southwark over individual rent arrears cases.

  Mr. Trippier
  A trust's statutory position as a landlord would be exactly the same as that of a local authority as regards the discretion it could exercise over individual rent arrears cases. Trusts would be sensible managers which would follow the best practices of local authorities in trying to avoid the accumulation of rent arrears. My Department has issued a circular (18/87) on best practice, which trusts would be encouraged to follow.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what powers he would have to intervene in the running of the proposed housing action trust in Southwark;

  (2) what powers he would possess in relation to decisions made by the proposed housing action trust in Southwark.
  214
  Mr. Trippier
  Day-to-day decisions would be for the trust itself. Section 72 of the Housing Act 1988 enables the Secretary of State to give an established trust directions in the exercise of its functions. Other provisions in part III of the Act set out the basis on which the Secretary of State may determine a trust's financial duties; and the circumstances in which he has to authorise, oppose or consent to its actions.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the powers of the proposed housing action trust board in Southwark; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  The powers of a trust are set out in part III of the Housing Act 1988. Its objects and general powers are covered in section 63. The Secretary of State may by order under sections 65, 67 and 68 confer various housing, planning and public health functions on the trust. Wherever possible our intention is to leave powers with the local authority.

  Capital Receipts (Ipswich)
  Mr. Irvine
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the total spending power out of capital receipts of the borough of Ipswich in each of the last eight years.

  Mr. Gummer
  The table shows total spending power from capital receipts for the borough of Ipswich from 1985–86 onwards. This information is not available for earlier years.

  Spending power from capital receipts

  £ million

  1985–86

  6·161

  1986–87

  7·497

  1987–88

  9·610

  1988–89

  16·710

  Mosley Common Colliery
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will indicate the total amount of derelict land grant awarded in respect of the reclamation of the site of the former Mosley Common colliery in Wigan.

  Mr. Trippier
  The total estimated cost of this scheme to derelict land grant is £1,239,920, of which £874,240 has already been paid.

  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the recipients of derelict land grant involved in the reclamation of the former Mosley Common colliery site in Wigan.

  Mr. Trippier
  The sole applicant and grant recipient is Whelmar Homes Limited.

  Environmental Affairs
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what efforts he is making to promote his Department's role in environmental affairs.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department issues many publications which give information and guidance to the public on specific environmental issues. In addition, it
  215
  publishes annually a digest of environmental protection and water statistics which provides authoritative data on most aspects of environmental protection. Copies are in the Library. It has published "Protecting Your Environment—A Guide" which provides a summary of current environmental issues and policies across the board, describes the principles which underlie the Government's actions in this field, and provides a "who does what" guide to environmental protection. A copy is in the Library. It has published "Environment in Trust"—a series of leaflets which give in-depth accounts of environmental issues and current policies. Copies are in the Library.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish illustrative figures for 1989–90 showing for each area(a) community charges, (b) differences between general rates and the national non-domestic rate and (c) domestic bills with a combined system of capital value rates and local income tax, so that a comparison can be made with current local government taxes.

  Mr. Ridley
  I have today placed in the Library illustrative community charge figures for English authorities which are consistent with 1989–90 rate levels and show what the community charge might have been if the new local government finance system were in operation now. The figures have been calculated on the basis of the safety net and other transitional proposals which I announced earlier today.

  The figures are subject to the same qualification as those for earlier years. In particular they are not a prediction of the community charges which will apply in 1990–91. Those will depend largely on the spending decisions of individual local authorities.

  These figures are based on: estimated 1989–90 income from rates and Government grants for individual authorities; the new revenue support grant arrangements (but using the 1989–90 distribution of grant-related expenditure between individual authorities); the 1989–90 equivalent to aggregate external finance (grant and business rates); the business rate distribution which will come into effect from April 1990; and a safety net calculated on the principles for 1990–91 which I announced today.

  These figures illustrate the community charge levels associated with current levels of spending. The new local government finance system would have allowed all authorities to finance expenditure sufficient to provide a standard level of service while levying a community charge of £240 in 1989–90.

  The extent to which the full, unsafety-netted, community charge in any area exceeds £240 is simply a measure of the overspending by local authorities in the area. Likewise a full community charge of less than £240 is a measure of the efficiency of the authorities concerned.

  In this way the level of the full community charge in each area will provide a ready reckoner enabling chargepayers to compare the amount which their councils spend with the cost of providing a standard level of service and with the performance of other authorities. The message is clear. High spending leads to high community charges.

  In 1989–90 the level of local authority spending is likely to be 6·8 per cent. higher than allowed for in these
  216
  settlement. This leads to an average illustrative community charge of £274 before the safety net, the same as the average rate bill per adult.

  The published figures also include the latest estimates of the effect of moving to a uniform business rate. The latest figures suggest that about 60 per cent. of non-domestic hereditaments would have benefited from the uniform business rate on its own.

  The move to a uniform poundage will be of particular benefit to businesses in the north and the inner cities. For example, poundages would reduce by 35 per cent. in Sheffield, 31 per cent. in Manchester and over 28 per cent. in Liverpool. The uniform business rate is particularly good news for areas of above-average unemployment where high rates have slowed economic regeneration. And businesses generally will benefit from the linkage of business rates to the RPI.

  Although the move to the national business rate could mean significant changes in rate bills when combined with the revaluation of non-domestic properties, there will be transitional arrangements to limit the year-on-year changes.

  I have also placed in the Library estimates of the impact of the combination of a local income tax and capital value rates.

  As the basis for calculating community charges has been changed since 1988–89 figures were placed in the Library on 23 June 1988, I have also provided a comparative table showing 1988–89 and 1989–90 community charges calculated on a consistent basis. In 1990–91 actual charges will be determined by the amount that local authorities need to raise from their chargepayers. The nearest equivalent in 1989–90 is the amount they raise in rates. Illustrative charges in previous years were based on total expenditure which determined an authority's block grant but which is no longer relevant.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Manufacturing Productivity
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the G7 countries that have a higher level of manufacturing productivity than the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the G7 countries that have a higher level of manufacturing productivity than the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Newton
  No reliable comparisons exist for absolute levels of manufacturing productivity between different countries. But available figures do show that in the 1980s the United Kingdom has had the fastest rate of growth of manufacturing productivity of the seven major industrial countries.

  GATT
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress is being made in securing the inclusion of clauses concerning workers' rights in the negotiations in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade Uruguay round; and if he will make a statement.
  217
  Mr. Forth
  Consultations are continuing over a United States proposal for a GATT working party, separate from the Uruguay round, on the relationship between trade and workers' rights.

  Consumer Credit
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the most recent monthly figure for consumer credit.

  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the most recent monthly figure for consumer credit.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the most recent monthly figure for consumer credit.

  Mr. Maude
  The amount outstanding at the end of May was £28·4 billion excluding lending by banks and insurance companies.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the level of personal consumer credit.

  Mr. Maude
  The latest available figures for consumer credit are as follows. At the end of March 1989 that amount of consumer credit outstanding on the broad definition, which includes bank lending, was £43·4 billion. On the narrower definition, at the end of May it was £28·4 billion. The vast majority of household borrowing is accounted for by mortgages.

  Beer
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to conclude his consideration of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the supply of beer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, when he expects to be able to respond fully to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the supply of beer.

  Mr. Maude
  I announced our response to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the supply of beer in the House on 10 July.

  Competitiveness
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on which statistical measures of competitiveness Britain's competitiveness has(a) improved and (b) declined over the last 10 years.

  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on which statistical measures of competitiveness Britain's competitiveness has(a) improved and (b) declined over the last 10 years.

  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on which statistical measures of competitiveness Britain's competitiveness has(a) improved and (b) declined over the last 10 years.

  Mr. Newton
  While United Kingdom relative unit labour costs have increased recently, they are little 218
  changed by comparision with ten years ago and our share of world trade in manufactures has been stable over the last seven years after decades of decline. Other measures such as relative export prices and import price competitiveness have fluctuated over the period. However, competitiveness also depends on non-price factors such as quality, reliability and delivery performance.

  Investment
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the net flow of investment in and out of Britain for the last year that is available; and what were the comparable figures 10 years earlier.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the net flow of investment in and out of Britain for the last year that is available; and what were the comparable figures 10 years earlier.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the net flow of investment in and out of Britain for the last year that is available; and what were the comparable figures 10 years earlier.

  Mr. Atkins
  Net direct and portfolio investment in the United Kingdom from abroad in 1988 is provisionally estimated to have been £11·4 billion whilst net direct and portfolio investment abroad was £25·4 billion. The corresponding figures for 1978 were £1·8 billion and £4·6 billion respectively.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the level of investment in manufacturing industries in the north-west in actual and constant value terms in 1987 and 1979.

  Mr. Atkins
  Net capital expenditure in manufacturing industry1 in the north-west is estimated to amount to £971 million in 1979 and £1,204 million in 1987. At constant 1985 prices the figures are £1,510 million and £1,108 million respectively.

  1 Divisions 2–4 Standard Industrial Classification, Revised 1980.

  Japan
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the current visible trade balance between the United Kingdom and Japan.

  Mr. Newton
  In the 12 months to May 1989, United Kingdom visible trade with Japan was in deficit by £4·8 billion.

  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the comparable figures for exports per head of population in(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in Japan.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  In 1988 exports per head of population amounted to US $2,500 and the comparable figure for Japan was US $2,200.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent representations he has received regarding the new and improved access for British exporters to the Japanese market.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The Government continue to attach great importance to Britain's trade with Japan. Where
  219
  appropriate, we take up representations on market access with the Japanese authorities, both directly and through the European Commission. Such action has brought improved access to the market, most recently in respect of Scotch whisky. At the same time, through the Opportunity Japan campaign, my Department is encouraging British exporters to take advantage of the great potential of the Japanese market. Over the last five years our exports to Japan have doubled in value and are presently running at nearly £2 billion per annum.

  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give the latest value of United Kingdom exports to Japan; and what was the comparable figure five years ago.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  In the 12 months to May 1989 United Kingdom exports to Japan were £2·0 billion compared with £1·0 billion five years ago.

  Mergers and Takeovers
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the most recent annual figure for spending on mergers and takeovers.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the most recent annual figure for spending on mergers and takeovers.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the most recent annual figure for spending on mergers and takeovers.

  Mr. Maude
  Expenditure in 1988 on acquisitions and mergers within the United Kingdom by industrial and commercial companies is estimated to be about £22 billion. Expenditure in 1988 on acquisitions overseas by United Kingdom companies is estimated to be about £17 billion.

  European Single Market
  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the take-up to date of information on 1992 in each of Britain's regions.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the take-up to date of information on 1992 in each of Britain's regions.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the take-up to date of information on 1992 in each of Britain's regions.

  Mr. Maude
  The number of centrally recorded requests for published information, by region, since the "Europe Open for Business" campaign began, is as follows:

  Region

  Number

  Scotland

  8,300

  Wales

  4,600

  Northern Ireland

  3,300

  North

  4,500

  North west

  16,500

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  12,300

  East midlands

  10,800

  West midlands

  15,300

  East Anglia

  6,100

  South east

  95,300

  South west

  13,600

  Total

  190,600

  Manufacturing Output
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the most recent figure for output in manufacturing industry; and what was the figure for the same month in 1973.

  Mr. Atkins
  In May 1989 manufacturing output was at a level of 119·0, based on 1985 equal to 100. This is 9 per cent. more than the level of 109·1 for May 1973. But my hon. Friend will appreciate that monthly data can be erratic. A firmer based comparison would be in the three months to May 1989 manufacturing output was 8 per cent. higher than in the same period in 1973.

  Origin Marking
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has any further plans to bring in regulations about the origin marking of goods.

  Mr. Forth
  I have no plans to do so. The Trade Descriptions (Place of Production) (Marking) Order 1988 which requires corrective origin marking in cases where the consumer might otherwise be misled as to where goods were produced, represents the most that is possible on a national basis within the confines of our European Community obligations.

  Trade Statistics
  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with which European Community countries the balance of trade has improved over the last 10 years.

  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with which European Council countries the balance of trade has improved over the last 10 years.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with which European Community countries the balance of trade has improved over the last 10 years.

  Mr. Atkins
  Our exports to France, Italy and Spain have gown faster over this period than our imports from them. And our trade with Spain is now in surplus.

  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with which Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries the United Kingdom is running a trade surplus.

  Mr. Atkins
  In the 12 months to May, United Kingdom visible trade was in surplus with Australia, Spain, Ireland, Greece and Canada.

  Estate Agents
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received on his plans to regulate estate agents.

  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received on his plans to regulate estate agents.

  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received on his plans to regulate estate agents.
  221
  Mr. Forth
  My Department has received views from the Consumers Association and from my hon. Friends the Members for Harrogate (Mr. Banks) and for Skipton and Ripon (Mr. Curry) on the plans for improving standards in estate agency which I announced on 21 June.

  Company Accounts
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received on the reform of company accounts.

  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received on the reform of company accounts.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received on the reform of company accounts.

  Mr. Maude
  We receive many representations about possible changes in the law on company accounts and a number of them have been reflected in the Companies Bill.

  Environment-friendly Products
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will introduce a Government-sponsored labelling scheme for environment-friendly products.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will introduce a Government-sponsored labelling scheme for environment-friendly products.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government have discussed with consumers, producers, retailers and environmentalists, the question of labelling environmentally friendly products, and is keeping the issue under review. The DTI and the Department of the Environment intend shortly to issue a discussion document.

  Brewers Society
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he last met the Brewers Society; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he last met the Brewers Society; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he last met the Brewers Society; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Maude
  The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and I met representatives of the six national brewers on 6 July. A representative of the Brewers Society was also present. These were private discussions. My last meeting with the Brewers Society took place on 13 June.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what further representations he has received on the cost to industry of the current levels of interest rates.

  Mr. Ted Garrett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what further representations he has received on the cost to industry of the current levels of interest rates.
  222
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what further representations he has received on the cost to industry of the current levels of interest rates.

  Mr. Atkins
  My Department has received a number of representations on the level of interest rates. The Government's firm action to curb inflation continues to receive strong support from industry.

  Financial Services
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he is satisfied that the Financial Services Act is being operated to the benefit of the investor.

  Mr. Maude
  Yes, but I remain ready to review the operation of the Act if there is evidence that it is not working to the benefit of investors.

  Mr. John Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received on the regulation of financial services.

  Mr. Maude
  I receive a considerable number of representations on a variety of topics relating to the regulation of financial services. Those which relate to the scope of the framework of the regulatory system, or the powers under the Financial Services Act which the Government retain, are given careful consideration. Those which relate to matters which are the responsibility of the SIB or of another regulatory authority are passed to the appropriate body.

  Mining
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the implications for those industries which are involved in mining equipment, engineering and technology of the continuing contraction in the British mining industry.

  Mr. Atkins
  It is for companies to decide how to respond to change, not Government.

  Shipbuilding
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a further statement on the operation of the European Economic Community's Renaval programme to assist shipbuilding areas.

  Mr. Newton
  Applications for eligibility have been made to the European Commission by the Government for Plymouth, Gibraltar and Strathclyde. I am consulting my right hon. Friends about the submission of applications for other areas. Most shipbuilding and shiprepair areas already receive all available benefits from the European regional development fund.

  Deregulation
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress is being made in implementing the new deregulation initiatives outlined in the document entitled "Releasing Enterprise".

  Mr. Maude
  Departments are pushing ahead with the plan of work set out in "Releasing Enterprise". They have
  223
  already made much good progress under the programme, resulting in a wide range of benefits to business, and are committed to maintaining momentum. I expect to make a statement to the House in the autumn.

  New Industry (Liverpool)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what amount of central Government funds has been invested in creating new industry in Liverpool during the last 10 years.

  Mr. Atkins
  Central Government investment towards industrial and commercial development in Liverpool is undertaken in the main by the DTI and Department of Environment.

  DTI expenditure on investment in the travel-to-work area of Liverpool, through the main schemes of regional selective assistance, regional development grant and, from 1988, regional enterprise grant was £258 million during the last 10 years.

  In addition, funding for Liverpool city through the Department of Environment urban programme and derelict land grant and including expenditure by the Merseyside development corporation amounted to £439 million, though not all of this is directly related to industrial development.

  Research and Development
  Dr. Bray
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what were the percentage increases, in real terms, in(a) profits and (b) research and development expenditure, in the United Kingdom between 1979 and 1988, or the nearest years for which comparable information is available.

  Mr. Forth
  Between 1978 and 1987 expenditure on research and development performed by United Kingdom industry increased by 31 per cent. at 1985 prices. Profits figures are not readily available with the same coverage as research and development and conceptually, because they cannot be related to specific flows of goods and services, they could not be adjusted to constant prices.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has any plans to seek to increase the level of civil research and development by British industry.

  Mr. Forth
  The Government have created a favourable economic climate which encourages companies to invest in R and D themselves. Industry increased its own funding of R and D by about 30 per cent. in real terms between 1983 and 1987.

  Inner City Task Forces
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the progress achieved to date by the inner city task forces.

  Mr. Forth
  The inner city task forces have continued to make good progress in meeting their objectives of securing more jobs and training for local people and encouraging local enterprise. Since the task forces began their work in 1986 they have committed about £42 million in support of over 1,300 projects. These generate, or safeguard, nearly 7,000 jobs, facilitate nearly 30,000 training places and provide support for 7,000 businesses. Over 450 private sector companies have supported task force projects.
  224
  I announced on 9 March, as part of the Government's Action for Cities anniversary announcements, that the task forces would be withdrawing from Leicester, Wolverhampton and Preston, and that new task forces would be opening in Bradford, Granby/Toxteth and Deptford in Lewisham. I am pleased to say that the Granby/Toxteth task force is now operational with a small team occupying temporary premises. It is hoped that Bradford and Deptford task forces will open later in the year.

  Manufacturing (Unit Costs)
  Mr. Beaumont-Dark
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the effect in the change in unit costs on manufacturing industry.

  Mr Atkins
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Financial Statement and Budget Report forecast that total unit costs in maufacturing industry would increase by 4¼ per cent. in 1989. Restraint of unit costs, which is in industry's own hands, is the key to improved competitiveness.

  Media Ownership
  Mr. Orme
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received on the concentration of media ownership.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received on the concentration of media ownership.

  Mr. Maude
  We receive many representations on the concentration of media ownership both where it concerns ownership of a single medium and where cross-media ownership is the issue.

  United Kingdom Goods
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to encourage people to purchase goods made in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Forth
  Ministers repeatedly point out the advantages of buying United Kingdom goods where they are competitive in design, quality and price. My Department's policies are geared to helping businesses achieve this.

  Export Credits Guarantee Department
  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received recently concerning the future of the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  A report on the future status of ECGD, commissioned by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, was submitted to Ministers in May 1989. The report takes account of evidence provided to Mr. Kemp, its author, by a wide range of interested parties including exporters, banks and the insurance industry. In order to assist those same parties to contribute to the consideration of the report itself, Ministers decided that the report should be published. At the same time we established an inter-Departmental working group of
  225
  officials, chaired by ECGD's chief executive to provide advice on the status options identified in the report. Comments have already been submitted to the working group by interested outside parties.

  Appledore-Fergusons
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, when he last met the chairman of British Shipbuilders, they discussed the disposal of Appledore-Fergusons of Port Glasgow; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  I last met the chairman of British Shipbuilders on 29 June. The disposal of Ferguson Shipbuilders Limited was among the topics discussed.

  Mortgage Finance
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will make a statement on the working of the Financial Services Act so far as it affects seeking advice on mortgage finance.

  Mr. Maude
  Advice to house purchasers on mortgage finance is not in itself a matter covered by the Financial Services Act, but if the arrangements for repaying the mortgage involve an investment agreement (for instance, by the borrower taking out an endowment life insurance policy) then that element of the transaction is subject to regulation. A person giving investment advice on such transactions by way of business must, unless exempted, be authorised under the Act and abide by rules regulating the conduct of that business.

  Enterprise Initiative
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the total cost of the advertising campaign for the enterprise initiative; and what has been the average cost per take-up.

  Mr. Newton
  Expenditure on advertising the enterprise initiative since January 1988 has been about £19 million. Of this, we estimate that some £14·4 million has been specifically directed at promoting the six consultancy initiatives, which would represent an average of about £485 per application.

  Textile Industry
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the current state of the textile industry in Britain.

  Mr. Atkins
  There have been major improvements in productivity in the industry since 1980 and significant new investment. The woollen textiles sector announced a new record for exports in 1988 and a further increase in the first four months of this year. The industry continues to make an important contribution to the wealth of the country.

  Cyclotron
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the manufacturers of the cyclotron machine received any Government grants to develop the machine.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have been asked to reply
  226
  Cyclotron machines have a variety of applications in medicine and research. The development of cyclotrons specifically for medical use has not been funded by the Department. Details of the cyclotron to be installed at St. Thomas's hospital have yet to be settled by those concerned.

  Road Building (EEC)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the 1992 potential for United Kingdom road building and surfacing contractors in the European Economic Community.

  Mr. Trippier
  I have been asked to reply.

  Such assessments are a matter for the industry itself.

DEFENCE

  Low Flying
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he keeps any record of accidents to motor vehicles or horse riders due to panic reaction caused by low-flying aircraft.

  Mr. Neubert
  I regret that the information requested is not maintained in the format required.

  Maps (Military Installations)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy regarding the inclusion of military installations on Ordnance Survey maps.

  Mr. Neubert
  Most military installations are included in Ordnance Survey maps. Those that are not are excluded for security reasons.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service men and women have become liable for the community charge in Scotland since April; how many of these are also ratepayers in other parts of the United Kingdom; what representations he has received on this point; whether he proposes to indemnify them against additional costs; and what advice he is giving as to whether to register for the community charge in England and Wales.

  Mr. Neubert
  No comprehensive information on numbers of service personnel liable for the community charge is held either by service authorities or the Ministry of Defence. Seventeen letters have been received from hon. Members, service personnel or their families about concurrent liability for community charge in Scotland and rates in England and Wales. As I said in my answer to the hon. Member for East Lothian (Mr. Home Robertson) on 5 May 1989 at column 278, we are prepared to consider, for possible exceptional financial compensation, cases where the requirements of the service place personnel in a worse position this year than they would be in next year when the community charge applies throughout Great Britain. Copies of guidance given to members of the Armed Forces about liability for the community charge have already been placed in the Library of the House.

  Boscombe Down Research Establishment
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the aircraft and armaments research establishment at Boscombe Down near Salisbury.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Aircraft and Armaments Experimental Establishment (A&AEE), Boscombe Down, plays an important role in the evaluation and acceptance into service of all military aircraft, their armament and associated equipment. It was not listed as one of the MOD establishments initially selected for inclusion in the Defence Research Agency. This was in no way an indication of any uncertainty over its continuing role but simply a reflection of fact that the work undertaken at Boscombe Down is not strictly of a research nature. The position of A&AEE is currently under consideration as part of a further study being undertaken on the most appropriate organisation for the MOD's test and evaluation facilities. This study is scheduled for completion later this year.

  European Fighter Aircraft
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many front line RAF squadrons will be equipped with European fighter aircraft when it enters service.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  On present plans, seven front line squadrons would be equipped with the European fighter aircraft when it enters service.

  Strategic Defence Initiative
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel from his Department are currently employed in the strategic defence initiative unit.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Seventeen Ministry of Defence staff are employed in the strategic defence initiative participation office, 14 based in London and three on the staff at the British Embassy, Washington. A further five staff are based in London, on secondment from other Government Departments or from United Kingdom companies; and the embassy in Washington employs four locally engaged civilian staff in support. The total is 26.

  RAAF (Bounty)
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Auxiliary Air Force officers and other ranks were awarded their annual bounty for completion of the minimum training commitment in the 1988–89 financial year.

  Mr. Neubert
  This information is not held centrally. I will write when the details have been collected.

  Royal Marine Reserve (Bounty)
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Marine Reserve officers and other ranks, respectively, were awarded their annual bounty for completion of the minimum training commitment during the1988–89 financial year.

  Mr. Neubert
  The answer is 59 officers and 526 other ranks.

  Royal Naval Reserve
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Naval Reserve officers and other ratings were awarded their annual bounty for completion of the minimum training commitment in the 1988–89 financial year.

  Mr. Neubert
  The answer is 1,729 officers and 2,762 ratings.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current strength of the Royal Naval Reserve in officers and ratings.

  Mr. Neubert
  It is 2,094 officers and 3,463 ratings, as at 31 March 1989.

  Tucano
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Shorts Tucano aircraft have been delivered to Royal Air force training command to date.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Twenty two aircraft have been delivered to the RAF by July 1989.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when basic flying training courses will commence on Royal Air Force Shorts Tucano aircraft.

  Mr. Neubert
  It is currently scheduled that the first Royal Air Force ground school training course for the Tucano aircraft will begin on 16 October 1989, with flying training commencing at RAF Church Fenton on 4 December 1989.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Territorial Army officers and other ranks were awarded their annual bounty for completion of the minimum training commitment in the 1988–89 financial year.

  Mr. Neubert
  A total of 5,225 TA officers and 41,839 TA other ranks qualified for and received their annual bounty in respect of the period 1988–89.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current strength of the Territorial Army in officers and other ranks.

  Mr. Neubert
  The strength of the TA as at 31 May 1989 is 7,864 officers and 65,747 other ranks, excluding the HSF.

  Air Defence Weapons
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what air defence weapons are currently available for British land and amphibious forces earmarked for the defence of Norway.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The British land and amphibious force contribution to NATO reinforcements for the defence of the Northern Region, including Norway, has a balance of air defence weapons which includes Javelin missiles and machine guns in the air defence role.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what air defence weapons are currently availablie for British land and amphibious forces earmarked for the defence of Denmark and Schleswig-Holstein.
  229
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The British land and amphibious force contribution to NATO reinforcements for the defence of Denmark and Schleswig Holstein has a balance of air defence weapons which includes Rapier and Javelin missiles, and machine guns in the air defence role.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what air defence weapons are currently available to land forces serving with the British Army of the Rhine.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Land forces currently serving with the British Army of the Rhine have a balance of air defence weapons which includes tracked and towed Rapier missiles, Javelin missiles, and machine guns in the air defence role.

  Intrepid and Fearless
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his assessment of the cost of treating corrosion on the assault ships HMS Intrepid and HMS Fearless.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Corrosion repair and preventative work are normal features of the refitting of warships. HMS Intrepid is currently operational; whilst she will shortly undergo a hull survey, no major corrosion problems are expected. Some corrosion treatment, which is not unduly extensive, is in hand in the refit of HMS Fearless; but the cost of this treatment could be separately identified only at disproportionate cost.

  Home Service Force
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current strength of the home service force in officers and other ranks.

  Mr. Neubert
  The strength of the HSF as at 31 May 1989 is 167 officers and 2,883 other ranks.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of HSF personnel have had previous armed forces experience prior to enlistment.

  Mr. Neubert
  All HSF personnel have had previous armed forces experience prior to enlistment.

  Royal Army Education Corps
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current strength of the Royal Army Education Corps.

  Mr. Neubert
  The strength of the Royal Army Education Corps as at 30 June 1989 was 518 Officers.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to privatise the work of the Royal Army Education Corps.

  Mr. Neubert
  There are currently no plans to privatise the work of the Royal Army Education Corps. However, all areas of the corps responsibility are regularly reviewed in the normal planning process and the potential for privatisation, civilianisation or contractorisation identified where appropriate.

  Royal Auxiliary Air Force
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current strength of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force in officers and other ranks.
  230
  Mr. Neubert
  The strength of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force as at 1 April 1989, is 143 officers and 1,429 other ranks.

  Royal Marine Reserve
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current strength of the Royal Marine Reserve in officers and other ranks.

  Mr. Neubert
  The answer is 81 officers and 1,145 other ranks, as at 31 March 1989.

  Royal Naval Auxiliary Service
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current strength of the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service in officers and ratings.

  Mr. Neubert
  The answer is 114 volunteer staff officers and 2,817 auxiliary men and women as at 31 March 1989.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of RNAS personnel have had previous armed forces experience prior to enlistment.

  Mr. Neubert
  I regret that this information is not held centrally.

  Volunteers (Payments)
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what payment and bounties are paid to RNAS and HSF volunteers for training and partaking in exercises.

  Mr. Neubert
  RNAS volunteers are not paid in peacetime and do not receive a bounty. They are, however, reimbursed approved travel and subsistence expenses and may qualify for a loss of earnings allowance and a course and exercise training allowance on a daily basis where eight hours or more training are involved. The HSF are paid in accordance with TA rates of pay and receive a bounty of £45 in the first year, £90 in the second year and £150 in the third year, on completion of six days' minimum annual training.

  Fisheries Protection
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to privatise the Royal Navy's fisheries protection role.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Royal Navy provides a fishery protection service for both the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) and, in the North Sea, for the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland (DAFS). At present there are no plans to change these arrangements. Additionally, DAFS owns vessels and aircraft and MAFF charters civilian aircraft which are employed on fishery protection duties. I understand that there are at present no plans to change these arrangements either.

  Wintex 89
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Government Departments participated in Exercise Wintex 89.
  231
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The following Government Departments participated in WINTEX 89.

  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  Cabinet Office

  HM Customs and Excise

  Department of Employment

  Department of Energy

  Department of the Environment

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  Department of Health Home Office

  Northern Ireland Office Scottish Office

  Department of Social Security

  Department of Trade and Industry

  Department of Transport HM Treasury

  Welsh Office

  Portsmouth Naval Base
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Royal Navy vessels are currently undergoing refits or major servicing at Portsmouth naval base.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  HMS Exeter is the only vessel currently undergoing a refit at Her Majesty's naval base, Portsmouth; the following vessels are undergoing docking and essential defects (DEDs):HMS Otter, Jupiter, Charybdis, Endurance and Bristol.

  Anthrax
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give an indication of all work undertaken by Porton Down involving anthrax in the last five years; what was the purpose of such activity and the locations involved; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The United Kingdom is a signatory to the 1972 convention on biological warfare and does not undertake any work on the development of biological weapons. The chemical defence establishment at Porton Down is charged with the responsibility of research into the application of up-to-date technology leading to the provision of the best possible equipment to the armed services for the detection, decontamination and treatment of such agents as well as protective systems against them. CDE's work on anthrax conforms to these criteria. Some of the work has potential to benefit the civil population and therefore involves interaction with other agencies and publication in open literature. CDE's scientists carry out their studies at Porton Down and one of the useful consequences has been the recent successful clean-up operation on Gruinard island, which has been contaminated since being used for wartime tests.

  Land Holdings
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the location of the areas referred to in footnote 2, page 50, cm. 675-II, Statement on the Defence Estimates vol. 2.

  Mr. Neubert
  The two locations are 50,000 hectares of Forestry Commission land in Galloway and 11,679 hectares of British Aluminium Company land at Kinlochleven. In both cases, there are restrictions upon the nature and extent of the training that may take place.

  Military Exercises
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations he has had with the Supreme Allied Commander Europe or the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe concerning the possibility of reducing the size and number of military exercises.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Together with his subordinate commanders, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, is conducting a review of exercise activity within his command to ensure that, in nature, size, scope and number, exercises undertaken represent an effective and economical way of meeting Alliance requirements. Recommendations have yet to be put to NATO allies for decision.

  Major Colin Wallace
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, further to the reply of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces, 8 June,Official Report, column 458, he intends to write to the hon. Member for Linlithgow in relation to the points he raised on Major Colin Wallace.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Environmental Pollution
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has as to which NATO member states have legislation to require(a) their own military bases and (b) bases allocated to United States military forces on their territory to provide (i) an environmental impact statement for military bases and (ii) environmental pollution data regarding military base operations, to their governments.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 13 July 1989]: The Ministry of Defence follows the provisions of Department of Environment circular 15/88, Welsh Office circular 23/88 and Scottish Development Department circular 13/88 in respect of environmental impact assessments relating to projects carried out on behalf of both home forces and visiting forces. There is no general requirement to make statements or provide data in respect of existing operations. The legislative requirements of other NATO members are matters for the Governments of the countries concerned.

  Aldermaston (Radiation Monitoring)
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what additions have been made since May 1979 to the personnel radiation monitoring programme technology at atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 6 July 1989]: I understand that the hon. Lady is referring to the personnel radiation monitoring programme. In addition to making relevant adjustments for compliance with requirements of new legislative measures arising since May 1979, the atomic weapons establishment have made the following major changes since that date in monitoring low levels of personal radiation exposures that might arise at their Aldermaston and other premises:

  233

  (a) the use of personnel-borne air samplers (PAS) has been extended to cover any personal occupational exposures to radioactive and toxic substances which might be of health and safety significance;

  (b) thermoluminescent radiation dosimeters (TLD) have been brought into use in place of film-badges as a means of assessing any personal gamma radiation exposures that might occur;

  (c) two in vivo (whole body) monitors have been installed and are operating for assaying any levels of radioactive substances that might have been deposited in the bodies, and particularly the lungs, of workers;

  (d) newly developed instruments have been, and are continuing to be, installed to provide further facilities for monitoring radioactivity that might be dispersed in the air, on surfaces or on persons in occupational work-spaces.

EMPLOYMENT

  Employment Schemes
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, for each of the Training Agency's areas within Greater London, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Glasgow, Sheffield, Birmingham and Solihull, Coventry and Warwickshire, what are the monthly statistics for the latest available three months for employment training showing(a) the number of referrals to ET from restart interviews, (b) the number of ET action plans completed, (c) the number of starts with ET training managers, (d) the number of ET filled places and (e) the number of unfilled ET places.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is not available in the precise form requested. Restart referrals are available only for employment service areas and are given in table 1. The figures for action plans, starts at training managers and filled places are given in tables 2, 3 and 4. Information about unfilled places is available only for May and these figures are given in table 5.

  Table 1. Employment service restart referrals to ET training agents February to April 1989

  Employment service area

  February

  March

  April

  Inner London South

  598

  494

  435

  Inner London Central

  782

  595

  550

  Inner London West

  630

  295

  444

  Inner London East

  646

  694

  491

  London South East

  370

  303

  326

  London South West

  298

  273

  167

  London North West

  516

  428

  368

  London West

  345

  667

  314

  London South

  377

  349

  386

  London East

  464

  444

  458

  London North

  604

  490

  422

  Merseyside North

  713

  660

  599

  Merseyside South

  953

  1,033

  723

  Liverpool Central and Wirral

  600

  591

  343

  Manchester City1

  562

  726

  —

  Manchester North East1

  285

  316

  —

  Manchester North West1

  510

  455

  —

  Manchester South1

  358

  392

  —

  Manchester West1

  352

  444

  —

  Manchester Central1

  —

  —

  758

  Manchester East1

  —

  —

  505

  Manchester West1

  —

  —

  610

  Glasgow North

  1,392

  1,466

  895

  Glasgow South

  833

  805

  538

  Sheffield

  870

  742

  769

  Birmingham and Solihull

  1,808

  1,776

  1,267

  Coventry and Warwickshire

  656

  735

  487

  1 Employment service areas re-organised from 1 April 1989.

  234

  Table 2.Employment training Action plans completed by training agents March-May 1989

  Training agency area

  March

  April

  May

  London North

  1,000

  820

  730

  London West

  630

  380

  370

  London East

  1,090

  730

  740

  London South

  540

  420

  410

  Inner London North

  2,090

  1,630

  1,600

  Inner London South

  740

  500

  420

  Merseyside

  2,220

  2,060

  1,670

  Manchester East

  910

  710

  640

  Manchester Central

  840

  830

  640

  Manchester North

  890

  810

  690

  Glasgow

  1,920

  1,430

  1,190

  Sheffield

  1,040

  940

  990

  Birmingham and Solihull

  1,600

  1,470

  1,180

  Coventry and Warwickshire

  830

  660

  520

  Table 3. Employment training Starts with training managers March-May 1989

  Training agency area

  March

  April

  May

  London North

  850

  570

  580

  London West

  280

  180

  190

  London East

  490

  380

  340

  London South

  300

  360

  220

  Inner London North

  1,120

  930

  770

  Inner London South

  760

  680

  460

  Merseyside

  2,030

  1,860

  1,640

  Manchester East

  800

  660

  550

  Manchester Central

  870

  920

  770

  Manchester North

  720

  620

  520

  Glasgow

  1,310

  970

  800

  Sheffield

  1,340

  1,140

  820

  Birmingham and Solihull

  1,580

  1,440

  960

  Coventry and Warwickshire

  570

  560

  410

  Table 4. Employment Training Filled places March-May 1989

  Training agency area

  March

  April

  May

  London North

  3,280

  3,320

  3,560

  London West

  1,180

  1,210

  1,180

  London East

  2,010

  2,160

  2,200

  London South

  1,440

  1,630

  1,610

  Inner London North

  5,580

  5,680

  5,790

  Inner London South

  3,020

  3,360

  3,350

  Merseyside

  7,680

  8,170

  8,700

  Manchester East

  2,400

  2,550

  2,630

  Manchester Central

  3,940

  4,170

  4,190

  Manchester North

  2,550

  2,660

  2,620

  Glasgow

  4,130

  4,410

  4,510

  Sheffield

  5,370

  5,550

  5,490

  Birmingham and Solihull

  6,700

  7,350

  7,350

  Coventry and Warwickshire

  2,330

  2,600

  2,660

  Table 5. Employment Training Unfilled places May 1989

  Training agency area

  May

  London North

  160

  London West

  360

  London East

  280

  London South

  280

  Inner London North

  740

  Inner London South

  850

  235

  Training agency area

  May

  Merseyside

  4,670

  Manchester East

  610

  Manchester Central

  5,030

  Manchester North

  2,170

  Glasgow

  2,110

  Sheffield

  740

  Birmingham and Solihull

  2,140

  Coventry and Warwickshire

  1,220

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment for Great Britain and each standard training agency region, what are the monthly statistics for the latest available three months for employment training showing(a) the number of referrals to ET from restart interviews, (b) the number of ET action plans completed, (c) the number of starts with ET training managers, (d) the number of ET filled places and (e) the number of unfilled ET places.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is not available in the precise form requested. Restart referrals are available only for employment service regions and are given in table 1. The figures for action plans, starts at training managers and filled places are given in tables 2, 3 and 4. Information about unfilled places is available only for May and these figures are given in table 5.

  Table 1. Employment Service Restart referrals to ET training agents February to April 1989

  Employment Service Region

  February

  March

  April

  London and South East

  8,300

  7,600

  7,600

  South West

  1,600

  1,600

  1,200

  West Midlands

  5,000

  5,200

  4,000

  East Midlands and Eastern

  3,000

  2,800

  2,900

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  4,100

  4,100

  3,800

  North West

  5,700

  5,900

  4,800

  Northern

  3,400

  3,300

  3,300

  Wales

  2,800

  2,800

  2,400

  Scotland

  7,100

  7,600

  4,800

  Great Britain

  41,000

  41,000

  33,800

  Table 2. Employment Training Action plans completed by training agents March to May 1989

  Training Agency Region

  March

  April

  May

  South East

  4,300

  3,600

  3,000

  London

  6,100

  4,500

  4,300

  South West

  2,800

  2,300

  2,000

  West Midlands

  5,900

  4,900

  8,900

  East Midlands and Eastern

  4,000

  3,600

  3,000

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  5,600

  5,100

  5,000

  North West

  7,200

  6,400

  5,300

  Northern

  5,300

  4,600

  4,300

  Wales

  3,400

  2,800

  2,800

  Scotland

  7,800

  5,700

  5,300

  Great Britain

  52,300

  43,700

  38,900

  Table 3. Employment Training Starts at Training Managers March to May 1989

  Training Agency Region

  March

  April

  May

  South East

  2,100

  2,300

  1,600

  London

  3,800

  3,100

  2,600

  South West

  2,300

  2,000

  1,700

  West Midlands

  4,900

  4,100

  3,200

  East Midlands and Eastern

  3,200

  3,100

  2,400

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  5,400

  4,900

  4,100

  236

  Training Agency Region

  March

  April

  May

  North West

  6,500

  5,800

  4,800

  Northern

  4,700

  3,800

  3,300

  Wales

  3,200

  2,900

  2,300

  Scotland

  6,000

  4,400

  4,000

  Great Britain

  42,200

  36,300

  30,000

  Table 4. Employment Training Numbers in Training (Filled Places)

  Training Agency Region

  March

  April

  May

  South East

  9,900

  10,200

  10,700

  London

  16,500

  17,400

  17,700

  South West

  10,900

  11,300

  11,500

  West Midlands

  20,600

  22,100

  22,400

  East Midlands and Eastern

  14,000

  14,900

  15,300

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  23,900

  24,600

  24,900

  North West

  24,800

  25,900

  26,400

  Northern

  20,000

  21,100

  21,800

  Wales

  13,400

  14,200

  14,500

  Scotland

  20,900

  22,000

  22,300

  Great Britain

  175,000

  184,000

  187,000

  Table 5. Employment Training Unfilled Places May 1989

  Training Agency Region

  May

  South East

  5,900

  London

  2,600

  South West

  3,000

  West Midlands

  7,600

  East Midlands and Eastern

  3,600

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  4,300

  North West

  15,800

  Northern

  6,700

  Wales

  5,800

  Scotland

  12,600

  Great Britain

  68,000

  Employment Training
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give a breakdown of the number of accidents that have occurred on employment training since its inception in the categories covered by "Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences, 1985"; and if he will express this also as a percentage per 100,000 trainees.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The table gives the numbers of fatal, major and minor accidents reportable under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 which have occurred to trainees on employment training since the inception of the programme on 5 September 1988. Accident rates are expressed as an annual rate per 100,000 trainees.

  Number of Accidents

  Accident Rate/100,000 (provisional)

  Fatal

  Nil

  Nil

  Major

  83

  74

  Minor

  452

  403

  Hotels and Catering
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people he estimates are employed in the hotel and catering industry throughout the United Kingdom; and how many of these he estimates come from other European Community countries and from outside the European Community.

  Mr. Lee
  It is estimated that in March 1989 there were 1·2 million employees in employment in the hotel and catering industry in the United Kingdom. Preliminary results from the 1988 labour force survey show that in spring 1988 there were about a further 0·2 million self-employed people in the hotel and catering industry.

  The labour force survey also suggests that, of those in employment in the hotel and catering industry in spring 1988, either as employees or as self-employed, about 5 per cent. were nationals of other European Community countries and a further 4½ per cent. were nationals of countries outside the European Community.

  Jobclubs (Nottingham)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the reasons for the closure of jobclubs in Bestwood park, Nottingham; and if he will make a statement.

  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 Bury, North (Mr. Burt) on 27 January 1989,Official Report, column 810, in which he announced that we would be able to increase numbers helped by jobclubs while streamlining the network.

  There was substantial underused capacity in the Bestwood park jobclub and the closure decision was taken to make better use of resources. Long-term unemployed people in the Bestwood park area will continue to have full access to the jobclub programme. There are a number of jobclubs within easy travelling distance and travelling expenses to and from jobclubs are paid in full.

  Training, Gloucester
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state the number of employment training places currently available in the Gloucester travel-to-work area.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Programme information is not held on a travel-to-work area basis. Information about the number of contracted places will be available later in the year for the area covered by the Training Agency's Gloucester and Wiltshire area.

  Mine

  Reportable accidents

  Fatalities

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  (a) Murton

  249

  166

  204

  —

  —

  1

  (b) Easington

  153

  112

  161

  —

  —

  —

  (c) Dawdon

  200

  124

  260

  —

  —

  —

  (d) Vane Tempest/Seaham

  169

  87

  118

  —

  —

  —

  (e) Wearmouth

  308

  202

  253

  —

  —

  —

  (f) Westoe

  232

  142

  123

  —

  —

  —

  (g) Ellington

  230

  141

  229

  —

  —

  —

  Trade Union Rights
  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many requests for assistance have been received by the new commissioner for the rights of trade union members; and if he plans to introduce measures to extend the commissioner's powers.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I understand that up to the beginning of this month, the commissioner for the rights of trade union members has received over 100 inquiries and 19 formal applications for assistance.

  Proposals to extend the commissioner's powers were made in the Green Paper "Removing Barriers to Employment". The Government are considering responses to these proposals and an announcement will be made in due course.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he intends to take to ensure that existing national training schemes will not be prejudiced by the proposed training and enterprise council system.

  Mr. Cope
  The introduction of training and enterprise councils will enhance training provision and ensure that skill needs are addressed in the light of national and local priorities. Proposals have been issued to national providers under which they will contract directly with training and enterprise councils; but the Training Agency will continue to provide a service to national providers to facilitate their involvement under the new arrangements. Training and enterprise councils and national providers have much to offer each other.

  Repetitive Strain Injury
  Sir Bernard Braine
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action has been taken to publish guidelines to employers and managers on the need to identify the cause and to prevent repetitive strain injury in the workplace.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Executive has published a guidance note on this subject, entitled "Beat Conditions and Tenosynovitis" and is preparing new guidance which we expect to be published before the end of the year.

  Collieries (Accidents)
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of reportable accidents and fatalities at the following collieries for the last three years(a) Murton, (b) Easington, (c) Dawdon, (d) Vane Tempest, (e) Wearmouth, (f) Westo, and (g) Ellington.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Reportable accidents and fatalities for the last three years are:

  Earnings
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy the latest figures, in terms of national currency, showing average earnings of adult male workers in the steel, motor car and mechanical engineering industries and of adult female workers in the textile and clothing industries.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The latest available figures are to be found in the Eurostat publication "Earnings in Industries and Services" No. 2 1988, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the number and percentage of employees earning less than £2·80 per hour giving (a) the total, (b) male, in total and full and part-time, (c) female, in total and full and part-time, (d) full-time, in total and male and female and (e) part-time, in total and male and female for each region and England, Scotland, Wales and Great Britain for the latest available year.

  Mr. Lee
  The available information is published in part E table 115 and part F table 175 of the 1988 new earnings survey report, for full-time employees and female part-time employees respectively. A copy of the report is in the Library. Information on part-time male employees is available only for Great Britain: 54·5 per cent. of part-time male employees in the 1988 new earnings survey sample earned less than £2·80 per hour.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the smallest geographical unit for which information on the number and percentage of employees earning less than £2·80 per hour is available.

  Mr. Lee
  Information on the distribution of earnings of employees in the new earnings survey sample is available for the standards regions of England plus Scotland and Wales, for full-time employees and part-time female employees. Equivalent information on part-time male employees is available only for Great Britain as a whole.

  Tourism
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the contribution made to Britain's economy by the tourist industry.

  Mr. Lee
  The total turnover of tourism in the United Kingdom in 1988 was estimated to be some £19 billion.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the number of (a) jobs, (b) full-time jobs and (c) part-time jobs in all tourism-related industries for each year for 1978 to the latest date available.

  Mr. Lee
  The available information is given in the following tables. Table 1 shows the number of employees in employment in all tourism-related industries in Great Britain in June of each year from 1978 to 1988. Table 2 is based on information from the labour force survey and shows the number of self-employed people in the hotel and 240
  catering industry in Great Britain in the spring of each of those years from 1978 to 1988 in which a labour force survey took place. Separate figures for full-time and part-time self-employed people are not available.

  Table 1

  Employees in employment in alt tourism-related industries in Great Britain

  Thousands

  Females

  June of each year

  Males1

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Total

  1978

  428

  232

  436

  1,097

  1979

  445

  242

  467

  1,154

  1980

  455

  241

  488

  1,183

  1981

  443

  234

  474

  1,152

  1982

  448

  241

  484

  1,173

  1983

  443

  219

  481

  1,143

  1984

  465

  229

  508

  1,202

  1985

  515

  248

  529

  1,291

  1986

  524

  257

  536

  1,318

  1987

  534

  276

  548

  1,358

  1988

  567

  304

  554

  1,424

  1 separate figures for full-time and part-time male employees are not available.

  Table 2

  Self-employed people in the hotel and catering industry in Great Britain

  Spring of each year

  SIC (68) Minimum List Headings 884 to 888 Thousands

  1978

  n/a

  1979

  1100

  SIC (80) class 66

  1980

  n/a

  1981

  145

  1982

  n/a

  1983

  142

  1984

  169

  1985

  170

  1986

  185

  1987

  180

  1988

  183

  n/a = not available

  1 not strictly comparable with later years

  Local Enterprise Agencies
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any information as to the current level of use of local enterprise agencies.

  Mr. Cope
  Local enterprise agencies are independent private sector-led organisations. Information on the use made of them is not collected by the Government. l understand, however, that a recent business in the community survey estimates that the 314 agencies which they recognise undertook 250,000 counselling sessions last year, thereby assisting 50,000 small businesses.

  BAT Bid
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the number of jobs that will be created if the Hoylake bid for BAT is successful; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  We have made no assessment of job gains and losses that could result from the Hoylake/BAT takeover bid.

  Deptford Skillcentre
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many TOPS trainees were trained at Deptford skillcentre during 1986; how many achieved skilled status; and how many were placed in employment.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In 1986–87, 605 trainees completed the courses at Deptford skillcentre. Of these, 465 were trained for skilled occupations. A total of 393 trainees were placed in employment.

  Employment Rehabilitation Services
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if, pursuant to the reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe on 21 June,Official Report, column 186, he will make it his policy that the employment rehabilitation services of his Department should remain within the public sector.

  Mr. Lee
  [holding answer 5 July 1989]: A wide-ranging review of services for people with disabilities has been undertaken by this Department. A consultation exercise will be undertaken before any final decisions are taken.

  Job Interview Guarantee Initiative
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment in which inner-city areas the new job interview guarantee initiative is on offer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment in which inner-city areas the new job interview guarantee initiative is on offer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what response he has had to the job interview guarantee initiative; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what response he has had to the job interview guarantee initiative; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  [holding answer 20 June 1989]: I refer my hon. Friends to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockton, South (Mr. Devlin) on 14 July 1989, Official Report, column 654.

  ARGENTINA: RELATIONS WITH UK
  ARGENTINA: RELATIONS WITH UK
  MACAO: ISSUE OF PORTUGUESE PASSPORTS
  MACAO: ISSUE OF PORTUGUESE PASSPORTS
  HONG KONG CITIZENS: UK UNDERTAKINGS
  HONG KONG CITIZENS: UK UNDERTAKINGS
  A.4 HAMMERSMITH/CHISWICK SECTION: LITTER
  A.4 HAMMERSMITH/CHISWICK SECTION: LITTER
  NEW ROAD SCHEMES: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
  NEW ROAD SCHEMES: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
  AIR TRAFFIC DISTRIBUTION: CAA ADVICE
  AIR TRAFFIC DISTRIBUTION: CAA ADVICE
  CRIME SCREENING
  CRIME SCREENING
  MAGISTRATES' COURTS SERVICE: REPORT
  MAGISTRATES' COURTS SERVICE: REPORT
  LEEDS PRISON: NEW FACILITIES
  LEEDS PRISON: NEW FACILITIES
  HEALTH EXPENDITURE COMPARISONS
  HEALTH EXPENDITURE COMPARISONS
  RIVER BOLLIN: LINDANE POLLUTION
  RIVER BOLLIN: LINDANE POLLUTION
  COMMUNITY CHARGE: COMPARATIVE DATA
  COMMUNITY CHARGE: COMPARATIVE DATA
  CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY: VALUE OF ORDERS
  CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY: VALUE OF ORDERS